Month: April 2023

It’s been a fun, bright, sunny morning at Saklan; Spring is finally here! I had the privilege of visiting lots of classrooms and noticed many good things. This reminded me of the connections made here at Saklan and how we reinforce them every single day. 

During Morning Meeting, all of the students were listening, paying attention to each other, and using kind, inside voices. In Humanities, I recognized that the 7th graders were collaborating with their table groups and participating respectfully in the discussions. During CLASY, the lower school students were doing fun activities in mixed ages outside. Everyone was smiling and working together.

My time walking around campus this morning made me reflect on some of my favorite Saklan experiences. One of the highlights from this year was the Family Group World Cup. Family Groups played soccer games against each other during lunch recess. It was so fun to cheer on other people, and it brought the whole school together!

Another fun thing that we do at Saklan is the All-School Concert. It’s where all the kids have an opportunity to use their voices to sing, play instruments, and have a fun time. Even the preschool students get to be on stage and participate!

Field experiences are a great part of Saklan because it helps make connections with what we are learning and with each other. One of my favorite field experiences is when I went to Coloma. It was fun because we had a lot of activities and got to tell spooky stories in the cabins. It bonded our class together.

This is what makes Saklan such a great place. Thank you to the teachers and staff members for all that you do!

Sincerely,

Natalie

SaklanConfident #SaklanConnected #HeadsCorner

Some 50ish years ago, Grandpa Schulte taught me how to throw a baseball and would take me to Tiger games. The seats were as lousy as the Tigers, and I never became Aurelio Rodriguez. Grandpa O’Connell let me drive his rusty red tractor around the farm and taught me how to play poker (to my mother’s chagrin). There is not one living plant in my house, and I gave up thinking I would profit from cards long ago.  

Grandparents have a unique ability to provide love, support, and guidance that is different from that of parents. They have the bandwidth to validate children’s feelings and offer patience and understanding when things get tough. They savor every moment they have with children, knowing that their time together is limited.

Which brings me to Grandfriends’ Day. A core value of Saklan is the power of experiential learning. Today our grandfriends enjoyed a field experience into our students’ lives. They had their hand taken and were led into a world of education different from what they knew as a student. They engaged in morning meeting activities that emphasized connection and cross-generational understanding. They gained insight into a child’s life through The Saklan Art Show. They held conversations about project and field work that helped grandfriends understand what makes Saklan exceptional. 

But most importantly, Grandfriends’ Day gave someone in their lives an opportunity to share what is important to them. They were able to learn from, validate, and bond more deeply with a special person in their life. And that, at the end of the day, is what matters most.

To those that were able to share your grandfriends with us today, thank you. It was a pleasure to witness the cross-generational joy and light being spread around our campus. 

With gratitude,

David

#HeadsCorner #SaklanGrandfriendsDay