A LITTLE ABOUT A2OCA'S CATECHISM PROGRAM
Every Wednesday morning throughout the 2026-2027 school year, A2OCA's Catechism program is offered to children ages 2+/ The program is tuition-free and is offered as a ministry to the St. Vladimir community and to the community at large--all for the Glory of God! The purpose of the program is to help support the Catechesis of children in the Orthodox Christian faith.
This school year, we are offering four different classes: (a) Class 1 for 2-4 year-old students, (b) Class 2 for Kindergarten students, (c) Class 3 for 1st and 2nd Grade students, and (d) Class 4 for children in 3rd Grade or older.
The Catechism program on Wednesday mornings begins with a Church service at 9:00 A.M. (usually Divine Liturgy but, if not, Midnight Office; see our
ACADEMY CALENDAR HERE for scheduled Church services throughout the 2026-2027 school year). All students and their parents are asked to attend these Church services, so that students may form a firm basis for subsequent Catechism learning. Oftentimes, the Catechism program draws upon children's experience in Church to teach them about topics related to the Orthodox Christian faith, so children's Church attendance on Wednesday mornings is important in order to foster a more rich and meaningful Catechesis experience for them.
Following the Wednesday morning Church service, Catechism classes take place inside our Academy building beginning at around 11:00 A.M. with group prayer. This is followed by a common lesson for all age groups on the large rug area, and, then, more focused, age-appropriate curricular instruction/activities in their classrooms.
All parents are asked to be present in the school building on Wednesday mornings during Catechism class (11:00 A.M. - 12:15 P.M.). Parents of children in Class 1 are asked to remain next to or near their children for the duration of their classroom lesson, so as to help support, encourage, and assist their children's engagement in assigned activities, as well as to assist them with going to the restroom, as needed.
Occasionally, our Catechism class ends with a brief lesson from special guests (e.g., gardening), and, at the end, students enjoy fellowship with each other through a shared snack that parents of children in our program sign-up to bring in.
Any questions about our Catechism program can be directed via e-mail to our Interim Head of School Irene Melabiotis (imelabiotis@a2oca.org). She would be happy for the opportunity to answer them. We look forward to the opportunity to work together with you to offer your child(ren) a rich Catechism in the Orthodox Christian faith!
Glory Be to God for All Things!
PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM FOR EACH CHILD IN YOUR FAMILY THAT WILL PARTICIPATE IN A2OCA'S CATECHISM PROGRAM.
