RIGHT TO AMEND The Pastor and the Director of Religious Education have the right to amend policies and procedures in this handbook. Parents and catechists will be notified in changes are made.
PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES The primary responsibility for the Religious Education of children belongs to parents. Our efforts to help you achieve that goal require you to stay informed about PSR events. Contact us immediately with questions or concerns, and follow the policies outlined so that the greater good of the children may be served.
COMMUNICATION Email-Our preferred method of communications is email so please check your messages regularly. Please let us know if you do not have an email account. Information can also be obtained through our Religious Education Website here. Email is sent to you as a blind copy to protect the privacy of those in the program. If, however, a broadcast email is sent, please do not use addresses for personal or business purposes. We consider this an invasion of the privacy and an abuse of our system. In accordance with Archdiocesan Policy, we do not release phone numbers or e-mail address lists to a third party. To receive important program updates and information from your child’s Program Coordinator, please be sure you are subscribed to our email service at Constant Contact. If you have previously unsubscribed, simply click the Constant Contact link and enter your email address to resubscribe. Handouts and Flyers-Occasionally, we will send home paper handouts. Please do not ask us to send home information from an outside organization or ministry. It is our policy to only send home paperwork that directly concerns the Parish School of Religion. Bulletin and Web Site-Read the bulletin and website carefully for information on other events that happen in the parish.
ATTENDANCE Consistent weekly attendance in the PSR program is very important. To credit your child with a full year of religious education, he or she must attend at least 80% of the sessions. When an absence is unavoidable, please request a make-up lesson from your child’s catechist and complete it at home. Once the lesson is returned, a makeup will be noted on the attendance record.
CANCELLED CLASSES In case of inclement weather, especially regarding travel conditions, we will follow advisories from the Georgia State Patrol (404-624-6077). On any day when questionable weather conditions may affect classes, call 678-277-9424 for a message.
DISCIPLINE Life as a Christian is a commitment to live by the example of Jesus Christ. This commitment includes student acknowledgement and acceptance of their responsibility for conduct and actions both on church and school property and in the classroom. Minor session discipline problems will be handled by the catechist. If a problem becomes persistent, the participant will be referred to the coordinator. The coordinator will contact the parent to request a conference. In some situations, a child with a persistent discipline problem may only remain in the group if a parent attends the session with the child. If issues remain unresolved, the parents will be provided the resources to home school his/her child. Disciplinary problems include but are not limited to the following: disrespect to a catechist or other person; abusive language; fighting; vandalism; stealing; inappropriate physical contact; leaving the school building or site of the activity.
SPECIAL NEEDS Children with special needs are welcome to register and participate in any of our offered religious education programs. We ask that parents who have children with chronic illnesses, learning difficulties or physical handicaps, please notify the Religious Education Office so that we may form a plan to meet your child’s needs.
PERMISSION SLIPS & HEALTH FORMS For all events, a permission slip and health form are mandatory. Permission slips can be found on the program tabs under Middle School Calendar, High School Calendar, Girls Mentoring, and Vacation Bible School. Health forms can be found on the Forms page. Review the Trip & Event Policy here.
CELL PHONES Cell phones must be off and out of sight during PSR sessions or events. If a cell phone causes a distraction, a staff member or adult volunteer may take the phone for the duration of the event.
PSR SESSION LOCATIONS Sessions for 3 and 4-year-olds are located in the St. Peter Chanel classrooms. Sunday sessions for age 5 through age 13 and Adult Education meet in Blessed Trinity High School. Teens meet at St. Peter Chanel. Sunday evening sessions (teens and middle school) meet at St. Peter Chanel. All Wednesday sessions K-12 meet in the St. Peter Chanel Classrooms.
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE Catechists and staff are ready to accept children 10 minutes before their scheduled session. If you arrive earlier, please supervise your child so that we may prepare for the session. Preschool age children: Parents drop-off and pick-up preschool aged children; at the classroom door. Elementary/Middle School: Carpool is offered for drop-off only however, parents are always welcome to walk their child into the building. Elementary aged children must be picked at the classroom door following the session. When walking a child into the building, please park in a designated parking spot.
EARLY DISMISSAL If your child must leave before the scheduled dismissal time, please go to the Coordinator stationed in the hallway anfor assistance.
SUBSTITUTES As a parent, you may be called to substitute in your child’s class. Unless both the teacher and the aide are absent, the parent will serve as the teacher’s aide. Parents, other adults, student volunteers and the parish community are essential in helping us provide programs for the children and youth of St. Peter Chanel. We welcome your participation. Please call the Religious Education office to volunteer.
PARKING Plenty of parking is available at the high school. In order to maintain safety police will ticket cars parked in undesignated parking places.
FAMILY CUSTODIAL ISSUES St. Peter Chanel abides by the provisions of the Buckley Amendment with respect to the rights of non-custodial parents. In cases of a divorce decree involving clear custody by one parent, the Director of Religious Education must be informed. A copy of the first page of the decree bearing the case number, the pages referring to custody and the relationship with the school and the final page bearing the judge’s signature are to be on file with us. Unless the decree indicates otherwise, all communications are sent to the parent with physical custody. It is the custodial parent’s responsibility to inform the Director of Religious Education of any issues relating to release of a child to a non-custodial parent. Non-custodial parents have the right to attend all parent meetings, sacrament celebrations and PSR events unless otherwise indicated by a court order.
PHOTO RELEASES Photos of PSR activities occasionally appear in published media not limited to local newspapers, The Georgia Bulletin, and our parish bulletin. Photo releases are part of our registration form. If you do NOT want your child’s photograph to be published, please inform the Director of Religious Education.
SUSPECTED ABUSE If a child discloses any form of abuse to a catechist or staff member, they immediately report the information to the Director of Religious Education or Pastor. The Director or Pastor will follow all policies outlined by the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Fulton County and the State of Georgia for reporting the abuse. Two reports of significant incidents will be reported to the appropriate authorities.
