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GENERAL
POLICIES
ADMISSION
POLICY - Only
families who are registered members of Saint Thomas More Parish
may enroll children in the Religious Education Program.
Those who register children from other parish programs must
have a letter verifying their past participation in that program.
ATTENDANCE
RECORDS – Because
Religious Education Classes meet only once a week, good attendance
is essential for a child to maintain interest, achievement, and a
sense of belonging. We
count on parents to expect their children to have excellent
records. Attendance
records are especially significant for children entering a
sacramental program, since these records are useful in helping to
determine whether a child is ready to begin preparation.
If a student should have three or more UNEXCUSED absences,
it will be understood that a problem exists.
The child’s entrance into or continued preparation in the
Grade Two, Grade Seven or Grade Eight, sacramental preparation
classes, will have to be evaluated by the parents with the
Coordinator of Religious Education.
BUILDING
USAGE RULES – It
is the responsibility for each catechist to faithfully enforce the
following building usage rules.
Catechists should review these rules with their students at
the beginning of the year, and secure their cooperation.
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Children
arriving at class before their catechist may not enter the
classroom but must wait in the hall until their catechist
arrives.
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Catechists
may not leave their classrooms while occupied by students.
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Students
are not allowed to run in the halls.
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Catechists
are responsible for leaving their classroom in the order they
find it.
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Catechists
are responsible for insuring that all windows are closed, that
the heater/air-conditioner has been shut off, and the floor is
free of debris.
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Whenever
chalkboards are used, they should be erased.
Students should not write on them unless so directed by
their catechist.
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Upon
arriving in a classroom, catechists should observe and note
any materials, furniture, etc. which appears to be broken or
disturbed before class begins.
Catechists should also note any instance of damage in
classrooms that occurs during student arrival, class time, and
dismissal. Instances
of damage should be reported to the Coordinator.
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Classes
are dismissed at
5:30pm
and
8:30pm
. Students in
grades one thru four must remain in the Courtyard until picked
up by a parent or other designated adult.
Students in grades five thru eight may be picked up in
the side parking lot.
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It
is important that children take care of their religion books,
use them respectfully, and bring them to class every week.
Books that are defaced or abused may have to be
replaced at the parents’ expense.
CHILD
ABUSE POLICY – Child
abuse includes, but is not limited to, the following:
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Engaging
in sexual activity with a child.
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Denial
of proper or necessary subsistence, education, medical care,
or other care necessary for the child’s health.
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Use
of restraint procedures on a child that cause injury or pain.
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Administration
of prescription drugs or medication without the ongoing
supervision of a licensed physician.
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Providing
alcoholic beverages or controlled substances.
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Commission
of any act, other than by accidental means, that threatens or
results in any injury or death to the child.
The
Coordinator of the Religious Education Program is required by law
to report suspected or actual child abuse or neglect to the proper
authorities.
CLASS
AND HOME ASSIGNMENTS – Teachers
in the Religious Education Program will assign class and homework
assignments as needed. Students
are expected to complete all class and home assignments
DISCIPLINE
– Every
person is worthy of being treated with care and respect fitting as
one made in the image and likeness of God.
Therefore, classroom behavior should be characterized by
genuine Christian care, mutual respect and honesty.
Under
no circumstances will a student or an adult be permitted to strike
another or use abusive language for any reason.
Lack of self-discipline during religious class will be
addressed promptly.
The
normal steps for disciplinary action will be:
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Verbal
correction by the catechist.
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Removal
from class and sent to the office.
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Referral
conference and completion of form by student and Coordinator.
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Conference
with student, Coordinator and parent.
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Removal
from program.
The
Coordinator retains the right to omit one or more of the above
steps whenever they deem it necessary
Major
disciplinary violations meriting an immediate response by
catechists and program administrators are as follows:
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Irreverence
towards the sacred or holy places or things.
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Drugs/Alcohol/Substance
Abuse (See Substance Abuse Policy below)
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Harassment
– Verbal or Physical (includes sexual)
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Stealing
or Damaging Parish Property
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Jeopardizing
a Person’s Safety
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Fighting
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Crude
or Offensive Language
Substance
abuse is defined as the possession of, use of, selling or
distributing of any unauthorized, illegal drug, chemical, alcohol,
or tobacco-like substance, which can be introduced into the body
through ingestion, inhalation, or injection.
Any student found in possession of an illegal or
unauthorized substance on parish property will be immediately
suspended from the program. A
conference with the parent(s)/guardian, student and Coordinator is
mandatory for re-admittance to the program.
Any student selling or distributing illegal substances will
be formally withdrawn from the program and the matter will be
turned over to
local authorities.
EMERGENCY
PROCEDURES FOR FIRE – Catechists
should be familiar with the exit procedure for a fire emergency.
The escape routes are posted by the door of each classroom.
The following should also be adhered to:
1.
Close
doors and windows so fire doesn’t spread.
2.
Leave
by the exit door and follow the directions posted there.
3.
Lead
class away from the parish building.
4.
Take
attendance sheet with you as you exit.
5.
Count
students to make sure all are present.
6.
Maintain
calm and order and keep silence throughout.
END
OF YEAR - Catechists
are reminded to remove all objects from the drawers
and closets in the classrooms.
Attendance sheets and teacher’s manuals should be
returned to the office.
FINANCIAL
PROCEDURES – Tuition
fees are expected to be paid at time of registration.
Families experiencing special need are asked to contact the
Coordinator by letter to explain their situation and request
partial or full waiver. Such
requests will be treated in a confidential manner.
In
the event that no fee waiver request is received, families are
asked to have all registration fees paid when the books are picked
up.
Refund
Policy
– Families who withdraw children from our program before their
scheduled starting date will be entitled to a full refund.
Families who withdraw children from our program after their
scheduled starting date will be entitled to a partial refund
(maximum of 50%) pro-rated according to the balance of classes
remaining in that year at the time of notification to the
Religious Education Office.
GENERAL
ASSEMBLIES - Periodically
during the year, part or all of the student body will be assembled
for special programs of general interest.
These assemblies will normally be scheduled at the
beginning of the year. Examples
include opening day prayer service, Christmas caroling, Ash
Wednesday services, mission service, end-of-year liturgies, etc.
Catechists are expected to attend these programs and sit
with their students.
INCIDENT
REPORT - Every
person is worthy of being treated with care and respect fitting as
one made in the image and likeness of God.
Therefore, classroom behavior should be characterized by
genuine Christian care and mutual respect.
Under no circumstances will a student or an adult be
permitted to strike another or use abusive language for any
reason. Lack of
self-discipline during religious class will be addressed promptly,
and parents will be notified.
Should an incident occur prior to, during, or after
Religious Education classes while the student remains on parish
property, the responsible catechist or adult witness must:
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intervene
to insure student(s) safety and well-being.
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notify
the responsible religious education supervisor as soon as
possible and
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within
24 hours, complete and turn in to the Coordinator an Incident
Report describing the incident and those involved, in careful
detail.
MASS
ATTENDANCE – Mass
attendance is an integral part of your child’s faith formation.
Mass attendance goes hand in hand with the Religious
Education Program. One
cannot do the work of the other.
If your family is not already worshiping regularly with
your parish family, you are invited most sincerely to join us each
week in the celebration of the
Mass.
Because we are
Catholics, we can never really understand nor live our faith apart
from the Mass and the faith community of the parish.
Religious lessons are prepared with the presumption that
the students are familiar with liturgy through regular
participation in the
Mass.
To be eligible to
enter a parish sacramental preparation program, a child must
attend Mass regularly.
MEDICAL
EMERGENCIES – In
the event that a student is unable to continue participating in
the regular program activities of the religious education class,
the child will be sent to the office with another student to
accompany them. As
soon as possible, the office staff should be notified so that
parents may be called to pick up the child.
NO
CHILD SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE OR UNSUPERVISED BY AN ADULT, ESPECIALLY
WHEN SHE/HE APPEARS SICK.
NOTICE
OF NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY – Saint
Thomas More Religious Education Program admits students of any
sex, race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights,
privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made
available to program participants.
It does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color,
or national origin in the administration of its programs or the
recruitment of its teachers.
PARENT/GUARDIAN
CONSENT – Due
to Diocesan Policy requiring written consent by parent or guardian
to allow children to participate in parish programs, a child’s
custodial parent(s) or guardian must given written consent to
register a child in the Parish Religious Education Program.
This is part of the registration form.
The custodial parent/guardian’s signature will also
signify that the signee has read, understands, and supports the
policies contained in the Student Handbook.
Parents are asked to review the Handbook contents with
their children before they begin their religion classes.
PROGRESS
REPORTS - Each
student will receive a progress report halfway through the school
year so that each parent can be informed regarding the academic
religious progress of his/her child.
This report will also include any behavioral or spiritual
concerns that should be attended to by each family.
REMEDIAL
PREPARATION – Formal
preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist
begin in first grade. Confirmation
preparation begins in grade seven and is completed at the end of
grade eight. A minimum
of 15 hours of Christian Service and attendance at the
Confirmation Retreat is required of candidates as part of their
Confirmation preparation.
Parent
information meetings are held in the fall to enable parents to
assist in their child’s preparation.
At least one parent of every student in sacramental
preparation must attend the parent meeting before the student will
be considered as a candidate to receive a sacrament.
Students should be registered and participating in their
programs every year.
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Situations
requiring remedial preparation:
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Children
who have not been baptized in the Catholic tradition.
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Children
beyond first grade who have not been in a Religious Education
Program.
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Children
baptized into another Christian Community, but have not been
formally received into the Catholic Church
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Children
who have not had sacramental preparation and are beyond the age in
which this sacrament is offered (within reason)
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If
your child has not received any sacraments, the following
steps are required:
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The
student needs to enroll in the proper level of Religious Education
determined
by the Coordinator.
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If
necessary, the student may need to attend special sacramental
preparation classes.
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The
actual reception of the sacrament will be determined by the
Pastor and the Coordinator of Religious Education.
REQUESTS
FOR EARLY DISMISSAL/TARDINESS – It
is ordinarily expected that students be punctual in arriving.
When a child is late for class or must leave early, a note
should be sent to the teacher during the actual session the child
attends. If a child is
habitually late or leaves early, the child and parent should speak
to the Coordinator.
REQUIRED
PARENT MEETING –
In accordance with the policy of the Diocese of Camden, meetings
are held which are required for parents of students in grades two,
seven and eight. Because
the children in these grades are in a sacramental preparation
class, parents are required to attend meetings especially designed
to help them update their own understandings of the sacraments
while being made thoroughly familiar with the preparation their
children are receiving.
RIGHTS
OF NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTS – Both
parents have the right of access to a child’s religious
education progress report and achievement information unless one
parent produces a legal (court certified) document to the
contrary. Upon
reception of such a document, it will be attached to the child’s
record and all teachers to whom the child is assigned will be
informed of its special directions.
No child will be dismissed from our programs to the
non-custodial parent without the written consent of the custodial
parent/guardian.
SACRAMENT
PROGRAM - RECONCILIATION AND FIRST EUCHARIST
A.
The
child must successfully complete his or her first year of
religious education either in a Religious Education Program or in
a parochial school to be eligible to enter sacramental
preparation.
B.
The
child must participate in a year and a half program of preparation
before the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation
C.
The
child must take part in a two-year program before the reception of
the Sacrament of First Eucharist.
D.
The
child must memorize the following prayers and be able to say them
without prompting: “Our Father”, “Hail Mary”, and “Glory
Be to the Father”.
E.
The
child must attend Mass every weekend and have some familiarity
with the liturgy.
F.
The
parents must be willing to attend the Required Parents’ Meeting.
SACRAMENT
PROGRAM - CONFIRMATION
Confirmation
preparation is a two-year process which begins in Grade 7 and
culminates with reception of the sacrament in the Spring of Grade
8.
A.
The
child must have successfully completed the sixth-grade year of
religious education either in a Religious Education Program or in
a parochial school.
B.
The
child must be attending Mass every weekend.
C.
The
child must be willing to undertake all aspects of the Confirmation
Program and promise to do his or her best to cooperate in
Confirmation preparation. This
would include all written assignments, yearly retreat in Grade 8,
and performance of approved acts of service.
D.
The
parents must be willing to attend the Required Parents’ Meeting.
SAFETY
– In
the interest of your children’s safety, parents of students in
grades one through four are asked to come into the building or
courtyard to pick up your child after class.
Students
in grades five through eight may wait outside, but it is asked
that parents remind their children to wait on the walkway or in
the courtyard and not wander around the parking lot.
SPECIAL
NEEDS PROGRAM – Children
with special learning needs (i.e., mentally or physically
handicapped) are welcome and included in our program.
Parents of children with special needs, who feel their
child would benefit from our program, are asked to make known the
special needs of their child at the time of registration.
Mainstreaming the child within the regular class will be
done if this is educationally appropriate for the child.
Parents of children with special needs may be asked to be
aides in the classroom if this seems to be an educationally and
psychologically sound decision.
SPORTS
& EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES – Parents
are asked to demonstrate a commitment to their children’s formal
religious education even when it is difficult or involves
potential conflicts with a child’s interest in sports or other
extracurricular activities. Should
a parent/guardian anticipate an unavoidable conflict in child’s
attendance at religion classes, they should contact the
Coordinator to discuss their difficulties and try to work out
alternative plans.
SUBSTANCE
ABUSE POLICY - Substance
abuse is defined as the possession of, use of, selling or
distributing of any unauthorized, illegal drug, chemical, alcohol,
or tobacco-like substance, which can be introduced into the body
through ingestion, inhalation, or injection.
Any student found in possession of an illegal or
unauthorized substance on parish property will be immediately
suspended from the program. A
conference with the parent(s)/guardian, student and Coordinator is
mandatory for re-admittance to the program.
Any student selling or distributing illegal substances will
be formally withdrawn from the program and the matter will be
turned over to local authorities.
Upon
discovery, Catechists are to immediately confiscate the above
named items and see that they and the student involved are taken
to the Coordinator. The
student must be accompanied by another adult.
TELEPHONE
CONTACT – The
Religious Education Office will be open Monday through Friday from
9:00am
to
5:00pm
. Parents may call 424-3212 to reach the secretary about any
questions or concerns during that time.
Only emergency calls will be relayed to students during
program hours.
YOUTH
MINISTRY PROGRAM –
This program brings together our parish youth for faith-sharing
and outreach to the community in social enrichment.
This program is administered by the Youth Ministry
Coordinator of Saint Thomas More Parish.
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