Author: The Saklan School Friday Blog

The Saklan School is a private Pre-K through 8 school located in Moraga, CA. Our mission is to think creatively, act compassionately, and live courageously.

Protective Paper Towel Masks

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Grades 6th-8th made somewhat of a fashion statement making a simple protective face mask using a paper towel, two rubber bands, a stapler, and some markers. They were asked to use one word or phrase to describe how they have felt through this experience of shelter in place. They could also respond with one word or phrase of what they are learning in this moment in time. Students drew other parts to the mask like speech bubbles and an expressive mouth while making the mask colorful.

In the process of making, students talked about why they chose that word or phrase. We talked about what they do to change negative thoughts into positive, and how art and other things can help with those bored, anxious, or stressed out times. They were asked to then take a picture of themselves wearing the mask. As they say, a lot is said within looking someone in the eyes. Looking closer, you can see a lot of emotion in the students’ eyes in relationship to their chosen word or phrase.

#SaklanCreative

Thank You, NOAA TAS!

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Special thank you to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Teacher at Sea Program which sent Miss O. some lab supplies for her students to be able to take part in labs while doing distance learning. The 6th grade students will be able to do a climate change lab and alternative energy lab from their kindness and support of their alumni teachers. Thank you, NOAA Teacher at Sea, our students (and Miss O) thank you! Students will pick up these lab supplies at the next “swap and drop!”

#SaklanAcademics

Owlets Became Scientists!

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April was a Scientrific Month! The month’s theme was Science and Springtime. The Owlets had an amazing time becoming scientists and learning about making observations, predictions, watching chemical reactions, why certain things don’t mix, and so much more.

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The Owlets did a celery experiment where they filled cups halfway with water, added food coloring, added celery sticks, then made predictions of what they thought was going to happen, and how many days it is going to take This experiment taught them about capillary action. This is the process of how plants take water from the ground up through their roots and bring it up the stem, to the leaves, and to the petals. By doing this experiment, they got to see first hand how this happened because with them adding food coloring to the cups of water, they got to see how the capillaries carried the water up and to the top. The celery changed color to whatever the water was colored.

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Another science experiment they did was wax resist cards. This is when you draw with a white color crayon, paint over with watercolor, and then you can see what you drew because the wax resists the water color paint.

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The Owlets did so many more fun science experiments like why oil and water don’t mix, sink or float, and lemon volcanoes.

The Owlets also made Earth Day promises: made spring flowers and crowns, and did a chalk challenge where they thanked all the essential workers and people around their neighborhood. It was a fun-filled month!

#SaklanHandsOn

Subtraction Bowling

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The Kindergarteners have been busy learning about subtraction. This week, the children played Subtraction Bowling by lining up objects found around their home then using a ball to knock down or take away objects. The Kindergarteners then wrote their equation. Strike!

#SaklanDistanceLearning

Make Your Own Play Dough

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Since we’ve started our distance learning program, Miss Maggie K. has been preparing science and art projects with Kindergarten and first grade. She tries to find activities that are easy so kids can do it and with materials that are common household items. These projects usually explore a science concept and/or promote creativity.

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Last Thursday, Miss Maggie shared how to make your own play dough with a few simple ingredients and had two recipes ready in case some items weren’t found at home. She posted the recipes with instructions and one recipe also had a video tutorial that she found on Youtube.

#SaklanDistanceLearning

It’s Book Fair Time!

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Dear Saklan Community,

It’s (virtual) book fair time!! Need to escape your life without leaving your house? Tired of reading the same book to your children night after night after night? Then head on over to https://www.rakestrawbooks.com/

Rakestraw Books is an independent bookstore in Danville, CA and they are hosting Saklan’s (virtual) book fair. They have literally thousands of titles, suitable for children and adults of all ages.

IMPORTANT: To order, simply fill your shopping cart with as many books as you want, then put the word “Saklan” in the coupon code box and click “apply to order.” This is the only way for Saklan to get credit for your order.

You filled your cart? You put Saklan in the coupon code box? Okay, now click “checkout.” At checkout, you will have two shipping options: Standard Shipping (this amount will change depending on how much you order) and a 99 cent pickup option.

IMPORTANT: The 99 cent pickup option only appears if your order is over $25. If your order is under $25 and you wish to use the 99 cent pickup option, please put PICKUP in the comments section. Your total will be manually adjusted once it is received by the bookstore.

Once a week, or once every other week depending on how many orders we get, all “pickup” orders will be picked up from Rakestraw and taken to Saklan. You will get an email telling you your order is ready for pickup and you are then free to come by Saklan at your leisure and pick up your new goodies.

Please share the virtual book fair with friends and family members! Saklan will receive 10% credit for all orders placed between now and the end of the school year so the more people who order the more Saklan will benefit. Just remember, you must write SAKLAN in the coupon code box for Saklan to benefit.

In the next couple of weeks, we will also be releasing teacher and library wish lists. These will be lists that the Saklan faculty (teachers and specialists) and library association would love to have for their classroom or available for checkout. All books purchased from this list, by Saklan community members, will be donated directly to the teacher (or library) for use in his or her classroom. You are welcome to buy books from any teacher’s wish list; you are not restricted to purchasing books only from your child’s current teacher’s wish list.

As the academic year comes to a close, we will also be sending out suggested summer reading lists. With the libraries closed indefinitely, purchasing some books from these lists will be a great way to round out our book fair and give your children some great summer reads.

Questions or comments? Feel free to contact Tara (aka Kaylah’s Mom) at jade4037@gmail.com.

Thank you!

#SaklanBookFair

In Their Own Words

“Scott and I feel extremely lucky to have Katerina and our family join The Saklan School, even with all that is happening now. We joke that we were homeschooling this year while trying to find the right school, and once we choose schools for both girls [Katerina was in school for less than 2 weeks (officially 4.5 days)!!], we somewhat feel we are back where we were. However, we are NOT in the same place as before because our girls are connected with their teachers and classmates and feel a sense of class social connection. Both schools have risen far above any other school we have heard about in the nation. We are quite proud of The Saklan School in how it immediately stepped up and transitioned into distant learning. I love how a lot of elements are included that I didn’t think were possible (scavenger hunts that lead to laughter, group games in Spanish, daily subject meetings on top of the class meetings, etc). We are extremely grateful.

Kat

Today, Penelope, our youngest, created an outside classroom for her and Katerina. It is under our back tree on our lawn. It was even a haven for our pets as well as they joined in school when they chose. It is dreamy, but it doesn’t replace the classroom at Saklan. We look forward to our world being healthier and safer so we can rejoin the wonderful school we just joined!” – Saklan Parent

Please take a moment to share with us your thoughts on how things have gone so far with distance learning, what we have done well, what we could do better and how we can better support your family. Email us at feedback@saklan.org.

#SaklanDistanceLearning