Category: General

A Common Struggle

Today, we had about 15 parents show up at our Parents Association Virtual Coffee centered around the topic of ‘Sharing Our Home Solutions to Distance Learning.’ You know how these things can go sometimes, the session was more an opportunity for people to share what they were struggling with when it comes to distance learning. And while there were many positives that came out of the conversation, reading the struggles brought a weird sense of comfort. We are not in this alone. 

Here are a few of the more common things our families are grappling with: 

  • It’s been hard to keep the kids focused, sometimes bribing the kids with treats or whatnot is what parents have resorted to.
  • Parents are having guilt regarding large amounts of screen time (not necessarily regarding school work but in general, i.e. video games etc.)
  • Having to keep in mind that some kids love distance learning and do well at it, and others are having more of a challenge and strive on the physical connection/physical learning.
  • Some parents find themselves losing temper and finding it hard to not have “me time” in which they can take a deep breath and gather their thoughts. They are in survival mode and some kids are feeling the stress they are under.
  • Each week is very different. Each load of stress (whether on parents or students, whether from life in general or from classes) is different throughout the weeks.
  • This whole world event is taking a toll on mental health. People are really struggling with not being able to go to coffee with a friend or have hangouts. Virtual ones just aren’t the same.
  • There’s no time for parents to process emotions anymore.

I am not sure if sharing this list solves any of the issues, but I do hope that it makes us feel maybe just a touch closer to those we used to see so often. 

Warm regards,

David 

#SaklanDistanceLearning

Upcoming Webinars


Fusion Academy

Invites You to Attend Our Virtual Event

20 Minute Timeout: Executive Function Focus

Short on time and energy, but still need parenting support techniques?
The 20 Minute Timeout speaker series is the perfect solution!

Join us as we virtually host Beth Samuelson for 20 minutes of tips on how to support your child’s executive functioning and focus during the age of distance learning. She will show you how to implement new routines while putting old ones on hold and overcome the anxiety that comes with it. So parents, take a break and put yourself on timeout so that you can take the time out to learn how to make your life a little easier at home!

What To Expect:
20 Minute Presentation
10 Minute Q&A

Join Us

Tuesday April 14th
2:30 pm PST
Via Zoom 

RSVP Below! 
Click Here to let us know you’ll be joining us.
Attendees will receive the zoom link the day before this virtual event!

About Our Speaker, Beth Samuelson

Beth Samuelson’s work in educating and supporting teens, young adults, and parents spans more than 25 years, including the development of the unique SOS4Students model of one-to-one student coaching as well as workshops, advocacy, teacher training, parent workshops, and on-site school programs.

Beth is the founder and director of SOS4Students, and works primarily with teens. Students with ADD, learning disabilities, and executive functioning challenges are amongst those who have found academic success utilizing Beth’s techniques.

Please join FCD Prevention Works for an upcoming two-part webinar series

Healthy Adults for Healthy Kids: Self-Care and Modeling in the Time of COVID-19

healthy adults

As a prevention organization, FCD Prevention Works understands the power of global COVID-19 prevention efforts. We also recognize that, in the face of drastically altered schedules and daily routines, this can be a difficult time to maintain healthy habits, for adults and especially for teens.

Join FCD Prevention Works’ Prevention Specialists as they discuss how your healthy adult behavior can continue to be a protective factor against risky teen choices in this upcoming webinar series.

Webinar One: Adult Self-Care for Healthy Kids

Topics will include:

· What is self-care?

· Self-care and substance use: myths and realities

· Adaptable self-care for the “new normal”

· Teaching age-appropriate self-care to kids that protects them from substance use

· How to start healthy habits now that will apply to healthy teens later

Webinar Two: Healthy Adult Role Modeling for Healthy Kids

Topics will include:

· How to model and encourage daily protective factors against teen substance use

· Resiliency tips that teens can apply now and later

· Making stress management a routine

· Teachable prevention moments within a family’s “new normal”

· The power of authenticity and effective parent-child communication

We invite school adults to share this invitation with any parents or caretakers they think may benefit from these sessions. 
REGISTER

#SaklanDistanceLearning

School Closures Extended Through May 1

Dear Saklan Community,

As you may be aware, seven Bay Area counties, including Contra Costa County, announced on March 25th that they have made a unified decision to extend school closures through May 1st, 2020 in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible. 

The Saklan School will also follow this recommended timeline with the hope that we may be able to return to campus on Monday, May 4th. While we were prepared for this extension, it is still hard to realize we will be off-campus for a longer period of time. Our decision to reopen campus to in-person teaching will be made after carefully considering information provided by county and state officials. Until then, we are prepared to find new and creative ways to stay connected to one another and learn together.

We will be in touch in the coming weeks with more updates. Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding as we navigate this challenging situation. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. 

Stay Well,

David

#SaklanDistanceLearning

Letter From The Board Of Trustees

Dear Saklan Community,

We hope your family is staying healthy and you are adapting to our new normal. We understand the stress the closure of Saklan and the shelter-in-place order has made on families’ lives. We know that many of you have been juggling working at home, caring for parents, and now you are needed to increase the support given to educating your child.

We also realize that our teachers and staff are going through the same challenges. With that in mind, as the Saklan Board of Trustees, we would like to extend our most profound appreciation to all Saklan faculty and staff for the hard work each has put into making the speedy and smooth transition to distance learning. Moving from an approach of in-person teaching to distance learning has required the reworking of lesson plans and learning several new platforms in a matter of two days. We are genuinely impressed with the pivot.

As a board and as parents, we are so grateful to have such dedicated teachers and staff who bring familiarity and a sense of stability into our students’ lives despite the unprecedented events in this time of uncertainty.

We want to thank them for their unwavering dedication and commitment to our students’ education.

Please stay healthy until we reopen our campus to welcome back our students and community.

Geri Buhl and Toshie Baba

Saklan Board of Trustee 2019-2020 Co-Chairs

#SaklanCompassionate

Saklan Closure / Distance Learning

Dear Saklan Community,

In my letter on Wednesday of this week I mentioned that while the closing of the campus was a remote possibility, it was less remote than the week before. I did not foresee that I would be writing this particular letter two days later, but here I am.

dist lear

As of Monday, March 16th, the campus will be closed in order to keep our students safe as well as help slow the spread of Coronavirus. On Monday and Tuesday, teachers and staff will be training and working to get ready to use distance learning tools. By Wednesday we will begin to deliver our curriculum remotely. While it will look different at each grade level, we will be holding classes remotely and will be expecting students to engage and participate in classes online. We are planning on returning to campus on April 6th after Spring Break.

I realize that keeping students home during the school year is disruptive and can be difficult for families. As a community, I am hoping we can help each other. If you find yourself in a situation regarding child care or anything else, please use our PA Facebook page to reach out for help.

More information from teachers about distance learning will be sent out by Monday. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me.

Warm regards,

David

#SaklanDistanceLearning

Saklan Appoints New ECE Director

Saklan is proud to announce that Hoot Owl Teacher, Traci McMillan, has been appointed as our Early Childhood Director. She fills some pretty big shoes as Mrs. C has stepped aside after 11 years of exceptional leadership.

T M

Traci became interested in teaching while working with three Bay Area art based non-profits. MOCHA (Museum of Children’s Art), San Francisco Children’s Art Center and Precita Eyes Muralists. She enjoyed how free and uninhibited children became when creating art and was inspired by their creativity, fearlessness, and originality. It was working with those nonprofits that she began to view art as a means for children to learn self-expression and build community.

Traci is not only inspired by children, but by two educational giants, Aristotle and Maria Montessori. Aristotle’s famous quote, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” This is Traci’s guiding principle of the importance of balancing the social-emotional with the academic. From Montessori, Traci takes to heart the fact that when students have a hand in directing their own learning they become independent and collaborative.

Saklan is lucky to have found in Traci an educational leader that is both talented and inspiring. We look forward to many years of her guidance and inspiration.

#SaklanEarlyChildhood

Join Team Saklan Suns For Clean Air

Fight for Air Climb is American Lung Association’s annual community fundraising event. Participants climb up 52 flights of stairs within the Bank of America Center (555 California Street) in Downtown SF. All donations go into American Lung Association’s programs and efforts to reduce nicotine and tobacco use, expand cancer research and educate the community about pollutants.

fight for air climb

The Saklan School is participating in this year’s  Fight for Air Climb on Saturday, March 7th. We are calling all parent and student climbers to join Team Saklan Suns for Clean Air led by Team Captain Ryan Lo (6th grade). If you are interested, please sign up here. Our goal is to have at least 12 climbers to show our strong support for cleaner air and healthier environment.

Here is one student’s take on why he is climbing: “I am climbing 52 flights of stairs on March 7th in honor of my Uncle Doug. Uncle Doug was my hero and told me to never give up.  He was strong, he was positive and he lived life to its fullest. I miss him every day.” – Dashiell H-N (6th grade)

Please consider joining Team Saklan Suns for Clean Air on Saturday, March 7th in San Francisco to show your support for a cleaner environment!  Thank you.

#SaklanSunsForCleanAir

Join Team Saklan Suns For Clean Air

fight for air climb

Fight for Air Climb is American Lung Association’s annual community fundraising event. Participants climb up 52 flights of stairs within the Bank of America Center (555 California Street) in Downtown SF. All donations go into American Lung Association’s programs and efforts to reduce nicotine and tobacco use, expand cancer research and educate the community about pollutants.

The Saklan School is participating in this year’s  Fight for Air Climb on Saturday, March 7th. We are calling all parent and student climbers to join Team Saklan Suns for Clean Air led by Team Captain Ryan Lo (6th grade). If you are interested, please sign up here. Our goal is to have at least 12 climbers to show our strong support for cleaner air and healthier environment.

Here is one student’s take on why she is climbing: “I am doing the climb to honor my grandfather, Al Buhl. He passed away before I was born due to lung disease. I would have loved to be able to meet him in person. I want to climb to raise money to help support better air quality and lung disease prevention.” – Bjerre B. (6th grade)

Please consider joining Team Saklan Suns for Clean Air on Saturday, March 7th in San Francisco to show your support for a cleaner environment!  Thank you.

#SaklanSunsForCleanAir