MQP Church -Religious Education

Policies and information in this booklet are subject to change. You will be notified when this occurs.

Religious Curriculum…Mary, Queen of Peace follows the Archdiocesan guidelines for classroom materials. This also means all of our textbooks are approved by the US Conference of Bishops and suitable for use in age appropriate settings and doctrinally sound.

Joyful songs, poetry, and hands on activities introduce little ones to God’s gifts of self, creation, and love with family and the church community. This specially designed program addresses the social, emotional intellectual and physical readiness of pre school children.

Our K through 6^th grade uses William H. Sadlier WE BELIEVE series. This program is faithful to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It presents content that embraces the four pillars of the Catechism – Creed, Litugy and Sacraments, Moral Life, and Prayer. Each lesson integrates prayer, liturgy and catholic social teaching along with faith sharing and catechesis. We Believe is a spiritual curriculum which present s the key concepts of the faith each year, with a developmentally appropriate focus. Families are involved through the Faith Sharing pages students bring home each week.

The website for our series offers free family activities. Check it out at www.webelieveweb.com

Our 7^th through 10^th grade uses the William H. Sadlier Faith and Witness Series. We use Creed I and Creed I, Morality, New Testament and Liturgy and Worship. These texts introduce students to their faith as young Catholics. Thought provoking presentations involve them in and promote understanding of the faith. The systematic cat4echesis builds a solid foundation through shared study, reflections, prayer and Catholic action.

Attendance…Regular class attendance is important. Children are required to attend all classes in their entirety. Our experience has been that if your child does not attend on a regular basis they will find it difficult to understand the subject matter and to keep up with the class. We encourage you to bring your child to class every week. If your child must miss a class, please obtain the makeup work from the teacher the following week. The child will be marked excused when the class work is turned in completed. No child will be allowed to miss more than 3 classes and be promoted to the next grade, unless all makeup work has been satisfactorily completed. This does not pertain to Sacrament Prep. If you know your child will miss a class, please call the office.

Cancellation of Religious Education classes… If for any reason the public or catholic schools on the North shore send students home in the middle of the day or cancel school for the day we will not have Religious Education classes that day. (Unless it is one local school with an on site problem)

Sunday Mass…It is of extreme importance that your child be attending Mass on Sunday and participating in the Eucharistic celebration. We hope that you will attend Mass at Mary, Queen of Peace on a regular basis with your entire family. Bringing your child to Mass is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child.

Parental Involvement…W strongly encourages all parents to be involved in the religious education of their children. If you feel you are unable to teach or because of your schedule you are unable to teach there are other ways for you to serve the program. We are always in need of substitute teachers, car line helpers, cafeteria helpers for dismissal, office help and people to copy, cutout, etc. Please volunteer to help our program grow. Parent meetings will be held twice a year. Please plan to attend as they are mandatory.

Dress Code: We ask that students dress appropriately for class and refrain from wearing anything that draws unusual attention to them or may affect their participation in class. No one may wear short shorts, midriffs, tank tops or inappropriate sayings on clothing. Child must wear shoes.

Policy of Abuse and Neglect… The parish teachers and staff have a responsibility to report incidents of apparent child abuse or neglect and to cooperate with authorities in relation to these matters. Such reporting is required by law. Those who serve as catechists and staff members have an obligation to follow the policy concerning abuse and neglect of minors in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Child Protection Catechesis…As you may know the Archdiocese of New Orleans implemented a mandatory policy on the teaching of Child Protection and Safe Environment to all teachers, volunteers and students. We do this teaching with your child during the month of October each year which is Respect for Life month. If for any reason you prefer to do this teaching yourself, please come by the office and pick up a lesson plan. Lessons are also available in the office for you to preview.

Personal Possessions…Items such as radios, CD players, electronic games, cell phones, etc. are not allowed at CCD. If your child must have a cell phone, it is to be turned off until you pick them up after class. Phones are available in the office if they need to call home for any reason. No other calls should be made. Students should not bring money or valuables with them to class. The parish is not responsible for lost money or valuables. We will take cell phones and other items and keep them in the office for the parents to pick up if child uses it during class time.

Emergency Information…In the religious education office files are maintained on all students in case of emergency. Please keep your child’s file up to date with emergency phone numbers, your home and cell phone number as well as your current address. If your child is diagnosed with something that should be noted in their file be sure to make the office aware in writing.

Drop off and Pick up…Please do not drop your child off more than 10 minutes before class and pick them up on time as well.

If you must pick your child up early or drop your child off late, please come into the school office and sign the child in or out as needed. Children will be called to the office by the secretary or volunteer. Please do not go to the child’s classroom and disturb the entire class.

Carline… The carline is for the safety of your child. We ask all parents (Grades 1-6) to use the carline and not come to the door to pick up your child. Carline usually takes about 10 minutes to complete on our busiest day. We need parent volunteers to help with carline as the teachers are needed in the cafeteria to remain with the children. Please arrive 10 minutes before dismissal and plan to stay 10 minutes after dismissal if you can help.

Every parent should have the names of the children printed on a sheet in the window of their car. This makes calling names for carline much faster and easier.

Children in PK, K and T1 are to be brought to the classroom and picked up from the classroom by an adult. No siblings may pick up these children.

Children in grades 7 thru 11 are to be dropped off and picked up by parents in the parking lot. Please be sure to watch for these children in the parking lot.

The gate in front of the modular buildings is not to be used by anyone. Please enter through the front entrance of the school building and return through the same entrance when leaving.

Walkers…If your child walks home during daylight hours, we must have a note on file in the office.

Discipline and Problem Solutions…As our young people grow and mature they develop in many different ways. Their faith development is an integral part of their intellectual, physical, social, emotional and moral development. We feel it is important to see the faith development of our students as co-partners in this relationship with their parents. Parents are the primary educators of their children. We are here to assist you in your child’s education. It is therefore essential that we work together in developing in your child, good behavior habits and positive attitudes toward religious education. We offer the following suggestions for the home:

a. Remind your child of the proper way to act, and that certain situations call for our best behavior; such as classrooms, church, carline, etc.

b. Recognize that the teacher has the special privilege of representing you during class time and should be treated with respect. Affirm that with your child.

c. Try to project a positive attitude about attending religious education classes. Just by the presence of your child, we know you consider their participation in the program important to you.

d. We hope to instill in your child a pride and respect for themselves as Catholics and Christians in today’s society and as part of the Mary, Queen of Peace family.

e. Help your child recognize rules as necessary to protect and to respect all people which includes respecting public and private property.

f. It is important for your child to follow the rules for the safety of all children in our parish. This means we also respect the property of others. Please remind your children that the parish and school are sharing space. Remind them to refrain from using, damaging or taking anything in a desk that belongs to someone else.

Walk in the halls and cafeteria without yelling, jumping or making noises that are disturbing to others.

h. If a child’s behavior continuously disrupts the class or leaning process of others, the child will be sent to the office. At the first incident the child will be reminded of expected behavior and the consequences. After the second incident, the child will be sent to the office where a discussion with the DRE and a determination made if it is necessary to call the parents. If a child is sent to the office a third time, the parents will be called to pick the child up and have a conference. If the behavior continues it may be necessary for the parent to attend class with the child or the child to be removed from the classroom.

Teachers… All messages for teachers or aides should be left with the CCD office at 674-9794. Our teachers are volunteers; we train them as often as possible and follow up with them weekly concerning teaching strategies, concerns, etc.

Parish Website…The parish now has a website with a lot of information. Please check the website regularly for upcoming events, news, pictures and more. The website is www.maryqueenofpeace.org

Religious Education will soon have a section with important information and dates for you to keep up with.

Finance…Registration Fees are due at time of registration. If you are unable to pay at this time, you may make arrangements with the DRE for later payment. NSF checks will be assessed a $20.00 fee. At this time the registration fee is $60.00 with a $10.00 discount given to each student who pre registers in the spring.

SACRAMENTS…..First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are usually completed in 2^nd grade. The child must have received two consecutive years of religious education prior to receiving the sacrament. In order for the child to receive these sacraments at Mary, Queen of Peace the parents must attend the Parent Meeting held for each sacrament. They last approximately one hour. A sacrament fee is charged to cover the cost of the sacrament books, reception and retreat day held for the children along with the rehearsal. Interviews with parents and students will be held during this time. All other information will be given out at the parent meetings.

Confirmation is celebrated in the 11^th grade. All students must attend 9^th and 10^th grade either in CCD or Catholic school in order to confirm at Mary, Queen of Peace. Registration for the final phase of the program is held in the spring of the 10^th grade class. Classes will begin at the end of spring and continue till Confirmation in the fall. There is a fee for this which includes books, material, retreat and the reception. Interviews will be held with parents and students during this time. All parents and students must attend the mandatory meeting in the spring to enter the last phase of the Confirmation program.

Children should attend CCD or catholic school from 1^st grade through 12^th grade. No child should skip grades during this time. This is not only practiced by Mary, Queen of Peace it is the requirements of the Archdiocese and the USCCB.