Category: General

2021 Hopscotch Tournament is Complete!

Forty Six competitors, ages 6 years to adult, started the single-elimination hopscotch tournament back in September. The matches were played during morning and afternoon recesses, averaging about two matches a day. After a few rain delays, match draws and field experiences, the bracket narrowed until finally a champion emerged. 

The 2021 Hopscotch Champion is Nate (6th). Competing in his first tournament, Nate had one draw and five wins. Nikko (6th) placed second with one draw and four wins. Damon (7th) and Thomas (8th) made the top four with three wins each. Honorable mentions go out to players who made it to the top eight, they include: Alexis (4th), Jack Z. (5th), Mori (6th), and Shay (adult). This year brought out a new ringed layout and homemade bean bags. 

All participants are encouraged to continue playing hopscotch, creating new layouts with chalk, and designing new markers.  We are already looking forward to next year’s tournament!

Let’s Go Saklan!

#SaklanWellRounded

Winter Enrichment Classes

With the fall session of enrichment coming to an end, we are excited to share the classes that will be offered during the second half of the year. For the winter session the following classes will be available:

DayClassGradesTime
MondaysChess with KidzToPros1st-5th3:10 – 4:10 p.m.
MondaysCeramics with Ms. Natalie4th-8th3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
TuesdaysCreative Arts with KidzToPros – CANCELLEDK-2nd3:10 – 4:10 p.m.
TuesdaysCartoon Drawing with KidzToPros2nd-5th3:10 – 4:10 p.m.
WednesdaysYoga with Ms. JessicaPreschool & Pre-K2:30 – 3:00 p.m.
WednesdaysCeramics with Ms. Natalie – FULLK-4th3:10 – 4:10 p.m.

Classes begin the week of January 10th, and have limited space available. If you are interested in signing your child up for one of the above classes, please click on the class name for additional information about the class and sign up options.

#SaklanHandsOn

Yearbook Cover Contest

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 Ms. Lauren at lhaberly@saklan.org.

#SaklanCreative

Why We Give

“For the past nine years, Annual Giving has become a welcomed time of reflection for our family. It’s a time when we pause and think about just how much Saklan means to our family, and to our kids individually. We initially joined Saklan to give Ryan (and eventually Cameron) an academically rigorous experience. We not only found that but gained so much more! We truly feel Saklan works with parents to raise future leaders; individuals with empathy and confidence who are capable of creating community-focused solutions for their generation. The special relationships between the teachers and students have empowered both Ryan and Cameron to embrace their individuality and passions, and be bold about acting on their ideas! The kids love going to school because they are having fun as they learn and they know that their actions, however small or large, can make a difference in the world!  

We feel energized when Annual Giving comes around because it is a time when we can show the school how much we believe in its vision, and support them in shaping a new generation focused on compassion, courage and creativity.  The Saklan community has been our community pillar for nearly a decade and our boys call it their ‘second home.’  What more can we ask for?!“

Sandy and Myron Lo

Ryan (8th) and Cameron (2nd)

Join the Lo Family in supporting Saklan by making an AGF gift today!

#SaklanGiving #SaklanCommunity

A Conversation with Experts on the COVID-19 Vaccine and Children

Wednesday, November 10, 2021 | 5:30- 6:30 P.M. PT

With the recent news that children ages 5-11 are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, UCSF physicians are hosting a virtual conversation to answer your pressing questions.

Time: 5:30 PM- 6:30 PM PT
Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Place: Zoom

Register Here

Introduction by Kelley Meade, MD, UCSF Professor of Pediatrics; Dean of Academic and Clinical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, UCSF BCH Oakland

Moderated by Dayna Long, MD, UCSF Professor of Pediatrics; Co-Director, UCSF Center for Child & Community Health, and Saklan Parent

Panelists:
Lisa Arcilla, MD, FACC, Assistant Professor, Pediatric Cardiology, UCSF BCH Oakland
Prachi Singh, DO, FAAP, Assistant Professor, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, UCSF BCH Oakland
Martha Tesfalul, MD, FACOG, Assistant Professor, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, UCSF 

Closed-captioning and Spanish and Cantonese translations will be available.

Register Here

Animal Classification

The Saklan second graders have been learning about animal classification. They learned what makes an animal a vertebrate versus an invertebrate, and then about the five types of vertebrates. 

Next, the students learned about habitats, and studied different habitats around the world. They also learned about adaptations, and looked at different adaptations that allow plants and animals to live in their chosen habitats.

#SaklanAcademic

Visiting Moraga Gardens Farm

During September and the first week of October, the Hoot Owls, Owlets, first graders, second graders, third graders and fourth graders took their first field experience of the year to Moraga Gardens Farm! Ms. Meredith led each of the classes on the two-block walk to the farm, and then on a tour of the community garden. The garden was filled with eggplants, cucumbers, kale, apples, pears, tomatoes, and much more.

During the tours, students learned that fruits and vegetables grow from flowers after being pollinated. They saw the difference between seasonal trees, such as a peach tree (summer) and persimmon tree (fall). The children saw how vines grow by attaching their tendrils to other structures and plants, and how plants defend themselves from predators. They went inside the greenhouse, heard the bees buzzing in their hives, and got to sample some of the garden’s produce. Lastly, the students were invited to feed and pet the chickens.

The students all had a great time in the garden. Thank you, Ms. Meredith, for leading these interactive, engaging field experiences!

#SaklanFieldExperience

Internet Safety

Last Friday, the PA hosted a talk with Darryl Holcombe, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office Senior Inspector on internet crimes against kids. Darryl was so knowledgeable and approachable and gave some great advice to parents:

  1. Routinely talk to your children about internet safety and their digital footprint. Ideally this starts before they have a personal device to use, but it keeps evolving, so keep talking. Remind them always to think before they post. This Digital Citizenship site was recommended by a parent to help with this dialogue.
  2. Be familiar with the apps your child is using. Download them on your own device and learn how to navigate through them, including parental control features
  3. Common Sense Media is a great resource for guidance on apps and websites. 
  4. Have your children use their devices in a common area of the house.
  5. Think about investing in a parent monitoring program for devices. Some mentioned were OurPact, Life360, and Bark. There are ways around these, but they are one layer of protection.
  6. Use time in the car together to have discussions about digital citizenship. You can use scenarios: “What would you do if a stranger messaged you either on a social media site or while gaming and said ‘click this link’?” or “What would you do if your friend said he/she/they met a stranger online and they want to meet?” Explain that if someone online is asking for any information or things that seem unnecessary, they should tell you immediately.
  7. Consider having your child sign a Technology Agreement with specific terms that you agree to. For example, some basics could include giving the device back to a parent by a certain time of night (8pm) and making sure a parent always knows their child’s passwords. There are many examples online of Technology Agreements.
  8. Cyberbullying continues to be a prevalent issue. Remind your children that it’s important to tell a trusted adult if they see/read any bullying online.
  9.  Learn how to turn off map/location finding on things like Snapchat and encourage your kids to leave them off. 

Darryl was kind enough to share his email address in case parents had additional questions: dholcombe@contracostada.org. We look forward to having Darryl return to Saklan to talk to our kids about internet safety as well. Thank you, Darryl!

#SaklanParentEd #SaklanPA