Dinosaur Research

For the Owls in Ms. Jessica’s class, December has been a month of dinosaurs! After seeing how interested the Hoot Owls and Owlets were in dinosaurs the class decided to learn a little more about them. The students learned that dinosaurs are reptiles and hatch from eggs. They did a fun activity using eyedroppers and warm water to free toy dinosaurs from their icy eggs! 

The Owls learned the words carnivore, herbivore, and omnivore and played a game matching dinosaurs with their diets. They also discovered that everyone in our class is an omnivore! The children had some messy fun making dinosaur footprints with paint after finding out that scientists learn a lot about dinosaurs from fossilized footprints.

The Owls have been having a blast researching and pretending to be their favorite dinosaurs, including the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Ankylosaurus, Spinosaurus, and Pachycephalosaurus! 

#SaklanHandsOn

Pandemic Parenting Course

Dr. Chelsey Hauge of Positive Parenthood is offering a free Pandemic Parenting Course. This 6-part course is for parents who wish to support their children in whole, peaceful, and gentle ways during this challenging time.  The course is virtual and self paced, so you can complete it when it works for you!

#SaklanParentEd

A Nation of Immigrants

Following their studies of the Mayflower and the first immigrants to come to this land we call America, the second graders have been learning about what it means to be an immigrant. The students learned about why people came here and what it was like to come to America, often with little money, without parents and little knowledge of the language.


After reading Molly’s Pilgrim and taking inspiration from the story, the second graders created their own clothes pin dolls reflecting their family heritage. The students truly came to understand that America is a “nation of immigrants.” Look at all the countries our second graders and their families came from.

In America, we truly are a treasure trove of different cultures and different experiences. Building on this knowledge, the second graders dove deeper into their own family heritage by interviewing a grandparent. This enabled them to reflect on the differences in their lives today compared with life two generations ago, and to appreciate how life has changed.

Next week the second grade class will be reflecting on the names they have been given and the special meanings they have.

#SaklanDiversity #SaklanCompassion

Holiday Spirit Days

The holidays are quickly approaching and the Student Council wants to help the Saklan community get into a festive mood! It has been a very difficult year and dress-up days are a fun and easy way to lift our spirits. All students and teachers are invited to join the Student Council in dressing up on the following days:

  • Wednesday, December 16th: Ugly Holiday Sweater Day
  • Thursday, December 17th: Holiday Pajama Day (Regular PJs are okay too!)

Participation is optional. If you choose not to dress up, please wear free dress on Wednesday and your uniform on Thursday. Please note that students need to wear shoes both days (no slippers, please).

Happy Holidays, Saklan!

#SaklanFestive

Why We Give

“Since joining Saklan, we have seen a dramatic transformation in Levi and Willow into more confident and compassionate students. Saklan is a place where they feel safe, surrounded by a caring and supportive community. We know they can receive an outstanding academic education at other institutions, but we truly believe Saklan provides the right environment where they excel because they want to and not because they have to. Annual Giving Fund supports Saklan through hiring of the best educators, buying the best supplies and providing the safest environment for students. Supporting Saklan is a direct investment in our own children, and that is why we give.“

Joy and John Kim

Levi (8th) and Willow (3rd)

Join the Kim Family in supporting Saklan by making an AGF gift today!

#SaklanGiving

Hip Hop History

November was Hip Hop History Month so the Hoot Owls learned about the Father of Hip Hop, DJ Kool Herc! The class read When the Beat was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop, by Laban Carrick Hill.

Ms. Traci showed the Hoot Owls a record, and they got to listen to it on a record player. The students then watched some videos of B-Boys and B-Girls (the dancers who performed to DJ Kool Herc’s breakbeats), before trying out our own dance moves! They were definitely working on their gross motor skills and coordination with all their dancing. Most of the Hoot Owls also gave themselves an original hip hop name!

#SaklanCreative

Winter Clothing Drive

Join the Hoot Owls in participating in a winter clothing drive organized by the local non-profit, Hip Hop for Change. The drive benefits unsheltered families and individuals in our neighboring communities. New clothes, gently used clothes and new toiletries will be accepted through January 7th. If you would like to participate, please place your donation in a sealed bag and drop it off in the donation bin outside the Hoot Owl classroom. See below for more guidance.

#SaklanCompassion

Story Elements

The fifth graders recently finished their novel study of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. This story is about four children who are transported into a fantastical land called Narnia. It is filled with rich characters and an exciting theme of good vs. evil. During the novel study, the students learned about the concept of story elements in literature. They created posters depicting the components: story setting, story characters, story problem, story solution and themes. Last Friday, the students presented their posters during Flag.

Awesome job, fifth graders!

#SaklanAcademic

California Explorers

In fourth grade, students focus on California history. After learning about many early California explorers, students chose one of their favorites to research in more detail. The fourth graders used books to research, as well as primary and secondary sources found on the Internet. Once students felt like they really “knew” their explorer, they designed and created a poster in which they wrote a “recruitment” advertisement for potential crew members. The posters combined many skills that the fourth graders have been practicing including persuasive writing, technology, art, mapping, public speaking, and design. When their posters were finished, students spoke to the class as if they were townspeople and they themselves were their chosen explorer. As their explorers, students tried to convince people to join their expedition, told them information about “themselves,” and warned them of the real-life dangers that they might encounter on their journey. Check out a few of their presentations below!

The students came away from the presentations laughing and smiling, discussing explorers, and with a greater understanding of the early days of their own state of California!

#SaklanAcademic

Join the Student Council in Helping Struggling Families

The Student Council is hosting a food drive for the Monument Crisis Center. This organization serves families in East Contra Costa County. Since many families are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic and need help, the student council decided that donated food would be the most practical. There will be large bins in the breezeway near the main office starting early next week and ending on Thursday, December 17th. The following food items are requested: peanut butter, tuna, canned food (including soup, stew, vegetables, etc.), dry pasta, and rice. If your family does not want to donate food but still wants to help out, please click here to make a monetary donation. Thank you for showing compassion to our local community!

#SaklanCompassion