Mission
The Education Cooperative is an educational ministry of St. Christopher Parish providing a school environment rooted in the Catholic faith.
The Cooperative is committed to serving the parish community while also providing a service for families of the larger diocese.
The Cooperative provides an educational experience for children through fifth grade.
About Us
Through dedicated parent involvement, the St. Christopher Education Cooperative strives to provide a strong, Catholic, educational environment for children in preschool through fifth grade. Students’ spiritual life, growth in knowledge, relationship with Jesus, and love of the Church is central to our mission. Sacred Scripture, intercessory, spontaneous, and traditional Latin prayer is woven throughout the curriculum. For Religion, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd guides children to a deeper understanding and love of Scripture and Liturgy, along with moral formation through the parables and Salvation History. In terms of academics, we strive to provide a Catholic educational environment combining the richness of many methods of education. We primarily focus our education on the principles of the Classical and Montessori models. The Cooperative is committed to serving the parish while also providing an opportunity for parishioners and families of the diocese.
Schedule and Curriculum
September 8, 2020 – May 28, 2021
- Mondays – 9:00am – 12:00pm
- Tuesdays – 8:30am Mass – 12:00pm
- Wednesdays – 8:30am Mass – 12:00pm
- Thursdays – 8:30am Mass – 12:00pm
The Education Cooperative strives to provide both a consistent core-subject learning environment, as well as offer elective classes to families who would like to supplement their own home-school curriculum. We strive to prepare children for any junior high setting with a particularly close alignment to St. Ambrose Academy.
The Monday schedule provides optional elective courses for 3K-5th grade students, such as: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd levels I, II, and III; 3K-Kindergarten Nature Study; 1st-5th grade History, Science, Geography, and Art History.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday classes begin with Holy Mass. First through fifth grade students then transition into core subjects (mathematics, grammar, reading, and writing) along with daily mastery work. 3K to Kindergarten age students learn in a Montessori classroom each of those days. The Cooperative day concludes with Benediction at noon.
Classrooms
3K, 4K, Kindergarten – Montessori Primary classroom
1st Grade – Lower Elementary classroom
2nd-5th Grade – Upper Elementary classroom
*Childcare provided for parent teachers
Parent Involvement
St. Christopher’s Education Cooperative is dependent upon the time and talents of parents. In order to honor parents as a child’s primary teacher while also striving to provide personalized curriculum for each student, it is imperative that parents are present and involved during each Cooperative day.
Cost
Because St. Christopher Parish generously donates the classroom space and utilities and parents graciously volunteer their time and talents, St. Christopher’s Education Cooperative does not charge tuition for students. However, families are responsible for school supplies, curriculum material and books, school uniform, extracurricular activities, and field trips for each of their children enrolled in the Cooperative. Non-parish families are also expected to make a self-discerned donation to St. Christopher Parish to help offset costs of parish-incurred operating expenses. Additional donations are always welcome!
Enrollment
For further information or questions about enrolling your child(ren) in the St. Christopher Education Cooperative, please contact:
