Queen of all saints. Religious education handbook

Transcription

1 Queen of all saints Religious education handbook 1715 East Barker Avenue Michigan City, Indiana Telephone: Let the children come to me. Matthew 19:14 Parent/student handbook

2 The Tiny Seeds Program: Preschool and Kindergarten students meet on Sunday mornings, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The Tiny Seeds Program seeks to instill a solid spiritual foundation that will stay with your child/children throughout life. Classes consist of reading Bible stories, simple crafts and activity projects, songs and finger plays geared toward the child s age level, music, and short prayers. The director of the Tiny Seeds Program is Kathy Hannon. Students may register for this program at the Religious Education Registration night on September 5, Any other registration dates will be announced in the bulletin. Beginning in October, the students in the Tiny Seeds Program will follow the same schedule as the Religious Education students.

3 Guidelines for the Religions Education Program ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL Our parking area is very busy due to the Religious Education and Mass schedules. We ask that you walk into the building when you bring your child to class. Parents are asked to come into the building to pick up your children after class each Sunday. Their safety is our utmost concern. Parents are welcome and encouraged to be present in the school. You may wait outside your child s class until the dismissal bell rings. Any parent wishing to attend the 9:30 a.m. Mass on a Sunday when the religious education classes will not be attending may pick up your family members from the school at the 9:25 a.m. dismissal time. Please DO NOT instruct your child/ren to walk over to Church by themselves. Please remember that on the third Sunday of each month, students will attend 9:30 a.m. Mass. Students will enter the Church in time for Mass with their classes. Each child may either sit with his/her family or with his/her class during Mass. Parents are expected to be present in the Church during this Mass. Please notify the catechist if you remove your child from his/her clas.s It is very important that students arrive and depart promptly. There is much activity at Queen of All Saints on Sunday mornings! Students are to enter and exit using the breezeway doors on the Woodland Ave. side of the building. Parents/Guardians must notify teachers in writing if someone other than the parent/guardian will be picking up the child following class. ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCE Classes meet from 8:15 a.m. to 9:25 a.m. They will begin and end promptly. PLEASE make every effort to have your children here on time for class and pick them up on time. Attendance will be recorded. Students are expected to attend every scheduled class or event, unless sickness prevents them from doing so. Class is not a substitute for Mass. Please call the office ( ) to report an absence FOR ANY REASON! You will be called if we do not receive a message from you. Please limit absences to emergencies only. Our time is limited and is very valuable. BEHAVIOR Christian behavior and manners are expected from every student in the religious education program. Students are expected to: have a positive attitude before, during, and after class. treat fellow classmates and adults with respect. come prepared with the books and materials that have been assigned. complete all homework assignments. leave toys, electronic devices (cell phones, ipods, etc.) and other distractions at home. If a student is disruptive, usually a reminder is enough to correct the behavior. However, repeated disruptions will be treated as follows: The Director will speak with the student during or following class. Parents will be called. The students will be removed from the program.

4 CANCELLATION OF CLASSES 2 Classes will not be canceled due to weather. If dangerous weather should occur, please use your own judgment as to the safety of travel. Notify the Religious Education Office ( ) if you have decided to remain home. CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR TELEPHONE It is important that records be kept up to date. Therefore, the Religious Education Office must be notified immediately of any change of address, telephone, or emergency number. DRESS CODE All students are to come dressed in modest and appropriate attire. No student is permitted to wear a hat in the school building or at any religious affair or practice. No signs or emblems contrary to our religious beliefs may be worn on the clothing of the students. Students should come dressed appropriately for Mass on the third Sunday of each month. HOMEWORK Students will be assigned homework at the discretion of the catechist. Please check with your child weekly. The catechist is attempting to assist you, as parents or guardians, in the religious formation of you child/children. Many of the assignments will help you in this area. If formal homework is not assigned, please consider some of the following activities: Read a Bible story. Discuss how it can relate to your lives today. Set aside some time each week as prayer time for your family. Read and discuss the lives of the saints. Discuss as a family the Sunday gospel and homily. LITURGY It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to insure that the child attends Mass regularly. On the third Sunday of each month, the religious education students will be participating as lectors and altar servers at the 9:30 a.m. Mass. Students will enter the Church with the members of their class. All students in the Religious Education Program are asked to be present for these Masses. Students will enter the Church with their classes, where each child may be seated with his/her class or family. PARENT/STUDENT MEETINGS There are special parent/student meetings held throughout the year. Parents and children who will receive a sacrament this year will be required to be present at these meetings. The meetings will be noted on the schedule, which will be available at the registration night, and posted on our website at PROGRESS REPORTS Parents and catechists are encouraged to communicate with each other regarding the progress of the children. Catechists are always to be contacted first if a problem arises pertaining to the class, homework, or behavior. Parents will receive Progress Reports twice during the Religious Education Year. The first will be received during the second week in January. Please sign and return these promptly to your child s catechist. Your comments are encouraged and appreciated. Students will receive a second Progress Report on the final day of class.

5 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS 3 Religious education news and reminders will be sent via to families who provide an e- mail address. Others will receive written information on the first Sunday of the month. SCHEDULE Our yearly schedule will be available at registration and also posted at Classes begin promptly at 8:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings and end at 9:25 a.m. Tiny Seeds meets from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMS First Reconciliation: The second grade class spends time throughout the year preparing to receive this sacrament. A variety of resources are used for their preparation, including the textbook, God Cares for Us (Loyola). Students will participate in a retreat prior to receiving the sacrament. Student must have proof of participation in a first grade religious education program before registering in the second grade class. Parents and students are required to attend two preparation meetings before receiving the sacrament. Students will celebrate the sacrament with their families according to the regularly scheduled parish confession schedule during a Saturday of your choosing during Lent. First Eucharist: The third grade class spends time throughout the year preparing to receive this sacrament. The textbook used to prepare for this is We Believe (Loyola). Students will participate in a retreat prior to receiving the sacrament. Students must have proof of participation in a second grade religious education program before registering in the third grade class. Parents and students are required to attend two preparation meetings before receiving the sacrament. First Eucharist will be celebrated at the 11:30 a.m. Mass on the first Sunday of May. Confirmation: Confirmation takes place in grade eight. In addition to attendance on Sunday mornings, students will attend a Welcoming Ceremony, the Grasta de, and a retreat. Students will also participate in service hours that will be planned by the catechist and director of religious education. The text used for this program is Confirmed in the Spirit. (Loyola). It is required that students have proof of participation in a seventh grade religious education program before registering in the eighth grade class. Parents and students are required to attend one preparation meeting with the pastor prior to attending the Welcoming Ceremony. R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults): Students who have been baptized, but are older than second grade and have not yet received the sacraments of Reconciliation or Holy Eucharist, will participate in the R.C.I.A. Program. The parents of these students should contact the religious education office ( ). Students will join the Religious Education Program following this process.

6 TUITION/SUPPLIES/REGISTRATION 4 Students in grades 1-8 use the Christ our Life series from Loyola Press. Registration takes place at a time and place publicized in the parish bulletin. It is the responsibility of parents to register their children and complete a new registration form each year. The textbooks and supplies are covered by the religious education fees. Tuition is $85.00 per student or $ per family. For anyone who registers after the registration night, the fee is $90.00 per student or $ per family. Students must be responsible for bringing their books and assignments to class regularly. All books that are lost must be replaced immediately at the student s expense. VIRTUS TRAINING Anyone who works with students or volunteers in any capacity in the Diocese of Gary must submit to a criminal background check and be trained in the VIRTUS program. All catechists have met this requirement. Any parents who wish to volunteer must also participate in this diocesan mandated program. Opportunities for training are listed at We acknowledge and express our sincere appreciation to all who are involved in our Religious Education Program at Queen of All Saints. May God continue to reward you for your generous offering of faith, time, and effort. We expect to see our families at Mass every week.

7 Dear Parents/Guardians: I hope you have had a restful summer and feel renewed and invigorated for a new year of religious education activities. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that the family and parents are the PRIMARY educators of the faith for their children. It is through your word and example that your children first come to know God and begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When children are baptized, the Church community promises to help parents foster their faith. Our religious education program is here to assist and support you in this important duty. I ask you to encourage regular attendance and participation in Religious Education classes and activities. Religious Education classes are not a substitute for attendance at Mass. Our faith requires weekly attendance at Mass. We will attend the 9:30 a.m. Mass as a group on the third Sunday of every month. All baptized Catholics need to prioritize the activities in their lives and attend Mass every week of the year. The Education and Formation Commission is planning some special and exciting activities for families during the seasons of Advent and Lent. Please watch for the opportunity to participate in these faith formation opportunities. The goals for our program are: to develop an understanding of the Catholic faith and practices in the lives of our families. to foster a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer. to prepare students to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation. Please feel free to call me or contact your child s catechist. Communication is essential to success in our program. The religious education telephone number is I look forward to seeing you and working with you as we join together to guide our children to know, love, and serve Our Lord. God bless, Kathy Moskovich Director of Religious Education

8 Confirmation Dates to Remember Monday, October 8 Saturday, October 13 Sunday,October 14 Saturday, February 2 Saturday, February 9 Saturday, February 16 Saturday, March 2 Parent/Child Meeting for Confirmation (in church), 6:30 p.m. Rite of Welcoming for Confirmation Candidates, 4:30 p.m. Mass Grasta de at Andrean High School Training for retreat facilitators, 9:00-10:30 a.m. Training for retreat facilitators, 9:00-10:30 a.m. Training for retreat facilitators, 9:00-10:30 a.m. Tentative date for Confirmation Retreat *** Service hours are required for each student. The times and locations will be arranged after class begins. ***The date for the Sacrament of Confirmation will be announced by Bishop Melczek. ***VIRTUS Training will take place for all parents wishing to participate in the Confirmation Preparation sessions who have not already been trained. The dates for Virtus Training are: Tuesday, September 11, at 6:30 p.m. and Monday, November 12, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. It is only necessary to attend ONE meeting.

9 First Communion Dates to Remember Tuesday, November 6 Thursday, March 14 Saturday, April 13 Wednesday, May 1 Friday, May 3 Sunday, May 5 Parent/Child Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Parent/Child Meeting, 6:30 p.m. First Communion Retreat, 9 a.m.-12:00 in the school First Communion Practice, 6:30 p.m. in the Church Individual Pictures, 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Church First Holy Communion, 11:30 a.m. Mass First Reconciliation Dates to Remember Tuesday, October 23 Parent/Child Meeting, 6:300 p.m. Saturday, January 19 First Reconciliation Retreat, 9:00-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 5 Parent/Child Meeting, 6:30 p.m. The sacrament will be celebrated on one of the following Saturdays of your choice during Lent: Feb. 16, 23, March 2, 9, 16.