As some of you know, this year Saint Ambrose Religious Education classes for students in kindergarten through sixth grade moved from Sunday mornings. Our program had grown to the point that it was becoming a burden for the parish to have classes during the same time as Sunday Masses. After polling parents and discussing what would be viable with Saint Ambrose School, we selected two new class times, Monday evenings at 6:45 and Saturday mornings at 9:00. We knew this would be a big change because classes had been on Sunday mornings for many years, but it was a necessary change for the program and for the whole parish.
Happily, I can report that the move has gone well, and we have seen some positive and unexpected results. First, our enrollment actually increased from 300 students last year to 340 this year. A few families did have to switch to other programs because the new times were not preferable for them, but we had an overall increase. Second, the move has served to bring greater contact between the Spanish and English communities of the parish. In previous years, the two class times were divided into a Spanish time and an English time. This year, we offer classes in both languages during both times, meaning that teachers, parents, and students of both communities are present at the same time. Finally, the atmosphere of both class times has relaxed significantly. I believe this is because parents and teachers are no longer rushed to try to get to Mass on time. Somehow, in spite of the increase in students, the program feels smaller and more personal than last year.
I greatly appreciate the flexibility of all the parents, students, catechist, volunteers, and staff of St. Ambrose School in making this move. It was an adjustment at first, but it is already proving to be a blessing for the program.
Please pray for the Religious Education program and for all the children of the parish.
God bless you,
Allyson Higgins,
Director of Religious Education