Course Evaluations
Mississauga: Level 1, Part B
Formation Facilitators:
Registrar:
2023.12.L1B.01
Kathleen Ennis
Rosella Lucchitti
Anna Boyagoda
Rosella Lucchitti
Part 1 - Formation Experience
The Pace
Good
Excellent venue and room! Mississauga was a convenient location as well.
The pace was good, albeit intense.
The pace is good it keeps the students engaged and attentive in the classroom.
The pace is slow and the voice is soft, when inside the Atrium in demonstrating and in showing the gestures.
Good.
The pace included a lot of movement and interactions with hands on material of the presentations
Was appropriate to the course. The facilitator were excellent on bringing me to a meditative stage and learn about CGS methodology
I found the pace efficiently spaced in between the talks and the practicum sessions.
The Pace was manageable.
the pace of the presentation reach the goal of entering in a meditation of the scripture that was presented.
The Presentations
Very Good
The presentations were straightforward.
The presentations were very well done and enjoyable. Good reflection discussions afterwards.
The presentations are detailed.
Good.
Invitation to participate, slow movement presentation, less talking, and an invitation to record the presentation. Clear directions not to video tape
All presentations were very clear and concise with time for questions and answers.
The presentations stirred our minds to relate to the adult catechists and then to the children.
Excellent!!
the presentation are very well presented that always hear as it was new.
Album Page Writing
God Explanation
This was a breeze with the templates having some areas already filled out.
It was helpful having dedicated time in the afternoon to work on them.
As a level 1 student, we are developing our skills in writing the album page.
Good.
The template was provided and directing us to the Joyful Journey book for all the requirements are laid out for us. This was extremely helpful and the material list had the references to the book pages. The assignments we signed up for and being told to wait till the presentation to begin. The use of the Classroom app is so helpful and I was able to work with ease . The Album pages will all be shared and we were told that these are tools we use and to make it our own and to write down on the section for the catechist .
They taught very well how to write album pages; doing practices and allowing us to write our own album pages. Feedback was given
We need more practice and days to do the Album Pages. I suggest that Album Pages for specific topics be done in class to serve as examples and for further clarifications and answers to questions if there are any.
We were assisted greatly. hence able to have the steps understood and recorded
Anna, Katleen and Rosella always offer the presentations in way that gives us the opportunity of identifying the structure that follows the album pages.
Practicum Sessions
Good
Having spent the last year assisting in an Atrium, I did not feel these sessions were a good use of time. It would be better to practice on actual children. It is truly impossible to know, until you are watching the children engage with the materials.
Very helpful and facilitated working in collaboration with others.
Learning to apply the knowledge and skills learned in creating materials for the Atrium.
Learning to do our own album page in confidence and getting the support and help from the facilitators.
Good.
I so appreciated the sharing of resources and taking the time to allow us to create or put together the material. The websites for CGS USA and Canada were shared with the overhead projector including other resources
Opportunity to apply acquired knowledge through group practices and samples to make our own material.
Well done.
Very interesting, knowledgeble and meaningful.
I think the time assigned to the practice of the sessions has enough time to share with the other catechist.
How the Course Fed Participants Spiritually
Very Anointing
The gift of CGS was imparted to me through the training days--which is to say that I encountered the gentle, strong and faithful Good Shepherd of my soul. It was a time of lovely encounter with him day after day. I was sad when it was over.
The reflections were excellent. I pondered and viewed things in a new way. i was very pleased with this aspect of the course.
The Lord continues to guide and teach me and I feel His love more, in action, in this course.
It fed me a lot of mustard seeds.
The movements of the five parables were most loving about how small I am and how I can grow with God through the Holy Spirit at work in me ,
Through the readings, reflections, and meditations, I achieved a better understanding of the word of God and the signs
Very much, as the Facilitators were experienced enough to put our state of mind in the thought of God and His goodness and love for us.
It makes you realize how important Scripture is . for you to understand it so it can be broken down to the level of the children.
This course in each class make me to discover the treasure of the faith that I have received.
What Participants will always remember about this course
Jesus is our Good Shepherd and the Risen Jesus is within and with us always
I feel as though CGS was a long awaited gift that I had been hoping to receive for over 20 years. As a certified Catechist now, I wonder how the Lord will use it!!
Allowing the child to learn and explore on their own.
It's the excitement of making our own diorama that I enjoyed the most.
"Never finish."
I will treasure being one with the other catechist and the instructors and with God as I walk with the 3-6 year old and prepare the Atrium further as we have one in my parish . The connections will last
Knowledge, kindness and cordiality of the catechist
Nothing is impossible with God. He is our ever loving, great and wonderful provider, always there to look after us and give what we need. We are studying to be catechists to the very young. We are working to put into practice the results of decades of observations and study about the children as to how we can create wonder and awe in them and learn about the Kingdom of God.
To try and make silence, use less words, Slow movement but quick thinking!! Try and be a better listener.
Love and dedication that the catechists put through each presentation
What Participants would change
none
Each instructor brought a different element to the training. Perhaps a one on one experience in the Atrium would be interesting with real children.
Nothing really.
n/a
Nothing.
A checklist of all the Level One in front of us and a chart to write color and booklet and scripture and material would be an at a glance aid.
I want the Archdiocese to require all the catechists doing the liturgy in all the churches to take up the Catechism of the Good Shepherd Courses before they could become one.
Talking too much with details and explanation.
Nothing
Part 2 - Formation Team and Course Host
Feedback for Formation Team
Good team
Excellent. Last year was so confusing to me, and I can't seem to put my finger on it... I may have been in a different state of mind, nevertheless, certain things that made a big difference to me this year included the smaller size of the group, the quaint, clean and pleasant room, the sound quality, the nourishing refreshments and the album pages with templates provided and notes provided. I also benefited from having had the foundation laid and some handson experience in a true Atrium this year. Part 1 of the course (last year) relied too much on trying to get through course materials, in my opinion. There was so much "background info" (historical details) provided at the beginning of the course but we had no context to place it in, not even theoretically--I think it would have been more effective to spent time giving the participants a chance to "experience" a montessori world and CGS, then show a video, perhaps, with some of the historical background after we had a bit of exposure. I also think that it could be effective to provide a "transcript" of 3 presentations of the same thing, or have each instructor make the same presentation to illustrate the variances in approaches- perhaps the catechist can be given the child's "background" to help them gauge their approach.
Three great facilitators, each with their own unique style. Well done!
Each facilitators have their own individual responsibilities in the course and they seem to fit their personality and given talent.
Feedback for the whole: only gratitude.
The photo release can be signed perhaps we did at Level 1 part A
To maintain the good spirit and commitment shown
Well done. You are very experienced in what you do. More power to you and may God bless you. We love you.
They were really good, patient and very encouraging!!
I am glad to have the opportunity to listen and experience the beauty that God make in the heart of Anna, Kathleen and Rosella. I am so bless for that. thank you very much.
Feedback for Course Host
Good
Thanks again. I particularly appreciated the nourishing snacks and delicious coffee that made the long days more enjoyable. That element of hospitality is so important and I think it elevated the entire week! As someone who is at home and does not spend long days out of the house, I appreciated the relaxed environment and for allowing me to walk around, paint and do whatever I needed to to stay engaged.
Would love to see it offered in Etobicoke if possible. These past two years were in Mississauga.
The location is very good for me, since it's only 10 mins. from my house.
The site is in the building where the church is located, therefore it's convenient to attend mass, before the course begins. The space in the classroom is just perfect for the number of students.
I think we ate meat on Friday. My bad.
I so appreciate the providing of nutrition and refreshments the coffee so appreciated.
Very good the location and parking lots
The course host took care of us. We were provided with everything that we needed. A big thank you to the host.
Excellent service. Maybe next time if the sound system is made available for better hearing..
They were very generous. thank you very much
Part 3 - How can we help you continue to grow in this work?
How Participants Plan to Use Formation
Participants Who Would Like to Be Contacted re: Mentoring
Suggestions for Continued Support
sending updates etc.
I think there can be a lot done in sharing materials. I've heard of many Atriums that are locked up in storage in Church basements without catechists--I feel that these types of resources can be sold/purchased and re-distributed. I'm interested in this aspect of material gathering and helping people build their Atriums. Can the archdiocese find out if there are materials unused and available? So much waste! Breaks my heart.
Perhaps a quarterly newsletter?
Our CGS facilitators have already offered their help to us, to contact them for any questions.
Not yet.
More courses, upgrades and teaching how to make materials
If I am able to convince our community to adapt this course and let our parent coordinators take up this course, are we able to make special arrangements for Facilitators to be available?
We will request for our parish to become a member so we can have further access to the offers made in future, so we better our Spiritual care in the Parish.
1. Visiting the atriums and catechist once a year