CCTheo offers several courses to prepare adults to work with children in an atrium: 

  • CGS Level 1 for work with 3-6-year-old children
  • Parent-Toddler for 1-2-year-old children (pre-requisite Level I)
  • Atrium Essentials for work with 3-6-year-old children (currently a hybrid course with online sessions and practice in person in local atrium – not certified by CGSUSA)
  • CGS Level 2 for work with 6-9-year-old children
  • CGS Level 3 for work with 9-12 year-old-children

Each course develops content offered in the previous levels, and is designed to attune participants to the religious life of the child and to provide specific methods and materials to foster that life. Course sessions include prayer, presentations of materials, related theology and methodology, discussion of album pages (lesson plans), and work in the atrium. In addition, we offered the country’s first Course for Work with Parents and Toddlers in July 2016, adapted from Level I for toddlers by Davette Himes. This was repeated in July 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023

In the winter of 2021 Catherine Maresca offered a Level 2.5 Forum online for catechists who had completed Level 2. This forum reviewed the child, the atrium and themes for work with 6-9 children, looked at updates and some key presentation, and addressed questions of participants. During the 2021-22 course cycle we are offering a Level 2.5 Forum this Fall. In addition, we also offered a Level 3.5 Forum in the Spring of 2022.

Course leaders Catherine Maresca and Davette Himes together have 40 years of experience in all levels of CGS, with atriums in both parishes and schools.

Take advantage of our unique training environment: atriums for each level in a Montessori school on the park-like grounds of historic Rock Creek Cemetery, or at All Saints Sharon Chapel in Alexandria, VA. Atrium Essentials online sessions are offered from All Saints.

Enjoy CCTheo’s small course sizes, permanently available sessions for participants to make up or review course content, and course leaders who provide ongoing support and clarification via email.

Refunds, minus $50 administrative charges, will be available until one month before the start of the course.

Contact the Center for Children and Theology, cct@cctheo.org with questions about courses or call (202) 250-5905.