Tag: private kindergarten

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Comprehensible Input: An Effective New Approach for Clairbourn’s Language Program

This year Clairbourn’s Spanish teacher and French teacher, Mary Drazic and Cara Barker, have both revolutionized their language classrooms with the Comprehensible Input (CI) style of instruction (also known as TPRS®—Teach Proficiency through Reading and Story-telling). Below, Mary Drazic provides insights into how CI is applied in language classrooms, followed by a brief history of the origins of CI (or TPRS®), as well as the research on its effectiveness, by French teacher Cara Barker:

Spanish Teacher Mary Drazic Shares Her Experience:

Clairbourn Spanish Teacher Mary Drazic

To prepare for this new style of teaching, I had the opportunity to attend a workshop with the founder of the TPRS® method, Blaine Ray. He instructs in the CI (or TPRS®) style that we have brought to Clairbourn School, and the training was a game-changer! We learned German during the workshop. It was fantastic to not only learn the new instructional style, but also to be a successful product of it. By the end of the training, I could tell a story in German!

I am so happy to share with you my first impressions of this new instructional style as applied in Clairbourn’s language classes. The students’ engagement is through the roof. I have never seen students respond so well to Spanish—they are even laughing at jokes in their new language. When learning a topic, they can emote by acting out what is happening during instruction and they can practice having appropriate responses to situations. For example, they are asked to respond in the target language with expression like, “Oh no!,” “That’s gross,” or “Ridiculous!”  Each student’s involvement enriches the overall experience.

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Middle School Parents: Your Children Need You Now In Different Ways

As Clairbourn middle school students pack for their three-day trip to the Pali Mountain Institute, parents often experience a range of emotions over their children heading off to a sleepaway camp.  A lot of parents feel sad that their children are growing up and may be needing them less.  Intellectually, they know that school overnight trips are good for their children because they teach them to overcome challenges, learn problem-solving strategies, develop leadership and collaboration skills, and strengthen relationships with other classmates. Consequently, parents find the strength to override the emotional tug to keep their children close to home and instead allow their children to participate in these key activities designed to “Create Scholars and Leaders with Heart.”

Middle school students head to the bus with their luggage to begin their three-day mountain adventure.

You are not alone! You have a parenting partner in Clairbourn School designed to support the parent’s journey as well as the student’s journey.

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Faculty Growth and Development: What Our Staff is Reading

For the 2019-2020 school year and beyond, Clairbourn School has accelerated its focus on faculty growth and development. Parents will be able to notice the positive effects of this effort across all grades as the school year progresses.  This includes funds for faculty development (thanks to the new Marks Family Professional Development Fund), new technical training and support for teachers provided by Knowing Technologies, creative language-learning solutions based on the TPRS classroom system (Teach Proficiency through Reading and Story-telling), and faculty reading assignments designed to create a school-wide embrace of educational and learning techniques heralded domestically and internationally.

Head of School Dr. Amy Patzlaff leads the Back to School Faculty Meeting in the Manor House building.
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8th Grade Remembrance Speeches

From left: Aaron C., Aidan S., Kennedy K., Samantha F., and Isabel C.

Clairbourn students excel at public speaking. It is therefore very natural for every member of the graduating 8th grade class to write a remembrance speech when the school year comes to a close. This speech is designed to provide students with the opportunity to reflect on their journey at Clairbourn—specifically to write about their personal growth, the challenges they overcame, meaningful opportunities, and their appreciation for inspiring teachers.  While every student writes a speech, only 10 students (about 1/3 of the class) is asked to give a public presentation of their speech at the Morning Assembly, the Awards Assembly, or the final Graduation event.  Here are excerpts from five of the speeches given at the end of the 2018-2019 school year.

“I have been at Clairbourn for 8 years. My Clairbourn experience has been much more than a journey through education, it has actually been like a basketball game. Kevin Durant says, “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” Sometimes, I faced people or challenges bigger than me. Other times, I missed many shots that discouraged me. However, at the end of the day, it is not the score that really counts. It is how I persevered and worked hard towards my goals that really counts because it showed me how to work hard and walk the road in order to succeed.” – Aaron C.

[At Clairbourn I learned that] “…staying present helps us to not dwell on the past or overthink the future, which allows us to enjoy our current experience… We don’t want to miss the good right in front of us. I urge everyone to remind ourselves to always be present.” – Aidan S.

Isabel C. speaks at the Awards Assembly

“In my time here, opportunity has knocked on my door many times… through these opportunities, I have figured out who I am.” -Kennedy K.

“I want to say thank you to the Clairbourn community for shaping me into the person I am today, giving me the encouragement I needed through thick and thin, and ultimately teaching me that failure is not fatal.” – Samantha F.

“I have learned so much from the entire Clairbourn community— everything from algebra, to crafting a thesis, to self-worth and emotional vulnerability.” – Isabel C.

Aaron C. Remembrance Speech video available here.
Aidan S. Remembrance Speech video available here.
Kennedy K. Remembrance Speech video available here.
Samantha F. Remembrance Speech video available here.
Isabel C. Remembrance Speech video available here.

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.

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Awards Assembly

Clairbourn School’s Awards Assembly is held on the last day of each school year. The Awards Assembly is a way for Clairbourn School to honor its students who show special commitment to their studies, excelling in academics, athletics, and character. They are true scholars and leaders, with heart. The Awards Assembly featured a number of awards which consisted of the following:

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8th Grade Graduation Party

The 8th grade Class of 2019 celebrated their upcoming graduation, along with the 7th grade class, at a circus-themed party in Arcadia. Our 7th and 8th grade students and parents worked hard all year to fund-raise for this beautiful celebration. Dancing, karaoke, virtual reality pods, video games, a photo booth, air hockey, a candy bar, and a BBQ dinner made the event unforgettable. To cap off the night, they showed a memory video of each graduating student growing up over the last 11 years. Special thanks go to Event Chairs Janice Wong, Michelle Welsh, and Grace Wen who coordinated the party.  Thanks also go to Penny Frick for organizing the San Sei lunches, which helped to bring in 1/4 of the funds needed for the graduation party. 

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.

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Congratulations to the Class of 2019!

Clairbourn School congratulates its eighth grade graduates, the Class of 2019! These twenty-seven students have distinguished themselves with academic achievements, leadership accomplishments, and creative community-building activities. This class includes volleyball and golf champions, math competition winners, award-winning artists, published composers, and many highly dedicated student government leaders. Their positive and inclusive class spirit will be remembered by those still at Clairbourn for many years to come. The Class of 2019 will be attending Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Flintridge Prep, Gabrielino High School, Harvard-Westlake Upper School, LaSalle College Preparatory, Loyola High School, Maranatha High School, Mayfield Senior School, Polytechnic School, Principia Upper School, San Marino High School, Saint Francis High School, and Westridge School.

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.

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The Class of 2015 College Send-Off Reunion

Twenty-two members of Clairbourn’s Class of 2015, and some of their parents, returned to campus for a reunion celebrating their completion of high school and their new adventures in college. They enjoyed yearbooks, a breakfast buffet and time for visiting with each other before joining the Awards Assembly where they shared their future plans with teachers, current students, and parents in attendance. Afterwards, they spent time on the playground, visiting classrooms, and speaking to their former teachers who were thrilled to see them all grown up.

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.

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Class of 2019 Graduation Remarks from Head of School Dr. Patzlaff

The Class of 2019 is special in many ways. They demonstrated creativity when some of them wrote and produced an original song for the whole middle school to perform in the Thanksgiving assembly. They demonstrated generosity when class members donated original art for display in the Manor House. They demonstrated tenacity and sportsmanship when they won the league volleyball championship this year. They showed leadership when they started new traditions, like the international lunch, that bring the school together. They showed heart when they found they had exceeded their fundraising goals and chose to donate the funds to a deserving charity. They showed scholarship when class members earned significant merit scholarships at many of the high schools they will attend next year. This is an amazing group of individuals who, together embody the mission of Clairbourn, Creating scholars and leaders with heart.

Head of School Dr. Amy Patzlaff spoke to the graduating Class of 2019 at their Graduation Ceremony on June 5, 2019.
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