Clonlara and the Colégio de São José: A Trailblazing Partnership

Clonlara/CSJ Partnership

At nearly 100 years old, the Colégio de São José (CSJ) in Coimbra, Portugal, boasts a long history characterized by educational reform and innovation, making its partnership with Clonlara School the perfect match. Since 2018, CSJ has worked to implement Clonlara’s personalized education approach to support K–12 students in both Portuguese and English. Clonlara’s Approach […]

Change and Continuity

Chandra Montgomery Nicol Quote

In a letter dated May 26, 2022, Executive Director Chandra Montgomery Nicol shared the news of her upcoming retirement with Clonlara’s enrolled families. Read her original message below or view it in the following languages: Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish. Dear Clonlara Families and Friends,

Making the World Brighter Through Art

Global Art Show 2022: Making the World Brighter Through Art

With over 400 works of art contributed by nearly 200 students from 24 different countries, Clonlara School’s Global Art Show in March wowed an international audience, making school history as our largest art show to date! Hosted by Clonlara’s Director of Education April Huard on Zoom, the virtual event welcomed nearly 140 families who tuned […]

Mara Costa: An Artistically Self-Directed Learning Journey

Mara Costa: An Artistically Self-Directed Learning Journey

When senior Mara Costa, a self-taught realistic artist, first began her studies at Clonlara School, she felt a little “displaced,” so she passed time reading and sketching. “I spent endless hours drawing,” she says, “without rushing, without demanding anything of myself, without expectations from myself or others.” She soon found that the flexibility of her […]

The Importance of “Home” in Academic and Emotional Growth

The Importance of Home in Academic and Emotional Growth

When looking to improve the educational experience of our children, we often search for the perfect curriculum, ideal program, or most dynamic teacher. We spend a lot of time seeking the best solution to grow our children academically, but what if the key to educational success lies in the most easily accessible place of all: […]

Has Your Idea of “School” Changed?

Has Your Idea of “School” Changed?

When March 2020 began, few families could have imagined the effect COVID-19 would have on their experience of school, work, and life. Under the assumption everything would get “back to normal” in a few weeks, many were happy to try working remotely, socializing via Zoom, and learning at home. Even homeschooling families were willing to […]

Distance Learning with Caring Support

Distance Learning with Caring Support

Many homeschooling families draw a distinct line between the learning activities they design together—visiting museums, writing poetry, conducting science experiments—and those offered by online or distance learning providers. But what happens when a student’s interests lead to a very specific fascination in a topic about which their parents can offer zero assistance? Perhaps the topic […]

Full Circle Learning in Action: Building a “Thinking Place”

Full Circle Learning in Action: Building a “Thinking Place”

When a Clonlara School Off-Campus Program parent followed her 12-year-old son’s interests, she almost ended up with a giant caboose in her backyard! Thankfully, constructing a private “thinking place”— no matter what its design—was the inspiration behind her son William’s project, and he was willing to settle on building a smaller playhouse-sized version of their […]

Clonlara Welcomes Students in Greek and Turkish

Clonlara Welcomes Students in Greek and Turkish

As Clonlara students around the world begin the 2021–22 school year, we are delighted to welcome Greek and Turkish families to our Off-Campus Program in their own languages! “From our roots in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Clonlara School has grown into a true global learning community,” said Executive Director Chandra Montgomery Nicol. “With the addition of […]

Celebrating the Class of 2021

Congratulations, Class of 2021!

Today, we celebrate the many accomplishments of Clonlara’s Class of 2021 with a commencement ceremony that marks the end of our school’s 54th year. And, once again, we are truly inspired by the perseverance of our graduates around the world, who pursued their passions, met their requirements, and grew closer together through another challenging year […]