Please note that some of the language about this pilot group may have changed since you indicated your interest in more information during registration. As we have further developed the pilot plan, these changes more accurately reflect our vision and goals for the group.

St. Ann Kids sessions are energetic and engaging, filled with games, skits, Bible lessons, and prayer experiences. During each 1 hour and 15-minute session, children transition between the Assembly Room (where all 150-250 kids gather) and their classroom (in a small group of 12-15 kids.)

This year, we are excited to pilot an adapted small group that will take place in a sensory friendly environment. It will still be just as fun and will cover the same material as the larger St. Ann Kids experience, while being thoughtfully tailored to support kids who might need it.

We will pilot this program for the 2026-2027 school year, then evaluate its implementation for future years.

If your child attended St. Ann Kids on Sundays during the 2025–2026 year, here are some important changes to note for 2026–2027:

Last year, we met in Assisi Hall and used a hybrid small-group/large-group model because Sunday Mass was held in the Assembly Room. We recognize that the Assisi Hall environment was challenging for some children.

This year, we're back in the Assembly Room, which provides several improvements:

• More space for kids and leaders to spread out.

• Hallways available if a child needs a quiet break.

• A much shorter walk to classrooms.

• More natural light in our main gathering space.

• Each small group will have its own kid-friendly room for small group time.

Other considerations:

Support for children with additional needs:

• Every year all St. Ann Kids leaders receive training from our Special Needs Coordinator, who is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy. This year we are committed to providing more comprehensive training for leaders to support children of all abilities in the general St. Ann Kids sessions.

• All small groups have access to supports such as:

  • Fidgets

  • Noise-canceling headphones

  • Visual schedules

Below is a sample schedule for both the General St. Ann Kids Session vs. the proposed Adapted Environment Session.

Please consider all information above when deciding whether the adapted environment would be the best fit for your child.

As stated in the registration, expressing interest in this group does not guarantee your child will be placed there. To ensure we build a strong foundation, we will intentionally keep this group small during its first year. This allows us to refine the program's structure, evaluate what works best, and make thoughtful improvements so we can serve even more children effectively in the future. Please complete the form below for us to assess the needs of each child and determine for whom this model would be the best fit.

*If you have multiple children you would like to be considered, please fill out a separate form for each.

A St. Ann Kids Staff member will follow up with a phone call.