Our Blog

By Clonlara School We’ve said it before, and it bears repeating: “Not enough can be said about the importance of play.” In fact, play is so important that we have always made time for it at Clonlara School, even when the trend in traditional education has…

By Clonlara School Clonlara School’s Class of 2019 included 115 students, representing 20 U.S. states and 17 countries. They earned scholarships and awards totaling more than $400,000 to help pursue their passions and goals next year in the colleges and careers of their choice. In…

Volunteer service is a core element of Clonlara’s educational approach intended to foster a sense of civic engagement and altruism. Each year, our students in Ann Arbor and around the world engage in service projects, with 180 hours required during their high school years (grades…

By Danielle Smith, Off-Campus Program Advisor “The tallest tree in the forest came from a good seed—that is not in question. But it did not become the tallest tree in the forest simply because it grew from a good seed; it became the tallest tree…

By April Huard, Off-Campus Program Advisor Last month, for the first time ever, Clonlara School was represented at the Great Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati, OH. Several thousand people attend this convention each year, and over 300 exhibitors fill the vendor hall. In between spreading the…

By Marina F., Off-Campus Student, Brazil Program I have been traveling with my mother for nine months and am sharing my experiences to help you avoid the boredom ☺. If you’re hoping your trip will end soon, here’s my advice: Don’t think about it! It’s…

By Carrie Lafferty, Off-Campus Program Advisor When I think back on the days before we adopted our son, I was filled with fear. Would he be healthy? Would we like each other? Would he want to be a part of our family? Would I be…

The benefits of homeschooling and distance learning extend beyond taking ownership over your own education; they allow you to cultivate a healthy lifestyle. Clonlara School’s Off-Campus Program students and learners enrolled in our online courses have the flexibility to schedule learning around their needs, but even…

By Clonlara School Clonlara School hosted its annual Art Show & Open House on March 7, 2019. The exhibit featured works by more than 60 Clonlara students from 10 different countries as well as a performance by our campus Youngers (and some of their even younger…

By Clonlara School If you have a special event coming up and need an extraordinary cake to mark the occasion, call Sarah Reed. Even before she graduated from Clonlara last year, Sarah and her cousin Emily Peterson started their own business, Cousins Creations Baked Goods,…

By Pat Montgomery, Founder Editor’s Note: Earlier this month, we lost a dear member of our school community. Billie Fahrner was a Clonlara School parent, staff member, and board member. She is remembered and celebrated here by Founder Pat Montgomery, her colleague and friend. I…

By Clonlara School We interviewed Sally, the parent of a 6-year-old Clonlara School student, to get some insight into her family’s decision to choose our Campus Program. Her answers offer a glimpse into learning in the early years at Clonlara as well as advice for…