3, 2, 1 - Atrium!!!

3 AWESOME ladies!

2 brand new level 2 atrium spaces!

1 fantastic week!


This is not even *all* the material making done by these 3 awesome ladies during our recent level 2 formation course. We covered all of the Kingdom of God presentations, all of Moral Formation, all of Incarnation which includes the level 2 prophecies, level 2 geography, and level 2 Infancy Narratives), and all of Paschal Mysteries.

Whew.

Given these ladies worked through the several evenings as well, this is still a phenomenal feat to have most of the new materials done for these presentations already!

They even did more after this - decoupaging their maxims tablets and Greatest Commandment tablets, drilling one last hole in a pin map, additional layers of polyurethane, probably some more nail filing too!



Want to join us for an upcoming Catechesis of the Good Shepherd formation course?


Level 1 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Formation Course
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Lafayette, Indiana
Part 1: June 6-10
Part 2: July 25-29

$300 includes all course fees, overnight accommodations, 2 meals a day, some small materials, lots of prayer time and learning by all!
Books purchased separately (the required book list will be e-mailed to you)

Overnight accommodations provided on-site (in the old convent above the parish offices) - 2 single beds (with all needed linens) per room, shared bathroom, multiple shower stalls; access to a kitchen; snacks, lunch and dinner provided; on-site wireless internet access.

No experience required to begin! Just an open heart!

Level 1 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd focuses on the child who is 2.5 years old through their 6th birthday or the school year they turn 6. Many of the principles involved are universal through all stages of life and all periods in time.

Part 1 will focus on the foundations of CGS and on the 3 year old child (first year in the atrium).

Part 2 will focus on the work and experiences of the 4 and 5 year old children.



Montessori Essentials Course for all Montessori adults! 
       Catechesis of the Good Shepherd *assistants*
       Montessori Homeschoolers
       Montessori Classroom Assistants
June 6 8a-5p
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Lafayette, Indiana

Learn the basics of Montessori that apply to all environments, along with the following:

• History of Montessori
• Exercises of Practical Life - preliminary skills, care of the environment, care of self and more
• Grace and Courtesy lessons
• Walking on the Line
• Silence Game/Activity
• Basic art lessons

$50 for the day (evening-before lodging available only as space permits)

NB: While the focus of the whole course is on the religious potential of the child as seen through a Montessori whole-child perspective, this first day will primarily focus on the universal aspects of the Montessori approach to life; thus anyone of any faith background who wants to utilize or learn more about the Montessori approach will benefit.



Level 2 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Formation Course
Dover, Indiana
Part 1: June 20-24 
Part 2: TBD
$200 for Part 1

The level 2 course focuses on the 6-9 year old - includes review and more intense depth of all level 1 concepts while initiating exploration of Salvation History, focusing on conscious moral formation, and formal preparation for the sacraments of First Holy Communion and First Reconciliation.

Limited on-site overnight accommodation may be available. Nearby lodging options available for an additional fee.

Contact: Jessica Welsh for more information

Level 1 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Formation Course - Intensive

This summer I will be leading an intensive Level 1 Formation Course, with the potential to spread out Part 2 over the course of the coming school year (if there is enough interest).

Southeastern Indiana - convenient to Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana; close to Indianapolis and Cincinnati airports for anyone further out.


Part 1: June 8-12
Part 2: August 10-14

Register for CGS Level 1 Course at EventBrite


Invitations are open to come for one day, a few days, half or all of the course (cost pro-rated).


The first 3 days will cover Montessori principles, history, practical life and nomenclature - all awesome for a Montessori homeschool experience too!


Need formation at level 1 or level 2 - or an orientation to level 3 - and these dates don't work? Contact me! We can set something up :) (I can travel to your area, or set something up here).

Summer 2014 - Formation Courses and Refreshing Atriums

What a summer it has been!

At our local parish, we have

• hosted a CGS Overview, 
• hosted a CGS Open House, 
• started two formation courses, 
• updated 2 level 2 atriums 
• and 2 level 1 atriums, 
• and I think I glanced into level 3 from time to time (we did get new shelves in there, shifted some shelves back to create more space and I did try to start to update a few minor materials.... yeah. Time to spend a solid day in ONLY level 3!). 

Formation Courses

We have started two formation courses at my local parish this past summer, and I couldn't be more excited about working with these fantastic people!

In Level 2, we have school teachers, volunteer catechists and one out-of-parish catechist. With this small group, we have more than half completed our formation course, worked on lots of materials and -----------------------------

Our level 1 course, we have had just Day 1 thus far - all the background, some early EPL, early nomenclature (liturgical colors and altar 1), toured the atrium, and generally gave everyone that beautiful glassy-eyed look of "wow there is so much here!" For those of you in the course reading this, I promise! It does come together! Actually, everyone seems to have left that (hot!) day pretty excited about the atrium. We have homeschoolers, volunteer catechists, paid catechists, in and out of the parish participants. We even one gentleman joining us, which is fantastic! More men (fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, priests, seminarians, brothers, etc.) should come to this work. Because the initial levels are for the younger children, men tend to shy away. The last official level is level 3, for 9-12 year olds; but that work can easily move into middle and high school - and this is the most perfect age for men to be in the atrium with the children - both for the boys AND for the girls.

I hope the next time we offer level 1, we can get our local priest in the formation. He is fully supportive of the program - so now he just needs to join us! His mother is joining us - a lady I just love to be around!

I will get photos up soon of our refreshed atrium spaces. They are SO beautiful! 

Mid-West Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Courses - Level 1 and Level 2 - Indiana (Kentucky, Ohio)

To be offered in St. Leon, Indiana this summer and into the school year:

Level 1 - Part 1:
Each day is 8a-4p
July 26
September 27
October 25
November 15
December 6

Part 2:
Choose either Sundays to correspond with the above Saturdays
July 27, September 28, October 26, November 16, December 7
or continue the Saturdays
January 17, February 21, March 14, April 18, May 9

Level 2 - Complete Formation Course: 
8am-4pm each day
June 9, 10 (see note below - it is not too late to join!)
July 7, 8
August 4
October 13
November 8
February/March dates: TBD (3 additional days)
UPDATE: 6/16/14: YOU CAN STILL JOIN THIS COURSE! Attend any days you can; missed days can be made up by meeting with the course formation leader at an alternate time, or join a later level 2 formation course and come to the needed portions.


On-site lodging available (provide your own food; lodging is a house with full kitchen)


At the lovely St. Joseph location of All Saints Parish - home to 3 atriums (one at each level). Nearby St. John the Baptist location of All Saints Parish has a second level 1 for participants to visit; and nearby St. Paul location of All Saints Parish has a second level 2 for possible visiting (need to check on that).

All Saints Parish has the only level 3 atrium in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the longest-running parish-based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium at any level within this archdiocese.

Come join us!


About the Formation Leader - Jessica Welsh is a recognized formation leader of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd National Association.

I have been in the atrium for 10 years, following the growth of my son in the atrium (starting in infancy and now in level 3). I currently have 5 weekly atrium times: 1 level 1, 2 level 3 and 2 atriums that combine levels 2 and 3. I work with children who attend public school, private school and homeschool. 

On the side, I offer online Montessori homeschool support for primary (ages 3-6) and elementary (6-12 years) - based on AMI practices and albums.

I am excited to offer these two courses in my home-town and hope that everyone who can make it can come.

Looking for a course elsewhere? I am also happy to travel elsewhere for courses, if you have enough people in need of formation :)