All Saklan students are invited to show their creativity by designing a cover for this year’s yearbook.
If you have any questions about the Yearbook Cover Contest, please email Lauren at lhaberly@saklan.org.
#SaklanCreative
On Tuesday, 1st – 8th graders gathered with their family groups to talk about being compassionate and how they could show compassion to others. The students then worked together to write an 8-line poem containing a few specific words: Saklan, compassion, hot cocoa, and winter. The students also dressed up one of their family members as a winter character, using only newspaper. The families definitely showed their creativity!
All family groups then gathered on the sports court to share their poems (some groups acted them out) and winter characters. Among the characters presented were a snowflake, reindeer, elf, Frozen princess, and a Yeti!
#SaklanFamilyGroups #SaklanSEL
Almost! Did you know that each year we ask current families, faculty and staff, trustees, grandparents, alumni families and friends of the school to make a tax-deductible donation to Saklan’s Annual Giving Fund?
One of our goals is to reach 100% participation from our current families. The chart below shows you where your student’s class is towards reaching this goal.
If you haven’t made a gift yet, it’s not too late to contribute. YOU can make a difference and get ALL of us closer to 100% with your gift today!
Not sure how much to contribute? We receive gifts anywhere from $10 to $10,000. Please know that whatever amount is meaningful and affordable for your family, Saklan is truly appreciative of your gift.
You can make an AGF gift via the following methods:
If you would like to discuss your gift further, please contact Emily at ewilliamson@saklan.org.
On behalf of all of us at The Saklan School, thank you very much for your support.
#SaklanCompassionate #SaklanAGF
Saklan’s social-emotional learning emphasis for November and December is compassionate. During these two months, all Saklan students are discussing what it means to be compassionate and looking for ways to show compassion with others. On Tuesday, November 29th, 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 being compassionate.
#SaklanSEL
Save the date because we’re having a Fiesta! This adults-only event will be held at the Holy Trinity Cultural Center on Saturday, March 11th at 6:00 p.m.
The Saklan School’s Annual Auction is always a great community building event. Most faculty and staff attend, and proceeds from the auction are invested directly back into your children’s educational experiences, in and out of the classrooms. Book your babysitter today, you won’t want to miss this Fiesta!
Saklan is looking for volunteers to help us procure great auction items and plan the event! We have roles big and small, including reaching out to potential donors (generally via email to local businesses you love to visit!), helping with decor, and setting up for the auction. Click here to see available volunteer positions.
Want to help with the event but don’t see a role that suites you? Email Emily at ewilliamson@saklan.org and let her know.
#SaklanFiesta
The Hoot Owls have been learning about health and nutrition! With Maggie, they practiced listing and sorting food into two main categories: growing foods and treats/snacks. They have also been working on identifying foods from different food groups, including: fruits, veggies, dairy, protein and grains.
The class read the book Veggies Don’t Scare Me at All! by Julana Massey to introduce different vegetables and how eating them can help bodies and brains grow. They also played a fun grocery shopping game where each Hoot Owl received a shopping list and shopping cart. The Hoot Owls reinforced their fine motor and early literacy skills by finding everything on their shopping list and placing it in their cart!
On Monday 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 parents cheered and took pictures along the route.
Once on the Sports Court, Grace led the community in some Halloween songs and dancing!
Thank you to all the parents that joined us and cheered the students on. The students enjoyed waving to you and spotting their parents along the parade route!
#SaklanCommunity #SaklanCreative
The Student Council at Saklan is a special experience for the officers, class representatives, and the whole school community. Students running for Student Council must run a clean campaign that is positive. The candidates can only win if they show dedication and true commitment to making Saklan a better place. To become a member of the Student Council, middle schoolers must earn their space on the ballot through a rather lengthy process.
First, each candidate writes a Letter of Intent that talks about their strengths as a leader and why they want to be part of Student Council. They also must develop a yearly plan of activities for whole school fun, as well as community service ideas. Second, students make two campaign posters. Third, they are interviewed by the faculty Student Council representatives (Jennifer and Kim). During the interview, each student receives a scenario, and must explain their solution to this issue. Fourth, students write a speech and read it to their advisor and the community, earning points for speech quality, creativity, and delivery at CLAS. Finally, students vote and the ballots are tallied. If a candidate wins the popular vote they earn 10 points; otherwise they earn 5 points. There are a total of 55 points available. The student with the most overall points for each position becomes the Student Council member.
Congratulations to our 2022-2023 Student Council Officers!
Saklan’s 22-23 Annual Giving Fund (AGF) officially begins next Tuesday, October 25th with Orange Envelope Day! All Saklan families are invited to join us in celebrating Orange Envelope Day by dropping off the orange envelope and donor form that was mailed to you in the orange box in front of Saklan.
Thank you to those who have already made a gift. Below are important things to know about Saklan’s AGF.
What is the AGF?
The Annual Giving Fund is Saklan’s yearly fundraising drive that raises money to support the amazing people and programs that make Saklan special.
Why do we have it?
Saklan relies on the generous support of the community to create such a vibrant place for children to learn and develop. The funds raised through the AGF allow Saklan to provide the many extras that make Saklan the incredible school that it is—personal attention from dedicated teachers, an engaging curriculum, arts, music, Spanish, STEM, and physical education at all grade levels.
Is there a Goal?
This year, our goal as a school is to have 100% of families participate and raise $170,000 by December 2. Join us by making a gift that is personally meaningful to you. For some families that may be $20, while for others that may be $10,000.
How can I make a gift?
You can make an AGF gift via the following methods:
Have questions about Saklan’s AGF? Feel free to reach out to Emily at ewilliamson@saklan.org.
Thank you for your support of Saklan.
#SaklanCommunity #SaklanAGF
Our 6th graders recently spent a week at Westminster Woods, an environmental education and character development program, nestled in 200 acres of redwood forest in Sonoma County. Students hiked through the redwood forest, scoured the Dutch Bill Creek, ventured through a high-ropes challenge course, and took part in many team building challenges.
On Monday morning, the sixth graders loaded into a Saklan van for the ride to Westminster.
On Tuesday, the sixth graders went for a blindfolded hike up a steep hill, waded down a man-made salmon ladder, found a blue scorpion under a log, and meditated on gratitude and the role models who changed their lives.
On Wednesday, the students used microscopes to explore organisms in the creek, discovered wildlife, including a very large giant pacific salamander they named Kleopatra, and wondered aloud about things they are curious about. The sixth graders also had a brave and glorious adventure in the dark, hiking solo, discovering glow worms and shooting stars, and practicing animal adaptations.
On Thursday, there was lots of Gaga ball, connecting with the Westminster staff members, the ropes course, fort building, and most of all sincere and deep sharing of truths between classmates and community.
On Friday, the students returned to Saklan very tired, but thankful to have gotten the opportunity to get to know their individual selves better, to challenge themselves, and develop deeper bonds as a class.
Thank you to Grace, John, Christina and the staff of Westminster Woods for supporting the sixth graders on this journey of personal development and class growth.
#SaklanCourageous #SaklanCommunity #SaklanFieldExperience
FRIDAY BLOG 
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