Category: Middle School

Staff Spotlight: Vickie

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! 

Singing in Harmony

In middle school, student musicians move from a general music education program to an elective program. While all students still partake in the music program, they have a choice in their class each of the three years. This year, middle school musicians chose between Choir, Instrumental Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble.

In Choir, middle school students have been building on their repertoire of vocal warm-ups, combining familiar favorites with new challenges. While classics like “Bumblebee” and “The ABCs” remain beloved parts of their routine, the ensemble is now incorporating additional exercises designed to strengthen breath control, tone quality, vocal production, intonation, agility, range, and rhythmic precision.

Alongside their warm-ups, the student musicians have begun working on a diverse set of choral pieces, including “Stand By Me,” “Hakuna Matata” from The Lion King, and “Somewhere” from West Side Story. Though many of these songs are recognizable, the choir is taking on the challenge of learning and performing multi-part harmonies. Through this work, students are developing their musicianship by listening closely for their harmony notes, identifying intervals, and understanding how harmony interacts with melody.

As the year progresses, the choir will continue exploring more complex pieces and deepening their ensemble skills—learning to blend, balance, and sing dynamically as one cohesive group.

Stay tuned to learn more about the Instrumental Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble classes!

#SaklanSpecialists

Democracy Thrives in Saklan Student Council

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

  • President – Skyler
  • Vice President – Haley
  • Activities Chair – Makena
  • Treasurer – Mae
  • Publicity Chair – Willow K.
  • Secretary – Corinne
  • Environmental Affairs Chair  – Aliya

Lower School Representatives

  • Grade 1 – Finley and Violet
  • Grade 2 – Amara and Alex
  • Grade 3 – Isla and Wren
  • Grade 4 – TBD
  • Grade 5 – Charlotte and Darcy

#SaklanStudentCouncil #SaklanLeadership

Adventures in the Redwoods

Last Friday, Saklan’s sixth graders returned from an unforgettable week at Westminster Woods, an environmental education and character development program nestled within 200 acres of redwood forest in Sonoma County.

Over the course of five days, students immersed themselves in both the natural world and in experiences that challenged them to grow as individuals and as a community. They explored the delicate ecosystems around them—hiking through towering redwoods, scouring Dutch Bill Creek for signs of life, and gaining a deeper appreciation for the interconnection of nature.

Beyond the science and discovery, the trip was also about personal growth. Students tackled team-building challenges, discovered new strengths, and learned the power of relying on one another. The adventures at Westminster Woods encouraged perseverance, cooperation, and courage—skills that will support them throughout middle school and beyond.

The lessons learned during this trip will stay with students for years to come, serving as a foundation for continued growth, resilience, and a lasting connection to the natural world.

8th Graders Explore Gas Laws

The eighth-grade science journey is off to an exciting start! Students have been diving into matter and gas laws, using almost daily labs to see how scientific theory connects to the real world.

Their investigations have taken many creative forms: floating boats to explore Archimedes’ Principle and buoyancy, inflating Bernoulli balloons to watch low pressure create lift, and building hydraulic arms to understand Pascal’s Law in action. Using bell jars, they examined the effects of air pressure and Boyle’s Law, and to top it all off, they launched hot air balloons—bringing thermal expansion, Charles’ Law, and Bernoulli’s Principle to life before their eyes.

These engaging experiments have sparked genuine curiosity and inspired thoughtful discussion. As the students link hands-on experiences to scientific concepts they encounter in everyday life, they are laying the groundwork for a year (and life) filled with discovery, exploration, and enthusiasm for science.

#SaklanScience

Sixth Graders Step Up for the Planet

This year, Saklan’s sixth-grade scientists are diving into the topic of human environmental impact—and more importantly, how they can help make a difference. As part of their learning, students will participate in service learning, an educational approach that combines classroom lessons with meaningful community service to address real-world problems.

To put their learning into action, the sixth graders have partnered with GotSneakers, an organization dedicated to keeping sneakers out of landfills by recycling or reusing them. Each pair of donated sneakers not only helps the environment but also earns the class funds that they will direct toward species conservation.

Students will decide how best to use the money they raise, with options including:

  • Donations to wildlife centers
  • Symbolic species adoptions

How You Can Help

Starting next week, a donation bin will be available in the breezeway during the last two weeks of every month. Simply drop your sneakers in the bin and know you’re helping both the planet and our students’ conservation efforts.

The sixth graders invite the entire Saklan community to get involved! Please consider donating any sneakers you no longer want—any size, any brand, all year long. Sneaker-style shoes only, please!

Together, we can help our sixth graders take meaningful steps toward a healthier planet!

#SaklanCommunity #SaklanServiceLearning

Exploring the Meaning of Democracy

To launch their mini-unit on the U.S. Constitution and government, Saklan’s 8th-grade students began with the question: What does “democracy” mean?

The class first brainstormed words and phrases they associate with democracy, identifying examples that reflect democratic principles as well as those that do not. From there, students read and discussed a series of quotes about democracy, using the perspectives of others to expand and refine their thinking.

The group then compared dictionary definitions of democracy, ultimately crafting their own collective definition. In doing so, they came to understand that democracy is both an idea and a form of government rooted in that idea.

Finally, each student created a sketch in response to the question: What image or symbol might we use to represent democracy? These drawings reflected their evolving understanding of democracy as both a guiding principle and a system of governance.

The Joy of Discovery

In preparation for a year full of exciting science investigations, our middle school students kicked things off by revisiting the scientific method. The sixth graders put their skills to the test with a fun and flavorful experiment: Which bubble gum creates the biggest bubbles—Double Bubble or Hubba Bubba?

Students first crafted their hypotheses, then carefully set up their experiment. To ensure fairness, each group used the same amount of gum and selected one “designated bubble blower” to keep the bubble-blowing consistent. After measuring five bubbles and calculating the averages, the results were clear: most groups found Hubba Bubba produced bigger bubbles more consistently.

As budding scientists, the students didn’t stop at the data. They began theorizing why Hubba Bubba outperformed Double Bubble, pointing out that it was softer and easier to blow.

What began as a lighthearted experiment quickly sparked a wave of curiosity, with students already asking new questions and brainstorming their next hypotheses. It’s safe to say the scientific method—and the joy of discovery—is off to a great start in sixth grade!

Advancing Into the New Year

A long-standing Saklan Middle School tradition is to begin each year with a three-day, two-night field experience called the Advance. The Advance is designed to help students move forward—stepping into the school year with confidence, connection, and a positive mindset.

Over the course of the trip, students participate in activities that strengthen relationships with both peers and teachers. From navigating ropes courses and paddling canoes, to creating advisory names and norms, to playing team-building games, every moment is intentionally structured to foster collaboration and trust.

The Advance encourages students to take risks together in a supportive environment, sparking new friendships and deepening bonds that will last throughout the year. This shared experience helps students develop a strong sense of belonging, which in turn allows them to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

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 gained a renewed sense of confidence. While they were certainly tired from all the fun and activities, they came back with energy and excitement for the year ahead. Most importantly, the middle school team returned ready to thrive and grow throughout their middle school journey.

At Saklan, the Advance is more than just a field experience—it’s the foundation for a year of growth, courage, and connection.

#SaklanConnected

A Shrek-Tastic Success

A big congratulations to our amazing middle school students on their wonderful performance of Shrek The Musical, Jr. at Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette last Friday evening. From the hilarious characters to the toe-tapping songs and heartfelt moments, the cast and crew brought the story to life with creativity, talent, and heart. Bravo to everyone involved for a truly unforgettable show!

Special thanks to the many people who helped make the show happen.

  • To Town Hall Theatre for their grace in allowing us to share their beautiful and historic space. We are so grateful to be a part of your community.
  • To Javier Yacarini, for his work on the sets.
  • To Jayme Feldhammer for her time, sewing machine, and deep kindness.
  • To Emily and Shay for their help with the program.
  • To Kim Parks for all her help and organization.
  • To the Middle School Teachers for their help with props and rehearsals, their willingness to share their class time, and their encouragement of all performers.
  • To the Middle School Parents for helping their performers run lines and gather their base costumes.
  • To the Middle School Students for their creativity, courage, and humor. Your performance was inspiring!
  • To Dianne for all the hard work, dedication, and passion put into the show. Your casting created magic on the stage and allowed the students to shine bright. Inspiring middle school students to share their creativity, compassion, and courage on the stage is no easy feat, but you did it with ease. Thank you!