ST.MARY'S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

General Information

 

Registration

 

During the last month of each year, registration forms are sent home to each family. Registration begins on May 1st and ends on August 31st. All registrations in September will be assessed a late fee, unless it is a new registration. Our normal office hours 8:30-4:30pm Monday through Friday. Please note that the office closes each day from 12-1pm for lunch.

 

School Transfers

 

We are constantly receiving new students into our program from other schools and parishes. We ask that you bring copies of ALL your children's sacramental records (certificates) and get an official transcript from their previous school. For your information, a transcript normally states your child's attendance and/or grades, and also confirms the completion of the grade and school year for which they were enrolled. You must bring these papers to registration.

 

Class Schedule and Calendar

 

Religious Education classes are conducted on Mondays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. There will be no supervision provided either before or after these times. Classes normally begin in mid-September and end in mid-May. Please check the 2008-2009 RE Calendar for exact dates.

 

Tuition

 

The tuition fee for religious education classes at St. Mary Nativity is $150.00 per child, and $20 for each additional child. Those who are parishioners here will be discounted $50 because of their weekly contributions at mass. Checks are to be made payable to St. Mary Nativity Church.

 

The tuition covers books, instructional materials and supplies for each student. This also includes music, audio-visual materials, and operational office expenses. Persons who volunteer as catechists (teachers) receive free tuition. Tuition is subject to change from year to year. Generally, it will not be changed during the year. In cases of financial hardship, please discuss the situation with the Director of Religious Education.

 

Sacramental Fees

 

First Communion and First Penance: an additional $25 to their tuition price.

Confirmation: an additional $50 to their overall tuition cost.

 

Program and Continuity

 

Our program begins in Kindergarten and concludes with 8th grade. It is expected that our students attend each grade level as part of their religious formation. Even students confirmed in 7th grade are required to complete their 8th grade year so as to help them grow into a more mature understanding of their faith and of their responsibilities to the parish community. They will learn how to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit, received in Confirmation, in their daily life. Upon completion of the 8th grade, all students will receive their Confirmation certificates and transcripts to confirm the completion of our Religious Education program.

 

First Communion and First Penance

 

The Diocese of Joliet requires ALL students to receive a minimum of two years of sacramental preparation before they receive either their First Communion or Confirmation. Therefore, First Communion and First Penance preparation begins in either Kindergarten or 1st grade and it is normally received in the second grade. For specific dates check the 2008-2009 RE Calendar. 

 

Older students who still have not made their First Communion or Penance fall into our Out of Sequence Program (OSP) which is an intense, accelerated program with a different schedule and requirements. Scroll down for more information on OSP.

 

Parents are expected to

• Have submitted a copy of their child's baptismal certificate at registration.
• Attend the First Communion/First Penance meeting marked on your calendar. This meeting is mandatory and for parents only. You will relay this information to your children and assist them in meeting all the requirements listed below.  They can always ask questions to their teachers if they have any. Check the calendar for specific dates.
• Attend the First Communion retreat with your child at St. Mary Nativity a week before the First Communion ceremony.
• Attend the ceremony rehearsal with your child. At least, one parent should be present for all these activities.

Students preparing for these sacraments must meet the following requirements:

• Be baptized and attend mass weekly with family.
• Attend RE classes on a consistent basis.
• Know all their prayers and successfully pass the question/answer interview held in April.
• Have completed all activities/homework assigned and distributed at the parent meeting.
• Attend the retreat with their parents at St. Mary Nativity a week before the First Communion ceremony.
• Attend the rehearsal with their parents/sponsors a few days before the ceremony.

Confirmation

 

The Diocese of Joliet requires ALL students to receive a minimum of two years of sacramental preparation before they are confirmed. Depending on when your child was registered and the amount of previous education received, Confirmation is conferred to students in both 7th and 8th grade.  As a general rule, if a student was enrolled and has completed 6th grade here, they will be confirmed in the 7th grade. All others will be confirmed in 8th grade.

 

Note: because our RE program is for grades K-8, students in high school and older receive preparation through a different program at our parish. Call 815-726-4031 and ask for Margaret Trepal, pastoral associate.

 

Parents are expected to

• Have submitted a copies of their child's sacramental records at registration. (Baptism and First Communion)
• Attend the Confirmation meeting marked on your calendar. This meeting is mandatory and for parents only. You will relay this information to your children and assist them in meeting all the requirements listed below.  They call always ask questions to their teachers if they have any. Check the calendar for specific dates.
• Sponsors also have a list of expectations, which will be discussed at the meeting.

Students preparing for these sacraments must meet the following requirements:

• Attend their normal RE classes on Monday night and complete the 8th grade. 
• Attend all Sunday Confirmation classes: 9:00-11:30 a.m. Classes begin with prayer in the school cafeteria and conclude with  mass in the church. See 2008-2009 RE Calendar for specific dates.
• Fill out the application to become a Candidate for Confirmation. Due 10/26/08.
• 15 hours of community service before Christmas break.
• Write a two page report on the life of a saint. This saint will become your confirmation name. Due 11/9/08.
• Write a one page letter to the Bishop, telling him why you want to be confirmed and explain why you are ready for this big step in your life. Due 11/23/08.
• Attend the last class on 1/11/09 with their sponsors. Both students and sponsors are required to attend. Sponsor Eligibility Forms are to be turned in at the meeting.
• Attend the confirmation retreat. If your child's school requests a letter of excused absence, please contact the Religious Education office and we will provide a letter for you to give to your school. The cost of the retreat is covered by the sacramental fee that was charged at the beginning of the year.
• Know all their prayers and successfully pass the question/answer interview held on Monday 1/12/09 during class hours.
• Attend the rehearsal with their parents/sponsors a few days before the ceremony.

Out of Sequence Program

 

If your son or daughter is "running behind schedule" in receiving his or her sacraments, namely First Communion and Penance, we have an intense, accelerated program designed for them, which normally begins in April. All students from grades 3-8 without these sacraments fall into this category. Parents must attend the OSP required meeting on Tuesday 4/7/09 at 6pm in the JoAnn Room. This meeting is mandatory and for parents only. You will relay this information to your children and assist them in meeting all the requirements described at the meeting.

 

Stewardship

 

Stewardship entails using your time, talent and treasure in the care of God’s creation and in the building up of His Kingdom. Your children will be given weekly envelopes at the start of each year. The use of these envelopes is one way for us to know if the children are attending Mass regularly. It is also a way of teaching them responsibility in supporting their parish’s needs and the needs of others, especially those who are less fortunate. During Advent, the children are asked to make special contributions to the Holy Childhood Association. During Lent, they are asked to participate in Operation Rice Bowl. Thus they participate in an essential part of the Faith, the missionary work of the Church.

 

Policies

 

Attendance

 

It is important in any education program that students attend regularly to insure their progress. This is especially important in a weekly religious education program, where what children learn will have eternal significance for them. Parental cooperation is expected to ensure that absences are kept to a minimum. Parents assume the responsibility of telephoning the Religious Education Office whenever their child will not be in class. Call (815) 726-4073. Phone calls will be made to your homes when we are not notified.

 

The Diocese of Joliet requires that students complete at least 30 hours of catechetical formation. That is why our students are allowed to miss no more than 7 classes during the school year. Those students who have missed too many classes will be required to make-up those missed classes. They will have to complete a 30 page activity booklet or they will have to option to attend Vacation Bible School here at St. Mary Nativity during the summer.

 

Generations of Faith

 

Each school year we offer two sessions for the whole family to attend. As a parent, you understand the importance of your children learning about their faith, but at times you might forget about the importance for you to grow in your faith. For this reason, we have developed a program called Generations of Faith.  Both parents and their children are required to attend these sessions. We will have activities focused on the family and we will begin each session with dinner at 5:45pm.

 

Dropping off your children

 

Please park across the street from the school—do not park by the gym doors. Cars moving by the front doors are dangerous. After you park across the street, you may cross the street with your children at the cross walk.

 

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE should you stop your vehicle in the street (Broadway St.) and let your children out or into the car. The police can issue you a ticket in these cases.

 

Punctuality

 

Class time is a very precious commodity in a religious education program. Therefore, it is not only necessary that students attend each class, but it is also equally important that they be on time for class. Students who arrive late will be given tardy slips to give to their teachers as they enter the classroom. Every three tardies will count as a missed class.

 

Dismissal   To avoid traffic in the hallways and stairwells, please note that there are two bells.

• The first one at 7:55pm is for grades 3-8. They will be brought down to the gym lobby one class at a time.  We ask that you stand outside the doors and your children will be released to you and only you. No students are allowed to leave unless you are standing there outside. For the safety of the children, we cannot allow them to wander alone through the parking lot or across the street, especially when it is dark outside. Please show your concern for safety and use the crosswalk.

• The second bell is at 8:00pm. This is for grades K-2 (the first floor). Because of their age, we ask that you go to the classroom to get them. If you have a child who is dismissed earlier, you may have them wait for the second bell outside the classroom and bring their younger brother or sister down with them to you as long as you are waiting outside for them. 

• Please be punctual for arrival and dismissal. We DO NOT offer day care or should be expected to baby sit your children. If in any case of an emergency, you should call the religious education office at 726-4073 to let us know your predicament.

Early Dismissal

 

Leaving class early is frowned upon. But when there is a situation that requires an early dismissal, parents need to notify the Director of Religious Education and the catechist (teacher). The parents must come to the Religious Education Office to pick up their children. Students will not be released without a parent or guardian present.

 

Emergency School Closings

 

If it necessary to cancel RE classes because of bad weather conditions or other emergencies, the announcement will be made over the Joliet weather station WJOL 1340 AM and our parish webpage www.stmarynativity.com. If it is announced that the Joliet Public Schools (District 86) are closed due to hazardous weather conditions, our school is also closed. If you call the Religious Education office, you will hear a recorded message with updated information. These cancelled classes will be made up at the end of the year.

 

Dress Code

 

Children should dress as for church or school. Appearance should be clean and neat. The following are NOT allowed:

• bare feet, thighs, midriffs, backs or shoulder
• mini-skirts
• t-shirts with un-Christian messages
• jeans or belts with studs/spikes (they scrape the classroom chairs)

Visitors

 

Visitors in classrooms (friends, cousins, etc.) are welcome but receive a visitor pass from the main office and an emergency form must be submitted and signed by a parent or guardian.

 

Conduct

 

The time students have for religious education is a precious commodity. Therefore, we request that parents make their children aware that good moral conduct and courteous behavior is expected toward their teachers, fellow students, and themselves. St. Mary Nativity day school materials, especially belongings inside desks, must not be used by religious education students.

 

Procedures for conduct problems:

      1^st offense:              Catechist (teacher) speaks privately with the student.

      2^nd offense:             Catechist contacts director of religious education and parent.

      3^rd offense:              Director of religious education, catechist, parent and student have a conference.

 

Disrespect to catechists (teachers) and fellow students will not be tolerated. Repeated lack of respect may necessitate the parent to sit in class and monitor the child.

 

Safety

 

Students must always act in a safe manner while attending religious education classes. This includes walking, not running, in the hallways, classrooms, and parking lots. Upon arrival students should proceed straight to class. Students must remain with their catechists (teachers) at dismissal time, crossing with the class group at the cross-walk to the parking lot across the street from the school.

 

Progress Reports

 

Progress reports are issued twice during the school year. Students will be graded on their knowledge of required prayers, homework, testing, conduct, and class participation. You will also see their attendance status for each semester.

 

Text Books

 

Each student receives a religion textbook to keep and use both in class and at home. Parents have the responsibility of making sure their children bring this textbook and any handouts to class every Monday. The book replacement fee is $20. Students also receive a prayer book when they register here at St. Mary Nativity. This book includes common Catholic prayers they are required to memorize during the course of each grade. The replacement cost for these prayer books is $1.

 

Special Needs

1. Custody Issues: If parents are divorced or separated, the religious education program presumes that both parents have access to the children unless one parent can provide evidence that he or she has the sole right.
2. Medication: If a child is usually on a certain medication during the school week, they should continue to receive that medication if his/her behavior will be affected by missing it. The religious education program or personnel will not maintain, supervise the taking of, or administer medication. Parents must administer the medication previous to class or, if absolutely necessary, come to class to dispense it themselves.