ST. JOHN NEUMANN PARISH
SCHOOL OF RELIGION AND YOUTH MINISTRY
HANDBOOK
Click here for the 2009-2010 Class Schedule.
Class cancellation policy: We will follow Knox County Public Schools for weather and sickness closings. In the event that CCD does not meet due to a local emergency (example: power outage), the classroom telephone tree will be activated.
Dear Parents:
Welcome to the 2009-2010 partnership in faith that we call CCD! The presence of you and your children shows that you value the greatest calling and duty in life: to keep lit the light of faith, and to let that flame guide us and our children to give glory to our heavenly Father.
Our SJN catechists, staff and I are excited about the promise of this year and have been busy planning, preparing - and last but not least, praying for a great, enriching experience for all of you and your families. Our theme this year is: "God's Word: Listen to It and Live in HIM", to grow as confident, Catholic Christians.
We are also excited about our upcoming PARISH MISSION on September 13 -17. You should have or will receive an "invitation" with more information that was available at Mass this past weekend.
We'd like to share a few points for the 2009-2010 school year:
POSITIVE START: to the week, with Sunday Mass; on the daily level, with prayer & a "good morning" to the Lord & each other.
ATTENDANCE: We will contact after absences.
SNOW POLICY: No class in case of extreme wintry weather
COMMUNICATIONS:
A phone tree will be established; this can help in cases of need for prompt messages (esp. weather)
Anita can be reached at the parish office at (966-4540), the school office (777-0077), or by e-mail:
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Office hours: best to contact Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday a.m.
We will stay in touch also with e-mails, notes, bulletin board, flyer, Q & A box, etc.
Do not hesitate to call or e-mail for more information or with any questions.
DRESS CODE: Appropriate, modest attire
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: you will receive these, along with resources + websites, for home.
FAITH & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: see our sign-ups!
Once again, WELCOME to our partnership in FAITH!
MISSION STATEMENT OF SAINT JOHN NEUMANN CATHOLIC CHURCH
The mission of Saint John Neumann Parish is to build up the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ through the gift of the Holy Spirit by the proclamation of the Gospel and in the evangelical service that flows from this Good News.
MISSION STATEMENT OF SAINT JOHN NEUMANN CATHOLIC CHURCH
The mission of Saint John Neumann Parish is to build up the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ through the gift of the Holy Spirit by the proclamation of the Gospel and in the evangelical service that flows from this Good News.
VISION STATEMENT
As members of Christ's body, Saint John Neumann Parish will live the Gospel through worship and sacraments, prayer, evangelization, teaching, and service while guarding the deposit of faith as handed on to us by the apostles and their successors.
THE FAMILY'S ROLE IN CATECHESIS (from THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH)
Parents are the principal and first educators of their children. (1653)
Believing families are of primary importance as centers of living radiant faith. For this reason the Second Vatican Council, using an ancient expression, calls the family the Ecclesia domestica (domestic church). It is in the bosom of the family that parents are "by word and example...the first heralds of the faith with regard to their children." (1656)
The Christian family...is a community of faith, hope and charity; it assumes singular importance in the Church. (2204)
The family is a privileged community. (2206)
The family is the original cell of social life....The family is the community in which, from childhood, one can learn moral values, begin to honor God, and make good use of freedom. Family life is an initiation into life in society. (2207)
The role of parents in education is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute. (2221)
Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children....The home is well suited for education in the virtues. (2223)
Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child's earliest years... Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith. (2226)
REGISTRATION
Registration information and forms were mailed to parish families in late July. In addition, a registration table was available after all Sunday Masses the weekend of August 12 and 13. Completed forms and fees may be returned in person, mailed to the Office of Religious Education, or placed in the Sunday collection basket. Fees are as follows: One Child -$70; Two Children-$100; Three or more children-$130. A $10 "Early Bird" discount is available for those families who register prior to Monday, August 13. Families are admitted to the program regardless of ability to pay. If the fee is a problem, please contact the office.
ATTENDANCE
The Office of Religious Education monitors student attendance. To ensure continuity of information and formation, students should attend all scheduled classes. Random and inconsistent attendance diminishes the class dynamic and makes it difficult for the teacher to plan lessons that build on material covered in previous lessons. If a child must be absent due to personal illness or unavoidable circumstances, a call to the Office of Religious Education (966-4540) or the child's teacher would be greatly appreciated.
Prompt arrival is vital as is making sure students are picked up on time after class. To assure the availability of adult supervision, students should be dropped off no more than 10 minutes prior to the beginning of class. Requests for a change in classroom section are subject to a $25 fee. Please phone the Office of Religious Education or send a signed note to the Coordinator of the CCD program at least one week in advance of the change. Class change requests will be considered on an individual basis.
BEHAVIOR
Students are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner at all times, both inside and outside the buildings. Once they have arrived, students are not permitted to leave the parish facility grounds or school, unless the class is going on a planned outing and students have a signed parent permission slip on file.
Classroom behavior will be caring, responsible, and respectful. All electronic devices (including, but not limited to cell phones and hand held games) are to be turned off and put away. Parents will be notified in the event a student's behavior disrupts the learning atmosphere of the classroom. If this occurs, the student will wait in the office while the parent is contacted to pick up the child. Repeated instances will brought to the attention of the pastoral associate. Decisions will be made by the Coordinator of the CCD program, the pastoral associate, or the pastor.
DRESS CODE
Modesty is a virtue. Dress will be modest and appropriate. Shorts and skirts must be at least finger-tip length. Tight-fitting, revealing tops are prohibited; midriffs must be covered at all times. T shirt messages are required to be appropriate to a Catholic institution and are subject to approval by the Office of Religious Education.
MEETINGS AND INFORMATION
Parents are asked to accompany their students to the opening session of CCD. At this time, parents will be provided an overview of the year and will visit their children's classroom, where they will have the opportunity to become acquainted with their child's teacher, share their expectations and vision, and have questions answered. Please make attending this meeting a priority.
The weekly parish bulletin, information posted at the church, e-mail and postal correspondence from the teacher and office are all good sources of information. Parents will be notified of specific information that pertains to their child, including sacramental workshops, meetings, and scheduled activities. Families can contribute to the success of these attempts by making sure they read, in a timely manner, all communication that arrives in the mail or is sent home with students. Families must be "officially" registered in the parish in order to receive mailings
PROGRESS REPORTS
Twice during the year, in December and in March, parents will be provided with a report of their child's progress. This is a valuable tool to assess student progress and behavior. Please sign and return the December progress report. An area will be provided for your input, comments, and questions.
CURRICULUM
Kindergarteners use Sadlier's We Believe series. The kindergarten text is God Made the World. Themes explored include: creation, the person as individual and member of family and community, the life of Jesus, and our call to follow Jesus' example.
The curriculum for Grades 1 through 8 is the Faith and Life series from Ignatius Press. Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church are the primary formation tools of this series. Lesson components include readings, a question and answer section, scripture quotations, and beautiful classic artwork. All grade levels of Faith and Life are part of a unified spiral curriculum. At each grade level, previously introduced materials are reviewed and new concepts are presented. In this way, each grade level builds upon the previous grade's content, growing in depth and scope. Each text is divided into chapters which are presented one per week. There are also a number of supplementary lessons on varying topics at each grade level. The grade level themes of the curriculum are:
Grade One: Our Heavenly Father Trinity/Basic introduction to God
Life of Jesus/salvation
Basic prayers/growing to know, love, and trust God
Grade Two: Jesus Our Life Preparation for sacraments of Penance/Reconciliation and Holy Communion
Emphasis on God's mercy and love/obedience to God's law/ Jesus' sacrifice
Mass and prayer
Grade Three: Our Life With Jesus God's plan of salvation in history (the Old Testament covenant)
From Creation to Redemption; life in the Church; the Holy Spirit, Mary/ the saints
Life with Jesus and the sacrifice of the Mass
Encourage prayer and love for God's law
Grade Four: Jesus Our Guide God's plan (continued) and how we participate in that plan
How God helps us through his Word, law and Church
Sin and suffering
Jesus' coming/ grace, especially in the sacraments/ how we receive the strength to do good
Heaven, our eternal home
Grade Five: Credo: I Believe Study of the Creed, the belief of our Catholic faith through Gospels, prophets, prayers of the Church
Distinguishing truth from error
Understanding of:
Old Testament-loss of God's life, God the Father
God the Son, Redeemer: fulfillment of God's plan in Christ
Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier: call to holiness
Grade Six: Following Christ God's law/His gifts of grace that help us fulfill His law
Ten Commandments/Holy Mass/Last things-judgment, great happiness of heaven
Love of Mass as the best prayer
Grade Seven: The Life of Grace Grace as gift-link with God-transmission, especially through 7 sacraments
Role of grace in development of virtues
Revelation-how it happens
Grade Eight: Our Life in the Church History/Marks of the Church; Fathers, Doctors, Saints
Structure-Magisterium (teaching authority of the Church)/clergy/laity/vocations.
Over the two years of ninth and tenth grade, students study The Catholic Faith Handbook, published by St. Mary's Press. This text is a teen level model of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It explores the four pillars of the Church.
Grade Nine: The Creed
Based on the Apostles' Creed, an overview of Catholic beliefs about the Trinity, the individual's relationship with God, and the mission and organization of the Church
Liturgy and the Sacraments: A study of the Mass, the seven sacraments, and how the individual encounters Jesus through them
Grade Ten: Christian Morality
The moral teachings of the Ten Commandments, sin, conscience, and decision making, the church's teachings on specific moral issues.
Christian Prayer: Discusses what prayer is, types of prayer, ways of praying, and an examination of "The Our Father."
SUNDAY MASS
As Catholics, we believe that "the Sunday celebration of the Lord's Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church's life" (CCC 2177). Parents, whom at Baptism assume "their role as nurturers of the life that God has entrusted to them," (CCC 1251) are obliged to share the faith with their children through Sunday and Holyday of Obligation Mass attendance.
SECOND GRADE SACRAMENTS
Reconciliation: The sacrament of Reconciliation is a sacrament of healing which "brings about a true ‘spiritual resurrection,' restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God, of which the most precious is the friendship with God" (CCC 1468). Children first receive this sacrament during the winter of their second grade year, prior to First Communion. Parents share, with their child's religion teacher, the responsibility of preparing their children for the reception of this and all sacraments. A mandatory First Reconciliation workshop is held to assist parents in preparing their child for reception of Reconciliation. The date for this event can be found on the yearly calendar. Notice of this workshop will be sent to all parents of second graders and will be announced in the weekly bulletin.
In order to participate in Reconciliation, children who were not enrolled in first grade Religious Education class must show a mastery of the major objectives of the first grade curriculum. A list of these objectives is available from the Office of Religious Education. If your child is beyond the second grade and has not made First Reconciliation, please contact the Office of Religious Education at 966-4540.
Eucharist: Jesus, the "living bread," is present in the Eucharist, "the heart and summit of the Church's life." (CCC 1407). At the beginning of the school year, parents of second graders who were not baptized at St. John Neumann should provide a copy of the child's baptismal certificate. This year, First Communion will be celebrated on Sunday, April 13. Focused classroom sacramental preparation begins after the children's reception of First Reconciliation. A mandatory First Eucharist workshop is held to assist parents in preparing their child for reception of the sacrament.
In order to participate in First Communion, children who were not enrolled in first grade Religious Education class must show a mastery of the major objectives of the first grade curriculum. A list of these objectives is available from the Office of Religious Education. If your child is beyond the second grade and has not received First Communion, please contact the Office of Religious Education at 966-4540.
CONFIRMATION
Confirmation preparation is a one-year process, and is administered independently of the CCD program. It begins in the fall of the 11th grade year and culminates in celebration of the sacrament the following spring. In accordance with diocesan policy, to be admitted to the program a student must have completed tenth grade and have been enrolled every year in Religious Education. Students not meeting this requirement must show a mastery of the major educational objectives of grades four through ten. A list of these objectives is available from the Office of Religious Education.
Confirmation preparation takes place in a small group setting. Groups are led by an adult and an assistant leader, usually a young adult who has completed the Confirmation process. Small groups meet for approximately 18 sessions, generally about three times a month. The groups remain together for the entire preparation process. In addition, the process includes a weekend retreat, two liturgical events, and several other scheduled activities. A comprehensive schedule will be provided before the process begins at a general meeting of parents, candidates, and small group leaders. Attendance at all scheduled sessions is expected. An unexcused absence rate of over 20% will result in reviewing on a case-by-case basis, the individual's continuation in the program.
STUDENTS IN NEED OF "MISSED" SACRAMENTS
Parents should contact the Office of Religious Education office (966-4540) immediately if their child has "missed" reception of a sacrament (those not baptized or beyond second grade and have not yet received the sacraments of Reconciliation or First Communion). Students will continue to attend CCD at their grade level and will receive additional instruction for the necessary sacrament(s). Children who are seven years or older will be baptized at the Easter Vigil. Those under age seven may be baptized at any time during the year.
ADULT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Students attending the Parish School of Religion are taught by catechists (teachers) who donate their time, talent, and skills in service to the parish. The requirements for this ministry are:
Baptized practicing Catholic
Registered member of Saint John Neumann parish
Sunday Mass attendance
Marriage (if married) is recognized as valid by the Catholic church
Life is evidence of desire to live according to Catholic Christian values
Willingness to attend all required catechist training workshops (minimal)
In addition, there are numerous volunteer service opportunities throughout the year, many of which involve a minimal time commitment. These include, but are not limited to:
Substitute teaching
Room parents
Attendance coordinator
Classroom /copy aide (copy, assemble, and organize materials)
Advent Fair (coordinator, worker)
Christmas Liturgy (coordinator, costumes, aide)
Sacramental preparation: First grade and tenth grade parents have
hospitality responsibilities. First graders host the second graders' First
Communion reception and tenth graders host the eleventh graders'
Confirmation reception
You are invited to join in this ministry of service to the young people of our parish and their families. Please call the Office of Religious Education (966-4540) to learn more. Among the requirements for catechists and volunteers is the completion of Virtus training, a program mandated by the U. S. Council of Catholic Bishops to keep children safe.
HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH MINISTRY
Tuesday Night at the Youth House is an opportunity for students in grades 9 - 12 to share a meal, their faith, and fun activities. We conclude each evening with a peer-led prayer service. The Youth House is opened from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM during the school year and 6:00 PM - 10 PM during the summer.
Our youth are involved in many parish, deanery, diocesan, and community activities outside of Tuesday Night. Examples include: Youth Mass & Evening Extravaganza! Corn Maze! Dias de Los Muertos! Diocesan Youth Conference! Home for the Holidays! Pro-Life retreat! Silver Ring Thing! Mardi Gras! 24-Hour Food Fast! Serve the Poor! Drive-in Theatre! Whitewater Rafting! Hiking in Smoky Mountains! Youth Leadership Institute! Hot Summer Salsa! Smokies Game & Christian concert! Vocation Exploration! Why Catholic? Renew study!
The Youth House is located behind SJNCS and can be accessed by using the driveway to the left of the school. The Phone number of the Youth House is 671-0718. Information is also available in the weekly bulletin, on the Youth Bulletin Board at church and at the Youth House. If you would like to receive regular e-mail updates, please send a request to Leslie Freeze.
You're invited to be a part of Youth Ministry! Discover the adventure of discipleship, make the right connections, realize your spiritual potential, and experience opportunities to fully live the gospel message. Only together can we continue the good works we have begun and that God has begun in us (Refer to Philippians 1:6).
Religious Education 
