Traditional Program

Curriculum: Saint Mary's Press Connect, Go Seek Find or Discover textbook and resources.  

Lessons: Catechists will prepare and deliver in-person lessons for each 'session' that is on the syllabus for the Faith Formation year.  Students will be instructed in the classroom and families should be proactive about making up any sessions missed. 

Communication:  Catechists and Faith Formation staff will communicate outside of the classroom with families enrolled in this program primarily via email correspondence and Flocknote.  It is critical that families check email on a regular basis and their spam folder in case any email is redirected there.  Mark those emails as safe!  

Homework: Catechists may assign work to be completed at home from time to time.  

Attendance: Attendance is taken at every class session and is expected to be consistent.  Please commit when you enroll to prioritizing Faith Formation classes as part of your family schedule.  

Online Learning Platform Component: There WILL BE, from time to time, lessons that the parent must teach and complete at home. These will be clearly marked on the syllabus.  Any 'at home' lessons will also include use of the online learning platform review sessions.

Parent Participation: Parents should operate as a "Faith Formation Companion" for their child throughout the year, asking questions about and having discussions concerning what was learned.  Review any work or notes sent home and continue the conversation! Supplement and reinforce the information throughout the week at home so that it 'sticks'!

This program is offered at both the Holy Sepulcher and Saint Kilian campus locations and operates during the normal school year, beginning mid-September and concluding just before Easter.  TIMELY registration is required so that students do not miss critical content and fall behind their peers.  Additionally, seats may be limited and classes may fill.  Look to register over the later summer months!

Parents are expected to bring their child to class on a regular and FREQUENT basis and to assist with any content that needs reviewed, reinforced, or introduced and taught at home. Timely drop-off and pick-up is kindly requested as well as attention to detail concerning how to drop-off and pick-up. Our policies and procedures are enforced for a reason.  Please kindly comply to keep our students and volunteers safe. 

• If your schedule does not allow for regular Sunday morning attendance, please consider a DIFFERENT option for your child.  Whatever option you choose, it is critical that you prioritize Faith Formation and participate as each program indicates.

Parents are expected to take their children to Mass on a regular basis to meet their Sunday and Holy Day obligations!

Parents are expected to plan for and teach any lessons designated as to be completed at home.

Students are expected to behave with kindness and respect toward their catechists and their classmates at all times.  

Inappropriate behavior or behavior that negatively impacts the ability of fellow classmates to learn will not be tolerated.

Schedule for the 2025-2026 Faith Formation Year: Traditional Program!

Holy Sepulcher (Glade Mills) Campus: Sunday mornings 9:00 - 10:15 AM.  Drop off no sooner than 8:45 AM.  Students can not be in the classroom without adult supervision and some catechists may not arrive more than 15 minutes prior to class start time.

Saint Kilian (Cranberry Twp.) Campus: Sunday mornings 10:20 - 11:35 AM.  Drop off no sooner than 10:05 AM - only when volunteers are outside and signal that dropoff may begin.  10:o5 AM Drop Off is not guaranteed and may begin slightly later.  Students cannot be in the classroom without adult supervision and some catechists may not arrive more than 15 minutes prior to class start time.

2025-2026 Session Dates:

• September 21, 28

• October 5, 12, 19, 26

• November 2, 9, 16, 23

• December 7, 14, 21

• January 4, 11, 25* (*January 25th is an 'at-home' session)

• February 1, 8, 22

• March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

The Traditional Program catechists include a wide variety of volunteers, most from our parish, but some from the surrounding area, who have a love and calling to work with our parish children.  Volunteers may be parents of younger children, retirees, college students, school employees and staff, or even high school students who serve as aides in some classrooms.  We are always in need of new volunteers each year and would love to tell you more if you are interested.  Please contact Laura Clouser (at the Saint Kilian campus) or Jo Scheller (at the Holy Sepulcher campus) for more information about volunteering, or fill out our Faith Formation Volunteer Form.

Empowering God's Children:

• Empowering God's Children is a part of Faith Formation but it looks a little different and takes place at home.  There are online components for parents to complete with their children AT HOME, each year. Information and reminders will be sent to you during the school year when it is time to complete these components if it applies to your child's grade level.  They are NOT OPTIONAL.

• Links to lessons will be provided to parents for review of material and instruction at home.

Early Dismissal:

• Requires a filled out and signed Early Dismissal Form - which is made available to parents at the beginning of the year, will be available on the website, and can also be filled out inside the main doors, at reception.

• ALL EARLY DISMISSALS are to be picked at the MAIN SCHOOL DOORS.

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Saint Kilian Campus SPECIFIC

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Arrival (Drop Off):

• Arrival happens between 10:05 and 10:20 AM in front of the school in the turnaround.  Parents will be directed to pull as far forward as possible to prevent traffic jams on Franklin Rd. or heading down to the Church. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated and expected.

• Volunteers assist with traffic direction and helping students out of cars.

• There is absolutely NO PASSING in the school driveway!  Please respect this restriction as it keeps our children safe!

• There is absolutely NO PARKING and leaving your vehicle along the curb as this disrupts traffic flow and is a SAFETY HAZARD.

• Children exit from the PASSENGER SIDE ONLY and enter the school building at the Cafeteria doors.

• Please be kind to our traffic cones, which saw the underside of many vehicles in the past!

Pick Up:

• There is absolutely NO PARKING along the curb during Pick-Up.  This blocks traffic, is a safety hazard, and causes many problems.  Please respect this restriction.  Park in a SPACE.  If the lot is full, patiently wait in line for spaces to open up.

• Children are dismissed from both upper and lower level exits, based on last name.  Parents are notified which exit they can expect their children to use and they should PARK in the appropriate lot (upper or lower) based on this information.

• Once parked parents are welcome to wait on the sidewalks for children to exit the building.

• Please use CAUTION when leaving the lots because of the high volume of pedestrian traffic.

• Children are NOT permitted to move through the parking lot alone, without a parent/guardian.

• Children are NOT permitted to leave the school property or to walk to the church alone.