Clairbourn School News

The Clairbourn Community is the Perfect Parenting Partner

When students approach their middle school years, parents often start looking for parenting partners to help them safely and successfully launch their children into young-adulthood. They want a safe and supportive community to encourage their child’s budding individuality and growing independence in addition to helping their child reach their full potential.

When students enter 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, they are just starting to separate from their parents, and this is a critical time when they need especially good and inspiring teachers and role models. Due to peer influence, it is of even higher importance to surround them with middle school classmates who have strong aspirations, high character, and leadership skills, and who are mutually supportive of one another as they explore their own talents and interests.

Families who choose Clairbourn’s Middle School realize that they are investing in cumulative advantages for their child, which can never start early enough.

Families who choose realize that they are investing in cumulative advantages for their child, which can never start early enough. These advantages include small class sizes, individual attention, proper supervision, daily character education, high behavioral and academic standards, strong community relationships, and excellent positioning for entrance into top area private high schools.

Clairbourn recognizes that this impressionable age group must have a proven way to establish these foundational qualities of academic excellence, goodness of character, and personal resilience during these key years when students are deciding who they want to be as people. Our Middle School program ensures that each Clairbourn student is academically prepared, honest, responsible, respectful, kind, inclusive, a good citizen, grateful, possesses an individual sense of spirituality, and remains standing in the face of challenges.

Students who flourish in high school and beyond, without going adrift, are the ones who know who they are, what they value, and who have a positive self-concept and community support before they even reach high school.

Students who flourish in high school and beyond, without going adrift, are the ones who know who they are, what they value, and who have a positive self-concept and community support before they even reach high school. They are less likely to be pulled in questionable directions because they already know what genuine peer and community acceptance feels like, and will most likely lead others in positive directions instead of follow. Our families value how Clairbourn has helped their children flourish and are proud of who their children have become.

Hear our students talk about the foundation they received at Clairbourn, read their survey comments, and learn for yourself what a difference our Middle School can make for your child.

Middle School Merit Scholarships are also available for qualified students. Learn more and/or view the application.

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.

Award-winning director and cinematographer

Clairbourn alumnus Goro Toshima, Class of 1984, is an award winning director and cinematographer based in Los Angeles. His work on the renowned documentary “City of Gold” received rave reviews. We had a chance to talk to Goro on the phone and ask him about his experience at Clairbourn, how he became interested in documentary filmmaking and any advice he has for Clairbourn students and alumni.

After an extensive nationwide Head of School search, it is my honor to announce that the Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Amy Patzlaff to become our next Head of School, effective July 1, 2018.

Dr. Patzlaff was chosen from a national pool of impressive candidates after a very thorough search process. This unanimous appointment was the result of united and enthusiastic support from the Head Search Committee. In Dr. Patzlaff, we have found a passionate, enthusiastic, and dynamic leader to build upon the thirty-nine years of Dr. Nafie’s inspiring headship.

Educational Enhancements For Classrooms

Cara Barker was recently awarded a $1,000 grant sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Marino. Earlier in the fall, She applied for The William G. “Bill” Steele Mini Grant Program for Classroom Innovation, and her proposal was to provide students with audio recording equipment to help them with their music-making endeavors. As her grant application states, “Currently, the school has no dedicated audio recording equipment.These purchases will be used in the classroom during electives and summer school and will be made available for student performances at talent shows and music programs. Students will perform and record rhythm combinations, chordal intervals, and melody lines.

Young alums and current student lead fundraising efforts and volunteerism

Clairbourn alums and students are consistently at the forefront of leading altruistic projects. Tiffany Chang was in fourth grade when her teacher Mrs. Mary-Kaye Halferty taught her to knit scarves during recess, and what started as a craft skill, has now become a fully-fledged nonprofit organization. The Madhatter Knits has over 80 members and three school chapters. To top it off, the organization can now boast that it has raised $10,500 for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, surpassing its target fundraising goal!

The idea for the organization started at Clairbourn School. Once Tiffany mastered how to knit a beanie, she spread the knowledge by teaching her sister Kimberly and her cousins Christie and Kathryn Huang. Upon discovering that a knit hat could make a huge difference in the lives of premature babies (preemies), they dedicated themselves to making and donating 160 knit hats to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) that first year and to date, they have donated over 2,000 hats to various hospitals.

In 2014, they named themselves “Madhatter Knits” and created an Executive Team. Today, the organization is made up of a diverse group of young women with a common altruistic goal and vision – to help and support the preemies and their families in need. The organization also has a plethora of volunteers devoted to helping premature infants and their families feel warmth and love during challenging times.

Their most recent project was fundraising for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). As junior ambassadors for the CHLA, they surpassed their fundraising goal. The junior ambassadors include Clairbourn alums Kimberly Chang (Class of 2021), Tiffany Chang (Class of 2018), Christie Huang (Class of 2013), Kathryn Huang (Class of 2014), Emmerson Waite (Class of 2018*), Sara Lowin (Class of 2018) and current student Andrea M. Together, these young, inspiring leaders exemplify what the famous anthropologist Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Clairbourn School is proud to have such thoughtful and committed alums and students changing the world by “knitting our love to tiny beginnings.”

Madhatter Knits was able to sponsor three out of the 10 GoKarts that were needed by CHLA. GoKarts provide CHLA patients a fun escape and a way for them to just be kids. CHLA is still in need of 10 mobile gaming GoKarts for patients who might not be able to leave their room/bed. If you are interested in learning more about this project or want to be involved with Madhatter Knits, please contact Janny Chang at jchang@clairbourn.org.

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.