Enrollment Policy:

St. Peter parish values every learner regardless of ability; therefore, our fullest resources we will provide an opportunity for every learner to reach his or her fullest potential and benefit from the values of our Catholic centered education using.

Registration & Fees

Registration for early childhood and grades 1-8 is held at St. Peter’s in the summer of each year. It is important that we know by the end of August how many students will be enrolled in each class so as to adequately recruit faculty members and order sufficient texts and supplies.

Classes, which are held in the school building, are as follows:

Early Childhood (3 and 4 year old) and Grades K-8: Sundays – 9:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.

Material fees for students registered in the program are: $40 per child. There is a $30.00 fee for all children enrolled in the Sacramental Preparation Grades. Fees are due by first day of Classes unless other arrangements have been made.

Attendance Policies

Students are expected to attend classes on a regular basis. Any absence is to be reported to the School of Religion Office during any weekday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. or 30 minutes before classes begin by phoning 937-237-3516. Parents will be contacted after the second consecutive unexcused absence. Students in sacramental class (grade 2 and 8) who have 2 consecutive unexcused absence from class will be required to meet with their parents and the School of Religion directors before being allowed back in class.

Students should be in class a few minutes prior to the time class begins. This is especially important for maximum learning time since classes are held only once per week. Students arriving late for class should go directly to their classrooms. If parents desire their child to be released early from class, the child should give the teacher a note, signed by the parent, and the parent should pick up the student in the classroom.

Students who wish to bring guests (friends) to class must get Religion Education Office approval before class time.

Suitable clothing for a learning situation is expected. We attend Mass at various times during the school year and appropriate dress is expected. Soccer/football or shoes with cleats are not permitted in the school building.

Gum and food and drinks are not permitted in the building, unless specified by the teacher.

Safety/Heath Measures

All students, parents, and guardians entering the building will be required to wear a mask. Students will use hand sanitizer as they enter the classroom, and while in the classroom maintain social distancing. Students will wipe down the desk they used for class before they leave.

Textbooks

Each student may receive at least one textbook, plus other possible class resources. This is the student’s own book. Some teachers may require the students to leave their books in the classroom for the year and as the books have perforated pages they will bring home the lessons from the week. Students are to bring their text and other class resources to each class if they take them home. If a student loses the text during the year, parents will be billed for a replacement.

Assignments

Students are expected to come to class each week having completed any assignment given them by their teacher. The main aim of our parish religious education program is to assist parents in their role as the primary religious educators of their children. Therefore, many assignments may include parental involvement. Parents are expected to work on their child’s religious education in the home, and to cooperate with our teacher by seeing that their child is prepared each week.

Communication

Many times each month students will bring home information from their teacher or the School of Religion. Please take time to go over this information. In this parish we also have the Education Connection Phone System. This allows us to call you to remind you of important events or changes in events. In January and May we send home Student Progress Reports. This is just an additional way to communicate with you.

Effective communication between home and teacher is always encouraged. If you have questions about a particular situation, please follow this procedure:

1. Discuss the matter with the individual teacher. If the matter is not resolved at that level,
2. Discuss the matter with the director. If the problem is not resolved at that level, then
3. Present the complaint in writing to the Pastor or call the Administrative Office for an appointment with the Pastor. The parent will then receive a written response.
4. 
   

Discipline Code

Every student enrolled in St. Peter’s religious education program has the right to quality education. This can only be accomplished in an environment where students respect each other’s rights, as well as the rights of the faculty. Disruptive behavior on the part of any student before, during, or after class will not be tolerated on the premises. Smoking, chewing gum, candy, alcoholic beverages or drugs are not permitted on the premises by any student. Students may not use cell phones or any other electronic device during class time. Electronic devices will be taken from the student and returned after class ends. If this behavior continues the parent will be asked to retrieve the device from the Director.

Each student is responsible for the condition of the desk and its contents used during the class time and it never necessary for the contents of any desk to be disturbed. Students are supplied with necessary materials through the religious education program. At the start of each year, each teacher will set the rules for his/her class, taking into account the age of the students and the needs of the class. These rules, along with consequences (negative for misbehavior and positive for cooperation), will be clearly explained. Parents will be notified immediately of any persistent problems.

The School of Religion reserves the right, after consultation with the teacher, student, and parent, to withdraw from the program any student who, through chronic disruptive behavior, jeopardizes the quality education of other students in our program.

Cancellation of Classes

In the event of severe weather, etc., and classes need to be cancelled we will make every effort to have this placed and/or announced on the TV station channel 2. Please stay tuned on days of severe weather. If we cancel classes in advance you will be called from our Education Connection call recording or by your child’s catechist.

Arrival/Dismissal Procedure

When dropping off and picking up students, parents and other drivers are expected to park in the marked places on the lot and to enter and leave the lot SLOWLY. Students may enter and/or exit from the front school entrance and from the west school entrance. Vehicles may enter at the east Chambersburg parish driveway or the Alter Road parish driveway. They can exit at the west Chambersburg parish driveway or the Alter Road parish driveway.

PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING MAP FOR TRAFFIC FLOW.

Please Protect Our Children By Cooperating With These Guideline!

Sacramental Preparation Programs

First Reconciliation and Eucharist Parent Meeting: October 26, 2022, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. in Reis Room, Family Life Center. Parents of students preparing for First Eucharist attend this program. Attendance is a requirement.

First Reconciliation

Students are prepared for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the second grade in our parish religious education program. It takes place prior to, and separate from, the preparation for First Eucharist. Students preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation must be the children of Region XII registered parishioners, must have been validly baptized, and must have attended a first grade religion program.

Students who have completed Reconciliation preparation have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time at a special celebration on March 22, 2023 at 7:00 pm in the Church. Parents attend this celebration with their child and are also encouraged to receive the sacrament at this time.

First Communion

Students are normally prepared to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist during the second grade in our parish religious education program. These students must be the children of registered St. Peter’s parishioners, must have completed a first grade religious program, must have had prior preparation for the sacrament of reconciliation, and must have evidence that they have been validly baptized. If the child was not baptized at St. Peter Church, a copy of the baptismal certificate is to be mailed to our religious education office no later than November 1, 2022.

Important dates to remember for First Communion include:

Jesus Day: Jesus Day is an activity program for children preparing for First Eucharist and their parents. It will be held at St. Peter’s on March 25, 2023 from 9:00am to 12:00pm in the Cafeteria. Further information will be given at a later date.

First Eucharist: St. Peter School and Religious Education Program will celebrate First Eucharist the weekends of April 22 and April 29, 2023 at the 4:30 pm Mass and Sunday April 23 and April 30, 2023 at the 8:30 am and 11:00am Masses.

First Eucharist Pictures and Reception: St. Peter School and Religious Education Programs will be taking a group picture on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 7pm in the church (please be prompt) we will then proceed down to Ferenbach Hall for a reception.

Confirmation

Students are normally prepared for the Sacrament of Confirmation during the eighth grade in our parish religious education program. Students in grades 9-12 who have not yet been confirmed and who meet St. Peter’s requirements for Confirmation as outlined will also be prepared if they so desire through the Youth Ministry program. Students preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation must be children of Region XII registered parishioners, must have been validly baptized, and must have been attending religious education classes on a regular basis during the years preceding Confirmation preparation. REGULAR ATTENDANCE IS IMPERATIVE – STUDENTS WHO DO NOT FULFILL THIS REQUIREMENT ARE IN JEOPARDY OF NOT BEING CONFIRMED. If the student was not baptized at St. Peter Church, a copy of the baptismal certificate is to be mailed to our Religious Education Office no later than Nov 1, 2022.

Important dates to remember for Confirmation include:

Parent/Student Meeting: A required meeting for parents, sponsors and students preparing for Confirmation will be held on October 9, 2022, at 7:00 p.m in the Ries Center.

Rite of Enrollment Program:

All students, parents and sponsors preparing for Confirmation will participate in the Rite of Enrollment Program. This program will be held on Sunday October 9, 2022 in the School Gym at 8:30 a.m. followed by attending the 11:00 a.m. Mass. All Confirmation forms are due by this date. Sponsors need to be chosen and present at the Rite by this date.

Confirmation Retreat: Students will be required to attend a retreat for Confirmation. The retreat for St. Peter and Our Lady of Rosary Students is March 18, 2023 at 8:30 am until after 4:30 pm Mass. If your student is unable to attend this date please call the Religious Education Office at 937-237-3516.

Confirmation Practice: A mandatory practice for all sponsors and students receiving Confirmation will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Peter Church.

Confirmation: Confirmation will be celebrated on March 21, 2023 at 2:30pm at St. Peter Church.

CATHOLIC INITIATION of CHILDREN (C.I.C.)

Sacramental Preparation – Special Circumstances

Students in grades 3-12 who have not yet received the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist need to attend Basic Doctrine/ C.I.C. classes or be tutored. Classes are formed or tutoring provided as needed for those students. C.I.C. class is a one-year program. Tutoring takes place on an as needed basis.