Remote Learning FAQs
What is the quality of Clairbourn's Remote Learning Program?
The signs of a high-quality Remote Learning experience include these elements:
- Tech-savvy teachers. We have them, we're proud of them, and we're enhancing their training for Remote Learning. Additionally, they are supported by education technology experts Knowing Technologies.
- The right software, systems, and technology. Our new fiber network, installed over the summer will ensure fast Internet speeds and strong connectivity. Our CougarNet, Google Classrooms, SeeSaw and other learning management software tools are now streamlined and battle-tested to create a consistent and simplified delivery of educational content for students.
- Age-appropriate levels of screen-time. It is not age-appropriate to be in front of a screen all day long, and quality Remote Learning Programs will offer a balance of online and offline activities. Depending on your child's grade level, the average amount of screen time in Clairbourn's Remote Learning Program may range from 3-5 hours per day which will provide quality instruction as well as additional off-screen activities to create balance.
(We recognize that parents of younger students are severely challenged by the home supervision required on their part, but this is a world-wide challenge generating an intense search for solutions which have not yet become clear.)
- Live sessions with the teacher/s every day and live specialist sessions weekly. Our parent surveys indicated a need for more live teacher time and live specialist sessions, and these will be offered to the highest degree allowable based on grade-level appropriateness.
- The right student equipment with technology training. We've purchased individual Remote Learning devices and have pre-loaded them with learning apps to distribute to our students to ensure the success of their learning experience. All students will receive training on the systems at the start of the school year.
- Well-rounded offerings with character education.
Clairbourn is offering music, arts, and PE in addition to its academic classes, and character education is infused into all of it. We are continuing to develop the whole child, and Remote Learning doesn't stop that important developmental work. We are just delivering those experiences in a new way.
- Office hours for most teachers. Students and parents will have questions during the Remote Learning Experience, and our Remote Learning Program will include office hours for most teachers to help ensure that you and your student can get the answers and help needed in a timely manner.
- Easy access to school administration. Clairbourn is known for having easy access to administrators without red-tape battles. If you have a need, let us know! We will be keeping the communication lines open so you can get answers, report challenges, or make suggestions. Emails can be sent to info@clairbourn.org.
- Readiness to resume on-campus instruction and the ability to do so safely. Clairbourn's campus is kept in a constant state of readiness to allow students to return to campus at a moment's notice with all the safety protocols in place. Regardless of format, in-person or online, the quality of education will be the highest possible under current circumstances.
- Parent interaction and support. Remote learning is highly impactful on parents! Clairbourn recognizes this, and will continue its efforts to take care of the whole family unit with helpful ideas and online interaction opportunities to help maintain a sense of community and meaningful support.
Why should I consider Remote Learning at Clairbourn vs. public school?
Not all Remote Learning Programs are equal. The schools who are succeeding with their Remote Learning Programs are the schools with strong and stable funding.
California public school funds, while temporarily spared from cuts, are facing 11 billion dollars in deferred payments this school year. They will need to fundraise from parents (minimizing tuition savings), borrow, or dip into savings to get by, and in 2021, they are facing severe budget cuts. Public schools also have larger class sizes, which makes it more difficult for students to socially distance when on-campus instruction is once again allowed.
Families that are looking to a public school option may be adding additional hardships and new challenges to their child's schooling experience. A school change can disrupt peer-to-peer social networks, create the need to build from scratch a network of teachers and specialists who know how to work with your children, and parents have to make new connections with other families at a time when socializing is discouraged. In other words, your community support network will undergo great changes at a time when stabilizing your child's circumstances is key for their educational progress and well being.
Clairbourn is a source of stability and continuity. It has made the investment in improving its spacious campus with safe and technologically advanced systems to ensure our students succeed and will have seamless transitions between remote and on-campus learning. Class sizes will be kept small. Students will be getting individualized attention with differentiated learning. Every effort has been made to ensure a quality experience, as allowable by circumstances and according to grade-level appropriateness.
Our Clairbourn Families Association is ready to implement creative ways for families to interact online to maintain and expand parent community connections. This leaves parents and students free to focus on the job of learning instead of constantly checking the pulse of a state school budget, or starting over with a new community thinking the grass is greener, only to have a whole new set of challenges to navigate.
Why is Clairbourn's RL Program a better option than tutors, homeschooling, or homeschool pods?
Reinventing school is hard! Starting a homeschool program or pod means you are essentially attempting to create your own private school which must have a private school affidavit filed with the state of California.
Homeschooled students are either parent-taught and supervised or a tutor is involved, classes must be taught in English, and all of the instructional subjects taught in the public schools must be covered. Tutors must carry a California Teaching Credential for their classes to qualify with the state as a viable home-schooling option.
Not every parent may want to take on the responsibility of becoming a teacher for their own children or those of others. California teaching-credentialed tutors are expensive and they are in extreme demand right now, to the point where tutors are being freshly recruited on job sites in record numbers. Although new-to-the-field tutors may be qualified to teach on paper, they are most likely very light on proven teaching experience.
For parents forming homeschool pods, there are ongoing challenges with scheduling meeting locations and coordinating who will teach what subjects and when they will teach. For parents hoping that homeschooling can alleviate time and supervision challenges in their household, homeschooling can be a source of new challenges that run deep. A quick Google search on the phrase "What are the challenges of homeschooling?" returns 5,150,000 results. It's a big subject!
Clairbourn recognizes that our parents have busy lives, and they need school to happen for their child as seamlessly as possible with every attempt made to minimize the burden on parents. It's a known fact that the younger the child, the more parents need to be involved to help their child stay on schedule and supervise that their work is completed and turned in. There is no avoiding that reality whether it is a Remote Learning or homeschool circumstance.
But, Clairbourn students are trained to grow into tech-savvy problem-solvers who are strong in time-management and are responsible with their assignments and homework. As students move up through the grade levels, they become more and more free of the need for parent support and are usually completely independent by middle school.
It is important to remember that Clairbourn goes beyond academics. Our programs are well-rounded in all subjects, employ researched-backed educational techniques, include character education, and our teachers are equipped to handle differentiated mindsets and learning styles.
Our students are not only prepared to learn the skills and qualities desired by the top high schools, but they are exposed to opportunities that help them develop and understand their strengths as people. Clairbourn students are guided by experienced teachers who promote the growth mindset in their students and who have the patience and love to work with students until they truly grasp a concept-all the while keeping the learning experience enjoyable.
In our opinion, based on over 94 years of educating students, this is the time to appreciate all the features of of a Clairbourn education. Our engine is roaring, and we're ready to take you and your children forward on the path to success!
Can my student take a gap year? Will you hold their spot?
The demand to attend Clairbourn is currently very high. We have waiting lists and we are turning people away on a regular basis. Despite high demand, we are intentionally keeping our class numbers low to ensure social distancing, when on-campus learning is once again allowed, to protect the health and safety of our students. That means, if you withdraw this year, you run the risk of having no space available in your child's grade when you wish to return.
Will there be tuition discounts for Remote Learning?
Offering Remote Learning creates additional expenses for Clairbourn. In addition to the need to maintain our beautiful campus facilities in a constant state of readiness, we've also invested in the latest technology and equipment to support the Remote Learning Program including a new fiber network.
Clairbourn invested a large amount this summer (not tuition revenue dollars) to upgrade the online learning experience for our students, as well as to renovate structural aspects of our campus systems for COVID-19 health and safety along with additional on-campus technology to designed to facilitate social distancing in an on-campus setting.
To assist our teachers, we also have one of the finest technology teams under contract,
Knowing Technologies, who solely work with schools and their teachers to ensure they are tech-savvy and equipped to deliver meaningful lessons both electronically and in-person for the best learning experience for our students. These people are always on call for our staff!
Clairbourn's main expenses, which are drawn from tuition dollars, go towards salaries and campus maintenance. Neither of those expenses are reduced when a Remote Learning Program is taking place. The campus must be kept student-ready, and we require our full staff. Therefore, there are no savings to pass along in the form of tuition discounts to our parents.
Clairbourn is keenly aware that COVID-19 fallout has resulted in a great deal of financial uncertainty for practically every family we serve. If a family feels their financial circumstances have changed and they wish to explore their financial aid options, a conversation may be initiated by the family with our Head of School Dr. Patzlaff who can be reached at
apatzlaff@clairbourn.org.
Have more questions?
We want to hear from you! Please let us know your thoughts, concerns, or suggestions. You may send them to
info@clairbourn.org.
