August 2023 Dear Parents and Guardians, It is our responsibility as adults to protect children by teaching them about their safety rights and boundaries so that they have tools to protect themselves. St. Alphonsus is partnering with you to present a safe environment lesson to your youth within the youth program. This year, your child will experience one of the following age-appropriate lessons:
Lesson 1: Physical Boundaries: Safe and Unsafe Touching Rules
Lesson 2: Safe Adults, Safe Touches and Special Safe Adults
Lesson 3: Boundaries: You Have Rights!
Lesson 4: Secrets, Surprises and Promises
Lesson 5: Being a Safe Friend
Lesson 6 (this year): Boundaries: Feelings and Facts
These Christian-based lessons are founded on the principle of appropriate relationship boundaries. All lessons are age-appropriate and empower children and young people to recognize inappropriate behavior by others while practicing appropriate relationship boundaries in their own lives. The lessons stress the importance of keeping private body parts “private,” and of telling a trusted adult about anyone’s behavior that causes a child to feel uncomfortable or threatened. As the primary educators of your children, parents and guardians are encouraged to review these materials ahead of time and to begin these vital safety conversations at home. Two additional resources may be available to you for review through this location upon request: The Teaching Boundaries and Safety Guide, and The Lesson Leader Orientation and Certification Module. Thank you for your partnership with us to protect youth.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Date(s) of in-program training:
Grades K-6 on September 10, 2024 at the Family Formation Gathering
Grades 7-12 on September 20, 2024 at Youth Ministry
For questions, or to obtain access to the specific lesson and related activities, please communicate with: Kelley Tansey, Faith Formation Coordinator - [email protected] ________________________________________________________ Please note: Parents and Guardians may “opt out” youth from formal in-program safety lessons. Please contact your coordinator for more information about opting out of this program in order to address this important topic at home.
Children in grades K-6 will receive the lesson at the September 10th Family Formation gathering; Youth in grades 7-12 will receive the lesson at the Youth Ministry meeting on September 20th. If these opportunities are missed, then families must do one of the following:
Parents complete the lesson at home with their children then sign and return the parent acknowledgement form to Kelley Tansey
Parents sign an "opt-out" form and return to Kelley Tansey
Below are the links to the resources and lessons. When you have completed the lesson, please complete the form that states you have completed the lesson with your children. You can also find it below as the last page on the link to the at home instructions for parents.
If you missed the September gathering, you are responsible for doing the lesson at home.