Bravo to the Cast and Crew of Curtains Young@Part!

A huge congratulations to Saklan’s middle school students on their fantastic performance of Curtains Young@Part at the Town Hall Theatre last Friday evening!

From the memorable characters and energetic musical numbers to the heartfelt moments throughout the show, the cast and crew brought the production to life with incredible creativity, talent, and enthusiasm. Students impressed audiences with their confidence on stage, teamwork behind the scenes, and dedication throughout the rehearsal process.

Producing a musical is truly a community effort, and this performance showcased not only the artistic talents of our students, but also their collaboration, perseverance, and willingness to take creative risks. Whether acting, singing, dancing, managing backstage, or supporting technical elements, every student played an important role in making the production such a success.

Special thanks to the many people who helped make the show happen.

  • To Jayme Feldhammer for her time, sewing machine, and deep kindness.
  • To Javier Yacarini, for his work on the sets.
  • To the Middle School Teachers for their help with props and rehearsals, their willingness to share their class time, and their encouragement of all performers.
  • To the Middle School Parents for helping their performers run lines and gather their base costumes.
  • To the Middle School Students for their creativity, courage, and perseverance. Your performance was inspiring!
  • To Dianne for all the hard work, dedication, and passion poured into the show. Your vision and casting created magic on the stage and allowed the students to shine bright. Inspiring middle school students to share their creativity, compassion, and courage on the stage is no easy feat, but you made it look effortless. Thank you!

#SaklanCreative

Second Graders Become Published Authors

Saklan’s second graders recently celebrated the culmination of their Project Based Learning unit, The Secret Life of Seeds, by becoming published authors and sharing their work with younger students across campus.

Centered around the driving question, If a seed could talk, what story would it tell about how it travels?, the project invited students to combine scientific inquiry with imagination and storytelling. Throughout the unit, students explored the many ways seeds travel, survive, and grow, studying methods of seed dispersal such as wind, water, and animals. Each student selected a specific seed to research before creating an original narrative that followed the seed’s unique journey.

As students moved through the writing process, they experienced firsthand how ideas develop and strengthen over time. Early brainstorming and planning sessions helped students organize both the scientific concepts they wanted to teach and the creative elements they hoped to include in their stories. During drafting, students experimented with voice, dialogue, and storytelling techniques as they transformed seeds into characters with adventures, challenges, and destinations.

Revision became one of the most meaningful parts of the project. Students carefully reread their work to strengthen descriptions, clarify scientific explanations, and make their stories more engaging for readers. Peer feedback conversations encouraged students to think about their writing in new ways and reinforced the idea that strong writing develops through reflection, collaboration, and persistence.

The project culminated in a series of “Meet the Author” events held in the library with ECE, Kindergarten, and First Grade classes. During these special visits, second graders proudly read their published books aloud, answered questions about their stories and scientific research, and stepped into the role of confident authors and experts. Sharing their work with younger students gave second graders an authentic audience and highlighted the meaningful connections between literacy, science, and community.

The Secret Life of Seeds beautifully reflected the inquiry, creativity, and communication that are central to Saklan’s Project Based Learning approach. Most importantly, students experienced the joy and power of using their voices and ideas to teach, inspire, and connect with others.

#SaklanProjectWork

End-of-Year Reminders

As we count down the final days of the 2025–2026 school year, we would like to share a few important reminders with families as we prepare for graduation and summer break.

Uniform Exchange

We are currently collecting gently used Saklan uniform and spirit wear items for our Uniform Exchange. Families are welcome to donate shirts, jumpers, sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets, and other items featuring the Saklan logo.

Beginning next week, a plastic collection bin will be placed in front of the school for donations. Thank you for helping support other Saklan families through the exchange program!

Lost and Found

Our lost and found is overflowing with sweatshirts, jackets, water bottles, and other items. Next week, all lost and found items will be placed outside at the front of the school for families to look through.

We encourage everyone to stop by and check for missing belongings before the end of the school year. Any unclaimed items remaining after school ends will either be added to the Uniform Exchange or donated to charity.

Graduation

All Saklan families and friends are warmly invited to attend this year’s graduation ceremony on Friday, May 29, at 10:15 a.m. on the Sports Court. If you enjoy CLAS, you will LOVE Saklan’s Graduation!

As the ceremony will take place outdoors, guests are encouraged to come prepared for the weather. We recommend bringing sunglasses and water bottles in case of sun, as well as sweaters or jackets in case of cooler or breezy conditions.

We look forward to celebrating the close of another wonderful school year together!

Eighth Graders Put Physics into Motion 

The end of the year in Saklan’s eighth grade physics class is filled with hands-on science, engineering, and problem-solving. As the culmination of their physics studies, students recently worked in teams to design and build their own roller coasters for marbles to ride.

Each group created an eight-foot-long coaster that incorporated the major physics concepts they studied throughout the year, including force, momentum, motion, and energy transfer. To meet the project requirements, every coaster needed to include at least one loop, a slow-down stop, and creative decorations inspired by the themed roller coasters found at amusement parks.

Throughout the project, students relied on creativity, collaboration, math skills, and the scientific method as they designed, tested, redesigned, and refined their creations. Groups analyzed what worked, identified challenges, made adjustments, and in some cases started over entirely before successfully completing their final designs.

The project challenged students to apply their understanding of the four forces studied in class while ensuring their coaster had enough momentum to complete a loop and safely guide the marble to a stop. More importantly, it gave students the opportunity to experience physics in action through experimentation, teamwork, and hands-on learning.

The final roller coasters showcased not only impressive engineering and creativity, but also the persistence and problem-solving skills students developed throughout the process.

#SaklanHandsOn

Summer Fun Awaits!

A summer of creative exploration awaits your child during Summer@Saklan! Designed with curiosity and imagination in mind, this year’s summer camp promises to be a dynamic blend of art and science, giving campers the perfect opportunity to learn, play, and grow in a joyful environment.

Ages of Campers

Students entering Preschool through 3rd Grade are invited to join us for Summer@Saklan, and will be divided into two age groups:

  • Mini Campers: Age 3 – Entering Kindergarten
  • Explorers: Entering 1st – 3rd Grade

Session Dates & Themes

This summer, camp will run in one-week sessions from June 15th – July 31.

Session DatesMini Camper ThemeExplorers Theme
June 15 – 18 Dramatic PlayClaymation & Art
June 22 – 26SportsThe Art of Puppetry
June 29 – July 2 Bug ExplorationJewelry Making
July 6 – 10ScienceBookmaking & Printing
July 13 – 17Safari AnimalsLEGO Science
July 20 – 24CookingSpace
July 27 – 31ArtSTEAM

The camp day will begin with drop off from 8:15 – 8:30 a.m. and run until 2:30 p.m. Extended Day will be available until 4:30 p.m.

Whether your child loves painting, building, experimenting, or just having fun with friends, Summer@Saklan offers something for everyone. It’s the perfect way to keep young minds active and inspired during the summer months.

We can’t wait to see all the creativity and curiosity that unfolds this summer at Saklan!

Head’s Corner: What Kind of Childhood Are We Trying to Protect?

When I was a child, I routinely got into trouble. (Hard to believe, right?)

I grew up in a Detroit neighborhood with lots of friends and neighbors around. Most of the trouble we got into could best be described as “good trouble.” Staying out past the time the streetlights came on. Using the entire city block to play tag, running through neighbors’ backyards with friends, cutting across lawns. Nothing serious. Nothing mean-spirited. Just the ordinary trouble of childhood: testing boundaries, losing track of time, and discovering the world beyond adult eyes.

Looking back, I am struck by how much learning was tucked inside those moments. We were practicing judgment, negotiating with friends, taking small risks, and discovering what it felt like to be trusted.

I have been thinking about this because of two things I have been reading: The Amazing Generation and a new report from the Institute for Family Studies, High Tech, Low Play: The Life of American Children. Together, they point to something many of us sense: children need more than protection from the virtual world. They need more opportunities to experience the real one.

What struck me most in the report was a simple but unsettling idea: many children today are highly protected in the physical world, yet relatively unprotected in the digital one. They have access to screens earlier and more often, while having fewer opportunities to roam, play, take small risks, and build independence with friends.

That imbalance gives me pause.

Many children today can wander widely online before they are trusted to wander very far in real life. They may have access to enormous digital worlds before they have had enough practice navigating the physical one.

This is not to say we should simply recreate the childhoods we remember. The world has changed. But children still need opportunities to stretch, explore, decide, negotiate, and discover their own capabilities.

That is one reason I am drawn to The Amazing Generation, by Jonathan Haidt. Its invitation is not simply for children to put down their screens, but to imagine what they might pick up instead: more freedom, more friendship, more movement, more play, more responsibility, and more real-life adventure.

So what kind of childhood are we trying to protect?

One with enough safety to feel held, and enough freedom to grow. One with adults close enough to guide, but not so close that children never get to practice. One with room for play, movement, friendship, responsibility, and the small, good trouble that helps children discover their capacity.

And maybe that is the real invitation — not just to give children fewer screens, but to give them more childhood.

Sincerely,

David

Museum of the Future

Opening on Wednesday, May 20 at 10:05 a.m. in the Humanities Room

Saklan’s sixth graders are wrapping up their final Project Based Learning unit of the year with an immersive exploration of ancient Greece and its enduring influence on modern society. Students investigated the driving question: What important stories can we tell as curators about connections between 21st century America and ancient Greece?

This essential question has allowed students to weave together many of the themes they have explored throughout the year, including the role of museums, the work of archaeologists and historians, the impact of perspective and bias, and the relationship between power and storytelling.

As part of their studies, students examined a variety of artifacts from the Legion of Honor connected to ancient Greek medicine, sports, gender roles, functional art, government, education, and more. Through guided discussions and inquiry, they explored how these artifacts reveal stories about both ancient civilizations and the world we live in today.

Students were introduced to multiple ways to approach the driving question, and each student selected a topic or connection that felt most meaningful to them. Some chose to dive deeper into themes discussed collaboratively in class, while others pursued entirely original interpretations and connections. Their work reflects not only historical understanding, but also creativity, critical thinking, and personal voice.

The culmination of this project will be Saklan’s “Museum of the Future,” where students will showcase their curatorial responses and share the stories they believe are most important to tell. Families are invited to join the sixth graders on Wednesday, May 20 at 10:05 a.m. in the Humanities Room to experience this exciting exhibition and celebrate the students’ learning and insight.

#SaklanProjectWork

Things That Go!

If you’ve stepped into the Owlet classroom recently, you may have noticed clouds floating overhead and airplanes soaring through the room. That’s because the Owlets have been immersed in an exciting study of air transportation as part of their “Things That Go!” project work. Through hands-on exploration, creative design, and visits from experts, students have been discovering how humans travel through the sky and how flight shapes the way we see the world.

After studying ground-based transportation, the class began studying air transportation with a paper airplane challenge. Each Owlet designed, decorated, and named their own airplane before testing their flying skills in a game inspired by cornhole. Drawing on previous science lessons with Ms. O, students remembered that the best way to launch a paper airplane is by aiming upward toward the sky rather than downward toward the ground.

Once students mastered the basics of flight, the challenge became even more exciting. Different-sized targets were added for airplanes to fly through, each worth a different number of points. As students practiced launching their planes toward the targets, they strengthened hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and perseverance. While it was tricky at first, many Owlets improved their accuracy through persistence and teamwork.

The Owlets also explored the history of aviation by learning about famous pilot Amelia Earhart. After reading about her flights across the Atlantic Ocean, students discussed how landscapes appear differently when viewed from above. This sparked a conversation about perspective and how our viewpoint changes what we see. Students reflected on how objects appear from the ground compared to the sky, where everything can seem flat like a map. Inspired by this idea, the Owlets created their own “bird’s-eye view” drawings, imagining the world from a pilot’s perspective.

Throughout the study, the Owlets learned from several special visitors who shared their expertise about transportation and flight. A Hoot Owl friend introduced students to the world’s fastest train in China, which uses powerful magnets and can travel up to 286 miles per hour. Students noticed similarities between the train and BART, especially its pointed nose designed to help it move faster through the air.

The class also connected virtually with Louis, the uncle of an Owlet, who shared his expertise about airplanes. He explained that building airplanes can feel similar to building with Legos and introduced students to the four forces that help planes fly: thrust, lift, drag, and gravity. Students asked thoughtful questions and were amazed to learn that the SR-71 Blackbird can travel up to 2,000 miles per hour, while smaller propeller planes travel much more slowly. They also discovered that airplanes use jet fuel, a stronger type of gasoline.

In addition, two former Owlets (now kindergartners) returned to the classroom to share what they know about airplane travel. They taught students about turbulence, airplane parts, and how pilots communicate with air traffic control during flights. Students also learned that airplanes land on their back wheels first for safety and that the plane’s pointed nose helps it move smoothly through the air.

The Owlets’ exploration of transportation has combined science, creativity, engineering, storytelling, and collaboration in meaningful and joyful ways. Families are invited to learn more about these discoveries and celebrate the students’ work at the Owlets’ Things That Go! culmination on Thursday, May 21, at 8:30 a.m.

#SaklanProjectWork

Improving Saklan’s Community Spaces

Saklan’s seventh-grade students have been exploring the role of community spaces through an engaging Humanities Project Based Learning unit centered on the driving question: How can we improve our shared public spaces to better meet the needs and reflect the values of our community?

As the culminating project for the unit, students are developing thoughtful and practical proposals for improving one of the most meaningful shared spaces in their daily lives: The Saklan School campus. Families are invited to join the seventh graders on Wednesday, May 20, at 10:15 a.m. in the Humanities Room to hear students present their ideas for enhancing our campus community.

The project began with students reflecting on the changes already made to Saklan’s campus during the current school year. Together, they identified several updates, including the addition of all-gender bathrooms in the Lower School, a new net above the sports court fence, the construction of the redwood deck, and the installation of larger middle school lockers. Working in small groups, students evaluated whether these changes improved the campus experience and considered how they might be enhanced further.

From there, students conducted a detailed assessment of the school grounds, examining buildings, outdoor areas, and the campus perimeter. Each group identified spaces that were functioning successfully, areas that could be improved, and the reasons behind their evaluations. This process encouraged students to think critically about how design impacts the way people interact with and experience shared environments.

The unit then expanded into a historical exploration of community spaces in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations. Through a gallery walk featuring unlabeled images from the Maya, Aztec/Mexica, and Inka civilizations, students analyzed architecture and public spaces while considering the cultural values they reflected. Students also engaged in discussions about the legacy of Christopher Columbus, examining differing perspectives on why he remains widely recognized and whether he should continue to be celebrated.

Working in expert groups, students studied one of the three civilizations in greater depth, learning about the geography, climate, and major achievements that shaped each society. Individually, students then selected a pre-Columbian structure or community space to investigate more closely. They explored why the space was created, how it was used, what needs it fulfilled, the materials used in its construction, and the factors that influenced its design.

As students continued refining their understanding of successful community spaces, they also examined examples from the modern world, including a visit to a contemporary temple. Throughout the process, students connected lessons from the past and present to their own campus community, using their research and observations to inform their final proposals.

The project has encouraged seventh graders to think deeply about the relationship between physical spaces and community values, while empowering them to imagine how thoughtful design can improve everyday experiences for others.

#SaklanProjectWork #SaklanCommunity

Time to Return Library Books!

As the school year comes to a close, it’s time to start checking bookshelves, backpacks, and bedside tables for any Saklan Library books that may still be at home.

Meredith and Joy kindly ask that all library books be returned by Friday, May 22, so the library can prepare for the end of the year and get ready for another great season of reading ahead.

The Saklan Library has been filled with so many wonderful stories, discoveries, and adventures this year, and we are grateful to all of our students for making reading such an important part of their school experience.

Thank you for another fantastic year of book reading!