FOCUS ON CHILDREN

Welcome to the "Focus on Children" space in the Journal!

This is a brand new spot especially for children and families which needs lots of ingredients from you! Here is a list of some of the things that you could send to "Focus on Children", you might have other ideas as well, which would be great! Please post, fax or e-mail to the address inside the front cover.

Stories about being a Bahá'í

What goes on at your Bahá'í school?

How do you celebrate Holy Days?

How does the 19-Day Feast make you feel?

What's the best and most difficult thing about being a Bahá'í?

Tell us what you've read

Write about a Bahá'í book you've read and say why you did or didn't like it. 

Do you know prayers by heart? If so, how did you learn them?

Get snapping! - We need your pics ... Grab the camera, or get posing with your friends and families.

In this issue ...

In this issue Joel Grainger tells us about a Bahá'í event he enjoyed this summer. We have a photo of Olya's visit to Scotland where she  spoke to the children and youth about what life is like for the people in Iran and how they have to be very brave, even the children. It is very good if we remember to pray for the Bahá'í children in Iran because they are our spiritual brothers and sisters.

Joel Grainger reflecting on the Bahá'í Academy for the Arts

"I like Arts Academy basically because of the things you do more than anything else and I am definitely not the only one who thinks that. But out of all the things you do there I liked making and performing the Seven Valleys play. We worked on seven dances, each one representing each of the Seven Valleys".

"Children are the most precious treasure a community can possess, for in them are the promise and guarantee of the future".

The Universal House of Justice, Ridván message, 157 BE

 

Olya Roohizadegan with children at the regional conference in Scotland, held in Inverness.

All children in Bahá'í families are entitled to receive a copy of Dayspring magazine. Are yours getting theirs? If not, contact the Editor: Maggie Manvell, e-mail: mailto:Maggie@baha.demon.co.uk

Sapling Publications Affordable literature for children

NEW from Sapling Publications - A compilation of stories for young children entitled - "Stories from  Dayspring" A must for feasts, children's classes, ABM assistants, grannies, grandads, uncles, aunts and anyone connected with children. £2 per copy, plus 50p p&p from: Sapling Publications, 25 Lower Breakish, Isle of Skye,  IV42 8QA Tel: 01471 822317

Children's Classes in Burnley

We hold classes on alternate Sunday mornings at the Burnley Bahá'í Centre, 9 Colne Road,  Burnley - from 11am to about 12.30pm. On a good Sunday we have about 20 children. If anyone within an hour's drive of Burnley is interested then please contact Mike Cleasby, 11 Brantfell Drive, Burnley BB12 8AW Tel: 01282 439862 e-mail: mailto:dmprcleas@aol.com Future plans may involve a change of venue, see below ...

WANTED! Volunteers to staff the proposed new Northwest England community school

Community school  Northwest England

Several communities in the Northwest have expressed  interest in forming a community school for the Bahá'í education of children in the area. Discussions have taken place in East  Lancashire with the Children's Bahá'í Education Service (CBES) as to the procedure for setting up such a school and we are now ready for the next stage.

The school would follow the Bahá'í National Curriculum - Waiting upon the Blessed Beauty - and operate with three age groups: 4-7, 8-11, 12-15 plus a creche. There would be three 10 week terms per year with classes of about 2 hours per week, most probably Sunday mornings. The venue is still to be arranged, with easy access a priority.

Adult support is essential, especially with regard to school staff. The following positions would need to be filled: Director, Assistant Director, Education Specialist (must have qualified teacher status), three Teachers with three support Teachers, Secretary and Treasurer - all to be interviewed according to approved procedures.

Applications and nominations should be addressed to the Temporary steering committee, c/o Mrs D MacInnes, 99 Carr Road, Nelson, Lancs BB9 7SS.

In the light of the Ridván message the formation of such a school can be seen as a necessary step in the evolution of the Bahá'í Community in the Northwest of England.

Thanks... Special thanks to George and Sadie Maund who helped design the new "Youth Space" and "Focus on Children" sections and to everyone else who gave their ideas and support at short notice. These are  12-month Plan goals and came about following a resolution at National Convention. We wanted to "act, act now and continue to act"!

 

Thanks again, Ed