May 25, 2020
Planning Ahead!
Thank you for contributing to the Spring 2020 Director Survey! An overwhelming 97.5% of Directors answered that they prefer in-person community. Ninety-five percent of Directors moved to a virtual platform this spring and adjusted quickly to continue to cultivate classical community. The most successful communities reported that Directors worked together to prepare a unified plan for the entire community. Even though we all love in-person community and know virtual classes aren’t ideal, we in leadership appreciate the ways you all adjusted, maintained integrity, and served your families!
Fall Programs
While Classical Conversations anticipates most communities will be able to operate normally this fall, consider making alternate plans with fellow Directors in the event that your area is still under COVID-19 restrictions. Keep in mind the plan to return to the standard in-person model as soon as possible. Classical Conversations continues to work hard to provide helpful information and resources based on the classical model, 23 years of experience, and feedback from our Directors.
Connecting with Community
Begin reconnecting with your community! Ideas for reconnecting: watch Practicum together, guide parents through book orders, help them get connected with your local Specialist, start a book club, and set up your Parent Orientation.
Memorial Day Sale
Check out the CC bookstore TODAY where you will find 15 of the best books to read with the family on sale! Some of these titles are low in stock and will only be discounted while supplies last.
To honor the late Ravi Zacharias, we will be selling Jesus Among Other Gods 25% off the list price! Take advantage of this sale PLUS our free shipping with a $50 purchase, which ends May 31. Share with your families!
Practicum On-demand Videos
Have we got some news for YOU! Practicum on-demand sessions are ready to inspire, encourage, and equip you and your parents from the comfort of your own homes. The morning and afternoon presentations of Practicum have been transformed into six digital sessions. Sessions 1-3 will cover the morning content, and sessions 4-6 will cover the afternoon content.
Sessions 1-3
You will be able to learn directly from Lisa Bailey, long-time homeschooler, trainer of speaker trainers, and leader of Practicum content development. She will explore ways to teach reading skills to all ages. You will find the presentation arranged in user-friendly sessions, designed to help you learn about the classical model in layers while practicing the tools that make learning natural for families.
Sessions 4-6
After the release of sessions 1-3 you will be able to join your community to further explore and practice the skills of inventing, arranging, and elocuting your thoughts more formally in writing. Since these sessions are more interactive, consider hosting watch parties.
On-Demand, Self-Paced Academic Orientation
New for 2020! All Directors and tutors have an on-demand, self-paced Academic Orientation beginning June 1 in Learning Pathways.
- 2020-21 Directors and tutors will receive an email sometime on June 1 from Learning Pathways with instructions for finding their Academic Orientation resources. Foundations tutors will have a video included in the email to show them how to find Learning Pathways and log in. These emails will be cascaded throughout the day beginning with Challenge IV and ending with Foundations tutors. Some emails may not be received until late evening.
- On-demand Academic Orientation will remain available in your My Registrations tile in Learning Pathways until completion.
- Foundations and Essentials Directors and tutors can print the Academic Orientation notebook at home or download it and send it to a printing center. Printing the notebook is optional.
- Challenge Directors can print the Academic Orientation notebook at home, download it and send it to a printing center or print from the Office Depot MyFiles system. Printing the notebook is optional. Consider ordering your Challenge guides at the same time as the Academic Orientation notebook to reach the $50 minimum for free shipping.
- After you complete the on-demand portion of Academic Orientation in Learning Pathways, register for an AO Follow-up live call that will review points of emphasis and provide open Q&A time. These calls will run from mid-July through August.
Academic Orientation Tips Podcast is now available. In this episode, Daniel Shirley, homeschool graduate and Challenge IV tutor, talks with long time homeschooling moms and CC leaders: Amanda Butler, Academic Director, and Heather Shirley, Academic Officer, about new training opportunities for licensed directors and tutors.
News & Business Reminders
Wrapping Up: The 2019-20 academic year will close on May 31. On this day, you will no longer have access to your 2019-20 programs and reports in the Classical Portal. Please collect all financial information about your programs such as licensing invoices or the Family Amounts Paid report.
Licensing: You can begin sending in licensing payments for the 2020-21 academic year now. The Walk Me Through and Classical Portal help site can help you complete your payments. Just search “How to Pay Licensing Fees Online” for step-by-step instructions.
Challenge Guide Ordering: The process will begin June 1. You do NOT need to create an Office Depot account beforehand, despite what previous communications may have indicated. Office Depot began emailing account information May 15. Read this Challenge Guide Print-on-Demand Instructions document for details. You’ll want to save this document that will have FAQs regarding the new Print-on-Demand Challenge Guide ordering. Ordering Instructions are available in Learning Pathways now.
CC Connected: Want to help parents find resources for summer fun and fall prep? Tell them about Six Weeks of Summer content! Daily uploads of timely content on topics including getting organized, New World Echoes bonus audios and activity packs, summer science activities, and Practicum-related resources. Find details about these and more in our Summer Content Calendar.
Online Information Meetings: Share these with your families and potential families. Choose a time to learn more about our classical Christian communities and programs.
International
Classical Conversations Chile began its second year in March. The Chilean communities grew from 17 students last year to 190 registered Foundations students this year with 121 families and 61 students registered Essentials students. Please welcome our new SR, Koreen Mazurek, who not only oversees Chile, but also other South American countries, except Brazil. She hosted Chile’s first Parent Practicum, which occurred days before the country was shut down due to COVID-19. Though their first semester has been largely conducted by online community, these families are excited to be able to meet face to face for the second semester!
