Church School Guidelines

 “Of all holy works, the education of children is the most holy.” St. Theophan the Recluse ~

Catechetical Students and Their Conduct

1. The Orthodox Christian Prayer Book is recommended for daily use.
   

2. Parents can help their children prepare for Holy Communion through 1) prayer, 2) fasting and 3) confession. This is required for all children ages 7 and up.
   

3. Attending Divine Liturgy every Sunday unless ill is very important to the children’s growing faith.
   

4. Children will benefit from reading passages from the Holy Bible every day.
   

5. Children will be taught to respect their Parents, the Parish Priest and the Teachers.
   

6. All children in grades 7-12 are welcome to sing with the Choir on Sundays.
   

7. Children will be taught with the help of Parents and Teachers to live according to the teachings of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
   

8. The students of our upper classes are strongly encouraged to attend the annual Summer Camp and Winter Retreat of our Midwestern Metropolitanate in Libertyville, IL.
   

9. Sunday dress should be modest to reflect the appropriate respect.

 Altar Servers

1.  With the permission of parents, young men seven and older who desire to serve in the Holy Altar are welcome.
   

2. On Sundays that the young men are not scheduled to serve as altar boys, they are welcome to attend church and church school.
   

3. Altar Server Programs and other retreats and meetings will be held throughout the year the young men will be welcome to attend.
   

4. Punctuality is very important with arriving to serve for Divine Liturgy
   

5. Cleanliness, conduct and respect are key when serving in the Holy of Holies.
   

6. A strong prayer life and living according to the teachings of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are strongly recommended for a healthy spiritual life.
   

7. Sunday dress should be modest to reflect the appropriate respect.

 Certification

At the conclusion of the Church School year students will receive their awards of certificates for attending Church School.

 Dismissal

Dismissal is after Nafora distribution by Parish Priest.

Notes to Parents

• Saint John Chrysostom observed that parents, are primarily responsible for “handing on the Faith” to their children. Participation in liturgical worship, in the feasts and fasts, and in the Sacraments is crucial to the molding of Christian minds and souls.  The lessons learned through chanting the Church’s hymnography and celebrating it rites simply cannot be imparted in a classroom setting.
  

• When parents treat their home as “the little church”, of “the home church” it becomes a holy place and an environment of faith, love, prayer and fasting. It is a place that parents by their own good and godly example teach their children their Orthodox Christian Faith and Holy Traditions as well as, Christian values based on the Holy Scripture, and Canons of the Church.
  

• Sunday is the Lord’s Day and is His commandment that it is a Holy Day, a day of worship, a family worship day and if spiritually prepared through fasting, prayer and the Sacrament of Confession to receive Holy Communion with “the fear of God, with faith and love.”
  

• It is helpful for Orthodox parents to be punctual at both worship and Church School.
  

• It is important for the parents to respect and appreciate volunteer teachers and be cooperative and supportive of the Religious Education Program.
  

• Parents with questions or concerns may feel free to contact the Parish Priest.
  

• Parents are encouraged to take interest in the lessons their child is being taught and to discuss what they are learning in Church School.

  Church School Faculty and Staff Responsibilities

1. A church schoolteacher must be of the Orthodox Christian Faith and a practicing Orthodox Christian.
   

2. A church schoolteacher is encouraged to be punctual, organized and prepared to teach the prescribed Orthodox religious materials that come from the Department of Religious Education of the Midwestern Metropolitanate or OCEC.
   

3. Monthly meetings are to be attended by the school teachers and the Parish Priest.
   

4. A church schoolteacher should keep good records of attendance and a good communication with the parents of his/her students.
   

5. A church schoolteacher should communicate with the coordinator as soon as possible if he/she is to be absent.

Superintendent's Responsibilities

1. The Church School Coordinator must be an Orthodox Christian who practices his/her Christian faith daily, is responsible, respectful to the Parish Priest and is willing to work closely with him and the faculty, staff and parents.  Is one who understands the spiritual objectives and goals of the Parish Religious Education Program and is willing to follow the guidelines set by the Department of Religious Education of our Metropolitanate.
   

2. Should be a person who is willing to meet with the Parish Priest on a regular basis and to keep him informed of everything within the Church School. To bring to the attention of the Parish Priest the needs of teachers and students and any other matters of concern.
   

3. To facilitate the teachers with the necessary guidance, special programs, seminars for teachers held at the Midwestern Metropolitanate.
   

4. To be willing to cooperate with the Director of Religious Education of our Midwestern Metropolitanate and promote the special religious events on the diocesan level i.e., Church School Teachers Seminars, the annual spiritual retreat etc.
   

5. To be willing to keep good records in the Church School on program, special events, supplies, materials, on teachers, substitutes, finances and students.

Substitute Church School Teachers

• The substitute teacher must be willing to follow the curriculum and the lesson for that specific Sunday and not to deviate from it.
  

• He/she must be on time and be prepared to teach the lesson.
  

• To maintain the discipline so that her students do not disrupt the class or other classes.
  

• May not introduce any new materials without the blessing of the Parish Priest.
  

• Keep attendance and report to either coordinator or the teacher form whom one is substituting.

Other Officers of the Church School

Recording Secretary: Takes minutes at Church School Monthly Meetings.

Correspondence Secretary:  Uses the Monthly Church Newsletter as well as the Sunday Church Bulletin to inform the parishioners of the program, the needs (wish list) of the school, special events or drives etc. Also, assists the Parish Priest and/or the Coordinator to communicate with the parents.  Furthermore, reads any correspondence from the Midwestern Metropolitanate, Episcopal Council, Director of Religious Education, other at the monthly meetings.

Treasurer:  Keeps record of all donations, expenses, pays bills and gives the financial report at the monthly meetings and the two General assemblies of the Parish.

Historian:  The Historian takes pictures by class every year of all our Church School Students, special events, i.e., Christmas Pageant, Great Lent, Slavas, Holy Week, Graduating Student sand of course the Faculty, Staff and Substitutes. The Historian will keep a picture album and even create promotional material for the Church School.

Journalist:  He/she is responsible to collect, write, edit, and publish the Church/School Monthly Journal through which all announcements, events, special programs, student accomplishments or awards, profile on teachers will become known to the entire community.