The Atrium is located in the NW corner of the Saint Louis Catholic Church parking lot between the Adoration Chapel and Msgr. Walsh Hall, in a white house labeled "Saint Louis Catholic Montessori Atrium."

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) Program is a Montessori based Catholic religious education program which nurtures the child’s relationship with God, and educates the child in the faith. Dr. Maria Montessori’s approach follows St. Thomas Aquinas’ understanding that “all our knowledge has its origin in the senses.” The “Atrium” is a place of prayer, prepared especially for children to contemplate the life of Jesus and the liturgy of the Church with the use of many sensorial materials, including infancy narrative figures, a raised surface map of the Land of Israel, a model altar and a model baptismal font. This concrete method of presenting the faith is similar to the way the Church teaches us through the sacraments, holy water, incense, and statues.

"I CAME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL."
JOHN 10:10

• Historical Resource (Biblical and Secular) books for Level III
• Artists who can artistically paint figures and dioramas
• Children's tables in good condition
• Wooden chop sticks for old testament scroll making
• Wooden beads for old testament scroll making
• Large holed buttons

Level I Atrium (3 to 6 year olds)
Level I children must be potty trained and able to follow simple instructions

• Wednesdays, 10am - 11:30am
• Thursdays,    10am - 11:30am
• Thursdays,    4:15pm - 5:45pm

• Mondays,     4:15pm - 6:15pm
• Tuesdays      4pm - 6pm

• Tuesdays      4pm - 6pm
   

The Montessori Atrium follows Fairfax County’s School Policy for inclement weather or emergency closures and delays.  To check the status of Fairfax County Public Schools, visit www.fcps.edu, check the @FCPSnews Twitter account, or listen to WTOP 103.5 FM radio station. Due to scheduling constraints, we are unable to make up missed days caused by inclement weather. 
 
If Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) close, the Atrium is closed.
If FCPS are delayed 1 hour, all Atrium session are open on time.
If FCPS are delayed 2 hours, the morning atrium session is delayed 1 hour and will run from 11am-12:30pm, and afternoon sessions are open.
If Fairfax Afterschool programs are closed, the afternoon Atrium session is closed.

The Montessori Atrium welcomes families from other parishes or those families who are not registered at Saint Louis Catholic Parish. 

Out of Parish Families: Out of Parish rates are for those families who are not registered with and participating in the life of Saint Louis Catholic Parish.

Active In Parish Famlilies:  The Montessori Atrium offers discounted In Parish rates for families who are actively participating the life of Saint Louis Catholic Parish.  According to atrium policy, to qualify for the Active In Parish tuition rate, the child must be Catholic and the family must be registered at Saint Louis Catholic Parish, attending weekly Mass, and actively participating in the life of Saint Louis Catholic Parish. Families must also be financially contributing through the parish offertory on a regular basis with the contribution being up to their own consciences. Active-duty Catholic military families qualify for the Active In Parish tuition rate.