Holy Cross Catholic Community

I would like to welcome your family to the Religious Education Program at Holy Cross Catholic Community. I look forward to another year with the parish children. They are very special.

The Catholic Church believes and teaches that you, as parents, are the primary teachers (catechists) in your child's faith life. They will begin to form beliefs about God, church, faith, and religion by watching how you behave. While they are young, their attitude will reflect yours. When they are older, they will look back to how and what they learned at your side for the tools necessary to teach their children.

It is our job, as Church, to assist you in any way that we can in fulfilling this immense responsibility. This booklet outlines the various aspects of our Religious Education program for kindergartners through 8th grade. Please read it thoroughly and keep it on hand for further reference, including dates when no religious education classes will be held. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Respectfully,

Chantal Hendriks
Coordinator of Religious Education
Religious Education
K-8th Grade

Tuition
$60 for one child, $100 for two and $135 for three children and/or more. If your child is receiving the sacrament of First Communion this Spring, tuition is $60 for that particulat child. Registration received after September 11, 2011, will require an additional payment of $10 per child. Noregistrations will be accepted after October 15, 2011.

If there is a problem or concern, please call the Parish Office at (775) 358-2544 or email at hccchurch@sbcglobal.net or hccchurch@holycrosssparks.com

Baptism Certificate
Unless your child was Baptized in our Parish, we need a copy of their Baptism Certificate at the time of registration.

Registration
Registration forms can be picked up in the Parish Office. Please complete one form per family.

HEALTH HISTORY FORMS (click to download form)
Each child registered in a Religious Education program must have a complete and signed Health History on file each year. Note: If your child attended Sonshine Summer this year you do not have to complete a new Health History.

Monday Grades K-8 Meet from 4:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. September 19, 2011 through May 7, 2012 *Except on Following dates:*
10/24/11	Catechist Training
11/21/11	Thanksgiving Week
12/26/11	Christmas Break
1/02/12	New Year's Break
1/17/12	Martin Luther King Jr.
2/20/12	President's Day
3/12/12	Catechist Training
4/02/12	Spring Break
4/09/12	Holy Week

Tuesday Grades K-8 Meet from 5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. September 20, 2011 through May 7, 2012 *Except on Following dates:*
10/25/11	Catechist Training
11/22/11	Thanksgiving Week
12/27/11	Christmas Break
1/03/12	New Year's Break
1/17/12	Martin Luther King Jr.
2/21/12	President's Day
3/13/12	Catechist Training
4/03/12	Spring Break
4/10/12	Holy Week

GRADES K-8

Children should not arrive until 15 minutes before class begins.

Children must be walked into the building and signed in by an adult.

An adult must sign their child/ren out. Children will be waiting in the WORSHIP SPACE and must be walked out of the WORSHIP SPACE by and adult. Children will only be allowed in the gathering space with an adult! Please help me to enforce this important rule.

Children must be picked up by 15 minutes after class ends. At that time we will begin making phone calls to determine what caused the delay.

If a child has not been picked up by 40 minutes past class ending, and we have not been able to locate you or your emergency contact, we will follow standard guidelines and contact the Sparks Police Department.

If a child was signed in and not been signed out and is not in the building we will begin making phone calls to be sure that the child was picked up. If we are unable to contact someone to verify that they are safe, we will contact the Sparks Police Department.

It is your responsibility to inform Holy Cross Catholic Community if there are any custody problems or other issues that would require special concern. We will work with you to the best of our ability to initiate a plan that will accommodate everyone’s needs.

Download - Religious Education Registration Form

Download - Confirmation Registration Form

Children are expected to attend all scheduled classes and mass on a regular basis.

If there has be a “snow day” called by Washoe County School District , we will also cancel classes. Check your e-mail for notification of other class cancellations.

Please make a note of all the days that class is cancelled for holidays (please see class schedule.)

First Communion:

Our Diocese has a policy that requires two years of formal preparation before receiving any sacrament. If you have a child in second grade, or older, who was not in religious education last year and had not received. First Communion, please contact the office so we can place them in the proper program. They will also need to enroll in the Children's Catechumenate Program for the two years of preparation.

If your child did not attend classes last year at Holy Cross, and is in second grade, we must have a letter from your previous parish stating that they have completed their first year of Sacrament Preparation.

If your child was not baptized at Holy Cross Catholic Community we must have a copy of their Baptism Certificate in order to include them in our Sacrament Preparation Classes.

In order to insure proper placement in our program, we depend on you to understand and inform us as to where your child is in his/her Sacrament Preparation.

Reconcilation:

All children are prepared for and receive the Sacrament of Reconcilation when they receive their First Communion. He/she will receive preparation for Reconcilation in his/her Religious education class.

Confirmation 2011 - 2012

In order to accept your registration. we must have the following information:

Completed Registration form - one per family.
Completed Health History Form - one per student.
If this is your child's first time in a Religious Education Program at Holy Cross, we must have a copy of his/her Baptism Certificate.
If your child was not in a Religious Education Program at Holy Cross last year and is his/her second year of preparation for Confirmation, we must have a letter from her/his previous parish stating that he/she have completed one year preparation.
Tuition: $75 per person.

Tentative Schedule 2011 - 2012 Confirmation I and II will meet Sunday from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
	September 18, 2011
	October 2, 2011
	October 16, 2011
	November 6, 2011
	November 20, 2011
	December 4, 2011
	January 8, 2012
	February 12, 2012
	March 4, 2012
	March 18, 2012
	April 1, 2012
	April 15, 2012
	May 6, 2012

Important Dates and Meetings

JANUARY 29	RITE OF WELCOMING
FEBRUARY 12	CONFIRMATION CLASS
FEBRUARY 24-25	CONFIRMATION II RETREAT
FEBRUARY 26	CONFIRMATION II SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATON 2:30-4:30 PM
FEBRUARY 26	YOUTH MASS
MARCH 2-3	YOUTH RALLY
MARCH 4	CONFIRMATION CLASS
MARCH 9-10	CONFIRMATION I RETREAT
MARCH 11	CONFIRMATION I SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATON 2:30-4:30 PM
MARCH 18	CONFIRMATION CLASS
MARCH 25	YOUTH MASS
APRIL 1	CONFIRMATION CLASS
APRIL 15	CONFIRMATION CLASS
APRIL 29	YOUTH MASS
MAY 6	CONFIRMATION CLASS
MAY 13	REHEARSAL
MAY 20	CONFIRMATION DAY
MAY 27	YOUTH MASS
JUNE 10	YOUTH MINISTRY AND CONFIRMATION BBQ

Drop Off/Pick Up Policy

Confirmation

Teens should arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before class begins.
Teens must be walked into the building and signed in by an adult.
An adult must sign his/her child out. Teens will be waiting in the CHURCH and MUST BE WALKED OUT OF THE CHURCH by an adult. Please helpto enforce this important rule for the safety of our children.
Teens must be picked up no later than 15 minutes after class ends. At that time we will begin making phone calls to determine what cause the delay.
If a teen has not been picked up by 40 minutes past class ending, and we have not been able to locate you or your emergency contact, we will follow standard guidelines and contact the Sparks Police Department.
If a teen was signed in and not been signed out and is not in the building we will begin making phone calls to be sure that the teen was picked up. If we are unable to contact someone to verufy that they are safe, we ill contact the Sparks Police Department.
It is your responsibility to inform Holy Cross Catholic Community if there are any custody problems or other issues that would require special attention. We will work with you to the best of our ability to initiate a plan that will accomodate everyone's needs.

Service Projects

A minimum of 40 hours of volunteer work is required.
The project(s) may be done during the first and/or second year of Confirmation preparation.
A description of the project(s): The amount of time spent. What were the responsibilities.
The information about the service projects must be turned in at least 30 days prior to Confirmation.

Confirmation Name

In scripture, taking a new name symbolizes a taking on of a new nature or the anointing by God for a special purpose. This is an important symbol of the sacrament.
Your Confirmation name needs to be saint's name. You must know someting about his/her life. The saint should also have a special meaning for you.
Your chosen name should be turned into the office at least 30 days prior to Confirmation.

Sponsors

The person chosen as a sponsor must be listed on the "Choosing Your Sponsor Form" and turned into the office by December 5th.
Sponsors should take an active role in the preparation of the confirmandi.
The sponsor for any candidate may be male or female and must be fully initiated, praticing Catholic. The parents may not be sponsors.
If your sponsor is from another area or parish, you will need to get letter from the parish where your sponsor attends stating that he/she is active.

In order to accept your registration. we must have the following information:

Completed Registration form (click to download) - one per family
Completed Health History form (click to download) - one per student.
If this is your child's first time in Religious Education Program at Holy Cross, we must have a copy of his/her Baptism Certificate
If your child was not in a Religious Education Program at Holy Cross last year and is his/her second year of preparation for Confirmation, we must have a letter from her/his previous parish stating that he/she have completed one year of preparation.
Tuition is $75 per person.