WELCOME to an exciting 2024-2025 school year! We are honored that you have entrusted your child’s Religious Education to us! It is our goal to create an enriched learning environment that engages each child at IHM this year. We have an excellent teaching staff equipped with a wealth of knowledge who are dedicated to furthering your child’s faith formation.
All information regarding your child’s religious education will communicated via email or sent through flocknote. Please be sure to read the emails as they will contain pertinent information. Our online Program Calendar contains the most up-to-date program information for 2024-2025.
Please take some time to review our Code of Conduct with your child. We utilize the IHM School classrooms, and it is our expectation that our students respect the space and each other.
Classes are scheduled to begin Monday, September 9th and Wednesday, September 11th for grades 2-8. Grade 1 will begin Monday September 23rd and Wednesday, September 25th. Kindergarten will begin on Wednesday, September 25th. Teacher placements will be sent home via email from your catechist.
Class times are as follows:
Grades 1-8 Monday 3:45-5:15 PM
Grades 5-8 Monday 5:30-7 PM
Grades K-8 Wednesday 4-5:30 PM
Drop off and pick up will take place in the auditorium the 1st week for grades 2-8. After the 1st week drop off will take place in the auditorium for grades 2-6. Grades 7 and 8 will go directly to the classroom. Pickup for grades 2-8 will take place in the auditorium. Kindergarten and First grade parents will drop off and pick up directly from the classroom. Please be sure that you are prompt with both drop-off and pickup. You may access the auditorium using the entrance located in the main parking. Doors will open 10 minutes prior to the beginning of class and will close promptly at the start time of class. Likewise, doors will open 10 minutes prior to dismissal time. Once the auditorium doors are locked , you will need to utilize the Religious Education doors located on the Boulevard side
of the building. Please ring the doorbell and we will let you in the building. Please note that WE WILL NOT DISMISS YOUR CHILD TO ANYONE OTHER THAN ONE OF THEIR PARENTS UNLESS A NOTE IS ON FILE OR SENT TO OUR OFFICE. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE (this is for the safety of your child). Any pertinent information should be shared with the office and will be kept confidential. Please note that your child’s safety is of our utmost concern.
A parent meeting is scheduled in the IHM School auditorium for those families new to the Religious Education program. The purpose of the meeting is to update all new families about this year’s program and to give Monsignor Sweeny an opportunity to address you. The meeting will take place September 23rd at 4:15pm and September 25th at 4:30 pm. A parent or guardian is expected to attend the meeting during your child’s first day of class. (Kindergarten and 1st grade and families new to the program in grades 2-8).
Catechetical Sunday is scheduled for Sunday, September 8th at the 9am Mass. All are invited. Please stop by the auditorium for light refreshments and to meet your child’s teacher. (a flyer will be emailed home next week)
Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class. Please note that your child is expected to be on time and to attend class weekly. The Archdiocese allows for 3 absences per school year. Any missed work should be completed at home prior to returning to class. 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; 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.
As practicing Catholics, Mass is one of the cornerstones of our faith and it is our obligation to participate in the Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. All grades are encouraged to attend Mass weekly. Attendance at Mass is mandatory for those students in grades preparing to receive a sacrament: 1st, 2nd, 7th, and 8th, as well as students that are homeschooled. Please remember that if your child is in one of the grades listed above, they must hand in a Mass slips to the priest each week after Mass. A record of Mass attendance will be kept for those children. If your child misses Mass often, you will be contacted. If your child is ill and unable to attend Mass, please email the office.
Your child will receive their textbook, along with any additional supplies, the first day of class. Please be sure your child is prepared for class each week. We ask that they have their textbook and a water bottle in hand, especially during the warmer months. Additionally, we ask that your child uses the restroom and is given a snack before class. As a parent of a child with a severe allergy, cross contamination can be life threatening. Please understand once again that the children are of our utmost concern. Your cooperation with this, especially with the younger children, will save us valuable class time and is greatly appreciated.
Each catechist will be provided with a large envelope, in which the children will be asked to place their cellphones at the beginning of each class. If there is an emergency, and you need to speak to your child, please contact the office at 914-723-7593 and we will call up to your child’s classroom.
Once again, JoAnn Douglass will be assisting me in the office this year. Brianna will be finishing graduate school and will be in the office occasionally. Please know that my office doors are always open! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached at [email protected]. I assure you that I will return all emails in a timely manner.
This will be a wonderful year. We thank you in advance for your help and cooperation. I look forward to welcoming you all back. Enjoy this last weekend of summer!
God Bless you and your family-
Laura Covais