HOW AND WHEN TO BEGIN

 

*      As soon as materials are received:

    1. Solicit as many volunteers as needed from your entire parish, including members of the Knights of Columbus from your local Council, to cover all Saturday night and Sunday Masses the weekend of October 9-10, October 16-17 or both weekends, whichever your Pastor selected.

 

    1. Distribute materials and discuss local logistics with all volunteers.

 

    1. Identify captains for each of the Masses (see definition on the following “Guidelines for School Choice Petition Drive” pages).

 

4. Photocopy the School Choice Petition and the Some of the Myths about School Choice information sheet attached.  You will need to estimate the number of sheets you will need based on the size of your parish.  If you have Spanish-speaking parishioners, please photocopy a supply of the Spanish version of the petition as well to meet your parish’s needs.  

 

*      Middle of August:

    1. Have Parish Secretary include inserts in the Bulletin for seven weekends prior to the event (beginning the weekend of August 21-22).  If it is not possible to run the inserts for seven weeks, you may want to include more than one insert on any given weekend to ensure that the series of seven inserts is run prior to the School Choice Petition Drive.

 

    1. Prepare Pulpit Announcements to be read at all Masses for two weekends prior to the event.  Ideally, these should be read by the Celebrant.

 

*      Middle of September:

    1. Hang the enclosed poster in the vestibule of the church for two weekends prior to the event so that parishioners will become familiar with the language of the petition.

 

    1. Have Parish Secretary include the petition in the Bulletin for two    weekends prior to the event so that parishioners will become familiar with the language of the petition.

 

*      The Week Before the School Choice Petition Drive is held:

1.    Ensure that you have sufficient copies of the School Choice Petition in English and Spanish, if needed, and the Some of the Myths about School Choice information sheet.

 

2.    Ask Maintenance staff or volunteers to set up tables and chairs in time for the Saturday evening Mass on either October 9, October 16 or both weekends, whichever your Pastor selected.

 

*      After the School Choice Petition Drive is held:

 

    1. All Mass Captains should return the signed School Choice Petitions to the Parish Coordinator by Tuesday, October 19.

 

    1. By Wednesday, October 20, the Parish Coordinator should mail all signed School Choice petitions in the pre-addressed envelope provided.  The Diocesan Director of the New Jersey ALLIANCE of Catholic School Families will contact the Parish Coordinator to follow up if signed petitions are not received.