The end of the year is approaching fast, which means students are running out of time to return library books! As we head into the last two weeks of school, please check in with your student to see if they have any library books at home. Meredith and Joy request that all Saklan Library books be returned by next Friday, May 23rd.
Thank you for another wonderful year of book reading!
At their final meeting of the school year, the students in Saklan’s SIGMA Club wrapped up with a hands-on science project that was equal parts fun and educational: making fluffy slime!
This gooey activity wasn’t just about creating something to take home—it was also a creative way to explore basic chemistry. Students learned that slime-making is a great introduction to chemical reactions. By combining everyday household ingredients like glue, shaving cream, and contact solution, students created a substance that behaves as neither a true solid nor a liquid, offering a fascinating look at how different materials interact.
The lesson was led by SIGMA Club founders Leo and Benji, who walked the club members through each step of the slime-making process. As you can imagine, things got very sticky! But the mess turned into a meaningful learning opportunity. Students were encouraged to problem-solve as they experimented with different ingredient ratios to adjust the texture of their slime. Through trial and error, they discovered how to balance the ingredients to get just the right stretch, fluff, or bounce.
To top it all off, students were given the freedom to customize their slime with vibrant colors and textures, making each one unique. Not only did the activity reinforce scientific thinking and experimentation, but it also provided a satisfying sensory experience that had everyone smiling.
What a fun and memorable way to close out the SIGMA year; great job, Leo and Benji!
#SaklanHandsOn #SaklanStudentLeadership
I will start this week’s blog by recognizing and appreciating all the parent love that came onto campus this week via food and gifts. Thank you very much, our hearts and tummies are full. As I enjoy all the love and gratitude, it makes me think of everything I appreciate about everyone here at Saklan. Hence, it might be fitting to share some of the things I appreciate about those I work with.
Each person on this team brings something unique and meaningful to our school community. Here’s a snapshot of the qualities I appreciate in each of them:
With gratitude and appreciation to everyone,
David
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Moraga Art Gallery last weekend for Saklan’s Annual Art Show! This special event marked the first time Saklan’s Art Show was held in an actual art gallery, but as usual, it was a fantastic event, showcasing the creativity and hard work of all Saklan students.
Since this was the first year of having the Art Show in an art gallery, we would love your feedback about the event (even if you weren’t able to attend). Please use the button below to complete our 1-question survey.
Thank you to Lauren for making the Art Show a reality. Her expert guidance and belief in the students through the art-making process, helping them to explore their creativity and express themselves, were evident in the art. We also appreciate the time she took to organize the art and determine the layout for the Art Show.
Thank you to David and Javi for transporting all the art and blackboards over to the gallery prior to the show, and back to Saklan after the show.
Thank you to Amy Schofield, Brian Lovrin, Javi, and David for helping Lauren arrange all the art for display.
Thank you to the Moraga Art Gallery for hosting the event and sharing their space with our student artists.
Thank you to the Saklan students for sharing their work with us. The time and detail that went into each of the pieces, as well as their propensity to think creatively, were on display during the show!
As part of their project learning about bugs, the Hoot Owls recently dove into the fascinating world of termites! The spark for this part of their investigation came from Gabriel, who asked a great question: “Why do termites like eating wood?” To help them find out, the class invited a special guest—Joe, a termite expert and proud Hoot Owl parent!
Joe captivated the class with fascinating facts about termites. While termites can be pests in homes, Joe explained that in nature, they’re incredibly important decomposers, helping to break down fallen logs and branches and turn them into rich, fertile soil. The class learned about the different types of termites in a colony: the queen, king, soldiers, workers, flyers, and, the student favorites—baby termites!
Joe also shared pictures of termite mounds with the class, which the Hoot Owls were very intrigued by! He explained how these intricate structures are built and why it’s important, when building houses, to leave at least a foot of space between the building and the dirt, to help keep termites from sneaking in.
The Hoot Owls all agree – termites are very interesting! Thank you, Joe, for sharing your expertise with the Hoot Owls.
After learning so many fascinating things from Joe about termites, the students decided to make their favorite type of termite and also a termite mound. These items and many others will be on display during their unit culmination event on May 20th at 9:00 a.m. We hope you can join us to celebrate their learning!
#SaklanProjectWork
The Saklan Middle School students are very excited for their culminating project for music class, a performance of Shrek The Musical Jr. Every student in the Middle School is participating in the production, whether it is acting in a main role, taking care of props, helping with costumes, or being a stagehand. The show is a true collaborative effort!
On Friday, May 16th, the students will perform at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette. The entire community is invited to the show. Tickets are required for attendance and can be purchased by clicking the button below.
We hope you can join us for what is sure to be a wonderful show!
#SaklanMusicals #SaklanCreative
Thank you, Saklan families, for a wonderful Teacher Appreciation Week! It was a week full of kind notes, wonderful gifts, and lots of delicious food. You definitely made all of the Saklan teachers and staff feel very appreciated!
We enjoyed tasting your favorite recipes! Each day of the week featured a delicious spread of appetizers, main courses, and desserts. From the Blooming Garden Soup and Salad Bar to the Picnic in the Park Sandwich Spread, and the Taco Fiesta to today’s Special Family Recipes, there wasn’t a day when any of us left Saklan hungry!
The posters that hung on the front of the school and on the classroom doors were so heartfelt and made us feel seen and appreciated. Thank you to all the parents who helped with the printing of the posters and who helped the students add their kind thoughts to them.
Special thanks to Christine Jensen, Vadim Alden, Lauren Scranton, Gina Altman, Neela Campbell, Meredith Avant, Joy Kim, and the PA Board for organizing all the Teacher & Staff Appreciation activities. We are so grateful for your efforts.
The Saklan School’s Annual Art Show opens this afternoon, Friday, May 2nd, at the Moraga Art Gallery in the Rheem Valley Shopping Center! We will be hosting an opening reception from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m., and you are invited to join us. The students’ work will remain on display in the gallery through Sunday; feel free to stop by over the weekend to see it. The gallery hours are 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Thank you for helping us celebrate and support the talents of our young artists!
May is a flurry of events and amidst all the special happenings, are PBL culminations! These student-driven showcases of learning are the perfect opportunity for family and friends to come together, and you’re invited! Owlet, Hoot Owl, Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th grade families, do you know what’s coming? Read on for opportunities for all of us to come together in community to support our learners.
Our ECE students spend many weeks during a project unit building expertise on a topic of high interest. They learn from experts, head out into the field to get their questions answered, and represent what they have learned through a wide variety of methods: dictating stories, creating 3D models, drawing pictures, and much more!
This semester, both ECE classes have been learning all about bugs! The ECE yard has been an exciting place as students buzz around finding, observing, and sharing critters they find on the yard. Come support our youngest learners and hear all they have learned about bugs on the morning of May 20th after drop off!
In LS and MS, our students always begin with a driving question. This question drives the content learning for 5-10 weeks, depending on the product and content standards being covered. Each year the question may remain the same, but how the students answer it, interpret their research, and create a public product shifts. This helps keep the authenticity and student engagement high as teachers are also rigorously assessing content standards.
After all their hard work, students welcome the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge with the support of the community. Save the dates below to see how our LS and MS have answered the following driving questions!
| Grade | Driving Question | Culmination Information |
| K | How can writing our own fairy tales help us spread magic and joy? | Friday, May 16th after CLAS |
| 1 | How do homes keep us safe? | Friday, May 16th during CLAS with reception after |
| 3 | How can we become eco-friendly entrepreneurs who create products people want? | Friday, May 23rd after CLAS |
| 6 | How are we still connected to ancient Greek culture, language, and mythology today? | Friday, May 23rd after CLAS |
Doing a project is much different than Project Based Learning, and attending culminating events is a great way to support our learners and see strong Project Based Learning in action. We hope you can join us!
#SaklanPBL
Teacher Appreciation Week is next week! The Parent Association has planned lots of fun and unique ways to celebrate the Saklan faculty and staff, but they need your help!
One of the beloved Saklan Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week traditions is themed potluck lunches from the parent community! If you are able, please sign up to bring something yummy for the teachers and staff by clicking on the button below.
Thank you for helping make this year’s Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week extra special!
#SaklanPA #SaklanTeacherAppreciation
FRIDAY BLOG 
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