ST. DENNIS CHURCH

Welcome to the Pre-K to 12th grade Religious Education program of St. Dennis Catholic Church. This page will be a help and guide for you in the faith formation of your child. Our program is only a supplement to the formation your child receives at home. Parents are the first and foremost educators of their children in the ways of faith. Without your example, our efforts would be futile.

We, the staffed Parish community, place a great importance on regular weekly Mass attendance so that your children feel part of the Parish community; worship together, grow closer to the Lord by receiving the Sacraments regularly, being involved with the program and seriously developing our own faith life as adults.

                                                                                                        

ENTRANCE INTO THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM

Children who have been baptized at St. Dennis will be followed through the POST-BAPTISM program. Upon reaching age four (4) the parent/guardian will be contacted by the DRE regarding the available religious education curriculums in which the child may participate. New families who join the parish are to call the Religious Education office for an appointment with the DRE to discuss the parish program.

SACRAMENT PREPARATION

Prior to receiving the sacrament, the candidate must be actively practicing his/her faith and have attended religious education for two consecutive years.  

It is of the utmost importance for the parents and sponsors to attend scheduled meetings during the immediate preparation time. Candidate and his/her sponsor must set aside time to meet and share their faith as they walk this journey together.

1st Reconciliation is celebrated with children who have attended at least two years of Religious Education and have become familiar with Jesus and God's Forgiving Love.

1st Eucharist is celebrated with children who have attended at least two years of Religious Education and have become familiar with the Church Community in Worship.

Parents are required to attend at least four (4) meetings in order to be assisted in preparing their children for these sacraments. The readiness of the child for the reception of the Sarament is decided through consultation with the pastor, parents, the catechist, and the DRE. Parents are the primary educators.

Confirmation preparation is conducted for persons of high school age or older.


DISCIPLINE
The ideal of discipline within Catholic education is to enable students to move from externally imposed discipline to self-discipline to discipleship. Children first must learn appropriate behavior through someone or something outside themselves.

As soon as the are sufficiently mature, they should be helped to govern their conduct from within themselves so that they can live responsibly. Ultimately, opportunities should be provided which lead them to look beyond themselves to principled living, as exemplifiedby Jesus Christ.

Good behavior is expected of all students. Failure to comply will result in the parent accompanying the child to class.
                                                      

STUDENT EVALUATIONS

Student evaluations are performed on a quarterly basis. The evaluations are documented by the catechists based on the student's performance in meeting the evaluation standards. The evaluations are mailed to the parent/legal guardian for review. Conferences with the DRE can be requested by any of the parties.

CLASSROOM TIME REQUIREMENT

The school calendar year is to contain at least thirty (30) hours of classroom instruction.

ATTENDANCE

We encourage your child's regular attendance at class each Sunday morning. Please notify the Director of Religious Education (DRE) if you have circumstances which prevent faithful attendance. More than three absences during the year may result in postponement of receiving a sacrament or promotion to the next class.

If attendance at Religious Education is a hardship due to custodial issues, a home study curriculum may be requested by the parent/guardian. This program must be approved in writing by the DRE. Measurement of the student's progress is the responsibility of the DRE.

                                            
It can not be emphazised enough that families with children in St. Dennis' Religious Education program should attend Mass weekly to give thanks to God for blessings of the week.



CURRICULUM
PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN
A highly interactive program of song, story telling and crafts introduces the youngest members of our community to the basic elements of faith.                

GRADE ONE - TRINITY

Grade one focuses on the Holy Trinity. God, Our Creator, who made each person special. Jesus, the Son of God, is our friend and brother and is human, like us in all things but sin. The Holy Spirit is our source of strength, peace and joy. The themes of church community, the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist, and morality are introduced.                                                            

GRADE TWO - COMMUNITY

Grade two shifts to a study of the sacraments. Baptism is reviewed and preparation for the reception of the Eucharist is completed. Understanding of the Trinity grows and the study of morality continues as the child learns the notion of sin and its effects of Reconciliation as the sacrament is studied.

GRADE THREE - THE CHURCH

Grade three focuses on the child's identity as a member of the Catholic faith community. It presents key aspects of what it means to be Catholic from core teachings of our faith like discipleship, liturgy, and worship. The Apostle's Creed and all seven sacraments are studied, moral issues are discussed within the framework of the Ten Commandments, Jesus' laws of love, and the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.                                                                          

GRADE FOUR - FORMATION OF CONSCIENCE

Grade four is a dynamic presentation of what it means to live a Christian moral life, both as an individual and as community; this is accomplished through an extension of the materials learned in 3rd grade plus a study of the Beatitudes. Throughout the text moral values are fostered by a look at the lives of people who have exemplified them. The sacrament of Reconciliation is re-emphasized and the Church as light and servant to the works present.                              

GRADE FIVE - SACRAMENTS

Grade five is a rich and thorough presentation of how we live out the sacraments as members of the Catholic Church. The persons of the Trinity are presented as they relate to the sacraments. The church is also presented as a sacrament, the sign of God's love for His people. Living as faithful followers of Jesus is the main moral focus.                                                  


  

GRADE SIX - SCRIPTURE

Grade six is a study of the Old Testament. Students learn that it is in the Hebrew Scriptures that we find the roots of our faith. Jesus is seen as the fulfillment of the Old Testament - the one who brings a new covenant and proclaims the coming to the Kingdom of God. The concept of church is taught as a continuation of the kingdom.                                                                      

GRADES SEVEN AND EIGHT

Grades seven and eight begin a new chapter in spiritual development for junior high students. They focus in on growth in faith. There is the opportunity to put faith in action during the year in the form of outreach projects.                        

                                                                        

GRADES NINE THROUGH TWELVE

Grades nine through twelve prepare for Conformation and study morality, the Creed and liturgy, and how to use personal gifts in serving as a fully committed member of the parish.





                                          

ST. DENNIS MISSION STATEMENT FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

It is the mission of the community of St. Dennis Church to provide successful learning for all of our children, youth, and adults through a quality religious education program and the involvement of the members of our whole church. This learning process is a shared responsibility of the whole parish community.

The goals are to meet the needs of the individual as well as the community, to develop a closer relationship between the religious education program, home and the church.

The formal religious education program consists of instruction for young children, youth, adults and all those interested in the Catholic Faith.

The parish community is committed and dedicated to working together to carry out and accomplish these goals.                                                              

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