Clapham School in Wheaton will host a Prospective Parents’ Open House on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. in Room 201 at the school, which is located at 335 E. Seminary in College Church. The school will offer Pre-Kindergarten through 8th Grade in Fall 2010.

Clapham is a classical Christian School whose students are exposed to the study of Western Civilization and to the great works of literature, art and music. The school currently serves grades Pre-kindergarten through 7, with plans to continue to add classes through 12th grade. Beginning in 3rd grade, students participate in the study of Latin, moving on to logic and eventually rhetoric, according to Doug Reynolds, Head of School. Distinctly Christian, and academically challenging, the curriculum follows a model established by Charlotte Mason in the late 1800’s that centers around the desire to affirm that children are created in God’s image and that knowledge is a reflection of God’s truth. She also espoused the philosophy that children should be guided to joyfully discover knowledge in nature, literature, art, music, mathematics, history and science, and to seek after a love of life-long learning.

“At Clapham, we strive to advance a Christian Worldview and to equip students to become life-long learners through this joyful discovery, while understanding that it is God’s truth that leads to life,” said Reynolds.

A life of service is another major component of a Clapham School education. “We want our students to be able to live their lives out of a grateful heart,” said Reynolds. “This leads to a life of service.”

Each class at Clapham participates in their own unique service experiences, and the entire school will combine efforts on several projects each year. Instead of “room moms,” Clapham has a “service mom” in each class, who coordinates service components.

This classical Christian education model has drawn students from numerous towns in the western suburbs of Chicago. Now, in its fourth year, Clapham School has seen its enrollment more than triple, and, with the 2009-2010 school year, has expanded its grade levels to include middle school.

“During a time when schools are cutting staff and academic standards are declining, we are blessed to be able to add faculty members to our staff and provide an educational environment in which our students can thrive,” said Reynolds.

Parking for the Open House is available in the College Church parking lot behind the sanctuary building, off Union Street, one block north of Seminary. For further information please call Carolyn Litfin, Director of Admissions, at 630-547-5125 or visit the school’s website at www.claphamschool.com

-- This story was submitted by Charla Russell of the Clarendon Hills-based public relations firm PRsource.