Category: General
Save the Date!
Head’s Corner
Dear Saklan Community,
For the past two days, Saklan faculty and parents have come together for our second set of parent-teacher conferences. The close connection between teachers, parents and students is a hallmark of Saklan. These meetings which focus on celebrating student growth and setting goals for improvement are critical in forging the bond of collaboration, which will provide each student with an outstanding educational experience. If you have not been able to schedule a parent-teacher conference in these past two days, just ask your homeroom teacher or advisor to schedule a meeting at another time. It is important to us that we have a chance to meet and discuss your child’s growth at Saklan.
For the past few years our middle school students have been doing student-led conferences. This is a process whereby students play an active role in the conference and discuss and reflect upon their own progress and goals. This is a powerful way of having students engage in and show ownership over their own learning. Here are some student thoughts on doing these conferences:
- Victoria (Grade 8) – A student led conference is a great way to check in on how you are doing and to figure out how to do better.
- Tyler (Grade 6) – Student led conferences help us to know what we have to work on and take action.
- Claire (Grade 8) – Student led conferences let you and your parents bring up and share your issues and it’s a nice way to check in with your teachers.
- Olivia (Grade 7) – Student led conferences allow you to share your perspective on things and if you are in trouble you can create your own action plan.
- Dhilan (Grade 8) – Student led conferences allow you to be comfortable in talking about your successes and issues in class.
Next week, our middle school students will be taking the National Spanish Exam offered by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish. The National Spanish Examinations are online, standardized assessment tools for Grades 6 -12, given voluntarily by about 4000 teachers throughout the United States to measure performance (interpretive communication) and achievement of students who are studying Spanish as a second language. The National Spanish Examinations are the most widely used tests of Spanish in the United States and are administered online. In 2016, a total of 169,697 students registered for the National Spanish Examinations. The purpose of the National Spanish Examination is to:
- recognize achievement in the study of the Spanish language
- promote proficiency in interpretive communication in the Spanish language
- assess the national standards as they pertain to learning Spanish
- stimulate further interest in the teaching and learning of Spanish
The results of the exam come out about a month after they are taken and students can receive a Bronze, Silver or Gold award based on their results.
Next Friday, March 31st we will hold our annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day. This will start at 10:00AM with grandparents and special friends being greeted by and sharing refreshments with their grandchildren during morning recess. This will be followed by visits to the classroom where grandparents and special friends can see where our students work and participate in a fun collaborative activity. We will end the morning with a flag to celebrate a great day of fun, family and community. Our students are excited and looking forward to spending a fun morning with some of their favorite people. Please RSVP today so that we can be prepared for your visit.
Have a great weekend!
Peter
You’re Invited!
Gather for coffee and treats, a special visit to the classrooms, presentations, and Friday Flag from 10:00-12:00.
RSVP: Please call 925-376-7900 or email office@saklan.org by Friday, March 24.
Moraga Gardens Farm
As we are in the process of starting a long-term collaboration with our neighbor, Moraga Gardens Farm, please support them in the coming weekends during their annual Plant Starts Sale!
The annual Plant Sale will start Saturday, March 25 (rain or shine) and will continue both Saturdays and Sundays through the following three weekends, ending Saturday April 15th. The hours will be 10AM-3PM. The farm is located at 1290 Moraga Way in Moraga near the Safeway, and just adjacent to the Fire Station.
They will be offering a variety of heirloom and hybrid tomatoes, herbs, peppers and eggplants. All plants are grown locally from seed at the farm by the Moraga Gardens Farm volunteers.
Feel free to forward this to your fellow gardeners, friends, family and co-workers.
You’re Invited!
Gather for coffee and treats, a special visit to the classrooms, presentations, and Friday Flag from 10:00-12:00.
RSVP: Please call 925-376-7900 or email office@saklan.org by Friday, March 24.
Annual Concert “Rise Up”
Motown, Funk and Soul Music
Thursday, March 16, 2017
4:30PM
Rehearsal Schedule
Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 (uniform)
- Dress rehearsal at Saklan from 9:00AM-12:00PM
Wednesday, March 15th, 2017 (uniform)
- Dress Rehearsal at Saklan from 9:00AM-12:00PM
Thursday, March 16, 2017 (uniform)
- Dress Rehearsal at Dean Lesher Center in Walnut Creek from 9:00AM-12:00PM
Thursday, March 16, 2017 (concert dress)
- Performance at Dean Lesher Center in Walnut Creek from 4:30PM-6:00PM
The dress rehearsal takes place at the Lesher Center. We will meet at the backstage entrance on Locust Street, and we are asking that parents drop their children off directly at the theater. If this is impossible, contact your room parent to arrange a carpool. If you cannot find a ride, let your classroom teacher know.
Students should arrive according to the following timetable:
- Middle School – 9:00AM
- 3-5 Grade – 9:10AM
- K-2 – 9:20AM
- Hoot Owls and Owlets – 9:30AM
If you have more than one student, you may arrive at the later time indicated. Students should be picked up at the same door at 12:00PM. Extended care is available at Saklan only until 3:00PM, and if you need to reserve a space on the van for your child back to school in between the rehearsal and the concert, contact the office ASAP. We will not be transporting students to the concert.
For the concert, students must arrive by 4:00PM. The ushers are very strict about on time arrival. Students should find their teachers in the lobby and go into the theater with their class. Parents and friends need to get tickets from the box office (they are free!) and give them to the ushers as they enter the theater.
Moraga Gardens Farm
As we are in the process of starting a long-term collaboration with our neighbor, Moraga Gardens Farm, please support them in the coming weekends during their annual Plant Starts Sale!
The annual Plant Sale will start Saturday, March 25 (rain or shine) and will continue both Saturdays and Sundays through the following three weekends, ending Saturday April 15th. The hours will be 10AM-3PM. The farm is located at 1290 Moraga Way in Moraga near the Safeway, and just adjacent to the Fire Station.
They will be offering a variety of heirloom and hybrid tomatoes, herbs, peppers and eggplants. All plants are grown locally from seed at the farm by the Moraga Gardens Farm volunteers.
Feel free to forward this to your fellow gardeners, friends, family and co-workers.
Save the Date!
Annual Concert
Motown, Funk and Soul Music
Thursday, March 16, 2017
4:30PM
Grandparents and Special Friends Day
is coming up on Friday, March 31 from 10:00AM – 12:00PM.
Grandparents whose addresses we have on file will be receiving an invitation in the mail next week. Look for an extra copy of the invitation in your child’s backpack today.
Don’t Be Late For This Very Important Date!
There are just 2 more days to RSVP for our 1920s glam and fundraising! Please click HERE to buy your tickets to our Annual Auction on March 4.
Here’s a peek into some of the items being offered:
Sign-Up Parties:
1) An Intimate Indian Dinner Under the Stars hosted by the Edwardson and Phadnis families for adults only.
2) Drive-In Movie to see “Guardians of the Galaxy” with Ms. Kim, Ms. O, and Mr. Zippin for students in Grades 5-8.
3) Clam Bake for Saklan families hosted by the Chois and the Darbys.
4) Pool Party for Owlets, Hoot Owls, Kindergarteners and their families.
Live Auction:
1) Thanksgiving Week at the Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Golf & Spa Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
2) Private Vacation Home near Osaka, Japan
3) Wonderful Waikoloa for a Week on October on the Big Island, including homework free passes
Student Art:
1) Middle School Art: America Today (a contemporary reflection of Thomas Hart Benton’s work by the same name)
2) Lower School Art: An Homage to E.A. Seguy (famous butterfly artist and entomologist of the early 1900s)
The Sky’s the Limit for Science at Saklan! This year’s Fund-A-Need will provide a facelift, in Hollywood fashion, to our science room and bring more STEM into the classrooms for all of our students.
Each bidder who donates at the $10,000 level will receive one archival quality personalized, signed, and framed print of the iconic Earthrise photo taken by Saklan grandfather, Astronaut Bill Anders from his historic Apollo 8 Mission in 1968. Earthrise is included in Time’s 100 Most Influential Photographs of all time.
So, please join us for An Evening In Old Hollywood. Buy your tickets HERE today!
FRIDAY BLOG 
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