St. Mary Queen of Creation, Department of Religious Education

Student/Family

Handbook

2020-2021

8-19-2020

Mission Statement

The Department of Religious Education serves to minister to all people at St. Mary

Queen of Creation Catholic Church by providing sound catechesis, spiritual support and the

resources to help people deepen their intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, to grow in their

understanding of the Catholic Faith and to help them participate more fully and consciously in

the life of the Catholic Church. All this is done in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Office Location St. Mary Queen of Creation Faith Formation Building

36254 Main Street

New Baltimore, MI 48047

586-782-6329

Office Hours (When classes are in session)

Sunday: 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

Monday: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Tuesday & Wednesday: 10 a.m. -8 p.m.

Thursday: 10 a.m. -5 p.m.

(Hours vary when classes are not in session)

Staff

Pastor: Rev. Charles White

Associate Pastor: Rev. Radoslaw Zablocki

Tuition Rates

Early Registration (Received Aug. 15 through Aug. 27, 2020)

In Parish: $115 for one child or $225 per family

Regular Registration (Received Aug. 28 or thereafter)

$140 for one child or $260 per family

Schedule of In-Person Classes

Sunday: Grades 1-8 9:15-10:45 a.m.

(Families are encouraged to attend Mass with their students immediately after class.)

Tuesday: Grades 1-8 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m.

6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.

Wednesday: Grades 1-8 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m.

6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.

NOTE: Starting with this 2020-2021 School Year, we are offering an online version of our

Religious Education Program. Students will follow the online program at their own pace but will

be expected to complete each lesson on a week-per-week basis. Students are not permitted to

switch back and forth between online and in-person programs.

2020-2021 Catechetical Calendar Grades 1-8 All

dates subject to change Week Sunday Tuesday Wednesday

1 10/4 10/6 10/7

2 10/11 10/13 10/14

3 10/18 10/20 10/21

4 10/25 10/27 10/28

5 11/1 11/3 11/4

6 11/8 11/10 11/11

7 11/15 11/17 11/18

8 11/22 NO CLASS Tues./Wed. THANKSGIVING

9 11/29 12/1 12/2

10 12/6 12/8 HOLY DAY 12/9

11 12/13 12/15 12/16

Dec. 20-Jan. 9 NO CLASSES Christmas Break

12 1/10 1/12 1/13

13 1/17 1/19 1/20

14 1/24 1/26 1/27

15 1/31 2/2 2/3

16 2/7 2/9 2/10

17 2/14 No Class 2/16 2/17 (ASH WED.)

18 2/21 2/23 2/25

19 2/28 3/2 3/3

20 3/7 3/9 3/10

21 3/14(Spring Forward) 3/16 3/17

22 3/21 3/23 3/24

23 3/28 3/30 3/31

April 2-9 NO CLASSES Easter Break

24 4/11 4/13 4/14

25 4/18 4/20 4/21

26 4/25 4/27 4/28

Faculty/Staff The catechists (teachers) and assistants are companions on a child’s faith journey. They

participate in various areas of formation because they are convinced of its importance, giving

freely of their time and talent to help children grow in the image and likeness of Christ. They

deserve the utmost respect, consideration, and support.

Child Safety and Protection Child safety and protection is a serious matter. Our faculty/staff have a moral and legal

responsibility to comply with the law to ensure welfare of the children in our charge. All staff,

faculty and catechists must pass a criminal background check. If a staff or faculty member

suspects abuse, or if someone reports suspected abuse to them, that staff/faculty member is

required to inform the Director of Religious Education, who will then inform the Pastor and

state/local authorities of the concern according to current laws and archdiocesan policies.

“Protecting God’s Children” “Protecting God’s Children” is a workshop that focuses on creating and enforcing safe

environments for our children – including the prevention of child sexual abuse and detecting

signs of such abuse. All parish staff and volunteers are required to attend the workshop and

receive certification. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend the workshop too.

“Circle of Grace”

Circle of Grace is a program designed for children from Grades 1 through 12. It is presented by

catechists to help children understand and respect their own dignity and those of others. They

learn to recognize God’s love for all which comes to each of us through the Circle of Grace in

which we live. The Circle of Grace program, mandated by the Archdiocese of Detroit, will be

used in conjunction with the Faith and Life curriculum.

Archdiocese of Detroit Safe Environments Safe Environment documentation can be found on the parish website: www.smqoc.com.

Religious Education Curriculum Starting with this school year, our Religious Education Program in Grades 1-8 will use the Faith

and Life series published by Ignatius Press. It is a highly regarded program with solid catechesis

to ensure our students and families learn and apply the fundamentals of the Catholic faith. It is

available in online and traditional classroom formats.

The text for Confirmation (ages 14-17) is Called to Mercy, published by St. Mary Press. It

involves weekly online sections for students to complete at their own pace with several monthly

group sessions that will be completed in a Zoom-like online format.

What Every Child Should Know Grade 1: The Sign of the Cross, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, Glory Be, Grace before Meals

Grade 2: All of the above plus Act of Contrition, Guardian Angel Prayer, Grace after Meals

Grade 3: All of the above plus Mass responses and Apostles’ Creed

Grade 4: All of the above plus Rosary and Adoration of the Eucharist

Grades 5-6: All of the above plus Stations of the Cross

Grade 7-8: All of the above

Sacramental Preparation Infant Baptism: In the Sacrament of Baptism, Christians begin their life in Christ as members of

the Church. As with all other sacraments, the proper and meaningful celebration of the sacrament

depends on the intention and faith of those celebrating it. Preparation for infant baptism requires

baptismal catechesis sessions for the parents and godparents prior to the celebration of the

sacrament. Contact the Parish Office, 586-725-2441, for details.

First Reconciliation: Preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation is an important part of a

child’s growth in the Catholic faith. A child must have been baptized (providing a baptismal

certificate) and should be at least in Grade 2 of the Religious Education program. Families are

asked to attend the First Reconciliation Workshop and Service.

First Eucharist: First Eucharist is another important step in the faith journey of Catholic

Christians. Children preparing for the sacrament must have been baptized (providing a baptismal

certificate) and complete preparation, including:

• Early Formation: Completing 1st and 2nd grade Religious Education classes.

• Regular Practice: Weekly Sunday Mass attendance.

• Reconciliation: Celebrating First Reconciliation.

• Demonstrated Commitment: Attending all information meetings, enrollment ceremony,

First Eucharist workshop, First Eucharist rehearsal, and the First Eucharist Mass.

Confirmation: Confirmation is the final Sacrament of Initiation and prepares us to be intentional

disciples of Jesus Christ and lifelong members of the Catholic Church. In order to receive the

sacrament, candidates must:

• Early Formation: Complete 7th and 8th grade Religious Education classes with no more

than 6 absences per year.

• Regular Practice: Weekly Sunday Mass attendance.

• Active Discipleship (Service): Complete at least 3 service projects in the

parish/community and 1 wider community project. Candidates must submit proof of

participation signed by an event organizer.

• Demonstrated commitment: Attend all information and formation meetings.

• Retreat: Fully participate in the half-day retreat.

• Support: Each candidate must have an adult Catholic sponsor o Sponsor must be a

confirmed, practicing Catholic o Sponsor can be either male or female; at least 16 years

old

o Sponsor must be sufficiently mature to fulfill his/her function as sponsor o

Sponsor must be an example and witness of the Catholic faith in word and action

o Sponsor must be trustworthy and a good listener

o Sponsor must be willing to attend liturgical celebrations, meetings, rehearsal, and

the Confirmation Mass

o Sponsor MAY NOT be the candidate’s parent. However a parent may serve as a

proxy at the Confirmation Mass or other events if the sponsor is unable to attend.

• Companionship: Candidate must choose a Confirmation Saint and submit a completed

Saint Name form.

• Confession: Candidate should receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

• Final Preparation: Candidate and Sponsor should attend Confirmation Rehearsal.

RCIA

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is a period of preparation for adults who have

• never been baptized in any faith

• have been baptized into another Christian denomination and who seek further instruction

in order to receive the Sacraments of Initiation and become members of the Catholic

Church, or

• were baptized Roman Catholic but have little or no religious formation and want to

receive Eucharist and Confirmation.

Please contact the Parish Office for further information.

Out of Sequence Sacramental Preparation

Children nine years and older can be prepared to receive the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism,

Reconciliation, Eucharist and/or Confirmation) through our Out of Sequence Sacramental

Preparation program. It is recommended for children nine years and older who have not been

baptized in the Christian faith or have been baptized but have received no Religious Education

instruction. Children meet every Sunday with a catechist, participate in the 11:00 am Mass, and

prepare to receive those sacraments they have missed. For more information contact Laura

Brestovansky, Director of Religious Education.

Online Religious Education

Generally, online religious education is limited to those families demonstrating serious need for

homeschooling. However, because of quickly changing governmental and archdiocesan

requirements in light of the recent pandemic, online religious education is available. However, it

is necessary to ensure students are learning accurate and age-appropriate information. Therefore,

the requirements for online religious education are:

• The family must be registered, participating members of St. Mary Queen of Creation

Parish or demonstrate active participation in another Catholic parish.

• Students preparing for First Holy Communion, First Reconciliation and/or Confirmation

must participate in all Sacramental Prep. Sessions (retreats, workshops, rehearsals, etc.)

• Assessments will be taken 4 times during the catechetical year to ensure children are

progressing in the knowledge of the faith.

• In case of termination, the child will have to either attend the scheduled Religious

Education sessions or repeat the program the following year.

• Child and parent/guardian must attend all workshops and meetings scheduled for the

appropriate age level. All decisions by the DRE are final.

*A registered member of the parish is one who has filled out the necessary forms, participates in

the life of the parish and attends weekend Mass. The Code of Cannon Law #208,209,222.

Communication

The continued success and growth of any formation program depends a great deal on feedback

from parents and participants. Comments and suggestions are encouraged and welcomed. Any

correspondence to this effect should be sent to the Religious Education Office.

Each child registered for traditional classroom settings will be given a folder which will be used

to send communications to and from the parent and catechist. Folders should be brought to class

each week. Please go through the folder and return it each week.

Online students will be issued the same communications via email, using the address provided at

registration. Please read these emails each week. If you are concerned you are missing emails,

check your Spam folder and then contact the Religious Education office.

Parents should be checking the Luminary (our Parish Bulletin) and the Religious Education tab

on the parish website, www.smqoc.com, weekly for dates and times of upcoming events. Also,

please watch for e-mails from lbrestovansky@smqoc.com and bhoef@smqoc.com for important

reminders and notifications.

Family Involvement

Parents are the primary teachers of their children. Children learn what is important by seeing

what is important to you, their parents or guardians. For this reason, we have many opportunities

for parents to become involved and celebrate with their children.

It is expected that each family involved in the formation program is attending the weekend

liturgies on a regular basis. Sunday Mass attendance is a precept of the church and missing Mass

on Sundays and/or Holy Days of Obligation without serious reason is a mortal sin. Mass times at

St. Mary Queen of Creation are as follows:

Saturday 4:30 p.m.

Sunday 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 1 p.m. (traditional Latin Mass)

Holy Day Masses 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

(The Mass schedule for Holy Days that fall on a class day): 9:00 a.m., 4:45 p.m., and 7 p.m.

Note: When you are out of town, go to Masstimes.org to find Catholic churches and their

Mass times near your destination.

Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession): Saturday 11:30 a.m. – Noon and 3 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Also Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Other times are available upon request. Please phone the

Parish Office at 586-725-2441.

Procedures/Policies

Attendance Policy

Children need to complete Religious Education coursework on a consistent, regular basis,

whether online or in-person. It is recommended that Religious Education take priority over

sports and other extracurricular activities. We offer several days and times for Religious

Education to fit the needs of busy families. Please select those that meet your needs. If an

extracurricular activity repeatedly interferes with Religious Education, please select a different

extracurricular program so as to not disrupt Religious Education class.

Class work must be completed for every excused and non-excused absence. Unless previous

arrangements are made, a total of three (3) consecutive sessions missed will result in a call home.

If missed sessions continue, the child may not return to class until a parent has a conference with

the Director of Religious Education. Again, all missed work must be completed and turned into

the office

If a child misses 6 or more sessions, whether excused or unexcused, the make-up work must be

completed and turned in to the Religious Education office before they will be permitted to attend

the next grade level. If the above recommendation cannot be followed, the children may enroll in

St. Mary Queen of Creation for the same grade level the following year. In such cases, reception

of a sacrament will be delayed for at least one year.

For in-person classes, all children should arrive between 5 and 10 minutes prior to the start of

each session. Attendance is taken at the beginning of class. If a student is absent and a

parent/guardian has not called it in, it is an unexcused absence. Therefore, every absence and

reason for the same must be phoned in to the Religious Education office.

Inclement Weather

In terms of school closures, the St. Mary Queen of Creation Religious Education program

follows the Anchor Bay School District calendar. If Anchor Bay classes are cancelled because of

weather or other unforeseen circumstances, Religious Education classes will not take place. (If

Anchor Bay schools close for building emergencies or other circumstances, please contact the

Religious Education Office to confirm whether our classes will take place.)

If weather worsens from day into evening, requiring the cancellation of classes, we will try to

reach each family to let them know. The Director of Religious Education will contact each

catechist and aide who will then contact their respective students. The safety of our students,

families and catechists is important, if you feel it is unsafe to travel, please stay home. We’d

appreciate it if you contact the Religious Education office or your catechist to let them know.

Early Dismissal Policy

To ensure the safety of children during Religious Education sessions when an early

dismissal is deemed necessary, the following steps are to be observed:

1. Parent sends a note (with time and reason stated).

· Child shows note to catechist.

· Child takes note to Religious Education office.

2. Parent MUST come to the Religious Education office at designated early time to:

· Meet child in Religious Education office.

· Sign child out.

Absolutely NO child will be dismissed from a classroom unless the release form has

been signed by a designated adult. A staff member will escort the child from his

classroom to the office. Children must come to the office before leaving the building.

Class time is limited. The main emphasis is on formation. Children are NOT to bring

drinks, food, gum, candy, etc. to Religious Education class. This includes birthday

treats. Toys, games, phones and all other electronic devices are to be left at home.

Any of these items may be taken from the student until class dismissal.

Dress Code

All children should dress appropriately for Religious Education sessions. Clothing

with inappropriate words or pictures is not permitted. No hats are to be worn during

classes. Girls must wear clothing which covers the midriff, no shorter than three

inches above the knee, and does not reveal cleavage. Boys must wear pants at the

natural waistline. Heelies (shoes with wheels) are not permitted. Please keep in mind

that children may go to church occasionally for a prayer service.

Medical

All medications are to be dispensed prior to Religious Education sessions. It is our

policy not to distribute medicines during classes. If someone becomes ill, parents will

be contacted. If there is no response, we will call the emergency number given to us.

Parking and Entrance

Current archdiocesan guidelines require that only registered students, staff, and

faculty entry into the Faith Formation building during class. Children may enter the

Faith Formation Building from the entry doors off of Maria Street, Main Street or next

to the food pantry in the back of the building no more than 10 minutes before start of

class. At end of class, catechists will escort their students to their designated entrance

(Grades 1-3, Maria Street Entrance; all other grades, next to the food pantry at the

back of the building.) When picking up a child, parents will check in with their

catechist. Parents are not to park in the fire lane when dropping off or picking up.

Building Security

The Faith Formation Building is equipped with security cameras. The doors will

remain locked until 15 minutes before and after the start and end time of class

sessions. If you need to drop your children off late or pick them up early, you will

need to use the Maria Street entrance and ring the bell. We apologize for any

inconvenience but our priority is the safety of our children

Non-Custodial Parents/Non-authorized release

To assure the safety of children and parental peace of mind, parents are asked to alert

the Religious Education office and your child’s catechist concerning any individual to

whom the child should not be released.

Parental Role

Parents have the first responsibility for Religious Education of their children. As

primary faith role models for children, parents are encouraged to:

· Worship together as a family, including regular attendance at weekend

Mass.

· Attend Orientation and Sacrament gatherings (Commitment Ceremony,

Parent Sessions and Candidate/Parent Sessions, Family Gatherings). ·

Oversee Religious Education activities at home.

Accidents

When a child is injured due to an accidental situation, please notify the supervising

staff person. The supervising staff member will complete the Accident Report for

Children/Youth form and submit it to the proper authority. This is necessary in all

cases except minor cuts and bruises. This will help determine ways to prevent similar

incidents from happening.

Guests

Guests and visitors are not permitted in the Faith Formation Building, to ensure the

health and safety of our students, staff, and faculty.

Elevator Use

The elevator is intended for use by the elderly, disabled, those with physical

conditions making it difficult to use the stairs, and those transporting large, bulky

items. All others are asked to use the stairs.

No one under the age of 18 may use the elevator unless accompanied by an authorized

adult. No child is ever allowed to ride the elevator alone.

If you have a reason to use the elevator, please ask for a pass at the Religious

Education or Parish office. Their decision is final.

Emergencies, First Aid, and Evacuations

All catechists are expected to respond to emergencies quickly, placing student safety

as their first priority. The following policies are guidelines and not intended as a

substitute for a First-Aid course.

Non-Life Threatening: If a child is injured but able to walk to the Religious

Education office, he or she is to go there. If the child is unable to walk, he or she is

expected to remain with the catechist, who will send an aide to the office for help.

Fatal/Life Threatening: If a child is seriously injured, needing immediate medical

attention, catechists are to remain with the child and send the hall monitor to the

Religious Education office to call 911. (If the catechist has a phone on hand, he or she

may call 911 directly.)

Bodily Fluids: Catechists and students are not to touch any bodily fluids and all

bodily fluids are to be considered infectious. Latex gloves are available in each

classroom and should be worn when assisting an injured person with bodily fluids

present. A first aid kit is available in the Religious Education office.

Accidents: Catechists and Parish Staff must complete an Accident Report for

Children/Youth for all injuries other than minor cuts and bruises.

COVID-19/Infectious Diseases: St. Mary Queen of Creation Religious Education

strives to follow the most up-to-date governmental and archdiocesan guidelines

concerning infectious diseases. If face masks, gloves, and/or other protective

equipment are required by such guidelines, they will be required in Religious

Education as well. Please see the supplemental COVID-19 guidelines.

If a student, catechist or staff member feels ill and/or has symptoms of an infectious

illness, they are required to stay home to avoid infecting others.

Currently, the Archdiocese of Detroit requires all students in Grades 6 and up to wear

face masks at all times. It is the family’s responsibility to provide appropriate masks

for their students.

Fire: In the event of a fire, catechists will calmly lead students out of the building to a

designated safe area. They will take attendance before and after the fire drill. They

may release students to their parents as needed.

Tornado: Catechists will lead their students in a single-file line to the basement or

gym, remaining there with the students until an “All Clear” notice is broadcast.

Catechists will take attendance before releasing students and after returning to the

classroom.

Lockdown: Catechists will close the classroom door and not release anyone until an

“All Clear” notice is broadcast.

Discipline

The emphasis on discipline should always be placed on the development of individual

responsibility. If a student is causing a serious problem that is preventing a learning

situation for both the individual/or the class, the catechist will have a discussion with

the student. If after two discussions with the student the situation does not improve,

the catechist is to bring the matter to the attention of the DRE.

No service is rendered to the student, the parents, the classmates or the program to let

serious disruption continue for weeks into the year. If a resolution to continual

disruption cannot be found, the family will be offered the alternative arrangements.

Code of Conduct for Students

1. All people should be treated with respect at all times.

2. Vulgarity in any form will result in the student being sent home.

3. Weapons and controlled substances are prohibited on the St. Mary Queen of

Creation campus (including Church, Parish Office, Faith Formation Building,

parking lot, etc.) Weapons and controlled substances will be confiscated and law

enforcement will be called as necessary.

4. Students will follow the dress code published in this Handbook.

5. Students are expected to be in their classrooms and seated at the time their session

begins.

6. Students may not bring personal items to class unless prior permission has been

given by the catechist. This includes phones and all electronic devices. These

items may be taken from the student until class is dismissed.

7. Property not belonging to the student shall be treated with respect. Parents will be

held responsible for damage resulting from student.

8. Students are expected to complete and return all assigned work given to them.

9. Physical violence and bullying will not be tolerated.

10. Running and jumping are not permitted in the hallways or on the stairs.