Currently, St. Philip does not offer a formal preschool formation program. However, there are many simple and life-giving practices families can participate in as The Domestic Church, to help form preschool age children in the Catholic faith. We are here to support you! 

1. If you don't already do so, pray daily with your child. Here are some suggestions...

• Teach your child how to make the Sign of the Cross
• Pray before meals
• Pray at bedtime
• Pray for others in your circle of family and friends
• Begin learning some of the traditional Catholic prayers: The Our Father, The Hail Mary and The Glory Be; Teach them how to pray The Rosary

Kindergarten and First Graders will attend formation twice a month: once with a parent at a Family Session, and a second time with children only. In the 2020-2021 school year, both the Family Session and child only class will occur on a Tuesday afternoon from 4:30-5:45PM. Child only class is held in a large group setting for littles to discover our Catholic Faith. Through enjoying community with other children their age, they will explore topics such as Angels and Saints, Sacraments, The Holy Family, The Holy Trinity, The Bible, Prayers, The Liturgical Year and so much more! Children will enjoy fun and engaging activities specifically for their age group. Click on Family Session for more info on the Family Session for K-1st.

Family Session for K-1st will begin on Sept. 15, 2020
Elementary Formation for K-1st will begin on Sept. 22, 2020
 

A second grader who has been baptized in the Catholic Church and is seven or older will prepare for First Penance/First Communion. Please click on First Communion to read about this preparation process and see the 2020-2021 dates. If you feel your second grader is not ready for sacramental preparation, or if you'd like your second grader to receive additional formation opportunities, please contact Kim Carr for options. 

Please note: if your 2nd grader is your only child, the only formation classes you’ll attend for the year are the sacramental preparation classes found on the First Communion page. 

Third grades through Sixth grades will attend formation twice a month: once with a parent at a Family Session, and a second time with children only. In the 2020-2021 school year, the 3rd-6th Family Session will occur once a month on a Sunday afternoon from 1-2:15PM with two different day options for their child-only classes: Sunday from 1-2:15PM, or Wednesday evenings from 7-8:15PM. Child only classes are held in a large group setting with small groups incorporated. Topics third through sixth graders will explore include Angels and Saints, Sacraments, The Holy Family, The Holy Trinity, The Bible, Prayers, The Liturgical Year and so much more! Through community with other children, they will dive deeper in learning Faith topics with oppourtunites for Adoration and Prayer. Learning will occur through role play, games, stories, small group discussion and activities that will allow for all learning styles. Click on Family Session for more info on the Family Session for 3rd-6th.

Family Session for 3rd-6th will begin on Sept. 13, 2020 from 1-2:15PM
Elementary Formation for 3rd-6th Sunday will begin on Sept. 20, 2020 from 1-2:15PM 
Elementary Formation for 3rd-6th Wednesday will begin on Sept. 23, 2020 from 7-8:15PM

For families who would like their children to receive Formation exclusively at home during the 2020-2021 school year, please read below for various options. For families who enjoy workbook learning, consider a Workbook Curriculum. For families who like online learning, Online Programs may be a good option for you. For families who enjoy reading and sharing, consider doing a Book Study (or even a few!) by reading good spiritual books throughout the course of the school year. Options for each of these learning styles are listed below. If you have any questions regarding these recommendations, please reach out to Kim Carr for help and support.

[Workbook Curriculum] 

• Family of Faith is one of the curriculums we incorporated in our Family Sessions during the 2019-2020 school year. Families interested in using this curriculum in 2020-2021, will receive new themed workbooks for the year including one Parent Guide and Student Workbooks for each child. Workbooks can be used as desired since they incorporate activities for all ages. Families will pay the cost of books after enrollment.

• Be My Disciples was a curriculum used in previous years with our Elementary Formation program and it shares the Christian story using reflection on Scripture and doctrine, plus a prayer celebration in every class and during all the major seasons of the Church year. Parents will receive one Teacher's manual and a grade level student workbook for grades 1st-5th. Families will pay the cost of books after enrollment. 

[Online Programs] 

• My Catholic Faith Delivered is reasonably priced and offers a multitude of various topics and courses for grades 1-12. Each lesson includes an introduction, a video, and short quiz to help students retain what they've learned. Click on Course Library, and then click on Faith and Life Series. Choose the elementary grade level your child is currently in. Once you've purchase the course and logged in, click on your name in the upper right corner and click Redeem Code and enter: SPA-LTX (click submit) then click Redeem Code one final time (click submit). By clicking Learn in the top menu, you'll access your grade level course. You may stop the course at any time or take a break. To continue, go back to the website, login, and click on Continue Last Lesson from the Dashboard.Their website is www.mycatholicfaithdelivered.com 

• Formed.org is free! St. Philip's pays for parishioners to have access to this wonderful resource. Our parish code is in our Church bulletin and you set up your own account when you login for the first time.  For K-1 ages, the programs we recommend watching on Formed are: Brother Francis, The Saints and Heroes Collection and The Eucharist for Little Children.  For grades 3rd-6th consider these titles: Catholic Heroes of the Faith, The Witness Trilogy, Mother Teresa: Seeing the Face of Jesus, and The Animated Bible Series. We suggest parents preview these titles first, or watch them with your child. You may see a short summary of each program by hovering over the title you are intersted in viewing.

• All ages K-6th:Cathechism of the Seven Sacraments by Kevin and Mary O'Neill, Dear Pope Francis by Pope Francis

• K-1st Book Recommendations: Book of Saints by Amy Welborn, Book of Heroes by Amy Welborn

• 3rd-4th Book Recommendations: A Picture of God, 3 in 1 by Joanne Marxhausen

• 5th-6th Book Recommendations: Saints and Feast Days, A Resource and Activity Book by The Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardo, Ohio