Head of School Update
What to Expect Starting in January
Dear Clairbourn Families,
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. I spent the day with a smaller gathering than usual and several video calls to check in and celebrate with family. It felt good to have time to recharge, decorate for the holidays, and be grateful!
Clairbourn has submitted our waiver application for the younger grades to have the ability to come to campus for activities or learning. It will likely come through in the next few weeks. At the same time, we have been monitoring the current conditions and have decided to begin our on-campus activities after the holidays if conditions seem right. With the growing numbers it doesn’t seem like a good time to bring people together right now. However, since things change so quickly these days, we are ready to be flexible and adapt when needed and appropriate.
In January, we will hold a few meetings for the grades impacted by the waiver. At these meetings we will go over protocols, expectations, and schedules for each of the grades. At this time, the only grades covered by the waiver are Grade 2 and below. If that expands, we will schedule meetings for the additional grades as well.
When students can be on campus, we will continue to offer a fully remote option for the students who don’t feel comfortable being in person. We don’t yet know how long that option will be available, but it will likely be an option through the end of the year.
So as we start our final month of 2020, we can make the best of what is available to us, family, love, joy, beautiful blue skies, flexibility, and lots of learning and growth.
Here is to a happy December!
Amy Patzlaff, Ed.D.
Head of School
Scrip Gift Cards - Friday is the Last Day
Shop for the Holidays!
Purchase Scrip Gift Cards by Friday, December 4. The Scrip program allows you to purchase physical gift cards, at face value, from some of your favorite retailers. The school will get a percentage of all Scrip gift card purchases.
There are two ways to purchase Scrip Gift Cards:
Group Teacher Gifts - Friday is the Last Day
Participate by December 4!
The Group Gift Card Program allows you to participate in a group gift for your child’s teachers and to acknowledge the other faculty and staff that interact with you and your children. Friday, December 4 is the last day. Gift Cards to our faculty and staff will be delivered the week of Dec 14.
There are two ways to participate:
(email or return it to school by Dec. 4.)
Have questions? Contact one of these CFA Teacher Group Scrip Co-chairs:
DOH Holiday Drive - Friday is the Last Day
Toy & Gift Card Drive Ends Friday, Dec.4
The CFA is holding a Target Gift Card and Toy Drive, through Friday, December 4, in support of the Door of Hope’s Winter Carnival.
You can donate in two ways:
1) Drop off a $25 Target Gift Card or a toy (for any age and gender) at school. There will be a drop-off box at transportation.
2) Donate $25 through our online Clairbourn Store and we will purchase the Target Gift Card on your behalf.
The CFA will deliver all donated gift cards and toys to the Door of Hope on December 10.
Get Festival Tix By Dec. 6
Tanaka Farms Hikari Festival of Lights
Hikari in Japanese means “shine” and this holiday season, Tanaka Farms will light up and shine the 30-acre farm with over a mile of holiday and farm-themed twinkling lights. Plus, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there will be a special visit from Santa!
Clairbourn will earn $5 for every ticket to visit Tanaka Farms Hikari - Festival of Lights this holiday season.
Buy tickets on or before December 6 and use the code “ClairbournLights” at checkout.
Purchase Tickets
Annual Fund Donations
Be a Part of Our One Big Grateful Heart!
With a 50% participation rate, we are halfway to 100% participation for the Annual Fund. Thank you to all who donated to our Annual Fund so far. We are grateful for your support.
Check out our digital Donor Wall and help us fill it up!
Our goal is to reach 100 percent participation in 100 days by February 8th. Every donation counts, and your gift makes a difference in all aspects of your child's Clairbourn education.
Check out the participation levels so far!
JPK – 41% Participation
PK – 33% Participation
Kindergarten – 95% Participation (almost 100%)
1st Grade – 57% Participation
2nd Grade – 50% Participation
3rd Grade – 41% Participation
4th Grade – 39% Participation
5th Grade – 28% Participation
6th Grade – 26% Participation
7th Grade – 11% Participation
8th Grade – 42% Participation
Faculty/Staff – 71% Participation
Annual Fund Donation Levels To Consider:
Life Benefactor - $20,000 and Up
President Circle - $10,000 - $19,999
Founder Circle - $5,000 - $9,999
Trustee Circle - $2,500 - $4,999
Head of School Circle - $1,000 - $2,499
Cougar Circle – Up to $999
Donate Online
You may also mail a check, payable to "Clairbourn School.
All gifts are 100 percent tax deductible.
A HUGE THANK YOU goes to our Annual Fund Co-Chairs Livia Aryananda and Bhart Manwani and all the Captains (Lucy Balikian, Siyi Zhao, Jun Lau, Kate Liu, Ting Sung, and Dana Lee Wong) for their amazing leadership this year!If you have any questions, please contact your Class Captains or email development@clairbourn.org.
Middle School Choir Volunteers Needed
Sign Up for the Virtual Holiday Concert!
Middle school students are invited to participate in a virtual choir for Ms. Kiertzner's "Holiday Virtual Concert 2020." To sign up, please do the following steps:
1. Send Ms. Kiertzner an email at rkiertzner@clairbourn.org to let her know you are interested in participating, and she will then give you access to the Google Classroom where all of the materials for the virtual choir are located. 2. Use this link to go to the Google Classroom for all of the songs and learning tools.
3. Once you have learned the songs, watch the "How To" video, which will show you how to make your video recording and send it to Ms. Kiertzner.
Once you've sent in your video, you're done! Ms. Kiertzner will incorporate your video into one big virtual performance choir. We'll publish the video show date in the eCourier when it is ready to air.
Student Honors Pearl Harbor's Fallen
A Tribute from Middle-schooler Arthur Z.
 The following excerpts from sixth-grader Arthur Z.'s essay on the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Attack are an important reminder to cherish our freedoms and honor the sacrifices of our soldiers. To read the full essay, click here.
"Today [December 7] marks the 79th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. The attack lasted for one hour and fifteen minutes only, but was very dreadful. Of the 19 U.S. Navy ships present, all were damaged or destroyed and more than 300 aircraft were obliterated. Among the eight battleships at the base, four were sunk and the rest were severely injured. 2,335 military personnel were killed with 1,117 from the USS Arizona. Added to this were 68 civilians, making a total of 2,403 deaths. It was one of the most tragic days in U.S. history.
It brings both sorrow and respect to me in remembrance of the fallen soldiers. Many of the soldiers died young and did not have their lives under the belt. They have risked their lives to exchange peace for us today. I realize freedom or happiness is not simply given, but is a privilege to have. On this special day, let’s make it a remembrance of those who have fallen and pay great honor and respect to all soldiers who have dedicated so much to serve our country. Our country wouldn't be where we are today without them." Read more
Student Accomplishment
Congratulations to Gold-Winner Ethan L.
.jpg) In late November, eighth-grader Ethan L. won two awards in the MB Online Friendlies Speech and Debate Tournament held on November 22 and 23: a Gold Award, Middle/High School Interpretation and a Bronze Award, Middle School SPAR. Way to go Ethan!
Operation Gratitude Receives Treats
At the end of November, Clairbourn's Director of Facilities Ryan Morehouse dropped off Clairbourn's Operation Gratitude candy donation to the San Gabriel Police Department. An impressive 52 pounds of candy was collected! Thanks go to everyone who donated.
Simple, Safe Acts of Service from YSA
Help Kids Find Purpose in Volunteering
Check out the Youth Service America's guide for Volunteer Projects that Kids can do safely from home. Their activity plans will have your child making a difference to others in no time! According to an article from the Washington Post, "A wide body of research on teens and adults links volunteering to a host of benefits, including reduced rates of depression and anxiety, and meaningful improvements in life expectancy. In the course of volunteering, children “develop the skills to think of the world outside of themselves,” [says psychotherapist Akua Boateng], which lays the foundation for empathy, compassion and engagement. Parents, too, experience mental and physical health benefits from volunteering with their children, and they report closer family connection."
Let Your Mind Travel During Lockdown
Tokyo, Paris, and Hawaii Await!
The New York Times "Around the World at Home" series has three adventures for your family's enjoyment. Each one takes a deep dive to encompass the sights, sounds, music, food (recipes) and literature that showcase the locations:
Morning Assembly
Catch up On Morning Assembly Messages
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Track Santa's Flight on Christmas Eve!
Keep tabs on Santa's whereabouts as he visits each house and country across the world. NORAD Santa Tracker |
Help Answer Santa Letters
Want to play Santa this Christmas? Join the USPS Operation Santa program and choose to fulfill the wish of a child in need expressed in their letter to Santa. Letters are available to choose starting Friday, December 4. Learn more here |
Kid-Friendly Holiday Shows
 L.A. County Holiday Celebration (Free!)Enjoy an Emmy-winning showcase of artists from Los Angeles including choirs, music ensembles, and dance companies. Watch it on PBS SoCal channel & streaming Christmas Eve starting at 3pm and 7pm. KCET will rebroadcast the show on Christmas Day at 12 noon. The show is free! Learn more here.
 Holidaze Harmony
Enjoy a virtual variety show and concert from recording artists and broadway stars Terron Brooks and Kamilah Marshall. On demand from Dec. 17-20. $29 per household. Learn more here.
Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol PlayThis classic Dicken's tale is presented with paper puppets, miniatures, and silhouettes. Tickets are $20. Shows via Zoom Dec. 11-13. Learn more here.
 A Night of Holiday MagicEnjoy holiday-themed magic from esteemed Magic Castle members Elizabeth Messick, Michaelann Awesome, Patricia Magicia, and Simone Turkington. $40 per household.
 Winter WarLOCKDOWN Troubie Holiday PartyA family-friendly vaudeville variety show on Zoom with audience participation. $60 per household. Runs from December 10-20.
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Scholarship Thoughts:
"Scholarship is to be created not by compulsion, but by awakening a pure interest in knowledge." - Ralph Waldo EmersonAmerican essayist and philosopher Clairbourn is "Creating Scholars and Leaders with Heart!"
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Staying Healthy: Set Some Goals
According to Loretta Breuning, PhD, author of Habits of a Happy Brain, there are ways to boost happy hormones that can help us work through depression. Goal-setting is one of them because it is scientifically proven that we get bursts of “feel-good” hormones from each progressive step towards a goal or from the achievement of a goal.
Picking a goal on the lighter side is bound to make you feel better, like a fascinating new hobby or an engaging sport. An additional bonus comes from the energy bursts you can expect once you’ve gotten in the habit of goal pursuit. It’s nature’s way of helping us achieve the feel-good reward produced by goal or partial goal accomplishment.
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Quarantine & the Growth Mindset
According to respected heath and psychology writer Ashley Abramson in her article Quarantine is a Skill, "We're getting better at pandemic life every day! We’ve formed new habits, routines, and behaviors that have made this strange, difficult life better — and we can carry those with us long after things return to normal, whenever that may be.
Tempted to feel like 2020 was a total wash? Here are some of the most important skills quarantine is teaching us all."
1. How to ask for help
2. How to adapt
3. How to set boundaries
4. How to seek mental health support
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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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Computer Support
If you need technical help for CougarNet or device help, contact our computer teacher Mr. Barker. pbarker@clairbourn.org |
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.
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Review Us Online
“People who give the best are those who give of themselves – your time, talents, words, knowledge.”
― Omoakhuana Anthonia
Use your time, talent, words, and knowledge to spread the news about Clairbourn on these sites:
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