St. James Religious Education

May 6, 2011

RE: Religious Education Registration for the 2011-2012 School Year

Dear Parents,

This letter provides information regarding registration for the 2011-2012 Parish Religious Education (PRE) upcoming school year. Please take the time to read through this material, so as to be fully informed regarding the upcoming year.

Registration begins on Saturday, June 4 from 9AM until 1PM in St. James Hall. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. The St. James Parish Hall entrance (back entrance) will open at 8:30AM, so that you can wait in an air-conditioned, protected space.

If you are unable to be here on June 4th, you may send a proxy to register on your behalf on June 4th. Beginning June 6th, here are other registration choices: register at the RE Office; return the registration materials by mail, or register on the Parish website. Proxies on June 4th will need a signed statement from you, authorizing them to act on your behalf,.
All children who will receive religious instruction at St. James, who will receive sacraments at St. James Parish during the 2011-2012 school year, or who will be home schooled for Religious Education during the 2011-2012 school year must be registered.

PRE Schedule Regular classes will begin on Sunday, September 18th and Wednesday, September 21st. The detailed RE School Year Calendar will be emailed to parents and will be a Sunday Bulletin insert the weekend of August 6/7, 2011.

Tuition The tuition remains $100 per child and is capped at $200 per family. Tuition payments may be made annually, semiannual or quarterly. A minimum tuition deposit of $25 is asked at the time of registration. In addition to tuition, parents are also expected to volunteer at least once each year for each student they have participating in the PRE Program.

Please note that the “Parish Service In Lieu of Tuition Payment Program” is again offered, as a means of “paying” tuition through the use of your time and talents for the benefit of our parish. A summary of service opportunities is included with this letter. Finally, if you have extraordinary circumstances and are unable to pay tuition or perform Service In Lieu of Tuition, please call me to discuss a tuition adjustment.

Special Learning Needs If you child has special learning needs, we ask that you identify these needs for us on the medical form (enclosed). This information aids the RE Office and the catechists in planning lessons that will help your child (and all of the children) learn in a manner which best suits them. All children are welcome to participate in PRE Program

Sacramental Preparation Years and Progress Assessment The Diocese expects our children to be satisfactorily prepared to receive the sacraments and to make specific yearly progress in knowledge of and understanding of our Catholic Faith. Each year of religious instruction is part of the continuum that prepares your child for reception of the sacraments. Bible study and lives of the Saints are incorporated in all of the years.
o Grades 1-2 are the sacramental preparation period for reception of First Reconciliation and First Communion (the Diocese requires the equivalent of two years of preparation). o Grades 3-4 focus on reinforcing understanding of these two sacraments, as well as introducing the other 5 sacraments and the Mass. o In Grade 5, students study the Creed, the Church and Saints. o Grades 6-8 are the sacramental preparation period for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

During sacramental preparation years, special events, seminars and retreats are held for the candidates, which your child is expected to attend. The requirements of these sacramental years will be thoroughly discussed at Parent Sacramental Preparation Meetings in September and apply to PRE, home schooled and parochial school students.

Teen/Adult Confirmation We will offer Confirmation Preparation classes for adults and for teens (G9-12). These classes will begin in September 2011, with Confirmation in Spring 2012. Candidates for any of these classes should register with the RE Office ASAP.

RCIA Preparation Classes for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA prepares adults to enter the Catholic Church) will also begin again in September 2011. Candidates for any of these classes should register with the RE Office ASAP.

2011 Vacation Bible School (July 26-29, 2011) A Registration form for “Saints Alive!” our 2011 Vacation Bible School, will available on the Parish website after May 15, 2011, included as a Sunday bulletin insert for May 15th and will be outside the RE Office. VBS is open to all students, ages 4-14, within St. James Parish and the surrounding community! Registration closes July 17, 2011. Assisting with VBS is one way that parents can fulfill Service in Lieu of Tuition commitments, and students (Grades 6-8) can earn Confirmation service hours.

Parent Catechesis To assist parents in their role as the “first and best catechist of their children,” we are offering Faith Formation classes for parents this year. These classes will usually be held in St. James Hall at the same time that your children have class. Each week, a different topic will be presented. Attendance is voluntary and free. A schedule of classes, class location, and topics will be provided to you with the detailed RE calendar later this summer.

RE Fundraising Project For the past few years, we have raised funds to help offset that portion of the RE budget which is for special activities, like VBS and Breakfast with St. Nick. This year, our fundraising will be three projects: resale of used printer/toner cartridges; the RE Yardsale on June 10 and 11, 2011 in St. James Hall; and a Book Sale in early Advent (just in time for Christmas gifts). The cartridge resale is a year round project which raises about $600/year. We hope the Yard Sale will be a great success! Your donation of goods, clothing, etc will be appreciated. Tax receipts will be available for donations. We will also need volunteers to help sort, price, and staff the Yardsale (this volunteer time is one of the Service in Lieu of Tuition commitments). Our Pauline Book Sale was a hit last year and we hope that you will return to Christmas shop again this year.

I hope that this letter provides you with understandable information regarding the upcoming PRE registration. As always, your feedback and suggestions for program improvement are welcomed!

Your sister in Christ,

Rose Barnas

	Religious Education

Religious Education Staff Rose Barnas Coordinator of Religious Education 626-0244 x1 Carroll A. Feldman R.E. Assistant 626-0244 x2 Parish Religious Education Adult Formation Youth Ministry	May 6, 2011 RE: Religious Education Registration for the 2011-2012 School Year Dear Parents, This letter provides information regarding registration for the 2011-2012 Parish Religious Education (PRE) upcoming school year. Please take the time to read through this material, so as to be fully informed regarding the upcoming year. Registration begins on Saturday, June 4 from 9AM until 1PM in St. James Hall. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. The St. James Parish Hall entrance (back entrance) will open at 8:30AM, so that you can wait in an air-conditioned, protected space. If you are unable to be here on June 4th, you may send a proxy to register on your behalf on June 4th. Beginning June 6th, here are other registration choices: register at the RE Office; return the registration materials by mail, or register on the Parish website. Proxies on June 4th will need a signed statement from you, authorizing them to act on your behalf,. All children who will receive religious instruction at St. James, who will receive sacraments at St. James Parish during the 2011-2012 school year, or who will be home schooled for Religious Education during the 2011-2012 school year must be registered. PRE Schedule Regular classes will begin on Sunday, September 18th and Wednesday, September 21st. The detailed RE School Year Calendar will be emailed to parents and will be a Sunday Bulletin insert the weekend of August 6/7, 2011. Tuition The tuition remains $100 per child and is capped at $200 per family. Tuition payments may be made annually, semiannual or quarterly. A minimum tuition deposit of $25 is asked at the time of registration. In addition to tuition, parents are also expected to volunteer at least once each year for each student they have participating in the PRE Program. Please note that the “Parish Service In Lieu of Tuition Payment Program” is again offered, as a means of “paying” tuition through the use of your time and talents for the benefit of our parish. A summary of service opportunities is included with this letter. Finally, if you have extraordinary circumstances and are unable to pay tuition or perform Service In Lieu of Tuition, please call me to discuss a tuition adjustment. Special Learning Needs If you child has special learning needs, we ask that you identify these needs for us on the medical form (enclosed). This information aids the RE Office and the catechists in planning lessons that will help your child (and all of the children) learn in a manner which best suits them. All children are welcome to participate in PRE Program Sacramental Preparation Years and Progress Assessment The Diocese expects our children to be satisfactorily prepared to receive the sacraments and to make specific yearly progress in knowledge of and understanding of our Catholic Faith. Each year of religious instruction is part of the continuum that prepares your child for reception of the sacraments. Bible study and lives of the Saints are incorporated in all of the years. o Grades 1-2 are the sacramental preparation period for reception of First Reconciliation and First Communion (the Diocese requires the equivalent of two years of preparation). o Grades 3-4 focus on reinforcing understanding of these two sacraments, as well as introducing the other 5 sacraments and the Mass. o In Grade 5, students study the Creed, the Church and Saints. o Grades 6-8 are the sacramental preparation period for the Sacrament of Confirmation. During sacramental preparation years, special events, seminars and retreats are held for the candidates, which your child is expected to attend. The requirements of these sacramental years will be thoroughly discussed at Parent Sacramental Preparation Meetings in September and apply to PRE, home schooled and parochial school students. Teen/Adult Confirmation We will offer Confirmation Preparation classes for adults and for teens (G9-12). These classes will begin in September 2011, with Confirmation in Spring 2012. Candidates for any of these classes should register with the RE Office ASAP. RCIA Preparation Classes for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA prepares adults to enter the Catholic Church) will also begin again in September 2011. Candidates for any of these classes should register with the RE Office ASAP. 2011 Vacation Bible School (July 26-29, 2011) A Registration form for “Saints Alive!” our 2011 Vacation Bible School, will available on the Parish website after May 15, 2011, included as a Sunday bulletin insert for May 15th and will be outside the RE Office. VBS is open to all students, ages 4-14, within St. James Parish and the surrounding community! Registration closes July 17, 2011. Assisting with VBS is one way that parents can fulfill Service in Lieu of Tuition commitments, and students (Grades 6-8) can earn Confirmation service hours. Parent Catechesis To assist parents in their role as the “first and best catechist of their children,” we are offering Faith Formation classes for parents this year. These classes will usually be held in St. James Hall at the same time that your children have class. Each week, a different topic will be presented. Attendance is voluntary and free. A schedule of classes, class location, and topics will be provided to you with the detailed RE calendar later this summer. RE Fundraising Project For the past few years, we have raised funds to help offset that portion of the RE budget which is for special activities, like VBS and Breakfast with St. Nick. This year, our fundraising will be three projects: resale of used printer/toner cartridges; the RE Yardsale on June 10 and 11, 2011 in St. James Hall; and a Book Sale in early Advent (just in time for Christmas gifts). The cartridge resale is a year round project which raises about $600/year. We hope the Yard Sale will be a great success! Your donation of goods, clothing, etc will be appreciated. Tax receipts will be available for donations. We will also need volunteers to help sort, price, and staff the Yardsale (this volunteer time is one of the Service in Lieu of Tuition commitments). Our Pauline Book Sale was a hit last year and we hope that you will return to Christmas shop again this year. I hope that this letter provides you with understandable information regarding the upcoming PRE registration. As always, your feedback and suggestions for program improvement are welcomed! Your sister in Christ, Rose Barnas
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