Program Policies

Safe Environment

In union with the Diocesan policies to provide a safe environment for your children, all staff and volunteers who work with youth have had a background check and have received Safe Environment training.

It is important that we create an environment of safety and respect that promotes learning and cooperation. We ask that the following guidelines be followed o present an orderly, respectful, and welcoming religious education program.

 Regular attendance is both encouraged and expected. If your child will be absent, please let his/her catechist know.

•   If your child misses two classes without notification, we will call you.
•   If your child has four consecutive absences, we will contact you to discuss whether your child will remain in the program.
•   No food or drink should be brought into the classroom.
•   No toys or games.
•   Children should not use the personal items located in the classroom desks. (those items are the personal property of the children attending St. Joseph’s Catholic School)
•   Shirts will not have offensive words or pictures.
•   Cell phones, iPad (or other tablets), or any other electronic devices are not allowed in the classroom. They must be completely stowed in a backpack, or placed in a basket during the class period.  The catechist has the authority to take them away during class.
•   No fidget spinners or other “fidget” devices are allowed in the classroom, unless the child has a medical reason (provided by the parent) for such device. Catechists have the authority to confiscate such devices.
•   Please make every effort to pick your children up on time. After class, children are to remain inside building or in the parking lot until their transportation arrives.
•   When attending Mass, we expect....
•   Single file lines in the hallways & in route to Church.
•   Practice reverence, including blessing self when entering and exiting the church, genuflecting when entering and exiting the pew, and avoiding personal conversations while in the church.
•   No running or loud voices in the hallways.

Inclement weather or pandemic response:

o   If the Stratford Public Schools cancel classes due to a storm, all evening CCD classes will be cancelled. When a storm occurs and the Public Schools have not cancelled their classes, please call the parish office to confirm that CCD classes have been cancelled.

o   If Stratford Public Schools cancel classes due to a pandemic or other health related emergency, all CCD classes will also be suspended. In the case of a long term emergency students are expected to bring home their text books and will receive instruction via e-mail as to what the next steps will be.

 

Medication

o   By law, catechists and other volunteers are not permitted to dispense medication of any kind. We will not administer aspirins or cold remedies. Students may NOT bring aspirins, cold remedies including cough drops, or any other over–the–counter medicines to class.

 

Parent Participation

o   Parents are always welcome to visit their child’s class. 

o   Additionally, we are always looking for volunteers who may be interested in getting involved in various ways with our CCD program. If you are willing to assist in the program, please contact Kathleen Wreede, the DRE, at 715-650-7751 (call or text) or email wreedekm001@gmail.com.

 

Here are some ways you can help:

-catechist                                                       -catechist aide

-substitute teacher                                         -chaperone for field trips/retreats

-provide food for retreats                                -provide classroom snacks

 

Mass Attendance

o   In order to properly connect religious education, sacramental preparation, and prayer to the Liturgy, students and parents should make every attempt to attend Mass each weekend.  It is impossible to expect a parish religious education program to succeed if the central act of worship is ignored.   Class attendance does not take the place of Mass.

Code of Conduct

Our CCD teachers perform an invaluable service to the youth and parents of our parish by teaching the children, preparing them for the sacraments, and passing on their love of our Catholic faith to the young people of our parish. Theirs is a time-consuming and challenging job, as you can well imagine. They need to cover volumes of material in just over one hour a week, and they need to provide a good learning environment in order to do so. It is very important for all students to demonstrate the same positive behaviors and respect that is expected of them at home, at school during the day, or during Mass. It can be frustrating when students are disruptive. Your responsibility as non-teaching parents is to deliver and pick up your young person on time, to discuss with them the content covered in class, and to assure your student has consistent appropriate behavior. Note: Please review, sign, and return the Code of Conduct form to your teacher or on the online form.

Disruptive Behavior

To prevent disruptions in the CCD classroom, or before or after class anywhere on Church grounds, the following code of conduct agreement will be in effect. Parents and students must sign an acknowledgement at the beginning of each academic CCD year (September) stating they understand and agree to abide by this CCD Code of Conduct Agreement.

Behaviors that will not be tolerated include but are not limited to:

• Disrespecting or bullying shown to fellow students or teachers
• Swearing, gossiping or name calling of fellow students or teachers
• Using a cell phone during class time
• Leaving class without the permission of the teacher
• Cell phones should be left at home. If a child needs to contact their parent for any reason he/she may use the phone in the Parish Center office. If a parent must contact their child during that hour they may call the Parish Center office at 715-650-7751 or 715-741-3259.
• If a cell phone is brought to class, it will be turned off and placed in a box by the class room door for the class period.

*Any other behavior or attitude infraction not listed above will be discussed between the teacher and the Director of Religious Education (DRE) and determined at their discretion to warrant the next level of discipline

1st offence: the student will be warned and a phone call or email to the parent(s) will follow to inform of the infraction.

2nd offence: the student and parent(s) will need to meet with the Pastor to discuss the student’s behavior in the CCD classroom, and how the student will stop the disruptions and behaviors.

3rd offence: the student will be suspended from the “in-classroom” CCD curriculum for a period of 12 months, and the parent(s) and student will need to use the “homeschool” CCD curriculum during that time or they will sign up for alternative one on one classes with the Director of Religious Education.

*Note: It is not the intention of the Pastor, Parish Council, Director of Religious Education, or CCD teachers to push students away from the faith, the sacraments, or the Catholic Church with this policy. Questions about this agreement should be directed to the Director of Religious Education, Kathleen Wreede.

Staff Contact Information

Kathleen Wreede, Director of Religious Education of St. Joseph & St. Andrew

Phone: 715-741-3259

Email: wreedekm001@gmail.com

Emergency Medical Information

Parental Agreement (Must be signed or initialed by a parent or legal guardian) I am enrolling my child/children in the Parish Religious Education (CCD) Program for St. Joseph/St. Andrew Parish.  I understand as a parent, I am primarily responsible for the on-going religious formation of my child, including regular attendance at Mass, reception of the sacraments, participating in the life of the parish, and ensuring my child regularly attends religious education classes. Further I authorize the staff of St. Joseph/St. Andrew Parish to contact emergency medical treatment in the event my child becomes seriously ill or is injured.  I agree to defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless St. Joseph/St. Andrew Parish and the Diocese of La Crosse against and from any and all claims arising from my child’s participation in this activity and / or the negligence of any participants, agents, family members, officers, volunteers, helpers, partners, organizational members or associates which arise out of the above named activity.

Pick-Up Release Form for Students in Grades 1-6

Due to safety issues that have recently arisen, and in compliance with updated standards from the Diocese of La Crosse related to increased safety issues, we will no longer be simply dismissing the students to the parking lot. You or someone you designate (such as a grandparent, older sibling, other relative, or neighbor/friend) must pick up the child either from the parking lot where the catechist will be waiting with the teacher or from the classroom inside (particularly during inclement weather.)

Additionally, if your child needs to leave class before the designated dismissal time, you must provide written notification to the catechist, and you or a designee must come to the classroom to pick up your child. Children will not be allowed to leave unattended. As stated in the policies your children will be kept in their classrooms until you or a determined other person picks them up. This change is not meant to create a burden for you; rather it is meant to keep your child safe.  Thank you for your assistance and understanding in this matter.

 

 

Fees, which include curriculum, textbooks, classroom supplies, and materials, are as follows:

• $45 for one child
• $85 for two children
• $120 for three children
• The maximum family fee is $120

If you are in need of financial assistance please contact Director of Religious Education to request a fee waiver. Payment is accepted by check/cash included with the registration form.

Please make checks out to the parish that your family is registered with, not where your child attends CCD. 

• If you are registered with St. Andrew's Parish, please make checks out to:
  • St. Andrew Parish
• If you are registered with St. Joseph's Parish, please make out checks to:
  • St. Joseph Parish
• If you are not register with St. Joseph or St, Andrew please contact Kathleen Wreede at 715-741-3259.

Please mail payments to:

St. Joseph and St. Andrew Parish Office

Attn: Kathleen Wreede

P.O. Box 6

Stratford, WI 54484