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As we are entering the last few months of Sunday School, it may be useful to share a few updates from the Catechetical Department. During the “stay at home/shelter” orders in place for many of us and in this rapidly changing situation, I thank the Rev. Fathers, Principals and catechists for reaching out to families and Sunday School children for their catechetical needs.

1. On-site Sunday School classes throughout our diocese are currently closed; however, several are providing on-line and virtual classes and I congratulate the Rev. Fathers, Sunday School Principals (DREs) and our catechists for ensuring these alternative resources. At the same time, as everyone is staying home, it is the right time to highlight the role of the parents as the primary catechists of their children. 
2. We are working on drafting the second semester question papers. We will send it to you by the second week of April. However, you may modify it and conduct the exam based on the circumstances and situation in your parish. Kindly make sure proper closure of the academic year. 
3. Final Bible Quiz on-stage program is currently being rescheduled. Date and time will be announced based on when the current situation subsides and when the contestants can travel safely.
4. We have scheduled the Annual Principals' (DRE) meeting on July 25, 2020, at Mar Thoma Shleeha Cathedral, Chicago.
5. Thanks to all the Sunday Schools that applied for the "Best Sunday School" award. We will be contacting the Vicar and Principals in May/June if further evaluation is warranted.
6. We are in the process of printing a new 8th-grade textbook for the next academic year. It was edited for US standard English and formatted for "look and feel" of US textbooks.
7. The Echo, the diocesan catechetical directory for Sunday School, is being finalized. A final copy will be available in Summer.
8. We will be sending the link to order textbooks for the next school year before the end of May.
9. We will also send the Sunday School Census and survey questions by the end of April.
10. Some parishes asked about virtual on-line tools to teach children when everyone is staying at home. The following are a few resources that are currently being used in a few parishes. 

• Google Classroom – very easy to use and is free for non-profit organizations (attached document have details of how to use them).
• Zoom – you may need to pay fees based on the number of users – if you get a license for your church, you could use it for other meetings too (attached document have details of how to use them). 
• Email, conference calls and YouTube videos for lower grades (see attached document)
• Microsoft Teams
• Skype
• Go To Meetings – you need to pay a licensing fees
• WebEx
• Moodle

We are also interested to know how the classes went this year and if you have any suggestions or recommendations. Please send any of your suggestions/recommendations to smccdchicago@gmail.com. 

As we are entering the last few months of Sunday School, it may be useful to share a few updates from the Catechetical Department. During the “stay at home/shelter” orders in place for many of us and in this rapidly changing situation, I thank the Rev. Fathers, Principals and catechists for reaching out to families and Sunday School children for their catechetical needs.

1. On-site Sunday School classes throughout our diocese are currently closed; however, several are providing on-line and virtual classes and I congratulate the Rev. Fathers, Sunday School Principals (DREs) and our catechists for ensuring these alternative resources. At the same time, as everyone is staying home, it is the right time to highlight the role of the parents as the primary catechists of their children. 
2. We are working on drafting the second semester question papers. We will send it to you by the second week of April. However, you may modify it and conduct the exam based on the circumstances and situation in your parish. Kindly make sure proper closure of the academic year. 
3. Final Bible Quiz on-stage program is currently being rescheduled. Date and time will be announced based on when the current situation subsides and when the contestants can travel safely.
4. We have scheduled the Annual Principals' (DRE) meeting on July 25, 2020, at Mar Thoma Shleeha Cathedral, Chicago.
5. Thanks to all the Sunday Schools that applied for the "Best Sunday School" award. We will be contacting the Vicar and Principals in May/June if further evaluation is warranted.
6. We are in the process of printing a new 8th-grade textbook for the next academic year. It was edited for US standard English and formatted for "look and feel" of US textbooks.
7. The Echo, the diocesan catechetical directory for Sunday School, is being finalized. A final copy will be available in Summer.
8. We will be sending the link to order textbooks for the next school year before the end of May.
9. We will also send the Sunday School Census and survey questions by the end of April.
10. Some parishes asked about virtual on-line tools to teach children when everyone is staying at home. The following are a few resources that are currently being used in a few parishes. 

• Google Classroom – very easy to use and is free for non-profit organizations (attached document have details of how to use them).
• Zoom – you may need to pay fees based on the number of users – if you get a license for your church, you could use it for other meetings too (attached document have details of how to use them). 
• Email, conference calls and YouTube videos for lower grades (see attached document)
• Microsoft Teams
• Skype
• Go To Meetings – you need to pay a licensing fees
• WebEx
• Moodle

We are also interested to know how the classes went this year and if you have any suggestions or recommendations. Please send any of your suggestions/recommendations to smccdchicago@gmail.com. 

Please stay safe and healthy.

May the Good Lord protect all of us!!!

Prayers,

Fr. George Danavelil

Director

Department of Faith Formation