This week, in the Morning Assembly—the daily meeting where Clairbourn students, staff, and parents gather to hear an inspiring message—the topic was the school’s new mission statement “Creating Scholars and Leaders with Heart.” The student presenters delivered the following message about the importance of student leadership prepared by foreign language and drama teacher Cara Barker. The Insights below are based on the work of DiSC and the work of psychologists David Merrill and Roger Reid, who in their book Personal Styles & Effective Performance identified four social styles: Analyticals, Drivers, Expressives and Amiables.
At
Clairbourn, we aim to create scholars and leaders with heart. This week we will
investigate the styles in which we lead.
Consider this: each person here is a natural leader. “What?! How is this possible?” you may ask. Well, part of the reason that many of us don’t think of ourselves as leaders is that we often share a very narrow perspective of what leadership looks like. For example, many people will label the person who takes charge of an activity and barks orders to others as a— quote-unquote —natural leader. And in many instances, this may prove to be true. Nevertheless, this pantomime caricature of a leader has its limitations and doesn’t give the full range of possibilities associated with leadership.
Clairbourn’s middle school is buzzing with the spirit of student leadership. We had an exceptionally large turnout of students wanting to serve their school as Student Council Representatives in this last election cycle. In fact, 37.5 percent of our entire middle school just ran for office!
Clairbourn is proud to announce its new mission statement: “Creating Scholars and Leaders with Heart.” We’re not changing who we are, we’re just stating it clearly for all to understand. Anyone who is familiar with the school knows that our graduates stand out for these three reasons. They are academically prepared to take on the rigors at top area high schools, they are equipped with leadership skills, and they have kind hearts that are service-minded. That’s why our graduates are in demand!
Clairbourn’s Outstanding Graduate from the Class of 2018, Elise Desjarlais and her parents Dr. John Desjarlais and Dr. Christine Brown.
This new mission statement* presents a
powerful ideal for our students and will encourage them to develop all sides of
themselves into a powerful whole. Each of the elements listed can lead to
strength in the other areas.
Grand and magnificent trees are often used as symbols of the educational experience, and this is especially true for Clairbourn School. Today, we have in the center of the quad a stunning, mature Ginkgo tree that bursts into spectacular bright yellow color every winter and covers the green lawn in its soft, leathery leaves. But, this was not the first large tree of note on Clairbourn’s campus.
Veronica Farren is a talented Los Angeles-based muralist and artist who is enthusiastic about enriching the lives of students through her vibrant art. She creates custom artwork for schools and is happy to accomodate their particular style and standards, paint their ideas, or simply paint their logo.
Student composers Isabel Cai and Kennedy King, both in 8th grade, along with fellow composer teacher Cara Barker, show their published sheet music for their original song “Give Thanks.”At Clairbourn’s annual Thanksgiving Assembly, each grade has an opportunity to perform poems or songs that reflect the spirit of the holiday. Last year, middle school students, under the direction of teacher Cara Barker, used their performance opportunity to give their audience a show-stopping choral number that became the talk of the campus for the beauty of the music and the sentiments it expressed.
The success of this performance made it possible for two students, Isabel C. and Kennedy K. (both now in 8th grade), to be encouraged to collaborate with teacher Cara Barker, during an electronic music elective held later that year, in composing and performing an original song for the 2018 Thanksgiving Assembly (with the music arranged by Cara Barker). The song is called “Give Thanks” and the piece has been copyrighted, published, and distributed through J.W. Pepper.
The middle school chorus performs “Give Thanks” at the Thanksgiving Assembly. The entire middle school student body participated in performing this original song at the Thanksgiving Assembly on Grandparents Visiting Day, and they were accompanied by musicians from the student body, faculty, and an alum who lent their talents to help bring the song to life . Please enjoy this video of their moving musical performance:
Thanks go to composers, including teacher Cara Barker and eighth-graders Isabel C. and Kennedy K., conductor Rosemary Kiertzner, and the musicians including teacher Mary Drazic on cello, teacher Ann Mize on violin, eighth-grader Andrea M. on cello, seventh-graders Jaleen Tseng and William Ho on violin, and alum Nicole Lam from the Class of 2017 on piano, along with students from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade in the chorus.
Talented musician, and alumni from the Class of 2018 Nicole Lam, shown with teacher Cara Barker, returned for a second year to assist with the middle school Thanksgiving song. She performed on piano with the other musicians. Cara Barker arranged the music which was performed by seventh-graders William Ho (not shown) and Jaleen Tseng on violin, teacher Ann Mize on violin, teacher Mary Drazic on cello, eighth-grader Andrea M. on cello.
Clairbourn School Provides Private School Education for Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary School, and Middle School Grades | Serving Families in the Pasadena, California, Area and Surrounding Cities (K-12 Private Schools) | Clairbourn is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Click here to request information.
Eighth-grader Andrea M. cuts the ribbon for the new preschool tricycle garage with students and Head of School Dr. Patzlaff and Lower School Director Karen Paciorek in attendance.Andrea M. (in Grade 8) has generously donated new tricycles and a tricycle garage to Clairbourn’s Preschool and Kindergarten. The old tricycles were a little rusty and mostly unusable after many years of weather exposure.
Andrea has been at Clairbourn for ten years, and she wanted to find a way to give back and show her gratitude for her time at Clairbourn. She had some money set aside that she earned from modeling in an Apple commercial when she was younger. She decided to donate the money to Clairbourn and asked that it benefit preschool students because she loved her time in the preschool. Continue reading “New Tricycles Gifted to Preschool by Eighth-Grader Andrea M.”
New Clairbourn Trustee at Large Jane Marks with her husband Jerry and son Christian.
The Clairbourn Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of current Clairbourn parent Jane Marks to the Board. As the ultimate private school customer (having experienced a total of 19 consecutive school years since 1998 for all three of her children), she brings a wealth of knowledge to the table about private school education on both the parent-experience and student-experience sides.
Her oldest son is Jordan Marks, Class of 2008, who attended from Pre-K to 8th grade. Her daughter Taylor Marks, Class of 2011, started in 2001 and stayed for Pre-K to 8th grade. Christian Marks is her youngest son. He started in Junior Pre-K in the Fall of 2008 and is part of the graduating class of 2020.
When looking for schools almost 20 years ago, Jane and her husband Jerry were set on finding a great private school for their Children. Clairbourn stood out from the competition because they found it to have strong academics combined with a nurturing environment. Clairbourn was so welcoming and felt like home. They were also attracted to the public-speaking emphasis and appreciated the universal values shared at morning Chapel.
Taylor Marks (center) attended Clairbourn from preschool to 8th Grade and graduated in 2011
Even though all three of her children are very different people, Clairbourn turned out to be a right fit for each of them because she could see they were achieving academically, they were successful in other activities, and they loved going to school and loved the process of learning. This success has continued for her two older children through high school and college.
She also appreciates that this love of learning goes hand-in-hand with a powerful spirit of self-motivation to be one’s best without an undue sense of pressure or competition. Jane credits Clairbourn with hitting the right balance between study-time and cultivating the other sides of personal development which she considers to be deeply healthy for children.
As a long-time parent, Jane has been involved on campus as a volunteer in almost every available capacity including current secretary of the CFA Executive Board. She has volunteered at Cougar Corner, book fairs, carnivals, spring auctions, room parent activities, special lunches, dances, and more. She considers these school-focused years as very precious, and even though she serves on her neighborhood board and has served on the La Salle High School Mother’s Alumni Group, Clairbourn gets the lion’s share of her volunteer time.
Jordan Marks (back row, far right) attended Clairbourn from preschool to 8th Grade and graduated in 2008.
Jane shared, “There is nowhere else quite like Clairbourn. This school attracts people who appreciate balance, quality of life, and values in addition to top academic performance. We have nice families here and my children have nice friends. It is a great community. I feel lucky to be able to come on campus to volunteer and participate. It is my number one job. My children can see my commitment to the school and they have appreciated school even more as a result.”
If you see Jane around campus, be sure to say “Hi” and take a moment to get to know her better. Jane has a B.S. in Business from Cal State Los Angeles, has worked in sales in the Title Insurance Industry, and has a host of personal interests that range from Western horse riding, to gardening, skiing, running. We hope you will enjoy getting to know Jane and will join us in celebrating her appointment to our school board.
Clairbourn School Provides Private School Education for Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary School, and Middle School Grades | Serving Families in the Pasadena, California, Area and Surrounding Cities (K-12 Private Schools) | Clairbourn is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Click here to request information.
