Dear Sunday School Parents,

My name is Valerie Martin and I am the new Coordinator of Faith Formation at Annunciation Parish. My primary responsibilities will be the coordination of the Sunday morning and Wednesday evening faith formation programs for preschool through 6th grade students and the parish sacramental preparation programs for first Reconciliation and Eucharist.

The Church has traditionally taught that the primary responsibility for the religious education of children belongs to the parents. The Church, however, also recognizes its own obligation to help parents fulfill their duty as the first educators of their children. The parish faith formation classes are meant to assist you in your role as the primary religious educator of your children. They are not meant to replace the religious education that children are to receive in the home by the family.

As we look forward to a new school year, I invite and welcome you and your children to our Sunday morning faith formation classes. These classes provide a special time for students and their parents to reflect on the teachings of Jesus as taught by the Catholic Church. The program is lectionary based which means that the children are learning bout the same Gospel that we hear during the Sunday Liturgy.

The classes are offered during the 9:00 a.m. Mass in the lower church for children ages 3 – 5 years old. The classes are parent “co-op” taught, which means we are asking that parents sign up to team teach several classes during the school year. The parish provides the teaching materials and training.

To insure that our programs provide child safe environments, all volunteers and parents who have regular contact with our parish youth must complete the required paperwork for a Criminal Background Check, sign a Volunteer Code of Conduct and attend a VIRTUS training. (VIRTUS is an Archdiocesan program for protecting our children from abuse). The next VIRTUS training will be Tuesday, September 18th, 6:30–9:30 p.m. at Annunciation Church. You must pre-register online at www.virtus.org. (Instructions for registering are included in this mailing). Anyone not completing all three requirements will not be allowed to teach in our Sunday School program. Since the classes are taught by parents, we need you to be in compliance by September 30th. I thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

On Sunday, September 30th, there will be an orientation session at 10:15 a.m. in the lower church for all parents interested in participating in our Sunday School Program. This will be an opportunity to meet the other parents, learn more about the curriculum and sign up for the Sundays you wish to teach.

To cover the cost of materials and supplies, there is a tuition fee of $35.00 for the first child and $30.00 for each additional child. Enclosed is the 2007-2008 Sunday School Calendar and Registration Form. Please complete the Registration Form and return it and the tuition fee to the parish office by September 10th.

I look forward to meeting each of you and your children. If you have any questions, please give me a call.

Sincerely,

Valerie Roster Martin 

Coordinator of Faith Formation 

612-824-9993 ext. 260