Class Descriptions

Agnus Dei Cooperative is an "a la carte" style program, which means that you can select the classes that you wish to sign up for in your child's grade level; you can sign up for all available classes or as little as one class if you prefer.

Please note: Students must be placed in classes based on their current grade as reported for the school year. Children with special learning needs will be placed where the parents and teachers believe they would be most comfortable and able to participate.

Class costs: Each teacher assigns a cost for his or her class based on compensating for time and anticipated expenses. We have tried our best to keep this cooperative affordable for all families. The cost listed with each class description is the cost per student for the entire session, not the cost per week or per month. We do not offer refunds.

Co-op costs: There is a Registration Fee of $20 per family for each session to help cover the costs of cleaning supplies and paper products. 

In addition to the class cost and registration fee, we ask all families to make a goodwill donation to St Peter & St Bernard Parish for graciously hosting our group. We do not pay the parish a lease or any utilities, so this offering is a way to compensate for using the facilities. The goodwill donation will be collected at the end of each session (Fall and Spring). Each family is encouraged to donate. The suggested donation is $50 per family. 

Pre-K/K Class: Mrs. Katherine Vulaj (ages 3-5*)

“The preparation of the child for his full participation in the life of the Church is a much wider thing than the learning by heart of certain intellectual truths. It is a life in itself.”  ~Maria Montessori, The Child in the Church

Using tools from the Montessori Method, children will learn about their Catholic faith through independent “works” in the classroom. We will also meet during circle time to talk about a new prayer and saint each month, and a new letter each week.

Students who are of kindergarten age (5 years old by September 2, 2026) are welcome to participate in our half-class program. This will include our circle time where we do calendar, counting, prayer, saint of the month, handwriting, etc. This allows the students to attend some of the K-2 classes offered, while the younger children can stay for play time.

A list will go out so families can sign up to provide snacks for the class each week.

Please provide: any allergies, and a folder for your child.

*Children must be potty trained and have turned 3 years old before the classes begin in September.

Class Fee: $200 for full-class program from 9:00-11:15am
    OR $100 for half-class program for Kindergarten students from 9:00-10:30am
Maximum students: 8

Please note: To register for a Kindergarten-level class, the student must have turned 5 years old before the classes begin in September.

Literature: Mrs. Richelle Weber (Grades K-2)

In this class, we'll read a chapter book together (maybe even two if we have time!). I'll read aloud, and we'll stop along the way to talk about what's happening, make predictions, learn some new words, and just enjoy a good story together.

Each student will get a workbook with a simple comprehension page for each chapter. We'll do it together as a class, just like the reading, so everyone can follow along no matter where they're at with reading or writing. The goal is simply to help them understand and enjoy the story.

As we read, I'll point out things like similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, descriptive language, and other literary elements when they come up naturally. We'll also talk about the characters, setting, the problem, the solution, and the story's big turning point. My goal is to introduce these ideas without making it feel like a language arts lesson.

We'll also look at each book through a Catholic lens and talk about the virtues, choices, and lessons we see throughout the story.

Students do not need to be able to read independently for this class. They just need to come ready to listen, join the discussion, and have fun!

Our first book will be The Secrets of the Hidden Scrolls. I think the kids are really going to enjoy it! If you have any questions or ideas, feel free to reach out!

Class Fee: $65
Maximum students: 10

Sewing: Mrs. Ann Schuler (Grades K-2)

This class will focus on hand sewing. We will begin with kits that have pre-punched holes. Once everyone is comfortable using a plastic needle and have learned a few basic skills, we will advance to cutting out pieces of fabric and constructing our own projects using real needles. 

Some projects I am considering are small “stuffies”, puppets, sachets, and Christmas ornaments. How many things we accomplish will depend upon skill and speed. All supplies will be provided for this class.

Class Fee: $100
Maximum students: 10

Prayer & Storytime: Mrs. Heather Hoffman (Grades K-2)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything with prayer and petition with thanksgiving make your requests known to God."
~Philippians 4:6-7

Thirteen years ago, my friend's children began calling me, "The Book Lady," because I would pass along my collection of more than 2,000 children's books to them. I joke that the one thing I'm good at is praying. So ....  come join the prayerful, fun (and educational 😀) class, Prayer & Storytime with the Book Lady! 

We'll pray, recite the Pledge of Allegiance, stretch or dance, go outside or into church, read, color/draw, and have a snack. Book suggestions are welcome. 

Please provide: a folder and a healthy snack*

*A list will go out for families to sign up to bring a healthy snack. 

Taught by Heather Hoffman, BA & MA in Literacy Education 

Class Fee:  $85                              
Maximum students: 10

Explore the Continents: Mrs. Donna Seaman (Grades K-2)

This class is a hands-on student course that provides an engaging introduction to world cultures and geography. We will explore each continent by learning about the continent’s geography, landmarks, saints, and animals. Students will become familiar with the many cultures that exist around the world. 

Each week, we will work cooperatively to complete a felt world map as we memorize the location of the oceans and each of the seven continents. Together, we will create a poster display to collect all of the information that we have discovered about each continent.

Class Fee: $50
Maximum students: 10

Little House in the Classroom: Mrs. Jennifer DePonceau (Grades 3-4)

Explore some of America’s best loved children's literature written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. 

We will begin reading the first book of the series Little House in the Big Woods and move through the first few books of the series. But we won’t just be reading, we will learn about how families lived in the pioneer days and compare that to our lives today. 

We will enjoy activities in music, arts and crafts, playing games, cooking, writing, reading and even some math, too. All reading will be done in class so if you are not a ‘good’ reader yet, that’s okay. See you in the Big Woods!

Class Fee: $75
Maximum students: 12

The Science of Birds: Mrs. Donna Seaman (Grades 3-4)

Join us as we study the fascinating characteristics, amazing anatomy, and beautiful habitats of birds around the world! We will learn about topics like the characteristics of birds, the life cycle of birds, migration, and flight.

We will explore this fun scientific subject using beautiful images and hands-on activities. From birds of prey to marine birds and songbirds, students will learn about different types of birds, their habitats, and much more.

Students will practice identifying birds by their characteristics and will receive a bird watching journal to bring home. The students will be encouraged to record their findings to share with the class each week.

Class Fee: $50
Maximum students: 12

Farm School: Mrs. Jessica Cain (Grades 3-4)

Farm School class promotes thinking about the homestead or farm as a complete ecosystem. It highlights problem solving on the farm by asking the question, "What is God's way to solve this problem?"

This leads us to learning about permaculture and a sustainable approach to animal husbandry, growing food, and managing pests. Sometimes, there are surprise animal visitors in this class!

Class Fee: $75
Maximum students: 12

Caldecott Literature Class: Mrs. Heather Hoffman (Grades 3-4)

Caldecott books are recognized for their illustrations and have been awarded since 1938.  It has been said the books are a beautiful "synergy between text and illustrations." 

In this class, we will read and discuss these pieces of literature over time and how pictures influence storytelling. The students will also write and illustrate their own piece. We will pray and have a snack, as well.

Students need to supply: Writing and coloring utensils; a notebook and/or a sketchpad; and a healthy snack to share (a weekly snack sign-up sheet will be used). 

Taught by Heather Hoffman, BA & MA in Literacy Education 

Class Fee: $85
Maximum students: 12

Physical Education: Mrs. Elizabeth Truesdell (Grades 3-4)

“Bodily exercise, when it is well ordered, is also a prayer by means of which you can please God our Lord.” ~St. Ignatius of Loyola

In our outdoor (except for extreme weather) Physical Education classes, your students will use physical activity to build coordination, muscle control, cognitive strategies, and effective communication skills. Using Project Adventure PE and Teaching Games for Understanding curriculums, the students will experience cooperative activities and sportsmanship in competitive games. 

The goal is for your student to echo St. Pope John Paul II: “Give thanks to God for the gift of sport, in which the human person exercises his body, intellect, and will.”

Students in grades 3/4 will:

• Create body self-awareness and spatial control

• Develop gross and fine motor skills

• Introduce body mechanics and skills applicable in multiple sports

• Experience modified gameplay for cognitive development (rules, equipment, and expectations)

Class Fee: $50
Maximum students: 12

Meet the Impressionists: Mrs. Donna Seaman (Grades 3-4)

This class is an introduction to appreciating the art of the great Impressionist painters. We will learn about the Impressionist movement and some of the most well-known Impressionists, including Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste-Renoir, Edgar Degas, and Mary Cassatt. 

Through the use of picture books, biographies, and most importantly, the close study of their artwork, we will develop a greater understanding of this "new" style of painting. Each week, we will complete some notebooking pages about the artists and the paintings that we study. We will also incorporate an art project for each artist that we study for hands-on practice of some of the Impressionist techniques.

Class Fee: $60
Maximum students: 12

Crochet Class: Mrs. Mary Dunning (Grades 5-12)
Please talk to your child about his or her interest in taking this class before registering. 

This class will have 2 levels, depending on the returning students.  

Knotty Nuggets: This is the beginner level. We will learn the 5 most used stitches and create small projects to keep skills fresh and build confidence. We will also learn how to read patterns.   

The Twistlings: This will be the intermediate/advanced students, who will bring their creative side to classes. They will be designing and expressing their own unique styles and providing input on future projects. This will include writing patterns, turning a basic pattern into something elaborate, and creating with confidence.  

Items needed for class: 

Returning students should have a folder with writing paper and pencils, in addition to their hooks in various sizes, stitch markers, scissors, and a project bag. Yarn will be provided unless the students have specific yarns they want to use for a project.

Beginners will need a folder with a pencil, a small pencil case, small scissors and a bag large enough to hold the pencil case and yarn. I will provide hooks, stitch markers, and yarn to start with.

Class Fee: $75
Maximum students: 10

Tea & Poetry: Mrs. Donna Seaman (Grades 5-6)

Poetry was meant to be read, to be contemplated, to move people or make them laugh or simply pause. To appreciate and even learn to love poetry, we have to read it. 

Reading poetry to children introduces them to beautiful thoughts and language. It gives depth and meaning to words. Reciting poetry encourages children to speak with excellence and precision. Over time, the goal is that children will come to enjoy the unique rhythms of poems, new vocabulary words, rhyming sounds, literary devices, and clever meanings.

Each week, we will begin our poetry gathering by pouring a cup of tea (always decaf!). Once we are settled in our seats, I will introduce our poet, and we will talk about the type of poetry and what to listen for. We will discuss any new or strange vocabulary terms, as well as literary devices that we should try to identify. Then, we will read the poem and talk about what we heard and what we liked or didn't like.

We will learn about different types of poetry, including haiku, nonet, and cinquain, and we will practice writing some of our own poetry in these unique styles.

Class Fee: $50
Maximum students: 15

Art Around the World: Mrs. Anne Rychlik (Grades 5-6)

We will be exploring art from around the world. Through geography, history, literature, and visual arts we will study and create art from other cultures around the globe. 

Each week we will learn about the history of art from a particular country, about the culture of the people and their traditions, and how it influences the art they create through history. 

The purpose of this class is not only to improve our artistic skills but mostly to understand the culture and beauty in the world around us!

**I will be providing all supplies needed for class projects including snacks. Please let me know if there are any food allergies.**

Class Fee: $75
Maximum students: 15

Vocations & Careers: Mrs. Richelle Weber (Grades 5-6)

What does God want me to do with my life? In this interactive class, students will explore the four vocations within the Catholic Church: marriage, the priesthood, religious life, and the single vocation. They will learn how each is a unique path to holiness. We'll also discover how our God-given talents, interests, and gifts can be used through a wide variety of careers to serve others and glorify God.

Throughout the fall and spring semesters, students will hear from guest speakers representing different vocations and professions. I hope to invite priests, religious sisters, and professionals from a variety of fields to share their personal stories, explain their work, answer questions, and offer insight into following God's call with joy and purpose. If you have suggestions for guest speakers or would be willing to share your own vocation or career with the class, I would love to hear from you!

Through discussions, hands-on activities, and real-life examples, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the many ways God calls each of us to serve Him through both our vocation and our work.

Class Highlights:

• Learn about the Catholic vocations

• Explore a variety of careers and professions

• Meet inspiring guest speakers

• Discover how God equips each person with unique gifts and talents

• Begin discerning God's unique plan for your life

This class is designed to inspire students to recognize that every vocation and every honest profession can become a path to holiness and a way to serve God and others.

At the end of the year, each student will choose a career that interests them and create a simple project about it. They will learn what the job involves, what education or training is needed, and how that career can be used to serve God and others. Students will finish the class by giving a short presentation to share what they learned with their classmates.

Class Fee: $75 (this cost includes a small stipend for each guest speaker)
Maximum students: 15

Physical Education: Mrs. Elizabeth Truesdell (Grades 5-6)

"Bodily exercise, when it is well ordered, is also a prayer by means of which you can please God our Lord.” ~St. Ignatius of Loyola

In our outdoor (except for extreme weather) Physical Education classes, your students will use physical activity to build coordination, muscle control, cognitive strategies, and effective communication skills. Using Project Adventure PE and Teaching Games for Understanding curriculums, the students will experience cooperative activities and sportsmanship in competitive games. 

The goal is for your student to echo St. Pope John Paul II: “Give thanks to God for the gift of sport, in which the human person exercises his body, intellect, and will.”

Students in grades 5/6 will:

• Create opportunities for students to safely interact with others (invasion games)

• Develop sport-specific skills and habits

• Experience modified gameplay

• Develop social relationships and teamwork during gameplay

Class Fee: $50
Maximum students: 15

Celebrate America's 250th Birthday - United States Patriotism: Mrs. Jessica Cain (Grades 5-6)

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States, this class will explore the meaning of patriotism. 

Students will examine the founding ideals of freedom, courage, and determination that shaped the nation and continue to influence its future. Through discussions, historical novels (like Johnny Tremain), the faith of our Founding Fathers, music, symbols, and key moments in history, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the people, principles, and sacrifices that built America.

Class Fee: $75
Maximum students: 15

Saints & Service: Mrs. Heather Hoffman (Grades 5-6)

Please join us in learning about our beautiful One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and the beacons of light that lead us to Christ: the saints and their life of service to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  

We will engage in service, in and out of the classroom, by making cards, doing collections, and participating in an optional service trip on a non-co-op day. We will also have the ability to attend a Mass and presentation by a Vincentian priest at Niagara University. 

As the great St Vincent de Paul echoed in this thoughts and actions, "Let us see the face of Christ in the poor."

Taught by Mrs. Hoffman, lay Vincentian and former Vincentian Service Scholar

Class Fee: $85
Maximum students: 15

Art Around the World: Mrs. Anne Rychlik (Grades 7-8)

We will be exploring art from around the world. Through geography, history, literature, and visual arts we will study and create art from other cultures around the globe. 

Each week we will learn about the history of art from a particular country, about the culture of the people and their traditions, and how it influences the art they create through history. 

The purpose of this class is not only to improve our artistic skills but mostly to understand the culture and beauty in the world around us!

**I will be providing all supplies needed for class projects including snacks. Please let me know if there are any food allergies.**

Class Fee: $75
Maximum students: 14

Baking & Pastry Class: Mrs. Mary Dunning (Grades 7-8)

Students train like real pastry apprentices, learning professional techniques guided by culinary expertise. They will laminate dough, master fermentation, experiment with sugar stages, and discover why crusts flake and custards set.

At the same time, they will travel through the Middle Ages (from the fall of Rome to the beginning of the Renaissance) uncovering how bread, spice, and pastry shaped trade routes, social classes, faith, and daily survival. History stops feeling dusty and starts smelling like fresh bread!

Built into each lesson:

• Chemistry and food science

• Medieval history and cultural analysis

• Persuasive writing (food critic!)

Students study deeper chemistry: what makes dough rise, why protein coagulates, how heat transfers, and what happens when ratios shift. They adjust ingredients and variables and test outcomes, writing through processes like working pastry chefs. By the end, students can adjust texture, flavor, structure, and presentation.    

Students will need a notebook for recipes and notes. An apron is suggested but not necessary for every week. Please note that we may not be cooking every week.

Class Fee: $100
Maximum students: 10

Physical Education: Mrs. Elizabeth Truesdell (Grades 7-8)

“Bodily exercise, when it is well ordered, is also a prayer by means of which you can please God our Lord.” ~St. Ignatius of Loyola

In our outdoor (except for extreme weather) Physical Education classes, your students will use physical activity to build coordination, muscle control, cognitive strategies, and effective communication skills. Using Project Adventure PE and Teaching Games for Understanding curriculums, the students will experience cooperative activities and sportsmanship in competitive games. 

The goal is for your student to echo St. Pope John Paul II: “Give thanks to God for the gift of sport, in which the human person exercises his body, intellect, and will.”

Students in grades 7/8 will:

• Review and revise basic body mechanics

• Understand body movements and muscles associated with them

• Experience authentic gameplay (modified for safety if necessary)

• Without prompting, rely on teamwork and cooperation for successful game play

Class Fee: $50
Maximum students: 14

Sewing: Mrs. Ann Schuler (Grades 7-8)

In this class, students will learn to sew on a sewing machine and some hand sewing. We will begin by learning about the machines and how to use them. Our first project will be a pillowcase for their bedroom. This will give everyone some sewing experience before moving on to pajama pants! 

You will need to purchase the fabric for these projects, preferably cotton, cotton/polyblend, or flannel. If time allows, we will decide on another project. I will provide each student with a kit of sewing supplies to use during class that will stay at the school. The kits may be purchased at the end of the semester for $15, including the scissors or $5 without the scissors, if you would like.

Class Fee: $100
Maximum students: 10

Mystery Writing: Mrs. Jessica Cain (Grades 7-8)

This class provides the foundation for writing a mystery story. We will work on the writing process, the basics of what makes a mystery a mystery, elements of a good story, and decide upon a grading rubric together. 

By the end of the semester, each student will have written their own unique mystery story. We will celebrate the mystery class by attending a mystery play together. 

Class Fee: $75
Maximum students: 14

French 1: Mrs. Katherine Vulaj (Grades 7-12)

French 1 introduces foundational vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will learn to hold basic conversations about themselves, daily routines, school, and family. 

The course also explores the cultural traditions of France and the broader French-speaking world.

Students who take this class in the fall and spring semesters and complete both the in-class instruction and at-home assignments, can report this foreign language class as a 1/2 unit toward high school credits for graduation.

Class Fee: $50
Maximum students: 12 

Scripture: Mr. Brian Seaman (Grades 9-12)

We will read the scriptures together in class and attempt to delve into what God is saying to us in them. Through use of the socratic method, students will be invited to think about God's word in ways that they had not previously considered.  

Students should expect to have some homework between classes, including reading and writing short summaries about what was read. The focus of the class will not be general overview or memorization of names and places, but rather an in-depth reading of selected texts.  

Students should bring a bible to class, any translation is acceptable.

Class Fee: $25
Maximum students: 12

Faith & Finance - Personal Finance for Teens: Mrs. Jennifer DePonceau (Grades 9-12)

This course equips high school students with practical financial skills. Students will learn how to make correct change, balance a checkbook, basic budgeting, recognize needs vs. wants, saving, giving, debt management, taxes (payroll), consumer awareness and the influence of social media.

By the end of this course, students will be able to: explain biblical stewardship principles, create and manage a budget, understand checking and savings accounts, identify healthy financial habits, evaluate debt and credit wisely, and begin to think about higher education and career choices.

Class Fee: $50
Maximum students: 12

History's Mysteries: Mrs. Mary Dunning (Grades 9-12)

This unit invites students to think like historians, investigating some of the world’s most captivating historical mysteries. From critical thinking to forensic science, from classified files to the art of forming theories.

Get ready to dive into:

• The escape from Alcatraz

• The JFK assassination

• The Tunguska explosion in Siberia

• The Bermuda Triangle

• Declassified CIA and FBI files

• The mystery of Roanoke

If you love big questions, puzzling clues, and peeling back the layers of history, this unit was made for you!

⚠️ Maturity Note: Please read before registering for this class:

This unit is best suited for older or more mature students, which is why it is only offered for high schoolers. Many mysteries in history include heavy themes: death, war, assassination, loss, and crime. While the content is handled with sensitivity, the subject matter may be too intense for sensitive learners.

Students will need a notebook/or paper and pen.  

Class Fee: $75
Maximum students: 12

Beauty, Truth & Goodness - Celebrating 800 years of Saint Francis: Mrs. Jessica Cain (Grades 9-12)

This course invites students to explore beauty, truth, and goodness through the study of art, poetry, hymns, music, and other expressions of the human spirit. Students will discover how artists, poets, composers, and saints have sought to illuminate what is true, good, and beautiful in the world and in the human person.

This semester, special attention will be given to the life and legacy of Saint Francis of Assisi, for his 800th anniversary! Through Francis's writings, prayers, love of creation, and joyful witness to the Gospel, students will find beauty, truth and goodness. 

Students will discuss readings, listen to classical music compositions, and discuss different visual art created by many different artists of the Little Saint of Poverty. We will possibly delve into works of mercy that can enhance the beauty, truth and goodness in our world. 

Class Fee: $75
Maximum students: 12

Biology: Mrs. Katherine Vulaj (Grades 9-12)

Using Berean Builders’ Discovering Design with Biology, we will perform experiments from the textbook in a lab setting. The course includes 180 hours of instruction, 40 of which involve hands-on experiments, including microscope and dissection. Some of these experiments will need to be performed at home, in which I will send home supplies and instructions.

Students who take this class in the fall and spring semesters and complete both the in-class labs and at-home assignments, can report this science class as 1 unit toward high school credits for graduation.

To get the full credit for this course all household experiments will need to be completed, in addition to either the dissection experiments or the microscope experiments. If all three types of experiments are completed, this can count as an honors course.

For students who plan to report high school credit: In addition to the class cost, the Berean Builders Discovering Design with Biology textbook and student workbook will need to be purchased prior to this class.

For students who plan to take this for lab experience only: In addition to the class cost, the student workbook will need to be purchased prior to class.

Class Fee: $100 plus $20 lab fee
Maximum students: 10