Classically Catholic Memory
Proud to present classes beginning Tuesday September 10th 2024
Via Homeschool Resource Center At St. Mary’s Parish School, West Chicago
Please, scroll and read for more information.
Leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of tomorrow.
From: Katherine Woltering
312-810-0603
Hello!
I am excited to announce that Classically Catholic Memory (CCM) will be offered in West Chicago this fall by the Homeschool Resource Center. The class starts September 10, 2024 and is open to all Christians, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. During this 3-hour class, children will memorize key concepts in eight different subjects through fun, creative songs, games, reenactments, and experiments. The class will run like a co-op, meaning all parents must help in some capacity to make it a success. Our goal is to enrich the minds of our children by teaching them to memorize foundational elements that are true, good, and beautiful, so that together with their peers they will grow in faith, virtue, and fellowship.
What is CCM? It is a four-year program designed for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. The four years are divided into Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta, each covering a new set of material with the exception of Timeline and Math. Every year, children memorize the entire timeline of 144 key historical events and multiplication facts 1-12. Children who start the program in first grade can repeat it in grades 4-8, learning the material on a deeper level with the addition of a separate set of Great Words (poems and historical compositions) and more advanced science experiments.
What is the Homeschool Resource Center? The HRC is a 501c3 charity that provides free homeschool classes every Friday out of St. Mary Catholic School in West Chicago. They also offer free mentoring for homeschooling moms by veteran homeschoolers. They have a resource library filled with homeschooling curriculum, which families may check out for a semester or year, or simply browse through before purchasing on their own.
May I drop off my child for this class? No. Parents must stay onsite for the duration of class and volunteer in some capacity.
How will you divide the children into classes? That depends on the ages and number of children who join. Ideally, there will be no more than 15 children per classroom. Classrooms may be divided up into K-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8. If, however, we have a huge number of Kindgarteners and no 3-4thgraders, me might have two kindergarten classrooms and no 3-4th grade classroom.
What are the different volunteer roles? We already have volunteers to teach Science, Religion, and Latin. Science is taught in the science room by one teacher and the different grades rotate to her throughout the morning. Latin and Religion are taught to the entire group at the same time. Therefore, moms who volunteer to teach in the age-based classrooms will be responsible for teaching the memory work for the five other subjects (the lessons are provided in the CCM Teacher Text). Some moms will volunteer as the teachers assistant, to help run the nursery/preschool room, or to be the hall monitor.
What is the “Eating God’s Way” Potluck? It is a way for us to come together and enjoy the food God made in its most natural form. Man has tampered with God’s creation by genetically modifying it, spraying it with chemicals, hyper-hybridizing it, and so on. Overall health is declining and food allergies are skyrocketing such that people can no longer share a meal together! This potluck aims to eliminate those barriers and bring everyone together for a meal. People may opt to bring their own breakfast or skip the potluck altogether.
St. Mary Catholic School 147 Garden St., West Chicago, IL 60158
Registration closes at 5pm on August 30, 2024. You may register this Tuesday at the meeting or by responding to this email with the following information:
Your name
Your children’s names, ages, and grades
How many years you have been homeschooling
If you have ever used CCM
Any other questions, comments, or suggestions
All registered moms must attend the mandatory training below so mark your calendar.
Mandatory Volunteer Training September 6, 9:00pm
St. Mary Catholic School 147 Garden St., West Chicago, IL 60158
I hope to see you soon, feel free to contact me as I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have. And please spread the word!
God bless you and your families
I would like to teach but I have lots of little ones. Mothers with babies and/or toddlers who would like to teach a classroom may drop of their little ones in the nursery/preschool room, where they will have some time for free play, but the majority of their morning will be spent doing meaningful, playful, guided activities designed to help them grow in love for God and neighbor.
Below is a summary of content we will be memorizing using the Beta year.
Religion: Scripture passages and lessons from the Baltimore Catechism
Latin: Adeste Fideles, Pater Noster, and Agnus Dei
History: Key historical events from the Middle Ages (Christ to 1500)
Science: Earth Science and Astronomy
Math: Multiplication Facts 1-12 and Conversion Formulas
Timeline: 144 Key events from Creation to Pope John Paul II
Geography: Europe
Great Words I: Various poems (K- 4th grade)
Great Words II: Preamble, Bill of Rights, and a poem by Lewis Caroll (5th-8th grade)
Why are you starting with Beta instead of Alpha? The family who organized this CCM class did Alpha last year. It really doesn’t matter where you start. Students learn new material each year that is not related to or dependent upon material taught in previous years. History is the only subject that will be taught slightly out of order since we will start with the Middle Ages this year, then do Gamma, Delta, and end with Ancient Times in Alpha.
What is the school building like? The school has eight classrooms with desks, chairs, blackboards, whiteboards, and wall-mounted TVs. There is no gym, but there is a large field across the street where children can play. It is fenced in on three sides, which will help keep the children contained and safe. It is currently being used to teach RE in the evenings and from 9am-3pm on Fridays by the Homeschool Resource Center (HRC).
Tentative Schedule (items in blue are taught by the homeroom teacher)
7:30 Mass optional
8:00 EATING GOD’S WAY Potluck Breakfast optional
8:45 Clean up
9:00 Assembly opening prayer, pledge, announcements, Religion, Latin
9:25 Go to separate classrooms
9:30 Math 15min
9:45 Timeline 15min
10:00 Science 30min (taught by the science teacher outside or in the science room)
10:30 Snack and student presentations 15min
10:45 Geography 15min
11:00 Great Words 10min
11:10 History 20min
11:30 Reassemble in St. Francis Hall for Art* 30min
12:00 Angelus, Meal Prayer, Lunch, Recess (outside if possible)
People may stay for fellowship as late as 2:00 p.m..
*Art is not part of the CCM program and will be taught for the first half of the year. The second half we may offer music.
Y
Welcome
to Fall 2024 Semester