REGISTER BY CLICKING HERE!
And contact Heather Bress with any questions at [email protected]

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori religious education program for children ages 3 through 12 that takes place in a specially prepared space called the Atrium. In the early church, the Atrium (or foyer) of the church was the place where catechumens were prepared for initiation into the church. For the child, too, the Atrium is a place of preparation for more full participation in the larger worshipping community.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd recognizes that the child is already in a relationship with God by virtue of his or her baptism. The catechist's role is to help nurture and strengthen this relationship by providing the child with a peaceful and reverent environment as well as materials that help him or her discover and meditate on the meaning of Scripture and the liturgy. The catechist ponders one-on-one with the child things such as, "I wonder how the sheep feels when the shepherd calls her name?", or "I wonder why the infant John leapt in Elizabeth's womb when Mary came to visit?" The materials are handcrafted by the adults who work with the children, and are displayed attractively to invite the child to explore the themes presented through these materials at their own pace and rhythm. In this way, the child learns contemplative prayer and falls in love with God.

To learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, please view the short video at the bottom of this page. 

REGISTRATION INFORMATION - PLEASE READ ALL OF THE BELOW:

Level I - ages 3-6 as of September 1st and developmentally ready for Atrium participation. Children must be:

• Able to communicate their needs to catechists and peers and understand simple directions with ease. Children who have not yet developed strong language skills may become overwhelmed and frustrated, making it harder to enjoy being in atrium.
• Able to use the toilet independently. We are unable to assist with toileting according to Archdiocesan child protection policy. Pull-up usage is fine.
• Open to having the catechist show them proper use of the materials. Students in a Montessori class quickly learn how to set up, use, and put away materials on the shelves. Children who are not developmentally ready to do this may run away from a teacher, lie on the floor, or avoid tasks in other ways.
• Able to focus on an individual task for a time before moving on to the next one. Children who are not yet ready for the atrium might move quickly from material to material without completing anything. They might also dump things from the shelves one after another, and be too distracted by the number of things out in the class to be able to settle in to a single activity long enough to receive a lesson on it.
• Willing to participate in circle time. Children should be able to sit and engage with the group for short lessons, songs, or prayer. 

The first few sessions are a trial period for three-year-olds. If after that time it is determined that the child is not yet ready, it will be recommended that they wait until next year to begin. 

Level II (ages 6-9 as of September 1st)
Placement for six-year-olds: If your child has never done atrium before and/or still prefers to work alone (and not share), Level I may be a better fit. If they have done a full year of Level I, are reading fairly well, and prefer to work in groups with other children, Level II is a better fit. Other situations are a judgement call, feel free to email to discuss.

Atrium Sacramental preparation for First Penance and First Communion is available to any child enrolled in Level II. This preparation offers the same quiet, meditative atmosphere experienced in the atrium and may be chosen in place of traditional Ascension sacrament preparation. CGS Sacrament preparation includes five evening meditations for parents and their children as well as a retreat for the children to intensively prepare for and celebrate the Sacraments.

Level III (ages 9-13 as of September 1st). 
Priority registration goes to catechists' children, Ascension parish members, and returning atrium families. Additional registrants will be accommodated as space allows, first come first serve. 

CLASS DAY AND TIME OPTIONS
(atrium is once a week for two hours)

Wednesdays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Wednesdays 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Thursdays 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Thursdays 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Minimum of 6, maximum of 12 children per Level I class,
Minimum of 6, maximum 16 children per combined Levels II and III


YEARLY TUITION for 1st/2nd/3rd or more children:
Ascension parish members: $150/$125/$100
Non parish members: $300/$250/$200
Catechists: $0/$0/$100
Scholarships available, please inquire

Payment Options: You may pay for the full year, or half now and half in January.

Register by clicking here.

START DATE
Atrium begins with a staggered start so that the youngest, newest Level I children can ease into the year with shorter sessions as they learn the basics of the atrium. New Level I children will begin the last week of September. Returning Level I children, as well as Levels II and III children all begin the second week of October. Atrium ends the week before Pentecost (May 28th).

Fill out a separate registration form for each child you wish to enroll. You will be contacted within the next several days about how to make your tuition payment.

Please contact Heather Bress with any questions at [email protected]

Catechist Formation
Are you interested in becoming a catechist in the atrium? Ascension is hosting a formation course that is held once a month on Saturdays throughout the school year, starting September 10th. Ascension will subsidize a portion of formation cost for catechists who are able to serve in the atrium. For more information see the flyer below, and to register for formation click here.