Contact :Theresa Vaga, Director of Faith Formation, 315-455-2203    

E-mail: rel-ed@stmargchurchmattydale.org

SCHEDULES (The following schedules are in PDF format. Click on the link to download the schedule)

January 2012 Faith Formation Calendar

February 2012 Faith Formation Calendar

Pre-K 3 through Grade 8, 2009-2010

St. Margaret’s Parish is entrusted with an educational vocation.  The Faith Formation Program has been developed to assist St. Margaret’s families in nurturing Christ-centered lives within our children.  It is in that sense that The Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) means “preparation for life”.  The life-long process of growing in love and knowledge of God begins within the home but is sustained within the faith community.  Gifted individuals are called forth to instruct and share faith with our children. As Christ taught in words and deeds, we, too, are challenged to do the same.  If our words are to have meaning, they must be appropriate to the ages of our children.  An atmosphere of love, forgiveness, joy, and peace allows the children to begin to experience the "Good News" of the power of God among us.  The desire to praise and worship God is a natural result of coming to know God as a loving and forgiving God. It is within this vision that they come to know themselves as gift and gifted by God who calls them to become his disciples within the home, church, community, and world.

Guidelines

Arrival
A. Pre-K 3 through Grade 1   “Child Of God ” Program
The “Child Of God ” children must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian to classrooms.  Children may be brought to their classrooms 15 minutes prior to the beginning of 10:30a.m. Mass on Sunday.

B.  Grade 1 through Grade 6   Monday Evening Faith Formation Program
The children should arrive no earlier than 6:15 p.m. All parents are encouraged to accompany their children inside the building.  Classes start promptly at 6:30 p.m.

C.  Grade 7 and 8   Monday Evening Junior High Classes
The Junior High students meet selected Monday evenings from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.  The students are asked to arrive to class at least 5 minutes before the beginning of class so classes can begin promptly at 6:15 p.m.

Dismissal
A. Pre-K 3 through Grade 1    “Child Of God ” Program
The “Child Of God” children will be dismissed as parents pick them up at the conclusion of the 10:30 a.m. Mass.  Parents or adult guardians are asked to come into the classrooms to pick up their children.  If an adult other than the parent or adult guardian is to pick up children, please notify the coordinator/director or the appropriate catechist.

B.  Grade 1 through Grade 6   Monday Evening Faith Formation Program
The students will be dismissed from their classrooms.  We ask that a parent or an assigned adult pick up their child in the classroom at 7:30 p.m.   No student will be allowed to go outside into the parking lot unaccompanied by an adult.  We would ask also that you do not wait in the hallways any earlier than 5 minutes before dismissal time.

Registration

Changes in family information

Please inform the office of any changes of phone, address, or other pertinent information as they occur.

Registration Fees

The registration fee for the Faith Formation Program and the
“Child Of God ” Program for 2009-2010 is as follows:

• $30.00 each child
• $75.00 for a family of 3 or more children
• An additional charge of $5.00 per child will be added after August 1st for all re-registration due to increase in late book orders..

  
  Registration fees should be paid at the time of registration.  Please bring it to the attention of the director if any difficulty exists in meeting the registration fee.  Arrangements can be made to make payments during the course of the Faith Formation year.

There is a fee for First Eucharist, First Reconciliation and Confirmation.  These fees are separate from the Faith Formation registration fee and are payable at time of registration for each individual Sacramental preparation. Please see the "Sacraments" section of this site for more information on these sacraments.

Attendance

Inclement weather - Emergency closings

If school is closed in the morning due to the weather, there will be NO Religious Education classes that evening.  In case of class cancellation due to a weather emergency later in the day, please turn to News Channel 10, Channel 5 or any of the radio stations  for information regarding cancellation of classes.  When classes are not canceled, parents should use their best judgment concerning travel conditions

The Child of God Program

This Early Childhood Religious Education Program is available to children from age three to first grade during the 10:30 a.m. Mass.  This Religious Program is designed to help young children discover their special qualities and importance in God’s creation.
The primary focus of the program is to assist the children in developing a positive self-concept through an awareness that God has made each child someone very special.
The Child Of God Program begins with an Open House on Sunday, <TBD> after the 10:30 a.m. Mass from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Classes begin on Sunday, <TBD>.

Age Requirements:

• 3 Year Old Preschool Class: Must be 3 by December 1st
• 4 Year Old Preschool Class: Must be 4 by December 1st 
• Kindergarten Class: Must be 5 by December 1st
•   First Grade Class: Must be 6 by December 1st

CHILD OF GOD recognizes that children “Learn by Doing”

Therefore, the following lesson development techniques are used:

* Sensory activities       * Filmstrips          * Finger plays
   * Songs                       * Stories             * Art activities
            * Dramatizations            * Prayers            * Take-home activities

PROGRAM FEATURES

Sixth Grade Bibles

The lessons in the 6th grade curriculum are based on the Bible.  We ask each student purchase a Bible ($5.00 each) at the beginning of the program.  The student is able to keep this Bible after completing the 6th grade.  We encourage them to bring it back to class for the remainder of their Faith Formation years through Confirmation.

Prayer Requirements

Learning the traditional prayers and teaching of the Church is an essential element of our Parish Faith Formation Program.  Grade level requirements are as follows:

• Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten:  "The Sign of the Cross"
• Grade 1:    "The Hail Mary"
• Grade 2:    "The Lord’s Prayer"
• Grade 3:    "The Ten Commandments"; "Act of Contrition"
• Grade 4:    "The Apostle’s Creed"
• Grade 5:    "The Rosary"

The learning of this material will begin in class but needs to be continued at home.
Please pray these prayers at meal or bed time with your child.  When prayed together in this way, most children can learn them easily.

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