Welcome to Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM) 2011!

From Betty Ann Lee, JYM Coordinator

Welcome, rising kindergarten through grade six children and families! JYM staff happily anticipate meeting and greeting each of you at Bryant University this August! We are honored to minister to the children throughout this intense week and have worked hard to prepare for our time together. Our goal is to establish a safe, joyful and loving community and an enriching environment for each child and staff member. Parents/guardians are invited to visit our JYM community during the week. Betty Ann Lee, JYM Sessions Coordinator, is available by email at welees@comcast.net or phone at (508) 994-1638.

THEME: JYM; Exploring the Past and Celebrating Today! The 350th anniversary of NEYM presents us with the opportunity to explore our Quaker roots (past) and shoots (present). Where have we come from and what are we today? Various activities, including singing, art and crafts, storytelling, nature walks, games, prayer, group projects and business process, serve as the building blocks for this exploration. Most importantly, we will have FUN together!

WHERE: The Unistructure at Bryant is home to the JYM community during our time at Sessions. Whole group activities and the fifth/sixth grade group use MRC 4. The third/fourth grade group uses MRC 3, right next-door. Kindergarten, first and second grades meet in rooms down the hallway located near childcare.

WHEN: JYM evening program time begins on Saturday evening from “Intergenerational Opening Celebration”. It continues each evening thereafter from 6:45-9:00 with the exception of the Kindergarten, which meets each afternoon at 1:15. JYM morning program time begins from “Intergenerational Meeting for Worship” on Sunday and continues each morning thereafter from 8:15-11:45. Parents/guardians may need to leave an activity early in order to pick up their children promptly. 

HOW: JYM Programs are available for parents/guardians at registration and later at the Information Desk in the rotunda. Inside will be information concerning your children’s activities, staff, pick-up/drop-off locations, and JYM policies and procedures. Final details will be given at JYM Orientation.

PROGRAM: The children spend program time in JYM whole group and in their smaller grade groups. Whole group time is used for transitions, singing, worship, "Bible 10 Minutes," announcements, Vespers and pre-planned games or activities. Smaller grade group times are more intimate and give children and staff the opportunity to play and work together on special projects, activities and to interact with visitors. Kindergarteners’ afternoons provide opportunities for rest and play.

All children attending Yearly Meeting are expected to participate in their program. If your child is going to miss a JYM session, please let your child's group leader know. Staff care deeply about the children’s welfare, and become concerned about unexcused absences. Parents or guardians are responsible for their children when JYM is not in session.

ORIENTATION: Orientation is held for all JYM families on Saturday at 3:00. It is brief but important time well spent! Children meet their staff leaders and peers while familiarizing themselves with their physical space. Parents/guardians meet separately with Betty Ann after introductions, receive final program details and have time for questions or concerns.

AFTERNOON CHOICES: This program is a less structured afternoon choice for JYM children, first through sixth grades. The time frame is from 1:15 - 4:15 or 3:15 depending on the day and meets in its own location. Various choices of activities are available, some quiet and some active, ranging from games to beads. The success of Afternoon Choices is heavily dependent upon volunteers, who are welcome to share, supervise, and/or lead an activity with the children. Please be prepared to volunteer one afternoon if you use this program. Parents or guardians must sign children in, and let staff know when and who will be signing them out. Children may not leave by themselves in the middle of the afternoon.

There is a beautiful pool on campus at Bryant University for everyone’s enjoyment. However, for safety reasons, the pool will not be an Afternoon Choices program option. Parents/guardians must arrange for children who wish to go to the pool in the afternoon and should not sign them up for Afternoon Choices.

Do consider how much peer interaction your children can manage. While we welcome and cherish your children, we suspect that some afternoons, they would do better to relax with you.