Head’s Corner: What Belonging Looks Like at Saklan

On a regular basis, we ask students in grades 3-8 to complete an anonymous survey about their experience of belonging and inclusion at Saklan. At its core, the survey asks a simple question: Are we keeping our promise that Saklan is a place where students feel seen, heard, and valued? Do they experience Saklan as a safe learning environment—one where relationships are central to learning?

The survey serves as an important check for us. It helps us understand what is working well and where we may need to pause, reflect, and make adjustments based on what students are telling us.

We are currently analyzing the first semester’s results from students in grades 3–8, and we are proud of both the work we do and the community we share. The data points to a strong sense of belonging at Saklan, while also highlighting a few areas where we can continue to grow.

One of the most illuminating parts of the survey is the open-ended question that invites students to elaborate on what helps them feel they belong at Saklan. Their responses, shared below, tell a powerful and authentic story.

Belonging through relationships

  • “When people hang out and talk with me, support me, and accept my options.”
  • “When people invite me to play with them.”
  • “When I’m sad, my friends make me feel better, and my friends just make me laugh.”
  • “Even when I don’t want to play the same game as my friends, there is always someone to play with.”

Belonging through acceptance and inclusion

  • “Having friends, and being accepted for who I am.”
  • “Being respected a lot, for who I am.”
  • “I like how everyone hangs out with whoever they want, rather than being separated by gender or how you act.”
  • “I feel like I belong at Saklan.”

Belonging through adult care and attention

  • “I always know I can go to a teacher when I am sad or need help with my homework.”
  • “My teacher always helps me and tries to make me understand the answer.”
  • “Teachers pay a lot of attention to me.”
  • “When teachers explain why they can’t get to me yet, I still feel heard.”

Belonging through safety and voice

  • “I feel safe to share my thoughts and ideas.”
  • “Saklan is such a small community, so everyone knows each other.”
  • “If I feel left out, there is always a teacher who will help work it out.”

Belonging through structure, leadership, and shared experiences

  • “Something that helps me feel like I belong is advisory.”
  • “Family groups, the ability to be creative, and the fun interactive experiences.”
  • “When I am teaching a younger student, I feel a sense of joy and it makes my day.”
  • “When I come back from being sick or a trip, my classmates welcome me back with smiles and hugs.”

We believe transparency and listening are essential to building a strong school community. For those interested in exploring the data more deeply, the full student survey results are linked here. We’re grateful to our students for their honesty and thoughtfulness, and we remain committed to using their feedback to strengthen belonging, relationships, and learning at Saklan.

With Gratitude,

David  

A Glimpse Into What’s Next

On Thursday morning, all Saklan students participated in Moving Up Day. This special experience gives students a chance to step into the future and get a preview of what the next school year will bring.

Preschool through 5th-grade students visited the classrooms of their rising grades, where they spent time with their future teachers, explored new spaces, and learned about what lies ahead. Meanwhile, Saklan’s 6th, 7th, and 8th graders proudly welcomed 5th graders to the middle school side of campus, hosting them and offering a “day in the life” look at middle school.

The energy across campus was unmistakable. Students and teachers alike were buzzing with excitement as classrooms filled with morning meetings, questions, laughter, and connection. Teachers thoughtfully planned activities that showcased their grade level, including book readings, STEM building challenges, classroom scavenger hunts, icebreaker games (some delightfully awkward!), and conversations designed to help students feel confident and curious about the year ahead.

Moving Up Day is more than just a visit; it’s an opportunity for students to build familiarity, ease transitions, and begin imagining themselves in new roles as learners. It allows teachers to connect with their rising students and begin building the relationships that are so central to the Saklan experience.

If you know a child who “moved up” on Thursday, be sure to ask them about it. They’re almost certain to have something enthusiastic to share!

Self-Disciplined Family Groups

On Wednesday, Saklan Kindergarten through 8th-grade students engaged in a thoughtful and interactive Family Group lesson focused on developing self-discipline, an essential skill that supports learning, emotional regulation, and personal growth.

The lesson began by inviting students to reflect on what self-discipline means to them. Through discussion, students identified self-discipline as recognizing when support is needed to achieve a goal and having the ability to bring themselves back on track. Together, they created a web of ideas on the board, placing “Self-Discipline” at the center and surrounding it with their own thoughts and experiences.

From there, students explored the many moments at school when self-discipline is needed. They shared examples such as staying focused, managing fidgety feelings, handling stress or big emotions, listening actively, raising a hand instead of calling out, and navigating moments of silliness or frustration. This conversation helped normalize the challenges students face and reinforced that self-discipline is a skill everyone practices and strengthens over time.

To introduce practical strategies, students watched a short, engaging video featuring Cookie Monster learning tools to resist his love of cookies. Together, the group reviewed the strategies Cookie Monster used (counting, singing, and imagining something calming) and discussed why these tools might work for him, as well as why different strategies may be more helpful in a school setting.

Students then applied their thinking to real-life scenarios. Through role-play and group discussion, they explored situations such as being cut in line, feeling nervous before a test, forgetting lunch, struggling to stop giggling, or feeling upset when a classmate takes something without asking. For each scenario, students worked collaboratively to identify healthy, self-disciplined responses and the tools that could help them regain control and focus.

To bring the learning together, students created a visual poster highlighting different situations and the tools that support self-discipline.

This lesson emphasized that self-discipline isn’t about being perfect; it’s about noticing when something feels hard and having strategies to help oneself move forward. Through discussion, creativity, and collaboration, students strengthened their understanding of self-discipline as a skill they can practice every day, building confidence and resilience along the way.

#SaklanSEL

Exploring Polygons Through Reflection

Last week, eighth-grade geometry students began a study of polygons and quadrilaterals using hinged mirrors, protractors, and colored paper to construct and analyze a variety of shapes. As they built regular hexagons, equilateral triangles in two different ways, and a rhombus that was not a square, students measured the angles formed by the mirror and noticed clear patterns, such as a 60° central angle for a hexagon and a 90° angle for a rhombus.

When students attempted to create a circle, they reasoned that a shape with infinitely many sides would require an angle of zero, leading to thoughtful discussion. Along the way, students made connections between reflection, congruent triangles, and perpendicular bisectors, strengthening their ability to observe patterns, explain their thinking, and build understanding through hands-on exploration.

#SaklanHandsOn

Lights, Camera, Auction!

Saklan’s Auction Committee is rolling out the red carpet and searching for scene-stealing auction items to make this year’s Golden Age of Hollywood–themed Starlight Gala & Auction an absolute blockbuster. We’re looking for star-quality offerings that will have guests buzzing, bidding, and ready for an encore. Here’s a peek at the kind of treasures that can help our auction steal the show:

  • Vacation Getaways – Do you have or know someone with a vacation property, timeshare or other access to destination properties?
  • One-of-a-Kind Experiences – Do you have a connection to something unavailable to the general public? Think Club 33, behind-the-scenes tours, throwing out the first pitch, dinner with someone famous, or an opportunity to sit in an owner’s box.
  • Event Tickets – Do you have season passes for the Giants, Warriors, theatre, symphony, or live music venues?
  • Adventure Experiences – Hot air ballooning, horseback riding, and cooking classes are always popular items.
  • Wine – Do you belong to a winery and have a few extra bottles of your favorite Cab you would be willing to part with for a good cause?
  • Gift Cards – Your unused gift cards can enhance a basket of themed goods.

Have a brilliant, show-stopping idea of your own? Don’t fade to black, share it with us! In true Saklan fashion, we invite you to think creatively. Click the button below to complete the online donor form, or email ewilliamson@saklan.org with your award-worthy ideas.

Auction Donation Form

Let’s make this year’s auction a true Hollywood classic: the cat’s pajamas and one for the history books!

Saklan’s Starlight Gala & Auction will be held at Lafayette Park Hotel on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. This adults-only soirée is always the bee’s knees—a glamorous night of community, celebration, and a little old-school sparkle as we come together to support Saklan’s continued success. Proceeds from the evening directly benefit our students by funding enriching field experiences, inspiring guest experts, Project Based Learning, family groups, and top-notch professional development for our incredible teachers.

#SaklanCommunity

When Students Lead the Learning

Sometimes the most meaningful learning moments are the ones that unfold organically, and last week, Saklan’s third graders experienced one of those magical surprises.

What began as a simple vocabulary exercise quickly evolved into a joyful, student-led experience filled with creativity, collaboration, and enthusiasm for learning. As part of the lesson, students were invited to bring new vocabulary words to life by creating short skits. Almost immediately, the classroom buzzed with excitement. Laughter, brainstorming, and endless “What if we…?” moments filled the air as students worked together to imagine scenes and assign roles.

The excitement didn’t end when the lesson was over. Students proudly shared that they continued inventing skits during recess, eager to keep the momentum going.

By Friday, the class had fully taken ownership of the experience. During recess, they collaboratively planned one large skit as a whole group, listening carefully to one another’s ideas and working through challenges together. Later, during quiet time, students independently chose to design and build props, thoughtfully negotiating materials and responsibilities.

This was authentic, student-driven learning at its best: hands-on, deeply engaging, and shaped entirely by student curiosity and agency.

The experience became even more meaningful when the third graders invited their first-grade buddies to be the audience. Watching the students perform with confidence and pride—and seeing every child shine—was a powerful snapshot of teamwork, leadership, and social-emotional growth in action. One student summed it up perfectly, exclaiming, “We should do this every day!”

Moments like these are a joyful reminder of what’s possible when students lead the way.

#SaklanStudentAgency #SaklanHandsOn

See You Sunday for Movie Night

We look forward to seeing Saklan families for our annual Movie Night this 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

Being Our Best Selves, One Promise at a Time

Over the past two weeks, Saklan’s Kindergarten class spent time reflecting on an important and empowering question: What does it mean to be your very best?

The exploration began with a read-aloud of I Promise by LeBron James, which sparked a thoughtful conversation about doing one’s best at school, in friendships, and in the wider world. Students also learned about the school LeBron James founded and how it reflects a belief in possibility, effort, and caring for others—values that are deeply aligned with the Kindergarten classroom community.

From there, the students took the lead. Together, they created a shared list of promises they might make to better themselves. Ideas flowed quickly and enthusiastically. Many children focused on helping at home, with promises like “I will do the dishes,” “I’ll clear the table,” and “I can help take out the trash.” Others centered their promises on kindness and empathy, committing to helping people who are hurt or feeling sad, actions they already practice each day.

Each student then selected one meaningful promise, illustrated themselves carrying it out, and wrote their words alongside their drawing. This activity supported key Kindergarten goals, including developing responsibility, practicing self-reflection, strengthening writing and drawing skills, and building social-emotional awareness. Just as importantly, it empowered students to name the kind of people they want to be.

The excitement was contagious—some children even asked if they could make more than one promise. As the class continues to revisit these ideas, students cheer one another on and strive to be their best selves, one promise at a time.

The Golden Age of Hollywood

We are rolling out the red carpet for The Saklan School’s Starlight Gala & Auction on Saturday, March 21, from 6:00–11:00 p.m., at the elegant Lafayette Park Hotel.

Step into the Golden Age of Hollywood for an unforgettable evening of timeless glamour, featuring a sparkling cocktail reception, a delicious three-course dinner, a lively auction, dancing, and a few surprises worthy of the silver screen!

Saklan’s Annual Auction is a beloved community tradition, bringing together faculty, staff, families, and friends for a night of connection and celebration. Proceeds from the evening directly support our students’ educational experiences—both in and beyond the classroom.

Tickets for this adults-only event go on sale in February, so cue the babysitter and start planning your look. This is one night you won’t want to miss—it’s sure to be a showstopper.

Seeking Sponsors

Is your business or family interested in lighting up the silver screen by sponsoring or underwriting Saklan’s Gala & Auction?

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsors and underwriters receive valuable exposure within the Saklan community while demonstrating a meaningful commitment to education and community partnership. Benefits include prominent recognition, event tickets, and additional opportunities for visibility throughout the evening.

All sponsors and underwriters confirmed by February 2nd will be recognized on the event invitation.

Have Questions?

If you have questions about the Gala & Auction, please reach out to Emily at ewilliamson@saklan.org.

Concert Program Cover Contest

All Saklan students are invited to showcase their creativity by designing a cover for this year’s All-School Concert program. All covers are asked to incorporate the theme of belonging, have a vertical orientation, and include the concert date “February 12, 2026.”

Program cover entries should be turned in to the main office by Tuesday, February 3rd. If you have any questions about the Concert Cover Contest, please email Emily at ewilliamson@saklan.org.

#SaklanCreative