Saklan’s social-emotional learning emphasis for November and December is belonging. Throughout both months, all students will be learning about belonging and work to find ways to make others feel included. On Thursday, November 21st, the first – eighth graders will meet with their family groups and take part in cross-grade level discussions and activities to gain an even greater understanding of belonging, as well as further their sense of belonging and community here on campus.
#SaklanSEL
Friday, November 22nd will be an exciting day at Saklan! The day will include Grandfriends’ Day, a Book Fair, and Fall Follies.
Saklan Grandfriends are invited to join us on Friday, November 22nd from 8:45 to 10:30 a.m. for a morning of fun!
Please remind your grandparents and special friends (a friend or family member that your child looks up to and/or has a grandparent-like relationship with) about this event so they join us!
RSVP for Grandfriends’ Day Here!
On November 22nd Saklan will host a 1-day Book Fair. This will be a great opportunity to purchase books to be used as holiday gifts or to donate to a Saklan classroom.
All Saklan families are invited to join us for Fall Follies, our annual talent show, on Friday, November 22nd at 1:30 p.m.
November 22nd is sure to be a fun-filled day at Saklan!
#SaklanCommunity
All Saklan students are invited to showcase their creativity by designing a cover for this year’s yearbook. All covers are asked to incorporate the theme of 70 Years of Saklan, have a vertical orientation, and include the text “The Saklan School 2024-2025.”
If you have any questions about the Yearbook Cover Contest, please email Lauren at lhaberly@saklan.org.
#SaklanCreative
On Thursday morning, the Saklan students were very excited to don their Halloween costumes and participate in our annual Costume Parade! The parade route took the students out the admissions door, through the front parking lot, and back to the sports court. The students and teachers waved to the onlookers, as families cheered and took pictures along the route.
Once on the sports court, Rob called each class up to show off their creative costumes and dance moves, and then Dianne led some Halloween songs!
Later in the day, the kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd graders walked over to Moraga Royale where they performed Halloween-inspired songs for the residents. The students were met with applause and cheering from the crowd!
In the afternoon, the middle school students hosted lower school students for some trick-or-treating and invited them to go through the haunted house!
A big thank you to all the families who participated in the day’s events. From cheering on the students in the costume parade to providing snacks and decorations for class parties, your involvement is greatly appreciated.
#SaklanCommunity
We are so excited for our Taste of Traditions Dance and Potluck tomorrow, Saturday, November 2nd! The event will be held from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. on the Saklan Sports Court. It is sure to be fun for all ages!
Attendees are invited to bring a dish to share that reflects a family favorite or traditional dish shared in your family. Whether you’re able to bring a dish or not, your presence is what truly matters. The most important ingredient at this event is YOU, and we can’t wait to come together!
If you’d like to bring a dish to share, please sign up using this Sign Up Genius.
We hope to see you tomorrow for this fun and festive event!
#SaklanCommunity #SaklanPA
This past week, the Owlets and Hoot Owls learned about Dia de los Muertos, a celebratory tradition to welcome the spirits of loved ones who have passed. Zuly shared that her family celebrates by building an ofrenda or altar. She puts pictures of her loved ones who passed away on the ofrenda and also some of their favorite things to remember them.
To tie in with their learning about Farmers’ Markets, Zuly shared with the Hoot Owls that the markets in Mexico are filled with a lot of different mini figurines that kids use to make their altars for school during this time of year. She also shared that the markets are filled with marigold flowers, papel picado, sugar skulls, and pan de muerto. She brought in some pan de muerto to share with the class, and most of them thought it was delicious!
The Owlets and Hoot Owls used watercolors to color paper and make their own papel picado and used markers to color skulls. Additionally, the Owlets helped make a marigold chain and the Hoot Owls made sugar skulls!
To celebrate their learning, they put up an altar in the breezeway using all the materials they created!
Check out their altar when you join us for Taste of Traditions this weekend or on Monday morning!
Middle school artists are currently stretching their reflection skills through learning the artform of “gelli-printing.” Gelatin printing is a form of printmaking that uses a flexible, reusable surface to create layered, textured images. Although the process is quite simple when practiced, the many variables of printmaking, such as applying the appropriate amount of ink, rolling it smoothly without creating lines or drying out the ink, and holding and rubbing the print long enough (but not too long), can be challenging to master. To help with this process, students keep a daily log in which they set a goal and then reflect on and record their progress. Each time they set a goal, they review practices to help them achieve it during that class period.
As part of the unit, students are experimenting with various materials and techniques. For example, students use stencils to mask out areas and found materials, such as leaves, fabric, and string, to create layered textures.
For their final product, students will write a process statement for a single print of their choice. Soon, they will continue the unit by learning a reductive form of printmaking: linoleum block printing.
#SaklanCreative
The Hoot Owls, kindergartners, and 1st graders welcomed guest experts and Saklan parents Molly and Manju to learn about Diwali, the festival of lights. Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs around the world, lasts for five days, and is celebrated on a new moon, when the nights are the darkest, in October or November. The students read the book Shubh Diwali! by Citra Soundar to better understand the festival.
The Hoot Owls learned that people who are celebrating like to light up diyas, little oil lamps, to bring light and help dispel darkness. The students had a great time making their own diyas using bright colors and gems!
#SaklanGuestExperts #SaklanDiversity
As part of the 70th Anniversary Spirit Wear, Saklan is excited to offer sweatshirts and long-sleeve shirts! The order deadline for these items is November 15th. Items will arrive at Saklan the first week of December.
Zip-up sweatshirts, hoodies, crew neck sweatshirts, and long-sleeve t-shirts in various colors and sizes are available. To see the entire long-sleeved spirit wear collection, click here!
#SaklanSpirit
Think back to your favorite childhood play memory. Where were you? What were you doing? Was there an adult supervising you?
This past weekend, I took my daughter to the Adventure Playground in Berkeley. For those of you who have not been there, the best way to describe it would be a playground built by kids and made out of items found in a scrapheap. It is also a playground in constant transition; kids are given saws, hammers, nails and paint in order to “make improvements” to current structures. Adults are around, keeping an eye out, but are also encouraged to keep suggestions and advice to themselves. To my adult eyes, the place looked like a liability lawyer’s dream. To my daughter, it was the best playground ever, splinter and all. To Marioni Brussoni, the author of Why Children Need Risk, Fear and Excitement in Play it likely strikes an ideal balance between risk and a safety net. As she puts it, “Children should be kept as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible.”
Brussoni writes, that like all mammals, children are wired for risky play, as it provides opportunities to develop physically and cognitively and face new and unusual challenges. It helps them overcome fears, enhances creativity, and scratches the itch of curiosity. Often, though, our own fears and modern societal expectations get in the way of a child’s opportunity to learn. Since the 1970’s children have seen a significant decline in unstructured free time and outdoor play. Too often kids’ experiences are curated, and supervised. While independent playtime, freedom, and opportunity for adventure have dropped, screen time has increased.
As parents and educators, we must strike a balance between safety and individual growth. Allowing children to experience risk and fear, does not mean parents are neglecting their duty of care; but in fact, fulfilling a crucial part of it. We are giving them the tools they need to navigate life’s uncertainties with resilience and creativity.
Oh, and one of my favorite childhood memories. Ten-year-old me, during winter in Michigan, trying to cross an iced-over creek with my friends. I clearly remember the sound of cracking ice, trying to scurry to safety, plunging in the cold water, and the freezing walk home.
Warmly,
David
P.S. If you have time, the linked article is worth a read.
P.P.S. If you attended this morning’s SEL session, you can access the slide deck here.
FRIDAY BLOG 
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