Month: September 2023

My Summer In NYC

Creativity is such a difficult thing to understand. In education circles, we spend time debating about whether creativity can even be taught, and where in the brain it comes from. There are many who still think creativity is relegated to artists and musicians and actors alone; traditional thinking sometimes categorizes us into “right-brained” (creative) or “left-brained” (analytical). I don’t claim to have the answers to where creativity comes from, but I know places where it lives. 

Over the summer, Lauren Haberly (Art), Linda Lathrop (Project and Inclusion Integrationist) and I traveled to New York City for the Annual Broadway Teachers Workshop put on by the Broadway educators group. Over three packed days, we listened, danced, moved, and lived in the creative energy brought by professional actors, directors, educators, and set designers. The cultural and creative diversity in one space was inspiring and beautiful, and we left each day filled with so many new thoughts and ideas. Every morning we stepped into the streets to let those ideas float between us and the ideas from millions of other people around us. People serving really good coffee, people playing cello in the park, people sharing beautiful food from their heritage, people baring their soul through song, people marveling at bright lights, and people just being people. To be in a space where community is everywhere, and strangers are so close in every moment, is exhilarating. The creative energy seems to swirl through the city like ribbons woven through the streets; it fills your heart and fills your soul and stakes a claim there forever. 

All this being said, creativity is not exclusive to New York City. It is not exclusive to the arts, or right-brained people. Creativity lives in community. When we share ideas, thoughts, when we give each other space to explore and when we experience the world side by side with another human, creativity lives. Whether on a stage, a painting, a group project, or anywhere we listen to one another, creativity thrives. We hold NYC in our hearts, and the music and art we experienced there runs through my mind like a banner of inspiration. We hope to infuse that inspiration in every interaction with our students here at Saklan, and bring new energy and passion to every project that we are a part of. We know that creativity lives here, in us. We are forever grateful for the opportunity to be inspired by this experience. Thank you to all of our community for supporting us and your students. 

With gratitude,

Grace Chaffey

#SaklanCreative #SaklanCommunity #SaklanSummerReflectionFund

Fostering Trust and Appreciation

Last Friday, the 6th graders came back from an amazing trip to Westminster Woods, an environmental education and character development program, nestled in 200 acres of redwood forest in Sonoma County.

During their 5-day experience, students were led through a series of adventures that left a lasting impression on all of them. From painting their faces with rock sediment to navigating challenging slopes and terrains, the sixth graders spent their days learning lessons about the delicate ecosystems that surrounded them. More importantly, they learned about their strengths and how they can rely on their community. 

One of the defining moments of the trip was the ropes course challenge, a true test of vigilance and courage. As a class, the students discussed how courage isn’t the absence of fear but the thoughtful action taken in the face of it. Students continued to face their fears by going on a solo night hike in the dark. 

What made these challenges special was the support the class provided to one another throughout the trip. While many middle school trips focus on learning about diverse cultures and community outreach, this trip was unique in how it fostered trust and appreciation among our students.

The lessons learned at Westminster will stay with the students for a lifetime, serving as a foundation for their continued growth and development.

#SaklanFieldExperience #SaklanCommunity

Why Is Accreditation On My Mind?

This past week, I was in Merced for three days, evaluating the work of a small private school. From going into classrooms or talking with parents to examining their financial practices and playing Dodgeball with their students- I (and a team of three others) were “in their business.” 

Our work was to examine every aspect of the school, assessing if they were in alignment with their accrediting body as well as fulfilling the promise of their mission. The school had submitted a 160-page report reflecting on its practices and culture. Our job was to see how accurate their self-reflection was, give feedback, and help them set goals for the next six years.  

Saklan is in the middle of that accreditation process right now. Over the past nine months, the faculty and staff have been working on our own California Association of Independent Schools Accreditation Self-Study. The report will be submitted in December, and there will be a team of 4-5 accreditation members visiting Saklan for four days in March. Once they visit, they will submit their report with “notable strengths” and recommendations for improvement. 

They examine not just how well we are doing in the areas of teaching and learning but also whether our culture is in alignment with our mission and core values. Do our financial practices and governance follow best practices? Do we have a process for continual improvement? And lastly, have we been honestly self-reflective in our self-study report? 

The process is intense and exhausting but also validating and rewarding. It helps us understand our strengths, but also where we need to improve. It is an exercise in self-reflection and learning- which is what we are about. I look forward to sharing our school with the visiting committee in March, as I am so proud to be part of this community.

Sincerely,

David

#HeadsCorner

Inclusive Family Groups

On Tuesday, September 26th, the Saklan first through eighth graders were very excited to meet with their family groups for the first time this year! During the meeting, the students in each group introduced themselves and shared a few of their favorite things. Next, each group had a discussion of what it means to be inclusive and why it is important that we are inclusive, including to help others them feel comfortable and to make friends. Each family then played a game to help them learn something new about everyone in their group, as sometimes its hard to be inclusive when you don’t know much about each other.

The 8th graders then explained to their family group that as they go through the year together, they are a group made up of awesome individuals and they each bring their own strengths to the group. Some may have amazing sports or singing talents. Some maybe be amazing observers or great listeners. These strengths make them a great team, and throughout the year, the group leaders will ask all family members to share their own perspectives.

Each member of the group was then given a puzzle piece to draw or decoratively write one way they have felt included at Saklan. These puzzle pieces were then all put together, with their family group name written on top. Check out their puzzles (and names) below!

#SaklanSEL #SaklanCommunity

See You Sunday!

We look forward to seeing you at The Saklan School’s Fall Festival this Sunday, October 1st from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.!

Join us at the Casita at Hacienda de los Flores for face painting, a photo booth, fall crafts and tons of fun! There will also be food trucks, lawn games, a whipped cream pie challenge, and a Fall Food Showcase. This will be fun for the whole family!

#SaklanFallFestival #SaklanCommunity

Refining & Rethinking As We Grow in Knowledge

A PBL Unit kicks off with an entry event, otherwise known as a “hook,” that engages students’ curiosity.  In fifth grade, students study USA history and geography, and so for an entry event into their latest PBL unit, the fifth grade class examined a 3D map of the USA, and noted the flat center that makes up the Great Plains region. Students examined photographs and personal accounts from the early 1930s; the “chocolate-rich soils” that drew many to profitable wheat, corn, and livestock farming during the Great Depression, creating the area’s nickname as “The Breadbowl” of the nation.  

Students then examined photographs and heard personal accounts of the 1939-1949 Dust Bowl Disaster. What caused the year-upon-year sand storms that killed livestock, buried crops, and drove farmers off their once-fertile lands?  The class charted initial ideas, and will collect “clues” in the form of a growing body of knowledge and experiences each week, and then try to answer the complex question (that puzzled scientists for years) at the end of the unit.

Milestone One

Learning steps necessary to reach an end goal is a “milestone” in PBL.  The first milestone in the fifth grade unit is for students to understand the value of water as a precious natural resource.  After defining “resource,” students wrote their answers to the question, “What is the most precious resource in the world?” They posted these on a chart that remains on the classroom wall throughout the unit.  Food, water, and shelter made up the top responses.  Sleep, and being healthy were other thoughtful answers; the 5th graders knew that gold, diamonds, and X-boxes were not it!

Next, students learned about fisherman Jose Alvarenga, lost at sea for 438 days after a storm flooded the engine of his fishing boat. Using buckets to collect fresh rainwater, and his bare hands to catch any sea life he could, Jose was able to get just enough fresh water and food to survive for fourteen months. Students learned that people can survive just three weeks without food, and only three days without water! To conclude, students revisited their thought-board and refined their “…most precious resource” answers, reflecting how we refine and rethink things as we grow in knowledge, skills, and experiences in a lifelong learning process.

With this, the fifth grade Earth Science PBL Unit “Water doesn’t just fall from the sky, you know” was underway. Students will learn about the interconnected nature of the earth’s four spheres, with emphasis on the hydrosphere and an application of learning at the end.

Stay tuned to learn about the next milestone in the fifth grade hydrology PBL unit!

#SaklanPBL

Why I Teach Ewe Music

Alfred and Kobla Ladzekpo came to the United States in the 1960s to teach Ewe music. The Ladzekpos came from a village in the southern Volta region of Ghana called Anyako, an Ewe village. Ewe is one of over 20 languages spoken in Ghana. Ewe music is divided into styles. Each Style has songs (for singing), drum patterns and dance steps. The singing, drumming and dancing together form the musical style.

Alfred Ladzekpo taught at the California Institute of the Arts (Calarts) for over 40 years, and I was fortunate to study with him from 2002-06. He became my mentor and my friend.

Alfred’s main goal with his students at Calarts was to show them how to be an effective musician in his style of music. Ewe music is an oral tradition. Musicians coming from different backgrounds begin a new process of learning through listening. Alfred reveled in every opportunity he had to lecture his students on the importance of listening. Despite the simplicity of the message, every student who embraced this concept came away from Alfred’s class an improved musician.

As a young musician my fascination with Ewe music was sparked by my admiration of its construction. Ewe music weaves a complex counterpoint through all of its elements that rival the greatest artforms of humanity. I was enamored with the sophistication of the drumming patterns and the ability for musicians to dialogue through a musical language. The lead drummer is able to direct their ensemble into new dance moves, drumming patterns, or songs,
by playing a call on the drum. Everyone has to listen or you might miss the call!

This felt like a secret language and my friends and I were hooked. We took every opportunity to learn from Alfred and eventually we were helping him teach his classes and performing in his professional ensemble at schools and community events. Later in life I found another beautiful side to the artform.

The main function of music in Ewe culture is to promote community. People gather in social groups for musical performances. These groups perform at funerals and weddings and are the backbone of both religious and secular events. This is extremely valuable in our recent culture of social media and social distancing. People are craving interaction and Ewe music is a
world class option for community building.

I teach Ewe music as a celebration of West African brilliance. Through honoring and respecting Ewe culture I have found that we can bring value to our school not only through the acute development of musicianship but through the strengthening of our community.

In community,

Isaac

#SakalanCommunity #SaklanArts

Got Used Sneakers?

The sixth grade students will be learning about human environmental impact and how they can help as part of science this year. During this study, they will have the opportunity to participate in service learning, an educational approach that combines learning objectives with community service in order to provide learning opportunities that help tackle real-world problems in one’s community.

The sixth grade has partnered with GotSneakers, an organization that helps keep sneakers out of landfills by recycling or reusing them. Each pair donated can earn their class money, which they will use to help with species conservation. Examples of how they may use the funds include:

  • Donations to wildlife centers 
  • Symbolic species adoptions
  • Materials to build bird boxes

Please help the sixth graders by donating any size sneakers you no longer want.

Starting next week, a bin will be placed in the breezeway during the last week of every month. Please place your unwanted pair of sneakers in the box during that time. Any size and brand of sneakers are welcome. But, sneaker-style shoes only, please!

#SaklanServiceLearning

Raising Well-Balanced Kids

In a high-stakes, high-pressure culture, parent and school expectations may have unintentional negative effects on students. Join us for our first parent education event of the year on Thursday, September 28th, to learn how to prioritize our kids’ well-being so that they thrive in school and beyond. In this workshop, Challenge Success will share practical strategies for families who want to raise well-balanced kids.

RSVP today to receive the Zoom link!

This parent workshop will be presented on Zoom by Challenge Success, a non-profit affiliated with the Stanford University Graduate School of Education. Challenge Success partners with school communities, like The Saklan School, to elevate student voice and implement research-based, equity-centered strategies that improve well-being, engagement, and belonging for all K-12 students.

This event is open to all Saklan families and the greater Bay Area community. Feel free to share the event info with your friends and family!

#SaklanPA #SaklanParentEd

Cheerios & Cheddar Bunnies

Does your family purchase Cheerios, Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies, or Blue Buffalo pet food? If so, you can turn those purchases (and more) into money for Saklan through the Box Tops for Education program. Box Tops for Education is a quick and easy way to support Saklan!

Wondering how it works? All you have to do is buy participating products and use the Box Tops app to scan your store receipt. The app identifies eligible products and earnings are credited to your designated school. Even if you’re shopping online or doing grocery pickup, you can still submit your digital or email receipt with the Box Tops app.

Use this link to download the Box Tops app and get started scanning today!

Don’t want to download an app? Turn your receipts into the front office, and a member of the Saklan admin team will use the app to scan it for you. After scanning with the app, all receipts will be shredded.

Thank you for your support of Saklan!