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.

Egypt + Humanities

Written by Guest Blogger & Saklan Project Curriculum Instructional Coach and 6th grade Humanities Teacher, Linda Lathrop

If you read the blog post from Saklan Science Specialist, Vickie Obenchain, on September 13th, or followed along with our adventures via Instagram, you know a bit about our 2 weeks exploring Egypt with the help of an excellent Egyptologist. The goal of our trip was to soak in as much information as possible and bring our experiences back to enrich classroom curriculum. 

Back at Saklan it was a pleasure watching the 8th graders apply knowledge from our hot air balloon trip over Luxor to their hot air balloon experiments in science. I know Vickie is looking forward to sharing all about camel adaptations with the 2nd graders during their animal adaptations PBL unit, and I even recently shared with 7th grade a presentation on the Library of Alexandria as part of their Community Spaces PBL unit too!

However, I can’t help but be most excited about how our trip informs the 6th grade humanities PBL unit: Artifact or Art Opinion. 

In this unit we explore the driving question, “Who does art really belong to?” To kick off our unit we imagine ourselves at the Met Gala of 2018. Believe it or not, a viral photo from that event helped uncover that the Met paid nearly $4 million dollars for a looted Egyptian artifact- the golden coffin of a high priest named Nedjemankh. 

In sixth grade over the next 7 weeks we will dive into researching specific Egyptian artifacts held outside of Egypt, explore the arguments for and against repatriation of artifacts, and learn directly from archaeologists and museum experts. In the end students will have developed arguments for how they believe the driving question is best answered- stay tuned! 

Thanks to our incredible summer experience in Egypt, this year students will get to expand upon the resources I have used in previous iterations of this PBL unit. I’ll be able to share my photos of ancient temples and tombs that speak directly to their classroom research, as well as video clips with mini lectures from our Egyptologist, to enrich the PBL experience. 

One additional highlight of the trip was visiting an after school program called the Funtasia Project in Luxor. A handful of these programs exist around the world and are designed to engage students in project work after school. This particular site in Luxor also collaborates with local schools and teachers to extend project learning into the academic day. We met with the leaders of the organization, as well as some students who took us on a bike tour through the neighborhood and later shared about the impact the program has had on their lives and educational experience. It was fascinating to learn that across an ocean and thousands of miles, there are students working to build their collaboration, communication, and complex thinking skills through project work, just like we are doing here at Saklan. 

It is hard to put into words all the ways witnessing these incredible historic sites has impacted what we can bring back to Saklan students. I remain humbled by the opportunity to attend this professional development trip and look forward to continued opportunities to weave our learning into Saklan units. 

Saklan Projects!

To learn more about project work at Saklan please join us for Saklan Projects! on Tuesday, October 22 at 6:00 p.m. This virtual presentation is for current and prospective families! During the event you will hear more about how teachers design projects to address learning goals and maintain academic rigor while providing immersive, joyful learning experiences for your children. RSVP today to receive the event link!

#SaklanPBL

Catching Up with Coach Rob

Rob Hood, or Coach as the students call him, is Saklan’s Head of Sports and Wellness. He can often be seen sharing high-fives with students and staff as he walks through campus towards the sports court. Reflecting on the first few weeks of school, Rob shared his approach to fitness, health and wellness.

At the start of our first unit, Fitness & Health, the 6th–8th graders took charge of creating a vision board that explored what Physical Education means, as well as the key components of fitness, health, and wellness. Together, we brainstormed ideas, with students identifying how different aspects of well-being connect to each component. This collaborative effort allowed us to design a holistic vision of wellness. I later shared this learning with the lower school students.

Following our vision board activity, we approached some of the P.E. components with a week of fitness testing. Students had the option to participate in a few exercises to test strength, muscular and cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility, assess their current fitness state, and set goals for the future. In addition to longer-term goals, I ask students to assess themselves daily to encourage more mindfulness and reflection related to their overall health and well-being. 

In my physical education classes, students are encouraged to be safe and respectful, demonstrate good sportsmanship, and resolve conflicts constructively, as shown in the community agreements below.

In our first few weeks, we’ve started exploring Physical Education as more than just playing games. It’s an approach to improving our health—physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially—while also helping students build essential life skills for healthy and happy lifestyles.

Nurturing Community

In their recent adventures, the Owlets explored the book Circles All Around Us by Brad Montague, which illustrates the concept of community and how we can nurture it. The key message is that by showing love and support to everyone around us, we help our circles grow.

Following the story, the class started a fun community-building project! The Owlets got a little messy as they built different structures using foam blocks and shaving cream. This hands-on activity encouraged teamwork and problem-solving, as the children worked together to reach blocks and support one another. Throughout the process, the teachers stepped back, allowing the students to become problem solvers among themselves. The only assistance needed was a little extra shaving cream for added fun!

#SaklanCommunity

Recognizing & Managing Emotions

During the month of October, Saklan students will focus on recognizing and managing their emotions as part of our Social-Emotional Learning program. The image below is hanging in all classrooms, and the students will discuss what emotions are, how to recognize them, and how to manage them throughout the month, including in Advisory, Morning Meeting, and other class time activities.

One tool that is being shared with students to help them in their pursuit of recognizing the sharing emotions is the chart below. The colors and emojis make this a chart that is good for students of all ages to help them identify their current emotional state. The strategies at the bottom of the chart are meant to help students get back to The Green Zone, where they feel calm. This can be a great tool to use at home too!

On Tuesday, October 29th, first – eighth grade students will meet with their family groups to further discuss recognizing and managing emotions, and participate in collaborative activities to further illuminate this month’s focus.

#SaklanSEL

Grandfriends’ Day 2024

Saklan’s Grandfriends’ Day is on Friday, November 22, 2024 from 8:45 to 10:30 a.m.

Please share information with 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, as we would love for them to join us! 

RSVP for Grandfriends’ Day Here!

Head’s Corner: The Power of Emotion

In the fall of 1991, I began as a Social Studies student teacher at Redford High School in Detroit, Michigan. On my first day, my mentor teacher offered a piece of advice that seemed essential at the time: “Don’t crack a smile until Thanksgiving; it undermines your authority.” Back then, this felt like sound wisdom—I was there to deliver information and make sure students took me seriously. Building emotional connections with them felt like it would take precious time away from academic instruction. It seemed logical, right? The more time spent on connection, the less time there is for learning history.

But I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Over the past 20 years, our understanding of how we learn has evolved dramatically, and neuroscience has made one thing clear: emotions fuel learning. The people we learn with, and how connected we feel to them, have a profound impact on academic success. This is why, at Saklan, we prioritize building relationships with students and making sure they feel like they truly belong. It’s not just about helping them grow into well-rounded individuals; it also leads to better academic outcomes.

Research shows that learners need an emotional connection to the content itself, too. That’s where Project Based Learning (PBL) shines. PBL taps into students’ experiences, motivations, and natural curiosity, creating meaningful, emotionally-charged learning experiences that foster deeper understanding and translate into real academic achievement.

At Saklan, we’ve always understood the power of emotion. We focus on connecting emotionally with students (“Love in Learning”) and helping them connect emotionally to the material (“Love of Learning”). We do this because it works, but more importantly, because it speaks to the learner inside all of us.

Warmly,

David

Accepting & Inclusive Family Groups

On Wednesday, September 25th, 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, shared a few of their favorite things, and did a stuffed animal name toss to help them learn each other’s names. Then they shared suggestions for names of their family group.

Next, each group had a discussion of what it means to be accepting and inclusive and why these traits are important, including to help others them feel comfortable and to make friends. Each family then participated in a get-to-know-you mingle to help them learn something new about everyone in their group, as it is often easier to be inclusive and accepting when we have things in common.

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. 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 group member was then given a flower to draw or write one way they felt accepted and included at Saklan. These flowers then creaeted a lovely bouquet. Check out their flowers (and Family Group names) below!

SaklanSEL #SaklanCommunity

Invite a Friend!

The 2025-2026 admissions season officially begins on Monday! Saklan has several events planned to help prospective families better understand our programs and philosophy:

  • The Saklan Approach Virtual School Overview: Wednesday, October 16th, 12:00 p.m.
    • This a spirited introduction to The Saklan School’s Preschool – 8th grade program. Learn more about who we are and what we do. 

  • Saklan Projects! Virtual Event: Tuesday, October 22, 6:00 p.m.
    • Learn how Saklan uses Project Based Learning to make learning come alive for our Preschool – 8th grade students.

RSVP to Attend aN Info Event today!

All prospective and current families are invited to attend these events. Feel free to invite friends or family members to join these events as well!

We encourage Pre-K families to join a Lower School virtual event and for our 5th grade families to join one of our Middle School Open Houses, to see what’s ahead during your child’s experience at Saklan.

If you can’t join us for one of the events listed above but are interested in learning more about Saklan, we will gladly give individual tours at a mutually convenient time. To schedule a tour or more about the admissions process, please reach out to the Saklan Admissions Office at admissions@saklan.org.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

New student applications for the 2025-2026 school year will open on Monday! This application is for students not currently enrolled in Saklan. Applications will happily be accepted through Friday, January 24, 2025, for priority consideration for the 25-26 school year.

Current families, please note that re-enrollment information for current Saklan students will be shared in January.

Got Sneakers?

Sixth-grade students will learn about human environmental impact and how they can help in science this year. As part of their learning, they will participate in service learning, an educational approach that combines learning objectives with community service to provide learning opportunities that help tackle real-world problems in their 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 first 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

See You Sunday!

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday, September 29th for Saklan’s Annual Fall Festival! The festivities will run from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Hacienda de las Flores.

Fall Festival is one of the favorite events for Saklan students of all ages. Join us for face painting, fall crafts, food trucks, lawn games, a whipped cream pie challenge, and wonderful company! 

Thank you to the Parent Association Board for planning and hosting this event!

#SaklanPA #SaklanCommunity