A Magical Time

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January was a magical time in second grade as the students worked on their  Dragon and Fairy Tale Unit.  After reading many fairy tales and fables they wrote original fairy tales. This assignment involved filling in a story map, writing a rough copy, editing, recopying, and then illustrating their stories and designing a cover.
They have enjoyed reading their fairy tales to some of the younger classes at Saklan.
There were also several projects that went along with this unit including making an “egg carton” dragon and painting a dragon and castle using watercolors. The students also memorized fairy tale poems and performed them for their parents. Lastly, the second graders and first graders went to St. Mary’s College to see a theater production of Puss in Boots.

Yearbook Dedications Due 2/9!

We have extended the deadline for Yearbook Dedications until next Friday, February 9th!

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Would you like the opportunity to place special, personalized notes in Saklan’s yearbook? You may design your dedications digitally or they can be handwritten. Special pictures, drawings, and notes are all welcome. They just need to fit within the space purchased and follow the guidelines.

GUIDELINES:

  • Be sure to include who the dedication is to and from
  • If handwriting the dedication, please use BLACK INK only; a fine line marker works best
  • You can email, save on a flash drive, or if you are submitting a non-digital dedication, we will scan it for you. All submissions need to be given to Shay at the front office or via email at office@saklan.org
  • Please use high quality photos as much as possible
  • All files must be in JPEG, PNG, or TIF format at 300 dpi with a total file size of no more than 12 MB
  • Be creative and have fun!

DEADLINE:  FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9th

 

Dedication pricing :

$75.00 – Quarter (¼) page

$125.00 – Half (½) page

$250.00 – Full page (8 x 10.5)

Please submit your dedications to the school office with payment. All dedication submissions must be given to Shay or emailed to office@saklan.org.

Questions? Please contact Yette Prizeman  at yprizeman@saklan.org.

THANK YOU!

Fun Fridays in February!

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Saklan’s Student Council has planned lots of fun and games on the last three Fridays in February!  They have chosen a different theme for each of these Fridays.  Please have your child dress in clothes that relate to the specified theme.  At lunchtime each day, the Student Council officers will play a cooperative game with the elementary and middle school students to boost school spirit and to encourage teamwork.  Please refer to the list below for days and themes, and please remember that your outfits must be school and weather appropriate!

Friday, February 9th-Hawaiian Day

Students are encouraged to wear clothes that are in a Hawaiian theme. During lunchtime, student will be participating in a water balloon toss contest.

Friday, February 16th- Class Theme Day

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Each grade level will choose a class theme so all students can match and build team spirit. We will have a 3-legged race for grade level pairs to participate in during the lunch hour.

Friday, February 23rd-Pajama Day

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This is a Saklan favorite!  Kids should wear their favorite pajamas and appropriate slippers to school.  At lunch, the students can participate in a donut-eating contest

We hope you join in the fun!

Calling for Wine Donations

Wine raffle

Love wines?  We are excitedly preparing this year’s Instant Wine Cellar Raffle Collection for our annual auction, and we would love your help!  Please consider donating a favorite bottle or two to this year’s collection.

WINE DRIVE BEGINS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5th!

Please bring your wine donations directly to Ms. Shay in the front office ANY DAY

OR

Drop off at MORNING BUS STOPS on Friday, February 16th or Friday, February 23rd

If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Lo, Wine Raffle Coordinator, at sandralo@gmail.com

Saklan Sweat Jackets

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Sweat Jacket Orders Have Been Extended for a limited time only.

Order by February 13th and receive your new jacket in time for the next

Saklan Spirit Day on Friday, March 2nd!

Cost is $26.82. Click here to place your online order today!

Mr. Metzger the Storyteller!

Boys, smiling

To end our Penguin Unit for the month of January, Mr. Metzger visited the first grade class and read a book called ” The Lost and Found Penguin”. The book is a profound story about the importance of friendship between a boy and a penguin. Thank you, Mr. Metzger!

Head’s Corner

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Dear Saklan Parents,

Many thanks to all the parents that came to our Town Hall this morning. My compliments to all the Board Members, PA Officers and faculty for the excellent presentations that were given.  At the Town Hall, I announced that we would be starting a new order for this year’s edition of the very popular Saklan Hoodie.  Please look for ordering information in the Friday folder and in this blog.

Next week, we will be sending out re-enrollment contracts.   As we have previously communicated, and was discussed at the Town Hall this morning, tuition has gone up between 3.8-4.5%.  This is in line with other local independent schools and still puts Saklan about 10% lower than the average for the East Bay. However, we have again built in an early enrollment discount, which effectively cancels out the increase.  Parent referrals are still out biggest promotional tool, so please continue to spread the word about Saklan.

Have a great weekend!

Peter

Kindergarten STEM

Kindergartners were asked to build an upright snowman as tall as possible using just marshmallows and toothpicks. It was great to see the evolution of their thought and creativity as they used problem solving skills to achieve success. Way to think creatively, Kindergarten!

 

Field Trip with 3rd & 6th Grades

Damon, Savannah, Bianca.rotated

This past Tuesday, the 3rd and 6th grades went to Valley Vista Staging Area to help EBMUD remove invasive plants. Here are comments from some of our 3rd graders about the trip:

We went to EBMUD on Tuesday, January 23rd. On our field trip I learned how to use these garden tools and to not buy broom from the nurseries because they are invasive and they crowd out the native plants. My favorite part about the field trip was when I got to hold a newt.  – Ines

Lisa with a newt

The third grade class went to EBMUD. We learned that broom is an invasive plant. We got to rip out plants which was very fun. We saw a hawk which was super fun to see! -Savannah

We went to EBMUD on Tuesday, Jan. 23. At our field trip I learned that you shouldn’t buy broom from nurseries because they are not native plants and they are invasive. I liked the field trip to EBMUD because we got to get muddy and help the environment. -Sadie

We went to EBMUD. We went into the woods to take out all of the invasive species called brush. – Danny

We went to EBMUD and we saw a hawk. -Sammy

I learned what broom is and that broom is bad. It was fun using tools. I learned how to use new tools. -Zachary

Alex and Danny

I learned that scotch broom is not a native plant. It was fun to pull the broom out of the ground. I learned how to use new garden tools. -Damon

Going to EBMUD was excellent! I found out how to use these orange tools and trimmers. I also learned that brush is a bad plant. -Alex

4th Grade OP Art Cubes

Over the past month, the 4th grade learned a different technique each week to create OPtical illusions. Using only line and color, they created impressions of movement, hidden objects advancing or receding, and two dimensional objects visually becoming three dimensional. They are very proud of the hard work they put into their project!