Preschool of Religion (PSR) Parent Handbook 2015-2016
St. Simon Preschool of Religion (PSR) Leadership PSR Coordinator Erika Ibarra eibarra@stsimon.org (425) 891-3797 Director of Catechetical Ministry Monica Miller mmiller@stsimon.org (650) 967-8311 ext.32 Other Important Phone Contacts Pastor, Rev. V. Warwick James (650) 967-8311 x17 wjames@stsimon.org CCM Office (650) 967-8311 x32 mmiller@stsimon.org Parish Office (Rectory) (650) 967-8311 rectory@stsimon.org Saint Simon School (650) 988-9308 www.stsimon.org Parish Website www.stsimon.org
Our Philosophy The catechist is the bridge and a prophet who announces what the church has seen and heard in the past, and calls on the catechized (those being taught, i.e., the baby, the preschoolers, the grade school and middle school children, the adolescent, the young adult, the adult, the chronologically gifted) to open their eyes and their ears, to see and to hear what God had done and is doing for us now. The catechist reminds the catechized that we are called to live in communion with the Divine Mystery. The Prophetic Spirit of Catechesis: How to Share the Fire in our Hearts, Sister Anne Marie Mongovern, OP The small child is all together innocent and lacking in experience. (fill in your child s name) has a deep sense of wonder. The most ordinary thing to us, is to extraordinary. has a real sense of the supernatural, a real intuition. Everything in soul carries to God. It is at this age that receives his/her first ideas about God a terrific responsibility for parents. The child will make his/her own ideas of God according to the way that God has been presented to. On this idea of God, which we have given to, depends whole future spiritual life, relationship with God for the whole rest of life, and perhaps his/her eternity. The Child in the Church Maria Montessori
Our Purpose and Goal St. Simon Preschool of Religion introduces small children (3, 4 and 5 years old) into our faith and community. It provides them with Gospel teaching appropriate to their ability. It gives children an opportunity to share their relationship with God and their relationship with other children of their own age. Program Objectives With all these activities, we will cover all three learning styles (i.e., visual, kinesthetic, auditory), so we will ensure that every child more deeply understands God s presence in our world. We will present interactive and hands-on activities that will engage all five senses. With our Preschool of Religion Program, your child will be introduced to the faith community and to the Catholic liturgical calendar of the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time. In a welcoming environment, designed around techniques for honoring the child, the catechists set a positive, productive tone as the children arrive. Your child will find a child-friendly structure and learning environment that promotes the freedom, creativity, and independence that children need to learn best. We will use the Gathering component to introduce children to the day s theme. We will perform simple activities such as blessing children with the Sign of the Cross or leading them in prayers. By listening, observing, experiencing, and storytelling, we will present the key points of our lessons that will form them in our faith. When applicable, we will use multimedia resources to reinforce the liturgical learning.
Classroom Procedures Our classes revolve around a theme each week (see calendar), and are developed as follows: 1. Circle Time: The spiritual development of the day s theme. In a quiet circle, we read a story, talk with the children and sometimes watch a short video. 2. Prayer: Each circle time starts with prayer, including the Sign of the Cross. A simple child s prayer is used each week. 3. Creative Activity: Each theme is reinforced by a simple craft or activity, most often to be taken home. Outreach Projects Pope Francis called us to Go, do not be afraid, and serve. World Youth Day 2013, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil To answer the Pope s call, Preschool of Religion children are involved in service projects throughout the year to help form good habits of sharing and caring for others at a very young age. On the first Sunday of Advent, we will ask the children to donate candy canes to complete the Parish Christmas baskets that go to many local families that are least able to afford what we have. During Epiphany, we will collect winter clothing (e.g., new or gently-used warm coats/jackets, knitted hats and gloves) items for the homeless. For Lent, Operation Rice Bowl will go home in the form of a small folded paper box for families to collect mission contributions served by Catholic Relief Services. For Easter, we make paper butterflies for the sick, the convalescing, and the dying.
Administrative Policy 1. Class time: Class meets for the duration of the 9:00 AM Mass (approximately 8:55 to 10:10 AM). 2. Attendance: Regular attendance is required so that each child may gain maximum benefits from the program. If your child is unable to attend, please notify the teacher. If your child is going to be picked up by someone else (always an adult), please notify the teacher beforehand. It is our responsibility to keep your children safe. 3. Arrival and dismissal: Before Mass, bring your child to the classroom in the lower school building where he/she was assigned. Class time: Class meets for the duration of 9:00AM Mass (approximately 8:55 to 10:10 AM). 4. Do not drop off any child in front of the school. After Mass, please pick up your child in the school library. Only adults are able to pick up the children. PRAYERS THAT WILL BE TAUGHT Three-year olds The Sign of the Cross Angel of God Four-year olds The Sign of the Cross Angel of God Glory Be To The Father... Five-year olds The Sign of the Cross Angel of God Glory Be To The Father... The Our Father
WORDS TO THE PRAYERS WE WILL TEACH Sign of the Cross In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Glory Be to the Father Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Prayer to Our Guardian Angel Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen. The Lord s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen
Preschool of Religion 2015-2016 Dates Event Topic Theme Sept. 16 Parent Orientation Sept. 20 PSR Class Creation Sept. 27 PSR Class Noah Oct. 4 PSR Class Baby Moses Oct. 11 No Class: Columbus Weekend Oct. 18 PSR Class Our Church Oct. 25 60 th Parish Anniversary, 11:15 Mass. All invited! Nov. 1 PSR Class Saints Nov. 8 No Class: Catechists Formation Weekend Nov. 15 PSR Class Family Nov. 22 PSR Class Thanksgiving Nov. 29 No Class: Thanksgiving Weekend Dec. 6 PSR Class Advent Dec. 13 PSR Class Christmas Dec. 20 No Class: Christmas Break Dec. 27 No Class: Christmas Break Jan. 3 No Class: Christmas Break Jan. 10 PSR Class Epiphany
Jan. 17 Jan. 24 No Class: MLK No Class: St. Simon Parish School (SSPS) Open House Jan. 31 PSR Class Ash Wednesday Feb. 7 PSR Class Lent Feb. 14 No Class: Presidents Weekend Feb. 21 No Class: Winter Break Feb. 28 PSR Class Love Mar. 6 Family Mass Mar. 13 PSR Class Lost Sheep Mar. 20 PSR Class Palm Sunday Mar. 27 No Class: Easter Easter Sunday Apr. 3 PSR Class Baptism Apr. 10 Spring Break Apr. 17 Spring Break Apr. 24 No Class: First Eucharist Weekend May 1 PSR Class Pentecost May 8 No Class: Mother s Day May 15 PSR Class Mary May 22 Last Class: parties I am special 3