Clapham Blog

by Zach Ward, Middle/Upper School Science and Art Teacher

My relationship with cursive handwriting is one that is probably not uncommon to many, up to a point. It began when, in the upper half of primary school, I had to begin practicing my...

by Heather Hagenberg, Director of Administration and Admissions

Around this time last year my husband and I learned that Hollywood would be ending 2012 with the release of, “Anna Karinena,” “The Hobbit,” “Les Misérables,” and “The Great Gatsby”...

by Cheryl Ward, Class Eight Teacher

The first thing that strikes me as I walk into Class Four is the beautiful round spider-web windows on the west wall. They look like Hobbit windows, complete with plants and flowers nestled in the spherical...

by Elise Redfield, Class Four Teacher

As students attend various field trips throughout the Chicago area I constantly hear from employees and other visitors how attentive they are, what intelligent questions they ask, and my own mother tells...

by Katie Hassler, Class Six Teacher

I don’t think I’d have much trouble getting most people in the Clapham community to agree with the statement that it isn’t enough just to be reading—it matters what we read.  Why, though?  Are we just interested...

Literacy is a functional necessity in our society today. It was not always so. There was a time when an American farmer or craftsman could live a successful life in dynamic engagement with his community and never be called upon to write more than...

By Cheryl Ward, Class Eight Teacher

In my three years at Clapham, I have had so many “children-can’t-do-that” moments, only to be surprised that, indeed, they can. It happened with Shakespeare. I remember being handed the script for Comedy of Errors...

by Doug Reynolds, Head of School

This year I have enjoyed reading a number of classics from my favorite author, C.S. Lewis. I have basked in the enjoyment of rereading the Space Trilogy, The Abolition of Man, The Great Divorce. Some books I enjoyed...