Tag: outdoor education

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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
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From Ideation to Voltage: Wind Turbines Designed by K-8 Students

Students in kindergarten to eighth grade embarked on the full Human Centered Design (HCD) approach from the Stanford University (d.school) and IDEO to design windsocks, anemometers and wind turbines to harness the kinetic energy of the wind and convert it into electricity. We began by learning how to assemble the turbine base out of PVC pipes, followed by cutting, stripping and electrical taping motors wires and alligator clips threaded inside the pipe bases.

Next we brainstormed, or ideated as it’s called in HCD, Students drew plans and listed options for different variables including the material, length, width, angle and number of blades for their wind turbines. We researched what made turbines successful and learned some modern wind turbines use biomimicry to borrow from the serrated feathers of owls to reduce noise and increase output. With thousands of options, we narrowed the list down to the ones we had the materials for and, based on our research, thought would give us the best chance of success.

Students constructed hundreds of prototypes across the school and began testing them using multimeters to measure the amount of voltage their turbines generated when the wind blew via either a house fan or the Santa Ana winds. On average each turbine was able to generate around 0.15 volts. With 50 turbines in the school we could generate the same push as 5 AA batteries using just the wind!
 
Our engineers persevered through struggles learning each setback made their final product that much better on their way to their completed wind turbines. It was wonderful to see the students problem solve, identify what wasn’t working or what they wanted to improve and had the agency to fix it themselves. Special thanks to our I Lab teacher, Mr. Beaber for leading this year’s Engineering week and for all of his patience working with many students!

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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!

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Building a Strong Foundation: STEM in Early Childhood Learning at Clairbourn

Clairbourn’s preschool and kindergarten students had an exciting STEM learning experience, taking inspiration from the classic tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. The project centered on the scientific exploration of parachute design, giving our young students a fascinating and educational journey. Students embraced the design thinking process, an approach that includes empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping and testing. To start, they had a special visit from Mr. Beaber, the I-Lab teacher, who discussed the fundamental principles of wind, gravity and air resistance. These concepts laid the groundwork for their parachute design exploration.

As they dove deeper into the project, the students began to appreciate the relationship between surface area, material properties, and air resistance, all of which are important factors in countering the force of gravity. Students learned through brainstorming, testing and hands-on construction of parachutes designed to ensure Jack’s safe landing from the beanstalk.

The design process included testing of various materials and parachute shapes. The students developed prototypes, expanding their creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Thorne, facilitated the parachute drops from a tall staircase on campus. These exciting experiments led to further design modifications and several more rounds of testing, giving the students the opportunity to refine their designs.

The highlight of this educational adventure was our annual Clairbourn Early Learning STEM Event, where parents actively participated, joining their children in building and testing parachutes. The event was a thrilling experience for all involved, establishing a strong collaboration between teachers, parents and students while reinforcing the hands-on STEM education at an early age.

At Clairbourn, we are committed to establish a positive foundation and design a program to encourage children’s natural love of learning in an environment where they feel comfortable, confident and secure. Children in our preschool program are prepared to enter kindergarten with a positive self-concept, the spirit of inquiry and critical thinking and problem-solving skills!

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Middle school students learn and build connections beyond the classroom

In our dynamic middle school program, our annual outdoor adventures offer students a transformative experience that goes beyond the traditional classroom setting. This year, our students ventured to the Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI) and Pali Mountain Institute for a three-day trip that broadened their horizons.


During their time at CIMI, students engaged in hands-on activities that allowed them to classify algae, study marine invertebrates and explore touch tanks. Using microscopes, they delved into the world of phytoplankton and zooplankton from the Toyon Bay’s seawater. These interactive labs laid a strong foundation for understanding ecosystems. Students also enjoyed going on a thrilling snorkeling adventure and witnessed a rich diversity of marine life, including kelp bass, opal eyes, blacksmith fish, shovel-nose guitarfish, sea turtles and the iconic Garibaldi, California’s state marine fish.


Beyond the water, students enjoyed guided hikes to learn about Catalina’s history and had the unexpected delight of spotting bison! In the evenings, they discovered the remarkable adaptations that enable deep-sea creatures to thrive through the Creatures of the Deep program. This knowledge enriched students’ understanding of biology, ecology and environmental science.

The annual Pali trip was an enriching experience for our six graders, with a focus on team building, leadership skills and outdoor education. They disconnected from technology and immersed themselves in nature. Students enjoyed many exciting day hikes in the mountains, zipline and ropes courses, and engaged in team-building games such as Who Stole My Chicken against their camp counselors. They particularly loved the experience of dissecting owl pellets which left them both fascinated and informed about the intricate world of animal biology.

Special thanks to our dedicated middle school teachers who chaperoned these trips and provided unwavering support and supervision, and ensured our students’ safety throughout this unforgettable experience.

At Clairbourn, we believe in the power of hands-on learning and curiosity. We love to create opportunities for our students to work together in teams, form friendships and build connections that extend beyond the classroom. Our outdoor adventure trips serve as a key component in our exceptional education in shaping young minds and nurturing a sense of connection to the world and one another.

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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.

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Third Grade Economy Unit

Market Day was an opportunity for our third grade students to put their economic concepts learned in class into practice. Students worked together with partners to develop a market plan for the product they wanted to produce and sell. Once their product plans were complete, they had four in-class work sessions to produce their products and prepare them for Market Day!

Students determined the price of the products and created advertising posters. This year the students worked in our new I-Lab and learned to use Canva to create these posters.Their products were sold at the annual third grade Market Day. Afterward, students calculated their income, less their production costs, in order to determine their net profit. What a fun and exciting learning experience for our third graders. It also helped to prepare them for future endeavors at the annual Clairbourn Entrepreneurial Fair. Well done, Cougars!

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Hello from Pali in the beautiful mountains!

We are so ecstatic our outdoor education trip is back this year! Students from sixth to eighth grades went on a wilderness-based journey to Pali Mountain Institute and participated in a variety of adventurous challenges and outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing, ropes courses and group games.

It was exhilarating to see our Cougars conquer their fears, persevere, and cheer each other on. The eighth graders kickstarted their day with a huge dose of adrenaline on the zipline. They learned to use their deductive reasoning skills to solve a mystery at CSI: Pali. Seventh graders were challenged with the high ropes course. They scaled and climbed various climbing structures and learned to support each other by belaying. Students also had a great time learning how to hold a bow and trying archery. Sixth graders were kept busy participating in team-building activities, art in nature, and electromagnetic dynamo experiments. They explored on orienteering hikes and enjoyed hands-on activities including engineering and teamwork challenges.

Outdoor education and team building are a big part of our Clairbourn education. They support our students’ emotional, behavioral and intellectual growth. This experience allows students to develop a positive sense of self, independence, confidence, decision-making and problem-solving skills, empathy towards others, and self-discipline. We are so proud of each of our Cougars!

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