Month: May 2023

5th Grade Day on the Bay

Fifth Grade thoroughly enjoyed their Marine Science Institute field experience last week. Out on the San Francisco Bay, students learned about marine science and teamwork aboard the R.V. Brownlee. 

After a safety briefing, students learned about the estuary and why it makes a perfect nursery for local sea life. Students formed teams to work through three learning stations. At the ichthyology (fish study) station, students used teamwork to deploy a 16-foot net. After trawling it for several minutes, students worked again to haul the net in, and much excitement followed as a baby bat ray splashed them all. Saklan’s compassion was demonstrated in students’ concern at seeing a little blood near the ray’s stinger – the skin here is sensitive and thin, they learned, so that neurotoxins can be released when the ray is in danger; he did get a little scrape in the net, probably from the coral that was also netted. Once the ray was out of the net and in the touchpool, adaptations for habitat and predator/prey relationships were observed (watch out for that stinger!). Students also got to observe and handle a live baby leopard shark, netted earlier in the day, and along with California halibut, starry flounder, and a staghorn sculpin.

At the benthic (estuary floor) ecology station, students dredged sediment samples from the bay floor using a Peterson benthic grab-claw, then washed the mud away to expose native and non-native invertebrates, from bay shrimp, to isopods and clams, which were put into “touch-pool” buckets for students to gently handle, study, and identify. They also made a pledge to the bay, and sealed it by painting a little bay mud on their faces! 

Lastly, at the plankton ecology station, students examined water samples under a video microscope, identifying many zoo- and phytoplankton from single-cell organisms to complex species. 

This field experience brought to life much of the science the fifth graders have been learning this year, centered around Earth’s spheres, hydrology, life science/animal food chains, adaptations, and human impact on the natural world.  Students were engaged, respectful, and hard-working during this hands-on experience.

#SaklanFieldExperience #SaklanHandsOn #SaklanFieldWork

May SEL Focus: Resilient

During the month of May, all Saklan students are focusing on being resilient! Students are discussing what resiliency means and practicing having a positive attitude and not giving up when faced with challenges.

Later this month, the 1st – 8th graders will showcase their resiliency and teamwork skills when they participate in Family Group Field Day!

#SaklanSEL

Mars Wonders & Rovers

Last week in science, the fourth graders began to learn all about Mars! Students started with writing down their “wonders” about the planet. Wonders included:

  • Is there life on Mars?
  • Are there rovers on Mars right now?
  • Could humans make a base on Mars?

Next, the class learned all about missions that have been taken to Mars, and what rovers are there right now.

The students stepped into virtual reality and toured the actual landing sites of the Mars rovers to learn more about the rovers themselves and the purpose of their missions while on Mars. The fourth graders discovered that Mars once had water. They also learned that Perseverance, a rover designed to explore the Jezero crater on Mars as part of NASA’s Mars 2020 mission, is looking for samples that could contain signs of life.

The students are enjoying their unit studying Mars. If you have questions about Mars, ask our resident experts – the fourth graders!

Welcoming Jack Wong

On Wednesday, May 10, Saklan’s Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade students had the pleasure of meeting with author Jack Wong. Jack read his debut picture book, When You Can Swim, to the students and shared that the idea for the book came from his own experiences as a kid.

Jack was born in Hong Kong to a mother who had been forbidden to learn to swim. As a kid, he moved to Canada but didn’t like swimming or heights. He said he disliked swimming because being in the water feels so different from what we normally feel. A good friend encouraged and helped him feel more confident to take risks like jumping off a bridge into the water. Through his book, Jack paints a compelling picture of the many joys and surprises that the water holds, and invites others to discover their confidence to explore the warmth and wonder of swimming and the natural world.

Jack not only wrote When You Can Swim, but illustrated it too! He taught the students how to draw different creatures underwater. He explained that by drawing a line around the head of the creature you are drawing and then making ripples out from the line, the animal looks to be poking its head out of the water. He asked the students for suggestions on what to draw. A shark, seal and dinosaur were the winners!

V is for Volcano

While studying the letter Vv, the Owlets became very interested in volcanoes. The class watched some footage of real volcanoes erupting and decided to make their own volcano to erupt! They made a chemical reaction using baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, and food coloring to make their volcano bubble with “lava.”

Many of the Owlets came up with some great questions about volcanoes that even Ms. Jessica didn’t know the answers to, so they decided to do some research. One of the questions the Owlets answered was “Can you make lava?” Next, they made “lava” lamps using oil, water, and food coloring.

On Thursday, the Owlets had a special guest expert, a Saklan first grader, join them to answer some of their volcano questions. It was fun to learn more about volcanoes from one of the big kids!

Feeling Appreciated

Thank you, Saklan families, for a wonderful Teacher Appreciation Week! It was a week full of kind quotes, beautiful flowers, and delicious food. You definitely made all of the Saklan teachers and staff feel appreciated!

We enjoyed tasting your family recipes! Each day of the week featured a delicious spread of appetizers, main courses and desserts. From ‘Crockpot Specials’, ‘Taco Bar’, and ‘Favorite Finger Foods’ to ‘Special Family Recipes’ there wasn’t a day when any of us left feeling hungry!

The quotes from the students, hung on the front of the school, in the breezeway, and in the office, were so heartfelt and made us feel seen and appreciated. Thank you to all the parents who worked with your kiddos to help share their thoughts and for sharing your own words of thanks.

Special thanks to Shannon O’Connor, Erin Moorhead, Makeda Assefa, Liz Goulding, and the PA Board for organizing all the Teacher & Staff Appreciation activities. We are so grateful for your efforts.

#SaklanTeacherAppreciationWeek

Physics of Roller Coasters

Last Friday, the 8th grade class went to Great America to put their physics to the test by riding roller coasters and other amusement rides, determining speed, acceleration, and which forces were acting on them. Then they applied Newtons 3 Laws of Motion to see how physics plays a key role in the design, fun and safety of roller coasters. Students timed the rides, wore accelerometers to test the amount of g-force the ride exerted on their body and filled out a packet of physics! 

They will now be using the rides of Great America as inspiration for their culminating project in their physics class; building their own roller coasters! 

#SaklanFieldExperience

2023 Middle School Musical

The Saklan Middle School students have been rehearsing the junior version of The Drowsy Chaperone musical as their culminating project for music class. Every student in the Middle School is participating in the production, whether it is acting in a main role, taking care of props, helping with costumes, or being a stage hand. It is a true collaborative effort to produce an amazing final product.

On Friday, May 12th 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 on the button below.

Middle School Musical tickets

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

#SaklanMusicals SaklanCreative

Life in 1888

Saklan’s third graders recently traveled back in time to experience what school and life were like for children in 1888.

They started the day in the classroom with the three R’s: readin’, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic.  Students read from McGuffey Readers (published in 1879), practiced writing in cursive using quill feather pens and ink, and practiced math on slate boards with chalk.

The students also learned how to weave with yarn and created some tin punch art, two popular crafts back in 1888. 

In music class, the third graders enjoyed square dancing and singing pioneer songs.

For lunch, the class walked down to the little yellow farmhouse on School Street where they picnicked under the trees, and also played on the swings and with the chickens.

During PE with Mr. Crabtree, the students participated in foot races and sack races, and played tug-o-war.

Finally, they ended the day making delicious butter in mason jars. The third graders really enjoyed their time travel back to 1888!

#SaklanHandson #SaklanFieldExperience

Alumni Reunion

Calling all Saklan alums, alumni families, and Saklan staff members (current and past)! You are invited to join us for our Alumni Reunion on Saturday, June 17th at Saklan.

Please RSVP here to let us know if you will be joining us.

We are excited to welcome our past students and their families back to campus!

Excited to catch up with fellow alumni and their families? Join the Saklan School Alumni Facebook Page to start connecting today!

#SaklanAlumni