Cross-Divisional Project Collaboration

Beyond reading buddies, Saklan projects are intentionally designed for meaningful student collaboration that authentically supports academic growth. This spring, middle school is using their music production skills for kindergarten’s fairy tale recordings, 6th grade helped 1st graders organize their expository writing, and 4th graders helped our Pre-K Hoot Owls refine their Venn diagram skills! 

Kindergarten and Middle School Music Production

How can we write and share our own fairy tales to spread magic and joy? Through answering this driving question, Kindergarten students have learned the elements of fairy tales and deepened their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills to write and record their own original fairy tale stories. 

In preparation for their readers-theater style culmination on May 15th, students recorded their stories, and middle school students are creating original backing tracks to support the narrative elements of the fairy tale. Sound mixing the Kindergarten stories gives our middle schoolers an authentic application of their digital music production skills.

6th Grade and 1st Grade Expository Writing

All year 6th graders have worked on expository writing in Humanities. Recently, while preparing to write artifact labels for their PBL unit culmination, the Museum of the Future, sixth graders reviewed structure and organization in expository writing. To practice this work, sixth graders analyzed 1st grade report writing drafts on extreme weather. They completed individual writing conferences to support improving the structure and organization of the first-grade reports. Not only did the first graders get to work with the big kids in a middle school classroom, but the sixth graders had the opportunity to grapple with the deeper cognitive task of teaching and explaining elements of writing to a younger child. This work improved the content of the first-grade reports and solidified the sixth grader’s understanding of writing structures and organization, while building community across divisions.

Hoot Owl and 4th Grade Venn Diagrams

Venn diagrams are a useful tool for many grade levels to demonstrate understanding of academic content. This spring, our Pre-K class has been learning all about oceans while their 4th-grade reading buddies have been working on a PBL unit about the California Gold Rush. Both classes planned to use Venn diagrams as a learning tool, and teachers needed an opportunity for some one-on-one teaching and practice. It was natural for these classes to connect and engage in some cross-divisional content learning! 

With fourth graders guiding the learning, the buddies made Venn diagrams all about each other! They chatted and recorded what they had in common and what was different about each other. As they got to know each other better by completing the diagram, both classes also deepened their understanding of how to use a Venn diagram. When each class returned to their own project work, they employed the same learning tool at different developmental levels with different content.  

If you want to see final products and culminating events, stay tuned for the next week at Saklan emails for updates on ways to come see and celebrate our students’ spring project work!

#SaklanProjectWork

A Day in Charge: Head of School for a Day

Not many schools give you a privilege like being the Head of School for the Day, but Saklan just happens to be so awesome that it does. This isn’t even the best day I’ve had at Saklan! (It is up there, of course.) At the time I’m writing this post, I’m simultaneously thinking about the fun to be had before the day is done! I’ll still have free recesses, and not miss out on classes that give homework, so the schedule is clearly well thought through and meets the needs of me, my friends, and my teachers!

This isn’t the only way Saklan is amazing; I could name a hundred more ways! Here are a few:

  • Off-campus lunch on the last Thursday of every month
  • Free dress passes that reward good behavior with a day of your outfit of choice
  • A host of other great activities to be bought at the auction, such as bowling and smoothies, an escape room, and Librarian for the Day
  • Sisi’s is a popular reward for the students after a long project!
  • Teachers have fun, interactive activities that help students understand what they’re learning, and have fun with friends while learning it

And that’s just a few reasons that Saklan tries (and succeeds) to help its students feel like going to school every day, and looking forward to it. 

There’s something else exciting going on today as well: The opening of the Art Show! As a student in the classroom during – and participant in – the creation of the Art Show artwork, I can personally say that the students worked hard, every last one of them. No matter which ones are less than perfect, great effort was put into them, nevertheless! There were some off-topic conversations, so a HUGE shoutout to Lauren (the art teacher) for ceasing conversation not about artwork, because getting a room full of middle schoolers to sit down and quietly work on artwork is a gigantic feat, one that I could never even come close to accomplishing!

All in all, Saklan is an amazing school, and the Head of School for the Day is a fun thing to bid on for your (grateful) child at the auction. An Art Show only adds to the fun! If you or someone you know is thinking of sending your kid to Saklan, then you’ve/they’ve got good taste and probably love carrot cake. (Am I right? If not, then what’s the matter with you? Go have some carrot cake!)

Now craving carrot cake,

Makena

Head of School for the Day

Experiencing the Industrial Revolution

Eighth graders at Saklan are bringing history to life through an immersive exploration of the Industrial Revolution and its impact on American society in the early 20th century.

As part of their studies, students have been examining how rapid technological and social changes transformed the way people lived and worked. They learned how home-based craftsmanship gave way to factory systems, where workers performed repetitive tasks on assembly lines, each contributing a small but essential part to a larger process.

To deepen their understanding, the Humanities classroom was transformed into a bustling factory floor. Students took on the roles of assembly-line workers for the fictional “Get In Line Skating Company,” mass-producing inline roller skates. Each student was assigned a specific task: cutting out right or left boots and blades, assembling pieces with glue or tape, or adding color to the finished product.

Just like in real factories of the time, efficiency and quality were key. Each pair of skates had to pass a final inspection, and any that didn’t meet the standard were sent back down the line. Students also experienced the physical demands of factory work; they were required to remain standing and continuously engaged throughout the 40-minute production period.

In a moment that captured the tensions of the era, the simulation took an unexpected turn when a spontaneous “wildcat strike” broke out. Despite posted warnings discouraging unions, several student workers halted production, with some even lying down on the factory floor in protest. One student called for higher wages, echoing the real labor struggles faced by workers during this time.

Although production temporarily stopped, the class ultimately produced 37 pairs of roller skates. Following some negotiation and a boost in morale, students completed their work and proudly displayed their finished products in the Humanities Room.

This hands-on experience gave students a deeper, more personal understanding of the realities of factory life during the Industrial Revolution—highlighting not only the efficiencies of mass production, but also the human cost and the importance of workers’ voices.

#SaklanHandsOn

May Brings Patience

At Saklan, social-emotional learning is an essential part of how students grow, not only as learners, but as thoughtful, resilient individuals. In May, the school community is focusing on an important and often challenging skill: patience.

Patience is more than simply waiting. It involves managing emotions, showing self-control, and understanding that growth, learning, and relationships all take time. Throughout the month, students across all grade levels are exploring what it means to be patient with themselves, with others, and within the learning process.

In classrooms, teachers are creating opportunities for students to practice patience in meaningful ways. Whether working through a complex math problem, collaborating on a group project, or learning a new skill, students are encouraged to pause, take a breath, and stay engaged, even when things feel difficult.

#SaklanSEL

Middle School Musical Tickets Now Available

The Saklan Middle School students are very excited for their culminating project for music class, a performance of Curtains Young@Part. Every student in the Middle School is participating in the production, whether performing in a lead role, managing props, supporting costumes, or working behind the scenes as a stagehand. The show is a true collaborative effort! 

On Friday, May 15th, the students will perform at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette. The entire community is invited to the show. Tickets are required for attendance and can be purchased by clicking the button below.

Curtains Tickets

We hope you can join us for what is sure to be a wonderful show!

#SaklanMusicals #SaklanCreative

Earth Day Family Groups

On April 22, Saklan students came together to celebrate Earth Day with an afternoon of learning, collaboration, and hands-on action in support of the natural world.

The afternoon began with a special visit from Wildmind, an animal rescue organization, which introduced Preschool through 8th-grade students to several remarkable animals and their stories. Among them were Pugsley the turkey vulture, Sonora the grey fox, Taborri the red-tailed hawk, Sylvie the raccoon, and Sherman the California desert tortoise. Through these close-up encounters, students learned about each animal’s journey and the importance of protecting local wildlife. The experience sparked curiosity and compassion, helping students better understand how they can support the health of the ecosystems around them.

Following the presentation, students in Kindergarten through 8th grade gathered in their family groups to focus on Saklan’s social-emotional learning theme of the month: collaboration. Together, they discussed what it means to work effectively as a team and created posters outlining shared commitments to being collaborative community members.

Students then put those ideas into action through a meaningful, hands-on project. Working together, each group mixed wildflower seeds, soil, and water to create California wildflower seed spheres. Each student made four spheres, which were left in the sun to dry. These seed spheres will later be planted at home or shared with others, with the hope that they will grow into wildflowers that provide food and habitat for local species.

By the end of the day, students not only gained a deeper appreciation for wildlife and environmental stewardship, but also experienced the power of collaboration in making a positive impact.

#SaklanCompassion

Art Show Opening Reception

The Saklan School’s Annual Art Show will open on Friday, May 1, at the Moraga Art Gallery, located in the Rheem Valley Shopping Center. This much-anticipated event celebrates the creativity and artistic growth of Saklan students across all grade levels.

An opening reception will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., offering families and community members the opportunity to view the artwork, connect with one another, and celebrate the students’ accomplishments.

The exhibition will remain on display through Wednesday, May 6. Gallery hours are 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday, providing multiple opportunities to experience the collection.

In addition, Moraga’s Art Walk on Sunday, May 3, offers another wonderful chance to visit the gallery and enjoy students’ work as part of a broader community celebration of the arts.

#SaklanCreative #SaklanCommunity

Angles in Action

Saklan’s “Color Out” Spirit Day brought more than just vibrant energy to campus; it set the stage for an immersive and memorable learning experience in fifth grade.

As colorful tape stretched across desks in every direction, the classroom quickly transformed into a giant geometry puzzle. Students were immediately drawn in, asking questions like, “What’s happening?” “Are the lines supposed to match across the tables?” and “I think we’re finding triangles and quadrilaterals!” In true Saklan fashion, curiosity led the way as students eagerly investigated the patterns around them.

It wasn’t long before they discovered that the web of lines was part of a hands-on geometry challenge. Armed with protractors, students measured angles, recorded their findings directly on the desktops, and classified them as acute, obtuse, or right. As they worked, key mathematical concepts came to life: angles along a straight line add up to 180 degrees, and angles around a point total 360 degrees.

With each new discovery, excitement grew. Students identified a wide variety of shapes hidden within the intersecting lines, including kites, trapezoids, quadrilaterals, and triangles of all kinds, from scalene to isosceles, as well as perfectly formed right angles.

What made this experience especially meaningful was not just the math itself, but how students engaged with it. Rather than working through problems on paper alone, they moved, collaborated, and explored concepts in a dynamic, shared space.

This kind of visual and experiential learning helps deepen understanding while building confidence, persistence, and flexible thinking. It also reflects the essence of education at Saklan: rigorous academics paired with hands-on challenges and opportunities for creative problem-solving.

#SaklanHandsOn

Preschool Rolls into Learning

As part of their Transportation Project, the Owlets enjoyed a special “Wheels Day,” focused on the types of transportation they can use themselves.

The sports court came alive with movement as students and staff propelled the wheels of roller skates, scooters, bikes, and skateboards. With teachers guiding and encouraging them, the Owlets practiced riding with awareness and care, demonstrating strong safety habits and teamwork as they looked out for one another.

Driven by student curiosity, the experience naturally led to a deeper exploration of safety gear. When the preschoolers noticed that one classmate was wearing more than just a helmet, they became eager to learn more. Together, they examined wrist guards, knee pads, and elbow pads, discussing how each piece protects different parts of the body.

Building on this interest, students used Model Magic to design and create their own safety gear. As they worked, they paid close attention to details like shape, straps, and padding. Through this hands-on activity, they discovered an important concept: protective gear is designed with a hard outer layer for safety and a soft inner layer for comfort.

Through play, observation, and creativity, the Owlets are not only learning about transportation—they are developing an understanding of safety, design, and how thoughtful choices help keep us protected.

#SaklanProjectWork #SaklanCuriosity

Safe at Home

First graders at Saklan are deepening their understanding of homes and safety through meaningful, real-world connections as part of their Homes Project Based Learning unit.

One area of interest for the students has been wildfires: how they start, how they impact homes, and what people can do to stay safe. To bring this learning to life, students welcomed guest expert (and Saklan parent) Firefighter Mason, who shared valuable safety tips and prevention strategies. He explained how firefighters work to protect the community and what families can do to reduce risk at home. This visit helped students better understand the critical role firefighters play and made the learning both relevant and memorable.

A highlight of the visit was Mason’s demonstration of his firefighter gear. Students watched with awe as he suited up, describing each piece, from his heavy boots to his helmet and fire-resistant clothing. They were especially surprised to learn how much the gear weighs and how it helps keep firefighters safe while they do their important work.

The learning continued with another special guest, Saklan’s Science Teacher, Ms. O. As part of the unit, students explored how to protect themselves and their homes during extreme weather conditions. Before her visit, students generated thoughtful questions, which Ms. O answered in engaging and accessible ways.

Through videos and images, students were introduced to a range of natural events, including tornadoes, earthquakes, strong winds, and hurricanes. These visuals helped bring complex concepts to life and sparked meaningful discussions about how such events can affect homes and communities.

Ms. O also guided students in thinking about how to prepare for different weather conditions, whether staying cool during extreme heat, keeping warm in cold temperatures, or making safe choices during emergencies. These lessons helped students see how science connects directly to their everyday lives.

Through these expert visits, first graders are not only learning about homes, but they are also developing the knowledge and awareness needed to stay safe and care for their communities.

#SaklanProjectWork