School Year Preparation
Key Information for the Start of School
Dear Clairbourn Family,
We hope you have had a wonderful summer playing outdoors, finding adventure in your back yards, and connecting with loved ones via new digital methods.
We have prepared for a great school year whether it be at our school campus or online. The teachers have been doing specialized training this summer to prepare for the remote learning program to ensure it is robust, targeted to the needs of our students, and also age appropriate. We are ready with a schedule that we know to be flexible and adaptable.
As you know, we are starting our year online based on state mandates that are in place. At the same time, we are ready to shift back when that becomes available.
We have some exciting changes for this year. We have new faculty, many of whom were introduced to you in previous eCouriers. For full bios, please see our website. Mrs. Lindsay Thorne joins us as our KA teacher. Ms.Chrystle White is our new KB assistant. Ms. Guen Vinnedge joins us as our new Middle School science teacher. Mrs. Cara Barker will be our Middle School English teacher. Mrs. Janet Taylor is our Assistant Head of School. Each of these individuals bring a valuable skill set that will add to our community, so we are grateful to have them as part of our team. As you are preparing for the start of the year, be sure to note the supply pickup schedule, save the dates for the parent meetings listed below, and log into CougarNet to sign your forms, view class schedule and assignments, and enter the required health information into Magnus.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions. We are all here to help and we are looking forward to a happy and productive year!
Amy Patzlaff
Head of School
Janet Taylor
Assistant Head
Karen Paciorek
Director of Enrollment/Early Education
Upcoming Parent Events
Preschool Families Meeting:
Please plan to attend a Town Hall Meeting on August 19th, 2020 at 2PM. (Zoom link to follow)
Grades K-8 Back-to-School Meetings:
Parents, please plan to attend the following Back-to-School events where teachers will present information about the year. Teachers will be sending out the Zoom links directly to the families in their classes.
|
Tues. Sept 8
|
Wed. Sept 9
|
Thurs. Sept 10
|
|
6:00pm K & 3rd
7:00pm 1st & 4th
|
6:00pm 2nd & 5th
|
7:00pm Middle School
|
School Year Preparation
Read the Parent Remote Learning Guide
Please read our Parent Remote Learning Guide document. Keep this link handy as the document will change over time. This document shares what to expect in remote learning including topics like schedule, attendance, community, assessment, screen time, tech checks and more!
Supply Pickup Schedule by Grade:
We are excited to see everyone for student supply pickup days. Please plan to come at the time listed below. For those with more than one child, you have the option to come more than once so your child can see their teacher.
If you would rather do only one pickup, you can get supplies for all of your children at one time. The classroom teachers are helping with the distribution of materials so they can say hi to their new students! Please keep health and safety in mind by staying in your car and wearing a mask.
When you pull in, the teacher can load the bag into your trunk to do a contact-free delivery.
|
Mon. Aug 24
|
Tues. Aug 25
|
Wed. Aug 26
|
|
9-10:00 Kinder A & B
|
9-9:30 3rd Grade
|
9-9:30 6th Grade
|
|
10-10:30 1st Grade
|
9:30-10 4th Grade
|
9:30-10 7th Grade
|
|
10:30-11 2nd Grade
|
10-10:30 5th Grade
|
10-10:30 8th Grade
|
To-Do List for CougarNet
1. Class Schedule and Assignments
Parents, please log in to CougarNet to view your child's class schedule and assignments.
2. Complete Required Forms
Please complete all required forms found in your CougarNet account. If you have any questions about completing forms, or have difficulty logging in, please contact Paul Barker at pbarker@clairbourn.org. Only required forms will have automatic email notification. There may be other forms you wish to fill out in CougarNet that are not required.
3. Register With Magnus Health
It is vital that the school has current health information about each child. All families must complete their Magnus Health Forms and submit your child’s immunization records before school begins. This is a State Law. Please use this CougarNet link for Magnus Health in the Resource Board section to provide your information. If you need help, please contact Nick Jubilado in the health office at njubilado@clairbourn.org, or at extension 117.
Clairbourn Families Association (CFA)
Welcome Message from the CFA President
 Dear Incoming Clairbourn Families, Welcome to the Clairbourn Community! My name is Connie Kim and I am the President of the Clairbourn Families’ Association (CFA) for the 2020-2021 school year.
I would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone. We have a wonderful community of families and faculty and staff, all of whom are ready to welcome you, answer any questions, and most of all, get to know you better.
Host Families:
All incoming Clairbourn families are paired with current Clairbourn host families. Your host family will contact you soon, if they haven’t already, to introduce themselves and to act as a resource for any questions you may have. I encourage you to reach out to your host family and stay connected with them throughout the school year.
CFA Membership: All current Clairbourn families are members of CFA. The CFA’s mission is to enrich and strengthen our Clairbourn community through community-building events and activities which all foster the family-feeling community that Clairbourn is known for. It also provides opportunities for families to participate and be involved in their children’s school.
CFA Fundraisers:
We also fundraise for the school. The money we raise goes directly to the school to provide enrichment activities like field trips, special assemblies, and guest speakers, just to name a few.
Participation in Virtual Events:
As we begin this upcoming school year with remote learning, the CFA will put on pause many of the activities and events that typically take place throughout the school year. Instead, the CFA will host various virtual activities and events for our
students and families to participate in. We hope you will join us. Your participation will help keep our Clairbourn community connected and strong. Be sure to check this weekly Clairbourn eCourier for CFA announcements and updates on upcoming virtual events.
Scrip Sale Fundraisers:
Another way families can support the CFA and the School is by participating in our Scrip Program. Scrip Program allows you to purchase physical gift cards from some of your favorite retailers such as, Amazon, Starbucks, Whole Foods, Nordstrom and many more. Scrip sales happen 3 times a year – September, November, and May. The CFA encourages every family to participate by purchasing at least $500 in gift cards. Families can also shop Amazon by clicking the Amazon link at clairbournstore.com. Our School gets back 0.5% of your total Amazon purchase. We are so glad you and your child/children will be joining us this upcoming school year. I hope you will support our efforts in making this upcoming school year a successful one. I look forward to meeting you (virtually) soon.
Warm Regards,
Connie Kim, CFA president
Supporting Parents
Set Up Your Child for Home-Study Success
Be sure to email your child's teacher to ask them what grade-specific recommendations they may have.
With school starting up in Remote Learning formats at almost all school locations, now is a great time to set up your child with everything they need to support their home studies.
 Begin by considering a properly-equipped location in your home where your child can learn. Experts say that, “Without a specific learning spot, young learners can be easily distracted, they don’t have supplies they need nearby, and there’s no sense of consistency. The family couch, then, as comfortable and easy as it seems, may not be the right option for young children needing to learn about routines, early education, and self-regulation.” 1 Read More Here
Student Accomplishment
Mock Trial Sessions Hosted by Ethan L.
To help keep his classmates busy while sheltering at home, Ethan L. in Grade 8, invited his Clairbourn friends to join his Mock Trial Sessions to learn about law, cases and courthouses. A total of 15 kids signed up for the six weeks sessions and they were all eager to explore this new field. Not only did the kids love the classes, but even when some of them went on vacation, they still logged in to participate in the virtual sessions. The group hopes to continue the Mock Trial sessions this fall. 
Girl Scouts Help Others
Making the World a Better Place!
Pandemic Packets to the Rescue!
Clairbourn Girl Scouts in Troop 4831 made special pandemic safety kids for homeless adult and kids staying at the Door of Hope. Erin B. made 12 masks, and Hayden Y., Sophia R., Elena R., Hayden Y., and Melanie Y. collected 40 sets of head phones (to help with homework),150 sanitizer bottles, and $400 worth of Target gift cards. They then assembled everything into packets to distribute at the Door of Hope. Way to go scouts!
Virtual Field Trip Resources Shared by St. Paul's Girl Scout Troop 304
"Dear Clairbourn, Our troop wanted to send the Clairbourn family some virtual applause. We needed virtual field trip and tour ideas so your virtual travel recommendations [listed on your COVID-19 Resources Page] came in handy.
Our girl scouts cannot meet in person because of the pandemic, so we are having our "Connecting Cultures" activities virtually via Zoom. They've been putting together materials about famous landmarks/museums/historical sites. Your website gave us many awesome references to include, so you have our thanks!
One of our superstar scouts Hailey is a self proclaimed "geography nerd" and she sent us this list of virtual field trips that has a bunch of good ones. She noticed you didn't have that one on your resources page, Hailey thought it would be a good addition and maybe you would consider adding it?"
Margaret and the St. Paul's Troop 304
(Clairbourn added their suggested link and Troop 304 is excited to show to their parents that they are now included on our school's web page at their next troop meeting.)
Summer Isn't Over Yet!
Recommended Family Adventures
Catan
European famlies are crazy for Catan! A recent NPR article reported that " Families Stuck At Home Turn To Board Game Catan, Sending Sales Skyrocketing." Suitable for ages 10 and up and good for 3 or 4 players, "It is a board game of trade and development where players compete for resources in a race to build settlements, cities and roads. The most successful developer wins. Entrepreneurs love the game. LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman reportedly has played it in job interviews to size up applicants and as a tool for making venture capital deals. In its 25th year, Catan has sold more than 32 million units, according to company figures, one of the bestselling board games of all time.
 Feel like traveling but can't get away? Check out these podcast travel stories from AFAR. They believe that travel, changes the way we see the world. Each week they post, "...stories from people who took a trip—and came home transformed." You can find more information at afar.com/traveltales. (Parents - be sure to prescreen for age-appropriate content.) Here are three kid-friendly podcasts from AFAR:
|
