Sayra Rubio, the preschool teacher at Clairbourn School, is willing to do whatever it takes to inspire her students! She recently completed her first skydive on Sunday, October 6, 2019, in order to give a first-hand account of the experience to her students and answer their questions about what it was like to descend to earth by parachute.
For over a month, preschoolers at Clairbourn have been involved in a STEM activity called “The Parachute Plunge” designed to teach the scientific principles that make parachutes work. Students learned about surface area, properties of materials, and air resistance/drag effect, all of which combine to work in opposition to gravity.
Sayra Rubio, the preschool teacher at Clairbourn School, is willing to do whatever it takes to inspire her students! She recently completed her first skydive on Sunday, October 6, 2019, in order to give a first-hand account of the experience to her students who are studying and building parachutes.
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.
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.
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.
Clairbourn School’s Music and Drama Awards are held on the last week of each school year during the Morning Assembly. The Music and Drama Awards are a way for Clairbourn School to honor its students who diligently practice their music and drama skills, as they grow into well-rounded individuals.
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:
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.
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.
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.
On Friday, Student Council Coordinator Laurie Corwin presented candy-necklace awards to all who served on the 2018-2019 Clairbourn Student Council. Class Representatives for the first half of the school year included sixth-graders Dylan W., Brian X. and Vanessa H., seventh-graders Matthew R. and Kaylie S., and eighth-graders Aidan S. and Chelsea C. Class Representatives, for the second half of the school year were sixth-graders Belen C, Sarah I., and William L., seventh-graders Kaylie S., Alexander L., and Kevin Z., and eighth-graders Aaron C. and Emily W. They served alongside the four officers elected in May of 2018, Cyanne J., Secretary, Matthew C., Treasurer, Kennedy K., Vice President, and Isabel C., President.
