Schoolchildren

• The parish supports cooperation between home and school.
• The parish is present in everyday school life and provides teachers with practical tools for religious education.
• Cooperation with schools aims to support pupils’ personal growth by providing knowledge and experiences of Christian tradition and contemporary Christianity.
• The parish seeks to foster skills for relating to oneself, to others, and to the surrounding world, while offering meaningful experiences based on sustainable values.
• Each school has a designated parish contact person.
• In unexpected crisis situations, parish staff can provide support to schools (according to a separate plan).

School and Parish Cooperation Plan for Primary Schools in Seinäjoki Parish.

1. GENERAL EDUCATION

Classroom visits during religious education lessons for different age groups (may include confessional content). In addition, non-confessional educational classroom visits can be arranged for various age groups. The topics of religious education visits are linked to the annual themes of the religious education curriculum.

Grade 1 (the parish will make contact). Pupils are introduced to the parish’s activities for school-aged children (PowerPoint presentation, 10 minutes). During the lesson, friendship, diversity, and tolerance are explored through various games and activities.

Grade 2 (the school will make contact). Introduction to a church or parish hall as a building. Depending on availability, pupils may also become familiar with parish staff and different areas of parish work. The session can take place at a church/parish building, or a youth worker can visit the classroom to present the topic.

Grade 3 (the school will make contact). Christian symbols. Pupils learn about Christian symbols, what they are, and what they mean, either in the classroom or at a parish hall.

Grade 4 (the school will make contact). Introduction to diaconal work and/or missionary work.

Grade 5 (the parish will make contact). Martin Luther lesson. Who was Martin Luther, and how do his actions continue to influence Finland and the Church today?

Grade 6 (the school will make contact). A session on emotional skills. Pupils learn to identify different emotions and how to process them.

2. GROWTH AND WELL-BEING

Group-building sessions for different age groups, organised in agreement between the school principal and parish staff.

Crisis support (separate plan).

School camps. Morning and evening devotions and a meal blessing are included in the camp programme as religious activities. Alternative activities are provided during these times. School camps are available to all age groups, but especially to Grade 4 pupils.

Excursions to camp centres and parish halls. Grade 3 pupils may visit camp centres. These trips include a devotion and a meal blessing as religious activities, and alternative activities are provided during these times.

3. SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES

The parish informs schools in advance about the topics, themes, and implementation of school assemblies. Each school agrees individually with the parish on whether assemblies will be confessional or non-confessional and on their number and timing. The school provides an alternative activity for confessional assemblies. If necessary, the parish may provide non-confessional assembly materials for teachers to use.

4. SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS

The school contacts the parish when necessary.

5. RELIGIOUS EVENTS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

Religious events during the school day may include Advent or Christmas services, Easter services, and spring services.

School concerts and traditional church gatherings may occasionally be arranged by separate agreement.

In all of the above situations, the school provides alternative activities.

6. RELIGIOUS EVENTS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL DAY

The events listed in Section 5 may also be organised outside the school day. In such cases, the school does not provide alternative activities, and participation is not part of the curriculum-based instruction. In addition to the events listed in Section 5, a blessing service for children starting school is an example of a religious event held outside the school day.

7. OTHER COOPERATION

Distribution of autumn, spring, and summer activity brochures (the parish will make contact).

Distribution of invitations to 10th birthday celebrations (the parish will make contact).

Christmas Gospel presentation for Grade 3 pupils during Friendship Wednesday in Peräseinäjoki.

Brochures are distributed as printed materials to those who are interested. The student administration system is not used for distributing parish information materials.

School and Parish Cooperation Plan for Lower Secondary Schools, Comprehensive Schools and Upper Secondary Schools in Seinäjoki Parish.

1. GENERAL EDUCATION

Classroom visits during religious education lessons for different age groups (may include confessional content). In addition, non-confessional, humanistic classroom visits can be arranged alongside religious education lessons for various age groups. Lesson topics are linked to the annual themes of the religious education curriculum.

Visits from schools to churches, cemeteries, or parish facilities (including career guidance lessons).

Mission education, mission exhibitions, and visits by the parish mission coordinator or mission workers.

Confirmation instruction information sessions for Grade 8 pupils are held during breaks or online via Teams for those who wish to participate. In these cases, no alternative activity is required.

2. GROWTH AND WELL-BEING

Group-building activities for Grade 7 pupils arranged in cooperation with other organisations. Activities for other year groups can be organised as needed in agreement with the school principal and other representatives.

Preventive substance abuse education carried out in cooperation with other organisations.

Farewell events for Grade 9 pupils organised in cooperation with other organisations.

Crisis work and psychosocial support (SUMU) according to a separate plan.

Long-break activities or Coffee House activities organised in cooperation with other organisations.

Multidisciplinary learning modules implemented in cooperation with other organisations.

3. NON-CONFESSIONAL SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES

The parish informs schools in advance about the topics, themes, and implementation of school assemblies. The number and timing of assemblies are agreed upon separately with each school.

4. SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS

The school contacts the parish when necessary.

5. RELIGIOUS EVENTS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

Religious events during the school day may include Advent or Christmas services, Easter services, and spring services.

School concerts may occasionally be organised by separate agreement.

In all of the above situations, the school provides alternative activities.

6. OTHER COOPERATION

Participation in parents’ evenings when needed.

Participation in peer support student activities.

Cooperation with special groups when needed.