We welcome you to our chapter web site!
Stacey Griffith – Team Director
Our homeschool journey began in Fall 2019, and we quickly learned how important it would be to surround our children with Catholic community and culture. With a background in business administration, financial and compliance audits, I felt out of my element teaching children. That year, a friend told me about Catholic Schoolhouse.
As soon as I was able to learn more, I knew this program was exactly what I wanted for our family and began laying the groundwork for a new local chapter to open Fall 2020.
Together with my husband George, we have six children ages 2 to 13, and we have all been so blessed by the love and support in our CSH community! We cherish the friendships we have developed with other families who are passionate about serving the Lord.
What we love best about Catholic Schoolhouse:
- A positive peer group for our children, and community for the whole family
- The opportunity for children to learn from other instructors
- Our faith is fully integrated throughout the curriculum
- Curriculum unites around one common historical theme, helping to build connections and critical thinking
- Everyone studies the same topics at the same time, facilitating family discussions and streamlining Mom’s efforts
- Hands-on art and science take some pressure off the at-home teacher
- Upper Level (middle and high school) curriculum encourages analysis and effective communication; builds connections across the curriculum; does not shy away from difficult issues, but presents them in context with the truths of our faith
- Involvement and support from CSH leadership and the entire national community
Amy Epps – Community Coordinator
I am a joy-filled mother to 5 awesome kids! They range in age from 0-12 years old. Together with my husband, Alan, of 15 years we try to live out our sacred vocations and be a light for others in our community.
Our growing family loves travel adventures so much, in 2020 we decided to downsize and live tiny, 360 sq ft tiny! Yes, we all love it including our 95 lb Doberman, Kai! Our family thrives in the simple life we have created. Paring down our material goods allows us to value what is truly important in our lives. When living with less, we’ve gained so much more. Also, it takes us only 20 minutes to deep clean the house!
My love of exploring God’s creation has guided me to volunteer as the Science Class Leader of our chapter. I am passionate about helping students praise and worship God through exploring His physical world! As a former faith formation teacher, I brought my joy and love of teaching to CSH and engage students beyond books, by relating science concepts to everyday real life in a hands-on environment.
We love the support and welcoming atmosphere of the St. Mary staff and parishioners in Anacortes. The amazing parish community is one of the best features of our chapter. Though we live 45 minutes from Anacortes, the CSH community is worth the commute! It has enriched our family in countless ways. We cannot imagine our lives without this blessed community of families!
Carrie Apple – Facility Coordinator
I am a homeschooling parent of four kids ranging from 11 to 21 years old. We are a family with biological and adopted kids soaking up as much quality time together as we can, learning, playing, serving, and sharing the things that we love. The two oldest (who were homeschooled K-8) have launched out of the house and are working full time. We currently have two 5th graders homeschooling and living at home. I homeschool full-time and work part-time as a remote cued language transliterator, mentor and tutor. My husband, Jude, is the manager of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and is passionate about science, research and science education.
EDUCATION:
- Bachelor of Arts in Human Services – WWU
- Transliteration Skills Certificate (cued language transliterator for the deaf/hard-of-hearing)
FAVORITE HOMESCHOOL RESOURCES & THINGS:
Our Catholic Schoolhouse community!; cooperating and networking with other homeschoolers; getting to go to daily Mass and an adoration hour together each week; the Anacortes Community Forest Lands (hiking, swimming, mountain biking, rock climbing); having time built-in for real and regular community service; Barton Reading and Spelling System; Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW); Homeschool Potpourri Consignment in Kirkland; homeschool science fair; homeschool public speaking classes; read-alouds; Padilla Bay Research Reserve; schooling over tea and slippers or on picnic blankets; sports (Parks & Rec); doing science in the kitchen, gardening. . .
Amanda Bartlett – Supply Coordinator
Liz Madsen – Program Coordinator
Stella Brown – Administrative Coordinator