ENROLLMENT & ATTENDANCE

“The parish remains, as I have said, the pre-eminent place for catechesis. It must rediscover its vocation, which is to be a fraternal and welcoming family home, where those who have been baptized and confirmed become aware of forming the people of God. In that home, the bread of good doctrine and the Eucharistic Bread are broken for them in abundance, in the setting of the one act of worship; from that home they are sent out day by day to their apostolic mission in all the centers of activity of the life of the world.”

John Paul II, Catechesi Tradendae #67

A. ENROLLMENT and REGISTRATION

St. Albert the Great Parish provides a well developed and volunteer staffed Kindergarten through eighth grade catechetical program for families with children attending public schools. Our program is offered to all children of elementary school age who are members of St. Albert the Great Parish.

Formal registration for St. Albert’s K-8 Religious Education Program takes place during the summer months preceding the new catechetical year. Families previously registered will receive forms to be completed and returned to the Religious Education Office by the middle of July. Forms for families registering children for the first time are available at the parish rectory or the Religious Education Office. Notices of registration are published regularly in the parish bulletin throughout the summer months. No child will be placed on a class list unless all registration forms are signed, information is complete, and up to date.

All new registrations to our program must be accompanied by a certificate of Baptism and any other sacramental information if applicable. Parents of children transferring from another catechetical program must submit in writing a verification of enrollment and attendance from the previous religious education program.

The Office of Religious Education respects and maintains the confidentiality of all information shared on the registration forms.

Children from other parishes will be accepted into St. Albert’s program only with the mutual consent of both parishes. This acceptance is based on the availability of space and an adequate number of catechists. Written consent from the pastor must accompany the registration form of any child not registered in St. Albert’s Parish.

B. ATTENDANCE

According to diocesan policies, a minimum of 30 hours of formal religious education must be provided for each child in grades K - 8. Our yearly schedule of Sunday and Tuesday sessions provides adequately for this time and gives allowance for class cancellation for unexpected reasons.

C. ABSENTEEISM

All absentees are to be reported to the Religious Education Office on the day of a scheduled class. Parents are asked to make every effort to determine the work covered in class and complete it with your child before he/she returns for the next formal session. Children with inconsistent attendance or chronic lack of attendance will not be permitted to progress to the next catechetical level unless sufficient catechetical formation occurs through formal classes or home schooling.

D. ARRIVAL and DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

As children enter the building for Religious Education classes, they are directed to come to Hannon Hall where each class has assigned seating for the year. Catechists and the Director for Religious Education will meet the children in this place and join together for communal prayer and announcements. At the completion, catechists and aides will accompany the children to their assigned classroom. No child is to go directly to the classroom unaccompanied by a catechist.

At the signal of the first bell, catechists will begin preparing the children for dismissal. When the second bell rings, 10 minutes later, All children are dismissed by way of the main hallway on the first floor of the building. Children in grades 4 - 8 may exit the building to meet parents. Parents of children in K - 3 must come into the main floor of the school building, meet your child’s catechist and sign out your child. No child will be released to anyone other than the parent without the written permission of the parent. Copies of court orders showing exclusive custody of one parent are to be filed in the catechetical office. In these cases, only the custodial parent is permitted to pick up the child.

E. EARLY DISMISSALS

Requests for early dismissals must be presented in writing to the child’s catechist. Children will not be released to anyone other than the parent unless so stated in parent’s written request. Those responsible for picking up a child for early dismissal are to come to the Religious Education Office where they will meet the child. This is true for students of all ages.

F. EMERGENCY CLASS CANCELLATIONS

When it becomes necessary to cancel religious education classes because of weather or other emergency situations, information will be communicated by means of the following: WPXI TV , wpxi.com, WTAE TV, and www.thepittsburghchannel.com

If it becomes necessary to cancel any individual class due to catechist illness or other emergency, the families involved will receive a call from the Religious Education Office.

G. HEALTH CONCERNS & MEDICATION

If it becomes necessary for children to take prescribed medication during class time the following procedure will be followed. No medication may be taken to the classroom. All medications must be brought to the Religious Education Office in the original prescription bottle by the parent or guardian and will be dispensed by office personnel with written permission of the parent or guardian.

All health concerns should be brought to the attention of the Director of Religious Education by means of information included on the Registration forms or Emergency Information Forms. It is the responsibility of parent or guardian to update this information during the course of the year if necessary. All health information shared with us is held in confidentiality.