Hello, K-5 Catechists!  

     I hope you had a wonderful week.  I am so excited that we can start teaching from the curriculum (Chapter or Lesson 1) this Sunday!  I wanted to update you on a few items for this Sunday’s Christian Formation: 

—We have decided to postpone the addition of the Zoom TV for our communal prayers for a few weeks, possibly more.  As expected, we have to work out a few kinks, but we will continue with the schedule of prayers over the radio, so I will do prayers this week and then 5th grade will read our opening/closing prayers starting the first Sunday in October.  😃

—You will find something new in your cubby bins:  a cross stand!  Now you can place your wooden cross with all the children’s names on it into the little gold fabric-wrapped box and it will be a beautiful centerpiece for prayer and reflection in your classroom, along with the anchor prayer cloth, candle and mini Bible.  Please ask the kids to be gentle with it—it is homemade and somewhat delicate!   I will come around to each class this Sunday so your students can proudly show me how they set up their prayer space for their class!  

—I will refill and organize your caddies each week; this week I added some extra markers and crayons for the 4th and 5th grade.  I also added some looseleaf paper to all the folders.  I kindly ask that you make sure all the items/supplies are returned in the bins and caddies to the cubby table each week.  This includes weekly activity accessories, as I will re-use them for other classes this year and next.  

—Please be sure to check your red or black folder each week and all the pockets.  The attendance sheet/stickers and the class list papers should always be on the first left side.  Worksheets and anything for the activity for the week will always be on the right.  But don’t forget about the second half of the folder!  The extra looseleaf, computer paper, laminated prayer cards and any flyers to be handed out will be in the second section of that folder.  

—By Sunday morning, I should have the Catechist Resource page on the parish website updated with the information for Lesson 1.  I apologize for the delay in setting that up….but I’m learning!  

—I also apologize that I was unclear about what to do with the prayer rocks.  It would be great to keep them for students to have with them in class each week, but if they are using it at home as instructed on the prayer cards, that’s ok, too!  In fact, that’s great!  We can always make more.  Please let me know if you need help or more guidance about this activity.  Ideally, by the end of the year, the kids will have one prayer rock at home AND one in the classroom at Christian Formation.

—Please remember to bring your Catechist guide with you to class EACH SUNDAY!  You can also leave them in the cubby bins after class, if you’d like.  All workbooks and folders will be labeled with the child’s name, teacher and room number.  Books will be placed in the classroom, ready to be distributed by you at the beginning of class on Sunday.  As always, please let me know if there is anything else that you need or are missing. 

—And finally, don’t forget to remind the kids about the ICE CREAM SOCIAL after the 11am Mass this Sunday. FREE ICE CREAM for ALL KIDS in GRADES Pre-K to 12!  We hope everyone can come and hang out with other parish families and friends.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND ENJOY SHARING OUR WONDEROUS FAITH WITH THE LITTLE CHILDREN IN K-5 CHRISTIAN FORMATION THIS SUNDAY!

—Marie Wolanin