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Special Education

The Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides education in the Catholic Faith and Sacramental Preparation for Grades 1-12

Education for children with special needs is a priority at St. Joseph's. We offer classes for children with special needs to prepare for First Confession, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. The catechist is bi-lingual and can assist students in English and Spanish. The class is designed to teach each child at his or her individual developmental level.

Parent participation is not mandated, but it is highly preferred, as only the parents of these children know best how to communicate with their child on the lessons being taught by utilizing their own, "special home language." This enables the children to fully understand the beauty of what we are teaching in class and helps the class teacher to learn new ways of connecting with each individual child based on observations of how the parent relates to them in class.

To express your interest in this class please contact Debbie Greco.

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How the classes are taught

We value teaching our children with special needs of the amazing relationship they have with God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We help inspire in them an understanding that God loves each of them for their individual uniqueness. We teach the very basic principles of good and bad choices through the use of games and scenarios preformed by the children, which stress how bad choices (sins) are not what God wants for his children. This is the beginning preparation for children receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation who will then go on to receive their First Holy Communion.

We show the children all of the amazing beauty created by Our Father in Heaven by taking nature walks and creating collages of things we find along the way to show that the Lord is the Creator of all. A collage of our family members and pets are also presented to the class where the children are continually reminded that God made our family and pets as well. The children are guided continually throughout the program on how to properly receive the Holy Eucharist and the precious Blood of Christ. We tell them, with as much as they can understand that the Holy Eucharist is Jesus and He is to be respected and highly revered in the Blessed Sacrament.

As early as the first couple months of the program, the children have already learned the basic prayers of the Holy Rosary through constant repetition. We end each class with a recital of one decade of the Holy Rosary which seems to foster the retention of what is being prayed. Hands on activities to visually model the basic principles of the Catholic Church is the preferred method of teaching and requires the help of parents willing to dedicate the time needed to guide their children in our Catholic Faith.

School of Faith

CALENDAR
View the calendar for 2010-2011 (PDF)
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Requirement for parents with children preparing to receive sacraments

The School of Faith for parents (this program is also for parents whose child is enrolled in a Special Education class.

As part of Sacramental preparation of students through the St. Joseph’s Parish School of Religion, one of the student’s parents or guardians must attend a monthly class on the basics of our Catholic Faith. There are eight classes in the year-long series. Attendance is a requirement of all parents regardless of background or qualifications.

Parents participate in this program because their child is either:
• scheduled to receive the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (First Confession) later this year, or
• in their first year of preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, or
• in their first year of preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, FHC).

The classes in this program must be taken in consecutive order—beginning with September and ending in April. If the parents do not attend each of the eight monthly subjects in the School of Faith in consecutive order they will be required to restart the program the following year.

Completion of the program is required or the Candidate’s celebration of First Holy Communion and or Confirmation will be deferred until the parent fulfills this obligation. Each month there are 11 opportunities to attend the class. Home-schooling parents are also required to attend the eight classes in the School of Faith. The start of this program applies to parents whose student is in preparation for the sacraments of Confession or Confirmation. First Holy Communion is received by elementary students at the end of their third year of catechesis, following the completion of this requirement (School of Faith) by at least one parent. There is no charge for this program.

Parents whose children are in the first year of classes are not required to take the School of Faith classes in this first year enrolled. However, parents with "first year" students are strongly encouraged to take the classes in the first year so that if there are difficulties in completing the 8 classes in the first year they would be able to restart and complete the classes in the following year.

As primary educators of their children, parents are what make the home the first and best place for children to become well prepared to receive sacraments for the first time (and beyond). The example and advice of parents, along with their prayers and love are what really help kids to be “ready” to receive sacraments. This course provides practical ideas, advice and guidance for parents as they take an active role in preparing their children to receive the sacraments.

The program consists of eight meetings. Parents must attend one meeting each month during the school year.

SCHOOL OF FAITH TOPICS
God’s Plan • Baptism • Confession • Eucharist
Liturgy • Vocation • Last Things • Prayer

The program is designed to meet the needs of our parish’s many busy families. Please take a moment to look over the schedule for the year. We will work with each and every family to ensure that at least one parent from each home is able to attend all eight meetings through the year. If one parent has completed an equivalent education program they may submit documentation to the DRE for consideration and possible approval. Because of how important your attendance is to the success of your children’s religious education and preparation for reception of sacraments, this program is mandatory and will be part of our consideration of readiness to receive sacraments.