Mission/Objectives of the Religious Education Program

Transcription

1 Mission/Objectives of the Religious Education Program The Religious Education program uses a traditional classroom setting format beginning with 4- year old kindergarten through Junior year (Confirmation). We are proud to also offer a Special Education Program. 1. To teach the Message contained in Scripture, Revelation and Catholic Tradition in order to help the children build the foundation of knowledge on which a mature religious decision may one day be made. The content for this program follows the norms established in the National Catechetical Directory: Sharing the Light of Faith. 2. To try and make children aware of the responsibilities which arise from their relationship with God and others by teaching them the Mission of the Church and providing opportunities for them to be of service to others. 3. To provide opportunities to pray and worship through a variety of prayer forms and liturgies. 4. To provide programs for parents to assist them in their responsibilities for the Christian development of their children. Class Schedules Grades K4-8: These classes meet every Monday night from 6:00-7:15 beginning the first Monday after Labor Day until the end of April. High School: Grades 9 and 10 will meet on the first and third Sunday of the month from 10:00 11:00am and then attend the 11:00 liturgy. The Confirmation Program will meet on the second Sunday of the month from 10:00 11:00am and then attend the 11:00 liturgy. Students who attend a Catholic High School are not required to attend classes their Freshman and Sophomore years, although they are more than welcome, but must attend their Junior year. Special Education: Any child who is cognitively disabled and is functioning on the level of a 4-10 year old is encouraged to enroll. Classes are held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month during the 9:00am liturgy from October through April. The DRE will meet with each family in regards to your son/daughters preparation for the sacraments of Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation if applicable. The fee structure for is: 1 student - $135, 2 students - $215, 3 or more students - $300 Non-parishioners will be charged a fee of $150 per student with no cap. Sacramental Fee for 2 nd graders: $25 per student Confirmation Retreat Fee: $50 All registrations need to be received on or before June 15, A $10.00 late fee will be assessed for all registrations received after June 15, Tuition for non-parish members is $ per child with appropriate late fees when applicable. The policy of the Religious Education Department has always been that if the payment of a fee represents a hardship, the fee will be reduced or waived. If you have a problem with the payment of fees, please contact us in the Religious Education Office before June 15 th.

2 Students and Classes Religious Education Policies A. All children of registered parish members are entitled to receive a religious education. A set fee will be established by the DRE and all will be expected to pay with individual consideration for those unable to pay. B. Non-parishioners will have a separate fee, which will be established by the DRE. C. No new registrations will be accepted after November 1 st unless a family has moved into the area or a child is transferring from another program. D. The student to teacher ratio shall be no more than 15:1. Students will be assigned to a classroom on a first come-first serve basis. The order of classroom assignments will be based upon the postmark of the returned registration forms. If we have more students than available catechists, a waiting list will be created. As new catechists come forward, students will be removed from the waiting list and given a classroom assignment. Students on a waiting list will be notified in June. Classroom assignments will be mailed by the end of August. E. If a child is entering the program for the first time and is enrolling in a grade where a sacrament is received (2 nd - Reconciliation and 1 st Communion, 11 th Confirmation) and he/she was not in a religious education program/catholic school the previous year, he/she will be placed in Grade 1 or 10 respectively, so that they can receive sufficient religious training before receiving the sacrament. Additionally, regular attendance is required in order to be eligible to receive these respective sacraments. Whether a student is eligible to receive the sacrament due to excessive tardiness and/or absenteeism will be determined by the DRE. (As outlined under the High School Policies, Sophomores cannot miss more than two classes and Juniors cannot miss more than one class). F. To be eligible for the K4 and K5 programs, a child must be 4 or 5 years old respectively, on or before September 1 st of that school year. G. If a parent wishes to have their child(ren) dismissed early for any reason, they must present their request in writing to the DRE. No teacher is to dismiss his or her class before the end of class time. H. 1st Communion: If the total number of students in the Religious Education 2 nd grade class plus one of the day school 2 nd grade classes is 35 or under, the Religious Ed. class will not be split for 1 st Communion. If above 35, the Religious Ed. class will be split between the two Communion services as it has been in the past.

3 I. No teacher can keep a child after dismissal time without parental permission. J. No child will be allowed to disrupt a class. If a child is disruptive, they will be removed from class to the office. Parents will be notified of their child s removal from class. If a child is removed from a classroom three times, upon review of the situation with the parents/guardians, he/she may be removed/suspended from the Religious Education Program for the remainder of the year. If the student wishes to reenter the program the following year, he/she must repeat the grade level from which he/she was removed. K. Testing cannot be used to determine whether or not a child will be passed on to the next grade. L. Progress reports for grades 1-8 will be sent home in November and February. The report will communicate to the parents/guardians the following: a. Student understanding of concepts presented in class b. Student s participation c. Student s cooperation M. Written tests and evaluation tools (not review or weekly worksheets) should be cleared by the DRE. N. There will be a fire drill during each semester. O. No electronic devices/cell phones will be allowed in class. P. Gum is not allowed in class/church. Q. Wheeled shoes are not allowed in the school/church R. Students should arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before class begins. S. For their safety, and ordered by the Fire Department, students should be dropped off in the south parking lot and not in front of school. T. Reminder about our policy for snow days : 1. If the Wauwatosa School District, Milwaukee Public Schools or St. Jude cancels classes, we do not have Religious Education classes. 2. If the weather is in question as a Monday progresses and St. Jude Day School is in session, listen to the radio for a cancellation notice. We will let them know by 4:00pm. (WTMJ, WISN) 3. Kindergarten, Special Education and High School Parents: Please listen to the radio. We will call to cancel classes by 7:00am. 4. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE OFFICE TO SEE IF CLASSES HAVE BEEN CANCELLED.

4 Additional Policies for High School Policies for Freshmen and Sophomores 1. Each class is in two parts; 10:00-10:55am (class) and Liturgy (11:00 mass). You are expected to be at both. 2. You may not miss more than two classes. If more than two classes are missed, the year will be repeated. Whether a student is eligible to be promoted to the next grade due to excessive tardiness will be determined by the DRE. 3. Service: 5 hours (3 parish and 2 community) all hours must be completed by April 10 th. Policies for Juniors 1. Each class is in two parts; 10:00-10:55am (class) and Liturgy (11:00 mass). You are expected to be at both. 2. You are allowed to miss one class; however, Juniors must attend class/liturgy when the rites of welcome and commitment take place. If more than one class is missed, the year will be repeated. Whether a student is eligible to receive the sacrament due to excessive tardiness will be determined by the DRE. 3. Service hours: 10 hours total (5 parish and 5 community). The parish hours will include service at the Winterfest and one other service i.e. Thrift Shop, Breakfast for baby Jesus, etc. All hours must be completed by April 10 th. 4. The letter to the bishop must be handed in by March 13 th. 5. You must have been in a Religious Education program or Catholic High School your Sophomore year in order to be in the Junior Confirmation class. If not, you will be placed in the Sophomore program.

5 St. Jude s Athletic Policy for Parish School and Religious Education Programs All students are invited and encouraged to participate in the various sports sponsored by St. Jude s. To be eligible for being on a team or trying out for a team, the following criteria must be met: 1. The family must be a registered member of St. Jude the Apostle parish (b) Archdiocesan Policy. Reminder: Any children who are currently in grades 6, 7, and 8 who participated in interscholastic athletics for the previous parish/school last year are ineligible to play sports for the new parish/school for one year , #28 2. The family must be a registered member of St. Jude the Apostle parish by August 1 st. 3. Students in the Religious education program must attend regularly. This is defined by the parish as missing no more than one class per month during the school year and not just during the season of a particular sport. Regular attendance also includes being on time for class. Excessive tardiness will affect a student s eligibility to participate in a sport(s). Eligibility based on tardiness will be determined by the Religious Education Director. If a student misses more than one class per month or is excessively tardy, he/she will be ineligible for the rest of that season or the upcoming season (which may take place the next school year. For example, if the season has ended and then the student misses classes which violate the policy, then that student will be ineligible next year.) 4. NEW: Dual participation in the same sport is permitted. For example, a student-athlete on a parish-based team who attends a public school may now play on the parish team and the school team concurrently. A student-athlete may now play on a school/parish team and another team such as a select all-star, club, tournament, AAU or recreation league team at the same time during the season. 5. A team s entire competitive season must be completed before any member of that team may begin participation in another sport. This restriction applies to practices as well as games or matches. EXAMPLE: A player participating with the football or soccer team must complete the entire football or soccer season before participating in any practices, games, matches, scrimmages, etc. for another sport such as basketball or volleyball (b) Archdiocesan policy