OFFICE HOURS CLASS TIMES To report a student's absence, please call
(815) 758-8504. Registration
and Tuition 1- child - $125.00 Payment schedules include: 1 Full Payment - Due September 1 8 Monthly payments - Due on Sept. 1, Oct. 1, Nov. 1, Dec. 1, Jan. 1, Feb. 1, March 1, and April 1 1 - child - $15.63 per month For what does my tuition pay? It represents the cost of textbooks, catechist manuals and materials, catechist education, sacramental preparation, communication costs, volunteer appreciation, family and special programs, curriculum development, and general office operation. Since occasional absences affect a student's progress, we expect cooperation in keeping instances to a minimum. Scheduling of the year is done to coordinate with the public school year as much as possible, but occasional conflicts may arise. If your child is ill or an emergency arises, please notify the RE office before classes begin (758-8504). If your child misses two consecutive classes without notification, or is late two or more class times, you will be contacted by the DFF and CRE. Absent students will be required to complete assignments missed during their absences. Absences due to a sport activity do not constitute an excused absence. Any student in this category will be expected to do a make-up session or extra written work. Repeated tardiness is not acceptable. It is disruptive to the catechist and other students. Children should arrive 5 minutes before but not more than 10 minutes before class begins, (Sundays - 10: 40, Wednesdays 6:10). Children in grades 5-8 that arrive late will need to go to the office before going to class. Parents of children who are repeatedly late will be called by the CRE, or the DFF to discuss a solution to the problem. Please drive slowly and carefully when you arrive and leave the building
premises. The safety of your child(ren) is a priority, and your cooperation
is needed. Parents must park car and bring children to and from
classes. No drive up and pick up is acceptable. Please park for the
safety of the children. Students should not arrive earlier than
ten minutes prior to the start of their class. Parents are to pick
up their child in their classroom. If a sibling or older child will
be doing so, parents must notify the catechist in advance. Only if
you are not able to enter the building will the children wait on the
curb and you must park your car and walk to the curb to get the child. For communication to be effective in any program, it is essential that everyone be open, honest, and direct with one another. This pertains to the DRE, catechists, parents and students. We are to be Christ-like in our words and actions. Parents should check their child's folder each week for any notes on upcoming events, or policy/program changes. Please show you support by reading all correspondence, assignments, and resources given to your child. If there are any special problems or needs of which we should be aware or any concerns you wish to share, please contact the RE office to schedule an appointment with the DRE. In order to have the most effective program possible, it is imperative that each student show respect for the catechist and other students by behaving properly. Remembering that our catechists are most often not certified teachers, but rather generous adult volunteers who desire to share their faith and love with children, we must make every effort to remind our children of the behavior we expect in the classroom. For each class, the catechist and students will set the ground rules. Some basic ground rules are:
Parents of children who repeatedly disrupt class will be notified by phone. When necessary, a parent will be asked to attend class with their child until such a time that the child's behavior is no longer disruptive. A conference with the student, parents, catechist, and DFF or the Pastor may be necessary. This process is meant to be a positive and helpful resolution. The conference is not meant to intimidate the child or parent, but invite insight and collaboration in order to resolve conflict. Parents should inform the CRE or DFF of any special needs or stress a student may be experiencing. Often a simple awareness or sensitivity to special needs or situations is all that is needed. Parents together with their children are expected to participate in the Catholic Community of St. Mary by joining in the celebration of Mass and partaking in the Sacraments they have received. Parents need to give visible signs of their faith through prayers, worship and sacramental celebrations. It is important that parents make religious education a priority so as to enrich our children's lives with our Catholic values and traditions. Religious Education must begin with regular attendance at the Sunday Liturgy, thus providing a sound basis for RE classes. At baptism, as parents, you were named the primary educator of your child. You have the major responsibility for the development of the gift of faith in your child. The Religious Education Catechist is merely an aide to the parent's role in this process. Be familiar with the material they are using. Feel free to consult any member of our staff with questions or concerns, and by all means please take advantage to discuss, share and build a faith relationship with your child. Guidelines The parish of St. Mary now offers a program of prayer and discernment for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. These sacraments are an early step on your child's journey of faith - not the end of the journey. It will be the beginning of life-long communion in the Catholic faith. Reconciliation and the Body and Blood of Christ will be available to strengthen and grace your child at every step of life's journey. For each family, these first sacraments are a chance for a new beginning, for a renewal of dedication to and appreciation of the sacraments. Preparation Schedule
Contact the Office
of Faith Formation for further details.
Holy Days of Obligation are special feasts on which we as Catholics are seriously obliged, as on Sundays, to attend Mass and to avoid unnecessary work. When a Holy Day falls on a Saturday or Monday, the obligation to attend is generally commuted to Sunday; however it is a good practice to attend Mass nonetheless.
All students will participate in both Fire and Tornado drills during
the fall and spring of the program year. Signs are posted throughout
the building indicating where each classroom should report during these
drills or in the case of an actual emergency. This is an alternative program offered to those families who might
find difficulty in attending weekly sessions, or for the family interested
in spending more time together spiritually growing in their faith.
Each family is responsible for weekly lessons studied in the home.
Materials
are purchased through the Office of Faith Formation and are
age-level appropriate for each child in the family. Parent guides are
also provided to help in lesson preparation. Parents are welcome to attend any class session or catechist's meeting. Interviews with catechists must be arranged in advance. Students are not to bring other student visitors and friends to class sessions unless parents submit a signed written request with a verbal confirmation to the RE office prior to the class session. All visitors to the program must register at the RE office located within the Parish Ministry Center. Unknown visitors will be requested to leave or to wait in the office until the session is over. Please see Youth Ministry for the High School Religious Education program. This page was last modified on October 3, 2007
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
