-Sundays, 6:30-7:45pm
-Wednesdays, 5:15-6:30pm (preschool through grade 5 only)
-Wednesdays, 6:00-7:15pm

Attendance/Drop-Off and Pick-Up
The goal of Faith Formation at Pax Christi is to provide a welcoming and nurturing experience for children and youth. Parents are asked to make every effort to ensure that children/youth attend every session, arriving and leaving on time. If a participant is to be absent, parents are asked to notify the catechist/leader prior to the session.

Preschool - Grade 5 (Good Shepherd, Godly Play, Finding God): All children in grades 1-5 must be escorted by a parent or legal guardian to their assigned room. Parents must check their child in on the attendance roster. When the session is over, a parent or legal guardian must pick up the child from their assigned room. Older siblings who are authorized to pick up younger siblings must be in grade 9 or older. Any parent wishing to authorize consent for an older sibling to pick up their child must fill out an authorization card which will be kept on file with the catechist. If a child is absent more than two consecutive times, a staff member will call the parent to converse about the absences.

Middle School (PaxConnex): Middle school youth will sign in at the beginning of the session, and catechists will take attendance at the small group portion of the session. It is recommended that parents and middle school youth determine a consistent location where they will meet for pick-up at the end of the session. Parents are not required to sign middle school youth out unless they need to leave before the end of the session time. Middle school youth will be released within five minutes of the session end time. If a youth is absent more than two consecutive times, a staff member will call the parent to converse about the absences.

High School (Spark groups): Catechists/Spark group leaders will take attendance at the beginning of each session. Senior high youth are not required to be signed in or out by a parent. If a youth must arrive late or leave early, they or their parent/guardian should inform the catechist/leader in advance. If a youth is absent two times during a season (fall or spring), the catechist will call or email the parent to inquire about the absences. If a youth is absent more than two times, a staff member will call the parent to converse about the absences.

Conduct
All children/youth are expected to be respectful of themselves, their peers, catechists, and facilities. Offenses that could result in being asked to leave the program include, but are not limited to:

-assaulting another person (verbal, physical, or otherwise)
-possession, use, or distribution of cigarettes, e-cigarettes/vapes, drugs, alcohol, or weapons
-possession or circulation of obscene or pornographic materials
-theft
-intentional mischief or defacing the premises
-inappropriate language

If a child is disruptive to the group, the child will be redirected and, if necessary, given a warning. If the situation continues, the catechist will consult with the appropriate member of the Faith Formation staff. If the circumstance persists, the parent's help and cooperation will be sought. In summary:

-First: Warning to the child from the catechist
-Second: Private talk with Faith Formation staff member
-Third: Parent's help and cooperation sought. This may necessitate a phone call home for the child/youth to be picked up by the parent. The Faith Formation staff member may arrange a meeting with parents and catechists before the child is allowed to return.

Weather Cancellation
For weekday sessions: If Eden Prairie School District 272 cancels school and/or evening activities due to weather or other circumstances, our programs will also be cancelled.

For weekend sessions: The Pax Christi Faith Formation staff will determine cancellations based on weather or other circumstances.

Families will be notified of cancellations via Flocknote (text and email) by 2:30pm on the day of scheduled programming. Weather cancellation notices will also be available at www.paxchristi.com/weather.

Snacks
Snacks are not allowed in pre-school - grade 5 classrooms, but parents are welcome to provide snacks for middle school and high school small groups. Please be mindful, however, that there are youth and adults with severe food allergies that could react to ingredients in some snacks. When choosing a snack to share, always ask the group leader ahead of time whether or not there are youth with food allergies in the group and, if so, which ingredients. Regardless of the answer, peanuts, peanut oil, and peanut butter are never allowed in snacks brought to Pax Christi.

Sacrament Preparation Policies
The sacrament preparation process is part of our Faith Formation programs. This includes the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. Registration for our programs occurs in the later summer through fall and can be found at that time on our web page. Please contact the program ministers with questions.

Preparation for First Reconciliation/First Eucharist typically takes place in 2nd grade. Preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation lasts one year and is open to youth in grades 10-12. In order for your child to participate in the sacrament preparation process for First Reconciliation/First Eucharist/Confirmation, they either need to be registered and regularly attending one of our Faith Formation programs the entire year of the sacrament and the year before receiving the sacrament, or attending a Catholic school.

Participation by Non-Parish Members
The faith formation programs embrace the parish's belief that "All are Welcome" and invite those who are not formally members of Pax Christi to register for, and participate in, our various programs and opportunities. The standard program fees and policies apply to all who participate in our program, regardless of parish membership status.

However, we do require that an individual preparing for a sacrament is a registered member of Pax Christi Catholic Community prior to the reception of the sacrament. This includes Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. This policy has been established because the community is a primary symbol in all sacramental celebrations in the Catholic Church and, as we are reminded by the words from the parish Rite of Sending for Confirmation, "this sacrament connects them more closely with our own parish."