Head’s Corner: Learning to Listen, Together

Last Friday morning, a group of Saklan parents gathered with Isaac to experience our West African drumming program firsthand.

Isaac introduced us to movements from West African music traditions and explained what they communicate to an audience. For us, those first dance steps offered another lesson: learning very often requires a willingness to step outside your comfort zone.

Dancing (sometimes awkwardly) with other adults makes us vulnerable — and connected — through movement and laughter. It was a useful reminder of what we ask of our children every day—to take risks, try new things, and trust the people around them.

As we moved into drumming, Isaac emphasized the importance of listening. He remarked that in West Ghanaian culture, there is a strong emphasis on listening over speaking, and that our first responsibility in making music together is to listen to others before adding our own contributions.

That idea reaches well beyond music. Collaboration and learning depend on noticing what others are doing, making room for their contributions, and adjusting our own. In a classroom, a conversation, or a group of musicians, listening helps us find our place while staying connected to the whole.

We ended by talking about the many kinds of learning involved in making music: attention, memory, movement, coordination, and connection with others. We left with a deeper appreciation of what our students experience in the drumming program—and why it has a meaningful place at Saklan.

For me, the morning brought several of our beliefs about learning to life. We learn through experience. We grow when we feel comfortable enough to take a risk. And we contribute more thoughtfully when we first make the effort to connect and listen.

Isaac gave us a chance to practice all three, together.

#SaklanHeadsCorner #SaklanHandsOn #SaklanCommunity

Taste of Traditions Oct. 17

We hope you’ll join us on Saturday, October 17, from 5:00–7:30 p.m. for Taste of Traditions! This family-friendly community celebration will take place on the Saklan Sports Court and feature delicious food, fun games, and a DJ.

All Saklan families and alumni are invited to come together for an evening of connection, celebration, and community!

Planning to attend? Please RSVP using the button below so we can get an accurate headcount. No need to let us know what you’re bringing—just bring yourselves! If you’d like to bring a favorite dish to share, we’d love that, too.

Let us know if you are attending!

We look forward to celebrating with you!

#SaklanPA #SaklanCommunity

October SEL Focus: Curious

Each month at Saklan, we focus on a different Social Emotional Learning (SEL) topic that helps students develop the skills they need to navigate school, relationships, and the world around them. For October, our SEL focus is Curious.

Being curious means more than simply wanting to know the answer. It means being willing to ask questions, explore new ideas, listen to different perspectives, and approach unfamiliar experiences with an open mind.

These skills extend far beyond the classroom. When students are curious, they become more willing to take intellectual risks, consider perspectives different from their own, and see challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Curiosity helps students develop the very qualities at the heart of Saklan’s mission: thinking creatively, acting compassionately, and living courageously.

#SaklanSEL

Geometry Students Investigate Dilations

In 8th Grade Geometry, students recently explored the concept of dilations, investigating what happens when a figure is proportionally enlarged from a specific point, known as the point of dilation.

Using a stretched rubber band as a hands-on model, students experimented with how a figure changes as it is enlarged. Through their investigation, they discovered an important geometric relationship: while the size of a figure changes during a dilation, its angles remain congruent.

This hands-on exploration allowed students to discover the properties of dilations for themselves rather than simply learning them as rules. The insights they developed provide an important foundation for their next unit of study: similarity.

#SaklanHandsOn

Human Raised: Helping Kids Flourish in the Age of AI

Chatbots can become confidants. AI can do homework, answer questions and even power plushies that talk back. As these technologies become part of everyday childhood, parents and educators face a new question: How do we embrace what AI can offer without losing the human experiences children need most?

Dana Suskind, pediatric surgeon and New York Times bestselling author of “Human Raised,” joins us to help parents and educators navigate AI with intention while protecting the uniquely messy and beautiful human experiences kids need to thrive. Drawing on brain science and practical frameworks, she’ll help adults guide their children to make thoughtful choices about technology while preserving the relationships, experiences, and human connection at the heart of healthy development.

You’ll learn

  • Why human connection matters so much to a developing brain
  • How to evaluate whether AI products support or undermine healthy development
  • Where and how to set meaningful boundaries around AI
  • Ways to nurture your child’s uniquely human skills

AI is here to stay. Learn how to make sure it supports — rather than replaces — what kids need to flourish. Reserve your spot here for the live Zoom talk using promo code SAKSCHL to attend for free — and get access to the recording to watch anytime.

#SaklanPA #SaklanParentEd

Staff Spotlight: Coach Rob

For Coach Rob, Physical Education is about much more than sports. It’s an opportunity for students to explore, take risks, build relationships, and discover what they’re capable of.

Now in his third year at Saklan, Coach Rob teaches PE to students in Kindergarten through eighth grade, giving him the unique opportunity to work with students throughout nearly their entire Saklan journey.

Coach Rob draws much of his approach to teaching from his own interests and experiences. Sport, wellness, travel, culture, and exploring new places have always been important parts of his life.

“I try to bring that same sense of curiosity and adventure into PE,” he shares. “I want students to experience new games, sports, challenges, and ways of working with people that they might not always choose on their own.”

For Coach Rob, movement can be a powerful vehicle for learning not just about physical skills, but about ourselves and the world around us.

Learning Through Play

Coach Rob sees play as an essential part of learning.

“Play gives kids the opportunity to explore, problem-solve, communicate, compete, take risks, fail safely, and try again,” he explains. “I don’t see play as something separate from learning. I think it’s one of the ways kids learn best.”

His goal is to create an environment where students can be present, challenge themselves, try new things, and most importantly, enjoy moving.

One of the most rewarding parts of teaching PE is watching students discover that they don’t have to fit a particular definition of an “athlete” to find success.

Coach Rob especially enjoys seeing a student who may not initially consider themselves athletic or have much interest in sports find an activity they genuinely enjoy. That might be a sport, a game, running, an adventure, a team challenge, or simply realizing they can accomplish something they didn’t think they could do.

“I want every student to understand that there is more than one way to be successful in Physical Education,” he says.

Be Willing to Try

If Coach Rob could offer his students one piece of advice, it would be simple: Be willing to try.

“You don’t have to be the best at everything. Be present, give your best effort, try something new, and be willing to be uncomfortable sometimes. That’s usually where growth starts.”

Ultimately, Coach Rob hopes students remember his classes not simply for the games they played or the skills they learned, but for how they felt while learning.

“I hope they remember that we played. We explored. We competed. We laughed. We tried things we weren’t always good at. And we learned how to work with different people.”

More than anything, he hopes students leave PE with healthy habits, healthy relationships, and the confidence to step into whatever comes next.

Democracy in Action: Saklan Students Take the Lead

Another exciting Student Council election cycle came to a close at Saklan last Friday, offering a wonderful reminder of the importance of student voice and civic engagement within the school community.

This year, fifteen out of thirty-three Middle School students submitted their candidacies for Student Council officer positions, and each candidate put forth a strong effort throughout the election process.

The Middle School officer candidates presented lively and engaging speeches at CLAS last Friday. Students in Grades 1–8 then participated in the balloting process in their classrooms, with the results of the Middle School election announced just before the end of the school day.

Earning a seat as a Saklan Student Council officer involves more than simply winning the popular vote. Each candidate had to submit a Letter of Intent, make a campaign poster, sit for an interview conducted by Jennifer Lettieri and Kim Parks, and share slogans and stickers with the Lower School students during lunch recess. The speeches presented at CLAS were the culmination of their campaigning.

Candidates were awarded points for timeliness and quality when carrying out each of these tasks, and the candidates with the most points were the winners.

Lower School Student Council representatives were selected by their classmates and respective homeroom teachers in grades 1-5. This year, two Kindergarten representatives were also selected, and they will join the Lower and Middle School students at regular Student Council meetings every other Wednesday.

Congratulations to our 2026-2027 Student Council members!

Middle School Officers

President– Mae

Vice President– Willow

Treasurer – Makena

Publicity Chair – Roni

Secretary – Elise

Environmental Affairs Chair – Meredith

Lower School Representatives

Kindergarten – Cayden and Graham

Grade 1 – Alina and Noah

Grade 2 – Can and Nora

Grade 3 – Evan and Addys

Grade 4 – Olin and Satya

Grade 5 – Sam and Ruby

Kinder Korner: Building Connections

One of the special traditions Hoot Owls and Kindergartners experience at Saklan is Kinder Korner. These gatherings give Kindergarteners the chance to step into leadership roles as they guide the Hoot Owls through fun, educational activities in math, reading, or science. For the Hoot Owls, it’s an exciting introduction to Kindergarten that fosters meaningful connections between students and teachers across the two grades.

For their first visit of the year, the Kindergarten class celebrated the first day of fall by teaching the Hoot Owls how to make leaf rubbings. The Kindergartners gathered leaves for their younger friends and demonstrated how to place the leaves under the paper, with the veins facing up, before using the side of a crayon to gently rub across the paper and reveal the leaf’s shape and texture.

As the Hoot Owls created their artwork, Kindergarten students practiced explaining directions, demonstrating techniques, and encouraging their younger classmates.

Through Kinder Korner, students in both grades benefit from the connection. Hoot Owls gain familiarity and confidence as they look ahead to Kindergarten, while Kindergarteners develop leadership, responsibility, and empathy by helping their younger peers learn.

Learn More about Kindergarten at Saklan

Next Thursday, October 8th, Riva will host a Kindergarten at Saklan Information Session in the Humanities Room at 8:45 a.m. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the Kindergarten experience at Saklan and how families can help prepare their children for this important transition.

Riva will share what a typical day looks like, what students learn, and how Kindergarten builds on the skills and experiences developed in Preschool and Pre-K. She’ll also offer practical tips for preparing children academically, socially, and emotionally, and answer your questions.

We would love for you to join us!

Family Groups Begin the Year with Inclusion and Connection

On September 29, Saklan’s Kindergarten through eighth-grade students gathered for their first Family Group meeting of the school year, coming together across grade levels to build connections and explore what it means to be inclusive and accepting.

Family Groups are a Saklan tradition that brings students from different grades together throughout the year. These mixed-age groups create opportunities for students to get to know one another, learn from each other, and build a stronger sense of belonging across the school.

For their first meeting, students began by getting to know the members of their Family Group through introductions and fun activities designed to help them discover new things about one another. Students paired up, asked questions, shared their answers, and looked for connections within the group.

Each group then turned its attention to what it means to be inclusive and accepting at Saklan. Students discussed what inclusion can look like (including others, working with different people, and being kind), and what it means to be accepting (including not judging others, giving people second chances, and allowing others to be themselves).

Students were also invited to reflect on times when they have felt included and accepted at Saklan. They shared examples of classmates being kind, inviting them to join an activity, playing together at recess, or showing genuine interest in getting to know them.

To represent the idea that everyone contributes something unique to the group, each student decorated a paper paw with things they enjoy or qualities that represent them. The individual paws were brought together to create a Family Group poster: a visual reminder that while each student is an individual, everyone has a place within the group.

The meeting set the tone for the year ahead: getting to know one another, celebrating what makes each person unique, and creating a community where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and included.

#SaklanSEL #SaklanCommunity

The 2027–28 Admissions Season Is Here!

We’re excited to welcome families to Saklan this admissions season! Bring your family and friends and join us for upcoming opportunities to experience our Preschool–8th Grade program firsthand, meet our teachers, explore our campus, and discover what makes Saklan such a special place to learn and grow.

Upcoming Admissions Events

Kindergarten at Saklan Information Session
Thursday, October 8 at 8:45 a.m.

Preschool–8th Grade Open House
Friday, October 16 at 9:00 a.m.

Parent Perspective: Virtual Parent Panel
Thursday, December 10 at 12:00 p.m.
Hear from current Saklan parents about their family’s experience and what makes our community meaningful to them.

Preschool–8th Grade Open House
Friday, January 8 at 9:00 a.m.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

New student applications for the 2027-2028 school year are now open! This application is for students not currently enrolled at Saklan. For priority consideration, please submit your application by Friday, January 22, 2027.

Current families, please note that re-enrollment information will be shared in January.