Religious Education
Welcome to the Religious
Education Program!
Registration Information for 2007
Welcome to the St. Francis of Assisi Religious Education program! Whether you just moved in from out of town or from across town, we are glad that you are joining the program! We strive to offer a quality religious education program that provides faith formation for your children as well as the opportunity to pray together and form community with the other members of our program. I look forward to meeting you and working together with you to ensure a great experience for your family.
The Religious Education program meets on Wednesday evenings for grades K-8. Sessions are held on Wednesdays from 5:15-6:15 p.m. (early session) and 6:45-7:45 p.m. (late session). The elementary program begins in mid-September and ends in April. Sunday school for ages 3, 4, and Kindergarten is held on Sunday mornings during the 9:30 a.m. Mass. The Sunday school program begins in October and runs through April. Classes are held on the first three Sundays of the month from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
You will need to provide a copy of your child's baptismal certificate for our records. If you are registering a child in second grade and above who has not had any previous religious education or Catholic School, you will need to schedule an appointment with me so I can provide resource materials for home use. We have a process for children in grades 3-8 who have not celebrated the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.
Registration forms are available in the Gathering Space, the Parish Office and the Religious Education Office. Please call the Religious Education office, 440-1030, for more information.
Religious Education Program, grades K-8 Tuition:
$94 for one child
$188 for two children
$235 for three or more children
Sunday Preschool Program, Ages 3, 4, and Kindergarten Tuition
$53 First/Only child
$106 Two children
$132 Three or more children
All of the tuition is due with registration.
No one is ever denied a religious education due to financial hardship. Please contact the Director to discuss options.
Mary Green
Director, Religious Education
We, the parish family of St. Francis, are a Catholic Christian community striving to live the mission of Jesus Christ. As partners in faith, we witness our love of God through liturgy, social outreach and life-long faith formation. We embrace the spirituality of St. Francis, challenging us to be instruments of peace and love.
Mary Green, Director of Religious Education , ext. 156, mgreen@saintfrancischurch.org
Deb Ryan, Asst. Director of Religious Education, ext. 157, dryan@saintfrancischurch.org
Suzee Stone, Coordinator of Religious Education, ext. 156,
sstone@saintfrancischurch.org
Sharon Marlow, Sunday School Coordinator, ext. 155, smarlow@saintfrancischurch.org
Bill Richer, Youth Ministry Coordinator, ext. 103, bricher@saintfrancischurch.org
Religious Education Phone: 440-1030
Youth Ministry Phone: 457-7172, ext. 103
Attendance
To receive the maximum benefit from the religious
education program students are asked to arrive promptly and to attend all
religious education classes. If your child will be absent, please call the
office to inform the staff (440-1030).
Attendance Policy
It shall be the policy of the St. Francis of Assisi Board of Education that
religious education students attend all classes to receive the maximum benefit
from the program. Excessive absenteeism will result in a conference with the
Director of Religious Education and/or the Pastor.
Arrival-Dismissal
Sunday School - Please bring your child to the
classroom each week. Do not leave your child unless a catechist or assistant is
present. Pick up your child at the classroom. Do not knock on the door to ask
that your child be dismissed early. Wait for the catechist to open the door to
signal that class is over.
Elementary - Children will not be allowed in the classroom before class begins. They are asked to remain in the main hallway outside the offices until directed to go to their classrooms. Children will be dismissed from their classrooms except for first grade students who must be picked up at their classrooms by a parent or older sibling.
Please arrange a designated meeting site with your children. The parking lot can be crowded and dangerous for children.
Cancellation of Classes
In the event of severe weather, classes may be cancelled.
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If the West Des Moines schools are dismissed early due to weather OR have classes cancelled for the day, St. Francis Religious Education classes will automatically be cancelled as well.
Cancellations will be broadcast over WHO radio station (1040 AM) and TV channels 8 and 13. These stations may not list the closing on television. Please check their websites. You may also check this website.
Facility Use
We share the building with many other parish and non-parish groups
including the day school. Children will not be allowed in any room unsupervised.
Children are expected to
conduct themselves in a respectful manner. Each class is responsible for
restoring the rooms to the proper order.
Picking Up A Child Early
If you pick up your child before Religious Education classes are over, you must
notify the Religious Education staff before your child may leave. The hall
monitor in the main hallway will assist you.
Visitors
Please contact your child's catechist before bringing a visitor to class.
Visitors need to check in with the RE office before going to class. Visitors are
expected to follow all program guidelines as well as the rules of the catechist.
Please do not bring visitors for more than one evening.
Parking Lot Procedure
Please enter the parking lots from the north circle drive (off Woodland Avenue)
or from the far east drive (off Ashworth Road) and proceed along the building
until reaching the north or south doors near the educational building or the
north or south church doors to drop off or pick up your children. If you park,
please use the designated spaces and do not park in the car lines. Please use
extreme caution when driving in and through the parking lots.
Parental Involvement
The Church recognizes the supreme responsibility of parents as the first and
foremost teachers of their children in the matters of faith. Your example,
prayer life and participation in the weekly Sunday liturgy and other sacraments
speak volumes to your children. There are many ways to be formally involved in
the religious education program. Parents are needed as catechists, assistants,
hall monitors and nursery workers. Please contact the office if you are
interested.
As a parent, you are welcome to visit your child's classroom. Please check in with the office. Also, please help your children learn their prayers and review any papers or materials they may bring home.
Volunteer Screening
All volunteers who have contact with children must
complete a screening form annually. This screening is for the safety and
well-being of our children and the protection of the parish and volunteer.
Bloodborne Pathogens
Blood and other bodily fluids will be considered infectious. Reasonable
precautions (rubber gloves, disinfecting with bleach) will be used.
Accidents and Illness
If your child becomes ill or has an accident during religious education classes,
the parent or guardian or emergency reference will be notified. An accident
report will be filed and basic first aid applied.
Health Information
Please inform the office regarding any health concerns that may affect your
child during religious education classes. This information will be shared with
your child's catechist.
Food Allergies
Please do not bring peanut butter (candy, crackers, craft clay) into the
building. There are children who are severely allergic to peanut butter in
the program.
Sacramental
Programs
The Church recognizes parents as the primary educators of
their children as they are the first teachers in their children's lives.
According to the United States bishops, parents have the "right and
duty" to be intimately involved in the sacramental preparation of their
children. This obligation springs from the commitment made by the parents at the
child's baptism to form them in the Catholic faith.
Preparation for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist is offered during the second grade year. During the eighth grade year, preparation will take place for the sacrament of Confirmation. All parents of children preparing to celebrate sacraments are expected to participate in all parent meetings, family experiences and the celebrations of the sacraments.
Confirmation candidates are expected to perform service as part of their preparation. Parents will be asked to assist in helping their child locate service opportunities, act as chaperone, and provide transportation to and from the service site.
Enrollment for Special
Circumstances
It shall be the policy of the St. Francis of Assisi Board of Education that
there be an evaluation of any students entering grades two through eight who was
not associated with a religious education program or Catholic school in prior
years. It shall be the responsibility of the Director of Religious Education to
conduct the evaluation of each applicant to determine the student's level of
religious formation and explain the process for completion of the sacramental
preparation.
Rite of Christian Initiation of
Children (RCIC)
Children who are above the second grade and have not yet celebrated the
sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist are invited to participate in the
Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC). Separate preparation classes
will be held during the year so they may celebrate these sacraments in the
spring. Please contact the director for more information.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Students will have the opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation
at a communal service during the year. These celebrations will occur during
class time. Parents are asked to help prepare the children for Reconciliation by
reviewing the Examination of Conscience and Act of Contrition found later in
this handbook. A schedule of Reconciliation times can be found in the Religious
Education calendar.
Kindergarten
The kindergarten students use the Walking By Faith kindergarten book
published by Harcourt Religion Publishing Company. This series presents the
complete Catholic catechesis at every grade level, seen through the lens of
grade level themes. The theme for kindergarten is creation. Each chapter
incorporates stories, activities, music, Scripture, prayer, and crafts.
Grades 1-7
The students in grades 1-7 use the Finding God series published by Loyola
Press, a Jesuit publishing company in Chicago. The title, “Finding God: Our
Response to God’s Gifts, reflects the inspiration of St. Ignatius of Loyola and
is designed to help students to recognize the presence of God in their lives and
to know God in a personal way. The series weaves together experiences in
prayer, Scripture, Catholic Social Teaching and liturgy. The themes of the
children’s program are: God, Jesus, The Church, The Sacraments and Morality and
these themes are incorporated in each grade level.
Grade 8
The eight grade students use the series Crossroads published by Harcourt
Publishing Company. This series is designed to motivate junior high students to
develop an enriched understanding of their faith. The students will work with
Apostles Creed and use Liguori Publications’ preparation for Confirmation.
Preschool
The Sunday School program will use the
Sharing God’s Story published by Harcourt Publishing Company. This program
is designed for three, four and five year olds and invites them to explore Bible
stories in fun and active ways.
Newsletters
Newsletters will be sent home at the end of each month with your only or
youngest child. Newsletters include an upcoming calendar and information on
religious education events.
Parish Council
The Parish Council is a channel through which the insights and concerns of the
total parish community are brought before clergy and laity alike. The Council is
the vehicle through which the parish as a whole can involve itself in the
secular and religious realities of the community. The Parish Council is composed
of nine representatives.
Parish Board of Education
The St. Francis of Assisi Parish Board of Education meets on the 2nd Thursday of
every month. Board meetings begin at 6:30 pm and are open to the public. All who
are interested are encouraged to attend.
The Board of Education oversees the day school, religious education program including elementary religious education and the Sunday preschool, youth ministry serving grades 9-12 and the preschool.
The Board is composed of the pastor and ten parishioners who are elected to three-year terms at annual parish elections. Also in attendance is a Parish Council liaison as well as the four program administrators. Copies of the Board minutes are posted on website.
Grievance Procedure for Parents
It shall be the policy of St. Francis of Assisi Board of Education that if an
occasion arises that a parent feels a problem has occurred at religious
education, the parent will use the following procedure: 1. Contact the
Director of Religious Education. The parent may be asked to attend a meeting
with the catechist, Director of Religious Education and/or pastor to reach a
solution. 2. If a parent does not feel an agreement has been reached, the
problem may then be taken to the Board of Education president. Policy adopted:
June 12, 2003.
Grievance Procedure Guidelines
It shall be the policy of St. Francis of Assisi Board of Education that as a
Catholic faith community, open communication between parents, students,
teachers, staff and administrators is encouraged in all programs under the
Board, including day school, preschool, religious education and youth ministry.
It is the intent of the St. Francis of Assisi Board of Education that all such
interaction shall be conducted in a respectful Christian manner, as we believe
Christ has taught us "with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the
spirit through the bond of peace." In all such interactions, all parties
involved shall strive to "be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving
one another as God has forgiven (us) in Christ." We believe that in
following Christ's example, we can create an environment in all our education
programs that allows our children the best opportunity to grow and achieve
academic, spiritual and social success.
Policy adopted: June 12, 2003.
Religious Education General Rules
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Everyone is to be treated courteously and with respect. This includes other children, catechists, assistants, volunteers, staff and parents.
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Students will come to class prepared to learn and willing to participate in activities in their class. No student will be allowed to interfere with the learning and participation of other students.
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No loud talking, yelling, or running in the building.
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No gum, pop, or candy brought into the building.
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Respect the authority of the catechists and staff.
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Respect all property and share in the care of your classroom
Religious Education General Rules for Students:
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Attend Mass as a family each Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation.
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Recognize the importance of religious education at every grade level.
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Give priority to attendance at weekly religious education classes.
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Inform the Director of Religious Education of any special needs or circumstances that may affect their child in Religious Education class including health and/or learning issues (i.e. ADD, allergies, reading difficulties, etc.)
- Parish Hall – 7:00 to 8:15 PM; for candidates and their parents
- Parish Hall – 6:00 to 9:00 PM includes dinner; for candidates and their parents and/or sponsor
- Parish Hall – 6:00 to 9:00 PM includes dinner; for candidates only
- candidates will be assigned to one Mass on the weekend to attend
- Parish Hall – 6:00 to 9:00 PM includes dinner; for candidates only
- Parish Hall – 7:00 to 8:30 PM includes desserts; for candidates and parents and/or sponsor
- begins with 4:30 Mass; ends at 11:30 PM
- attend Mass as a family followed by retreat for candidates only
- Parish Hall; candidates only at assigned time
- Wednesday, April 16, 2008 for RE students; sometime in mid-April for SFA school students
- must achieve a 70% or better
- Candidates with last name beginning with “A” through “J” 5:30 PM in the church
- Candidates with last name beginning with “K” through “Z” 6:45 PM in the church
- Saturday, April 26 - 12:30 PM - Candidates with last name beginning with “A” through “J”
- Sunday, April 27 – 1:30 PM - Candidates with last name beginning with “K” through “Z”
Discipline Policy
Discipline is defined as the training that develops
self-control, character, and orderly conduct, as well as acceptance of or
submission to authority and control. The Board of Education and the Religious
Education staff of St. Francis of Assisi have the authority and responsibility
to set discipline codes and maintain good order in the classrooms and church.
The children in the religious education program are entitled to learn and
develop in a setting which promotes respect for self, others, and property.
Catechists, parents and students are charged with cooperating to develop mature,
healthy and responsible individuals capable of self-control. It is essential
that all students give the catechists their full cooperation.
Please refer to the handbook or contact the Director of Religious Education for further information.
Calendars - Elementary (includes sacrament information)
GENERAL CALENDAR 2007-08
2007-2008
Orientation Meeting - Sunday, May 20, 2007/make-up Sunday, Sept.9, 2007
An Evening of Prayer - Sunday, November 18, 2007
The Journey Continues - Sunday, January 13, 2008
Rite of Enrollment - Saturday and Sunday, January 19 and 20, 2008
Christian Relationships - Sunday, February 17, 2008
Who Wants to be Confirmed? - Sunday, March 9, 2008
Retreat - Saturday, April 5, 2008
Interviews - Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Mastery Test
Confirmation Rehearsals – Thursday, April 24, 2008
Confirmation – April 26 and 27, 2008
Links for Religious Education:
www.cmdnet.org Center for Ministry Development, a Catholic organization, shares free family resources including family rituals, calendar and service ideas.
www.homefaith.com Sponsored by the Claretians. Catholic website that provides spiritual help for families and includes a weekly meditation, family articles, resources and activities.
www.findingGod.org
This is the website that is used in grades 1-6.
Features include many articles on faith formation, an online daily retreat and
tips for parents and families. Award-winning site.