Category: General

October SEL Focus: Respectful

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:

  • Treat others the way they want to be treated.
  • Remember that all people are important.
  • Listen when others are talking.
  • Look for kind ways to say things.
  • Be aware of how your words and actions make others feel.

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

Growing Together in Family Groups

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

Raising Healthy Eaters Without the Stress

Join us at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 30, for a live ParentEd Talk with Jennifer Anderson, registered dietitian and founder of Kids Eat in Color. Jennifer will help you cut through the noise to find what works for your family. With her food-freedom approach — trusted by more than 2 million parents — you’ll discover feeding wins, practical tricks for every age, how to spot unreliable nutrition advice, and tools to help kids build healthy relationships with food and their bodies. 

Register here for the Zoom webinar using promo code SAKSCHL to attend for free (a $10 value). You’ll also gain access to the event recording, so you can watch it anytime, anywhere.

About Jennifer Anderson

Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, RDN, is a registered dietitian, public health expert, and mom of two who’s on a mission to make mealtime less stressful for families. She’s the founder of Kids Eat in Color, a go-to resource with a social media following of over 2 million parents. 

With a master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Jennifer brings professional expertise — plus a healthy dose of real-life experience — to the table. Before launching Kids Eat in Color, she ran youth nutrition programs at a food bank, performed research in urban food deserts and consulted for the USDA’s SNAP-Ed program.

About ParentEd Talks

The Saklan School is excited to partner with ParentMap to offer our school community FREE access to ParentEd Talks for the 2025–2026 school year. This dynamic series of parent education webinars explores the most pressing issues parents face today, such as declining youth mental health, complexities of ADHD, and the hidden impacts of technology.

#SaklanParentEd

Fall Festival Fun

Get ready for an afternoon of family fun! The Saklan Parent Association is thrilled to welcome you to our annual Fall Festival on Sunday, September 28th, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Hacienda de las Flores.

This year, we’re bringing back all the fun you love, including face painting, fall crafts, and the always-entertaining whipped cream pie challenge. To make this year even better, we’re serving up a complete taco feast for everyone to enjoy. Plus, you can strike a pose in our photo booth and enjoy some great live music while you eat. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the start of fall with your friends and community.

#SaklanCommunity

Bunnies, Soup & Pet Food

Does your family purchase Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies, Progresso soups, or Blue Buffalo pet food? If so, you can turn those purchases (and more) into money for Saklan through the Box Tops for Education program. Box Tops for Education is a quick and easy way to support Saklan!

Wondering how it works? All you have to do is buy participating products and use the Box Tops app to scan your store receipt. The app identifies the 350+ eligible products, and earnings are credited to your designated school. Even if you’re shopping online or doing grocery pickup, you can still submit your digital or email receipt with the Box Tops app.

Use this link to download the Box Tops app and get started scanning today!

Simplifying Kids’ Nutrition Parent Ed Event

Feeding kids shouldn’t be this stressful. It’s hard enough getting a meal on the table, but today’s parenting landscape adds a flood of sensationalized nutrition advice — leaving you more overwhelmed and confused than ever.

Join ParentMap and The Saklan School on Sept. 30 for a live ParentEd Talk with Jennifer Anderson, registered dietitian and founder of Kids Eat in Color. Jennifer will help you cut through the noise to find what works for your family. With her food-freedom approach — trusted by more than 2 million parents — you’ll discover feeding wins, practical tricks for every age, how to spot unreliable nutrition advice, and tools to help kids build healthy relationships with food and their bodies. 

Register here for the Zoom webinar using promo code SAKSCHL to attend for free (a $10 value). You’ll also gain access to the event recording, so you can watch it anytime, anywhere.

About Jennifer Anderson

Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, RDN, is a registered dietitian, public health expert and mom of two who’s on a mission to make mealtime less stressful for families. She’s the founder of Kids Eat in Color, a go-to resource with a social media following of over 2 million parents. 

With a master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Jennifer brings professional expertise — plus a healthy dose of real-life experience — to the table. Before launching Kids Eat in Color, she ran youth nutrition programs at a food bank, performed research in urban food deserts and consulted for the USDA’s SNAP-Ed program.

About ParentEd Talks

The Saklan School is excited to partner with ParentMap to offer our school community FREE access to ParentEd Talks for the 2025–2026 school year. This dynamic series of parent education webinars explores the most pressing issues parents face today, such as declining youth mental health, complexities of ADHD, and the hidden impacts of technology.

#SaklanParentEd

Join Our Community of Experts

Project Based Learning at Saklan is intentionally designed not only to help students build content knowledge but also to encourage them to consider the authentic purpose behind what they are learning. As teachers plan and implement PBL units at Saklan, they consider how adults in the world beyond school use the content knowledge they seek to teach their students. 

To make those real-world connections clear, Saklan teachers regularly bring in guest experts—both in the classroom and out in the field.

At Saklan, an expert is anyone with specific content knowledge or experience that can support the student inquiry process. Sometimes, guest experts share their experiences with students; other times, they provide formative feedback on the projects students are creating. Last year, we engaged the help of  26 experts, and each year we look forward to adding new voices—like yours!

We’d love for you, a family member, or a friend to join us and enrich and deepen our project curriculum this year. Please complete the form below to join our Saklan expert resource list. As needs arise, teachers would love the opportunity to connect with you during projects where your experiences and knowledge can help support student inquiry and project based learning.

Guest Expert Volunteer Form

Have additional questions? Email Linda Lathrop, our Project Curriculum Instructional Coach at llathrop@saklan.org. 

  • Asian Art Museum Storyteller Docent and Saklan grandparent, Nancy Parker, sharing fairy tales with kindergarten as part of their fairytale PBL unit.
  • Biophilic design expert and Saklan parent, Lauren Owen, providing group feedback to first graders as part of their PBL unit on homes.
  • Author and artist, Marjorie Graham, and Steve Graham, Saklan grandparents, sharing the ancient interpretations of the mythology of Persephone and Demeter as part of a 6th-grade PBL unit on ancient Greece.
  • Hinduism guest speaker and Saklan parent, Manju Rajashekhar, sharing with 6th graders.
  • Japanese Buddhism guest speaker and Saklan parent, Toshi Baba sharing with 6th graders.

#SaklanPBL

Alumni Spotlight: Alessandro Prada

At Saklan, we love to see how our students and alumni take what they’ve learned here and apply it in creative, real-world ways. One shining example is Alessandro Prada, a 2022 Saklan grad, who turned his passion into a thriving small business.

Earlier this year, as a junior in high school, Alessandro launched ExWorks, a company built around his love of mountain biking and e-bikes. What started as tinkering with repairs and creating custom parts quickly grew into a business that now serves customers across the globe. His innovative bike accessory—something no one had created before—was first produced on a 3D printer. When orders skyrocketed, Alessandro expanded production, moving to durable metal versions manufactured abroad. Today, he continues to design and add new products while building out a professional website for his growing business.

Alessandro’s focus and dedication are particularly remarkable. Living with ADHD, he has found a space where his energy translates into laser-sharp concentration. Whether he’s riding, repairing, innovating, or engaging his many social media followers, his passion for biking fuels his drive to succeed.

Financial responsibility is another area where Alessandro shines. While many teens might be tempted to spend freely, he has carefully managed his income, showing maturity well beyond his years. As his family shared, “I guess Mr. Zippin’s math lessons sunk in!”

We are incredibly proud of Alessandro—not only for his entrepreneurial spirit but also for the responsibility and creativity he demonstrates daily. His journey is a reminder of how Saklan’s values of thinking creatively, acting compassionately, and living courageously continue to guide our students long after the school day ends.

Check out Alessandro’s business and his innovative products at www.exworks.us.

Alumni Update to Share?

Saklan loves staying connected with our alumni and celebrating their journeys! If you or a Saklan alum in your family have an update to share, we’d love to hear it! Keep us posted on your adventures, achievements, and milestones—we’re always proud to see where life takes our graduates!

#SaklanAlumni

Staff Spotlight: Hector

Meet Hector! Blending a mixture of passion, discovery and love for enrichment, Hector not only leads our enrichment program but shows our students how to unlock their potential. Hector really gives our students the opportunity to dream big and have confidence doing so. When he needs to recharge, he finds his peace hidden deep within redwood trees, grounding himself and regaining his power to take what’s next. 

How long have you been at Saklan and what’s a fun fact about you that most students wouldn’t know about?

I have been at Saklan for three years now and am excited to be starting my fourth. There are plenty of fun facts about me that most people probably don’t know, but if I had to choose one, I would say it’s that I used to really love dancing. I’m not sure if I was any good, but what I did know was how much I enjoyed being on stage, performing in front of friends, family, and teachers. I was really proud of it. When I was younger, my mom would often put on some music, and from the moment I’d hear it, I would jump right into dancing – completely lost in the rhythm. There are still some memorable songs that bring back those memories and excitement I felt. I don’t dance much anymore, but when I did, I loved salsa, bachata, and even a bit of pop dancing.

What’s something you could talk about or do for hours without getting bored? 

One thing people should know about me is this: once you get to know me, oh boy, I cannot stop talking. There are so many things I am passionate about and could go on forever about, such as math, but if I had to pick just one, it would be redwood trees. I absolutely love redwoods. I love looking at them, studying and admiring them, and constantly educating myself more about them. Visiting redwood groves are one of the few things that bring me peace, tranquility, and calmness. It’s my go to place when life gets hectic, and I need to recharge or simply zone out. These trees are tall, massive and ancient, thriving with unique ecosystems. They tell a story of history and walking among trees that have stood undisturbed for centuries is just so fascinating. I could go on forever, but I think that passion really highlights how my love for exploring and early childhood experiences shaped me. The passion I have for redwoods is the same passion I have for STEM, and it’s a big reason why I love doing enrichment. Through enrichment, I feel like I can allow kids the chance to further explore their passions, discover something new, or challenge themselves, all while having fun doing it. I saw the value of enrichment as a child and want to create those same meaningful experiences for the students at Saklan.

What role do you think enrichment classes played in your life, personally or academically?

Looking back, enrichment classes gave me the opportunity to explore passions that regular classes didn’t always leave room for. As a kid, enrichment was where I could try new things, be creative and discover what I truly loved. It gave me the desire to continuously want to learn, even as an adult. Enrichment classes showed me that learning could be joyful, creative and personal. With that being said, enrichment gave me confidence. It sparked curiosity and allowed me to be more creative in my craft, job and problem-solving skills. It showed me that learning doesn’t only happen by textbooks but rather through experiences. It’s why I encourage kids to be passionate and curious in my enrichment classes. I want them to gain confidence through these learning experiences.

What’s a memorable moment you’ve had during an enrichment class?

One memorable moment that stands out happened during one of my coding enrichment classes. We were working on code that turned out to be a little tricky, and several students needed extra help. While I was busy moving around the room trying to assist everyone, a couple of students who really loved coding stepped up in a way I’ll never forget. Instead of waiting for me, they just asked if they could teach their classmates how to write the code. With my hands full, I told them to go ahead. They were so excited to share what they had learned, guiding others step by step. What made it memorable was that they showed real initiative and leadership. They took ownership of the moment, supported their classmates and created this great atmosphere of teamwork and encouragement. Watching them step into that role so confidently reminded me that enrichment is not only about the fun things we do, but also about the growth, collaboration and joy that comes from learning together.

#SaklanWellRounded

Building Belonging: Saklan’s Focus on Inclusion

Each month Saklan focuses on a different Social Emotional Learning (SEL) topic, incorporating it into lessons and discussions from Preschool through eighth grade.

Saklan’s social-emotional learning emphasis for August and September is inclusive. During these two months, all Saklan students are discussing what it means to be inclusive by exploring ways to include others, such as inviting multiple people to play, sharing, and ensuring everyone is included in activities.

On Thursday, September 25th, kindergarten through eighth–grade students will meet with their family groups and participate in cross-grade level discussions and activities to gain a deeper understanding of being inclusive.