New Mission Statement: Creating Scholars and Leaders with Heart

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.

For example, if you look at the awards Clairbourn presents to students at the end of the year, they all are designed to honor and recognize students who embody this mission statement. The variety of awards reflects the unique way our student expresses their scholarship, their leadership, and their compassion.

We have the Wallden Scholarship that recognizes students who make their way in life with their heart-skills and who put in the hard work needed to become successful academically and thus set a good example for other students in the same situation (leadership). 

The 2018 Scott Studenmund Award for Leadership, Commitment, and Service winner, Winston Lee and his mother Jessica Lee.

We also have the Scott Studenmund Award for Leadership, Commitment, and Service which recognizes students who are strong in their leadership skills and who use their heart and scholarship abilities to reach their goals.  And above all, we have the Outstanding Graduate award which recognizes the student who achieves full expression of scholarship, leadership, and heart during their time here at the school.

It is important to note that the real reward of a Clairbourn eduction is not a trophy, but the acquisition of the three skills that matter most for success now and later in life.  We are grateful to the teachers, staff, administrators, and members of the school community who contributed their ideas to this process, and to the Board of Trustees who crafted and approved the final statement.

Class of 2018 straight-A students and winners of President’s Awards include Chase Walker, Cameron Coolidge, Jeffrey Reiling, Henry Barker, Collin McIlvery, Elise Desjarlais, and Caroline Kwan.
Head of School, Dr. Amy Patzlaff, speaks about Clairbourn’s new school mission statement at the Mothers Visiting Day Assembly in February of 2019.

Student Council Shares Mission Statement-Based Leadership Message on Bullying Prevention

At the daily Morning Assembly this week, Clairbourn’s Student Council presented five messages based on Clairbourn’s new mission statement “Creating Scholars and Leaders with Heart” and how it applies to leadership. Today’s message was about preventing bullying through awareness and leadership.

Clairbourn’s Student Council talks about preventing bullying through awareness and leadership based on Clairbourn’s new mission statement “Creating Scholars and Leaders with Heart.”

*Independent schools create mission statements to effectively convey their identity and purpose. Such statements are designed to set them apart from other independent schools and they act as a clear guide to help shape academic programs, school culture, strategic planning, and the vision of the type of students that should be produced. 


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