Head’s Corner

Eighth Grade Influencers Project – and a Call for “Experts”

There are three hallmarks to a strong, student-led project:

  1. Ambiguity – A teacher can never be sure what topic students will be fascinated by and will want to pursue.
  2. Messiness – Students are bound to struggle as they try to focus their project, and teachers always have more questions than answers to students’ quest for clarity.
  3. Uncertain Outcomes – Neither the teacher or the students know what the end product will be until well into the project.

On its face, each of these three characteristics seems like a weakness of project-based learning. In reality, it’s a superpower.

Deep learning experiences are full of surprises, serendipity, fits and starts, failure and creative solutions. This process is sometimes referred to as “emergent learning” because the understanding emerges from what feels like chaos.

Two weeks ago, the eighth-grade students started a project called “Influencers.” The objective of the project is to have students raise awareness about and influence public discussion and policy on an issue they care about. The first step of this project was to determine what those issues actually are. Using a survey tool and a word cloud app, we were able to “see” where their passions lay.

Once we started to understand the common interests, students grouped themselves around four of the above topics. With their topic selected, it was then time to develop a driving question that would influence a change they want to see in the world. Their driving question would be supported by steering questions that would determine the direction of their research.

For example, the group that is focusing on racism has created the following driving question: How can we influence society to be more accepting, and create a world free of hate speech and hate crimes? Guiding their research and supporting that driving question are steering questions that are built around “wonderings.” How has society influenced children to accept racism? What messages have social media sites sent to people of color? As they research, these steering questions sometimes flex, as students gain a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of their topic.

Over the next few weeks, students will begin to delve into their research and think about the best ways to present what they’ve learned, and to use what they’ve learned to influence society. Possibly the most interesting phase of their research is working with experts in the field. Students will be expected to learn from and possibly partner with others who share their passion.

As we move into this exciting phase of our work, we are hoping to interview “experts” (a term we use lightly) in the following fields:

  • LGBTQ+ Rights
  • Green Energy
  • The Psychology of Racism and Hate Crimes
  • Animal Abuse

If you, or someone you know, has some expertise in any of the above areas, please reach out and contact me. I have some world-changers who would love to connect. DOConnell@Saklan.org.

#SaklanCuriosity

Student Self-Portraits

In art class with Ms. Natalie, all students have completed a self-portrait. Different grades explored different processes to arrive at their completed portrait, allowing students to express their creativity and practice different artistic skills.

Kindergarten and first grade students did exercises in self-exploration, while second graders created a silhouette portrait by collaging drawn images and words that express who they are and what they love.

Third grade started by drawing their classmates, and then used a reference photo of themselves to recognize the symmetry in their face. In fourth grade, students created symmetrical self-portraits by measuring each half of their face and using pencil to create their skin tone. The fifth graders also paid close attention to the symmetry in their face, and created expressive backgrounds for their portraits.

Finally, grades sixth-eighth used the grid method, drawing pencils, shading tools, and watercolor pencils to finish their artwork. Explore just some of the incredible examples below!

To continue their exploration of self, the third-eighth graders all completed poems to accompany their portraits. Third and fourth graders wrote bio poems which shared more about them in connection to their portraits, while fifth-eighth graders wrote haikus that, while short, expressed who they are on a deeper level.

From an artistic perspective, self-portraits are one of the most challenging projects an artist can attempt. Ms. Natalie observed every Saklan artist overcoming moments of frustration and dedicating themselves to developing their skills. Congratulations to every Saklan student on this project – we’re very proud!

#SaklanCreative

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Mark your calendar for third quarter Parent-Teacher Conferences! Conference times are available starting at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 18 and Friday, March 19. Both days will be noon dismissal for all students.

To sign-up for conferences, please find the correct link for your child’s grade below:
Preschool parents sign up for conferences here.
Lower School parents sign up for conferences here.
Middle School parents sign up for conferences here.

All conferences will be conducted via Zoom, and your child’s teacher will email you the Zoom link ahead of your meeting time.

Conferences are a great opportunity to ask questions, learn more about your child’s progress, and continue to develop a relationship with your child’s teacher and the Saklan community. If you are not able to schedule a time during the conference days, please reach out to your child’s teacher to arrange a meeting.

Thank you for your continued support of your child’s academic progress and social emotional learning, especially during this strangest of all years!

#SaklanCommunity

Eighth Grade Rockets

Since February, the eighth-grade students have been learning about physics in Science class. To start, they’ve learned about the forces on our planet: gravity, air resistance, friction, and centripetal force. They have also been thinking about Isaac Newton’s Three Laws of Motion, and working on ways to put those laws into real-life scenarios.

For example, eighth graders were tasked with creating a rocket that could fight air resistance and gravity, and that could exhibit all of Newton’s three laws. They started by designing paper airplanes, to learn how different designs could create different amounts of drag. Then, they graduated to rockets.

Working in pairs, students designed different wings and types of cones for the tops of their rockets, with the goal of building a rocket that could not only defy gravity, but also fly the highest out of the whole class.

All of their hard work culminated in an epic rocket launch in the parking lot across the street from the school. Students used an altimeter to measure the height of their rocket as it blasted into the air; while all the rockets reached great heights, one design made it an astonishing 40 meters–approximately 131 feet–in the sky!

#SaklanHandsOn

100 Days of Hoot Owls

While most Saklan students celebrated the 100th day of school back in February, the Hoot Owls in Ms. Traci’s class marked their 100th day of in-person learning earlier this week, on March 1. From the outside classroom to the inside classroom, Hoot Owls have grown so much in 100 days, and have been eagerly awaiting the landmark!

In addition to physical and academic growth, Hoot Owl friendships have also flourished, and it is a joy to see them working together as a team. To celebrate this, and all their accomplishments over the past 100 days, students celebrated by making 100 Day crowns, which they decorated with stickers, gems, and markers.

The Hoot owls also practiced counting to 100, using some small toys and gems. The celebration capped off with an extra healthy snack, provided by Hoot Owl families. Making it to 100 days of in-person learning holds extra significance this year, and it’s great to see the Hoot Owls celebrate in style!

#SaklanAcademic

Science in the Garden

On Wednesday, the sixth grade class went to the local Moraga Garden to do some nature drawing, writing, and learning about the space itself. The visit was in connection with the Ecology and Energy science unit.

At the garden, students learned about how the ground is prepared each year before the planting season, what gets planted, and the garden’s practice of using local, organic fertilizer.

During the visit, students also spent time drawing, journaling, and getting a sense of the space. When asked what they thought was beautiful in the garden, they had a lot to share:

“The lemon beebalm flowers.” – Noah
“The birds chirping.” – Damon
“The soft grass below me.” – Danny
“The fresh oxygen – I mean fresh air.” – Sonia
“The hawks flying around us.” – Juliet
“The tangling roots that are growing up the trellis.” – Loralyn
“The chickens!” – Sadie

#SaklanInquiryPromotesCreativity

Parent Education Night

This Tuesday, March 2, the Saklan Parents Association will host a Parent Education workshop, discussing body image for all genders. The workshop will feature Jennifer Berger from About Face, an organization dedicated to combating toxic media culture and unrealistic beauty standards.

The talk will cover topics including social media, body size, and gender expectations, and will equip parents with tools to talk to their children about these and other body image issues. Information on attending this workshop is below – we hope to see you there!

Tools for Helping Young People with Media and Body Image
Tuesday, March 2. 6:30-8 p.m.
Join via Zoom
Meeting ID: 846 6138 2057
Passcode: 432014

#SaklanCommunity

Fifth Grade Lap Books

As part of Black History Month, the Saklan fifth graders completed a novel study on the amazing book Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman by Dorothy Sterling. They learned about the incredible woman Harriet Tubman was, and her many important contributions to society.

To further their learning, each fifth grader chose an influential African American to learn more about, from historical figures to modern day icons. After they finished their research, each student created a lap book that detailed key dates, important accomplishments, famous quotes, and other inspiring aspects of their selected person’s life.

Several students shared their books with the broader Saklan community during Friday Flag, explaining why they chose the person they did, and highlighting some of the most important or most fascinating facts they’d learned. Awesome job, fifth graders!

#SaklanDiversity

Self-Control

During February, Saklan students have been learning about and practicing different strategies for self-control. The students in K-2 have worked with Ms. Natalie reading My Powerful Mind by Iman Saint Jean. The book follows the story of Mya, and shows children how they can practice self-control through mindfulness.

Mindfulness has also been a focus in Ms. Jessica’s class, where students participate in Mindful Meditation every Monday, as a way of calming their bodies and feelings.

Reading the books Waiting is Not Easy by Mo Willems and When Sophie Gets Angry-Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang also helped introduce these topics. The class talked about how it’s okay to feel negative feelings-like anger, sadness, or frustration-and how self-control can help us choose what our body does with those feelings. For example, taking deep breaths or spending some time alone, instead of yelling or hitting someone.

Family Groups also worked to identify ways of exhibiting self-control. With encouragement from the eighth graders, students came up with their self-control “superpower!”

#SaklanSocialEmotionalLearning #SaklanFamilyGroups

Spirit Day Re-Cap

Throughout February, Saklan students showed off their school spirit by participating in themed Spirit Days! Each Friday was another chance for Saklan students and faculty to dress up in unique ways.

Spirit Day Fridays kicked off on February 5 with Superhero Day! Students showed off their creativity, with some choosing to honor our hero healthcare workers with their costumes.

Next up, on February 12, was Valentine’s Spirit Day. Students wore colors associated with Valentine’s Day to show their love for our wonderful Saklan Community!

For Sports Day, on February 19, Saklan students wore uniforms and sport’s gear that represented their favorite teams from the Bay Area and beyond!

Our month of Spirit Fridays came to a close today with a Saklan Favorite – Pajama Day! Even in their coziest pajamas, our incredible Saklan students were still focused, hard-working, and full of school spirit!

#SaklanSpirit