REGISTRATION FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR IS NOW OPEN
Religious Education registration is a two-part process: complete a registration form and register to pay tuition on FACTS. Both must be complete for your student to attend classes. Registration is not considered complete until both the Registration Form AND Facts Tuition Account have been submitted/updated.
Returning Families click here to register →
New Families click here to register →
Register/Update Your FACTS Tuition Account
Communications
You are always welcome to call or email us with questions you may have. A voicemail will take your call when we are unable to answer. Your call is important to us and we will answer it as soon as possible. Information regarding the Faith Formation program frequently appears in our parish bulletin and on our web site at www.hgaparish.org.
Announcements and notices are sent home as needed. Please check your email to stay advised of what is happening in class and in the program. New this year, the RE program will utilize Flocknote for both program wide and classroom announcements by Catechists.
During the school day, for security reasons, please enter the building using the Main Entrance of the school off of Harrison Ave.
The Catechists and Staff are generally not available for conferences during class hours. Please schedule appointments to discuss any concerns you might want to address.
Calendar
Our academic calendar runs from the beginning of September through the beginning of May. Christmas and Easter breaks are recognized and coincide with the local public school calendar. The calendar can be found online and is updated regularly.
About Our Curriculum
Our program uses a mix of textbooks and resources approved by the Archdiocese of Chicago. We believe in educating children in the Catholic Faith. Below are the themes for each grade level:
Grade 1 - God Loves Us
God's many gifts, we are God's special creation, sharing God's love with others.
Prayers: Sign of the Cross, Grace before Meals, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Angel of God
Supplement: Catholic Prayers and Practices including The Order of the Mass
Grade 2 - Jesus Shares God's Love
Preparing for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist
Prayers: Act of Contrition, Communion Fast, Communion Regulations, The Ten Commandments
Supplement: Catholic Prayers and Practices including The Order of the Mass, The Gift of Reconciliation, The Gift of the Eucharist
Grade 3 - We Are The Church
The Creed, we are members of the church and being a disciple of Christ.
Prayers: Apostle's Creed, The Rosary, The Two Commandments of Love, Liturgical Year
Supplement: Catholic Prayers and Practices including The Order of the Mass, How to Pray the Rosary
Grade 4 - God's Laws Guide Us
Ten Commandments, Beatitudes, and moral decision-making. A review of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Prayers: Jesus Prayer, Act of Faith, Act of Hope, Act of Love, Seven Sacraments, Beatitudes
Supplement: Catholic Prayers and Practices including The Order of the Mass, How to Pray the Rosary
Grade 5 - We Meet Jesus in the Sacraments
Holy people, holy places, and sacraments
Prayers: Stations of the Cross, Morning Offering, Memorae, Hail Holy Queen, The Five Precepts of the Church, Parts of the Mass
Supplement: Catholic Prayers and Practices including The Order of the Mass, How to Pray the Rosary
Grade 6 - The Word of God in the Old Testament
Focusing on Pentateuch, Judges, Psalms and Proverbs
Prayers: The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy, The Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy, The Fruits of the Holy Spirit, The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Four Gospels, The Golden Rule, Holy Days of Obligation
Supplement: How to Use the Bible
Grade 7 - Jesus Christ and the New Testament
Prayers: Nicene Creed, Come, Holy Spirit, Angelus, Holy Days of Obligation, Regulations for Fast and Abstinence, The Three Theological Virtues, The Four Cardinal Virtues
Supplement: How to Use the Bible
Grade 8 - The Church and Preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation
Prayers: Prayer of St. Francis, Mary's Prayer (Magnificat), Psalm 23, Confiteor, The Seven Capital Sins, The Four Last Things
Supplement: How to Use the Bible, The Gift of the Holy Spirit
Sacramental Preparation
All students must faithfully participate in faith formation classes the year prior and the year of preparation for Sacraments. Confirmation is not a graduation from religious education!
Conduct
Good conduct, cooperation, attention, and courtesy are expected during class time. Any student who constantly disturbs a class and who continually fails to cooperate with the catechist and other students within a class, shall be subject to the following procedures:
1st incident - Catechist will speak privately with the child
2nd incident - Catechist will inform the office and contact the parent
3rd incident - Student, Catechist, parent and office staff will have a conference regarding the situation
Arrival Time
Students in Grades 1-8 are to arrive to their scheduled classes no earlier than 10-minutes before class time begins.
Tardiness
Students who are late must check-in at the Faith Formation office before proceeding to class and receive a Tardy Slip. Students more than 30-minutes late for class will not be allowed to enter and will be marked as absent.
Security
All doors to the building are locked. Please use the school's main entrance door (located 1125 Harrison) to gain entrance during class time.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures
Please drop off all students at the main entrance for both Sunday and Wednesday sessions. At the end of the session, when the bell rings, all students will be walked down to the main entrance and be released to a parent or designated adult who has permission to pick up your child. We invite parents to come to the area directly in front of the school doors to meet your child so that the teacher can determine that every child has been accounted for. Any child who does not have transportation home must come into the office to call a parent and remain inside the building until the ride arrives. Parents who arrive more than 30-minutes late to pick up their child after class without notifying the office will receive a late fee of $50 that must be paid prior to the student returning for their next class.
Early Dismissal
Students are not allowed to leave class early without written permission from the parent. The note should include the requested time of dismissal and reason for early dismissal. All students must report to the office to be picked up by the parent. This is a required student safety procedure. Parents must come in to the office to sign their child out of class. A student missing more than 1/2 of their class time will be marked as absent.
In Case of Absence
When you know that your child will be absent for a particular class, please notify the Faith Formation Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 708-927-4017. Please be prepared to give the child's name and grade, plus the reason for the absence. Please do not contact the Catechist directly. If we do not receive a call or email excusing your child from the class, the office will call the parents to advise and question the absence.
Absence Policy: Any student who misses more than six (6) classes in the calendar year will be automatically withdrawn. If the absence is due to a serious medical condition or an emergency situation, please set up an appointment to discuss the matter with the office. Each situation will be addressed individually.
Make-Up Work
A student missing a class is expected to do make-up work for the class missed. The student, the student's parents, and the Catechist share the responsibility for getting make-up work completed as soon as possible.
E-mail
In order to be cost efficient, we will try to use email contact rather than paper mailings. Please also check the parish web site for information and updates. You may always contact the office for additional assistance.
Inclement Weather
ALL cancellations are announced via email and web site to parents.
Lost and Found
If your child loses an article, please check with the Faith Formation Office staff.
Dress Code
A student's appearance, including dress and grooming, must not disrupt the educational process, interfere with the maintenance of a positive teaching/learning climate, or compromise reasonable standards of health, safety, and decency.
- Head coverings in class are prohibited. This includes sweatshirts and jackets with hoods. Exceptions may be made for religious or medical reasons.
- Pants and shorts should be tasteful and properly fitted.
- Pants cannot be see-through. Any rips or slits in clothing must be below fingertip length.
- Pants and shorts should be pulled up to a level where undergarments are not visible.
- Shorts and skirts should be long enough to at least touch the fingertips of the student with an extended arm.
- Shoes need to be appropriate for the school environment.
- Shirts must have sleeves. Sleeves are defined as material past the should seam of a shirt. All tops should cover the midriff and back areas. The chest area should be adequately covered. Undergarments should not be visible.
- Pajama wear, including tops, pants, and slippers, is not acceptable.
- All clothing or accessories which represent gangs, drugs, alcohol, violence, tobacco, and/or are sexual in nature, are strictly prohibited.
- Parents are asked to ensure that their children are dressed appropriately for the weather.
Electronic Devices
Cell phones, IPods, or other electronic devices are to remain in the child's coat or bag during class. If a student is found to be using an electronic device during class time, it will be confiscated and returned only to his or her parents. Our class time is very short and we do not want to add distractions during class time. Please cooperate in supporting this policy.
Right to Amend
These policies may be amended at any time. Prompt notification will be given to parents from the Religious Education Office.