Church of the Incarnation

Fees effective 1 July 08

Student Progress Reports

Catechists at each Grade level (except Little Christians) will write a Progress Report for each student, which reveals the student's level of understanding of the class room material, class participation, cooperation and preparedness.

Discipline

Catechists should be able to teach without having to deal with unruly behavior. If this happens, the following steps will be taken:

1. Catechist warning for disrupting class.
2. Student will meet with the Christian Formation Director.
3. Director will inform parents about the student's behavior.
4. Student, Catechist, and parents will meet with the Christian Formation Director to determine future actions.

Cancellations

We will adhere to the calendar found in the center of this Handbook. Whether classes have been cancelled because of inclement weather can be determined in the following way: If the Sunday Masses are cancelled, the morning classes are also cancelled. If there is a question regarding the evening classes, parents are asked to watch WVIR (Channel 29) or listen to WINA (1070 AM) for cancellation information. Also, cancellations will be posted on the Incarnation web site and a message will be loaded on the Parish answering machine (973-4381). As always, parents should use their own discretion, taking into account weather in their area, distance to be traveled, etc.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all classes. (When a child in Little Christians is no longer going to attend, please call the office to tell the Director. Often there are children on waiting lists.) If children are not able to come to a session, please do the following:

Our expectation is that no more than three (3) sessions will be missed in an academic year. Children missing classes will be helped to make up the missed material. Catechists can advise you regarding the material covered. Youth in Gr.10 will be subject to make-up classes in order to enroll in the Confirmation program. The Minister for Christian Formation and Confirmation program director will decide when make-up material (to cover absences) is required.

Class Schedule 2008-2009 (Tentative)

CF = Christian Formation
LC = Little Christians

Red denotes a change from the original schedule.

Class Times

Little Christians (Ages 3, 4, & 5) and Grade 1 meet during the 9:00 AM Sunday Liturgy (9:00-10:15)
Grades 2 thru 5 meet between Sunday morning Liturgies* (10:30-11:25)
Grades 6 thru 10 meet on Sunday evening (6:15-7:30)

*Augumented with theme-centered workshops on specified Sundays

Parents are asked to get their children to class on time and to pick them up as soon as class is over.

Parents as Catechists in the Home

Every week discuss with your child what was learned in class and apply it to your child`s everyday life. Use home assignments as a vehicle to do this. A Parent Newsletter advising you of important events in Christian Formation will be sent home with your child approximatelyn four times a year. Also, visit the Christian Formation link at incarnationparish.org (our website).

Sunday Liturgy

Regular attendance at Sunday (or Saturday evening) Mass is part of the Christian Formation program. Why? As Catholics, we believe that the Eucharist is a ritual embrace of Jesus Christ. Just as we are nourished both physically and mentally in our homes when our families gather to share a meal, we are nourished by the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ during the Mass. In short, our faith cannot be deepened without regular reception of the Eucharist and is not that what we are trying to accomplish.

Curriculum

The books used in the Little Christians program are from Our Sunday Visitor publishers and are called "I Am Special"

• Help children develop positive attitudes about themselves, families, and friends
• Increase their knowledge of God and participation in Catholic liturgical seasons
• Increase their knowledge and practice of Christian actions
• Increase their appreciation of God's love and goodness

Religion books from Resources for Christian Living (RCL) Publishing Company, used in Grades 1 - Grade 5, are part of a new program called "Faith First." Added to the program is an interactive web site for children, teachers and parents (www.faithfirst.com).

Grade 2 students are prepared - from September to December - to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time during January. They will then - from January to April - be prepared to celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist for the first time. The sacrament preparation books from Resources for Christian Living (RCL) Publishing Company are used for both of these preparations

Grade 6 students will do an in-depth study of the Old Testament. A grade level service project and a three-hour evening of reflection are included. The Crossroads program from Brown-Roa Publishing Company is used.

Grade 7 students learn about the person of Jesus in the New Testament. As in Grade 6, a grade level service project and a three-hour evening of reflection are included. The Crossroads program from Brown-Roa Publishing Company is used

The program in Grade 8 is on Morality/Sexuality and uses a sexuality course developed over the last three years by our Catechists. This program is integrated with the Crossroads morality series "What's Right, What's Wrong".

Grade 9 will look at the Seven Sacraments and what they mean in our everyday lives. The Crossroads edition of "The Sacraments" will be used as a text. Grade 9 students also take part in the Annual Antioch Retreat.

Grade 10 Pre-Confirmation focuses on Catholic Beliefs in a book titled The Apostles' Creed. Grade 10 students also attend the annual Antioch Retreat and complete at least 10 hours of parish service to prepare for the reception of Confirmation in Grade 11.