翻译
Statement of Philosophy, Purpose, and Goals
At Clairbourn’s preschool program, we believe childhood is a time of wonder, curiosity, joy, discovery, and meaningful connection. We recognize that young children learn best when they are actively engaged, emotionally supported, and inspired to explore the world around them. Our program is thoughtfully designed to nurture the whole child—socially, emotionally, intellectually, physically, and creatively—laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning through meaningful relationships, joyful discovery, and intentional experiences.
Learning Through Purposeful Play
Our philosophy combines purposeful, play-based learning with intentional teaching. To a young child, play is not a break from learning—it is how learning happens. Learning at Clairbourn is active, joyful, and filled with moments of wonder as children discover new ideas through meaningful experiences rather than simply being told about them. Every day, children investigate, create, build, imagine, question, and collaborate through carefully planned experiences that spark curiosity and encourage discovery. While children experience exciting centers, engaging projects, and opportunities for exploration, every activity is thoughtfully designed to strengthen academic, social-emotional, physical, and creative development.
Whether children are sorting objects with tweezers, constructing elaborate block structures, creating artwork, experimenting with sensory materials, cooking, exploring nature, or engaging in dramatic play, they are developing far more than meets the eye. These experiences strengthen early mathematical thinking, language and literacy development, phonological awareness, fine and gross motor skills, creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Children build the foundational concepts that support future reading, writing, mathematics, and scientific inquiry through meaningful, hands-on experiences that make learning engaging, memorable, and fun.
Relationships Matter
Meaningful relationships are at the heart of everything we do, creating a foundation of trust and belonging from which children can grow and learn. Children are greeted each day with warm smiles, genuine enthusiasm, and teachers who delight in each child, celebrate their accomplishments, and take the time to truly know them. Our classrooms are filled with laughter, joyful discovery, moments of wonder, and shared celebrations because we believe children thrive when they experience the security of being deeply known, valued, and genuinely loved by the adults who care for them. Rather than simply directing activities or supervising from the sidelines, our teachers are expert early childhood educators who thoughtfully guide learning. They carefully observe each child, ask meaningful questions, extend children's thinking, model positive social interactions, and provide just the right amount of support and encouragement to help every child grow in confidence and independence.
"I love going to school! I play, sing, learn letters, and make so many friends. My teachers help me feel brave, kind, and happy every day!" — Preschooler
Academic Foundations
While much of learning takes place through exploration and discovery, teachers also provide developmentally appropriate instruction in foundational skills. Through rich conversations, interactive read-alouds, phonological awareness activities, writing opportunities, counting experiences, patterning, sorting, scientific exploration, and purposeful play, children develop the early literacy and numeracy skills that prepare them for future academic success. Because instruction is woven naturally throughout the day, children remain engaged, confident, and excited to learn.
Knowing Every Child
Recognizing that every child develops at their own pace, our teachers thoughtfully differentiate learning experiences to meet individual needs. Within the same activity, children may be working toward different developmental goals while sharing the same joyful learning experience. During a name practice group, one child may be identifying and arranging the letters in their name while another is practicing writing their first and last name independently. Some children may be counting objects while others are exploring patterns or solving more complex challenges. Teachers continually adjust and extend learning so that every child is appropriately challenged, supported, and celebrated.
Our teachers continually observe, listen, and learn alongside each child. Through daily interactions, purposeful observation, and ongoing documentation, they gain a deep understanding of each child's strengths, interests, and areas of growth. These insights guide lesson planning, support differentiated instruction, and ensure that each child continues to grow with confidence. Families receive developmental Learning Profiles each trimester, highlighting progress in social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development, along with personalized teacher comments. Formal parent conferences are held twice each year, but we believe the most meaningful communication happens through the ongoing conversations and partnerships that develop between teachers and families throughout the school year.
Children's interests help shape our curriculum throughout the year. While teachers thoughtfully plan rich thematic units, they remain responsive to the questions, passions, and curiosities that naturally emerge within the classroom. This flexibility creates authentic learning experiences that inspire enthusiasm and encourage children to become active participants in their own learning. Indoor and outdoor learning environments provide daily opportunities for exploration, while art, music, movement, STEM experiences, literature, dramatic play, and cultural studies are thoughtfully woven throughout the curriculum, helping children make meaningful connections across all areas of development.
Character Development
We believe that lasting academic and personal success begins with strong character and social-emotional competence, which lies at the heart of our program. Throughout each day, children learn to communicate effectively, solve problems collaboratively, demonstrate empathy, practice responsibility, and develop resilience. Teachers consistently model and coach these skills during classroom interactions, helping children build meaningful friendships, navigate challenges, and develop the confidence to contribute positively to their community. These habits of heart become the foundation for future success in school and in life.
As part of the Clairbourn community, children also enjoy weekly classes with specialist teachers in music and library, while participating in age-appropriate experiences that connect them to the larger school community. These opportunities help children develop a sense of belonging while preserving the warmth, joy, and nurturing environment that define early childhood.
Our goal is not to rush children through childhood or accelerate them beyond what is developmentally appropriate. We believe childhood is valuable in and of itself and should be filled with joy, exploration, creativity, and meaningful relationships. At the same time, we intentionally prepare children for future success by cultivating curiosity, independence, perseverance, confidence, and a genuine love of learning. Academic foundations in literacy, mathematics, language, and problem-solving are developed thoughtfully through engaging, hands-on experiences that inspire children to ask questions, think critically, and delight in discovery. As a result, children leave Clairbourn’s preschool program not only socially and emotionally prepared, but also equipped with the foundational academic skills, confidence, and curiosity needed to thrive in Clairbourn's elementary program and beyond.
At our preschool program, every activity, every conversation, every classroom environment, and every relationship is thoughtfully designed to help children grow. We believe that when children are surrounded by caring adults who know them well, delight in who they are, encourage them to explore with confidence, challenge them to think deeply, give them the freedom to experience the joy of learning, and celebrate each new accomplishment, they develop the curiosity of scholars, the compassion of leaders, and the character that lies at the heart of Clairbourn's mission of Creating Scholars and Leaders with Heart.
8400 Huntington Drive | San Gabriel, CA 91775 626.286.3108 | info@clairbourn.org
Private School Education for Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary School & Middle School. Serving Families in the Pasadena Area and San Gabriel Valley. Clairbourn is a 501(c)3 charitable organization (K-12 Private Schools) and accredited by CAIS and WASC. Child Care Facility license # 191500903.