Current Updates:

• Current Updates on the Religious Formation Program are available here.

Office Hours:

• Monday- Thursday, 9am-3:30pm
  The office is located in the building behind the school.
• The office is close on Friday
  

Staff:

• Mrs. Elaina Kedjierski:
  • Director of Religious Education Levels 1-4
• Mrs. Peggy Soviero:
  • Director of Religious Education Levels 5-8
• Diane Dumbainski:
  • Registration, Level 1
• Elaine Parks:
  • Levels 2, 3 & 4
• Anne Fleming:
  • Levels 5 & 6
• Mary Ann Harnedy:
  • Levels 7 & 8

Sacraments:

• Baptism:
  • For children who have not either not received the Sacrament of Baptism or have questions about the child's Baptism, please call the Parish Rectory at 631-265-2271.
• Reconciliation:
  • Level 2 children receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time during the month of January.
• First Eucharist:
  • Level 2 children receive the Sacrament in the spring.
• Confirmation:
  • Level 8 children receive the Sacrament in the spring after a two program.  Confirmation program information is available here.

Class Session Times:

Children attend classes in our school building

There is an orientation for Level 1 families the week of September 14^th during the time your child is scheduled for class.

• Levels 1-6 classes begin the week of September 29^th:
  • Monday, 4:15 - 5:30pm
  • Monday (Late), 6:00 - 7:15pm
  • Tuesday, 4:15 - 5:30pm
  • Wednesday, 4:15 - 5:30pm
  • Saturday, 9:00 - 10:15am
• Levels 1 & 2 classes are dismissed 10 minutes earlier.  Parents will meet the children at their assigned rooms.
• Level 7 Classes begin Sunday, November 1^st.
  • Sunday Level 7 Classes are from 8:30 to 11:15 AM.  Children attend the 9:00 AM Mass.
  • Orientation is on Monday, September 21^st in Canning Hall at 7:30 pm.
• Level 8 Classes begin Monday, November 2^nd.
  • Monday Level 8 Classes are from 7:30 - 8:45 PM.
  • Orientation is on Tuesday, September 8^th in the Canning Hall at 7:30 PM.
• DISMISSAL PROCEDURE
  • All parents must come into the school building to pick up their children after Religion Class.  Parents are asked to enter the school via the main entrance.  All other entrances will be locked.
    
  • No Child will be allowed to run out to a waiting car
• Emergency Closings
  • For emergency closings and changes, please check:
    • class="center-list"> Our website www.stpatricksmithtown.org
    • WBLI Radio 106.1 FM
    • NEWS12 (Cablevision)
    • www.news12.com
  • If your school closes for inclement weather, religious formation classes are also closed.

Length of Program:

• Our programs annually run from September through May each term. Registration forms are sent home each year to our registered children during the month of March.  Required forms can be downloaded at:
  http://www.stpatricksmithtown.org/downloads/faith_formation.php
   
  Registration closes on October 1st each year.  All grade level students must re-register each term.

Service Projects:

“I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink;  I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, naked and you clothed me;  I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.  ....whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!”

• Every grade level participates in a group service project each year.
  • Level 1- Baskets of Love for the Needy
  • Level 2- Pasta Collection
  • Level 3- Nursing Home Visit
  • Level 4- Coat and Winter-wear Drive
  • Level 5- Sisters of St. Benedict Guest House
  • Level 6- LifeNet
  • Level 7- Youth Outreach /
                 Grace Peshkur Foundation / Pax Christi
  • Level 8- Hope House/Mary Haven

Our Curriculum and Textbooks

Textbooks are distributed at the beginning of the year, and must be brought to every class.  They are the property of each student.  Please make sure that your child’s name and classroom number and day are written on the cover.  Ther is a fee charged for repacement of lost books.  Bibles are distributed to Level 5 students.  These are used in the program until Confirmation is received.  They are to be brought to each class.

• Level 1- God Loves Us, We Believe: Sadlier
• Level 2- Reconciliation & Eucharist, Sacrament Program: Sadlier
• Level 3- We Are the Church, We Believe: Sadlier
• Level 4- God’s Law Guides Us, We Believe: Sadlier
• Level 5- We Worship, Christ Our Life: Loyola Press
• Level 6- God Calls a People, Christ Our Life: Loyola Press
• Levels 7 & 8- Confirmation, RCL & Our Catholic Identity, RCL

Important Note:

Please keep the RFC (Religious Formation Center) informed of changes in names, addresses, or telephone numbers.

Attendance and Requirements

All classes are 1 hour 15 minutes long and must begin promptly.  Parents are urged to have their children attend regulary and on time.  Operators of “carpools,” please keep this in mind when scheduling “pick-up times.”

A two-year program of instruction is required for admittance to the reception of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist.  Three excused absences, for illness or family emergencies, are premitted in a year for Levels 1-6.  In Level 7, because it is part of a two-year preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, there are no absences permitted except in cases of illness, injury or other extenuating circumstance.  An absence note must be sent in when your child returns to class.  Kindly call the RFC (Religious Formation Center) if your child will be absent for consecutive weeks.  Excessive lateness, absences, or early dismissals may result in students being asked to repeat the term or to complete summer make-up work.

Good Neighbor Society

Offer a ride to a child whose family finds it difficult to bring them.  If there is a family in our program you know who has a serious illness, experienced the death of a loved one or perhaps just having a difficult time, please bring the situation to our attention.

Safety

When picking up and dropping off your children, please keep in mind the safety of all the children in our program.

Absolutely no one is allowed to drive hrough the ironed-gate area in front of the school.  Please come into the main school entrance to pick your children up.

No child will be allowed to run out to a waiting car.

REMEMBER that YOU are the primary teachers of your children.

They will follow your example:

• If you pray, they will pray.
• If you treat others with respect and kindness, they will treat others with respect and kindness.
• If you come to church as a family, they will know that they belong to the larger family of God.

Take the time to find out what your child learned in class.  Ask questions.  Show that you care and they will care too.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• All volunteers over the age of 18 are required to submit to a background check before beginning their service.

Catechists:

• Volunteers over the age of 18 are needed to teach a one hour & 15 minute session on a weekly basis. Catechist training and grade level materials are available to all catechists.

Grade Level Coordinators:

• Master catechists are needed to assist, encourage and support other catechists on their grade level and to be the go-between with the catechist and the Religious Formation Office.

Session Helpers:

• Adults and older teenagers are needed to patrol the hallways during class time and assist in classrooms as needed.

Hospitality Committee:

• Decorators, shoppers, set up and clean up volunteers are needed periodically throughout the year to assist us with our grade level celebrations.

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