By CAROLINE CARMICHAEL / Staff Writer

The Clanton Community of Classical Conversations (CC) home-school program is hosting an open information meeting for interested parents on April 5 at New Life Community Church in Clanton.

According to its website, CC is used by home-schoolers in all 50 states and 15 foreign countries.

The Clanton community is one of 2,500 CC communities, totaling more than 105,000 students enrolled in its tutoring program, according to a press release.

New Life Community church has been hosting the program in its facility for almost three years.

“The families that choose Classical Conversations as their home-school program — they get together once a week for what we call Community Day, and the parents are tutored [on] how to present their information for the next week to their students,” Keri Stallings, the brand ambassador for the area, said. “It’s a day for the parents to bring their kids together. They get to socialize and form friendships with other people who are learning the same type of information they are.”

As part of the program, students participate in educational activities that they would have experienced in a school system, such as conducting dissections for science classes.

Stallings said a CC open house will be held at the church on April 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lunch will be provided at noon.

Other Clanton CC programs are on the agenda for the close of the school year.

A program called Faces of History Presentation for students 9 to 12 years old is set for April 29, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the church.

“They’ve chosen a historical American figure, and they’ll present on that person and give some interesting facts,” Stallings said.

“Our ‘Challenge A’ students — they’ll have presentations out in our common area … for people to browse and view and just see what they’ve been working on and what they’ve been learning throughout the year.”

Challenge A students have more rigorous courses.

An End of the Year Colloquium is scheduled for the same night, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the church.

“Children will present what they’ve learned throughout the year, and they’ll do different pieces of information they’ve learned,” Stallings said.

Stallings encourages parents who are considering home-schooling their children to explore all avenues and pray on the decision.

“It is a journey — and it’s not just a journey for your child or your student, but it’s a journey for the parent as well.”

For more information about Classical Conversations, visit ClassicalConversations.com or contact Clanton Community Director Jodie Hood at (205) 585-0728.

New Life Community Church is located at 1618 Seventh St. N. in Clanton.