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Class Times
Preschool (no fee): Sundays 11:00a.m. - Noon, St. Mary’s School
Kindergarten thru Fifth: Wednesday 4:00p.m. - 5:15p.m., St. Mary’s School
Sixth thru Eighth and One session of Second Grade: Wednesday 6:30p.m. - 7:45p.m., St. Mary’s School or other sites when indicated
Confirmation (9th grade): Wednesday 6:30p.m. - 7:45p.m., St. Mary’s School or other sites when indicated
Parental Support
Since it is so very important for parents/guardians to share their faith with their children, we invite parents/guardians to participate in scheduled activities. We welcome your questions and input. Please feel free to call the Religious Education Office at any time. We are here to assist you in any way we can when dealing with faith education materials, student concerns, or your own concerns.
Parents are expected to spend time talking with their child(ren) about what he/she has learned during a Religious Education session, as well as taking part in the family activity pages from the student text or participation in class projects. We urge all of our families to pray together and to make full use of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as a reference tool on Catholic doctrine. Keep in mind; if parents show an interest in their children’s faith life, they too will have an interest!
“Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and service are the rule...Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child’s earliest years...Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith. Parents have the mission of teaching their children to pray and to discover their vocation as children of God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2223)
Arrival/Dismissal
Supervision is not available more than 10 minutes before the start of each session. Students of the 4:00 pm session should gather in the School Hall no earlier than 3:50 pm. Students in the 6:30 pm session should arrive no earlier than 6:20 pm. Please note that students will not be dismissed from their class until all materials are put away and the students are quiet and orderly. For students in grades K – 5th parents must come into the school hall to sign out their child. Detailed arrival/dismissal information is explained in a separate handout issued at the beginning of each school year.
It is imperative to the safety of our children, volunteers and other family members that the procedure for arrival and dismissal be followed.
Communication
Information pertinent to religious education classes, schedules, and events are listed in the Sunday bulletin. Additionally, families will receive a monthly newsletter from the Religious Education Office in an effort to keep you informed. You may also check our website at http://www.stmaryreligioused.com/.
The parent's first link is through the child's catechist. If you have any questions or concerns regarding classroom lessons, behavior, attendance, homework, or class events, the first step is to contact the classroom teacher. If that contact does not resolve your question or concern, contact the Director or Coordinator of Religious Education. Open communication between the parents, students, catechists, staff, and administrators is encouraged. It is the intent of St. Mary that all communication shall be conducted in a respectful manner. We believe in following Christ's example of "...striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace."
Discipline
St. Mary’s Religious Education Program recognizes the call of Jesus Christ to love and take care of one another and that this sometimes calls for assertive discipline designed to help each person grow to their fullest potential. We expect that all classes will be governed by Jesus’ great commandments of love of God and love of neighbor. This establishes that every member of the program has a right to be treated with the same respect and kindness that Jesus treated others with and also that we have a right to challenge one another to discover the full meaning of Jesus’ message.
Catechists and host homes will have their own group rules, which the students will be expected to respect. Since our catechists volunteer their time to share faith instruction with the students, they are not expected to put up with rude or disruptive behavior. Catechists may choose to speak with the parents/guardians if students show signs of poor behavior or performance. Students continually disruptive or disrespectful will be asked to speak to one of the program administrators. After one of these meetings (student and administrator), the administrator and catechist will meet to discuss the situation. Serious situations will result in parent/guardian consultations. If a student repeatedly exhibits poor behavior or shows signs of trouble or distress and there has already been an initial catechist/administrator meeting, the administrator will contact the parent/guardian and decide on a course of action in the best interest of the student and the program.
Electronic Devices
Electronic devices (other than medical) are not to be brought into class sessions during regular programming. Devices brought into class sessions will be held by the catechist, home parent, or administrator until after class.
Food, Candy, Gum
Students are asked not to chew gum, bring candy, or bring food to class. Exceptions may be made by the class catechist for class treats and parties. When treats are brought into a class session, clean up is always expected.
Class Cancellations
Class cancellations generally follow the Sycamore School District. If classes are cancelled in the public schools or St. Mary School due to severe weather, threatening conditions, or special situations, religious education classes will also be cancelled for that day. The Sycamore School District announces cancellations over radio stations WSQR AM 1560, WLBK AM 1360, and WDKB FM 94.9. Occasionally, there is a situation whereby a catechist is ill and a substitute cannot be arranged and the class must be cancelled. In this event, either the catechist or the Religious Education Office will contact each family. Always be sure to check our website home page if there is any doubt.
Prayer
Prayer continues to be a strong part of our program. We encourage all households to set up their own time at home to pray. Through prayer, we really can change ourselves and the world. Whether you choose traditional prayers, meditation, praying with scripture, or other ways of prayer, you will help yourself and your child deal with the many pressures that society places on all of us. Go to the home page for the complete traditional prayers.
Student Attendance
St. Mary’s Religious Education Program expects the presence of each student at every scheduled session, recognizing the call of Jesus Christ to build up God’s Kingdom here on earth and realizing that it is through personal presence to one another that our greatest learning occurs and community grows. However, we know there are special circumstances or illness that require an absence either to be scheduled in advance or to occur spontaneously.
We request the courtesy of a phone call or note (in advance when possible) if a student must miss a session.
It is essential to faith development that parents partner with the parish as co-teachers of the faith for God’s child(ren). Parents should make every effort to see that their child(ren) attend every scheduled catechetical session of the Religious Education Program. In the event of a missed session, however, the parents/guardians are responsible for:
- contacting the catechist for information regarding the missed lesson
- teaching the missed lesson
- informing the catechist upon the completion of the lesson make-up
If a student misses more than one-third of the class sessions, there may need to be an administrator and parent/guardian meeting to determine the best placement of the student for the following year. Students in sacramental preparation are expected to have comprehension of their faith commitment and lessons before reception of the sacrament.
Assignments, Texts, and Materials
Students are responsible for completing all assignments given to them. If the teacher chooses not to keep textbooks in the classroom, students are expected to bring their textbooks to class each week. (Replacement texts will cost $18 each.)
Occasionally, notes will be sent home informing you of upcoming events. We encourage you to check with your child(ren) each week for handouts and check the website weekly.
Calendar
Student Religious Education classes are scheduled regularly September through April. The calendar contains the official schedule of classes. Parents/guardians and students should look at this calendar of official program dates. If there are revisions to the calendar, they will be published on the website, in the parish bulletin, and through notes sent home. Changes that would affect a particular program level will be sent home with the affected students via a written notice.
Registration
Students enrolling in the program need to complete the registration forms each year. Registration packets will be mailed out in the spring, or print out the form from the website and return it to the Religious Education Office. Click here New registrations into the program are accepted any time providing there are openings available in the desired grade level. Students will be admitted into their class section at a convenient point in the programming after personal contact with the parent/guardian and an administrator.
*Registration will not be accepted for sacramental preparation classes (2nd grade and 9th grade) after the 3rd meeting of regular class sessions except if they have just moved into the area or have just registered with the parish. This policy allows for people who move into the area after the RE year has begun yet maintains the integrity of catechesis in preparation for the meaningful reception of the sacrament.
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