Dharma School

                                     A Cordial Welcome to All!!

The Buddhist Church of Oakland Dharma School is starting up for the 2011-2012 year, and we extend our most cordial welcome to you. 

Our first service will be September 11, at 10:00 am.  We have welcome coffee/juice and coffee cake/bagels available at 9:15 am before the service.  It’s a time when folks can chat with other members and catch up on news.

Our service, officiated by Rev. Harry Bridge, starts at 10:00.  Rev. Bridge is a young and energetic minister who tailors his Dharma Talks to the Dharma School children.  At 10:30, the Dharma School students go to their classes.  For the first Sunday, we spend a few minutes in a “welcome back activity” for all the Dharma School families before the students go to class.

We provide classes for preschool (ages 3 to 5), but toddlers are welcome to play in the preschool room.  Our classes are broken into kindergarten/first, second/third, fourth/fifth, middle school and High School classes.  Classes are dismissed usually around 11:30 am.

For our first Sunday, the Dharma School is also providing lunch – hot dogs!

The Dharma School is devoted to providing a relaxed, enjoyable introduction to Shin Buddhism, its teachings and its practices.  Our teachers dedicate their time to developing lessons, crafts, and experiences that we hope build a foundation for a Buddhist life.  Some activities that are in addition to learning the teachings of the Buddha include: 

• Our annual Halloween Party, haunted house and lunch
• Community Excursion – this year we hope to sponsor a visit to the California Academy of Sciences
• Mochi Tsuki – the whole church gather to make mochi in December
• Family Activity in the Spring – this year we are making sushi!
• Hanamatsuri Play
• Our Bazaar with two days of games and food open to the community on Father’s Day
• Church Picnic in July
• Obon dancing in August

We would love to see you and hope you are able to join us.  Please call me if you have any questions.

Gassho,

Maya Lawrence
Superintendent
Buddhist Church of Oakland Dharma School
maya.lawrence@comcast.net
925-283-2841