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.
Today we look at how the Driver behaves as leader. Drivers tend to dominate a group, telling them what to do, sometimes how to do it, when to do it, and occasionally why they are doing it.
Drivers communicate messages directed
at completing a task. Drivers are especially important to groups who are new to
a task, lack skills and confidence and who, without strong, directed guidance,
would be left disorganized, unmotivated and unproductive.
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.
Four-time Boston Marathon champ Bill Rodgers has wisely said, “The advice I have for beginners is the same philosophy that I have for runners of all levels of experience and ability: consistency, a sane approach, moderation, and making your running an enjoyable, rather than dreaded, part of your life.”
That’s the same kind of wise approach fueling Clairbourn Head of School Dr. Amy Patzlaff’s interest in running. She explains, “I like to run in races because they keep me motivated and give me a goal—and the goal for me is self-improvement…to perform incrementally better than in my previous races.” In addition to the LA Marathon, some of her recent races include several 10K runs, and two Pasadena Half Marathons which she ran in 2018 and 2019.
Students sell their wares at recent Entrepreneur Fairs at Clairbourn School.
Early entrepreneurship experiences are becoming increasingly important as an education tool to teach students a host of important lessons that can pay off later in life. According to inc.com editor Tom Foster, who wrote about student entrepreneurship programs in February 2017, “The big idea underpinning all of them: Work has changed, and no matter what career kids ultimately pursue, they’re going to have to constantly adapt and innovate in order to succeed–just like entrepreneurs do.”
There is no escape from learning what it means to be a consumer who is constantly shelling out money for purchases. But, everything changes when there is early exposure to the basics of business thinking. This can change a student’s entire outlook–especially when they can explore, in an age-appropriate way, how to generate valuable ideas, create products and services, and hopefully build wealth.
At Clairbourn School, these lessons can start as early as preschool where students can play “store” in the classroom or even “go big” by having their own booth at the Annual Entrepreneur Fair where they can sell goods and services to the school community. Then as they move through the higher grade levels at Clairbourn, the entrepreneur opportunities repeat and expand so they can continue to develop their skills, business thinking, and overall success.
Recently, Clairbourn’s first grade class, taught by Miss Lindsay Dezutter, held their own First Grade Classroom Store Activity as part of their social studies unit. This project was an introduction to economics, and it provided background knowledge to prepare students for future economics units and the 3rd Grade Marketplace project. Their class activity covered the economic concepts of consumers and producers, wants and needs, money exchanged for goods and services, and time and materials costs.
For this activity, students were asked to create individual shops that would sell goods they produced themselves. They only could use paper to make their products and everything had to be handmade. They also were required to set the price for their products.
Clairbourn first-graders participated in a Classroom Store Activity where they created their own store with handmade paper products. These two students made 3D paper characters to sell.
Claire Louise Bourne was Clairbourn School’s original student and the reason for the school’s founding.
Clairbourn School celebrates the life of Claire Bourne (known in later years as Claire L. “Deede” Phillips), the namesake of the school, who passed away peacefully in Montana at the age of 97 in January of 2019.
Clairbourn School was started in 1926 by her parents Mr. and Mrs. Arthur K. Bourne, a prominent San Marino, California, couple. A. K. Bourne (1877–1967) was the second son of Frederick Gilbert Bourne who is widely credited with the success of the Singer sewing machine company. In 1919 when his father died, A.K. Bourne inherited a large portion of the company fortune.
Clairbourn’s school community was treated to an unforgettable production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night performed by Clairbourn 6th-8th grade students in early March. This crowd-pleasing show took place in an Old Globe Theater setting, constructed in the school’s gymnasium. Over three consecutive show dates, the production featured a variety of humorous antics, stage fighting, great costumes, original music and stand-out performances. It is noteworthy that this unabridged, unedited production was offered by young people between the ages of eleven and fourteen.
Estella B. plays “Maria, secretary to Olivia.”
The Roaring Twenties setting dazzled the audience with its costuming and jazzy tunes. Singing, live student accompaniment, dancing and action sequences—for instance, the comic boxing match—appealed to first grade students on up to adults. The young students who attended sat in the “groundlings” section where they were right on top of the action and thrills.
Clairbourn’s English teacher Janet Taylor provides an academic foundation for the production. Well before auditions occur, students learn the storyline and character relationships in English classes, and work through the meaning of unfamiliar words and terms. By the time the student-actors face their first show date, they have a good understanding of their lines (including some elements of rhetorical structure), and they have the tools to bring their performances to life with the humor and wit required of a Shakespearean comedy.
Clairbourn School, home of the Cougars, encourages the love of learning and supports students in being responsible, respectful, and resilient citizens. One way in which the school brings this to life is through their Service Learning Program. “The theme is one of grateful awareness for the good in our lives, and a heart of service that puts into practice the ability to do good for others in less fortunate circumstances,” says Dr. Amy Patzlaff, Head of School.
Estrella Elementary, home of the Rockets, is less than 20 miles away from Clairbourn, in South Los Angeles—an area identified as inner city. “We have a large group of students who are homeless or in extreme financial hardship and cannot afford a backpack,” explains Principal Gabriel Arreguin. “We are so grateful for the generosity of Clairbourn School,” continues Arreguin.
Working with the non-profit, SydneyPaige Foundation, Clairbourn 4th and 5th-graders reached out to the Clairbourn community and local businesses and raised over $2,500 through their ‘5 Days of Fundraising.’ Activities included a student-run bake sale, a BLAZE Pizza night out, a Change for Change donation competition, and generous sponsorships from parents and the community. “Through these private/public partnerships we are giving students so much more than a backpack,” says Ann Wohlstetter of SydneyPaige; “we are giving students the tools and confidence needed to learn and thrive in school.”
All proceeds will go towards giving backpacks filled with school supplies to 96 of Estrella Elementary students, who are considered most in need. “Despite their lack of money, my students are thirsty for knowledge; they are always ready to learn; and they always try their very best,” explains Ms. Irma ldana, a 2nd grade teacher at Estrella. “The support of Clairbourn and the community is incredibly special,” continues Wohlstetter. “Giving back together is what it’s all about.”
Clairbourn 4th & 5th-graders gather with Clairbourn Head of School Dr. Patzlaff and their teachers to present their fundraising check to Sydney Paige representative Ann Wohlstetter who will distribute the backpacks and supplies to Estrella Elementary. Back Row, left to right: Marcel Z., William B., Zachary Z., Frederic S., Adeline S., Lennon S., Langston S., Head of School Dr. Amy Patzlaff, Ann Wohlstetter from Sydney Paige, Inc., 4th grade teacher Tara Edwards, 5th grade teacher Kimberlee Maltbie, Melissa L., Irene X., and Melanie Y. Middle Row, left to right: Cole C., Mauricio R., Louie L., Hannah B., Lucas H., Anderson G., Shalom L., Nicholas N., Presley W., Annabelle C., and Charlotte Y. Front Row, left to right: Andy H., Karissa L., Susanna L., Everson L., Kelson J., Arthur Z., Jasmine T., Selina Y., Alanna C., Matthew G., Justin F., and Peter L.
Majovski Motivational Speakers Katelyn and Chris Barnecut.
Katelyn and Chris Barnecut visited Clairbourn School, as the speakers for the annual Majovski Motivational Assembly, to share their 6 month adventure of traveling by motorcycle across the African continent in 2018.
Third grade students performing “The Swing” poem by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Individuals with excellent presentation skills are in high demand—especially since public speaking is one of humanity’s greatest fears. So how can a school like Clairbourn help students overcome self-consciousness and learn to speak and present professionally? One way is offering the Poetry Alive In-school Residency Program—a week-long event where second through fifth grade students learn a poem by heart and then dramatize it with characters, movement, and special intonation. According to Poetry Alive instructor Robin Kime, “They turn a poem into a play.” This kind of training, not only helps to create a love of poetry, but also helps students develop “main idea” comprehension, creative expression, and interpersonal-skills.
Middle School Math Teacher Ms. Becky Berge led her students to first place victory in the Bosco Tech Math Competition.
Despite intense stormy weather, students from over 30 schools turned out to test their skills in the Bosco Tech Math Competition held on Saturday, February 2, 2019.
We are proud to announce that Clairbourn 6th-graders won 1st Place (for the second year in a row) in the Bosco Tech Math Competition (small school division). Our 7th/8th-graders also won 1st Place, which is gratifying because last year they matched the scores of the 1st Place winners, but had a slightly longer test-submission time.
Also worthy of great celebration are Clairbourn’s results in the Individual Math Awards category. Amongst all 132 competitors from 30 schools in the 5/6 Grade Level Division, Clairbourn’s Brian X. won 1st Place with a perfect score of 30 out of 30 questions, and William L. came in 3rd Place with a score of 25 out of 30. Then in the 7/8 Grade level division, with 153 students from 30 schools competing, Jason L. took 2nd Place with a score of 40 out of 50 questions.
