Head’s Corner: Relationships Before Rigor

At Saklan, when it comes to learning, we believe that strong relationships and strong academics are not in competition with one another. In fact, they depend on each other.

Think back to your own school experience. Most of us can picture a teacher we truly connected with: someone who knew us well, cared about us, and held us to high expectations. For many of us, those were the classrooms where learning felt more profound and meaningful.

That’s not a coincidence.

Students spend thousands of hours with their teachers over the course of their school years, and research consistently shows that the quality of those relationships matters. Large-scale studies following millions of students have found that trusting, supportive relationships between teachers and students are linked to higher academic achievement, stronger self-regulation, improved behavior, and a greater sense of belonging—particularly as students get older.

At Saklan, we intentionally make the time and space to build those relationships. We want children to feel seen, known, and cared for—not only because it helps them grow into kind, grounded people, but because it directly supports learning.

When students feel safe and connected, their brains are more open to learning. They are more willing to take intellectual risks, persist through challenges, and accept feedback.

Relationships aren’t a “nice to have.” They are a foundation for real rigor.

This is why we believe relationships before rigor isn’t a slogan—it’s a strategy. One grounded in research, lived out daily in classrooms, and central to who we are at Saklan.

Meet Philippa: Inspiring Curiosity in Preschool

Warm, creative, and deeply connected to curiosity and community, Philippa brings a joyful sense of exploration to Saklan’s Early Childhood program. With a passion for Project Based Learning and a love of diving into topics sparked by children’s genuine interests, Philippa helps make Preschool feel like an adventure every day. Whether she’s guiding students through meaningful projects, sharing her creative spirit, or finding inspiration in nature and art, Philippa embodies the curiosity, collaboration, and creativity at the heart of Saklan.

What drew you to Saklan initially?

I first heard about Saklan from my friend Hannah (Saklan’s Business Manager), who had nothing but wonderful things to say. When she told me that Saklan was becoming a project school, I knew right away it was the perfect fit. Project work is truly my favorite way to teach and learn.

One of the things I love most about Saklan is the sense of community. Everyone brings something unique to the table, and we all get to share our passions with each other and with the children.

My favorite part of working in the ECE program is diving into topics the children are genuinely curious about. Their excitement makes every day fun, and I feel so lucky to be part of a place where learning feels like an adventure.

You bring so much creativity to your role. How do you fuel your own creativity outside of school? 

Outside of school, I stay inspired by diving into lots of different hobbies. I love trying new things! Learning new crafts and exploring different art forms is something that really fuels me. Recently, my daughter and I started needle felting together, and for years we’ve been making little clay sculptures. During our Fall Break, we made some ornaments for our tree out of clay and paper mache.

Some of my favorite art to create is nature-inspired sculpture. We spend many weekends exploring new hiking spots, especially along the coast. Beaches, tide pools, and Northern California’s amazing plants always spark fresh ideas. Being out in nature and discovering beautiful new places keeps my creativity going.

What excites you most about projects in the ECE when it comes to the Project Approach style of grounding the learning in a topic that is of interest to the students?

What excites me most about projects in ECE is how naturally young children learn through curiosity. When a topic truly interests them, their questions, ideas, and investigations become so rich and genuine. The project approach allows us to take that spark and turn it into deep, meaningful learning, right at an age when their wonder is at its highest.

It’s inspiring to watch preschoolers make connections, test theories, and share discoveries with so much joy. They explore with their whole selves, through art, movement, storytelling, and hands-on experiences, and the learning becomes something they truly own. Being able to guide and support that process, while following their lead, is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching in the early childhood years.

Saklan’s Movie Night

All Saklan families are invited to join us for our annual Saklan Movie Night on Sunday, January 25th, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Founders Auditorium at the Orinda Community Center (next to the Orinda Library). 

We will be showing My Neighbor Totoro! Popcorn and water will be provided, along with folding chairs. Children are invited to bring a cozy blanket and a favorite stuffed animal to spread out on the floor and enjoy the movie. Families are also welcome to bring additional nut-free snacks and water bottles.

We hope to see you there for a fun and cozy community evening! 

#SaklanCommunity #SaklanPA

Studying the World of Islam in 7th Humanities

The 7th-grade students shared their learning with members of our Saklan community at their World of Islam Symposium for the culmination of their World of Islam independent study unit in Humanities. 

For this unit, each student selected a topic they were interested in, then researched and evaluated sources relating to their topic. Next, they wrote and answered their own questions based on what they were learning from examining their print and digital sources. As they gathered more knowledge about their topics, they discussed what they were learning with one another. They then used their questions and answers to write a multiple-paragraph research paper.

At the Symposium, each student displayed their final paper, vocabulary cards, Need to Know questions, and an infographic poster to accompany their short oral presentation about their topic. They then answered follow-up questions from visiting parents, teachers, and their 6th and 8th-grade peers.

The 7th graders want to debunk negative stereotypes of Muslims by fostering a better understanding of Islamic history, culture, and beliefs. We thank our young scholars of Islam for this experience!

World of Islam Topics Studied:

  • The Life of Muhammad 570 – 612 C.E.
  • The Life of Muhammad 613 – 632 C.E.
  • The Spread of the Islamic Empire after 632 C.E.
  • The Islamic Golden Age and the House of Wisdom
  • The Qur’an
  • The 5 Pillars of Islam
  • Islamic Architecture
  • The Blue Mosque
  • The Taj Mahal
  • The Arabic Language
  • Islamic Calligraphy
  • Islamophobia Today

A Splashing Success

Congratulations to our third, fourth, and fifth-grade students on their fantastic performance of The SpongeBob Musical just before Winter Break!

From memorizing lines and stepping into character to finding costumes, designing sets, and applying makeup, it truly takes a village to bring a production like this to life. Our performers showed incredible courage, creativity, and teamwork on stage, and we could not be prouder.

A heartfelt thank you to the parents who supported behind the scenes by running lines, organizing base costumes, and helping with hair and makeup. And thank you to everyone who joined us for the performance and cheered on our talented cast. Your support made this celebration of creativity and collaboration even more special.

Additionally, we have a few special thank yous we would like to share:

  • To Dianne Hurvitz for directing the lower school students’ wonderful performance. Her hard work, dedication, and love for the students were evident throughout the show.
  • To Javier Yacarini for his hard work constructing the stage.
  • To Jayme Feldhammer for her work on the costumes.
  • To Sarah Gardner for her incredible help with providing and applying sparkly fishy makeup!
  • To Meredith Ware for sea anemone support and last-minute sewing on anemone accessories.
  • To everyone who joined us on our Saturday work day to build sets, props, and costumes.

It was a fabulous show! We hope you enjoy the photos from the performance below.

Parent Ed on Wednesday: Inside the ADHD Mind

Tools to Help Your Child Thrive

Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026
Noon–1 p.m. PT
Live Q&A webinar streamed on Zoom

Kids with ADHD are full of strengths, yet everyday tasks and actions can be a struggle, adding an extra layer of complexity for their caregivers. Traditional parenting strategies often backfire, leaving families feeling defeated and alone.

Join ParentMap and The Saklan School on Jan. 21 for a thought-provoking and empowering ParentEd Talk. In this live webinar, psychiatrist and ADHD expert Dr. Sasha Hamdani, along with special guest moderator Dr. Erin Gonzalez, will unpack what’s happening in the ADHD brain, explain why common strategies often fall short, and share a game plan that works with your child’s mind — not against it. Whether you suspect ADHD, are navigating a new diagnosis, or are simply feeling stuck, this talk provides clarity and confidence for families and caregivers who need it most.

You’ll leave with:

  • A clear understanding of ADHD’s neurological roots and how they influence behavior, attention, and emotional regulation
  • Practical tools to ease daily struggles like transitions, executive dysfunction, and time blindness
    • Actionable strategies for communication, structure, and supporting independence

Better understanding leads to better support. Register here for the Zoom webinar using promo code SAKSCHL to attend for free (a $10 value). You’ll also gain access to the event recording, allowing you to watch it at your convenience. 

Communicating through Color

Every year, our Saklan community looks forward to the 2nd and 3rd grade collaborative PBL unit that culminates in the all-school concert backdrop! This unit centers on the driving question, “How can we, as a team of artists, create a backdrop that communicates belonging?” While reinforcing the concert theme, this incredible PBL unit showcases how Project Based Learning provides a rich learning experience that culminates in a product with an authentic purpose for our school community. 

The concert theme shifts each year, so naturally, the project path shifts as well to reflect the theme and honor the strengths and interests of the students collaborating on the project in any given year. This year’s theme of belonging led the students to research artists like Jeffrey Gibson, Ashley Mary, and Byron Kim to understand how they communicate belonging through their art. Students have also been developing their expertise in color theory and color mixing. They have brought their own ideas of belonging and previous art knowledge to this process, too, as they grapple with how to use color to communicate.

Inspired by the work of Gibson, Mary, and Kim, students became curious about how the community would interpret these artists’ work. They asked students and teachers which pieces by these key artists most connected to the idea of belonging, took a poll, and reflected on the results. As a group, they considered how the community’s perspectives may help guide their choices as a team of artists.

Using feedback from the community, our second and third graders considered which elements of the different artworks resonated with the Saklan community as a guide to developing their own interpretation of belonging. Students are now designing and producing their own concert backdrop to communicate the concert theme. We hope you join us on Thursday, February 12, at the Lesher Center for the Arts for our All-school Concert and to see the final backdrop installation!

#SaklanProjectWork #SaklanBelonging

Raising Awareness about the World of Islam

If you attended CLAS on December 12th, you heard the 7th-graders share facts they learned from their World of Islam unit in Humanities. Today, more than 1.9 billion people follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, and Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion. Yet despite its global reach, the origins, beliefs, and faith-based practices of Muslims are often misunderstood in Western societies.

As students prepared for their CLAS presentations, Humanities teacher Jennifer asked them to reflect on a deeper question:

Is there anything you have learned that might help people be more tolerant of Muslims today? If yes, please explain it.

The students’ responses demonstrated thoughtfulness, empathy, and a growing awareness of the power of education and understanding. Here are a few of their responses:

“People can educate themselves and others on the religion of Islam and challenge negative stereotypes.” – Amelia

“They are a very kind community helping the homeless and other things.” – Jason

“I think that the world isn’t perfect, and some people won’t listen to people who won’t be inclusive to others who don’t look the same as them or who are of another nationality. But if people really try to show those kinds of people that others are still human, this world could be a bit better.” – Caleb

“Yes, from reading the book Once Upon an Eid, I have learned that many Muslims, refugees or not, have faced lots of unfair discrimination because of their clothing and what their school textbooks say. However, when I learned about Muslim culture and wondrous celebrations, I realized that people who discriminate against Muslims don’t know how full of life Muslim culture is. Also, they clearly haven’t met a Muslim, because Muslims are normal people just like you and me.” – Willow

These reflections highlight the heart of Saklan’s Humanities program: encouraging students to think critically, ask meaningful questions, and develop empathy through learning.

The 7th graders will share their comprehensive research and learning with the community at the World of Islam Symposium on Monday, January 12, 2026, from 1:45 – 2:45 p.m. in the Humanities Room and Library. All Saklan families are warmly invited to attend and engage with this thoughtful and important work.

Building Self-Discipline

As the new year begins, Saklan’s January social-emotional learning focus is self-disciplined—a skill that supports students in setting goals, managing impulses, and following through with responsibility and care.

Throughout January, students will engage in conversations and activities that encourage them to pause, reflect, and choose actions aligned with their values and goals. By nurturing self-discipline in a compassionate and age-appropriate way, Saklan helps students grow into confident, capable, and self-aware learners—skills that will serve them well far beyond the classroom.

#SaklanSEL

Winter Enrichment Starts Jan. 26

The winter 2026 session of enrichment classes will begin the week of January 26th. Many exciting classes are being offered this session, including Guitar, Reading Club, Basketball, and Yoga!

Class descriptions and registration for the winter enrichment classes are now available on the Saklan Enrichment Webpage. Space is limited in most classes, so don’t delay, register today!

#SaklanWellRounded