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It is a great idea to take the opportunity to introduce yourself by welcoming the child and the parents in a letter the first day of CCD/Sunday School. It provides the parents with information of what is expected in the classroom and what the children will be doing during the year. It can also inform parents of the expectations and rules of the class that will help in making the classroom productive, creative, and enjoyable year for all (this can be a separate page that parents must sign and return to you). Teachers can also ask if parents are interested in volunteering and for any information that can help aid them in better understanding their child and their needs.


Here is my letter to parents:



Dear Parents,

Welcome to 1st Grade CCD! I am pleased to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you and to welcome your child to my class. This is my 16th year teaching first grade CCD at __________ and it is going to be a fun filled and educational year that your child will enjoy and want to participate in.

During the year, your child will study the parts of the Mass. They will learn the roles of the priest, the other liturgical ministers, and the community as well as the responses of all the other rituals and actions that take place during the liturgy. They will also learn some of the items used at Mass and how to behave properly during Mass.

Each week your child will study various Bible stories from Creation to Pentecost. The program also consists of the Catholic beliefs, sacred tradition, and most importantly, your child’s faith and how it relates to their life. Every Sunday your child will be given a Take Home Sheet for you to go over with them to help reinforce what they have just learned. Please help your child fill this out and bring back to class the following week. Students that complete their homework and bring it back to class will be able to play Homeworkopoly. Homeworkopoly is a board game and it is a fun way to encourage students to do their homework and turn it in on time. If the student does not have their homework finished, they do not get their chance to roll the dice and move for the day. Throughout the year, week by week we keep the game going. By starting at the beginning of the year everyone gets into it and by the end of the year everyone is doing their homework regularly. Your child will also make mini story books and/or story wheels in class. Please have your child read to you (or you read to them) the mini book and/or story wheel for homework.

First grade students will be given 5 prayers (Sign of the Cross, Grace Before Meals, Glory Be, Hail Mary, and Our Father) to do by May 2014. Each prayer the student completes, they will be able to pick a prize from the prize bag. We will also have 4 take home tests during the year. Parents will need to help their child study, fill out the test, and return it to class. Students that bring back their completed test will be able to play Homeworkopoly. Attendance in class is needed to fully understand and do well on all tests.

Throughout the year, we will be doing crafts, games, and activities to emphasize Bible stories and the Catholic Church. These activities make the Bible stories and aspects of the Catholic Church more concrete and easier for the students to understand and also a lot of fun.

Again welcome! Please feel free to contact me about any questions or concerns you may have. Any information that you can provide that can help aid me in better understanding your child and their needs is greatly appreciated. My classroom door is always open or you can leave a message with the DRE to which I will respond to as soon as possible.

*Feel free to come and join our classroom at any time. We love to have visitors and help of any kind.


Sincerely,

Name
Phone Number
E-mail



P.S. If you want to see what we are doing in our class during the year, check out my blog The Catholic Toolbox and click on “My Classroom” page under the header.



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