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St. Ann Catholic Parish

2014/15 Family Handbook

Children’s Religious Education Department


According to the U.S. Bishops, parents are the primary educators of the faith for their children. Parents are the most important example of what it means to be a follower of Christ because parents are a child’s tangible experience of God’s love. The Church is charged with helping parents in their most important responsibility; helping their children form as Disciples of Christ. We in the Children’s Religious Education Office take this call very seriously. Thank you for entrusting your children to us in this most sacred task!

We Believe That: Our Aim in C.R.E. is to:

* The home is the most influential * Enrich and supplement the home
factor in the life of a child.

* Religious Education is a partner in * Provide a faith-filled atmosphere

supporting Christian values and for children, to create a sense of attitudes that are formed church community, and to help children

in the home. experience living their faith
* Catechists are faith filled people * Cooperate with God through staff and dedicated to spreading the message volunteers to help each child experience of God’s love. the personal love of Jesus

The Goals of Our Program:
* To introduce the person of Jesus and to teach his message.
* To build up the community of Catholic believers.
* To develop authentic lives of prayer and worship.
* To foster a spirit of service to others within the Christian community and beyond.
Parents’ Responsibilities

* Model your faith daily.
* Share prayer at home and attend Mass each week with your child.

* Provide your child with opportunities to learn and practice their faith at home and within our parish community.
* Encourage regular and prompt attendance at all Religious Education classes & activities.

* Support the procedures and policies explained in this handbook.

* Be aware of the Children’s Religious Education calendar and class schedule.

* Watch the weekly Sunday bulletin for C.R.E. news and announcements.

* Monitor the email address that you gave on the C.R.E. registration form.
* Check your child’s C.R.E. folder, and respond to all communication sent to you.


Children’s Religious Education Programs

The St. Ann Children’s Religious Education programs include:
* Sunday School classes for children ages 3, 4, and 5
* Religious Education Classes at the parish for grades 1 – 5
* Home Study Religious Education classes for grades 1-5
* Bilingual Religious Education classes for grades 1-5 in Spanish and English

* Sacramental Preparation for grades 1-5 in English and Spanish
* Sacramental Preparation for grades 6-8 in Spanish
* Special Needs classes

* Children’s Liturgy of the Word in English and Spanish
* Vacation Bible School

* Family Bible Time
* Children’s Journey to the Cross on Good Friday
* Children’s Christmas Pageant

St. Ann Children’s Religious Education Staff

C.R.E. Director Debbie Kaluza ext. 1201

Sunday School Tena Allain ext. 1203
Coordinator
Program Assistants Mary Leonard ext. 1202

Kim Cesario ext. 1204

Loreen Shillinglaw ext. 1203

Bilingual C.R.E. Ruth Rivadeneyra ext. 1205

Coordinator

BRE Assistant Yolanda Lua ext. 1205

Office Phone 972-393-5544

Website www.stannparish.org
Formation & Education>Children (K-5)>Religious Education

C. R. E. Handbook

The Children’s Formation staff and volunteers are here to assist you in your role as primary educator of your child. It is our intention that this handbook be a source of guidance on the policies and procedures for the Children’s R. E. program, so that you may be well-informed and supportive in working together with us.


INFORMATION FROM A-Z FOR PARENTS

-A-

Appreciation Our volunteers give generously of their time, talent, and often treasure in helping form your child’s faith life. Please take time to express your appreciation. Talk to your child about what goes on in class; say thank you to the catechists; write a thank you note at Christmas or the end of the year; and consider making a donation to the volunteer appreciation party. A donation is included in the full cost of the C.R.E. program or you may donate anytime during the year.

Arrival Children should arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before class (5-7 minutes before is best). The catechists (teachers) use the 15 minutes before class to prepare the room and supplies. Our classes are led by volunteers, who make their best effort to arrive early. However, there are times that volunteers run late! For the safety of the children, parents should walk their child to their classroom to make sure 2 cleared volunteers are present.

Attendance Good attendance is very important for your child’s faith formation. Parents are asked to make a serious commitment to see that their child has good attendance. Good attendance is defined as being present for the entire class, having no more than 5 absences in a program year, and missing no more than 3 classes in a row. If a child accrues 5 absences they will need to come for an interview with the C.R.E. Director to show that they have absorbed the important information from their missed classes.
In special circumstances, i.e. long term illness, a serious accident, or personal family situation, communication with the C.R.E. Director (DCRE) is required to maintain contact and relationship with the student.

-B-

Bad Weather Many of our families travel quite a distance to attend C.R.E. Weather and travel conditions at home or work may be different than those at the parish. Should it be unsafe for you to come to the parish for a C.R.E. event, please do not venture out. If you are a catechist AND classes have not been cancelled at the parish AND you will not be able to come, please be sure to contact the office.

If it is necessary to cancel classes due to bad weather, the parish will notify the major news outlets. This information will be posted to the front page of the web site:
www.stannparish.org.

In general we follow the bad weather protocol of Coppell Independent School District, cancelling events on the days that they cancel events. However, weather can change over the course of the day. So, always check the web site for the latest information.

Baptism If your child is not baptized and is enrolled in 1st – 5th grade, call the C.R.E. Office.
Kim Cesario, ext. 1204, can assist you in enrolling into the Baptism preparation process.

Behavior Christian behavior is expected at all times from all participants of Children’s Religious Education. Children are expected to be on their best behavior. Good manners such as “Please” and “Thank you” are especially appreciated.
As a young Christian, children should show respect to all catechists, volunteers, staff and other students. Respect for all property and materials is expected. Students are required to follow the class rules set by the catechists. Appropriate dress promotes good behavior.

Books Our curriculum is Our Sunday Visitor’s Alive in Christ.
Please have your child read the assigned chapter for the next week before coming to class, so he/she will be ready to participate in class prayer and activities.

Bulletin Be sure to pick up a Bulletin each week at Mass. This is our primary means of communication with you (although we will always try to also send a memo home).

Bulletin Board The bulletin board outside the C.R.E. Office is where information about the program, as well as artwork from C.R.E. classes, is displayed.

-C-

Calendar We follow the Coppell Independent School District calendar. Therefore, our breaks for holidays will follow the same schedule as CISD. You may view the C.R.E. calendar at any time on the St. Ann website (www.stannparish.org) in the C.R.E. pages. Also, a mini-calendar for up-coming events can be found in the bulletin. A monthly calendar will be sent home with the students regularly.

Catechist A catechist answers a call from the Holy Spirit to ‘echo the Good News’. The ‘Good News’ is the message of Jesus and the Catholic Church, prayer and worship, community with each other and within the parish, and service to all peoples. Catechists help lead the children to grow in their faith and relationship with Christ in the Church.
The children tend to address their catechist as ‘teacher’.

Catholic St. Ann Catholic Parish does not have an elementary school on site.

Schools Information on Catholic Schools: www.cathdal.org/pages/Elementary_Schools
The nearest schools are:
Mary Immaculate in Farmers Branch;
Holy Family, St. Luke, Cistercian, St. Therese Academy and The Highlands in Irving.

Cell Phones Cell phones and any other electronic equipment should be turned off and put away. Any equipment being used during class time will be confiscated. Parents may pick it up from the DCRE.

Class Each child is placed in the same level class as their academic grade.

Placement This is the case whether or not the child is in sacramental preparation.

Class Sizes Every class will have at least 2 adult volunteers (preferably 3) in the room at all times. There are usually 8-15 students in a class (unless there are special circumstances).

Confirmation At St. Ann Catholic Parish the sacrament of Confirmation is conferred in the eighth grade under the guidance of SAY (St. Ann Youth). Please contact the SAY Office at

ext. 1302.

Custody St. Ann’s Children’s Religious Education Department presumes that both parents of a child have equal access to that young person, even if the parents are separated or divorced. Unless informed in writing, and with adequate documented evidence that a parent is not permitted to have unqualified access to their child, the catechetical program will permit either parent to have access to the young person while on site and will release the child from this site to either parent.

-D-

Discipline The first approach to discipline in C.R.E. classes is positive reinforcement of desired behaviors. If a child continually has difficulty being respectful and participating appropriately in class, the catechist will correct the behavior with the child. Should the child refuse this corrective action, the child will be escorted to discuss the behavior with the DCRE. The catechist will inform the parent of the behavior, and ask for suggestions on how to have success with the child in the future. If the disruptive behavior continues, OR if a single situation is so extreme, the DCRE will contact the parent. A parent may be asked to remain in the child’s class during instruction to help the child display Christian virtues, good manners and mutual respect. Or, a parent may consider switching to the Home Study option. Together we will determine what will be most beneficial for the child.

Dismissal A bell will ring for dismissal. Children will not be released before the bell unless there is a special circumstance that is pre-arranged with the C.R.E. Office. The pick-up plan for the children is determined by how parents fill out the permission slip given out on the first day of class. The options include: hold for pick up by parents or another adult; hold for pick up by sibling to go to a C.R.E. pick up zone; or release to one of the pick up zones. Unless we have a signed note, children will be held for pick up by parent.

IT IS BEST AND SAFEST IF A PARENT COMES TO THE CLASSROOM TO PICK UP THEIR CHILD. WE RELY ON VOLUNTEERS AND CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT ALL EXITS ARE MONITORED CONTINUOUSLY.

Please be vigilant with your children as you walk through the parking lot. If you stop to chat with others, make sure that your children stay by your side. J

FOR SAFETY REASONS CHILDREN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WALK OVER FOR PICK UP AT THE SAINT ANN CENTER OR TO OUTER PARKING LOTS. PLEASE DO NOT INSTRUCT YOUR CHILDREN TO MEET YOU IN THE PARKING LOT OR ANY PLACE OTHER THAN RE DESIGNATED PICK UP ZONES.

Drop Off Please escort your children into the building no earlier than 10 minutes before class. Do not leave your child unless two cleared volunteers are present in the room.

Dress We have an active curriculum. Many of our classes involve field trips to various parts of the parish. Children should ALWAYS come prepared to go outside. Shoes are a must.

-E-

Early If it becomes necessary to remove your child from class early, please:

Dismissal Notify the office and/or catechist ahead of time.

Emergencies Each family must have emergency release information on file with the program.
Please keep this information current.
In case your child should become ill or become injured, basic first aid will be administered. If, in the opinion of the volunteer or staff, a greater level of care is necessary, 911 will be called.
Every incident of first aid will be documented and a parent will be informed either in person or by phone.

-F-

Fees Tuition and fees, which are set by the parish finance council, DO NOT COVER the entire cost of the C.R.E. program. The majority of the cost is underwritten by the donations of generous parishioners. Please prayerfully consider pledging a consistent donation to support this department as well as other work in the parish.
The cost of C.R.E. includes tuition, book fees, and a donation to the Volunteer Appreciation Event. Fees may be paid in installments throughout the year.