MISSION STATEMENT
The St. Christopher Religious Education Program is designed
to foster the faith life of each child. We are here to assist
parents in their role as the primary educators of their children.
St. Christopher’s Religious Education Handbook
As partners with parents/guardians we are dedicated in
providing an education and formation that is consistent with
the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church. We follow
the policies of the Archdiocese of Chicago, as well as being
rooted in the Gospel, the Catechism of the Catholic Church,
and the General Directory for Catechesis.
We believe that it is our mission to provide opportunities for
each family member to enter into a personal relationship with
God through the experience and knowledge of Jesus Christ
St. Christopher Religious Education
14611 S. Keeler Ave. Room 21
Entrance Door #212
Midlothian, Il. 60445
(708) 388-4040 or (708) 388-4167
Rev. Krzysztof Paluch
Pastor
Joe De Frier, M.Ed./M.P.S. jdfrier@stchrisschool.org
Director of Religious Education
Carol Pretkelis, School Principal
Religious Education Coordinator
Tina Castaneda & Joann Rutherford
religioused@stchrisschool.org
Administrative Assistants
2015-2016
1
Tuesday Class Schedule
Grades 1-5:
Mass or Liturgical Prayer Services
4:30-6:00p.m.
**Note Well: Mass or liturgical services on certain class days will
be held as part of their regular class schedule along with the lesson.
Mass for Elementary students will be held as part of the session and
the same for Junior High Students
**Note well: Grades 1-5 - class begins at 4:30 p.m. at the school
and will be dismissed from church at 6:00p.m. Please come inside
the Church at 5:45 and join us for closing prayer and announcements and then take your child home.
Grades 6-8:
**Note Well: On certain special occasions we will gather the entire
student body including their families for Mass. For example, at the
beginning and end of the school year, Ash Wednesday and other
important liturgical celebrations.
6:30-8:15p.m.
**Note well: Grades 6-8 will start class at 6:30 pm at the school
and be dismissed at 8:15 pm from the Church. Please come inside
the Church by 8:00 and join us for closing prayer and announcements and then take your son or daughter home.
**Note Well: When we gather for these family celebrations please
sit as a family close to the front of the Church near the altar. It is
requested that parent(s) be in attendance to assist their son or
daughter with Mass and to hear important announcements.
**Note well: Classes will take place every week except for the last
week of the month which is set aside for families involved in the
Journey of Faith Process. Please see the take home schedule.
Office Hours
TRAFFIC
August and mid-May through first week of June
TRAFFIC DROP-OFF FOR
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
4:30p.m. and 6:30p.m. CLASSES
drop off for the students will be that the cars enter on Karlov
and exit on Keeler. Please make arrangements so that your child
exits the car on the passenger side as there are often cars going
around on the other side of your car.
The
9:00a.m.-4:00p.m.
9:00a.m.-5:00p.m.
9:00a.m.-4:00p.m.
9:00a.m.-12:00p.m. unless evening programs.
Sept-mid-May
TRAFFIC PICK-UP
Parents need to be in church to pick up students after prayer.
Catechists will not release students until they see the parents.
If you have any questions, communicating through email will bring
about
a
quick
response.
Our
email
is:
Director’s
Support Staff
Monday:
9:00a.m.-4:00p.m.
Tuesday:
9:00a.m.-8:30p.m.
Wednesday: 9:00a.m.-3:30p.m.
4:30p.m.-6:30p.m.
2:30p.m.-8:30p.m.
4:30p.m.-7:30p.m.
Evening programs held on Monday or Wednesday may
change the starting time on Monday or Wednesday
religioused@stchrisschool.org
2
Emergencies
CLASS ATTENDANCE
you are not allowed to park on Keeler
near the school, the same rules apply to our program as it does for
the day school.
**Note Well: All Students are to be enrolled beginning in First
Grade and then to continue their Religious Education and Faith
Formation each and every year. They are to be in attendance
after First Communion and Confirmation.
No one is allowed to stop or park near the entry doors or the side of
the building as this is a fire and safety hazard.
**Note Well: Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes
and are to be on time for class. Attendance at every class session is
important and expected. The only excused absences are for sickness,
family emergencies, family funerals, or weddings. Please understand
that students have only about (40) forty hours of instruction from the
Catechist throughout the year. Every class is important for your son or
daughter to attend.
Due to fire emergencies you are not allowed to park on Keeler near
the school, the same rules apply to our program as it does for the day
school.
EMERGENCY CLOSING
**Note Well: Parents All Students are to be picked up on time from
the Church. Parents are encouraged to be present for closing prayer
and for any announcements.
The Honeywell Instant Notification System will be used once again to
help keep parents informed. Religious Education plans to use the
system for emergency closings and to remind parents of school events
and times or relevant information for classroom activities. Families
can register as many phone numbers as they have, i.e. home phone
number, cell phone number, etc. If the need arises that classes have to
be cancelled due to weather conditions or any emergency situations,
the closing will be announced through our Honeywell system, on the
local radio, television stations, and the internet.
In the event of an absence, parents are to notify the Religious
Education Office by 4:00pm on Tuesday. Please speak directly to a
support staff person or the Director to let them know your situation
and the reason your child is unable to attend.
The Parent and child together are responsible for missed
assignments when he/she returns to class.
In the event of inclement weather or the necessity of cancelling
classes for another emergency closing, parents can check the
status of our facility the following ways:
Children will not be excused or be permitted to arrive late or leave
early due to their participation in sport events, scouts, dancing
classes, etc. Only under necessary situations will a child be permitted
to leave early. This will require a note from the parent and the
parent must come to the Religious Education office to pick up the
child.
Go to the website at www.emergencyclosings.com and search for:
St. Christopher Religious Education Program,
Midlothian, IL. 708-388-4040
Call 847-238-1234, use the Religious Education phone
number 7083884040 used as your ID or Access Code.
Receive an e-mail notification of a change made by signing
up on the website at www.emergencyclosings.com.
A student will be released to either parent unless the Religious
Education Office has a copy of a Court Order giving one parent
exclusive custody.
3
PROGRESS REPORTS
ABOUT THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Progress reports will be handed out twice a year; once in January
and again at the end of the year. We do not grade a student on
his/her “Faith Formation”. The report will indicate a student’s progress
in behavior, class participation, knowledge of prayers, and attendance
record.
St. Christopher Religious Education Program is a comprehensive
ongoing Catholic formation program to assist parents in developing
the faith life of their children. Through the use of study, prayer, and
rituals, students are offered a curriculum that encourages them to live
and be faithful and active disciples of Jesus Christ. It is expected that
students begin in First Grade and continue their Religious Education
each and every year. Each and every year helps the student grow in
their faith and assists them in becoming better disciples of Jesus.
DISCIPLINE
Each student is responsible for his or her behavior. Misbehavior
will not be tolerated. Students are to be courteous at all times.
PARENT PARTICIPATION
If at the catechist’s discretion the student’s behavior continues to
disrupt the lesson, the student will be sent to the office to complete the
lesson on his/her own and the parent(s) will be notified immediately.
As primary educators of your children, parent involvement is a
necessity for the success of this Religious Education Program.
We expect that parents will take an active part in the Religious
Education Program by:
If the behavior should continue again, parents will be notified to
discuss a follow-up plan.

Regularly attending Sunday Mass with the family
The desks and belongings of the day students and all classroom
materials are to be respected

Celebrating Religious Education Masses, liturgies and prayer
services with the student body on certain class days
Vandalism would be sufficient reason for dismissal from the program
and restitution for damages due to vandalism is the responsibility of
the child’s parent/guardian.

Participating in all sacramental preparation gathering and
celebrations.

Assisting your child in learning and praying together.

Encouraging your child to attend class on time, prepared and
ready to learn.

Taking an active role in parish ministry and activities.
Assisting in the Religious Education Program is important.

Participating in T.R.I.P. (tuition reduction incentive program)
to help offset the cost of tuition and the deficit to the RE
program.
The use of cell phones or texting or I-pods is prohibited during class
time and students will be asked to turn them into their Catechist and
the Catechist will return the items back to the student at the end of
class. The Catechist will notify the Director and parents will then be
notified.
No skateboards or toys will be allowed at Religious Education classes.
Any type of weapon found on or displayed by a student will be
reason enough for immediate dismissal from the program.
4
Protecting God’s Children for Adults. The Archdiocese requires
everyone who works with children and youth to follow their policies.
The Virtus program is a requirement along with background checks,
Code of Conduct, Cants form, and online mandated reporter training.
PARENT PARTICIPATION CONTINUED
Our means of communication with the parents will be a monthly newsletter posted on our website at stchrisre.com. You can click on our
Religious Education Website for newsletter, calendars or updated information. From time to time we may also send home notices with the
children. Please check your students’ folders and textbooks weekly
and e-mails addressed to your account.
SACRAMENTS
A complete schedule for each sacrament will be provided as
soon as possible. We are now in the process of revisions.
TUITION
First Reconciliation is received in Grade 2.
**Note Well: In order to make things easier for parents….the Tuition
covers everything. Tuition will now include registration fees, fees for
all religion books including all sacrament books, and the fee for
notifying parents. The only extra fee is for Confirmation and that is
applied for their retreat. We sincerely request that as much of the
tuition is paid up as soon as possible and some payment is made at the
time of registration. However we will be able to bill you monthly or
quarterly.
First Communion is received in Grade 2.
**Note Well: In order for children to receive these two Sacraments
their Religious Education and Formation begins in Grade (1). Children
entering Grade (2) without this preparation will have the reception of
these two sacraments delayed until they are ready. If the child is
already baptized they will begin their formation in Grade 1. If the
child is not baptized they will begin their formation in Grade one and
will also join the Journey in Faith Process as a family. Parents are
expected to be involved
If for any reason your financial position prevents you from
paying the tuition costs, please call the Director of Religious
Education or the Pastor. We will work with you on an individual
basis.
Tuition for a family with (1) child is:
Older children Grade 3 and above not baptized and baptized but not
having formation will attend the same Grade level they are in and will
also join the Journey in Faith Process as a family. Parents are expected
to be involved.
$260.00.
Tuition for a family with (2) children is: $375.00.
Confirmation is received in Grade 8.
Tuition for a family with (3) children is: $490.00.
Parents are expected to have their son or daughter involved in ongoing
formation each and every year from Grade 1-Grade 8. . Students
entering Grade 8 without formation since their First Communion will
have the Sacrament delayed. They will begin in Grade 7 and then
enroll next year in Grade 8. They will be confirmed in Grade 9.
If a parent volunteers their time to become a Catechist then the
Parent will receive free tuition for their family.
We are also looking for additional volunteers such as assistants for
each of the Catechists, volunteers to monitor the hallway, volunteers
for the parking lot, and volunteers for the office.
Students entering formation in Grade 8 not baptized and who have
not received Communion will start their formation in Grade 7, and will
also join the Journey in Faith Process as a family. Parents are
expected to be involved.
5
St. Christopher Religious Education determines that it is in the best
interest of the students and members of the community to promote the
use of the Technology System and the services that are available. The
System will support learning, enhance instruction, and improve
communication between the Religious Education Program and the
community.
The System shall not be used to:

Engage in activities which are not related to educational purposes or which are contrary to the instructions from supervising Religious Education Catechist as the System’s use.

Access, retrieve, or view obscene, profane, or indecent
materials [“Indecent materials” are those materials which, in
context, depict or describes sexual activities or organs in terms
patently offensive, as measured by contemporary community
standards.]

Access, retrieve, view, or disseminate any material in violation of any Federal or state laws or regulations, or School policy or rules. This includes, but is not limited to, improper use
of copyrighted material; improper use of the System to commit fraud or with the intent to commit fraud; improper use of
passwords or access codes; or

Disclosing the full name, home address, or phone
number of any student, School employee or System user.

Transfer any software to or from the System without
authorization from the System Administrator/DRE

Engage in for-profit or non-school sponsored commercial activities including advertising or sales.

Harass, threaten, intimidate, or demean any individual or group
of individuals. Disrupt the educational process, including use
that is reasonably foreseeable to result in a disruption, or
interfere with the rights of others at any time, either during
school days or after school hours.

Gain unauthorized access to/or vandalize the System, or the
technology system or any other individuals or organization.

Invade the privacy of any individual, including violating federal or state laws regarding limitations on the discloser of student records.
GUIDELINES FOR ACCEPTABLE USE OF RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM BY STUDENTS
All users of the School Technology system must comply as needed.
The “System” shall include all computer hardware and software
owned or operated by the Religious Education Program. There is no
expectation of privacy in their use of the System. The School has the
right to access, review, copy, delete or disclose, as allowed by law,
any message sent, received, or stored on the school’s electronic mail
system. The School has the right to and does monitor use of the
System by students, including student’s access of the Inter-net, as part
of System maintenance and to determine whether the use is consistent
with federal and state laws, as well as, School policies and guidelines.
Privileges
Access to the System is provided as a privilege by the School and may
be revoked at any time. Inappropriate use may result in discipline,
including loss of System use and privileges, or dismissal from the
program.
St. Christopher Religious Education Program will be using the school
computer lab for possible research, word processing, or use of the
website related to the textbook.
TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM USE AND INTERNET SAFETY
POLICY
Prohibited Use
The use of the System listed below are prohibited and may result
in discipline or other consequences as provided in these
Guidelines and the School’s Student discipline Code and rules.
6
Prohibited Use Continues



AUTHORIZATION FORM FOR ACCESS TO RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM BY
STUDENTS
Download, copy, print, or otherwise store or possess any data
which violates federal or state copyright laws or these Guidelines.
Student Name:______________________________________
Grade:____________________________________________
Conceal or misrepresent the user’s identity while using the
System.
Student Signature:___________________________________
Post material on the web site without the authorization of the
appropriate administrator. The use of proxy Websites or any
other means to bypass filters and firewalls.
Student Name:______________________________________
Grade:____________________________________________
Vandalism or attempted vandalism to the System is prohibited and will
result in discipline. Vandalism includes, but not limited to,
downloading, uploading, creating computer viruses, or tampering with
System hardware.
Student Signature:___________________________________
Violation of the acceptable use guidelines and policy shall be subject
to consequences including, but not limited to discipline, loss of
System use privileges, and referral, if necessary, to law enforcement
authorities or other legal action.
Student Signature:___________________________________
AUTHORIZATION FOR ACCESS TO RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM BY
STUDENTS
After reading over the Parent Handbook with your child/children,
please sign and have each child sign this form and return this form
on September 8 and no later than the end of September.
This form must be read and signed by each student and
parent/guardian confirming that you have read the handbook and agree
to the policies in place.
Please hand this form in to your son or daughters Catechist.
Student Name:______________________________________
Grade:____________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ___________________________
Date: _____________________________________________
I have read program policies as set forth in the St. Christopher
Parent Handbook. I have discussed each of these policies and
procedures with my child/children.
Return this form on September 8 and no later than the end of Sept.
Please hand it in to your son or daughter’s Catechist.
______________________________
Parent Signature
By signing this Authorization, I acknowledge that I have received a
copy of the “Guidelines for Acceptable use of School Technology
System” by Students and that I have read, under-stand, and agree to
follow the Guidelines. Only one form per family is required.
______________________________
Telephone Number
7
_____________
Date
___________________
Family I.D. #