Catechist Corner - Catechist Handbook

Weekly Lesson Format

Each lesson should be prepared from the assigned parish curriculum and follow the weekly teaching format provided by the Religious Education Office.

Each class should include:

• Opening prayer
• Scripture, Sunday Mass connection, or liturgical season connection
• Main lesson from the assigned curriculum
• Grade-level benchmark or key teaching for the unit/chapter
• Student discussion, activity, reflection, or prayer experience
• Connection to Catholic life, service, sacraments, or family faith
• Closing prayer

Catechists should prepare in advance, review the lesson, gather supplies, and adapt activities to students' needs.

Books should go back and forth with students unless otherwise directed.

Classroom Management

Catechists help create a classroom environment that is safe, respectful, prayerful, and welcoming for every child. Good classroom management begins with preparation, clear expectations, consistent routines, and a calm, caring presence.

Catechists should use our Catholic faith to set the example. A simple classroom reminder is WWJD — What Would Jesus Do? Students should be encouraged to treat others with kindness, patience, respect, forgiveness, and care.

Classroom expectations should be simple and consistent:

• We listen respectfully.
• We speak kindly.
• We participate.
• We keep our hands and bodies safe.
• We treat our classroom, church, books, and supplies with care.
• We pray with reverence.

Effective classroom management is often gentle and quiet. Catechists may redirect students by:

• Standing near a child who is not paying attention
• Making eye contact
• Saying the child’s name calmly
• Giving a quiet reminder
• Moving closer to the student while continuing the lesson
• Asking a student to help with a task
• Redirecting the class with a question or activity
• Changing pace when students need movement or engagement
• Offering positive praise when students are following directions
• Using the Peace Bench when a child needs a quiet reset

Discipline should always protect the dignity of the child. Catechists should never embarrass, shame, threaten, or argue with a student. The goal is to help the child return to prayer, learning, and respectful participation.

Peace Bench

The Peace Bench may be used when a student needs a moment to calm down, reflect, pray, or reset. The Peace Bench is not a punishment. It is a place for peace, reflection, and respectful conversation.

Students may be guided to the Peace Bench to:

• Take a quiet moment
• Reflect on their choices
• Prepare to rejoin the group
• Resolve a disagreement respectfully
• Pray or breathe before returning to class

Additional Classroom Support

Catechists should not wait to share classroom concerns with the Religious Education Office. If a class is becoming difficult to manage, if a student is struggling, or if a catechist needs help, please ask for support early.

The Pastor, the Pastoral Associate, or a member of the Religious Education Office may come into the classroom to observe, support the catechist, assist with behavior, speak with a child, or help the class return to a peaceful learning environment.

Catechists should not feel that they must manage every situation alone. Asking for help is part of creating a safe, loving, and successful classroom.

Catechists should never remove a child from the program, contact parents independently about discipline, or create a behavior plan without the Religious Education Office.

Parish Learning Spaces

Our parish provides several spaces to support faith formation, prayer, creativity, worship, and community. Catechists may be invited to use these spaces as part of a planned lesson or group activity. Each space offers unique opportunities to help children encounter Christ and experience the Catholic faith beyond the classroom.

The Church

The church is our primary place of worship and one of our most important teaching spaces. Catechists are encouraged to use the church whenever appropriate to help students become familiar with the sanctuary, sacred symbols, liturgical seasons, prayer, reverence, and the celebration of the Mass. Opportunities for church visits, guided tours, prayer experiences, and sacramental preparation should help students feel comfortable and at home in their parish church.

Our Lady of Grace Prayer Room

This space is set aside for quiet prayer, Marian devotion, small group prayer, Rosary experiences, Scripture reflection, and helping children learn reverence in a sacred setting.

Created in Christ Art Studio

This space supports faith-filled creativity through Catholic art, seasonal projects, saint activities, Scripture-based art lessons, sacramental preparation projects, and hands-on learning.

Garden of Grace

Our outdoor garden space may be used for prayer, reflection, creation lessons, Scripture connections, seasonal devotions, and small group activities when weather and supervision allow.

Catechists should use these spaces only when scheduled or approved, and students must always be supervised according to parish and diocesan safe environment expectations.

No Food Policy

For the safety of all students, food, candy, gum, and drinks are not permitted in PREP classrooms unless approved by the Religious Education Office. This policy helps protect children with food allergies and keeps our classrooms safe, clean, and focused on learning.

Catechists should not bring in snacks, treats, or food rewards for students. Any special celebration or activity involving food must be approved in advance by the Pastoral Associate.

Attendance, Late Arrivals, and Early Dismissals

Catechists are responsible for using the attendance sheet provided according to Diocese of Trenton and parish procedures.

Catechists should mark attendance clearly and accurately on the class attendance sheet. However, catechists should not take on the responsibility of managing attendance policy decisions, counting total absences, approving early dismissals, or determining whether a student has met attendance requirements. These matters are handled by the Religious Education Office.

Late arrivals and early dismissals must be recorded according to parish procedures. Parents should be directed to the Religious Education Office for questions about attendance, early dismissal, or make-up work.

Students should not be released directly from the classroom unless the approved dismissal procedure is being followed.

If a parent or guardian is not present at dismissal, the child must be brought to the Religious Education Office. Do not leave a child unattended, send a child outside, or release a child to an unauthorized person.

Missing Work

When a student is absent, families should refer to the At-Home Guide on the Parent Corner page of the parish website for the weekly lesson. Missed work should be completed at home and returned to the Religious Education Office.

Safe Environment

All catechists and volunteers must follow the Diocese of Trenton and parish safe environment policies at all times. Catechists must complete all required safe environment training, background screening, forms, and procedures before serving with children.

Catechists should refer to the parish VIRTUS / Safe Environment page for required training information, forms, deadlines, and links.

Safe environment expectations include:

• Follow the two-adult rule.
• Wearing Virtus Badge in the classroom and other areas of the parish.
• Avoid private one-on-one situations with students.
• Use approved parish spaces only.
• Keep classroom doors visible and accessible according to parish procedures.
• Never meet privately with a student outside the program.
• Report safety concerns immediately.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries with children and families.
• Follow Diocese of Trenton Code of Conduct expectations.
• Follow the Christian Witness Statement and the responsibility to live and teach in a manner consistent with the Catholic faith.

Under no circumstances may catechists share personal cell phone numbers with students, communicate with students through personal text messages, connect with students on social media, share home addresses, visit students at home, invite students to their homes, organize unauthorized field trips, or arrange off-site meetings.

All communication with families must follow parish procedures. The Pastoral Associate is to be included in any communication involving student concerns, attendance issues, behavior concerns, dismissal questions, sacramental preparation, safe environment matters, or any situation requiring follow-up with a parent or guardian.

Emergency Procedures

Catechists must be familiar with parish emergency procedures, including fire drills, evacuation procedures, shelter-in-place, and lockdown procedures.

Fire Emergency

In the event of a fire alarm or fire drill:

• Remain calm.
• Take the Red folder with the attendance sheet.
• Lead students quietly to the assigned exit. - we meet in the back parking lot with the yellow chain.
• Keep the class together.
• Do not allow students to return for personal items.
• Take attendance once outside.
• Report missing students or concerns immediately.
• Wait for instructions before returning to the building.

Lockdown or Shelter-in-Place

In the event of a lockdown or shelter-in-place:

• Remain calm and quiet.
• Follow parish emergency instructions.
• Keep students away from doors and windows. Line up against the open classroom wall.
• Silence phones and devices.
• Use the whistle on the lanyard only for lockdown/emergency use, if needed according to parish procedures.
• Do not open locked doors for parents, students, visitors, or anyone outside the room.
• Wait for official instructions from parish leadership or emergency personnel.

Catechists should wear their VIRTUS badge while serving. The badge and whistle should be kept on the catechist lanyard during class.

Communication

The Religious Education Office will communicate important updates, schedules, reminders, and lesson information throughout the year. Catechists are asked to check their email messages and respond when needed.

Catechists should not contact students directly through personal phone, text, email, social media, or any private communication platform.

If a parent asks a question about attendance, dismissal, sacramental preparation, behavior concerns, safe environment, curriculum concerns, or program policy, the catechist should refer the parent to the Religious Education Office.

Substitute Procedure

If a catechist is unable to attend class, the Religious Education Office should be notified as early as possible. Catechists are not to arrange their own substitute.

For this reason, the catechist is to follow the curriculum lesson guide provided so that the class learning remains consistent.

Classroom Care and Clean-Up

Catechists are responsible for leaving the classroom clean and ready for the next class or parish group.

Before leaving, catechists should make sure:

• Student materials are collected or sent home as directed.
• Parish supplies and materials are returned to the cart assigned to your classroom.
• Trash is thrown away.
• Tables and desks are cleared.
• Chairs and desks are reset. Do not move the desk configuration.
• Boards are cleaned if used.
• Lights are turned off if appropriate.
• Any damage, spills, or concerns are reported to the Religious Education Office.

Our classrooms are shared parish spaces. Leaving them clean and orderly is part of our respect for one another and for the parish community.

Catechist Formation

Catechists are encouraged to continue growing in their own faith through prayer, Sunday Mass, the sacraments, Scripture, parish formation opportunities, and catechist gatherings.

The more we grow in our own relationship with Christ, the more joyfully and faithfully we can share the faith with others.

A Word of Thanks

Dear Catechists,

Thank you for saying “yes” to the beautiful ministry of catechesis. Your time, preparation, patience, and witness of faith are a gift to the children and families of St. Catherine of Siena Parish.

Each week, you help our children encounter Jesus, learn the teachings of the Catholic Church, grow in prayer, and feel at home in their parish. The curriculum gives us a strong foundation, but your kindness, encouragement, and example help bring the faith to life.

Please know how grateful we are for your service. You are not alone in this ministry. The Religious Education Office is here to support you, pray for you, and walk with you throughout the year.

With gratitude and prayers,

Laura Randazzo

Pastoral Associate.