Month: October 2023

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Clairbourn Student Council Leads with Heart!

Red Ribbon Week is an annual event that takes place from October 23 to 31, emphasizing the importance of living a drug-free life. It offers an opportunity for schools, families and communities to engage in discussions about drug awareness and the importance of making good choices.

The Student Council planned a variety of activities to help students think about the significance of making positive choices in their lives. The theme for Red Ribbon Week in 2023 is “Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug Free.” Throughout the week, students are encouraged to reflect on making choices that promote happiness and health — this is the essence of being kind to our minds.

As we reflect on Clairbourn’s code of ethics, we think about how to demonstrate kindness to all, including ourselves! Being kind to one’s own mind involves not only speaking kindly to oneself but also practicing self-care, including maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, adhering to good hygiene practices, and exercising caution around drugs. Students learn how to pay attention to prescription drugs and to confidently say “no” under peer pressure, never allowing anyone to force or persuade them into dangerous actions.

Students from all grade levels connected with each other through a buddy activity in which they created origami hearts and wrote kind notes to themselves and each other. It serves as a reminder about the importance of making positive choices and practicing self-care.

It warms our hearts to see some of the students’ notes: “Believe in yourself,” “I am enough,” “I will succeed today,” “Always respect yourself,” “I am me,” “Think positive!,” “You are loved,” “Be yourself,” “You are unique,” “Trust yourself,” “I am loved,” “I am worthy,” “I am blessed,” “Always be grateful,” “I love myself,” “I am perfect the way I am,” and many more.

Thank you, everyone, for making a pledge and signing the school poster together as a community to demonstrate your commitment to being kind to your minds, striving to be your best, resisting drugs, showing empathy, standing up against wrong behaviors, seeking guidance from trusted adults about unsafe situations or dealing with potentially harmful people, and consistently making positive choices!

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Building a Strong Foundation: STEM in Early Childhood Learning at Clairbourn

Clairbourn’s preschool and kindergarten students had an exciting STEM learning experience, taking inspiration from the classic tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. The project centered on the scientific exploration of parachute design, giving our young students a fascinating and educational journey. Students embraced the design thinking process, an approach that includes empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping and testing. To start, they had a special visit from Mr. Beaber, the I-Lab teacher, who discussed the fundamental principles of wind, gravity and air resistance. These concepts laid the groundwork for their parachute design exploration.

As they dove deeper into the project, the students began to appreciate the relationship between surface area, material properties, and air resistance, all of which are important factors in countering the force of gravity. Students learned through brainstorming, testing and hands-on construction of parachutes designed to ensure Jack’s safe landing from the beanstalk.

The design process included testing of various materials and parachute shapes. The students developed prototypes, expanding their creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Thorne, facilitated the parachute drops from a tall staircase on campus. These exciting experiments led to further design modifications and several more rounds of testing, giving the students the opportunity to refine their designs.

The highlight of this educational adventure was our annual Clairbourn Early Learning STEM Event, where parents actively participated, joining their children in building and testing parachutes. The event was a thrilling experience for all involved, establishing a strong collaboration between teachers, parents and students while reinforcing the hands-on STEM education at an early age.

At Clairbourn, we are committed to establish a positive foundation and design a program to encourage children’s natural love of learning in an environment where they feel comfortable, confident and secure. Children in our preschool program are prepared to enter kindergarten with a positive self-concept, the spirit of inquiry and critical thinking and problem-solving skills!

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Middle school students learn and build connections beyond the classroom

In our dynamic middle school program, our annual outdoor adventures offer students a transformative experience that goes beyond the traditional classroom setting. This year, our students ventured to the Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI) and Pali Mountain Institute for a three-day trip that broadened their horizons.


During their time at CIMI, students engaged in hands-on activities that allowed them to classify algae, study marine invertebrates and explore touch tanks. Using microscopes, they delved into the world of phytoplankton and zooplankton from the Toyon Bay’s seawater. These interactive labs laid a strong foundation for understanding ecosystems. Students also enjoyed going on a thrilling snorkeling adventure and witnessed a rich diversity of marine life, including kelp bass, opal eyes, blacksmith fish, shovel-nose guitarfish, sea turtles and the iconic Garibaldi, California’s state marine fish.


Beyond the water, students enjoyed guided hikes to learn about Catalina’s history and had the unexpected delight of spotting bison! In the evenings, they discovered the remarkable adaptations that enable deep-sea creatures to thrive through the Creatures of the Deep program. This knowledge enriched students’ understanding of biology, ecology and environmental science.

The annual Pali trip was an enriching experience for our six graders, with a focus on team building, leadership skills and outdoor education. They disconnected from technology and immersed themselves in nature. Students enjoyed many exciting day hikes in the mountains, zipline and ropes courses, and engaged in team-building games such as Who Stole My Chicken against their camp counselors. They particularly loved the experience of dissecting owl pellets which left them both fascinated and informed about the intricate world of animal biology.

Special thanks to our dedicated middle school teachers who chaperoned these trips and provided unwavering support and supervision, and ensured our students’ safety throughout this unforgettable experience.

At Clairbourn, we believe in the power of hands-on learning and curiosity. We love to create opportunities for our students to work together in teams, form friendships and build connections that extend beyond the classroom. Our outdoor adventure trips serve as a key component in our exceptional education in shaping young minds and nurturing a sense of connection to the world and one another.

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