Religious Education - St. John of God

Religious Education

CLASS SCHEDULES
     Sunday: Kindergarten 9:30 A.M.
     Tuesday: 4:50 to 6:05 P.M.
     Tuesday: 6:25 to 7:40 P.M.
Classes are scheduled for all Tuesdays from Sept.11th though May 6th , except where noted on the calendar. Classes will be canceled if school is canceled for weather. Classes may be canceled for other reasons and the children will be notified through their school announcements.

REGISTRATION
Families must be registered in St. John of God Parish. Please bring a copy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate if he/she was not baptized at St. John of God. Registration takes place in the spring of each year. The fee is paid upon registering. The 2007-08 fee will be $50/child, if the family worships regularly at St. John of God. The fee will be $100/child for those who don’t participate in Sunday worship. We try to accept only students moving into the parish after the end of September. We, at St. John of God, do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, and national origin.

ATTENDANCE
Absences from class, for any reason, must be followed up with a note explaining the absence. Admission to the next year of Religious Education. is based on the total number of absences. In any case the work missed must be made up, so please have your son/daughter ask the teacher what he/she has missed. Requests for early dismissal must be made in writing to the teacher. This note should be given to the teacher at the beginning of the class. Please limit the number of times your child leaves class early. It is detrimental to them, the teacher and their fellow classmates.

The Diocese has distributed new Sacramental Guidelines. The following is the first step in implementing these guidelines at St. John of God.

Children may receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist during their second year of formal catechesis exclusive of Kindergarten. The family must request the sacraments, commit to regular participation at Sunday Liturgy, participate in the Eucharist, continue in parish-approved religious instruction, be interviewed and participate in several sessions in preparation for Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.

Children must successfully complete the fifth and sixth year of Religious Education in order to be confirmed. The family must request the sacrament, commit to regular participation at Sunday Liturgy, participate in the Eucharist, continue in parish-approved religious instruction, be interviewed and participate in several sessions in preparation for Confirmation.

PARENT/STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
      1) Children are expected to act in an orderly and respectful manner in the classroom.
      2) Children are expected to be on time and prepared for class. Please be sure children complete their
          homework assignments.
      3) Parents are expected to assist their children in learning their prayers and preparing for the reception of
          the sacraments.
      4) Parents are expected to notify the Religious Education coordinator of any problems or concerns.
      5) Textbooks and Bibles must be brought to class each week. Lost books must be replaced at cost,
          $18/book and $15/Bible.
      6) Children report to the assigned area for their class in the hall. Parents must come in to the hall to
          pick up the children.

DISCIPLINE
Each teacher will be responsible for teaching up to twenty (20) children in the faith. They can’t spend undue time on one child who is a discipline problem. On the first offense, the child will be removed from class and continue the class work supervised by the Religious Education Coordinator. The child will be given a note informing the parent of his/her removal and the reason why. The note must be signed by his/her parent and returned to the teacher at the beginning of the next class. After a second removal from class, a meeting must be held between the parent, child, teacher and Coordinator before the child is permitted back into class.

A third occurrence will automatically remove the child from the Religious Education Program for that year, causing the child to repeat the class. Certain behavior can be grounds for immediate removal from the Program; e.g., endangering the safety of the other students.

SAFETY
      1) Gum, food and drink are not permitted in the building, halls or classrooms.
      2) THE SODA MACHINES ARE NOT FOR OUR USE. THEY ARE FOR THE BINGO PLAYERS.
      3) If necessarily tardy, enter classroom quietly so as not to be a distraction.
      4) Classrooms must not be entered until arrival of the teacher. Please wait in the BINGO HALL.

All visitors, including parents/guardians, must report to the Coordinator or Doorman when entering the building during class hours to drop off or pick up a child (other than normal arrival/dismissal time). Do not go to any classroom without permission from the coordinator.

Extreme caution must be used in the PARKING LOT. All children must be picked up from the Bingo Hall. The children are asked to go to the area designated for their particular class.

REPORT CARDS
Two report cards will be issued: one in January, approximately half way through the year, and one on the last day of class.

DIOCESAN GUIDELINES FOR FAMILIES

Kindergarten: Spontaneous prayer appreciating the wonders of creation. Introduction to God as creator.

Grade 1: Memorization of the Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and the existence of the Sacrament of Baptism. Experience of thanksgiving prayers at meals. Experience of night prayer. Experience of family prayer, especially the Lord’s Prayer.

Grade 2: Memorization of The Act of Contrition, knowledge of the Rite of Reconciliation and the proper way to receive Holy Communion. Parental involvement in the Sacramental Preparation Program. Willingly participate in preparation for Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.

Grade 3: Apostles Creed, Knowledge of the Rosary. Shared prayer in the family. Scripture reading in the family. Experience of thanksgiving at meals. Spontaneous prayer. Experience of night prayer in the family setting. Encourage reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, especially as a family.

Grade 4: Ten Commandments, Holy Days of Obligation in the United States, Act of Faith. How to compose prayers other than those to be memorized. How to pray silently (meditation) and how to pray spontaneously. Encourage reception for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, especially as a family.

Grade 5: Seven Sacraments, Prayers at Mass, Act of Hope. How to compose prayers other than those to be memorized. How to pray silently (meditation) and how to pray spontaneously. Encourage reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, especially as a family.

Grade 6: The Beatitudes, Duties (Precepts) of a Catholic Christian, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Act of Love. How to compose prayers other than those to be memorized. How to pray silently (meditation) and how to pray spontaneously. Encourage reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, especially as a family. Willingly participate in preparation for Confirmation.

Grades 7 and 8: Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Jesus the Way, the Truth, and the Life, The Church then and now, continued emphasis on family prayer, reading and praying Scriptures as a family. Encourage reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, especially as a family. Willingly participate in preparation for Confirmation.

FAMILIES
Each family is expected to attend Mass each week using the envelopes provided by the parish. All baptized individuals should give witness to the community through acts of service and charity. Children are expected to attend religious education classes provided by the parish. All families should develop a love of Christ.

All Students are expected to attend SUNDAY MASS.