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
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?
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
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”
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
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
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 […]
The Importance of Public Speaking
Interviews, presentations, and special events like graduation are just a few of the situations where good public speaking can prove useful. To earn our diploma, all Clonlara high school students must complete a half-credit focused on this important skill. Whether a student is excited about studying speech or anxious about completing the requirement, our teachers […]
A Celebration of Creativity and Passion
On Saturday, May 22, we celebrated the creativity and passion of our students and alumni in a special virtual performance fundraiser. The initial broadcast was viewed by Clonlara families, friends, and other supporters from Ann Arbor to Tokyo, who tuned in to see and hear some of our most-talented musicians and dancers! The event was […]
A Global Celebration of Volunteer Service
Clonlara’s Global Give Back is a week of volunteering that connects our school community around the world. This year, students, families, and staff met virtually the week of April 18–24 to share and celebrate their volunteer projects. From fighting issues of homelessness to solving major environmental challenges, our campus and off-campus students took the opportunity […]