Faith Formation Update #2

These past few months have not been easy, I pray that during these next few months of summer, you can find opportunities to rejuvenate, relax and recharge. 

I wanted to update you on our program for the 2020-21 school year. 

As you know, the governor and state government have given school districts guidelines for reopening. It has been left to each school to come up with their own plans accommodating their school, teacher, and student needs.  In order to allow the Phoenix Center the flexibility to create a plan for their students and staff and to help keep our students and teachers safe and healthy, we have decided to go with a virtual learning program for the 2020-21 school year.

It was not an easy decision to make, but we feel it is the best one for all of our students, teachers and families, as well as those who are a part of the Phoenix Center.  We are still working on the specifics of how things are going to work. We do know that classes will be conducted virtually using Google Meet. Students will have physical books, but submit assignments electronically. In order to better serve our students and families, we are standardizing our program for Grades 1-6. We will be using a new program from Sadlier called Christ In Us. Grades 7-8 will continue using the RCL Benziger series for Middle School students.

While the delivery method is changing, our goal has not: We want to help our students and families grow closer to Jesus. We also understand that your time is valuable, so we are not looking to overburden you, our parents or overload our students with screen time. Our hope is that virtual learning will give our families the opportunity to learn and grow in faith together.  We are still putting together our plan for how this will all work. I will update you as our plan comes together.

This is new territory for our program and many of our catechists, so we are looking for help. We can use more catechists to help teach via Google Meet. We need some help with the technical side as well. If you are proficient in Google Meet and other Google Suite products, we can use your help to be a support to our catechists and families. If you are a teacher who has been using this technology, we need you!! We would like to team you up with our catechists so that they can focus on the teaching and not get caught up in the technical side. If you are interested in sharing your gifts and skills, please email me so that we can get your insight to help us plan.

Hopefully by next week, you will receive re-registration emails. If you know of any new families who have a child who is going into 1st Grade or who have older students that need to begin classes or come back to classes, please pass on my email (armandoa@stmarysnutley.org) so that they can receive a new family online registration form.

Thank you for your continued support. We will continue to pray for all of you and look forward to walking with you and your children in their journey of faith.

Peace,

Anthony Armando

Director of Faith Formation - St. Mary's Nutley