Saklan students are very excited to share our All-School Concert with you this afternoon at the Lesher Center! This special event is free and open to all Saklan families and friends. We can’t wait to celebrate together!
Important Reminders
Student Arrival & Dress
Students need to be back at the front entrance of Lesher Center by 4:00 PM, dressed in all black with their grade-level color accent:
Please allow extra time, as the parking garage entrance can get backed up.
Student Location
Students will meet their teachers in the 2nd-floor lobby and remain with their class throughout the concert.
Tickets & Seating
Families and friends need to get their free tickets from the box office and hand them to the ushers as they enter the theater. Seating is first-come, first-served (there are no bad seats!). Please note: side seats in rows A–K are reserved for students.
Concert Time
The performance begins at 4:30 p.m. and will conclude by 6:00 p.m.
We look forward to an evening of music, creativity, courage, and belonging!
The Hoot Owls recently embarked on an exciting outer space adventure, diving deep into the wonders of our solar system through books, art, and hands-on exploration.
Their journey began with the shining star at the center of it all: the Sun. After reading Sun! One in a Billion by Stacy McAnulty, students discovered that the sun is actually a dwarf star. They learned that it is constantly spinning, with its middle rotating faster than its top and bottom, and that all the planets in our solar system orbit around it. The Hoot Owls were fascinated to learn that it takes 365 days for Earth to travel around the sun and that when the moon passes in front of the sun, it creates an eclipse.
To bring their learning to life, students created their own suns by using marbles to roll paint around a circular template, demonstrating the sun’s constant motion. They also worked together to paint a giant glittering sun for their classroom solar system display.
Next, the Hoot Owls turned their attention to our home planet. After reading Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years, also by Stacy McAnulty, they learned about Earth’s dramatic beginnings. They discovered that early Earth was extremely hot and gassy before it experienced thousands of years of rain, which eventually allowed land to form. Over time, life began to appear: plants, insects, dinosaurs, and eventually humans.
To represent “our beautiful marble,” students used shaving cream, blue and green watercolor, pipettes, and squeegees to create stunning Earth prints.
Of course, learning about Earth meant learning about its closest companion, the Moon. Students discovered that the moon is Earth’s natural satellite and explored its phases. They were amazed to learn that gravity is six times stronger on Earth than on the moon. Their curiosity soared as they discussed items astronauts have left behind on the moon, including a hammer, a flag, nail clippers, and even a golf ball. They also explored scientific theories about the moon’s formation, that it may have been created from pieces of Earth after a massive asteroid collision billions of years ago.
The Hoot Owls created textured moons by painting black backdrops, adding white circles, and sprinkling salt to mimic the moon’s rocky surface. They even practiced writing “Moon” on their artwork.
As their solar system expanded, students added billions of stars, using toothbrushes and sticks to splatter white paint across dark blue paper. They wondered aloud whether any constellations could be spotted in their creations.
Through literature, science discussions, creativity, and collaborative art, the Hoot Owls have built a deeper understanding of space while nurturing their natural curiosity about the universe. Their classroom has truly become a place where imagination and learning take flight.
A summer of creative exploration awaits your child this summer during Summer@Saklan! This year, Saklan’s summer camp will focus on art and science, offering children the chance to have fun and learn while creating art masterpieces, engaging in exciting science experiments, playing fun games, meeting special guests, and more!
Session Dates & Hours
This summer, camp will run in one-week sessions from June 15 through July 31.
June 15 to 18 – Session 1 (No Camp June 19th)
June 22 to 26– Session 2
June 29 to July 2 – Session 3 (No Camp July 3rd)
July 6 to 10 – Session 4
July 13 to 17 – Session 5
July 20 to 24 – Session 6
July 27 to 31 – Session 7
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.
Ages of Campers
Students entering Preschool through 3rd Grade in the Fall are invited to join us for Summer@Saklan. Students will be divided into two age groups again this summer:
Mini Campers: Age 3 – Entering Kindergarten
Explorers: Entering 1st – 3rd Grade
Additional Information
Additional information on Summer@Saklan can be found on the summer webpage.
Please note that registration will open on Tuesday, February 17, to current Saklan families, and on Friday, February 20, to the general public. If you are interested in being notified when registration is open, please complete this form.
Saklan’s Starlight Gala & Auction is set to debut on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Lafayette Park Hotel, and we need your help to make it a blockbuster success!
This special evening is one of the highlights of our school year, bringing together community, celebration, and support for Saklan. Behind every great production is an incredible crew, and we’re currently looking for producers, directors, and key grips (aka amazing volunteers) to help bring the magic to life.
Whether you love organizing details, connecting with families, securing auction items, decorating, or helping behind the scenes, there’s a role for everyone.
Director’s Meeting
All Saklan community members are invited to join us for an Auction Planning Meeting on Friday, February 20th, after CLAS in the Pavilion. Join us to learn more about this year’s event theme, vision, and volunteer opportunities, and help shape an unforgettable evening.
Can’t attend the meeting but still want to be involved? We’d love your support! Be sure to explore the available volunteer roles using the button below.
Saklan students are very excited to share our All-School Concert with you on Thursday, February 12th, at 4:30 p.m. Students will be dismissed at noon from the Lesher Center and are asked to return at 4:00p.m. in preparation for the performance.
Please note the following details for the day:
All Saklan students need to be at the Lesher Center at 8:45 a.m. next Thursday. Parents are asked to park and walk their child directly to their teacher at the backstage entrance on Locust Street.
Saklan Bus & Van service will NOT be operating that day.
Students will be dismissed from the Lesher Center at noon.
Extended Day will be available until 3:00, but it is recommended that students go home at noon to have some downtime before the concert. Reserve your child’s spot in Extended here.
All students are asked to report back to the Lesher Center at 4:00 p.m. dressed in all-black clothing, with the assigned accessory color shown below.
The Owlets have been busy learning all about California through a joyful, hands-on mini-inquiry inspired by curiosity, creativity, and discovery. Their exploration began in early January with a classroom art project focused on California poppies. After closely studying photos of the state flower and noticing its bright orange and yellow colors, the Owlets used liquid watercolors to create their own vibrant poppies. Although poppies typically bloom in the spring, they bloomed early in the Owlet classroom!
The inquiry officially began with the book Welcome to California, which introduced students to the basics of the state and continued to serve as a reference throughout the project. The Owlets eagerly shared places they have visited across California and quickly realized just how diverse the state’s landscapes are. To bring this learning to life, they worked together to create a large map of California, discovering coastal beaches, farmland, snowy mountains, forests, and deserts along the way.
In small groups, the Owlets used a variety of materials to represent where each landscape is located on the map. They also examined real photos shared by Owlet families and practiced matching each image to the correct region.
The Owlets also learned about California’s weather patterns and the animals that live in each region. They noticed that the desert is hot and home to animals that wouldn’t survive in cooler mountain climates. While studying the California state flag, they spotted the large brown grizzly bear and learned that grizzly bears no longer live in the state. This led to an exploration of animals that currently call California home, including black bears, foxes, coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, and quails. Students were especially excited to discover a few “hidden” quails right in their classroom.
The inquiry wrapped in elements of California history as well, including a discussion of the Gold Rush and how people once traveled to the state in search of gold. Through art, literature, mapping, and imaginative play, the Owlets have built a strong foundation of knowledge about California—its landscapes, animals, symbols, and history—while nurturing curiosity and a love of learning along the way.
Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 noon–1 p.m. PT Live Q&A webinar streamed on Zoom
We’ve all taught our kids the value of deep breaths and calm-down strategies once tempers flare, but how do we stop harmful outbursts from happening so often in the first place, and keep from losing it ourselves?
Join Renée Jain, founder of GoZen!, the beloved platform that helps kids build emotional strength, on February 10 to learn how to rethink everything you thought you knew about anger. In this live ParentEd Talk, Renée will share how to shift from yelling and frustration to confidence and clarity when your child erupts — and explain how anger, once understood, can become a powerful source of insight, communication, and connection.
Attendees will gain:
Simple, science-backed strategies for self- and co-regulation to use during meltdowns
Scripts to guide kids from reactivity to reflection
A clear approach to repairing after conflicts, building emotional resilience and strengthening long-term communication with your child
Anger doesn’t transform just by calming it down — it transforms when we change our relationship with it. Register here for the webinar using promo code SAKSCHL to attend for free. You’ll also gain access to the event recording, so you can watch it anytime, anywhere.
Join the Saklan Student Council in celebrating school spirit! All students and teachers are invited to participate in the upcoming spirit days.
Wednesday, February 11: Valentine’s Spirit Day – Wear red, pink, purple, white, hearts, or something whimsical
Tuesdays, February 17: Lunar New Year – Wear Red
Friday, March 13: Ode to Sweatpants – Wear Sweats
Tuesday, March 17: St. Patrick’s Day – Wear Green
Friday, March 27: Pajama Day – Wear School-Appropriate Pajamas (no slippers, please)
Friday, April 17: Color Out Day – Dress all in one color
Friday, May 1: Character Day – Dress as Your Favorite Character from a Book, Movie, Game, etc.
Friday, May 15: Funky Fashion Day – Wear Mismatched and Fun Fashion
Participation in these spirit days is optional. If students choose not to dress up, they need to wear their uniforms. Let’s have some fun and show our Saklan pride!
This February, Saklan’s Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) focus is perseverance: the ability to keep going even when learning feels challenging. Perseverance helps students build confidence, resilience, and a growth mindset, reminding them that effort and persistence matter just as much as outcomes.
Throughout the month, students are being encouraged to practice perseverance in concrete, age-appropriate ways:
When faced with a challenge, students are learning not to give up. Instead, they are encouraged to pause, take a break when needed, and return ready to try again. This helps normalize struggle as part of the learning process and teaches students that setbacks are temporary.
Students are also practicing doing their best on every task. Perseverance isn’t about rushing to finish; it’s about slowing down, focusing, and putting forth genuine effort, even when the work feels hard.
To make big challenges feel more manageable, students are learning to break large tasks into smaller steps. This strategy helps reduce overwhelm and shows students that progress happens one step at a time.
Equally important, perseverance includes learning to be kind to oneself. Students are reminded that mistakes are part of learning and that everyone is growing at their own pace. Practicing self-compassion helps students stay motivated rather than discouraged.
Finally, students are encouraged to believe in themselves. Developing perseverance means trusting that with time, effort, and support, they can grow and succeed, even when something doesn’t come easily at first.
By focusing on perseverance this month, students are strengthening skills that will support them far beyond the classroom, helping them approach challenges with confidence, patience, and resilience.
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.
FRIDAY BLOG 
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