News and Information from the Dharma School
Please make a donation to the BCO Dharma School
Join the BCO Dharma School Registration
- Contact Dharma School – DharmaSchool@BuddhistChurchOfOakland.org
*Updated 6/26/2024
The Buddhist Church of Oakland Dharma School will be starting our year in September and we extend our most cordial welcome to you.
Our first service of the year will be in September. We serve welcome coffee, juice, bagels and pastries in the Social Hall, available at 9:15 am before 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 10:00am. Rev. Bridge is a young and energetic minister who tailors his Dharma Talks to the Dharma School children. Dharma School students then go to their classes. For the first Sunday, we spend a few minutes on a “welcome back activity” for all the Dharma School families before the students go to class.
We structure our classes based on the numbers of children registered. Classes are grouped as follows:
- Preschool through 2nd grade;
- 3rd through 5th grade;
- Middle School
- High School (supervised by Rev. Bridge).
Classes are dismissed usually around 11:45am.
The Dharma School is devoted to providing a relaxed, enjoyable introduction to Shin Buddhism, its teachings and 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:
- “Kid Friendly” Dharma Services
- BCO Kids Club Events for Children
- Our annual October Halloween Party, haunted house and lunch
- Community Excursion
- Toy Drive – Toy Collection in collaboration with Oakland Fire Department
- Mochitsuki – the whole church gathers to make mochi in December
- Family Activity in the Spring
- Hanamatsuri Student Play
- Our Nikkoland Bazaar and Food Festival with two days of games and food open to the community on Father’s Day Weekend
- Obon Festival with dancing and food in August
We would love to see you and hope you are able to join us.
*** 2024-25 Dharma School Registration Form – Click Here***
June 2024
Graduation Day – June 2023
Dharma School Field Trip – Marine Mammal Center
Other Related Dharma School Websites
Dharma School – Oakland Fire Department Toy Drive
Please make a donation to BCO Dharma School
Past Events:
Dharma School Tote Bag and T-Shirt Sale – May/June 2023
Support our Dharma School program with a T-shirt featuring the Buddha Loves You Bunch and a large cotton tote bag featuring our Bodhi leaf on an Uchiwa fan, just in time for summer excursions!
The T-shirts are black 100% preshrunk cotton and are available in all-gender adult sizes from small to 4XL and youth sizes from xsmall to large.
- Dharma School T-shirts cost: $25
- Dharma School Tote bags cost: $25
Online Order. Sale End June 25, 2023. Please contact the Dharma School if you are interested in a t-shirt and/or tote bag, there may be a few left in stock.
8/27/2024posted – Meeting The Moment
Live & Online
Saturday September 14, 2024
- Live and Online
- Held at the Buddhist Church of Oakland – RSVP Requested
- Streamed on Zoom – RSVP Requested
Presented by:
- BCO’s Dharma School
- Berkeley Buddhist Temple’s Blend Committee
- Mountain View Buddhist Temple’s Engaged Sangha Committee
Flyer Link
10/30/2022 – Halloween Event @ BCO
January 2023 – Banner Raising Request
This “Banner Raising Request” was presented by the BCO Dharma School and Outreach committee to the BCO Board at the January 3, 2024 Board Meeting. After a presentation and discussion the BCO Board voted and approved the request.
Sunday, December 5, 2021 @ 9:45am – An Author’s Visit with Katie Yamasaki
Event Flyer PDF
- Please email us for information on this event: DharmaSchoolBCO@gmail.com
Sunday, October 10th @ 10am – Virtual Online Event
The BCO Dharma School is holding a “Author’s Visit” Event with Joanna Ho, author of Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma.
Sunday, October 10th @ 10am – Virtual Online Event.
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