BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH
152 W. 71 STREET; NEW YORK, NY 10023
212-877-3111
[email protected]

JUNE 23, 2022
Dear Parents,            
As I write this, daily life is continuing to make its way to pre-pandemic conditions. However, COVID is not over and there are still many considerations and limitations. At this point we are planning for a combination of onsite and home study Religious Education Classes for the Fall! I will, of course, inform you of any unexpected changes or limitations we might have at that time. We must always keep in mind the CDC and the Archdiocesan guidelines/regulations as well as the fact that we have children in our program from 50 different schools and we use the classrooms of Blessed Sacrament School.

PLAN FOR COMBINATION OF ONSITE AND HOME STUDY CLASSES
We will alternate onsite and home study weeks so that only half our program will be in the school building on a given week. We will also alternate the grades that will be onsite to have fewer students on a floor of the building on a given week. A Home Study lesson will be given for the weeks not onsite. Parents will teach the Home Study lesson at home.

WEEK A – onsite classes for:
Kindergarten, First Communion Groups 1 and 2; Intermediate 2, Pre-Confirmation, Confirmation

WEEK B – onsite classes for
Basic A Groups 1 and 2; Intermediate 1 Groups 1 and 2, Intermediate 3

Please see the Calendar of Classes for the Week A and Week B schedule.

WHEN DO CLASSES START:
WEEK A CLASSES BEGIN SUNDAY SEPTEMBER  25
WEEK B CLASSES BEGIN OCTOBER 2
Children attend, with their parents, the Family Mass at 10:00 a.m. Onsite instruction is held in the school immediately after Mass at approximately 10:45am. Please note our staggered dismissal times.
Kindergarten dismissal is at Noon. Basic A dismisses at 12:05. First Communion dismisses 12:05, Intermediate 1 through Intermediate 3 classes dismiss at 12:15. Pre-Confirmation and Confirmation classes dismiss at 12:15.

WHEN DO WE REGISTER?  REGISTER NOW!!
Registration deadline is AUGUST 31!  Classes fill up. We can only fit a given number of students in a room. Late registrations will be difficult to accommodate. Late registrations will be considered until SEPTEMBER 8 ONLY. Registration will be totally closed September 9 and will reopen on Monday, September 26 for unfilled classes. Forms will not be accepted during this time. It takes time to update the database, organize classes, and get class information out to parents.

HOW DO WE REGISTER?

1. COMPLETE THESE FORMS: 

1. 3-page Registration Form
2. Handbook Agreement Form
3.  Media Form if not previously filled out or for new students

2. ADD:

1. BAPTISM CERTIFICATE IF NOT PREVIOUSLY ON FILE IN THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OFFICE OR FOR NEW STUDENTS

3. PROCEDURES:

1. COMPLETELY AND CLEARLY fill out the registration forms. Incomplete and hard to read forms will delay your child’s registration.  Late registrations and incomplete forms delay the update of the database, the class lists, sending class placement notices, and adding additional classes and catechists if needed.
2. Please POSTAL MAIL OR DROP OFF AT THE RECTORY the completed forms.DO NOT EMAIL THE COMPLETED FORMS BACK TO ME.  The Archdiocese requires this registration information each year and that we keep paper forms on file. Copies of the forms will be with the Catechist to have all information readily available, especially in the event of an emergency. You will receive an email in September with your child’s class, name of Catechist, and additional instructions. No other acknowledgement or receipt of registration will be sent.

3. Your child will not be allowed in class on the first day if s/he is not registered by September 8.
4. The EMERGENCY CONTACT PERSON IS NOT THE CHILD’S PARENT. In the event of an emergency, this is the person we will call if the child’s parents cannot be reached.

4. PARENT HANDBOOK

1. There is no fee for Religious Education. Donations toward the Religious Education Program are gratefully appreciated. An attachment with a link is provided for online donations.
2. CHILDREN MUST BE PICKED UP PROMPTLY AT DISMISSSAL.  A child not picked up promptly will require his/her parent to remain at the school during class time for subsequent weeks.    NO STUDENT WILL BE DISMISSED EARLY WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE FROM A PARENT AND THE STUDENT MUST BE PICKED UP FROM THE SCHOOL LOBBY BY A PARENT. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO LEAVE THE BUILDING ON THEIR OWN. SIBLINGS UNDER 18 YEARS OLD ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PICKUP YOUR CHILD. THIS IS FOR YOUR CHILD’S SAFETY.
3. Registration in our Sunday School program is a commitment to a program of study and a process of faith formation. Students are expected to attend class and complete class assignments. If a student must miss class, please email me before 10am and at the next class communicate with the Catechist to make arrangements for the missed class. Students must satisfactorily complete a grade level before moving on to the next grade level.

      D. Be sure to keep the Sunday class calendar handy and refer to it  
          each week.

6. CATECHISTS AND VOLUNTEERS
        It takes many volunteers to run a successful Religious  
        Education Program. We cannot have onsite classes without  
        sufficient volunteers. Volunteers are needed in the following        
        ways:
        - Catechists
        - Substitute Catechists for each class
        - Team members (at school door and in the building) If we    
           have several more people for this ministry we would be able   
           to dismiss some classes by the west stairwell. Pease consider  
           this!

This program could not continue without the many people who give their time and energy to provide instruction for your children and assistance in the program organization. 
All our Catechists and Assistants are volunteers with family and professional obligations. They generously give their time each week to teach and supervise your children. We need to rebuild our onsite program. Most of our previous volunteers are not able to return. We need your help. All who work with children follow a simple screening process according to the Archdiocesan requirements: a background check, information form, and an online or onsite training session (about 45 min). Please contact me if you can volunteer. 
I am thankful for the dedication of all our volunteers!
 
You are the first educators of your child. Our hope is, that though our partnership, we can assist you in the Religious Education of your child.
 
 MANY BLESSINGS,
  Tina Silvestro