Head of School Update
Activity on Campus Has Returned!
Dear Clairbourn Families,
I was thrilled this week to see students on campus! We started our middle school conditioning program this week. It makes the campus feel alive and joyful when I hear laughter and see students bounding through the front gate.
How We are Handling Health Screening: When students come to campus, we ask the parent to complete a daily COVID-19 health screening form located in the Magnus App. In order to fill it out, parents need to download that app onto their smart phones so they can show us the screen that says the child is OK to come to campus. Once we see the screen, we take the temperature of the child, remind them to keep distanced and masked, and then let them out of the car.
Grades that will Follow: The next group to come to campus will be our kindergarten students. All kindergarten families were sent a survey to assess their comfort in coming to school. If you have a kindergarten student and have not yet responded to the survey, please do so by tomorrow so we can plan accordingly for when we are allowed to bring students back. Check your spam folder if you did not get the survey.
We are also targeting a reopening date for our preschool! If you are a preschool family, please be sure to watch for your survey in your email.
The rest of the grades will follow with optional supervised social/emotional learning activities as we are allowed to bring these students on campus. More information on this will come in the next few weeks.
Getting Ready to Come to Campus: For any parent who would like to get ready for their child to come to campus, you can follow these directions:
- Log into Cougarnet at clairbourn.myschoolapp.com with your own (parent) account. This will not work if you log in as a student.
- Under the "Resources" tab look for a tile with a link to Magnus.
- Click on the Magnus tile. It should log you right into your Magnus account without having to re-enter credentials to log on.
- Click or hover over your name within Magnus (top left of screen).
- Choose "Change Credentials."
- Create a Username & Password that only you know and will remember. This username/password combination will be used as your PHR mobile app login only.
- On your phone, download the "Magnus Mobile V2" app from the Apple Store or the Google Play store, and log in using your newly created username and password.
- Select the button that says COVID-19 and fill out the form. (You will only see this button if your child is SCHEDULED to be on campus.)
- This is the screen you will show the school-official before your child exits the car. The green "GO" at the top signals that the health form has been completed. (You will only be able to generate this screen using the app if your child is SCHEDULED to be on campus.)
- If you have any questions on the Magnus App, please contact Mr. Jubilado, Clairbourn's Health Officer at njubilado@clairbourn.org.
The Stay-At-Home Option: For any families who are more comfortable staying at home for now, we fully support this choice as well.
Amy Patzlaff, Ed.D.
Head of School
Happy New Year's Eve
Lunar New Year - The Year of the Metal Ox
Today is New Year's Eve for those who celebrate Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year (based on the traditional lunisolar calendar.) The first day of the Lunar New Year is Friday, February 12, and ushers in the Year of the Ox...the Metal Ox to be exact. This festival symbolizes the end of winter and a welcoming of the spring season.
The year of the Ox occurs ever 12 years according to the Chinese zodiac. If you didn't enjoy the Year of the Rat, the Year of the Ox is considered to be lucky, good for relationships, and a time of success for those willing to work hard (very hard...just like oxen). Learn more here.
Middle School Artistry on Display
When English Teacher Mrs. Barker assigned The Giver: Photography Contest to her Grade 8 students, to explore the themes of the book The Giver, which they are studying in English class, she challenged them to use an isolated color element within a greyscale photograph to depict an emotional relationship between the subject and an object. Congratulations go to Tiffany H. for winning the contest and to Evan B. for receiving an honorable mention.
7th Grade English students are studying Haiku poetry, and English teacher Mrs. Barker challenged them with a Haiku: Photography Contest. The requirements were to write a haiku poem and then pair it with an original photograph, combining their likeness with a visual element from their poem. The winner for best image illustrating their poem was Irene X., and Jane Z. received an honorable mention.
Operation Picture Project Winners
Applause for the Pajama Day pics uploaded to Vidigami. The winning contest participants are:
#1 - Malena Z. (She turned Pajama Day into an artistic statement.)
#2 - Vanessa-Mei G. (She really communicated the fun side of Pajama Day with her energized pose.)
#3 - Penelope W. (Her extra effort was apparent in how she paired her pajamas with well-coordinated accessories - it's a full ensemble!)
Hooray for the Hat Day pictures submitted in Vidigami. The winning contest participants are: #1 - Sebastian E. (His inspired move to pair a fur hat with a flight jacket resulted in a great character photo!)
#2 - Katherine W. (Her creativity in decorating her hat with high-impact, colorful images was great!)
#3 (Tie) Georgiana E. and Elliot C. (Georgiana captured a beautiful mood in her impressive hat photo, and Elliot made a strong fashion statement by wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a powerful graphic presence.)
_____________________________________________
About The Contests:
The Student Council started Operation Picture Project to help generate photos for the yearbook while in remote learning mode. Students and parents can take pictures related to "Theme Days" and submit them on Vidigami. Students will receive one point for submitting a picture.
Extra Points: Every theme day, judges will pick three winners who will receive extra points!
Get Prizes: Students can get prizes with their points (details will be shared later on). The more you post photos, the more fun you'll have!
 When to Submit "Theme Day" Pics: Today is Valentine's Day Theme Wear. Upload your photo to this Vidigami Album to enter the contest. More theme days will be announced soon. When Does it End? Operation Picture Project will end on March 12 when third quarter ends.
Grade 8 Gold-Winner Ethan L.
At the SoCal Spring Speech and Debate Competition, held on January 30th and 31, eighth-grader Ethan L. won Gold for Middle School Novice Interpretation and Gold for Novice SPAR. Then, most recently on February 6th and 7th, Ethan entered the final round of the JV division at the 35th Annual Stanford Invitational and he won 6th Place after two days of competition. Well done Ethan!
Join in These Upcoming Activities
It's time to get excited about CFA's next Restaurant Fundraiser! Please plan to order food from Panda Express on February 17 (available all day). Clairbourn will receive 28% of all sales. Be sure to share this fundraising opportunity with your friends and family.
How to Order:
Use the link below to place an online order for pick-up or delivery at ANY Panda Express location nationwide. All orders must be placed online for both pick-up and delivery orders. No in-store ordering for this fundraiser.
Order Link
(When ordering online, apply coupon code 901845 in the box during checkout or through the Panda Express App.)
Have Questions? Please contact Dana Lee Wong at danalee168@gmail.com.
Don't Miss the CFA's Virtual Magic Show for Grades K-2! This 30-minute interactive magic show is sure to have your kids laughing in amazement, and it's a great opportunity to give them some virtual magic fun with their classmates.
When: Sunday, February 21 at 2pm.
Buying Your Spot: Visit the Clairbourn Store to reserve and buy your spot by Thurs., Feb. 18.
Important: When ordering, please write your child’s name, grade, and the email address for receiving the Zoom link in the comment section.
Questions? Please contact Miriam Cruz at mncrdesign@gmail.com
Annual Fund Donations
Thank You For Your Participation
We're so grateful to our community for the strong showing of a 76% overall community participation rate in our Annual Fund "100% in 100 Days" campaign drive.
While we didn't reach the ultimate participation goal of 100%, our participation rate is amazing considering the level of world-wide economic disruption caused by the pandemic. In pre-pandemic times, the average national independent school annual fund participation rate was 85%, so to have only a 10% drop in participation among parents is remarkable and something to celebrate. Our gratitude is immense for everyone who found a way to contribute.
The 2020-2021 Annual Fund remains open till June 30, and contributions are welcome at anytime.
JPK – 92% Participation
PK – 67% Participation
Kindergarten – 96% Participation
1st Grade – 81% Participation
2nd Grade – 85% Participation
3rd Grade – 78% Participation
4th Grade – 54% Participation
5th Grade – 47% Participation
6th Grade – 65% Participation
7th Grade – 52% Participation
8th Grade – 58% Participation
Faculty/Staff – 100% Participation
Board of Trustees - 100% Participation
Morning Assembly
Catch up On Morning Assembly Messages
Things went awry for lawyer Rod Ponton in a recent Zoom meeting happening as part of a Texas court hearing. He was stuck in a cat-head filter and, with great embarrassment, struggled to turn it off at the start of the meeting. For those who can't resist turning themselves into a cat for their next Zoom call on a desktop computer, download " Snap Camera" for Mac and PCs.
|
| | | To translate the text on this page, use the Google Translate dropdown menu at the top of this page. |
On Scholarship: Try Thinking Backwards
"Thinking is a skill. And like any other skill, you can get good at it.
Try to solve this puzzle:
A bacteria doubles every twenty-four hours. It takes thirty days to fill a lake. On what day is the lake half-full?
Because you’re trying to solve the problem forward, it’s hard to see the answer right away. Try again by looking at the problem backwards.
Here’s how to do it:
The lake is full on day thirty. How about on day twenty-nine? Since the bacteria doubles every twenty-four hours, this means it should be half-full on day twenty-nine. Easy peasy, right?
Some problems are hard to solve unless you look at them backwards. Only then you can find the right answers. Retrograde analysis, or thinking backwards, is a technique that can help you solve complex problems and become a better tactician. You start from an imagined outcome and work your way back to your current circumstances."
- Dr. Younes Henni, Research Associate with the Cambridge Graphene Centre & Engineering Department of Cambridge University (Nanomaterials and Spectroscopy Group, Electrical Engineering Division)
Clairbourn is "Creating Scholars and Leaders with Heart!" |
Black History Month Coverage
See who is featured!
This week in the Wednesday Morning Assembly message (viewable at the end of this eCourier newsletter), the Student Council celebrates the achievements of abolitionist and political activist Harriet Tubman and basketball legend Kobe Bryant.
Harriet Tubman Facts:
-She freed 70 enslaved people on over 13 different rescue missions.
-She used safehouses and a network of antislavery activist called the "Underground Railroad" to help people escape.
-Her nickname was "Moses" and she never lost a person along the escape route.
-She helped newly freed slaves find work.
-She was an armed scout and spy for the Union Army during the Civil War.
-She guided the raid at Combahee Ferry which freed 700 slaves.
-She was a women's suffrage activist.
-There is a renewed effort to put a portrait of Tubman on the twenty-dollar bill.
Kobe Bryant Facts:
-He is regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
-He was a shooting guard and enjoyed a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
-He helped his team win five NBA championships.
-He was All-Star 18 times.
-He was a member of the All-NBA Team 15 times.
-He was part of the All-Defensive Team 12 times.
-He was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2008.
-He was named an NBA Finals MVP twice in his career.
-He lead the NBA in scoring twice.
-He joined the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics and won two gold medals as part of the U.S. National Team.
-Before his professional career, he was considered to be the top high-school basketball player in the U.S. in 1996.
|
Staying Healthy: Shower Your Brain
Your brain may actually need a shower more than your body! The warm water, combined with the comfort of familiar surroundings, can lead to heighted levels of relaxation as well as some great ideas. " Shower thoughts" are a real phenomenon.
"Successful entrepreneurs, writers, and accomplished individuals have all heralded that showering is one of the most important activities in their day because of the undisturbed flow of thoughts that effortlessly stream into their minds."
So next time you're stressed or stuck, spend some time in the shower and get back into a healthy, balanced, and productive state.
|
Feed Your Face With Fair Food!
Get your free tickets to experience a drive-thru Fair Food Festival coming to Pasadena's Rose Bowl (Lot K). It starts Feb. 5 and runs through Feb. 28.
Try BBQ treats from an 18-wheeler grill or dishes like deep-fried Twinkies, Krispy Kreme Cheeseburgers, roasted corn and Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Pineapple Bowls!
Rules: They only take credit cards, masks must be worn when ordering, and there is no on-site eating allowed (just pick-up and go).
Hours:
5-10 p.m. on Fridays, and 12 noon-10p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (Closed on Feb. 7, Super Bowl Sunday)
|
Student Accomplishments
Send in your student updates! Did your student win an award, learn a new skill, make something cool, have an adventure, or do a service project? We'd love to post it in the eCourier!
with the details including a photo or video if you have one.
|
Community Support
Check out our COVID-19 Resources Page designed to help kids keep busy, families stay healthy, and parents be supported. |
Stay Connected
Follow us on these social media accounts.
|
Reviews Count!
Would you recommend Clairbourn to a friend? If so, be sure to review us on one of these sites.
|
|
