To expose students to basic Catholic Doctrine, Prayer, and Scripture.
To assist in spiritual growth.
To encourage students to live their faith.
To promote the Sacred Tradition, Scripture, and Doctrines of the Catholic Faith.
To teach students the Sacraments.
To prepare and encourage students to receive frequent Reconciliation (Confession) and Communion.
Parent Expectations
Share your Catholic faith with your child, especially by praying at home.
Attend Mass every weekend and Holy Days of Obligation with your child.
Be on time. Parents are expected to accompany their children to school on time, as well as pick them up promptly at the end of class.
Show interest in the lessons and projects your child brings home and talk with them about their experience in class.
Notify the office if your child is absent or if there is anything new that needs to be shared.
Adult Volunteers are needed to help with the Religious Education program. Please contact the Coordinator of Religious Education if you are able to volunteer your talents in teaching, substituting, administration or as a class parent.
Student Expectations
It is essential that respect, cooperation, support, and courtesy be shown by all those involved in the Religious Education program. We are a “family” and the behavior is a reflection of belonging to the family.
Parents, please review the following rules of behavior so that your students will understand.
Respect teachers, assistants, and classmates.
Use respectful language and dress appropriately.
Cooperate with requests made by the teachers and assistants.
Respect the property of IHM Parish.
Listen while others are speaking and participate in class discussions/projects.
Be prepared for class with textbook and learning materials.
Be open to learning about the Catholic faith in a friendly and enjoyable atmosphere.
Cell Phone Policy
Upon entrance of the building students will place all mobile phones and devices in a basket kept by their catechist.
Students should not be playing games or texting while in the auditorium or classroom
If a student violates this policy they will we warned. Repeated offences may result in disciplinary actions.
Attendance
Regular attendance for proper instruction is necessary for success in any learning environment.
Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class.
Children are expected to be on time and to attend class weekly.
The Archdiocese allows for 5 (K-3rd grade) excused absences, only 1 excused absence (4th-6th grades) and 3 excused absences (7th and 8th grade) per school year.
The office MUST BE NOTIFIED OF ANY ABSENCES.
Any missed work should be completed at home prior to returning to class.
The catechist will check the student’s book upon return to class to ensure all work is completed.
Students, particularly those in our Grades 4-6 Hybrid Program, may be required to makeup missed in person sessions if they have multiple absences.
After 3 absences, you will be contacted by the office.
Excessive absences can affect a student advancing to the next grade.
Late arrivals and early dismissals can be distracting to the classes; therefore, we ask you to be mindful of this.
Please email the office if your child will be late, needs to be picked up early or will be absent. We will forward your email to your child’s catechist. If we do not receive an email, you will be contacted.
Drop Off
Children are expected to be seated in the auditorium no later than 3:45pm on Mondays, and 6:15pm on Wednesdays.
Parents will drop off children at the IHM School main entrance. (door into the auditorium)
Please be sure that your child arrives on time. When a child arrives late, it disrupts the process of getting all children to their classrooms in a timely and orderly fashion.
If something unavoidable causes you to be late, please ring the bell at the Boulevard entrance (our office side) and not the bell located at the school's main entrance.
Pick Up
Children should be picked up on time after class. Dismissal is at 5:15pm on Mondays and 7:45pm on Wednesdays.
Grades K and 1 are dismissed from their classrooms and all other grades will be dismissed from the auditorium.
If you know you are running late, please contact the office by phone at 914-723-7593.
If you arrive later than the pickup time, we will bring your child down to the Religious Ed Office and you will need to come in to get them.
If you need to change the normal dismissal/pick-up plan for your child, (for example, if your child is allowed to walk home or go with someone other than a parent) please submit a Change in Dismissal Procedures letter or email.
Class Cancellation
In the event of class cancellation due to inclement weather or other emergencies, we closely follow the Eastchester and Scarsdale School Districts weather and emergency closings. If Eastchester or Scarsdale Schools are closed due to inclement weather, we are automatically closed.
If Scarsdale or Eastchester Schools close early or cancel after-school activities due to inclement weather or an emergency, our Religious Education Program will automatically close.
Parents of Religious Education Students will receive a email and/or Flocknote notification of class cancellation.
Assessments
The 8th grade final exam will be administered in January and will serve as a comprehensive assessment of the students’ eight years of religious education.
Homework
Homework will be given if appropriate.
Please make sure any assignments are done by the student.
No child is permitted to leave the building and walk home alone. If parents of children in Grades 4 - 6 wish to give written permission for their children to walk home, they must submit it in writing to the Religious Education Office in September.
Spiritual Development of Your Child
It is our privilege and obligation to attend Sunday Mass. If possible, do so as a family.
If you are traveling, you may use this website to find a Catholic Mass near you: https://masstimes.org