Home Schooling                      

The Home Schooling Option is made available for those parents who wish to conduct their child's regular religious education classes at home rather than have their child participate in the weekly classes offered here. The same Diocesan Graded Course of Study is to be implemented and regular times are to be set aside for classes in your home.

To assist you further and to provide you the opportunity to share with other families who are choosing the Home School option, I have scheduled five meetings in the course of the academic year. These mandatory meetings will begin following the 9:00 a.m. Mass at the Sunday Social, and will include a time for shared prayer and reflection, a time for the children to work together with a Master Catechist and for the parents to work together with the Director of Religious Education, and finally for all to gather for a closing prayer with both parents and children.

                                                           SCHEDULE OF HOME SCHOOL MEETINGS

10:00 a.m.                                                  Gather at the Sunday Social for refreshments

(or following the 9:00 a.m. Mass)

10:15                                                          Move to the Library in the Educational Center

10:15-10:30                                                 Opening Prayer
                                                                  Introduction of the theme of the day
                                                                  Sharing by participants

10:30-11:00                                                 Children move to Rooms 301 & 302 with Master Catechists.

                                                                  Parents remain in the Library with Mary Fran.

11:00-11:05                                                 Parents and Children gather for final prayer and dismissal.

HOME SCHOOL CALENDAR

September 12, 2004          Home School Meeting after 9 a.m. Mass - Library, Classrooms 301, 302. Introduction to the year

November 14, 2004          Home School Meeting after 9 a.m. Mass - Library, Classrooms 301, 302.
                                       Preparing for Advent

January 23, 2005             Home School Meeting after 9 a.m. Mass - Library, Classrooms 301, 302. Preparing for Lent.

March 13, 2005               Home School Meeting after 9 a.m. Mass - Library, Classrooms 301, 302

May 22, 2005                  Home School Meeting after 9 a.m. Mass - Library. Final Evaluation of the year and all work due.
 

Texts and Resources                   

We Believe
Students in Kindergarten through grade 6 use the We Believe series, published by the Sadlier Company. This entirely new catechetical program integrates life, faith, technology, liturgy, and family. Incorporating multicultural and multiple intelligence insights in its many activities, We Believe attends to the child's faith development in age-appropriate ways. Families are honored as the primary teachers of the faith through clear resources to assist their involvement in every lesson.
Students in grade seven will be studying the New Testament and Morality, using the FAITH AND WITNESS series. This series consists of substantive, interesting, focused, challenging presentations of the teachings of the New Testament and the riches of the Catholic tradition in the context of daily life. Witness is expressed in the form of service projects, chosen and completed by the students, as a means of discovering their gifts and discerning ways to share these gifts with the greater Christian community.

Home Lesson Plans
Published by Sadlier to accompany the We Believe series, these books provide parents with additional background information for each lesson.

Diocesan Graded Course of Study
The revised Graded Course of Study published by the Diocese of Columbus, outlines which major concepts are to be initiated, developed and mastered at each grade level, kindergarten through grade 12.

Team Leader Outline of Classes
Each grade has a Team Leader, an experienced catechist who outlines the sequence of classes, plans special projects, materials, and activities for his/her grade level. You will receive the sequence of classes as well as an invitation to join the regular classes for special events such as Reconciliation, Stations, caroling, Advent Assemblies, etc. The Team Leaders are also available to you as a resource person should questions or concerns arise as the year progresses.

Other Resources
Each year I strive to find useful materials to enable you and your family to get the most benefit from your experience of catechesis.