Registration for the 2011/2012 Religious Education program will open on Tuesday, April 12, 2011. We will not accept forms before this date. Registration applications will NOT be sent home by Post Office mail this year.
Classes are filled on a first come, first serve basis and there is a size limit. It is important to return your registrations as soon as possible so we can schedule our class assignments, seek the help of volunteers as Catechists, order the necessary books and supplies, and avoid the problems that last minute registrations bring. It will also serve you as you try to schedule upcoming activities for your children.
When choosing a class time, think about what session time works best for your child. Some children might be more suited for a morning session on Sunday rather than the afternoon session on Monday or Wednesday, coming at the end of the school day.
6th, 7th and 8th Grade students need to prayerfully consider if they should sign up for the Monday classes due to sports/extra curricular activities that are usually offered on Monday after school. There will be no switching of days or classes once classes have begun. Prior to classes beginning, there will be a $25.00 fee charged to switch class. No changes will be made until fee is received.
Using the Faith First series with the segment entitled "With My Family", the children will complete the page each week at home, bringing the concept of catechesis into the family. This allows us to abide by the mandate of the Archdiocese of Newark to complete 35 hours per year of Religious Education classes.
If we have volunteers willing to be Catechists, Religious Education class times for Grades 1-8 will be Sunday 8:25 – 9:25 AM and 10:25 – 11:25 AM, and Monday 3:30 – 4:30 PM; Wednesday 3:30 – 4:30 PM for Grades 1-5; and an evening class on Wednesday from 7:30 – 8:45 PM for 6th, 7th and 8th Grade students.
FAMILY BASED CATECHESIS - This option is open to parish families of Little Flower who practice their faith by attending Mass each Sunday and who strive to live the Catholic life throughout the week. Catechesis is the first to recognize that parents are the primary educators and any family who wishes to do so may “…choose to provide catechesis for their children in their home; their catechesis must be both complete and authentic.” (National Director of Catechesis, #3, Home Based Catechesis) The task of passing on the faith is shared through normal interaction which takes place daily in the context of family life. Families will come together once each month from September through May and will participate in other faith-filled service projects during the year.
Each year, you must send a completed registration form into the office in order for a child to be registered for a certain day/or time. Complete both sides of the enclosed registration form and return to the Religious Education Office no later than JUNE 1, 2011. A LATE FEE OF $25.00 WILL BE CHARGED AFTER JUNE 1, 2011.
FEES FOR THE 2011-2012 SCHOOL WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:
REGISTRATION FEES
One child - $145; Two children - $255; Three or more children - $330
For those registrations received after June 1, 2011; there will be a $25.00 Late Fee.
A $25.00 fee will be charged to switch classes.
No changes will be made until the fee is received.
Parents who volunteer as Catechists for the full year
Religious Education Program will receive a discounted rate as follows:
One child - $80; Two children - $140; Three or more children - $180
KINDERGARTEN
Kindergarten classes will continue to be held on Mondays, only, with the choice of a 9:30 to 10:30 AM session or a 1:30 to 2:30 PM session. Kindergarten parents are asked to register their children at this time and then inform us of the session your child will attend when the BerkeleyHeightsSchool District Kindergarten schedule is made available to you.
PARENTAL SUPPORT
Classes can only be offered if we have volunteers who are willing to be a Catechist or a Co-Catechist. Please don’t think that you need a teaching degree or public speaking experience to be a Catechist. A willing spirit and a desire to simply share your faith with our parish youth is all that God and we ask. We guarantee that you will receive so much more than you give. If you would like to teach or co-teach a class, please indicate the grade level and time on the registration form or call Lisa at the Religious Education office at 464-7444.
Another way to lend a hand is to volunteer during the session your child is attending by serving as an office volunteer on Sundays, or as a hallway or cafeteria monitor on Mondays. If we get enough volunteers, you may be needed to help just three or four times during the year.
Please help us in your role as parents to support our volunteer Catechists by talking to your child about the need for respectful behavior while they are at Religious Education.It is MANDATORY that each family be registered in our Parish using the Parish Registration Form BEFORE their children will be placed in a class for the upcoming year. Registration forms can be found in the Religious Education office, the rectory, or at the back of the UpperChurch.
REMEMBER
CLASSES FILL UP QUICKLY – PARTICULARLY ON MONDAY WHERE SPACE IS LIMITED
WE CANNOT HOLD SPACES FOR CHILDREN WITHOUT A COMPLETED REGISTRATION FORM AND APPROPRIATE FEE.
