The Future: Clairbourn School’s Strategic Plan — “Clairbourn Forward”

Clairbourn Forward is the result of 18 months of thinking, dreaming and envisioning the future of Clairbourn School.

The Strategic Plan, Clairbourn Forward, commits us to move with purpose toward our stated goals and keeps us focused on the steps required to achieve these goals. We continue our mission of Creating Scholars and Leaders with Heart while inspiring engaged learners, critical thinkers and empathetic leaders to embrace the next phases of their education and lives with an open mindset, gratitude and purpose.

We are grateful for the collaborative effort from everyone in our community including parents, alumni, faculty, staff, students and trustees. The community contribution showed a strong commitment to Clairbourn’s vision and future goals. In the spring of 2024, the Clairbourn Board of Trustees approved the proposed plan, and we began to implement our vision for the future of Clairbourn.

As we begin this transformative journey, we invite you to support our efforts in making Clairbourn Forward our guide in the years to come!

Pillar 1: Supporting Our Clairbourn Community

Goal Statement: Empower and cultivate an inclusive community that embodies Clairbourn’s mission and core values.

Ensure families feel welcomed into our community through volunteer opportunities, educational programming, and intentional ways to connect with faculty, staff, and fellow parents
Prioritize building enrollment and retention by attracting and retaining diverse, mission-aligned families
Explore new ways to connect with the broader community and continue to expand service-learning projects
Grow the alumni program to deepen connections to Clairbourn through mentorship, collaboration, and communication
Support the well-being of faculty and staff with programs and benefits that facilitate personal growth and wellness

Pillar 2:
Learning and Scholarship at Clairbourn

Goal Statement: Evolve an innovative and adaptable program to prepare our students for their future by ensuring academic rigor, intentional social-emotional learning, and independent thinking.

Support innovative teaching practices and programming to enhance student experience, well-being, and individualized learning
Create a shared understanding of the intersection of academic rigor, global citizenship, and Clairbourn’s core values
Extend the innovation program into additional aspects of the curriculum, emphasizing design thinking and problem-solving
Ensure Clairbourn’s facilities are in service to exceptional teaching and learning experiences for our students and faculty

Pillar 3: Modeling Leadership at Clairbourn

Goal Statement: Attract, develop and retain a diverse mission-aligned faculty and staff who embrace the vision of the school and practice the qualities to create scholars and leaders with heart.

Continue to support ongoing professional development opportunities for faculty and staff to support their growth, enhance the program, and prepare our students for future success
Prioritize the well-being of our faculty and staff to promote the close community and open communication at Clairbourn
Develop and support a culture of leadership to support continued agency among faculty and staff

Pillar 4: Strengthening Clairbourn’s Future

Goal Statement: Establish that financial stewardship and sustainability remain at the forefront of our exceptional educational program and dynamic student experience.

Promote long-term stability and future growth through strong fiscal management
Engage in targeted community outreach to promote our mission, our resources and what programs we have to offer our broader community to cultivate a culture of philanthropy and support the strategic vision of Clairbourn
Invest resources to enhance the student experience such as our exemplary faculty and staff, innovative campus strategy, diversity efforts, and state-of-the-art technology

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023

A Vibrant Preschool Program full of Exploration, Growth and Connection

As we approach the end of 2023, we are celebrating the growth our preschoolers have made! From embracing Diwali’s festival of lights to a feathery friend’s recent visit in the classroom and outdoor adventures, our little learners’ days have been filled with joy, discovery and hands-on experiences!

At Clairbourn, we are passionate about turning each opportunity into a teaching and learning experience. Besides celebrating Dia de los Muertos and American Indian Heritage Month, students learned about Diwali. Each of these opportunities was designed to explore cultural diversity! They collaborated to assemble a Diwali puzzle and discovered the rich traditions of this Indian holiday through engaging stories. Small groups of students joined in the creative process of making lanterns and sand art.

Students have been enjoying many delightful and educational show and tell sessions. One family brought their pet chicken to school and our teachers turned this experience into a learning opportunity! They discussed the dietary habits of chickens while discovering bugs and worms are on the menu! The fun fact that chickens clean themselves by rolling in the dirt sparked excitement among the children. We love their questions and how they embraced this joyful visit!

Besides time indoors, we value outdoor exploration and take advantage of our beautiful campus. Students often go on outdoor adventure walks, discovering the wonders of nature. They were fascinated by the squirrels, spider webs and bugs they found! To extend the learning experience beyond the classroom, students took their scavenger hunt checklist home to continue exploring and discovering nature at home with their family. Preschool students have taught us to slow down and appreciate all things around us, big or small!

As we reflect on this year’s growth, learning and laughter, these recent activities exemplify the dynamic and enriching experiences our preschool program provides. We remain dedicated to fostering a nurturing environment where curiosity is sparked, friendships blossom and the joy of learning is cherished. At Clairbourn, we are committed to creating scholars and leaders with heart!

August 29, 2023August 30, 2023

Outdoor Learning Space Expansion

This year brought many new campus upgrades thanks to our generous donors! We needed a new surface for our playgrounds, shade for the structures, and some new elements on the structure. We also saw a need to add outdoor learning areas to the fourth and fifth grade building which required a deck on one side and pavers and turf on the other.

Many families came forward to support the playground renovation for both our Randall Hall playground and the Seiter Center play surface. In addition, funds raised by the CFA this year supported this project. Thanks to the commitment to our students, we saw a transformation that will benefit children for years to come. This project began over spring break and, due to weather and unexpected construction issues, the opening of the playground was delayed by a few weeks. But this only made the playground more exciting when it opened. We were thrilled to see the happy faces of the students when they used the newly renovated playground for the first time. Today, children run, jump and play with sheer delight. A very big thank you to the generous donors and CFA for their support: The Clairbourn Families Association 2023, Xueyong Cheng and Aileen Chen, Victor Fang and Linda Wang, Feng and Liting Gao, Liming Gong and Jingbo Fu, Manny Grace and Casey Caffee-Grace, the Guok Family, Ellen He, Tom Luo and Eva Wang, Jingrong Shen and Jia Liu, Dr. Jianqiang Wang and Mrs. Hui Cheng, and the Wu Family.

The other big project was the addition of the deck and patio on the fourth and fifth grade building. Both of these outdoor learning spaces have made a huge difference for the classes. Teachers can expand their learning into these new spaces and take advantage of the lovely weather. It also helps to spread groups out and ensure collaboration is easy with less competing noise. Plus, it is a beautiful learning environment that matches our campus.

None of this would have been possible without our generous donors, either individually, or through CFA. Thank you for making our playground renovation project and outdoor learning space upgrade a resounding success.