Parent Handbook and PSR Information

MISSION STATEMENT
The Annunciation PSR Program provides Roman Catholic religious instruction to children in first through eighth grades who are enrolled in non-sectarian or public schools. The spirit of this ongoing program is to empower our children to live out their baptismal call and give witness to the Gospel by fostering their love of Jesus Christ. The PSR Program accomplishes this in active cooperation with the children's parents who are their primary religious educators. The goal of the PSR Program is to nurture each child and each family in the knowledge and love of God in order to enrich their faith life and to enable them to live out their call to stewardship in the community.

PHILOSOPHY
The Annunciation Parish School of Religion Program recognizes the importance of the students' parents and families as the primary educators in the children's religious education and formation. Our program is designed to assist the parents by offering weekly instruction to children in grades first through eighth by catechists who teach and witness the teachings and life of Jesus Christ. In our program the children are educated in the Catholic tradition, Scripture, and Church teachings in areas such as respect for life and social justice.

Our program attempts to balance the religious instruction (message) with the experiences of Catholic community, service, and worship throughout the year. Our program attempts to meet the needs and understanding of all children and families, recognizing that there are varying degrees of catechetical background, understanding, and experiences. We strive to inform our children and families in the basics of the Catholic faith; assist the parents in forming the children's ongoing spiritual development; and finally to be an instrument in transforming these children into Catholic Christian citizens with a strong faith on which to base their future spiritual growth, and to enable them to be evangelizers to the communities in which they will live. All that is accomplished is done by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

WITNESS STATEMENT FOR THOSE WHOSE CHILDREN ATTEND CATHOLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS

One of the supreme gifts of marriage is bringing forth new life. God entrusts children to parents who have a primary right and duty to educate their children in the practice of their faith. Parents carry out this responsibility by creating a home full of love, forgiveness, respect, and fidelity. The family is the community in which, from childhood, one honors God and learns moral values.

In the rite of the sacrament of Baptism, parents receive the call from God to evangelize their children, as here summarized:

You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him/her in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him/her up to keep God's commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. . .You will be the first teachers of your child in the ways of the faith. May you be also the best of teachers, bearing witness to the faith by what you say and do, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

No wonder, then, that the Church understand the home to be the domestic church. It is in the intimate environment of the family that parents are, by word and example, the first heralds of the faith with respect to their children. This environment is enhanced and deepened through the parish Eucharistic community that is the heart of the spiritual life for Christian families.

Catholic schools and parish religious education programs are in partnership with the family in proclaiming and witnessing to the person and life of Jesus Christ. They assist parents in fulfilling their responsibility as the primary religious educators of their children.

Aware, then, of the dignity of this holy parental call, and with a reverent awe for that responsibility which is mine, I commit myself to be, in word and deed, the first and best teacher of my children in the faith. Practically, this means I should:

• Regularly participate in the Sunday Eucharist with my family (if not Catholic, regularly participate in worship and prayer)
• Commit to speak more with my children about God and to include prayer in our daily home life
• Participate in and cooperate with School or Parish School of Religion programs that enable me as a parent to take an active role in the religious education of my children, including sacramental preparation for Catholic children
• Support the moral and social teachings of the Catholic Church to ensure consistency between home and school
• Teach my children by word and example to have a love and concern for the needs of others
• Meet my financial responsibilities in supporting the Catholic School or Parish School of Religion.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM (SEP)

All volunteers and employees who work with children at Annunciation Parish must be in full compliance with the Safe Environment Program (SEP). This includes attending a Protecting God's Children workshop, undergoing a background check updated in even-numbered years, having an FBI fingerprint check if you have lived outside of Missouri within the past five years, and signing the Code of Ethical Conduct. These requirements are mandated by the United States Council of Catholic Bishops and are followed by every diocese in the country. The policies are the Church's attempt to ensure the suitability of all adults who work or volunteer around your children. If you have any questions about your compliance please contact our parish child safety coordinator, Barb Koch, at the rectory, 962-5955, or parishsecretary@goannunciation.com

ATTENDANCE

Classes begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. and the students are expected to be on time. We gather as a community at 6:30 in the cafeteria for prayer and announcements.

If a rare early dismissal is necessary for a good reason, send a note to the child's catechist that evening, and come to the office to pick up your child.

If a student misses several classes during the year, there may be a need to attend make-up classes during the year, or homeschool over the summer in order to advance to the next grade the following year. This will be the catechist's and coordinator's decision

REPORT CARDS

Report cards are issued three times a year---November, February, and May

INCLEMENT WEATHER

If Annunciation full time school is closed on a Wednesday due to inclement weather, there will NOT be PSR classes that evening. If the weather is bad enough to cancel the full time school, there would probably still be a safety issue on the parking lot at PSR class time.

If Annunciation full time school is in session on an given Wednesday but inclement weather develops during the day or in the hours just prior to PSR class time, there may be a question if PSR classes will be held that evening. If it is determined that the best decision is to cancel classes because of bad weather or a definite threat of bad weather, the cancellation of classes will be announced ONLY on television station KSDK, channel 5, on the 5:00 and 6:00 news. An e-mail message will also be sent to all those whose e-mail addresses are on file with the coordinator. We do NOT have a snow telephone chain so you will NOT receive a telephone call.

ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE PROCEDURES

Arrival

Entry into the school is through the double doors in the front of the school building. Please pull your car around the circle drive and drop off your children on the front sidewalk. If you want to walk your child into the building or need to come to the office, please park your car in the parking lot, not on the circle drive.

Departure
The students are dismissed to the back parking lot at 8:00 p.m.. Please park your car in the lot and either wait in your car for your child or walk up to the building to find your child. Since it is usually dark at dismissal time and we have all the students being dismissed at the same time, it is
MOST IMPORTANT that parents be very careful when moving your cars on the parking lot. The catechists and coordinator try to be very vigilant of any child walking across the lot to their parents' car but we need all the parents to be vigilant as well. If you intend to drive to the back lot by entering on Glendale and driving around the building, know that your car may be stopped to allow children to safely cross. Children should not walk home unless a parent comes to accompany them. We will keep children whose parents have not come for them and then accompany them to the office to call home. We will make every effort to have all students dismissed promptly at 8:00 and ask that you also be punctual in picking up your child.

DISCIPLINE POLICY

All students are expected to act in a manner that enables all children to learn and grow in faith. If at any time a student is disruptive or disrespectful of the catechist or fellow students, the student will spend "time out" with the Coordinator. If a student is sent to the Coordinator a second time for inappropriate behavior, the Coordinator will contact the parents. If, however, the Coordinator determines that a first offense is of a more serious nature, the parents will be contacted at once.

HARASSMENT

The PSR program maintains a learning environment that is free from harassments. No student in the PSR shall be subjected to any type of harassment. Harassment is defined as any unwanted and unwelcome behavior that interferes with a student's performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive learning environment. Harassment includes physical, visual, verbal and sexual forms of behavior. Instances of harassment will addressed using appropriate disciplinary consequences.

VIOLENCE

The PSR Program will provide a safe learning environment for all members of the school community. Violence consists of words, gestures, and actions which result in or have the potential to result in hurt, fear or injury; verbal or sexual harassment; assault; possession and/or use of a weapon; and theft or vandalism of property. A weapon is anything used or intended to be used to threaten, intimidate, and or harm persons. The possession of and use of firearms or other weapons or explosive devices on school premises is prohibited. Police will be notified of any student's possession and/or use of a firearm or other weapon. All reported or observed instances of violence and threats of violence occurring on or off school property shall be addressed in a timely, serious, and appropriate manner according to the requirements of state and local laws and accepted educational practice. Students and parents are encourage to report to the administrator or teacher any concerns regarding potential acts of violence. If a student engages in a threatening or violent behavior, before that student can continue to attend PSR, the administration must receive reasonable assurances from a competent, licensed, mental health professional that the student does not pose future danger to others. The coordinator of religious education and the pastor shall determine whether or not the student will be readmitted and what conditions and limitations may be in effect.