Guiding Our Children Into the New School Year with Faith
Dear Parents,
As the new school year begins — both in our community schools and in our Sunday School — we are called to guide our children not only in their studies, but also in their spiritual growth. This is a special opportunity to strengthen their faith, instill Christian virtues, and remind them that God walks with them each day. To support you in this journey, we would like to share several Orthodox Christian ideas that can help you prepare your child for a fruitful and faith-filled year ahead.
• Begin with Prayer
Start and end each day with a short prayer together, asking God to bless your child’s learning, friendships, and teachers.
• Read Scripture Together
Choose short, age-appropriate Bible passages each evening that remind children about wisdom, courage, and kindness (consult with your priest).
• Discuss Christian Virtues in Daily Life
Connect school experiences to virtues: patience during group work, kindness at recess, honesty in homework, and gratitude for teachers.
• Create a Prayer Corner at Home
Set up a small space with an icon of Christ or the Theotokos, a candle, and prayer cards where your child can spend a few minutes before and after school.
• Practice Gratitude Journaling
Encourage your child to write or draw one thing each day that they are thankful for at school — classmates, teachers, or new knowledge.
• Balance Schoolwork and Worship
Teach your child to see Sunday worship and feast days as priorities, even during a busy school schedule, reminding them that faith is the foundation for success.
• Model a Christ-Centered Attitude
Show your child how you handle stress, deadlines, and responsibilities with prayer, patience, and trust in God — children learn most from example.
