Building Belonging: Saklan’s Focus on Inclusion

Each month Saklan focuses on a different Social Emotional Learning (SEL) topic, incorporating it into lessons and discussions from Preschool through eighth grade.

Saklan’s social-emotional learning emphasis for August and September is inclusive. During these two months, all Saklan students are discussing what it means to be inclusive by exploring ways to include others, such as inviting multiple people to play, sharing, and ensuring everyone is included in activities.

On Thursday, September 25th, kindergarten through eighth–grade students will meet with their family groups and participate in cross-grade level discussions and activities to gain a deeper understanding of being inclusive.

Mark Your Calendars: Back-to-School Nights at Saklan

We are excited to welcome families to campus for our upcoming Back-to-School Nights! These evenings are a wonderful opportunity for parents to get to know the teachers better, learn more about the curriculum, and gain insight into what the year ahead holds for their children. Please note that these are adults-only events, as they are designed to provide time and space for parents to connect with teachers and one another.

Lower School Back-to-School Night
Thursday, September 4th at 6:00 p.m.
For Kindergarten – 5th Grade families

Early Childhood Back-to-School Night
Thursday, September 11th at 5:45 p.m.
For Preschool & Pre-K families

Middle School Back-to-School Night
Thursday, September 11th at 6:00 p.m.
For 6th – 8th Grade families

We look forward to seeing you there and sharing more about the exciting year ahead at Saklan!

E-Bike Safety

With the start of the new school year upon us, the Moraga Police Department wants to ensure that students and their families are aware of the laws regarding the use of E-Bikes. E-bikes are relatively new and the laws governing their use are still evolving at the State level. E-bikes have generated numerous complaints regarding reckless use, particularly by young riders.

E-bikes are defined as a bicycle equipped with fully operations pedals (used to propel the bicycle) and a motor that does not exceed 750 watts of power and they fall into three categories: Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 and are defined in the California Vehicle Code  (Section 312.5). To help you in identifying which class of E-bike you or your child have or looking to acquire, E-bikes are required to have a label attached which lists the class of E-bike, the top assisted speed and the wattage of the electric motor.

The different E-Bike classes are:

  • Class 1 is pedal assisted with an electric motor assisting the rider when pedaling. These bicycles have a maximum speed of 20 MPH which, when reached, the electric motor no longer assists the rider. Young riders must wear a helmet.
  • Class 2 is equipped with a throttle controlled electric motor that can assist the rider or exclusively propel the bicycle but not above 20 MPH. Young riders must wear a helmet.
  • Class 3 is equipped with a speedometer and an electric motor that assists the rider while pedaling and cannot solely propel, but the bike ceases to assist over 28 MPH. Riders must be at least 16 years or older to ride. Regardless of age, all riders must wear a helmet.

E-bikes are required to follow the same rules of the road as traditional bicycles / vehicles (per the California Vehicle Code Section 21200. Vehicle Code Section 21200 in essence states, “A person riding a bicycle… upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division…”) E-bike riders, as with other car drivers, are responsible for knowing the rules of the road and following them. One rider who didn’t follow the rules of the road abruptly turned in front of an on-coming vehicle without concern, was struck by the vehicle and was injured and was at fault for the collision.

The Moraga Police Department and our neighboring police agencies have seen a spike in E-bike related complaints involving juvenile riders, including riding against or opposite the flow of traffic, passengers riding without a seat, and riding too fast or ‘recklessly’ on sidewalks, forcing pedestrians to move out of the way to avoid a collision and injury. Remember that higher speeds on an E-bike can result in greater injuries to the rider in a crash compared to a regular bicycle.  

Vehicles outside of the description found in the Vehicle Code or E-bikes that have been modified in any way to increase power or speed, have footpegs as opposed to functioning pedals for propulsion are not considered to be E-bikes or bicycles and are not legal to be ridden on streets and are subject to impound in addition to citations for the rider.

For more information about e-bikes, other similar vehicles, and their safe operation, the Town of Danville has created an informational page on their website.  You can view the information at https://danvilletowntalks.org/notmykid. 

Our goal is the overall safety of our community. Please help us to keep kids on E-bikes safe by ensuring that your children ride their E-bikes safely, responsibly and legally. Through these efforts, we can hopefully prevent accidents resulting in injuries to riders and others on the road. We hope our parents/guardians know the importance of ensuring your children understand these rules for their safety while riding with the hope of reducing any potential injuries, or worse, that could result. Officers will be actively enforcing not only vehicular violations, but also violations involving E-Bikes.

Sincerely,

Moraga Police Department

329 Rheem Blvd

Moraga, CA 94556

Advancing Into the New Year

A long-standing Saklan Middle School tradition is to begin each year with a three-day, two-night field experience called the Advance. The Advance is designed to help students move forward—stepping into the school year with confidence, connection, and a positive mindset.

Over the course of the trip, students participate in activities that strengthen relationships with both peers and teachers. From navigating ropes courses and paddling canoes, to creating advisory names and norms, to playing team-building games, every moment is intentionally structured to foster collaboration and trust.

The Advance encourages students to take risks together in a supportive environment, sparking new friendships and deepening bonds that will last throughout the year. This shared experience helps students develop a strong sense of belonging, which in turn allows them to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Yesterday afternoon, the middle school students and teachers returned from the Advance as a slightly different group than when they left Tuesday morning. They formed new friendships, built a new community, and gained a renewed sense of confidence. While they were certainly tired from all the fun and activities, they came back with energy and excitement for the year ahead. Most importantly, the middle school team returned ready to thrive and grow throughout their middle school journey.

At Saklan, the Advance is more than just a field experience—it’s the foundation for a year of growth, courage, and connection.

#SaklanConnected

Picture Day on Monday

Roots & Shoots Photography will be taking individual and class portraits of Saklan students on Monday, August 25th. These pictures will be used in the yearbook and will be available for purchase.

Pictures will be taken outside on the play yard during the school day. Please note that 1st – 8th grade students need to be dressed in uniform for the pictures.

For students who are absent on picture day, a makeup day will be held on Monday, September 8th.

Portrait Ordering Process

Portraits will be available to order online approximately 4 weeks AFTER picture day. Complimentary proofs will be provided for every student, so you can decide whether you would like to order them. If you do order, all portrait packages will be shipped directly to your home (a shipping fee will apply). There will be no school package drop-off.

Questions? Please contact Roots & Shoot directly at grow@roots-shoots.com. They will be happy to assist you!

See You at CLAS!

All Saklan families are invited to join us next Friday, August 29th, for our first CLAS of the year. CLAS is an all-school assembly focused on Community, Learning, Appreciation, and Sharing that occurs every other Friday on the Saklan Sports Court.

Each CLAS has student hosts, presentations of learning, a birthday celebration, and a song sung by all. CLAS is one of the opportunities that Saklan students have to build their confidence and practice public speaking skills. It is also an opportunity to showcase how supportive, creative, compassionate, and courageous our community is.

CLAS will be held at 8:30 a.m. on the following Fridays:

  • August 29th – Coffee & Tea Provided, Parent Mingle to Follow!
  • September 12th
  • September 26th
  • October 17
  • October 31 – Join us for the Halloween Costume Parade and more!
  • November 14
  • November 21 – Special Grandfriends’ Day CLAS
  • December 12
  • January 16
  • January 30
  • February 20
  • March 6
  • March 20
  • April 17
  • May 1
  • May 15
  • May 22 – Final CLAS of the year

Perk Up with Parents

All families are invited to stay after the first CLAS for Perk Up with Parents – an opportunity to mix and mingle with other Saklan families. This will take place on the sports court from approximately 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Coffee and treats will be provided. We hope you can join us!

#SaklanCommunity

Saklan’s Fall Festival

All Saklan families are invited to join us for the Fall Festival on Sunday, September 28th, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This event will again be held at the Hacienda Las Flores.

This event is a favorite of Saklan students of all ages. We hope you will join us for face painting, fall crafts, food, lawn games, and more!

A huge thank you to the Parent Association Board for planning and hosting this event.

SaklanPA #SaklanCommunity

Fall 2025 Enrichment

The fall session of enrichment classes will begin the week of September 8th and run through December 11th. Classes available this session include Crocheting, Soccer, Art, and LEGOs. The complete schedule of classes offered this fall is below.

Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and some classes already have a wait list. To enroll your child in a fall enrichment class, please click on the button below.

Fall Enrichment Registration

#SaklanWellRounded

Congratulations, Class of 2025!

This morning, we honored and celebrated The Saklan School’s Graduating Class of 2025. It was a heartfelt ceremony in which the middle school teachers introduced the graduates, and the graduates shared short speeches with their parents, teachers, and fellow students.

A highlight of the ceremony was a speech by Saklan alumnus Finn Anders. Finn graduated from Saklan in 2017 and has since completed high school at The Athenian School and graduated from Kenyon College earlier this month. The wisdom that Finn shared with the graduates about their time at Saklan and keeping their fire burning was inspiring! Equally heart-warming was Dianne leading the audience in singing “In My Life” by The Beatles.

We know the Saklan Class of 2025 will do great things as they move on to the following high schools:

  • The Athenian School
  • Bentley School
  • Bishop O’Dowd High School
  • The College Preparatory School
  • Head-Royce School
  • Las Lomas High School
  • St. Ignatius College Preparatory School

There are several people who made the graduation events possible this year. We would like to extend a special thank you to Mel Zippin, Emily Williamson, Kim Parks, Hector Ramos Diaz, and Javier Yacarani for organizing the graduation dinner and gifts. It takes a lot of planning and coordination, but the dinner was beautifully orchestrated. Thank you to Kim Parks, Vickie Obenchain, and Jennifer Lettieri for helping the students express themselves so eloquently in their graduation speeches. Additionally, a special shout-out goes to Dianne Hurvitz, Shay Sager, Kim Parks, Emily Williamson, Hector Ramos Diaz, and Javier Yacarini for all their behind-the-scenes work handling the logistics of the graduation ceremony.

#Classof2025

SEL in Action!

Saklan’s annual Family Group Field Day was a terrific day filled with exemplary sportsmanship, great team spirit, and tons of fun! Students in 1st through 8th grade kicked things off by performing creative and entertaining cheers in their family groups—each one judged by our enthusiastic panel of faculty and staff.

Following the cheers, the family groups faced off against each other as they rotated through the following activities:

  • Super Volleyball
  • Sponge Relay
  • Marbles, Marbles
  • Sack Relay
  • Charades

Next up was the water-balloon toss!

Finally, the family groups ended the day on the sports court where the top 3 teams were announced and popsicles were enjoyed by all.

This high-energy event wasn’t just about games and laughter—it was also a powerful culmination of the year’s Social Emotional Learning (SEL) work. As students navigated relay races, team challenges, and friendly competition, they demonstrated the core SEL skills they’ve been developing all year. It was the perfect way to celebrate the end of another wonderful year of family groups!

SaklanConnected #SaklanFamilyGroups