Faith-building activities for elementary kids?

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Allegra

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I have a daughter who is approaching grade-school age. We have decided that I will bring her to the public school where I teach because it is the best educational opportunity available. The school does a lot of community and service projects and that’s one thing I like about it, and they emphasize character building, but there isn’t any religion as it’s a public school. However, the PSR program at our parish is, frankly, pretty pointless. It’s a bare-minimum program taught mostly by parental volunteers. They are given a workbook as guidance, but it’s at least five times more curriculum than they could ever teach in the time given and so they are told to select whatever they feel is most important, or most interesting, or whatever. They spend a lot of time in glitter and glue. And snacks. SO many snacks.

Anyway, I was wondering if there is any program out there that other parents of public school kids have found spiritually beneficial for their kids. I was thinking of something service-related or maybe something similar to scouts, but faith-based. I think I’m going to sign up as a “homeschooling family” for the purpose of PSR in order to avoid the $200 course in glitter application, but I would like to have my children in a group of Catholic kids, actually doing Catholic stuff. If there’s a program out there that is recommended, I’d probably be willing to volunteer to help get it going in our parish/area.
 
Read Scripture, every night before bed spend time in the Scriptures. As she gets older, have her read and get familiar with the Bible.

Pray.

For formal RE, speak to your parish Director to find out what the Pastor has determined the children of the parish will use. That is to supplement what you do at home.

ETA:

I’ve heard amazing things about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
 
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I will look into that Catechisis of the Good Shepherd. I was hoping to find some sort of activity though. Maybe a camp or youth group program? Something where my kids can make connections with other Catholic kids. (Like really seriously Catholic, not just with parents rich enough to afford an exclusive school.)
 
You can inquire at the parish center if there are any after school clubs or volunteer to start one. The clubs may be in the Catholic school building or parish.

I would think flyers are sent home through the ccd class.

Your children do not have to attend the Catholic school to participate in clubs and activities there.

Some activities would include Fiat club, Rosary club, choir, altar servers, craft club prayer garden club, sports leagues and so on. Many schools also have day camp in the summer as well as vacation bible school. Some areas have cyo.
 
I absolutely endorse Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Our family has been involved in it for 13 years now and the fruit has been amazing. Children who participate gain a deep appreciation of scripture and liturgy. It is generally 2 hours each week, which gives sufficient time for depth.

On a side note, does your Parish really charge $200 for PSR? That’s unconscionable.
 
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I just wanted to add that not only “rich” families attend Catholic school and they take religion very seriously.

Many, many sacrifices are made for some to pay for it.
 
I dont know where you are (I assume you’re in the US) but there is an absolutely amazing and life changing camp called CYSC (Catholic Youth Summer Camp) an hour north of Columbus, Ohio. This summer will be my 6th (and last 😭) summer as a camper, and it is amazing. go to CYSC.com and check them out.
 
Does your parish offer “Catholic VBS?” You could volunteer to get that started if they do not.

What do you mean by “really seriously Catholic”?
 
They do, but it’s run more or less by the same people who run PSR. She’ll be old enough to go this summer, so I’ll probably volunteer and we’ll see. My “really seriously Catholic”, I mean families who actively live out their faith and don’t just write a check to keep their children in an exclusive (all white) school.
 
At the Catholic school children are immersed daily with prayer, worship and have postive Catholic role models.

Labels are removed, as God sees all children and families equal. Privilege, however that is falsely determined by secular society, has no place, again, because each of us is uniquely diverse yet equal in His eyes.

Young minds are taught to reflect Jesus in their words and actions and grow in virtue. It’s one thing to know about God, it’s another thing to actually know God. And the children learn to know Him.

These are the main reasons families sacrifice to place thier children in the loving arms of Catholic school. Sometimes people looking in do not have a clear picture of what this entails, and may look completely different to an observer.

God Bless you.🌸
 
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Allegra said:
Anyway, I was wondering if there is any program out there that other parents of public school kids have found spiritually beneficial for their kids. I was thinking of something service-related or maybe something similar to scouts, but faith-based. I think I’m going to sign up as a “homeschooling family” for the purpose of PSR in order to avoid the $200 course in glitter application, but I would like to have my children in a group of Catholic kids, actually doing Catholic stuff. If there’s a program out there that is recommended, I’d probably be willing to volunteer to help get it going in our parish/area.
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We have our girls in “Little Flowers” (which I think a local friend started up, and is kinda like “Brownies” or “Girl Scouts”, but ALL Catholic); and our son in “Conquest” (a Regnum Christi thing). One of our daughters has also gone a couple times to the “Challenge” summer camp (also Regnum Christi). There is also “Knights of Saint George”, if I recall the name correctly, which is VERY much like Boy Scouts, but also ALL Catholic in its approach and delivery.
 
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