Category: General

Belonging

On Thursday, 1st – 8th graders gathered with their family groups to talk about belonging. The students then worked together to write an eight-line, rhyming poem containing a few specific words: belonging, turkey, stuffing, grateful, and Saklan. The students also dressed up one of their family members as a holiday character or Thanksgiving food item, using only newspaper and tape. The families definitely showed their creativity!

All family groups gathered on the sports court to share their poems (some groups acted them out) and holiday characters/food items. Among the characters presented were: turkeys, a pilgrim, a bowl of mashed potatoes, a football player, and a chef!

#SaklanSEL

Last Call for Grandfriend RSVPs

Saklan is excited to host Grandfriends’ Day on Friday, November 22nd from 8:45 to 10:30 a.m. We have an exciting morning lined up for grandfriends, including student presentations, time in classrooms, a photo booth and other fun activities for students and grandfriends to work on together!

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!

#SaklanCommunity

Oil & Vinegar Giveback

Amphora Nueva will donate 10% of all oil and vinegar sales made in the Lafayette store next week on Monday, November 18 – Friday, November 22nd. To participate in this fundraiser, just mention “The Saklan School Giveback” at checkout. Feel free to share this event with others. Amphora oils and vinegars make great holiday gifts!

Last Day to Order Sweatshirts

Today, Friday, November 15th, is the last day to order 70th Anniversary Saklan sweatshirts and long-sleeve shirts. 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

SEL Focus: Belonging

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

Books, Friends & Follies

Friday, November 22nd will be an exciting day at Saklan! The day will include Grandfriends’ Day, a Book Fair, and Fall Follies.

Grandfriends’ Day

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!

Book Fair

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.

Fall Follies

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

Design the Saklan Yearbook Cover

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

Halloween Fun

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

Dia de los Muertos

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!

The Festival of Lights

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