Saklan’s Grandfriends’ Day is on Friday, November 21, 2025, from 8:45 to 10:30 a.m.
Please share information with 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, as we would love for them to join us!
#SaklanCommunity
Tuesday, October 21st, marked Saklan’s fifth annual Orange Envelope Day! Kicking off our Annual Giving Fund (AGF) with school spirit and enthusiasm, students and parents dropped their orange donation envelopes in the orange box and rang the cowbell to mark the occasion. With student cheerleaders, an orange sky dancer, music, and plenty of smiles, the morning was filled with joy and community pride.
We’re thrilled to share that Orange Envelope Day 2025 brought in 51 gifts and participation from 42% of Saklan families—a fantastic start to our giving season.
We are so grateful to all who have already contributed to this year’s AGF. Together, we’re well on our way to reaching our goals of $230,000 raised and 100% family participation.
If you haven’t yet had the chance, please join us! Help us reach 100% participation by making a gift that is meaningful to you and your family. Gifts can be made online or by returning your donor form from the AGF mailing to the Saklan Office.
Thank you for believing in Saklan!
#SaklanAGF #SaklanCommunity
I recently reread Kim Brooks’ New York Times piece, “We Have Ruined Childhood.” While the piece pointed out all the things in society that make childhood seem like an internship for adulthood, it left me optimistic. Optimistic, because it reminded me why what we do at Saklan matters so much. In a world that’s forgotten what kids really need—connection, curiosity, play—we get to build something different every day. We get to show what childhood should look like.
What stood out most to me in Brooks’ article was her point that kids today have fewer chances to practice the social-emotional skills that make us human—to start friendships, navigate conflict, solve problems, or just be with others without adults steering the moment. Working with Denise Pope from Challenge Success (an organization Saklan has partnered with), Brooks highlights a simple but powerful truth: kids need family time, strong relationships, independence, and agency.
This is where Saklan matters.
We’ve made a conscious choice to prioritize what research tells us children actually need. How to communicate. How to handle disappointment. How to work through disagreement. How to persist when things get hard. We deliberately create time and space for students to develop those vital human skills. These aren’t add-ons to our curriculum. They’re at the heart of what we do.
And here’s what’s remarkable: this approach doesn’t just create happier, healthier kids (though it absolutely does that). It also leads to stronger academics. Counterintuitive? Maybe. But the research bears it out. Time and again, studies show that when children have space to play, to create, to connect with others, and to develop social-emotional skills, their academic performance improves. They become more engaged learners. They develop genuine curiosity. They build resilience.
This doesn’t mean we’re perfect or that we’ve solved every challenge facing modern childhood. But it does mean we’re intentional. We understand that school should be a place where children learn to be fully human—intellectually curious, emotionally resilient, socially connected, and creative. Childhood isn’t a race to adulthood. It’s a foundation to be built with care.
Warmly,
David
Saklan’s 25-26 Annual Giving Fund (AGF) officially kicks off next Tuesday, October 21st, with Orange Envelope Day! All Saklan families are invited to join the celebration by dropping off your orange envelope and donor form—mailed to you last week—into the orange box in front of the school.
A huge thank you to those who have already made their gifts! Here’s what to know about Saklan’s AGF:
What is the AGF?
The AGF is Saklan’s yearly fundraising drive that raises money to support the amazing people and programs that make our school so special.
Why do we have it?
The AGF is essential to Saklan’s daily operations. Because tuition covers only about 85% of the true cost of a Saklan education, the AGF provides vital resources that directly support our students and programs this year.
What’s the goal?
Our goal is 100% family participation and $230,000 raised. Every gift—whether $20,000 or $20—makes a difference and helps us reach our goal together.
How much should I give?
Only you can determine the amount that feels meaningful for your family. We encourage you to consider the impact your gift will make in supporting an exceptional Saklan experience for all students.
Every contribution—whether it’s $20, $20,000, or anywhere in between—makes a difference. During the 2024–2025 Campaign, gifts ranged from $5 – $22,000; the average gift was $1,205.
How can I make a gift?
You can make your AGF gift by:
Have questions about Saklan’s AGF? Contact Emily at ewilliamson@saklan.org.
To celebrate Orange Envelope Day, all students are invited to wear orange on Tuesday! First – eighth graders wearing orange do not need to be in uniform. Let’s fill our campus with Saklan spirit!
Thank you for your support of The Saklan School.
#SaklanCommunity #SaklanAGF
Meet Vickie Obenchain, Saklan’s globe-trotting, zero-gravity-experiencing, shark-snorkeling science teacher extraordinaire. From the icy expanses of Antarctica to the warm waters of the Bahamas, Ms. O doesn’t just teach science—she lives it. Her adventures in professional development don’t just fuel her own curiosity; they spark a love of learning in every student lucky enough to enter her classroom or join one of the incredible field experiences she plans.
What has been the most enriching professional development experience you’ve had in recent years? How have they tied into your curriculum?
I love taking part in professional development! To me, it’s an opportunity to learn new techniques, learn with other like-minded educators from around the country, and see what scientists in the field are doing. These opportunities help both myself and my students understand the world around them, as I bring these experiences back into the classroom. These opportunities have also allowed me to share career opportunities available in the science profession with students, as new ones are constantly popping up.
A few of my favorite experiences have been ones that have opened my eyes to our amazing planet and expanded my own knowledge in fields I felt I could use more expertise. These include: National Geographic Grosvenor Fellowship, Bimini Shark Lab Teacher Fellowship, Embedded Teacher Program, and the Saklan Summer Fund. With the National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship, I went on an expedition to Antarctica. Experiencing the beauty of one of the most remote places on Earth—while learning alongside National Geographic scientists and photographers—was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I spent time learning about the effects of climate change on Antarctica, how the food chain is very dependent on an incredibly small invertebrate, krill, and learning about different species of penguin. Helping both my earth science and life science curricula.
Learning about different species of sharks while snorkeling among them in the Bahamas with the Bimini Shark Lab allowed me to rethink what I thought about these stunning creatures. It inspired our Earth Day topic a few years back, where we rethought about how sharks are presented in the media, yet how they are integral to the food web in our oceans. Maybe respect for all wild animals is the way to go!
Flying on a ZeroG flight with the Embedded Teacher Program to better understand the gravitational pull on Earth, Mars, the moon, and in outer space was not only SO cool, but was also mind-blowing to realize how matter is affected by the pull of gravity! Matter reacts differently than you expect with different gravitational pulls (or no gravitational pull for that matter), and having the students brainstorm and create hypotheses before I went on the flight on what might happen as I did experiments in that environment allowed them to open their minds around what scientists have to consider when designing and engineering for outer space. This tied into my physical science units, as well as my lower school 5th-grade science unit.
With the Saklan Summer Fund, I got to travel with Linda Lathrop to Egypt to not only learn about Ancient Egypt, but to learn about their technology and engineering expertise. Learning alongside an Egyptologist, seeing science and history come together, as well as getting to take part in some fun additional science activities, made this experience remarkable. It helped me enrich my curriculum, such as in my earth science topics with my 6th graders on deserts, engineering activities, and 8th-grade fluid laws, such as when my 8th graders create their own hot air balloons!
There have been many more, but those definitely jump out!
What do you love most about teaching science at Saklan?
I love teaching at Saklan for many reasons, but mainly because I get to see my students fall in love with science! With the small class sizes, each student gets to be hands-on and experience science firsthand. I think students get excited and take in the ideas and concepts when they actually get to see the lessons come alive, not just read about them in a textbook or have a teacher lecture them on a certain subject. I know I learn best by doing; it excites me! (Probably why I still seek out ways to keep learning!) When students watch an experiment unfold, engineer their own inventions, or take part in simulations of the natural world, the world around them starts to make more sense. Science helps them connect what they observe to how things work—and fuels their curiosity to keep exploring and learning more.
And because I teach Preschool through 8th-grade science, it is so fun to watch them grow through the years—looking forward to lab science and diving eagerly into each new topic along the way!
As the coordinator for overnight field experiences in the middle school, what do you find is most beneficial when you get students out in the field?
Getting students out of the classroom and getting to explore the environments they are learning about during our field experiences makes the learning come alive. Not only do we see the students make connections from the classroom curriculum to the world around them, but we also see them become more confident as they work with new communities, discuss ideas with people living in those environments, and gain some new perspectives on the world around them. These experiences really tie into our mission and our SEL program. Students live courageously, taking a step outside of Saklan to spend a week away from home at Westminster Woods, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. They act compassionately to help clean beaches and build homes. And they are challenged to think creatively as they work on projects associated with these experiences.
Students also build meaningful bonds with their teachers and peers during these experiences, connecting through shared activities, meals, challenges, and the many memorable moments each trip provides. All the memories tie the community together. The advance for middle school starts the school year off full of bonding experiences that allow students to share their different strengths with the community and create memories to connect with each other as the school year progresses.
I think these trips are a highlight for many of our students because they expand their own learning, get to create lasting memories with their peers, and the experience allows them to gain confidence and, in some students, a desire to explore more! Which I believe has also made our EF Tours program flourish! Students want to explore the world beyond just our Saklan trips, and families want to join, too. From Peru, Vietnam, Japan, the Azores, and next Australia and New Zealand, our students are confident, excited, and ready to learn more about our world! Which makes this planet-loving science teacher so happy!
The 2026-2027 admissions season officially has begun! Saklan has several upcoming events designed to help current and prospective families experience our programs, meet our educators, and learn what makes Saklan’s Preschool–8th grade education so special.
Feel free to invite friends or family members to join these events as well.
If you’re unable to attend an event, we also offer individual tours at your convenience. To schedule a tour or learn more or learn more about the admissions process, please contact the Saklan Admissions Office at admissions@saklan.org.
New student applications for the 2026-2027 school year are now open! This application is for students not currently enrolled at Saklan. For priority consideration, please submit your application by Friday, January 23, 2026. Applications received after that date will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis as space allows.
Current families, please note that re-enrollment information will be shared in January.
The Saklan PA is excited to host Dr. Megan Johnson, Clinical Psychologist and former Saklan parent, on Monday, November 3rd at 6:00 p.m. for a virtual talk on how puberty impacts kids’ emotions, stress, and mental health. While this stage often brings heightened sensitivity and increased risk for anxiety or depression, it also opens a unique window for growth, resilience, and recalibration. Parents will walk away with insight into what’s happening during puberty and practical strategies to support their children through these changes with confidence.
This talk will cover:
This event is open to the greater Lamorinda community, so feel free to invite friends or family to join.
Another exciting Student Council election cycle has just come to an end here at Saklan! We all are once again reminded that democracy is still alive and well among our student body.
This year, sixteen out of forty Middle School students submitted their candidacies. A new Student Council office also has been created: Environmental Affairs Chair.
The Middle School Student Council officer candidates presented their lively and engaging speeches at CLAS last Friday. Balloting took place in Grades 1-8 classrooms afterwards, and the results of the Middle School election were announced just before the school day ended.
Earning a seat as a Student Council officer involves more than simply winning the popular vote. Each candidate had to submit a Letter of Intent, make a campaign poster, sit for an interview conducted by Jennifer Lettieri and Kim Parks, and share slogans and stickers with the Lower School students during lunch recess. The speeches presented at CLAS were the culmination of their campaigning.
Candidates were awarded points for timeliness and quality when carrying out each of these tasks, and the candidates with the most points were the winners.
Lower School Student Council representatives were selected by their classmates and respective homeroom teachers in grades 1-5.
Congratulations to our 2025-2026 Student Council members!
Middle School Officers
Lower School Representatives
#SaklanStudentCouncil #SaklanLeadership
At Saklan, social-emotional learning is woven into every part of the student experience. Each month, we highlight a theme that helps our community grow stronger together. For October, our focus is on being respectful.
Throughout the month, students will be exploring what it means to be respectful and practicing strategies for showing respect both at school and at home. Respect isn’t just about good manners—it’s about recognizing the value in others and being intentional with our words and actions.
Here are some of the key ways our students are learning to practice respect:
By focusing on these everyday actions, our students are building skills that strengthen relationships, foster empathy, and create a culture of kindness—both in the classroom and beyond.
#SaklanSEL
This week, Saklan Family Groups kicked off with a special focus on inclusivity—what it means, why it matters, and how we can practice it together. Family Groups, which bring Kindergarten – 8th grade students together, are designed to build connection, community, and a sense of belonging.
The group time began with a warm welcome as students gathered in their designated Family Group rooms—spaces they will return to throughout the year. Each student introduced themselves by sharing their name, grade, and a favorite thing, before jumping into fun icebreakers like the Stuffed Animal Name Game Toss. Laughter and teamwork quickly arose.
From there, the groups turned their attention to the heart of the lesson: inclusion. Students talked about what it means to be inclusive—welcoming others, working with new partners, showing kindness—and why it’s important at Saklan. Together, they brainstormed ways inclusivity creates a comfortable, supportive environment where friendships can grow.
One highlight was the “Flamingo Mingle” activity, where students paired up to ask and answer fun questions. This gave everyone the chance to discover new things about one another and helped spark connections across grade levels.
To close, students reflected on times they felt included at Saklan—whether being invited to join a game, sitting with someone new at lunch, or being encouraged to share about themselves. These examples were captured on a community poster, alongside a colorful “flock” of decorated flamingos. Each student designed their flamingo to represent their unique personality and interests, celebrating both individuality and belonging.
By the end of the session, each Family Group had chosen a name, crafted their inclusive flock poster, and most importantly, taken steps toward building a caring, connected community. It was a joyful reminder that when we celebrate both who we are as individuals and who we are together, we make Saklan stronger.
#SaklanSEL
FRIDAY BLOG 
You must be logged in to post a comment.