Saklan community members ages 6 and up are invited to join the Saklan Belonging Committee for a Tarantula Trek at Mount Diablo State Park on Friday, October 2!
Come explore the trails and experience one of the Bay Area’s most fascinating seasonal wildlife events as we search for tarantulas in their natural habitat.
Space is limited to the first 20 adventurers; sign up using the button below!
#SaklanCommunity #SaklanBelonging
What tastes and traditions make your family feel at home?
This fall, we’re bringing our Saklan community together for Taste of Traditions, a special evening celebrating the many cultures, experiences, and traditions that make our community unique.
Join us on Saturday, October 17, from 5:00–7:30 p.m. on the Saklan Sports Court for an evening of food, music, dancing, stories, and connection.
There are many ways to be part of the celebration:
Whatever you choose, we hope you’ll join us at the table! Please use the button below to RSVP by Monday, October 5th.
Please label all food contributions with ingredients and known allergens. Taste of Traditions is a family event, and children must be accompanied by a family member or designated adult.
We can’t wait to gather, share, and celebrate the traditions that help make Saklan feel like home.
#SaklanCommunity #SaklanPA
On Friday, October 2, the seventh-grade class will assemble 100 backpacks filled with school supplies for students from families with limited financial resources as part of Moraga Community Service Day. We invite our Saklan community to help by donating new school supplies beginning the week of September 21.
We are especially looking for:
Collection bins will be available in the breezeway.
Every donation will help our students put compassion into action and support members of our wider community.
Learn more about Moraga Community Service Day.
#SaklanCompassion
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.
Have additional questions? Email Linda Lathrop, our Project Curriculum Instructional Coach, at llathrop@saklan.org.
#SaklanGuestExperts #SaklanProjectWork
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.
Happy reading!
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.
I hope you’ll join us.
Warmly,
David
#SaklanCommunity #HeadsCorner
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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!
#SaklanStaff #SaklanCommunity
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!
#SaklanCommunity #SaklanPA
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.
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
#SaklanParentEd
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.
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!
Future Discussions with David dates include:
We look forward to gathering throughout the year for meaningful conversations and opportunities to connect with one another.
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