Head’s Corner: 24 Acceptances, 1 Waitlist, and a Class Ready for What Comes Next

There are some years when the numbers tell a strong story on their own. This is one of those years. Saklan’s 8th-grade class submitted 25 applications to local independent high schools and earned 24 acceptances, along with 1 waitlist.

That is an outstanding result, and one we are proud to celebrate.

Our students received offers from an excellent group of schools, including Athenian, College Prep, Head-Royce, Bentley, Carondelet, De La Salle, and St. Mary’s. But as strong as those outcomes are, what matters most to me is what they reflect.

They reflect years of growth—students who are deeply known by their teachers and supported along the way. They reflect young people who have learned to think critically, speak with confidence, navigate challenges, and contribute meaningfully to a community. Most importantly, they reflect students who are not only academically prepared but ready to step into their next chapter with confidence, character, and curiosity.

At Saklan, we work hard to do both: challenge students and know them deeply. We want them to leave here with strong skills, certainly, but also with the confidence that comes from being seen, supported, and stretched over time.

Saklan alum Levi Kim, now at Brown, spoke at our auction about the impact Saklan had on him. He talked about the adaptability, critical thinking, empathy, and creativity he developed here — and how those qualities have mattered well beyond middle school. That is what we hope for our students. Yes, a Saklan education helps open doors. But more importantly, it helps students walk through those doors ready to thrive.

That is what makes these admissions results so meaningful.

I am proud of this class and of the way they represented themselves throughout the process. They showed who they are, and these results reflect that. We are excited to see where their journeys lead next.

Warmly,

David

Family Groups Focus on Accountability

On Tuesday, Saklan students gathered in their Family Groups to explore an important character trait: accountability. The session began with a fun and engaging warm-up, as students shared their favorite superheroes/real-life heroes and discussed what makes them admirable. This conversation helped set the stage for thinking about the qualities that make someone responsible and trustworthy.

Students were then introduced to the concept of accountability and what it looks like in everyday life. Together, they discussed examples such as doing their part in group work, making good choices, and taking care of themselves, others, and their belongings.

To bring the concept to life, students watched a short video about the “Accountable Ninja.” Afterward, they reflected on how the character initially avoided responsibility and what changes he made to become more accountable. These conversations encouraged students to think critically about their own actions and choices.

Next, students put their learning into action by creating “superhero bursts,” each one highlighting a personal goal to be more accountable. Whether it was completing homework on time, helping others, or owning up to mistakes, each student contributed a thoughtful commitment to their shared group poster.

The lesson continued with a lively group challenge: keeping two balloons in the air without letting them touch the ground, all while following specific rules. The activity required teamwork, communication, and individual responsibility. As students worked together toward a common goal, they experienced firsthand how accountability plays a role in group success.

#SaklanSEL

A Star-Studded Thank You

We’re tipping our berets and feathered headbands to everyone who helped make Saklan’s Starlight Gala & Auction a true Golden Age triumph! From a swanky evening under the stars to spirited bidding in the online auction, from unforgettable student experiences to generous support of our Fund-a-Need—you made the night shine brighter than the silver screen.

Thanks to our dazzling community, we raised over $155,000 for our beloved school.

A special round of applause to Emily Williamson, whose tireless efforts brought this magical evening to life, and to our incredible auction volunteers: Neela Campbell, Ani Golovko, Shana Hammers, Gina Altman, Katia Senff, Etienne Lacrampe, Brian Lovrin, Meredith Avant, and Shay Sager for their help in curating such a fun and memorable event.

Bravo to Elise Ho and Eric Fong for helping set the stage, from place cards to photobooth prep, and to Yvonne Lin for the fabulous signage, witty touches, and creative spark.

We are deeply grateful to Brian Lovrin, David O’Connell, and Erin Moorhead for producing the Fund-a-Need video, and to Dianne Hurvitz, Kim Parks, Coach Rob, Linda Lathrop, Ms. O, and the choir for lending their voices to the story.

A heartfelt thank you to our talented alumni—James Rokas for the smooth cocktail hour tunes and Levi Kim for his inspiring words during the Fund-a-Need.

And to our generous families: thank you for donating auction items and wine, sponsoring the event, underwriting teacher tickets, and helping bring it all together. It truly was a team effort worthy of the spotlight.

Your generosity was nothing short of star-studded; the kind that would make Hollywood proud.

A New Path to Solving Quadratics

Eighth-grade algebra students continued their exploration of quadratic equations with a recent lesson grounded in curiosity and discovery. They were presented with two equations:

x² + 4x + 1 = 0
(x + 2)² = 3

After solving both, students noticed something surprising: each equation led to the same solution. This prompted a class discussion about efficiency: which equation was easier to solve, and why? Students quickly recognized that the second equation was both faster and more straightforward, sparking interest in how more complex equations could be transformed into this simpler form.

That question led to the introduction of a new method: completing the square.

To build understanding, students began by working with algebra tiles on equation mats, physically arranging pieces to form perfect squares. This hands-on approach helped them see how a trinomial in standard form could be reorganized into a squared expression—and what adjustments were needed to make that transformation possible.

With practice, students transitioned from concrete models to abstract reasoning. As a class, they discussed how to generalize the process and apply it without tiles. They even developed their own formula for completing the square, deepening their conceptual understanding.

Through exploration, collaboration, and reasoning, Saklan’s eighth graders didn’t just learn a new method; they discovered it. This kind of learning empowers students to approach complex problems with confidence, creativity, and a strong sense of mathematical thinking.

#SaklanHandsOn

Taste of Traditions Dance

Save the date for the 2nd Annual Taste of Traditions Dance and Potluck on Saturday, April 18th. The event will be held from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. on the Saklan Sports Court. All Saklan families are invited to join us for this family-friendly event! 

Special thanks to the Saklan Parent Association for hosting this event. Stay tuned for more information in the April edition of the PA Newsletter.

#SaklanCommunity #SaklanPA

Art Show Date Change

The Saklan School is delighted to share that our Annual Art Show will once again be held off campus at the Moraga Art Gallery.

To secure this wonderful gallery space, the show has been moved back by one week. It will now open on Friday, May 1, with a special reception from 3:00–5:00 p.m.

More details on the Art Show will be shared after Spring Break. We look forward to celebrating the creativity and talent of our students in this beautiful community setting and hope you will join us for this inspiring event!

Redwood Grove Update

We are excited to share an update on the Redwood Grove Treehouse construction. After two weeks of work, the first phase of the Redwood Grove is now complete, and it is already inspiring to see this vision begin to take shape. The new space already hints at what this area will become for our students: a place for exploration, play, imagination, and connection.

The second phase of the project, including the planting of additional redwood trees, will happen this summer.

We are deeply grateful to everyone whose support helped make this first stage possible, and we look forward to sharing more as the project continues.

Preschool Dreams Come True!

The Owlets are on the learning highway! As part of their Things That Go! project, these preschoolers have been exploring vehicles that travel on land—and recently, one of their favorite helper vehicles made a very exciting visit: a garbage truck.

It’s safe to say the garbage truck always captures their attention. No matter what is happening in the classroom, the moment one Owlet hears it pull into Saklan’s parking lot, all eyes turn to the window. This time, the excitement continued as the driver stepped out and spent about 30 minutes talking with the students and showing them the truck up close.

The Owlets were fascinated and incredibly observant. They noticed a variety of features, including a fire extinguisher (in case garbage catches fire), a ladder, and even a wooden stick used to move stuck items. They were especially excited to see the garbage grabber—just like the ones they use on the ECE yard! Students also spotted a toolbox, a whiteboard, and discovered that the engine is located in the front of the truck, unlike their school bus.

Experiences like this bring learning to life, allowing students to connect their curiosity with real-world observations. For the Owlets, this visit was not only memorable but also a meaningful step in their journey of exploration and discovery.

#SaklanProjectWork

Join us for Spring Follies

All Saklan families are invited to our Spring Follies Talent Show next Friday, March 27, at 1:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church (right next door to Saklan).

This fan-favorite event features students from Kindergarten through 8th grade taking the stage to share their amazing talents with our community.

We hope to see you there for an afternoon of creativity, courage, and fun!

Making Sense of Fractions

Fractions have taken center stage in the fifth-grade classroom, with the students focusing on understanding why fraction operations work. Rather than jumping straight to procedures, students have used visual models, discussion, and hands-on exploration to build a strong conceptual foundation—one that allows them to reason through problems, explain their thinking, and apply their learning in new situations.

One particularly memorable example came from the class’s daily fruit demonstrations. When students worked through fraction problems using numbers alone, answers sometimes varied. But when fruit appeared on the cutting board, and students could see fractional pieces in relation to a whole, their thinking quickly aligned. Concepts that once felt abstract suddenly became clear, and earlier mistakes turned into meaningful learning moments.

Students also tackled a real-world-inspired challenge from Mateo of BRAD Co., who needed help organizing 24 quests across game levels. Through modeling and discussion, students discovered that the expression 24 ÷ 2 can represent two valid interpretations: 12 quests in each of two levels, or 12 levels with two quests each. By the end, students demonstrated that both solutions were correct, supporting their reasoning through clear and thoughtful representations.

In another activity, students evaluated mathematical claims, determining whether statements were always true, sometimes true, or never true. They backed up their conclusions with examples, diagrams, and models, strengthening their ability to generalize relationships between factors and products when working with fractions.

This kind of reasoning: making claims, defending them with evidence, and revising thinking through discussion, builds the mathematical communication and problem-solving skills that prepare students well for middle school mathematics and beyond.