Saint Anthony Religious Education
Parent/Student Handbook

2009-2010

Reverend Jerry Singleton
Pastor

954-463-4614

Mrs. Patricia Murphy Solenski
Director of Religious Education

820 N.E. 3^rd Street
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33301

954-467-7749 / sasreligioused@yahoo.com

Religious Education Program Handbook

PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS –The mission of Saint Anthony Religious Education Program is to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the families of the world especially in Saint Anthony Parish.  To this end the faith will be taught, liturgy will be celebrated, morality will be formed, prayer will be prayed, community will be served, and a missionary spirit will prevail.

MASS ATTENDANCE - Students and families are expected to attend the 9:00 AM Mass on the First Sunday of each month.  Students and their families may be seated in the reserved pews on the west side of the Church.  After Mass the group will move to the Cafeteria for the opening of the regular Religious Ed sessions.  Class sessions do not replace Mass attendance.

ADMISSION POLICY – There is an open policy of admission for all children.  Parish membership is expected.

ACADEMIC POLICY - All students, regardless of academic abilities, are welcomed into the Program.  The focus of the curriculum is the spirit and heart of a student.  Home assignments are expected to be completed.  Each week a review of the material covered during class must be reviewed in the home.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE -  Sessions are offered on the following levels:

• Kindergarten – for five year olds by September 1, 2008

• First Level  (Pre-Communion year) – for six and seven year olds.

• Second  Level  (Communion year) – for students who have completed the First Level.

• Third  Level – for students who have completed the Second Level.

• Fourth  Level  – for students who have completed the Third Level.

• Fifth  Level  – for students who have completed the Fourth Level.

• Six  Level  – for students who have completed the Fifth Level.

• Confirmation I (Pre-Confirmation Year) – for students twelve years and older.

• Confirmation II (Confirmation Year) – for students who have completed the Pre-Confirmation Level.

• Special Sacrament I  (Pre-Communion Year) – for students in 2nd through 6th grade who have not yet received Baptism and/or Reconciliation and Eucharist.

• Special Sacrament II  (Communion Year) – for students who have completed Special Sacraments I.

CURRICULUM – The textbooks and all materials used at each level in the program have received the approval of the Archdiocese of Miami and are in conformity with the documents of the Roman Catholic Church.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE – Sessions begin at 10:15 a.m. on Sundays according to the calendar.  Students and faculty meet in the cafeteria for opening prayer and move to individual classrooms.  Dismissal is 11:30 a.m. from the cafeteria unless other arrangements are made.

REGISTRATION – It is the goal of the parish to provide religious education for every child in the parish, regardless of race and/or national origin.  In rare cases, the parish may not be able to invite a student into the program because it does not have the resources to meet the special needs of the child.  In such cases, the parish will assist the parents in providing catechesis for their child, especially in preparation for the sacraments.  In matters of admission to the program or to the reception of a sacrament, the pastor is responsible for a decision.

ATTENDANCE POLICY – Absenteeism must be kept to a minimum.  Parents need to be consistent in their commitment to attendance.  Students in Second Level, Special Sacraments II and Confirmation II are expected to be present for each session.  Three or more absences at this level will require a meeting with the Priest and the Director of Religious Education in order to determine Sacrament readiness.  If a student is ill or unable to attend class, parents are requested to notify the office and to assist in the material covered.  Tardiness is unacceptable; all efforts must be made to arrive on time to lessen disruption to the class.  Chronic tardiness will need to be addressed in a meeting with the Director of Religious Education.

EARLY ARRIVALS & LATE DEPARTURES – Parents are advised that no student may be dropped off for Religious Education sessions at the school prior to 10:00 a.m. and must be picked up before 11:45 a.m.  A staff member will be present during these times.  It is the responsibility of the parent to cooperate with this policy.

SACRAMENTS – Preparation for reception of the sacraments for the first time involves a two-year period.  Students in the Second Level and Special Sacraments II receive First Reconciliation (Penance/Confession) and First Eucharist (Holy Communion).  Students in Confirmation II receive Confirmation.

RECONCILIATION – (Penance/Confession) Students in 3, 4, 5, 6, Confirmation I & II will participate in this sacrament during the regular Religious Education Session.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT – Parents are expected to respond to limited activities within the Program.

COMMUNICATION – Dialogue between Catechist (teacher) and parent is important.  A mutually convenient time for such communication is to be arranged through the DRE, who must be present at all conferences.  A newsletter is published twice during the program year for general program information.

CONFIDENTIALITY – Catechists will keep confidential information entrusted to them as long as no one’s life, health or safety is at stake.  In these cases, parents will be promptly notified of teacher concerns.

CUSTODIAL RIGHTS – In the case of divorced parents, the religious education program will interact with the parent who has legal custody of the child.  The religious education program ordinarily will deal with the parent having legal custody in matters of absence, lateness, truancy, early dismissal, disciplinary issues, religious education program records, authorization to receive sacraments, etc.  Access to in-person conferences and the records and information pertaining to a minor child, including, but not limited to, religious education program records, may not be denied to a parent because the parent is not the child’s primary residential parent.  Full rights apply to either parent unless a court order specifically revokes these rights.  In the latter case, it is the custodial parent’s responsibility to provide evidence of such a court order.

CHILD ABUSE – Faculty/staff members who suspect child abuse and/or neglect are required to report this to the Division of Children & Family Services and the Director of Religious Education.

HARASSMENT – Harassment consists of unwelcome conduct, whether verbal, physical, and/or visual, that is based on a person’s protected status, such as sex, race, ancestry, national origin, age, physical disability, mental condition, marital status, veteran status, citizenship status or other protected group status.  The Archdiocesan religious education programs will not tolerate harassing conduct.  If any employee or volunteer or student feels that he/she has experienced or witnessed harassment, that person must immediately notify her/his Director of Religious Education.

DISCIPLINE CODE – Proper conduct is expected for each class.  Unacceptable behavior will be discussed with the student, catechist, parents and DRE.  Parents and students are responsible for any damage to school property that is a direct result of a student’s actions.

DRESS CODE – Students are expected to dress appropriately when attending Religious Education classes.  All attire must be modest .

PROGRAM FINANCES – The expenses indicate a per pupil cost of $85 and $80 for each additional child in the same family.  This cost figure is neither a requirement nor a condition for enrollment in the Program.  Financial consideration is given to all families who contact the DRE for discussion.  Scholarships are available by contacting the DRE.

STUDENT WITHDRAWAL – The education of a student is a partnership between the parents and the religious education program.  The Church considers the parents to be the primary catechists of their children.  Just as the parent has the right to withdraw a child if desired, the religious education program administration reserves the right to require the withdrawal of a student if the administration determines that the partnership is irretrievably broken.

MEDICATION PROCEDURES – The administering of medicine to a child outside the doctor’s office or a health institution is a parental responsibility and should not be delegated to religious education program personnel  except under unusual circumstances.  These individual circumstances will be arranged privately with the parent and the DRE.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY – The use or possession of illegal drugs or illegal mood altering substances, alcoholic beverages, drug-related paraphernalia, or the abuse of prescription of over the counter drugs by any student on parish property or while attention or participating in any religious education program sponsored activity is forbidden.

WEAPONS POLICY – Weapons are not permitted anywhere on the Religious Education program ground.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES - There will be no electronic devices permitted in the classroom, i.e. cell phone, I-Pods,  electronic games, beepers, etc.

USE OF STUDENT INFORMATION – A directory of contact information will be published.   Any parent who does not wish his or her  information  used must notify the Director of Religious Education in writing prior to the beginning of the religious education program year.

RELEASE OF STUDENTS – A child will not be released early without the knowledge of the parent/guardian.  The Director of Religious Education will release the child only to the person who has placed the child in the religious education program.  Any other person seeking the release of the child must have the approval of the parent with legal custody, which ordinarily shall be in writing.

SEARCH AND SEIZURE – The Director of Religious Education or his/her delegate in the religious education program has access to the lockers, handbags, desks, cars or any other object that is brought onto the campus of the religious education program, and may remove any object, which is illegal or contrary to religious education program policy.

SAFETY PLAN – The parish provides a safe environment for the children attending Religious Education Sessions. For this reason, the Religious Education Program has developed a Safety Plan  A copy of this is available in the office of the Director of Religious Education where parents may read it.

INSURANCE OF STUDENTS – The Archdiocese purchases general liability insurance, which covers the students in our Religious Education program during the times that the students are involved in the activities of the program.

Situations can arise that were not foreseen at the time of writing this Handbook, the religious education program reserves the right to initiate, change or modify the policies as needed.  Parents and students will be notified of any amendments.

We are here to serve the religious education needs of our children, youth, and adults.  If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions please feel free to share them with your child’s catechist or call the religious education office.

The Director of Religious Education and/or Pastor is the final recourse in all-disciplinary situations and may waive any disciplinary rules for just cause at his/her discretion.

© 2009 Saint Anthony Catholic Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida