Email Connie Smith

15 yrs as catechist
13 yrs as Director of Religious Education

Has been involved as a board member, Diocese of Joliet Religious Ed Board for 6 yrs

Has been involved in marriage prep programs, RCIA, pre-school, vacation bible school, Scripture Study, Seasonal Adult Groups, Youth and adult choirs.

Responsible for Religious Education as well as oversee Youth Ministry and Adult Formation.

New Wine Mentor

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ST. MARTIN OF TOURS
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION HANDBOOK 2002-2003
MISSION STATEMENT

The religious education of children is an important ministry at St. Martin of Tours parish. Through the parish school and religious education program, we continue the mission of Jesus Christ:

Proclaiming the Word of God,
Celebrating the sacred mysteries,
Serving God's People

The religious education program has as its goal the formation of the children in our parish. Through activities and experiences in the three areas of Word, Worship and Community, we hope to lead our children to a mature faith that is living, conscious and active.

The policies outlined below have been established so that the catechetical instruction of the children in the Religious Education classes can be carried out in an efficient and orderly fashion. Parents are asked to read these policies and keep this book as a reference. Parents are responsible for the information contained in the handbook.

THE ROLE OF PARENTS

Much has been written concerning the importance of parental involvement in the faith of children. Reserach proves that the home is the critical educational institution in both the religious and secular areas of instruction. Because of the short amount of time in the Religious Education Program, the catechists rely on the parents to support their efforts in the classroom. Specific examples of parental support will be explained later, but in general, we in the Religious Education Program view our role as one of assisting you in the faith formation of your children.

* Room Parents - Each class has a room parent, who is responsible for making phone calls and special class projects as well as attendance with the class at liturgies.

GENERAL INFORMATION

ADMISSION

No student will be denied admission to any catechetical program on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin. No student shall be denied admission because of finances. Any financial barrier should be discussed with the Director of Religious Education. Confidentiality is strictly enforced.

The catechetical staff presumes that children enrolled in Religious Education classes are participating members of this or a neighboring parish. This would minimally mean being listed in the parish registry and attendance at Weekend Eucharist.

REGISTRATION

Registration of students in the Religious Education Program takes place before clases begin. This will be done in May for students already attending our R.E.P. A fall registration will be conducted for any students new to the parish. Admission after classes have begun must be cleared through the director of religious education.

TUITION FEES 2002-2003

Parishoner

1 child - $70.00
2 children - $120.00
3 children - $135.00
4 or more - $150.00

Non-Parishoner

1 child - $95.00
2 children - $175.00
3 children - $190.00
4 or more - $225.00

All tuition and fees should be paid at registration. Delayed payment can be arranged with the director of religious education.

CLASS, ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

The Religious Education classes are held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. A calendar is issued at the beginning of the year. It has important dates of parent meetings and vacation days. Please keep it handy for reference throughout the year.

Students are to arrive not more than ten minutes before classes begin. They are to report to their assigned rooms. Students will not be allowed in the building until 6:20 p.m. Parents must pick up their children at the classroom after the dismissal bell at 7:45 p.m. This only takes a few moments and the safety of the children is worth the extra minute this might take.

ATTENDANCE

Our program offers 38 hours of instruction. In the course of the school year, we have a very limited amount of time. Therefore, we feel that attendance is crucial.

If your child must be absent, we expect to be notified. Please call the R.E.D. (932-7911) after 6:15 p.m. You can also call during the week during school hours to report an anticipated absence. WE WILL CALL YOU if your child is absent and we have not been notified. We also are required to ask for a reason for the absence. During the day the phone is answered Aqiunas Catholic Academy - ask for the Religious Education Office.

We would expect that you would use good parental judgement in the matter of sick children. A sick child is to stay home.

Students are expected to make up any work missed. Catechists will send work home. Make-up work should be returned when the student returns to class.

Students with the help of their parents will make religious education a priority in their lives.

If a child's religious education is interrupted due to other priorities, the student will be able to enroll in another program at another parish for an additional fee. Or the students will be in a home-school experience lead by their parent. (One who has attended classes to prepare for the task.) Any change in scheduling must be cleared with the Director of Religious Education.

TARDINESS

When a child arrives late for class, he/she disrupts the flow of the classroom activity. If a child arrives tardy (with a legitimate reason) it is necessary that he/she report to the secretary before going to class. If a child is continually tardy, a conference will be held with the parents.

It is discouraged for children to leave class early. If a child must leave early, parents must contact the director of the program. Catechists will not release a student from class without the permission of the director.

PROMOTION

In a religious education program, retention is not always in the best interest of the child. Conversely, if a child has been continually absent or has put in little effort in class, it would not be fair to automatically promote him/her to the next grade. The following policy is in effect concerning promotions:

If a student has five unexcused absences, or has consistently shown no effort or progress in the classroom work, that child will be required to attend make-up classes before he/she will be promoted to the next grade level.

An unexcused absence is defined as an absence that we were not notified about and/or one in which no make-up work was done. A conference will be held with the parents if there is an indication that this policy will have to be enforced.

BOOKS AND SUPPLIES

Each student is expected to bring his/her books to class. Upper grade students should also bring a pen. If a book is lost or destroyed, the student and/or parents will have to purchase a new one. Other materials will be provided. All textbooks are $15.00 to replace.

HOMEWORK

In a religious education class, homework is a means of extending the lesson beyond the classroom. Because there is a week between the time an assignment is made and when it is due, it would be expected that homework should be completed and turned in when it is due. If a student does not complete homework, the catechists will contact parents. It is helpful if parents check over their child's work and discuss its contents. Remember the R.E.P and parents are working together.

In all classes children are asked to memorize prayers. It is impossible to take class time to work on memorizing prayers. It is of great help to the catechist when parents go over any memorization. Many of the required prayers are in the back of the religion text.

Sometimes a particular assignment will involve a family activity. Please make it possible for your child to complete these kinds of activities. It's even fun to do together. Involvement with the child is important. Often parents set aside time for R.E. homework each week.

REPORT FORMS

Evaluation forms (report cards) are issued twice a year. The first one is given in Jan./Feb. and the second in May. These reports are means to communicate to you how your child is progressing in class. The catechist is always willing to discuss your child's progress. At times students are given tests to measure how much information has been retained. These tests, homework assignments, classroom behavior and participation are the areas that are reported to you. On the Jan./Feb. report form you are asked to sign a form that states that you have read it.

INFORMATIONAL LETTERS/NEWS

From time to time, newsletters and notes will be sent home to parents. Please emphasize to your child the importance of bringing notes and letters home to parents. There is a monthly newsletter which is sent home the last Wednesday of the month. Please read it. It is our main source of communication.

EMERGENCY CANCELLATION OF CLASSES

If there is a need to cancel classes because of weather please listen to the local radio station (WKAN/WLRT) for announcements. Please do not call the rectory. The decision is made usually after 5:00 p.m.

SACRAMENT INFORMATION AND PREPARATION

Children are prepared to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation. Parents are required to attend parent meetings prior to the celebration of each sacrament.

RECONCILIATION AND EUCHARIST

The sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) is celebrated by the 2nd graders sometime in late fall. The sacrament of Eucharist is celebrated in May by the 2nd graders. It is important for parents to help with this preparation.

A child is expected to have sufficient religious education background before being admitted to a sacramental preparation program. In the case of Reconciliation and Eucharist, a child should have been regularly attending Religious Education Classes in grade 1.

CONFIRMATION

Catechesis for the Sacrament of Confirmation begins in the 7th grade with the sacrament being conferred in the spring of the 8th grade year. Students in the confirmation preparation program are asked to participate in several planned activities in addition to time in class. These would include: retreats, interviews with the pastor and/or parish staff, engaging in works of Christian service, and the mastery of the Catholic faith. A child is expected to have sufficient religious education background before being admitted to a sacramental preparation program. Students would have been regularly attending R.E. classes throughout the grades.

For students lacking this background, admittance into a sacramental preparation program must be cleared through the D.R.E.

For students of catechetical age who have not been baptized, a special program of instruction will be provided. Parents will also need to attend one of the scheduled parish Baptismal Preparation classes.

Older students who are in need of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist will be prepared by the coordinator or another parish catechist. Celebration of these sacraments will be determined by the parents, pastor and director of religious education.

Students unable to participate in confirmation at St. Martin's will be able to make their Confirmation the following year after attending a review session prior to Confirmation.

GENERAL RULES FOR R.E. STUDENTS

Catechist will go over the general rules and regulations for behavior on the first day of classes. Students are expected to abide by these rules. Failure to follow these rules could result in being asked to leave the Religious Education Program. Also, individual teachers will have rules for the classroom. These will be explained the first day of class.

Our new discipline policy is:

1. Child will be sent to the office for misbehavior or disrepect. The parent will be sent a notice of such.

2. If the child is sent to the office a second time, a parent will be asked to come to class with the student upon return.

RULES FOR R.E.P. STUDENTS

1. Classes are held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:45. You should go directly to your classroom. Do not loiter in the halls or in the bathroom. Wait patiently until a catechist arrives. Do not enter a room without a catechist present.

2. Attendance is taken at the beginning of class. If you are late coming in, go to the front desk and tell the secretary you are here.

3. You share a classroom with the school students.You should never touch anything in a desk or a locker. You should respect anything that is on a teacher's desk or that is displayed in the room. Do not open windows or blinds. Do not write on the chalkboard unless the catechist tells you.

4. Courtesy and respect should be shown to everyone, especially the pastor, your teacher, teacher aides, the secretary, and the director.When Father greets you, greet him back. You show courtesy aand respect by listening to to these peoplewhen they talk to you. If there is an announcement over the PA, listen carefully.

5. School clothes should be worn. Athletic clothes, uniforms, etc. should not be worn. Any shoes that damage the floor, such as football shoes, should not be worn. During wet and snowy weather, please wipe your shoes or boots before going to class. The floor is slippery when wet. On some occasons we will be going to mass or prayer services in the church or another prayer space. One way to to show respect for God is by the way we dress when we go to church, and by our behavior. Dress clothes are requested on mass days.

6. Your books and folders must be brought to class every week. Sometimes there will be assignments. It is your responsibility to see that you have your books and homework when you come to class. If you loose a book or damage it, it is your responsibility to get one.

7. From time to time, you will have to bring notes home. They are very important. Be sure to give them to your parents right away. A newsletter is sent home at the end of each month.

8. You should ask permission to use the bathroom during class. You should not use the bathroom except in emergencies. Bathrooms should be used before coming to class.

9.Gum, candy, and other food must not be brought to class. DO NOT BRING SKATEBOARDS OR ROLLARBLADES; they are not alllowed on parish property. Do not bring objects that will disrupt learning such as toys, radios, etc. Do not bring friends to class, unless pre-arranged with the D.R.E.

10.Proper behavior is expected when we arrive in church as well as in class. We genuflect when we enter our pew. At mass, we sing and say our prayers and listen to the priest. The mass is not a spectator sport. We have only attended mass when we have participated.

11. Catechists have the right to keep disruptive students after class. This is a detention. When a student is not following a rule and will not listen to the catechist warning, then the student may be kept after class. Detentions are for ten minutes. Your parents will have to wait for you. Repeated misbehavior can result in being expelled from regular class attendance.