Category: Parent Association

Navigating the Complex Intersection of Well-Being, Social Media & Technology

We are excited to announce that The Saklan School has launched a partnership with The Social Institute (TSI), a national leader in curriculum designed to equip students to navigate the complex intersection of well-being, social media, and technology. 

At a time when students spend many hours a day on digital devices, and cyberbullying and reputation-damaging posts run rampant, TSI equips students to make positive, healthy, and high-character choices that fuel their health, happiness, and future success. Our school will adopt TSI’s comprehensive program, called #WinAtSocial, which promotes character, empathy, teamwork, critical thinking, and other essential life skills. 

Join us on Friday, January 12, after CLAS for Coffee and a Parent Presentation by Kim Parks about The Social Institute and How To Help Your Child(ren) Navigate The Complex Intersection of Well-Being, Social Media, and Technology in Positive, High-Character Ways.

#SaklanParentEducation

Saklan Movie Night

All members of the Saklan community are invited to join the PA on Sunday, January 28th from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the Founders Auditorium at the Orinda Community Center for a movie night!

Popcorn will be provided for all attendees. Please bring your reusable water bottle with you, as well as nut-free snacks, blankets, chairs, beanbags, pillows, or other items to get cozy (limited folding chair seating will be available).

#SaklanCommunity

Pathways to Success

“Do as I say, not as I do”

Betty O’Connell

As a child, I did not appreciate my mom’s words about the misalignment between her values and actions. It just sounded like a way for an adult to make a child do something they were not doing. After last week’s webinar by Challenge Success, I can see my mom was on to something many families struggle with. 

For those of us who attended The Well-Balanced Student workshop by Laura Easley of Challenge Success, there were some “ah ha” moments as many of us realized we are a bit like “my mother.” Our actions do not always match our “stated” values, and our children can be confused and stressed by this misalignment.  

One of my takeaways from the webinar was how much children believe the path to success is a straight line from school to a successful career and happiness. As adults, we understand that life is full of mistakes, and they help us grow as people, build resilience, and open new opportunities. Children overwhelmingly believe one must get good grades to get into an excellent university to have a successful and happy life. 

But life is more like the path below, failures, u-turns, and redo’s. 

80% of adults report that their path to success and happiness is similar to the squiggly line, but the message that children internalize is that the only way is the narrow path. 

More importantly, though, the webinar drove home the importance of PDF: Playtime, Downtime, and Family Time. Challenge Success does a great job defining what makes each of these “times” highly effective in creating a healthy family and children. Take a moment to check out their tip sheets here. 

Lastly, for further resources, you can check out the Challenge Success Resource Center, which has plenty of excellent tips and information on healthy children and families. 

In partnership,

David

If you would like to view a recording of the webinar, click here. 

See You Sunday!

We look forward to seeing you at The Saklan School’s Fall Festival this Sunday, October 1st from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.!

Join us at the Casita at Hacienda de los Flores for face painting, a photo booth, fall crafts and tons of fun! There will also be food trucks, lawn games, a whipped cream pie challenge, and a Fall Food Showcase. This will be fun for the whole family!

#SaklanFallFestival #SaklanCommunity

Raising Well-Balanced Kids

In a high-stakes, high-pressure culture, parent and school expectations may have unintentional negative effects on students. Join us for our first parent education event of the year on Thursday, September 28th, to learn how to prioritize our kids’ well-being so that they thrive in school and beyond. In this workshop, Challenge Success will share practical strategies for families who want to raise well-balanced kids.

RSVP today to receive the Zoom link!

This parent workshop will be presented on Zoom by Challenge Success, a non-profit affiliated with the Stanford University Graduate School of Education. Challenge Success partners with school communities, like The Saklan School, to elevate student voice and implement research-based, equity-centered strategies that improve well-being, engagement, and belonging for all K-12 students.

This event is open to all Saklan families and the greater Bay Area community. Feel free to share the event info with your friends and family!

#SaklanPA #SaklanParentEd

Fall Festival Fun

The Saklan School’s Parent Association is hosting a Fall Festival on Sunday, October 1st from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., and all Saklan families are invited!

Join us for face painting, photo booth, fall crafts and tons of fun! There will also be food trucks, lawn games, a whipped cream pie challenge, and a Fall Food Showcase (more on the Food Showcase below).

Love to Cook?

Do your kiddos love to cook and create? If so, we would love for them to participate in the Fall Food Showcase! Bring a fall-inspired homemade treat or snack to the Fall Festival; savory, sweet, and creative dishes are all welcome and will be put out to share. Each participant gets a raffle ticket to a prize!

Please remember No Nuts! Please no temperature controlled dishes, as there will not be electricity at the table.

Please sign up ahead of time using the button below! 

Sign Up for the Fall Food Showcase

Alumni Helpers

We’re looking for a few alumni volunteers to paint faces during the Fall Festival. Face paint, glitter, brushes, stencils, and other supplies are all provided. No experience needed! If you are interested in helping please email the PA at pa@saklan.org.

#SaklanFallFestival #SaklanCommunity

The Well-Balanced Student

In a high-stakes, high-pressure culture, parent and school expectations may have unintentional negative effects on students. Join us for our first parent education event of the year on Thursday, September 28th, to learn how to prioritize our kids’ well-being so that they thrive in school and beyond. In this workshop, Challenge Success will share practical strategies for families who want to raise well-balanced kids.  

RSVP today to receive the Zoom link!

This event is open to all Saklan families and the greater Bay Area community. Feel free to share the event info with your friends and family!

Join Us for Saklan’s Fall Festival

The Saklan School’s Parent Association is hosting a Fall Festival on Sunday, October 1st from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., and all Saklan families are invited!

There will be food trucks, lawn games, a whipped cream pie challenge, and a Fall Food Showcase. Join for face painting, photo booth, and fall crafts. Can’t wait to see you there!

Fall Food Showcase

If your kiddos like to cook and create, we would love for them to participate in the Fall Food Showcase! Bring a fall-inspired homemade treat or snack to the Fall Festival; savory, sweet, and creative dishes are all welcome and will be put out to share. Each participant gets a raffle ticket to a prize!

Please remember No Nuts! Please no temperature controlled dishes, as there will not be electricity at the table.

Please sign up ahead of time using the button below. 

Fall food showcase sign up

#SaklanFallFestival

Feeling Appreciated

Thank you, Saklan families, for a wonderful Teacher Appreciation Week! It was a week full of kind quotes, beautiful flowers, and delicious food. You definitely made all of the Saklan teachers and staff feel appreciated!

We enjoyed tasting your family recipes! Each day of the week featured a delicious spread of appetizers, main courses and desserts. From ‘Crockpot Specials’, ‘Taco Bar’, and ‘Favorite Finger Foods’ to ‘Special Family Recipes’ there wasn’t a day when any of us left feeling hungry!

The quotes from the students, hung on the front of the school, in the breezeway, and in the office, were so heartfelt and made us feel seen and appreciated. Thank you to all the parents who worked with your kiddos to help share their thoughts and for sharing your own words of thanks.

Special thanks to Shannon O’Connor, Erin Moorhead, Makeda Assefa, Liz Goulding, and the PA Board for organizing all the Teacher & Staff Appreciation activities. We are so grateful for your efforts.

#SaklanTeacherAppreciationWeek

PA Spring Social & Service

The PA’s Spring Social and Community Service event is this Sunday, April 23rd from 12 – 2:00 p.m. at Lafayette Community Park. Join us for play, pizza and supporting our community. We will be gathering and assembling supplies for two local organizations: Bay Area Crisis Nursery and White Pony Express. Please see details below for specific items requested.

White Pony Express Items Requested (in individual packaging):

  • Adult Toothbrushes
  • Adult Toothpaste
  • Adult Bar Soap

Bay Area Crisis Nursery Items Requested:

  • Unopened Baby Wipes
  • Unopened Diapers (Size 4-7)
  • Baby Feeding Supplies: new bottles, sippy cups, plates/bowls, utensils

Bring your donation items to the park and stay for pizza and play! If you will join us, please RSVP here to ensure we have enough pizza for everyone.

We hope to see you Sunday!