Category: Middle School

Last Friday, the 6th graders came back from an amazing trip to Westminster Woods, an environmental education and character development program, nestled in 200 acres of redwood forest in Sonoma County.

During their 5-day experience, students were led through a series of adventures that left a lasting impression on all of them. From painting their faces with rock sediment to navigating challenging slopes and terrains, the sixth graders spent their days learning lessons about the delicate ecosystems that surrounded them. More importantly, they learned about their strengths and how they can rely on their community. 

One of the defining moments of the trip was the ropes course challenge, a true test of vigilance and courage. As a class, the students discussed how courage isn’t the absence of fear but the thoughtful action taken in the face of it. Students continued to face their fears by going on a solo night hike in the dark. 

What made these challenges special was the support the class provided to one another throughout the trip. While many middle school trips focus on learning about diverse cultures and community outreach, this trip was unique in how it fostered trust and appreciation among our students.

The lessons learned at Westminster will stay with the students for a lifetime, serving as a foundation for their continued growth and development.

#SaklanFieldExperience #SaklanCommunity

The sixth grade students will be learning about human environmental impact and how they can help as part of science this year. During this study, they will have the opportunity to participate in service learning, an educational approach that combines learning objectives with community service in order to provide learning opportunities that help tackle real-world problems in one’s community.

The sixth grade has partnered with GotSneakers, an organization that helps keep sneakers out of landfills by recycling or reusing them. Each pair donated can earn their class money, which they will use to help with species conservation. Examples of how they may use the funds include:

• Donations to wildlife centers 
• Symbolic species adoptions
• Materials to build bird boxes

Please help the sixth graders by donating any size sneakers you no longer want.

Starting next week, a bin will be placed in the breezeway during the last week of every month. Please place your unwanted pair of sneakers in the box during that time. Any size and brand of sneakers are welcome. But, sneaker-style shoes only, please!

#SaklanServiceLearning

On Tuesday the sixth grade went on a combined science and humanities field experience to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.  

For science the students explored the aquarium to search for sea life with unique and unusual characteristics. They saw many organisms like the Pacific Lumpsucker fish with a poor swimming ability that has a suction cup bottom to help him in wavy environments and the Flamboyant cuttlefish that walks along the sandy bottom of the pacific and has highly toxic flesh.

As part of their unit on early humans, students explored the Human Odyssey exhibit where they got to see fossil models of early human skulls, read about important evolutionary milestones, and use an interactive map of human migration as part of field research for their unit on early humans. 

#SaklanFieldExperience

Every fourth Thursday, the middle school students and teachers participate in a much-beloved tradition here at Saklan when they venture off campus and enjoy lunch from one of the local Moraga restaurants or stores. The students love the opportunity to pick their lunch for day, parents love not having to pack a lunch, and the teachers enjoy the many social and emotional perks that the trips offer to the middle schoolers. These lunches allow students to bond with peers and teachers in ways often not seen on campus, allow them to showcase their decision making and negotiation abilities when they decide with their buddy which establishment to get food from, and give them practice in budgeting as they determine which items to purchase with the money they have.

While Off-campus Lunch is a great perk for students it also holds many life lessons. For this reason, students and teachers alike look forward to Off-campus Lunch days!

#SaklanCommunity

In preparation for a full year of fun and exciting science, middle school students have been reviewing and practicing the scientific method. The sixth grade students were given the question: “Which bubble gum creates the biggest bubbles: Double Bubble or Hubba Bubba?”

Students created their hypothesis, were given the same amount of each gum for consistency, and decided on a bubble gum blower for the experiment to keep the ability consistent. After measuring 5 bubbles and averaging their findings, most groups found Hubba Bubba to be better at consistently blowing large bubbles. Students noted that Hubba Bubba was the softer of the two gums. This and other flavor preferences played into their guess as to why Hubba Bubba was better. From this fun experiment, the scientific questions and hypotheses started flowing!

#SaklanHandsOn

A long-standing tradition of the Saklan Middle School is to start the year with a three-day, two-night field experience called the “Advance.” This field experience is intentionally designed to create an opportunity for the middle school students to advance into the new school year in a positive, proactive way that helps them flourish into self-confident young adults.  

During the Advance, students engage in different activities that build relationships between students and their teachers. Navigating ropes courses, completing blindfolded trust walks, and playing team-building games facilitate positive interactions and friendships. Students are asked to take risks together, creating bonds that will carry them through the school year. Not only does this help solidify their sense of belonging, but it also allows for better collaboration, trust, and academic focus.

Yesterday afternoon, the middle school students and teachers returned from the Advance as a slightly different group than when they left Tuesday morning. They formed new friendships, built a new community, and have a renewed sense of confidence. They were also a bit tired from all the fun and activities. But most importantly, the middle school team returned ready to thrive and grow during their middle school experience.

#SaklanConnected #SaklanConfident

The middle school students recently learned how to prepare Chicha Morada, an iconic Peruvian beverage, in Spanish class. The drink is made from dried purple corn, boiled together with pineapple, cinnamon stick, and cloves. It is the most popular drink in the Andean region. As part of their study of the culture of the Andean region, yellow block students created videos describing the ingredients and process of preparing the refreshing, delicious Chicha Morada!

Check out their videos below!

Bienvenidos a Perú, es una bebida saludable y deliciosa. 

#SaklanHandsOn