We look forward to seeing Saklan families for our annual Movie Night this Sunday, January 25th, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Founders Auditorium at the Orinda Community Center (next to the Orinda Library).
We will be showing My Neighbor Totoro! Popcorn and water will be provided, along with folding chairs. Children are invited to bring a cozy blanket and a favorite stuffed animal to spread out on the floor and enjoy the movie. Families are also welcome to bring additional nut-free snacks and water bottles.
We hope to see you there for a fun and cozy community evening!
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026 Noon–1 p.m. PT Live Q&A webinar streamed on Zoom
Kids with ADHD are full of strengths, yet everyday tasks and actions can be a struggle, adding an extra layer of complexity for their caregivers. Traditional parenting strategies often backfire, leaving families feeling defeated and alone.
Join ParentMap and The Saklan School on Jan. 21 for a thought-provoking and empowering ParentEd Talk. In this live webinar, psychiatrist and ADHD expert Dr. Sasha Hamdani, along with special guest moderator Dr. Erin Gonzalez, will unpack what’s happening in the ADHD brain, explain why common strategies often fall short, and share a game plan that works with your child’s mind — not against it. Whether you suspect ADHD, are navigating a new diagnosis, or are simply feeling stuck, this talk provides clarity and confidence for families and caregivers who need it most.
You’ll leave with:
A clear understanding of ADHD’s neurological roots and how they influence behavior, attention, and emotional regulation
Practical tools to ease daily struggles like transitions, executive dysfunction, and time blindness
Actionable strategies for communication, structure, and supporting independence
Better understanding leads to better support. 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, allowing you to watch it at your convenience.
On Wednesday, the Saklan faculty and staff were treated to an incredibly thoughtful and generous day of appreciation. From an espresso bar serving individually crafted drinks to bagels for breakfast, a delicious lunch from Anne’s Catering, and individual gift bags filled with bottles of oil and vinegar, every detail reflected the care and gratitude of our community.
We are deeply thankful to Christine Jensen, the Saklan Parent Association, and all Saklan families for making this special day possible. Your generosity and kindness made our faculty and staff feel truly valued and supported this holiday season.
Moments like these remind us how fortunate we are to be part of such a warm, connected community. Thank you for all you do to support Saklan and the people who make it such a special place for our students every day.
Saklan’s Parent Association invites you to our annual Movie Night on Sunday, January 25th, from 3:00–5:00 p.m. in the Founders Auditorium at the Orinda Community Center.
Popcorn and water will be provided, and folding chairs will be set up. Families are encouraged to bring a cozy blanket and a favorite stuffie for kids who want to relax on the floor. Feel free to bring additional nut-free snacks and water bottles as well.
We hope to see you there for a fun and cozy community evening!
This past week, in collaboration with ParentMap, Saklan co-hosted a compelling conversation with author and progressive education leader Sal Khan. The event focused on the timely topic: “Raising Future-Ready Kids: What Every Parent Should Know About AI.”
Khan shared thoughtful insights not only into the challenges AI presents in education but also the exciting opportunities it offers for teaching and learning. As he noted during the conversation, “We’re at the cusp of using AI for probably the biggest positive transformation that education has ever seen.”
Many parents have expressed how valuable they found the discussion as they navigate the evolving role of AI in their children’s lives.
If you’d like to view (or listen to) the conversation, click here and use the access code: edTalks*2526
What will learning look like in five years — or even next fall? As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms education, families are faced with big questions: How should my child use AI? How do I know which tools to trust? Could AI replace teachers? What about screen time and privacy?
Join ParentMap and Saklan on Nov. 18 for an urgent and inspiring ParentEd Talk. Khan Academy founder Sal Khan will share how families can harness AI to support learning in healthy, thoughtful ways, while preserving the creativity and curiosity that make childhood special.
If you haven’t already signed up for Monday’s Parent Ed Talk on how puberty impacts children’s emotions, stress, and mental health, do it today — you won’t want to miss this one!
Join the Saklan Parent Association on Monday, November 3, at 6:00 p.m. for an engaging and informative evening with Dr. Megan Johnson, Clinical Psychologist and former Saklan parent. Dr. Johnson will share insights into how this developmental stage often brings heightened sensitivity and increased risk for anxiety or depression, while also presenting a powerful opportunity for growth, resilience, and recalibration.
Parents will come away with a deeper understanding of what’s happening during puberty and practical strategies to support their children through these changes with empathy and confidence.
This talk will cover:
What puberty is – key physical, brain, and hormonal changes.
Why it matters for mental health – increased sensitivity to stress, social pressures, and risk for anxiety/depression.
Opportunities for resilience – how support from families, schools, and culture can recalibrate stress systems and foster positive development.
Practical strategies for parents – tools to guide kids through puberty with empathy, confidence, and connection.
This event is open to the greater Lamorinda community, so feel free to invite friends or family to join.
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:
What puberty is – key physical, brain, and hormonal changes.
Why it matters for mental health – increased sensitivity to stress, social pressures, and risk for anxiety/depression.
Opportunities for resilience – how support from families, schools, and culture can recalibrate stress systems and foster positive development.
Practical strategies for parents – tools to guide kids through puberty with empathy, confidence, and connection.
This event is open to the greater Lamorinda community, so feel free to invite friends or family to join.
We hope you will join us this Sunday, September 28th, for Saklan’s Annual Fall Festival! The festivities will run 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.
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.
FRIDAY BLOG 
You must be logged in to post a comment.