Authenticity takes center stage in Saklan projects. Students work with experts to make connections between the classroom content and authentic applications for our coursework in the world outside of school. This means we are frequently connecting with guest experts like you to support the student inquiry process!
Each year we look forward to connecting with new experts to enrich and deepen our project curriculum. Complete the Google form linked below to join our Saklan expert resource list. We will be in touch if there is a PBL unit where your areas of expertise can support student learning.
The Sun, Saklan’s annual magazine, has officially arrived! Filled with stories, photos, and reflections from the past school year, The Sun celebrates the people, learning, and experiences that make the Saklan community so special. It’s a chance to look back at the many ways our students think creatively, act compassionately, and live courageously throughout the year.
Current Saklan families, if you haven’t already received your family’s copy, please check your child’s Friday Folder or backpack, as it is coming home today.
Alumni Families and Grandparents: We would love to send you a copy of our magazine. Please email Emily at ewilliamson@saklan.org to share your address with us, and we will drop one in the mail for you!
We hope you’ll take some time to flip through the pages, revisit some favorite moments, and celebrate all that our students and community accomplished together.
This morning, Saklan families gathered around a campfire to begin our first “Discussions with David.” It was a time carved out to slow down and build community.
The center of our morning was Judy Brown’s poem “Fire.” The poem describes how a fire needs space between the logs to breathe and grow. Too much wood packed too tightly can extinguish a fire just as surely as a lack of fuel.
That image stayed with me.
In our lives, we spend much of our time thinking about the logs: the email inbox, projects, schedules, events, routines, getting kids here or there, planning dinner, responsibilities, and activities that fill our days. All of those things matter.
But “Fire” reminded me that the spaces in between are meant to let the fire breathe, and are as important as the logs. The moment we pause to really listen. The conversation that continues around the dinner table after a child shares something that happened at school. The time families spend getting to know one another at CLAS, culminations, or over a weekend playdate. The invitation that helps someone feel included and welcomed in the life of our community. The willingness to ask a question, share a perspective, or just listen with intention—even when family schedules are full, mornings are rushed, and everyone is carrying the ordinary joys and challenges of daily life.
Those spaces are where relationships grow.
As we begin this school year, I hope we can continue creating more of those spaces at Saklan. Our children benefit when the adults around them are connected and working together. Partnership does not mean that we will always agree or see things in exactly the same way. It means that we communicate, listen, and remember that we are all here because we care deeply about our children and this community.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the morning so special. I left feeling grateful for the community we are building together—and reminded that sometimes the most important work begins when we slow down and make a little more space.
Our next “Discussions with David” will be a Drumming Edition on Friday, October 2. Isaac, Saklan’s African drumming teacher, will join us to share how drumming helps develop listening, communication, and collaboration skills—and, yes, we will all have a chance to drum.
There’s something special about the little moments in early childhood: a child gaining confidence, discovering something new, or running across the room simply because they’re excited to see their teacher. For Victoria, these moments are among the most rewarding parts of being a teacher at Saklan.
Victoria is beginning her fourth school year at Saklan, and during that time, she has taken on multiple roles, including Owlet teacher, ECE music teacher, and bus monitor. Each experience has helped her grow as an educator and deepened her appreciation for the important role teachers play in children’s early years.
Learning Through Creativity
Creativity is at the heart of Victoria’s teaching. She loves art, hands-on projects, and giving children opportunities to explore, experiment, and—yes—get a little messy.
“I especially enjoy taking something simple and turning it into an experience where the children can create, experiment, and make it their own,” Victoria says.
Whether students are creating something with their hands, trying a new idea, or discovering what happens when they experiment, Victoria encourages them to be curious and embrace the process of learning.
That philosophy extends to the advice she hopes her students carry with them: “Be curious, be kind, and never be afraid to try something new.” She also wants them to understand that mistakes are part of learning—and that some of the best discoveries happen when we try again.
A New Musical Chapter
This spring brought a special new opportunity for Victoria as she stepped into her role as the Music Teacher for the Owlet and Hoot Owl classes.
Her favorite memory from the spring concert was not just the final performance, but everything that happened along the way. She loved teaching the children their songs, watching them build confidence, and seeing their hard work come together on stage.
“It was especially meaningful because it was my very first time stepping into my new role,” she says. “I’m so proud of them and grateful that I got to be part of that process.”
Creating a Classroom They Remember
When Victoria thinks about what she hopes her students will remember about their time in her classroom, it goes beyond a particular lesson or activity.
She hopes they remember a place where they felt safe, loved, and comfortable being themselves. She hopes they remember getting messy, being silly, creating things, asking questions, and having fun.
“Most of all, I hope they remember that their teachers genuinely cared about them and were always excited to see them.”
That sense of connection is also one of the things Victoria appreciates most about Saklan’s community. She especially enjoys CLAS, which gives students opportunities to come together, build relationships, and experience things outside their everyday classroom. She loves seeing teachers and families work together to make those experiences meaningful for students.
Life Beyond Saklan
Outside of school, Victoria loves spending time with family and friends, traveling and exploring new places, and enjoying the little things in life. She is always happy to find a good cup of coffee—or boba!
When she has free time, you might find Victoria at the beach, hiking, or curled up with a good book. She especially enjoys romance and thriller novels.
Whether she’s in the classroom helping a child discover something new, teaching a group of students their first concert songs, or enjoying time with the people she loves, Victoria brings the same spirit of curiosity, creativity, and connection to everything she does.
We are grateful to have Victoria as part of the Saklan community!
Save the date for the 3rd Annual Taste of Traditions Dance and Potluck on Saturday, October 17th. The event will be held from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. on the Saklan Sports Court. All Saklan families, students, and alumni are invited to join us for this family-friendly community party!
Special thanks to the Saklan Parent Association for hosting this event. Stay tuned for more information!
Parenting today comes with endless advice, but finding trusted support can be harder than ever. Saklan is thrilled to partner with ParentMap again this year to bring parents together for live online discussions featuring leading experts on the most pressing parenting issues, from ADHD and mental health to EdTech and resilience.
The ParentMap Talks series kicks off on Sept. 24 with New York Times bestselling authors and viral content creators The Holderness Family, who will share stories and strategies from their book “ADHD is Awesome: How to (Mostly) Thrive with ADHD.”
Register now to unlock all eight live Zoom talks, plus on-demand access to the entire library of recordings to watch anytime, anywhere for free. To claim your complimentary tickets ($80 value), sign up here and enter promo code SAKSCHL.
2026-2027 Speaker Lineup
ADHD Is Awesome: How to (Mostly) Thrive With ADHD With Penn and Kim Holderness, viral creators and New York Times bestselling authors Sept. 24, 2026, noon–1 p.m. PT
Human Raised: Helping Kids Flourish in the Age of AI With Dana Suskind, pediatric surgeon and New York Times bestselling author Oct. 15, 2026, noon–1 p.m. PT
When EdTech Disrupts Learning: How Parents Can Speak Up With Emily Cherkin, M.Ed., The Screentime Consultant Nov. 10, 2026, noon–1 p.m. PT
Raising Capable Kids: Are We Helping Our Children Too Much? With Lenore Skenazy, author of “Free-Range Kids” and co-founder of Let Grow Jan. 21, 2027, noon–1 p.m. PT
Less Awkward: How to Handle Growing Up, From Early Signs to Hard Questions With Dr. Cara Natterson, pediatrician and bestselling author Feb. 9, 2027, noon–1 p.m. PT
Growing Good Humans: Raising Kind Kids in a Divided World With Uju Asika, bestselling author and global speaker March 10, 2027, noon–1 p.m. PT
Parent Without the Panic: Worry Less and Trust Yourself More With Dr. Michael Milobsky, board-certified pediatrician and father of seven April 20, 2027, noon–1 p.m. PT
The Motherhood Trap: Why You Feel Like You’re Failing — and Why You’re Not With Reshma Saujani, Time 2026 Woman of the Year and founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First May 4, 2027, noon–1 p.m. PT
We’re excited to introduce a new series at Saklan: Discussions with David.
In this series, Head of School David O’Connell will sit down with members of our community to explore the ideas, experiences, and questions that shape life at Saklan. Through these conversations, we’ll take a closer look at the thinking behind our approach to education, the people who make up our school, and the many ways our community brings Saklan’s mission to life.
From conversations about Project Based Learning and progressive education to discussions about student growth, community, and the experiences that make Saklan unique, Discussions with David will offer an inside look at the ideas and people at the heart of our school.
Join Us for Our First Discussion
Our first Discussions with David event will take place on Friday, September 4, at 8:30 a.m. All families are invited to join us in the Pavilion for a Community Campfire as we come together to begin the school year with connection, conversation, and a campfire!
Save the Dates
Future Discussions with David dates include:
October 2
November 13
December 4
January 22
February 26
March 19
April 23
We look forward to gathering throughout the year for meaningful conversations and opportunities to connect with one another.
We’re excited to welcome families to campus for our upcoming Back-to-School Nights! These evenings are a wonderful opportunity for parents to get to know their children’s teachers, learn more about the curriculum, and gain insight into the year ahead.
Please note that these are adults-only events, designed to give parents time and space to connect with teachers and one another.
Kindergarten – 5th Grade Back-to-School Night Thursday, September 3rd at 6:00 p.m.
Preschool & Pre-K Back-to-School Night Thursday, September 10th at 5:45 p.m.
6th – 8th GradeBack-to-School Night Thursday, September 10th at 6:00 p.m.
We look forward to seeing you on campus and sharing more about the exciting year ahead at Saklan!
Each month Saklan focuses on a different Social Emotional Learning (SEL) topic, incorporating it into lessons and discussions from Preschool through eighth grade.
Saklan’s social-emotional learning emphasis for August and September is being inclusive and accepting. Throughout these two months, students across all grade levels are exploring what inclusion and acceptance mean and putting these values into practice by listening to others, choosing their words thoughtfully, including others in activities, and recognizing that every person is important.
On Tuesday, September 29, Kindergarten through 8th Grade students will gather in their family groups for cross-grade-level discussions and activities focused on deepening their understanding of what it means to create a community where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and included.
Roots & Shoots Photography will be taking individual and class portraits of Saklan students on Monday, August 24th. These pictures will be used in the yearbook and will be available for purchase.
Pictures will be taken outside in the Redwood Grove during the school day. Please note that 1st – 8th grade students may be in spirit wear or uniform tops for the pictures.
For students who are absent on picture day, makeup pictures will be taken on Thursday, August 27th at 9:30 a.m.
Portrait Ordering Process
Portraits will be available to order online approximately 4 weeks AFTER picture day. Complimentary proofs will be provided for every student, so you can decide whether you would like to order them. If you do order, all portrait packages will be shipped directly to your home (a shipping fee will apply). There will be no school package drop-off.
FRIDAY BLOG 
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