We are so proud to welcome back our 4th annual Clairbourn Early Learning STEM event — the STEM Regatta! STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. A STEM project like the Clairbourn Regatta blends elements of those subjects in order to introduce our youngest students to the idea of design thinking and the tools they are going to need in order to be successful in the world and workplace of their future.
In a world that is becoming increasingly complex, where success is driven not only by what you know, but by what you can do with what you know, we know it is more important than ever for our young students to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to solve problems, gather and evaluate evidence, make sense of information, collaborate on projects, and think critically. By introducing these concepts early and at a level our youngest Cougars can understand, we believe we are giving them the chance to become creators, thinkers, problem solvers, doers, innovators and inventors – not to mention highly successful students.
Parents from JPK to K came to campus to observe how our youngest Cougars were challenged with a design problem and how they came up with their creative solutions. The teachers and the students were so excited to share what they were learning. Our STEM event was designed to establish problem solving and critical thinking skills. Children were engaged in structural, mechanical, architectural, and civil engineering ideas. At Clairbourn, we believe in Creating Scholars and Leaders with Heart, and it starts with our youngest students!
We live in a world that changes rapidly and presents new challenges with no known solutions. We all saw this with the global pandemic. We were all thrust into a situation where we had to adjust our lives with no roadmap. It is certain that our students will face challenges in their future where no directions are provided. It is important for students to create, problem solve real world issues, code, design, question, research with discernment, and communicate in a variety of ways with skill. It is no longer enough for students to follow set instructions to achieve a specified goal. Rather, with the skills to critically think and the confidence in themselves, students are able to face and solve unpredicted challenges.
With the generous support from several Clairbourn families, the Liu-Peng Innovation Lab is now open. It was built during the summer and in order to redesign and modernize the space, we removed walls and posts creating a productive functional space. We also provided efficient HVAC and additional storage for the student tools and projects. We performed an electrical upgrade to ensure proper ventilation for new equipment. Finally, the exterior was modified to allow for direct access to the space. A ramp and new landscaping were added for the finishing touches! The Liu-Peng Innovation Lab, located in the Robert W. Nafie Building, containsrobotics parts, tools, programing software, 3D printers, a laser cutter, Cricut machines, a vacuum former, workbenches, green screen abilities, and lots of supplies for creative problem solving!
Students practice a way of thinking and learning that is specifically designed for new challenges that need new solutions. The mindset where we embrace a process is called Design Thinking. The process is non-linear but takes the thinker through a process that includes empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping, and testing. In this process each conversation gives us perspective, each trial helps to improve, each prototype gets us closer to a solution, each “failure” gives important information, and each bit of feedback is crucial. Our students are going to get specific practice at design thinking. They will learn to work together in new ways and to build on each other’s ideas. As we walk through the lab, we can’t help but feel excited for the countless opportunities our students will have to explore, grow and expand their problem solving mindset!
Special thank you to all our generous donors. Mr. Alex Liu and Ms. Angela Peng were our lead donors, providing over half of the funding needed for this project. Mr. Jun Lu, Mr. Oscar Duan and Ms. Kelly Ling, and Ms. Fiona Zhang all made significant contributions to fund the other half of the project. These generous donors all shared our vision of a new space to support student growth. They see the potential in investing in our students to support problem solving and creative thinking needed in our ever-changing world. We are very grateful for their support, leadership, and generosity extended to our students and our school. We have much to look forward to!
A Clairbourn parent once said,“Clairbourn learning is fluid and boundless. Both of my children learn not only through textbooks, but also from the daily conversations they have with their teachers and their interactions with their peers. It’s amazing how every moment is a learning moment at Clairbourn!” When we think about our lower school Spanish program, this is the perfect description: Every moment is a learning moment!
When you walk by our lower school Spanish classroom, you are immediately drawn to a festive door — the gateway to the world of Spanish! You hear conversations and singing in Spanish and Mrs. Rubio talking about Hispanic culture.
This program is offered from kindergarten to fifth grade. Different teaching approaches are incorporated to keep students engaged. Sensory exploration is a big part of our learning experience. Students run their fingers through orange rice and count the pieces of black bowtie pasta they find in the tray. They practice their vocabulary by singing La Araña pequeñita (Itsy Bitsy Spider) while busy freeing a plastic glow-in-the dark spider from a block of frozen ice. “This is so much fun! I love Spanish class!” a first grader said with such excitement.
The rich culture and history of Spanish speaking countries is also brought to life in this language program. Students listen to stories and taste various Hispanic dishes. They even got to make both sweet and savory tamales which were a big hit! Students stay motivated and learn through a wide range of hands-on activities. To strengthen vocabulary, students toss balls in the air while shouting out Spanish words and then they construct these words into complete sentences. Technology is also used as a supporting tool for students to expand and review their understanding of Spanish.
Currently, students are learning how to make orugüitas (caterpillars) while memorizing a Spanish song called Dos Oruguitas. Mrs. Rubio helps students gain confidence by analyzing the lyrics and using strategies to make the task managable. It is a joy to walk by the classroom and hear the students sing fluently in a second language. At Clairbourn, each classroom is alive and learning is boundless!
There is inspiration everywhere we go. It could be something a friend said at a moment we needed to hear it. It could be a phrase we read in a book or from a fortune cookie. It could even be found in a quiet corner of the campus. Clairbourn Student Council has planned five diversity and inclusion presentations for the community this year and the inspiration they have brought to us is profound and motivating.
We kicked off the series with a Hispanic Heritage Celebration at the beginning of the school year. Students learned how Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court Justice, stayed resilient and earned her degrees from Princeton and Yale. She has been a part of 3,000 Supreme Court decisions and is an inspiration for many others to pursue their dream. She shows a leader’s courage which Clairbourn embraces.
Next, we recognized the rich and diverse culture, traditions, and contributions of Native Americans. Students listened to stories of a physicist named Jerry Elliott, who was the first Native Americans to work at NASA. He is known for his contribution as the lead retrofire officer during Apollo 13, where his actions helped save the lives of the three astronauts on board. Elliott’s work awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honor awarded by the President. He shows a scholar’s dedication that Clairbourn encourages.
This month, Clairbourn continues to recognize achievements by celebrating Black History Month. We learned about poet and writer, Langston Hughes, and how poetry including American poet Vashel Lindsay inspired him in his early years! Hughes wrote many influential poems and novels which portray black life in American from the twenties through the sixties. He shows a heart full of passion which Clairbourn values!
We will honor the women in our history next month and then end our diversity and inclusion series with an Asian Pacific American presentation. Fostering diversity is a community effort and we are proud of our Student Council for leading the way. They are “Scholars and Leaders with Heart,” helping the community achieve a goal of fostering diversity and embracing achievement from everyone!
The Middle School Spanish Program at Clairbourn focuses on both written and oral Spanish, along with the culture and geography of regions where Spanish is spoken. Language is one of the most important parts of any culture and we embrace the diversity and love for languages among our students and faculty at Clairbourn.
Middle School students recently completed a Reader’s Theater activity in Mrs. Drazic’s Spanish classes. Students were grouped and assigned a story to read aloud for the class. They first read the story to themselves and were asked to think about how many characters and narrators they would need. Once they selected their roles, they planned how their play would be presented. Students asked themselves: What staging should be used? What props should be incorporated? Students decided which role they would feel the most comfortable interpreting and no memorization was required. They completed a dress rehearsal to put the final touches on their performance before presenting it to the class.
Through the Reader’s Theater, our students developed fluency, increased reading comprehension, and integrated reading, writing, speaking and listening in an authentic context. Working collaboratively also allowed the students to engage in skills that are essential for interpreting information, evaluating and solving problems, and developing management skills to create a final product. At Clairbourn, we continue to create scholars and leaders geared toward life-long learning and equipped with problem-solving skills they will need to thrive in their future endeavors.
Clairbourn offers an enriching and robust language program and for the past few weeks students learned about the Dia De Los Muertos.
Our lower school students in Mrs. Rubio’s kindergarten to fifth grade classes started this unit by listening to Dia de los Muertos stories, and making flash cards of vocabulary such as pan de muerto (bread of the dead) and galleta (cookies). Students also learned new words through songs, explored the colorful Hispanic culture, and created papel picado (cut paper) to decorate their classroom. At the end of the learning journey, Lower School students got to taste the pan de muerto and decorate the skeleton cookies while calling out each color in Spanish! A third grader said, “This pan de muerto is too good! Can I have some more?”
Middle School students in Mrs. Drazic’s class read the book Tumba which takes place in Mexico during the celebration of Dia de los Muertos. Students engaged with the literature through listening, reading, writing and speaking activities, such as recording a scary ghost story and illustrating a storyboard of a traditional ‘calavera’ poem. Students also learned about the Mexican Revolution and they enjoyed drawing parallels between the colonial influence of Spain in Mexico and that of the U.S. colonial past. Students learned about the significance of calaveras (skulls), esqueletos (skeletons) and cempasúchil (marigold flowers) as they constructed an altar in the classroom using paper flowers and papel picado banners they made, and added personal elements like stuffed animals, and our favorite, Mexican candies. The best part was having Lower School students visiting the middle school altar they built!
It is wonderful to see students make their own cultural connections while learning about this tradition. At Clairbourn, we continue to celebrate the rich culture of diverse traditions!
New Clairbourn Board Member – Mr. Manny Grace, Alumni Parent and Trustee
Manny and Casey’s two children, Alex and Zoe, attended Clairbourn from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th gradegraduation, in 2013 and 2017. Given their 14 years of experience and engagement with the Clairbourn community, the Grace’s are a true Clairbourn family. Manny brings to the Board his knowledge and experience of private school education, particularly as it relates to issues of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Manny is an enthusiastic supporter of Clairbourn. He credits the nurturing and rigorous education his children received at Clairbourn as providing the foundation for their subsequent successes in high school, college and beyond.
Manny’s oldest child, Alexander, was a stellar student and respected class comedian at Clairbourn. Alex developed strong writing skills at Clairbourn, culminating in a poignant and hilarious speech which he delivered at his 8th grade graduation. Alex went on to attend Flintridge Prep, where he performed in the Comedy Sportz Improv team for four years. Alex continued doing improv comedy, during an otherwise studious undergraduate career at Columbia University. In May 2021, Alex graduated from Columbia with a BA in American History, focusing on the post-Civil War Reconstruction era. He is currently living and working in New York City, working in documentary film production. Alex appreciates the unique privilege of his Clairbourn experience. He maintains close ties with many of his Pre-K pals from Clairbourn.
Alex ’13 from Clairbourn on the left and ’21 from Columbia University on the right
Zoe, four years younger than Alex, blossomed as a student at Clairbourn, particularly in Middle School, where she consistently made the Dean’s List. Zoe participated in a number of theatre productions (Winnie the Pooh and Midsummer Night’s Dream), and was active in almost every sport offered at Clairbourn, most notably, soccer, softball and volleyball. After Clairbourn, Zoe attended Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, where she continued her athletic career on both school and club volleyball teams, and served as a member and leader of the Black Student Union. Zoe excelled academically at FSHA, and also won a number of honors for her creative efforts in ceramic arts. In August 2021, Zoe entered her freshman year at Washington University in St. Louis, with fellow Clairbourn classmate, Natalie Chen, whose mother, Debbie Chen also serves on the Clairbourn Board of Trustees.
Zoe ’17. Winnie the Pooh play on the left and on Clairbourn Sports Team on the right.
Manny attended the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with a degree in Psychology. He then went on to obtain a law degree from the Columbia University Law School in 1982, and clerked for the Hon. Lawrence W. Pierce, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. After practicing corporate environmental law for several years in New York City, Manny moved to California to work as in-house Environmental Health and Safety counsel for The Walt Disney Company in Burbank. During his 29-year tenure at Disney, Manny has covered issues ranging from consumer product liability, environmental compliance and occupational safety. He has also served on numerous committees addressing issues of diversity and inclusion within the workplace. In his current capacity as Associate General Counsel, Manny has had a key role in shaping Disney’s compliance strategies during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Grace Family
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Manny has always been civically engaged in the wider community. Manny is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Notre Dame University Alumni Association and a current board member of the California State Parks Foundation. He is currently on the Board of Directors of Earthshot, a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring climate action through video games and virtual and immersive experiences. He is also a former Chairman of the Board of the Society of Product Licensor’s Committed to Excellence (SPLiCE). Manny is also a member of the Environmental Law Committee of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
At Clairbourn, Manny and his wife Casey (also an attorney) served as the Annual Fund chairs for their children’s classes for two years. Manny also served as Cub Scout Master when Alex was young, and participated in many carnivals and other event committees over the years. He is excited to be joining the Clairbourn Board of Trustees at this important time in the future development of the school.
A new mission statement, “Creating Scholars and Leaders with Heart,” was established in 2018. Since then, updating the logo has been on our agenda. The Clairbourn team made it a summer goal to complete this branding project, and we are so excited to reveal the new look and the idea behind it!
We started with a question, “Who is Clairbourn and what do we stand for?” We are dedicated to creating scholars and leaders with heart. We believe in the ability of every child and we support not only their academic success, but we are also committed to nurturing well-rounded students. We looked into our code of ethics and asked how we could connect those qualities with our branding. With the usage of a strong visual color palette along with the input from our faculty and staff, we began the rebranding journey.
The Journey
The shape of the shield represents Clairbourn’s long history, and the vine symbolizes our continuous growth.
First update: The Mission Statement. “Scholars, Leaders, Heart” is adapted into the shield. It is powerful, simple, and communicates the essence of our statement.
Second update: The Growing Vine. What if the growing vine includes five hearts and each heart represents a quality from our code of ethics? We went through different variations and successfully incorporated five hearts into the vine. Can you find all five of them?
Third update: Books and Pen. To give a sense of scholarship in our mission, we decided to use two books to represent knowledge. The two books allow us to convey the idea of our students consuming knowledge from multiple sources. The pen next to the books represents our students creating as well as consuming knowledge. We are committed to our mission of creating scholars, and leaders with heart.
Last update: Logo Type. We made a few modifications to clean up the curves for easier readability.
New Clairbourn Board Member – Mr. Martin Espinoza, Alumni Parent and Trustee
The Board of Trustees is pleased to welcome Clairbourn alumni parent, Martin Michel Espinoza to the Board. The Espinoza family’s history with Clairbourn School began in 2004. Martin’s daughter, Ivahnna attended Clairbourn from 2004 through 2012, and his son Thomas attended Clairbourn from 2012 through 2020. He was a Clairbourn parent for a total of 16 consecutive years.
Ivahnna attended Maranatha High School and then graduated from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. During her years at Whitworth University, Ivahnna had the opportunity to play soccer for the university where she contributed to the university’s many wins. Ivahnna is currently preparing to take the LSAT and will continue to pursue her dream of becoming an attorney.
Thomas graduated from Clairbourn in 2020 and is currently attending La Salle High School in Pasadena. Despite the unfortunate pandemic the world has to endure, including online learning, Thomas continues to excel academically, spiritually and athletically. He participated in the La Salle varsity soccer program and his team earned the honor of participating in the Southern California CIF playoffs.
Ivahnna ’12 and Thomas ’20
Martin attributes his children’s academic success to the incredible teachers, rigorous curriculum and the unparalleled academic foundation provided by Clairbourn School.
In addition to his years as a Clairbourn parent, Martin’s additional contribution to the Board is his 27 years of law enforcement experience. Martin is a Sergeant with the Los Angeles Police Department where he has worked a variety of assignments including Patrol, Narcotics, Criminal Street Gangs, Homicide and his current assignment with Internal Affairs. The Los Angeles Police Department is proud of its 21st Century policing and the emphasis it places on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Espinoza family
Martin’s overall private school and law enforcement experience brings a unique perspective to the Board. Clairbourn is excited to have Martin on the Board and we believe Martin’s commitment to the community will bring valuable input. Please join us in celebrating Martin Espinoza’s new appointment to the Board of Trustees.
New Clairbourn Board Member – Dr. Liva Gritton, Alumni Parent and Trustee
The Board of Trustees is pleased to welcome Clairbourn alumni parent Dr. Liva Gritton to the Board. Her three children, Jada, Jasmine and Raymond, all graduated from Clairbourn School. The Gritton family’s long history with Clairbourn began in 2008 and they were here for nine consecutive years. Liva will not only bring an extensive knowledge about private school education and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) from both the parent and student side, she will also bring her passion for helping others. Liva believes Clairbourn was a wonderful foundation for her children and helped them each grow in different ways.
Liva graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Biological Sciences. She received her Medical Doctorate degree from the University of California, San Diego, and completed her internship at Harvard Medical School. She was an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UC Irvine, and also the Medical Director in Acute Rehabilitation Services. Liva assisted in opening the Rehabilitation Center at Valley Presbyterian Hospital and also functions as the Medical Director of their Wound Care Services Department and Hyperbaric Center.
Jasmine, jersey #31 on Clairbourn Soccer Team in 2012 / Boston College Volleyball Team in 2020
Liva’s oldest child, Jasmine, was a National elite track and field youth athlete. Liva loved that Clairbourn gave Jasmine the opportunity to have fun and explore other sports and activities. She was a member of the Student Council and graduated in 2012. Jasmine went on to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks and played volleyball at Boston College, where she graduated in 2020. Jasmine is currently working as a Creative Strategist for a digital marketing company, and recently launched her own clothing line.
Raymond is the family’s middle child, and he was also a huge fan of Clairbourn sports. He graduated from Clairbourn in 2015 and from Don Bosco Technical Institute in 2019, where he led their baseball team to CIF for the first time in over a decade. Liva feels that Clairbourn’s balanced approach helped Ray on and off the sports field. Clairbourn was instrumental in Ray’s decision to become a teacher. He just completed his sophomore year at the University of San Diego, and is a member of their club golf team.
Jada ’16 and Raymond ’15 / Raymond on the high jump at a league track meet.
Jada ’16
Liva’s youngest child, Jada, developed her love of writing at Clairbourn, where she also enjoyed participating in sports and pottery. She graduated from Flintridge Preparatory School in 2020 and just completed her freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is a staff writer for the school publication, HerCampus UPenn.
Liva lives in San Marino with her husband Raymond who is also a physician. Clairbourn is excited to have her on the Board. We strongly believe Liva’s unwavering commitment to serve the community will bring valuable input as a Clairbourn Trustee. Please join us in celebrating Dr. Liva Gritton’s new appointment to our Board of Trustees.
Gritton family then and now.
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.
