STUDENT SCHEDULE AT FIRST COMMUNION CLASS:
Students will arrive at HFH around 3:45pm. They will be offered a snack and allowed to play outside until 4:00pm. Each family is reminded to sign-up to help at least one Tuesday in the school year. Parent helpers will be asked to assist with snack distribution, playground duty, classroom control, etc.
For safety reasons, one (sometimes two) parents are needed to help with classroom control each week this procedure is part of our parish child safety policy. Please consider becoming VIRTUS trained. We will split First Communion into 2 classes and hold both classes in HFH. Please be sure and check your child’s bag every Tuesday for notes and information. (SEE “BOOKS” SECTION).
DISMISSAL TIME FROM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASS:
Every effort will be made to dismiss the class on time at 5:15 pm. Please pick up your children on time after class.
In Case of an emergency please contact the Director of Religious Education-Cyndy Glasscock at the parish office at 756-3343, or if no answer, then 344-8874 (cell).
We realize that unexpected delays may happen- please call as soon as you know you will be delayed. Our safe environment rules require that at least two trained and screened adult be in attendance at all times. If even one child is picked up late, two other adults and their families will also be required to “wait”.
CAR LINE PICK-UP FROM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASS:
Please form a car-line in front of Holy Family Hall, entering from Constitution Avenue. We want to avoid backing up onto Hwy.144, so cars should form a line around the old parish hall via the driveway next to the church (front to back) to form the line that will end in front of Holy Family Hall.
At pick-up time we ask that parents place the provided bright yellow cardstock with their child’s name on it in the driver’s side front windshield area. This helps us to know who to send to the cars and will keep the line moving.
SNACKS FOR STUDENTS:
The religious education school year has been divided in half for scheduling snack supplies. Parents are asked to send in a shelf safe snack for the first half of the year (up to Christmas break) For last name beginning with A – K. Those whose last name begins with L – Z are asked to send in snacks after Christmas break. Please send in enough for approx. 45 students. No drinks please;We will provide ice water. Students may bring in their own, name labeled water bottle to be filled.
OLDER STUDENT (Grade 3 and above):
Students who are enrolled in any school grade above 2nd grade are invited and encouraged to attend Religious Education class with their school grade. There is no additional registration fee for this. Although NOT required, attending a peer grade level class can benefit older students as they continue to learn with their friends, and at their own age/grade level.
BOOKS:
Students in this program will bring their books home each week, as well as any important notes, in a large zip-lock bag. Please help your child to remember to complete any religious education homework and to bring their book EVERY Tuesday. Help your child designate a safe place to store their book at home so that it doesn’t get lost. Books belong to the student- they will be theirs to keep at the end of the class, but there will be a fee to replace lost books during the school year.
PARENT MEETINGS:
There will be two meetings scheduled during the year, one for each sacrament. The first will be on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. The second will take place on a Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 7:30pm. All parent meetings will take place in the church.
SACRAMENT DATES - TENTATIVE as of 9/10/2010:
First Reconciliation /Confession is TENTATIVELY scheduled to take place Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 7:00pm in the church.
First Holy Communion is TENTATIVELY scheduled for Saturday May 7, 2011 at 9:30am. This sacrament and liturgy will take place in Holy Family Hall.
These dates will be “firmed-up” as soon as we know the schedule for the Confirmation Mass. That schedule is determined by the bishop himself and we must wait for his notification before confirming exact dates. Under no circumstance will First Holy Communion be scheduled on the same day as Confirmation. Please check the bulletin and parish web site regularly for information.
Very Important: Attendance at the First Holy Communion Mass WILL NOT fulfill the Sunday obligation for weekly Mass attendance. The time of day that the First Holy Communion Mass takes place is considered a “daily” Mass. In order for a Mass to fulfill the Sunday obligation it must be near the hour of sunset on a Saturday or after sunrise on Sunday. Families should plan to attend Mass either Saturday evening or Sunday morning.
MASS ATTENDANCE:
Students are expected to attend Mass each weekend. Regular Mass attendance is a precept of the Church .All practicing Catholics are obligated to adhere to the precept for regular, reverent Mass attendance.Mass Awareness” booklet will be distributed to the students after Christmas. The booklets are a great learning tool that can be used to jump-start family conversations about “what” the Mass is and what happens during this great miracle! It is our hope that this learning tool will help parents to share the faith with their child (family catechesis). The students may also be asked to bring these Mass Awareness booklets in a few times during the year for classroom discussion.
CHRISTMAS NATIVITY STORY:
Each year the First Communion students present a traditional Nativity Procession at the Christmas Eve Children’s Mass. Parents will have the opportunity to sign their child up to participate in this Mass at the November Parent Meeting.
COMMUNION BANNERS:
At the First Holy Communion Mass each child who is receiving this sacrament will be represented by a small banner. The banners will have the First Communicant’s name on them and images that relate to the Holy Eucharist. The banners are displayed in HFH for the First Communion Mass. If you and your child want to get an early start on making this banner please contact Cyndy Glasscock for details. The banners will be explained in detail at the March Parent Meeting and will be expected to be completed and turned in for display around the last week in April. There will be an optional banner making “party” for anyone who is craft challenged or hot-glue phobic –date TBA, but anticipated to take place in early April. More details to follow…
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