policies & guidelinesWelcome to the handbook of the Saint Dominic Religious Education policies and guidelines for the school year. Please also refer to the religious education monthly calendar which is maintained on this website
We have designed this section of our website to provide a current and ready source of information for parents, grandparents and parishioners concerning the programs and goals of the vital ministry of educating our children in the principles of our faith. This includes teaching our young people how to apply the Gospel of Jesus Christ to their own personal actions in their daily lives and in the culture that surrounds them.
This material has also been distributed in the form of a Religious Education Handbook to all students enrolled in the program for the school year .
An advantage of this website presentation is that it can be more readily updated from time to time and that it can be downloaded by the reader and printed at any time.
Saint Dominic Religious Education Office Staff: Jacqueline Marenholz, Director of Religious Education
Terry Kamradt, Coordinator Pre-K to Grade 8
Beverly Montana, Coordinator Grades 9-10 and Youth Ministry
Linda Rudnick, Secretary & Assistant Address: 1050 Flanders Road, Southington, CT 06489
Telephone: 860 628-5159 (office)
FAX: 860 620-9246
e-mail:
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Call or email our office at any time if you have questions or concerns.
Table of Contents
philosophy
grade level assignment
arrival and dismissal
classroom policy
conduct and discipline
religious education class cancellations
textbooks
Religious Education Calendar
Philosophy
The goal of our religious education program is to pass on to our children the essential elements traditions of our Catholic faith and to help them integrate these teachings into their daily lives.
For this program to be effective, the full cooperation and commitment of parents is absolutely essential. Moms and Dads are the first and primary educators of children who, after all, take their cue from examples set at home.
Saint Paul wrote to the Philippians, "Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus." Let Christ enter your life and let His attitude become yours: a reverence for the ordinary a call to community, perseverance, and absolute trust in God.
As catechists, our function is to assist parents in nurturing a strong Catholic Faith in their children.
To this end, the religious education program offers a structured curriculum rich in doctrine, tradition, scripture and prayer. We encourage all parents to take their roles seriously by reviewing weekly lessons and helping with the memorization of prayers and doctrine. All announcements are in the weekly parish bulletin or a notice sent home on the night of class. We stress that you read the bulletin regularly and thoroughly, checking all of your child's papers. Let us pray that together we can share with our children the joy of our Catholic Christian faith.
Grade Level Assignment
It is the policy of the St. Dominic Religious Education program that a child attend the same grade level for Religious Education that they are attending at their school. Arrival and Dismissal
Arrival time is no later than 5:55 p.m. It is imperative that students arrive on time becasue we are a secured facility and classrooms are kept locked at all times. Parents should enter the main (middle) driveway and drop off their children at the door. If you are walking your children in, please park in the back of the main (middle) lot. Please do not drive off until your children have entered the building. Arrival time is no later than 5:55 p.m.
Children in grades one through eight will meet their teachers at their assigned pews in church each week for an opening prayer. Their teachers will then escort them to their classrooms.
When picking up your child: - Park in the upper and main (middle) lots.
- The lower lot is used by teachers and is unavailable for parents' parking.
- All children will return to the church with their teachers at 7:05 p.m. for closing prayer.
Note: - On some nights the children will be delayed five to ten minutes due to announcements, etc.
- All parents are asked to remain in their cars until lights are flashed to indicate dismissal.
- Please do not wait in the foyer.
- When the dismissal lights are flashed parents may come into the church and pick up their children from the teacher.
- No children will be released without an adult to walk them out.
We ask you to cooperate in following this procedure.
It does work if everyone follows directions.
Remember, we are striving to ensure the safety of your children.Classroom Policy
Notices are often given to the children on a weekly basis. Please be sure to ask your child for any notice as soon as you pick him/her up. This is extremely important because this is how you will be notified of any changes in schedule or special events.
Regular attendance is expected and required on a weekly basis. Please call your child's teacher if an absence is to occur in order to keep him/her on schedule. Arrangements can then be made to either make up the work or make up the session on a different night. If a student loses a textbook, he/she is responsible for the cost of the replacement book. This is due to the rising cost of textbooks.
Conduct and Discipline
It is expected that all students demonstrate an attitude of respect and courtesy to their catechists, classmates, all parish staff and church property. A behavior contract, which will be signed by the student and a parent, is being implemented this year. Students are also expected to show respect for property in all Saint Dominic School classrooms, in the parish hall, in the church and outside on church grounds. A student who disrupts the classroom atmosphere will be asked to leave the class and report to the director. At this time a parent will be called to pick up their child. Chronic disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and will result in dismissal from the program. Any acts of vandalism or disrespect of other's property may result in the child's expulsion from the program. Parents will be expected to compensate for any vandalism that occurs in the classroom or anywhere else on Church property.
We stress appropriate dress for class: Hats, hoods, caps and other head coverings are to be removed in church, hall and classrooms. No gum, candy, etc. Cell phones, i-Pods and all electrical gadgets are NOT allowed and will be confiscated and will not be returned until a parent retrieves them from the office. If a child needs to make a phone call, they can always use the office phone. Appropriate behavior is expected as soon as children enter church property and until they leave the grounds.
Religious Education Class Cancellations
If in the coming months school is canceled in Southington or let out because of a holiday or winter storm, Religious Ed classes will not be held. NO SCHOOL, NO CLASS!
If a winter storm occurs during school hours or after school is out, watch channel 3, listen to WTIC radio, or check the website (www.saintdominics.com ) for cancellation news.
Please do not call the rectory.
Textbooks
grades 1 - 6
This year we are again using the Sadlier program, "We Believe", which is designed for today's children, catechists and families. Sadlier has responded to the needs called for by the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the General Directory for Catechesis. These books are engaging, helping each child grasp the mystery of salvation at each new level of maturity, celebrating the mystery of faith and liturgy and of life. They are solid and full of the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church. They are practical, having clear, concise lessons and a three-step process:
1. We Gather
2. We Believe
3. We Respond
This makes the program easy to use with family-friendly activities and resources to strengthen the link with the parish and the family.
grades 2 and 3
To place a stronger emphasis on sacramental preparation, the children in Grades 2 and 3 will use the Sadlier texts, "First Reconciliation" and "First Eucharist" respectively. In addition, the children in Grades 2 and 3 will use the flip book, "With Jesus Always." One side of the book, called "My Reconciliation and Prayer Book," introduces children to the prayers of the Mass.
grades 7 - 8
We will use the Sadlier program called "We Live Our Faith" for grades 7 & 8. It helps students of middle school age to develop a lasting relationship with Jesus Christ through liturgy and worship. The Grade 7 text, "We Live Our Faith As Disciples of Jesus," centers on Jesus' life, his teachings and the sacraments he instituted. It presents Jesus' call to each person to become his disciple and the ways in which his teachings, his sacraments and his Church nourish people for discipleship.
The Grade 8 text, "We Live Our Faith As Members of the Church," presents the Church from its beginning at the Pentecost event through its history, encompassing its teachings and tradition. It presents the mission of the Church, entrusted to her by Jesus, as the responsibility of all baptized Catholics.
As in the Grade 1-6 texts, the chapters in these texts are designed in a 3-step process of Gathering, Believing and Responding.
Please take the time to look through and familiarize yourself with your child's textbook and be sure your child's name is inside the front cover of his/her book.
PLEASE NOTE: Lost textbooks will be replaced at the student's expense.
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