Program Synopsis / Themes

(A copy of the curriculum will be inserted in the textbooks distributed to each of the students at the beginning of school year. A copy is also available upon request.)

Time Schedule

St. Patrick faith formation community is pleased to be able to provide a number of choices to you, parents and guardians, for your children’s faith formation development. We offer several different times and days for religious education classes and have integrated the widest number of grade levels possible at each session. All classes are held at the parish’s Center for Formation and Mission, with most meeting in the classrooms in the lower lever. All classes are scheduled for 90 minutes approximately every two weeks beginning in mid-September. Our classes meet on the following times:

Sessions started on September 20, 2009 and run until May 6, 2010. Sacramental preparation programs are conducted on separate dates and information will be sent to those involved. Please refer to the 2009-2010 Faith Formation calendar on a separate handout.

Home School Program

We also give parents and guardians the option of teaching their children our curriculum at home (Home School Program [HSP]), except for those children preparing to celebrate one or more sacraments. The HSP families are to meet as a small community. In addition, the families will meet with the Director at agreed times to determine the student’s progress and to discuss any problems or concerns. No student in the Home School Program can be promoted to the next level until he or she has completed all lessons assigned at the current level. All students registered for this module will have until the end of July, 2010 to finish the grade level requirements.

Cancellation of Classes Or Activities

Should it become necessary to cancel religious education classes because of inclement weather or other extraordinary circumstance, you will be notified by your child’s catechist or a designated caller. If you are not notified, or if you are in doubt as to whether classes or activities are canceled, please check local radio and television stations. We will also make every attempt to update the message on the office answering system when the office is closed.

Catechetical (Teaching) Staff

All catechists (teachers) are volunteers and have set aside some of their precious time to prepare lessons for your children. Please try to have your children attend all sessions (classes) as scheduled. Should they miss any of the sessions, please contact the catechist(s) and make necessary arrangements to make up for any work missed. Open communication with them is always welcomed.

Also, I am very happy to share with you that all of our volunteers, catechists and support staff, posses very high caliber of academic credentials, striking professional experiences, and strong spiritual background. They all have to go through criminal background checks and attend the mandatory Safe Environment Training and other In- Service Workshops throughout the year including an annual Lenten Retreat. We have been blessed with their gifts of time and talent shared with us for the benefits of our children. I encourage all of you parents to get to know them and to offer them your help.

In accordance with Diocese policy, and in order to safeguard our children and youth, all catechists, assistant assistants and support staff that have regular contact with children have had criminal background check conducted and have complete the “Safe Environment Training” classes. In compliance with the “Bishop Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People”, these must be completed prior to any adult being allowed to work with children in the Diocese of Colorado Springs. The Diocese of Colorado Springs Guidelines for Supervising Those Working with Children and Youth is available on a separate sheet for your information. All of our catechists also are encouraged to work toward receiving their catechetical certification. Many of them take advantage of the classes offered by our Diocese every summer to pursue that certification.

Student Body

All PRE K- 8th grade children especially preschoolers, kindergartners, and first graders, are to be dropped off or picked up personally by their parents or an authorized person. Please provide the designated catechist with the name of the authorized person (to be annotated on the Student Data Card) if parents are not available to drop or pick their children directly to and from the classroom.
Students will not be allowed in the assigned classroom unless the assigned catechist or an adult is present for supervision. Students who arrive early and/or depart late will be gathered by the Faith Formation Reception desk until class starts or parents arrive to pick them up.

We expect students in each grade to know specific prayers. We ask that parents or guardians work with the students at home to learn those prayers that are new to them. Catechists will use the prayers during class. Parent volunteers will be asked to review prayers with students during class sessions to help determine their progress. A list of these prayers is included in this handbook.

All students are expected to bring their individual textbooks and bibles (2nd grade and higher) to every class. We invite parents and guardians to look at the lessons as assigned and review them with their children. We firmly believe that parents and/or guardians are the primary and the most influential teachers of their own children.

Dress Code

The Faith Formation Council has developed a formal dress code for everyone, staff, catechists, volunteers and students, involved in the faith formation program. You should have received this policy at registration. All parents must sign this form. Additionally, all 6th – 8th grade students must sign acknowledging their understanding and acceptance of the dress code. A copy of the dress code policy is available for your reference.

Discipline/Behavior Standards

Discipline is essential, especially in the Religious Education classroom, if effective Christian formation is to be expected from the program. Catechists are asked to explain standards of discipline in their classrooms. The students are expected to be respectful, attentive, honest, and obedient when it comes to the following guidelines:

The Golden Rule will be emphasized.

Should a student tend to be disruptive and unruly, the catechist will point out to the privately what needs to be corrected.

On the second offense, the student will be sent to the Director for conference and behavior modification. At this time, parents will be notified of the situation.

On the third offense, one of the parents will be asked to accompany the student in the classroom for the duration of the period (session) in order for the student to remain in the program.

Parents Involvement

All parents of students involved in our Faith Formation programs are invited and strongly encouraged to attend scheduled meetings and other social gatherings which may be arranged and scheduled throughout the school year. This is to keep them all informed on what is going on in the class and in other parish activities that may be relative to the program. In addition, this will give them more guidance and wonderful ideas on how to relate with the students in sharing their faith and the teaching of Jesus in the class. We welcome all parents to come and join us by participating in any of the facets of this special ministry.

Other Volunteer Opportunity Information

St. Patrick’s has been fortunate to have parishioners involved in so many different activities and capacities within our Religious Education programs, such as Catechists, Substitute Catechists, Office & Administrative Assistants, Elementary Program Assistants, Workshop Organizers, Arts & Crafts, Technical Support Staff, Drama & Music Staff, and Advisory Team Members.

Our preschool through eighth grade Faith Formation Programs have consistently been one of the largest in the Diocese of Colorado Springs. This is attributed to our many dedicated volunteers who share their time and talent working with them to see that they have one of the best catechetical programs.

All parents are invited to come and join in this special children’s ministry. Parents’ contributions in any form of stewardship, whether it is time, talent, treasure, or prayer, is always sought and appreciated. Parents are asked to volunteer in their children’s classrooms at least twice throughout the school year. Sign-ups will be taken at the first class session. The continued success of the program relies on your participation and dedication.

Books, Publications And Resource Materials

We will continue to use the same series of books adopted three years ago for our religious education program. Once again, we are requiring students to bring the designated bible with them to class. All books and publications used in our programs are in compliance with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) mandate that no religion textbooks be used in the teaching of religion that are not in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In addition to the prescribed curriculum all students in the formation program are expected to learn designated prayers accordingly. Please refer to the prayer brochure for information.

Additional Learning Activities include: Understanding the Liturgy of Mass; Life and Times of Jesus; Mary; The Saints; The Scripture; Holy Days; The Rosary; The Liturgical Calendar—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, Easter; Stations of the Cross; Prayers; Confessions; Vocations; Catholic Teachings on Social Justice. Our children also have the opportunity to participate in the following events: Children’s Choir; Altar Service; Coat Drive for the unfortunates; Gift bearers during Mass; Food Drives; Traveling Chalice; Coffee & Donuts Project; Operation Rice Bowl; Hospitality Ministry, Visits to the Nursing Homes, Operation Holiday Food Basket, and Lenten Soup Suppers, to name a few.

Assessment of Catholic Religious Education (ACRE)

Since we own the test booklets, once again this year, we will administer the Assessment of Catechesis Religious Education (ACRE) test to all 5th, and 8th (and 12th) grade students during a class session as deemed necessary by the catechists. This test is designed to assess our Faith Formation program – not our students. It provides us with feedback on areas of our faith where students have been taught well and other areas where we need to improve our program to enhance the students’ understand of Catholic beliefs and teaching. If you are interested in taking a look at the ACRE program, please contact the director. Our catechists have been administered the test for program evaluation. Please note that the test will be scored and results will be given by the catechists on the day of administration.

Stewardship Envelopes

We at St. Patrick’s strongly believe in the concept of stewardship as a way of life. We try to reinforce this concept to the students, building on the examples you as parents have already demonstrated, by showing them the importance of their own Stewardship Envelopes. As in past years, we will provide these envelopes throughout the school year and encourage the students to continue being good stewards of Jesus’ gifts to them. We appreciate your never-ending support in this Christian belief.

Family Intergeneration Retreat Day

This year, as in previous years, we are integrating the Family Enrichment Program into our faith formation program, to benefit not only the children in the Faith Formation program but also their parents and other siblings. Each of the Faith Formation (RE) families will be invited to attend one of these gatherings held on Saturday afternoon, with the 5:00 p.m. Mass included. This will be an opportunity for families to spend time together experiencing reflections on liturgical themes presented by our dear Fr. Larry Solan. The program will be offered on the following dates for your convenience: November 7, 2009, February 6, 2010 and April 17, 2010. More information on the agenda, speakers, activities and other elements of this special family intergenerational is available for you on a separate sheet. Sign-ups will be taken during Parent Orientation at all five Faith Formation sessions.