Head of School Update
Thoughts on Being Prepared
Dear Clairbourn Family,
I was so happy to sit in on some of the Back-to-School Night sessions. One of my favorite parts was seeing little student fingers operating the iPads to get their parents set up. I could hear one child explaining, very patiently, how their parents could mute and unmute themselves if they wanted to talk. I love to watch children taking care of their parents!
After the meetings, I suddenly received a fire evacuation warning at my home. This was a first for me. As I read the message, it set me to think about how to prepare. My husband and I got busy following the recommended steps so we could leave quickly if needed. As it turned out, we were not asked to evacuate that night.
Later, as I lay in bed wondering about the direction of the fire, I reflected on how these evacuation preparations clearly revealed my priorities as well as a need to be prepared for occasional surprises. I thought about the things that I put in my go bag and the things I was willing to leave behind. My top priorities were, of course, my husband and my cats (Frank and Beans).
I was also grateful for the emergency alert systems in place, for shelter locations, and for the firefighters who are prepared and trained to go into action at a moment's notice. It reminded me how much preparation matters when an unexpected event comes into play. You can't prepare at the time of a crisis, the preparation has to happen beforehand.
So what does this all have to do with school? School activities are preparation for things to come. We don't really know the details of future problems students will need to solve. We don't know what exact experiments they will have to conduct or what specific compelling arguments they will need to make. We don't know the complicated circumstances in which they will have to determine fact from opinion, think clearly under pressure, and maintain their composure.
But in each of those cases, we're practicing and building the skills needed to master those future moments. Each student assignment, practice session, and project is part of the preparation to ensure they are ready for whatever the future holds. It makes me so grateful to know that, not only will they be prepared with the skills they need, but they will also have the heart to know how to thoughtfully apply those skills, because, as our mission says, Clairbourn Creates Scholars and Leaders with Heart.
Amy Patzlaff, Ed.D.
Head of School
Our New Student Council
Officers & Class Reps Have Been Elected
At the end of last week, Clairbourn students participated in a Student Council election to decide on officers and class representatives. It was wonderful to see so many students come forward with a willingness to serve their school and fellow students.
After the election results were finalized, the first order of business was to take a Zoom Selfie!
Student Council Officers:
Sarah I. - President, Marcos I. - Vice President, Vanessa H. - Secretary, Marcel Z. - Treasurer, and Faith C. - Curator
Class Representatives:
Hannah B. & Arthur Z. - 6th Grade
William B. & Annie Z. - 7th Grade
Natalie A. & Tiffany H. - 8th Grade
They Caught Him!
Kindergarten Gingerbread Adventure
The Gingerbread Man tradition in Kindergarten is normally supposed to be a tour of school buildings in disguise for young students who need to learn their way around campus. When it is discovered that their just-baked Gingerbread Man has escaped from the oven, they look for him in campus buildings and eventually find him, celebrate, and eat him!
This year, Kindergarten teachers Kris Shoemake and Lindsay Thorne, along with their assistants Chrystle White and Stephanie Chang, devised a brilliant way to keep the traditional alive in a remote learning format. Here is a small taste of the multi-day adventure they created which culminated in students finding their very own gingerbread man hiding in their homes ready to eat!
Sign Up By Sept. 10 for Parker-Anderson After-School Classes & Virtual Care!
Registration is open now! The deadline is September 10. Clairbourn is partnered with Parker-Anderson to offer our students Online Enrichment Classes and Virtual Aftercare Programs. See the attached flyers for details. All sign-ups and payments are handled by Parker-Anderson. Download these flyers to learn more:
CFA - Clairbourn Families Association News
Time to Buy Scrip! The Scrip Sale Fundraiser Starts Today, September 10.
 The CFA is now accepting Scrip orders. Please help support the CFA and our school by participating in the Scrip program. The Scrip Program allows you to purchase physical gift cards, at face value, from some of your favorite retailers such as Amazon, Target, Nordstrom and many more. The school will get a percentage of all Scrip gift card purchases.
There are two ways to purchase Scrip gift cards:
1. Purchase Scrip Gift Cards on the CFA Online Store (A small credit card processing fee will be charged for all online orders).2. Purchase Scrip Gift Cards using this Scrip Order Form and mail or return it to school by Sept. 25.
Catch up On Morning Assembly Messages
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Computer Support
If you need technical help with CougarNet or device help, please email Computer Specialist Paul Barker pbarker@clairbourn.org
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Virtual Cougar Corner for Parents
Parents, please join the new Facebook group Cougar Corner to stay connected with current Clairbourn parents. This virtual and private Facebook group is a way for parents to get to know each other, share helpful tips and ideas on home-learning, post inspiring updates about themselves and their children, and share anything else that encourages each other. Let’s keep our community vibrant!
Join Cougar Corner on Facebook
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Thoughts on What it Means to be a Scholar:
"Nothing will work unless you do"- Maya Angelou.
Long time Clairbourn teacher Lola Wallden, with a 36-year career at the school, would agree! She deemed hard work and persistence to be more important and worthy of praise than scholastic success! Today, Clairbourn gives a major end-of-the-year student award in her honor to inspire and encourage the hard-workers. Stay persistent everyone!
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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.
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Health & Safety
What are the best face masks for kids? Wirecutter reviewed 70 options, looked at scientific studies , consulted health experts, and tested the top masks on kids from ages 3 to 10. Find out which masks came out on top! |
Community Support
Check out our COVID-19 Resources Page designed to help kids keep busy, families stay healthy, and parents be supported. |
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