The St. Patrick Church Formation Program is designed for Preschool through 8th grade students who attend public and private schools. Classes are held in St. Patrick classrooms on Thursday from 4:30pm-5:45pm (1st-6th grade) and from 6:30-7:45pm (7th-8th grade). Preschool and Kindergarten classes are held on Sundays from 9:30am-10:30am in St. Patrick School Day Care Room.
Our mission is to walk with our children on their faith journeys. Their faith journey in life is a life-long process for each individual as well as the work of the entire Catholic Christian community.
You, as parents, are primarily responsible for the spiritual growth and development of your children. The Faith Formation team members are here to assist parents to teach the Good News and life of Jesus through the ministry of catechesis. They must do more than merely teach about our Catholic faith. They also help children build and strengthen their relationship with Jesus and the Church by proclaiming the Good News, building a sense of community, leading prayers and worships, encouraging students to serve others, challenging them to use their talents from God to build His Kingdom here on earth, and through their faith sharing of their own lives.
All of our Faith Formation team members are volunteers from many walks of life. They are people who have answered their call from God to minister our children/youth, and who have prepared themselves in various ways to serve others. Above all, they are people who believe their Catholic faith is important enough to share with our children/youth.
Parents are the primary educators of their children. Our staff is eager to work with parents to help them fulfill this responsibility and ask each parent’s cooperation in the following ways:
- Celebrate Sunday Mass regularly with your children/youth. The schedule is
as follows:
o Saturday 5:00pm
o Sunday 7:30am
9:30am
11:30am
- Participate actively in the sacramental and community life of the parish.
- Share your faith and what it means to you with your children.
- Pray with your children and help them memorize the traditional prayers of
the Church.
- Attend all parent meetings.
- Familiarize yourself with the Faith Formation schedule and events for the
children/youth.
- Read and act promptly on all communications from the Faith Formation Office.
- Assure your children’s punctual and regular attendance at all sessions.
CHILD’S ROLE
Children also have a responsibility to cooperate in order to benefit from the
Faith Formation Program. They are expected to:
- Be respectful of their teachers and adults and also to their fellow classmates.
- Listen carefully, follow directions, and actively participate in class.
- Complete all assignments.
- Follow attendance, emergency and safety procedures, and discipline policies.
- Share what they have learned and experienced in class with their families
and friends.
St. Patrick Faith Formation Program invites all public school children and youth, baptized or not, to participate in the program.
Preschool-Kindergarten Sunday mornings during the 9:30am Mass from
September through May.
Grades
1st – 6th
Thursday afternoons 4:30pm-5:45pm from
September through May.
Grades
7th – 8th
Thursday evenings 6:30pm-7:45pm from
September through May.
Preschool-Kindergarten Seeds Program
Grades 1-6 Walking by Faith, Harcourt Brace & Company
Grade 1 God
Grade 2 Jesus Christ
Grade 3 The Church
Grade 4 Christian Morality
Grade 5 The Sacraments
Grade 6 Salvation History
Grades 7-8 Living our Faith, Harcourt Brace & Company
Grade 7-8 Jesus & Sacraments
A calendar of all class dates and holidays are enclosed.
The first step in the sacramental preparation process for new families is registering your student in Faith Formation.
First Reconciliation (Confession): Preparation is done in the 2nd Grade. Classes are also available for older children who would like to prepare for First Reconciliation (Confession). Children are prepared to celebrate this sacrament before they receive their First Communion. The First Reconciliation preparation process is, first and foremost, family-centered, recognizing the fact that there is no better or more effective catechist for a child than his or her parent(s). All parents are expected to assist in the sacramental preparation of their children and to attend the parents meetings for this purpose. Children will prepare for this celebration during the month of February in their classes and will celebrate their First Reconciliation with their entire family on Friday, February 7, 2003 at the 7:30pm in the Church. Prior to the celebration, the parents are required to attend a meeting on October 17, 2002 at 7:30pm in the Church.
First Communion (Eucharist): Preparation is done in the 2nd Grade. Classes
are also available for older children who would like to prepare for First
Communion. The First Eucharist preparation process is, first and foremost,
family-centered, recognizing the fact that there is no better or more effective
catechist for a child than his or her parent(s). Children will prepare for
this celebration during the Lenten Season in their classes and will celebrate
their First Communion on Sunday, May 10, 2003 at the 10am Mass. Prior to
the celebration, there will be a Parents Meeting (no students) on March 27,
2003 at 7:30pm in Church and a Parents AND Students Retreat on May 3, 2003
from 9am-12pm in the Church.
Please mark these dates on your calendar.
A. Registration
All families currently registered will be mailed new registration forms in
the spring for the following year. Newcomers to the parish can call the Faith
Formation Office about registration information.
B. Fees (per child)
First child $60.00
Second child $50.00
Third child $40.00
Preschool/Kindergarten $30.00
If a parent is regularly scheduled as a teacher, an aide or office assistant in the program, the registration fee for one child will be waived. Financial assistance is available. Please contact the Faith Formation Office at 510.799.4434 or email faithformation@stpatrickrodeo.org.
C. Baptismal Information
A baptismal certificate is required for all children who are preparing to celebrate
First Reconciliation and First Communion. Please submit certificate to your
student’s teacher or Faith Formation Office before the month of November.
D. Change of Address/Phone
Please notify the Faith Formation Office of any change of address or telephone
number (work
or home) immediately so that the Faith Formation Team will be able to contact
you in the event of an emergency involving your child/youth.
E. Custody Arrangements
The primary responsibility for seeing that custody arrangements are carried
out rests with the parents. The Faith Formation Team wishes to cooperate
with special custody arrangements of families to the best of their ability
and will do so by following the diocesan policy below:
1. A copy of the decree of dissolution which defines the custody rights of
the parents or a copy of any other pertinent legal document must be file in
the Faith Formation office.
2. The person who drops off the child for the Faith Formation classes must
pick up the child. Upon arrival, the parent/guardian or person designated by
him or her in writing must bring child to the office and sign him or her out.
The child will not be released to anyone except the person who has dropped
the child off.
• Faith
Formation classes are held every Thursday afternoon from 4:30pm to 5:45pm
for students in grades 1-6 and for students grades 7-8 every Thursday
evening from 6:30pm to 7:45pm (except during holidays and summer breaks).
• If your student will be absent/tardy, please notify the Faith Formation
Director at
510.799.4434 or email faithformation@stpatrickrodeo.org.
• Attendance is not mandatory, but if a student is absent or tardy, we
will call to notify/confirm with the parents that their son/daughter is not in
class.
•
Students who are tardy must report to the Main Office at St. Patrick School
prior to going to class. Students who are very late (i.e. 5:15) may be asked
not to attend that evening’s class.
Faith Formation students are expected to live a life consistent with their baptismal calling. Students are to behave in an appropriate manner that is expected. The Faith Formation Team and other students will NOT tolerate any inappropriate conduct such as:
• Disrespectfulness
includes verbal and body language
• Use of vulgar or rude language
• Leaving class without permission
• Possession or use of illegal substances
• Stealing/vandalizing parish and school property
• Use of any electronic devices such as pagers, cellular phones, handheld
games, etc.
• General horseplay that is disruptive to the classroom/activity session
If any student fails to follow these guidelines, it may result in one of the
following consequences:
• Reprimand during class
• Meeting between student and Faith Formation Director
• Parents will be notified and a meeting may be scheduled
• IMMEDIATE dismissal from the Faith Formation Program
For the safety of all children and volunteers, we ask that all families follow this traffic pattern:
Drop-off
Enter the school yard in the church/faculty parking lot (back entrance) on
7th Street.
Speed limit is 5 MPH at all times. Drive up the driveway then turn left into
the safety cone site (in front of the 5th & 6th grade classroom). Everyone
must follow the directions of the traffic volunteers. Then exit on 7th St.
This traffic procedure will begin at 4:15pm to 4:30pm. If your student is late,
please park your car and escort your student to the Main Office.
Walking
Traffic & Using
the Church Parking Lot (Front Entrance)
If you choose to park your car, an adult must escort the student to the Main
Office doors
of the school.
Pick-up
Enter the school yard in the church/faculty parking lot (back entrance) on
7th Street.
Speed limit is 5 MPH at all times. Drive up the driveway then turn left into
the
safety cone site (in front of the 5th & 6th grade classroom). Everyone
must follow the directions of the traffic volunteers. Then exit on 7th St.
Cars must continue circling until students have been picked up.
Walking
Traffic & Using
the Church Parking Lot (Front Entrance)
If you choose to park your car, you must escort your child off the school grounds.
No student is allowed to walk off the school grounds without an adult escorting
them.
All students will EXIT from the Main Office doors and stand in front of the 5th & 6th grade classrooms.
The safety of the students and the Faith Formation Team is of utmost importance. All actions taken shall bear in mind the safety and well being of both student and team members. In the case of emergency/natural disaster the Emergency Plan will be followed.
In the case of an emergency/natural disaster, teachers, coordinators and the director will remain with the children until either a parent or designated person picks the children up. A checkout system will be provided for parents/guardians to sign out their child.
A. Medical Emergency/Accident/Sudden Sickness
In the case of accident or sudden sickness, the Faith Formation Director, catechist,
or an adult volunteer will give appropriate immediate care and notify the
parents/guardians. Please be aware that the Faith Formation Team may NOT
administer any alcohol wipe, anti-bacteria, etc to students. Team members
can help students wash theirs wounds off with water ONLY. If the injury is
major, we will notify the parents/guardian/emergency contact.
B. Dangerous Materials
The Faith Formation Team has the right and duty to protect the health and welfare
of ALL students in the program. This includes the right to inspect property
of individuals suspected of possessing alcohol, drugs, weapons, and other
illegal materials. If alcohol, illegal drugs, weapons, or other dangerous
materials are found, the police, parents/guardians, and pastor will be notified
as appropriate.
C. Child Abuse
As required by California State Law, evidence of apparent non-accidental injury,
suspected neglect or child abuse must be reported to the proper authorities.
*** To create a safer and more secure environment for our children, ALL Faith Formation Team Members are pre-screened through Megan’s Law. For more information about Megan’s Law, go to http://caag.state.ca.us/megan/http://caag.state.ca.us/megan/.