overview

Welcome to the Saklan Admissions process; we take every effort to greet each inquiring family with the same personal and supportive approach with which we educate each individual student.   We recently received an official commendation for the way we “invest time so as to welcome those who are interested in becoming a part of the school community.”

		Saklan Valley School exercises great discretion in our admissions process; we seek to enroll students at or above grade level in their aptitude, and who demonstrate an eagerness and enthusiasm for learning.   It is also important to us that entering students are courteous and respectful of their peers and the adults in their lives, and that they come from families committed to supporting their education.  The applicant should be in good academic and personal standing at his/her present school.

While most applications are made in the winter season by families seeking admission for the following school year, Saklan does accept applications year round on a space-available basis.  At the present time, although several grade levels are full, others continue to have available spaces: please inquire to discover current opportunities.

A typical application process begins with a phone call, email, or website inquiry, after which you will receive a packet in the mail and an invitation to a school tour or Open House visit.  Thereafter, you can initiate your admissions application formally by submitting a completed application form.  Admissions decisions are made by a committee of teachers, administrators, and the Head of School; they may not be appealed. 

Van Service

Saklan offers van services from Oakland, Berkeley, Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Alamo and other cities in Contra Costa. Call the office for more information (925) 376-7900.

Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten Applicants

Families seeking to enroll a child in our Early Childhood Program should submit a completed application form with fee, after which we will arrange for the child to meet and be assessed by the Pre-School Director.  Admission is dependent on the results of the assessment and the spaces available in the class.   Priority will be given to siblings of current Saklan students, and to children whose families express a sincere interest in potentially continuing for Saklan’s Kindergarten throught Eighth Grade program.

Note: Saklan Pre-Kindergarten students are not guaranteed admission into Saklan’s Kindergarten and K-8 program, and must formally apply and through be assessed for Kindergarten admission, but they are provided a priority status for admission if deemed fully qualified.

Kindergarten through Eighth Grade

The Saklan admissions process includes steps to assess both academic and personal readiness for entry into our school.  For Kindergarteners, these two qualities are assessed by an individual academic assessment, and a group social assessment.  For First through Eighth Grades, academic assessment is established via a combination or standardized test scores, the ISEE test, and/or an individual assessment, and the personal assessment by the applicant’s spending a day at the school. 

Saklan is a proud member of EBISA, the East Bay Independent Schools Association, and follows the standard EBISA calendar for K-8 Admissions.  Our “priority” application deadline is traditionally the 1st of February.  We conduct assessments and visits for applicants in the months of January and February, and like all EBISA member schools, we communicate our admissions decisions on the second Friday of March.  Families must then make their choice of school and admissions decision by the following Friday, the third Friday of March, as is the case of all EBISA member schools.

After February, applications continue to be accepted for classes where spaces are still available; we will also accept applications to join a wait list for classes which are full.  Families should contact the school to inquire about availability. 

Preschool & Pre-Kindergarten - Application Checklist

1. A completed Application Form along with the $50.00 application fee is required to begin
the application process. We then need the following items completed and, if appropriate,
returned, before the Admissions Committee can act upon an application.

2. An in class visit for a thirty minute period to get better acquainted with the classroom environment and teacher.

3. A parent interview with the Head of School. Please call the Head of School to schedule an appointment.

It is the parent’s responsibility to supply all the information required for the admissions process. No decisions on admission can be made without having received these documents. Please submit your application as soon as possible. Only limited spaces available.

Please include a picture of your child with the admission form.

Kindergarten Application Checklist

1. A completed Application Form along with the $50.00 application fee is required to begin the application process. We then need the following items completed and, if appropriate, returned, before the Admissions Committee can act upon an application. Priority Application Deadline February 1, 2007.

2. Assessment Authorization Form with a check for $25.00.

3. Admissions developmental assessment for all applicants. We will contact you to schedule this one on one assessment.

4. Admissions group visit for all applicants.We will contact you to schedule this assessment. The assessment will be offered on Saturday, February 24th. Please mark this date on your calendar.

5. A Kindergarten Admissions Form completed by his/her current preschool/KDG teacher/administrator and returned directly to the Saklan Valley School Admissions Office.

6. A parent interview with the Head of School. Please call the Admissions Office to schedule an appointment.

Please call the Saklan Valley School Admissions Office to schedule an appointment for our developmental assessment and group visit. The Kindergarten Inventory of Development Skills (KIDS) test is given and takes approximately sixty minutes. In addition to the developmental assessment, all applicants are required to come for a group visit. The group visit will last approximately sixty minutes. It is the parent’s responsibility to supply all the information required for the admissions process. No decisions on admission can be made without having received these documents. The East Bay Independent Schools have agreed on a common mailing date for admissions letters and due date for enrollment agreements. Admissions letters will be mailed on March 8, 2007 and the enrollment agreement with a $1500.00 deposit is due by noon on March 16, 2007.

Please include a picture of your child with the admission form.

Application Checklist - Grades 1-5

1. A completed Application Form along with the $50.00. Application Fee is required to begin the application process. We then need the following items completed and, if appropriate, returned, before the Admissions Committee can act upon an application. Priority Application Deadline February 1, 2007.

2. Send the Admission Office copies of most recently administered standardized testing or call the office to schedule an academic skill assesament on campus. If none available, please call the office.

3. An all day classroom visit, scheduled through the admissions office.

4. Send the signed Release of Records form to the Applicant’s current school. The school will then send copies of report cards and test results to us.

5. Recommendation forms should be completed by two current teachers/administrators and returned directly to the Saklan Valley School Admissions Office.

6. Parent Interview with the Head of School. Please call the School Office to make an appointment.

Please include a picture of your child with the admission form.

It is the parent’s responsibility to supply all the information required for the admissions process. No decisions on admission can be made without having received these documents. The East Bay Independent Schools have agreed on a common mailing date for admissions letters and due date for enrollment agreements. Admissions letters will be mailed on March 8, 2007 and the enrollment agreement with a $1500.00 deposit is due by noon on March 16, 2007.

*The Application Checklist items must be completed by February 20, 2007 for all admission decisions made on March 8, 2007. The Admissions Committee can not make a decision on an applicant until all of the checklist items are complete.

Middle School Application Checklist

1. A completed Application Form along with the $50.00 Application Fee is required to begin the application process. We then need the following items completed and, if appropriate, returned, before the Admissions Committee can act upon an application. Priority Application Deadline February 1, 2007.

2. ISEE Testing : Please visit www.iseetest.org and click on the ISEE button to schedule a test at a date and place that works best for you. Saklan Valley School will offer the ISEE on site February 10, 2007. Our test site holds only 15 students, so please register early (deadline for registration is Januar 20th. It is required for all applicants to take the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam).

3. If too late for ISEE testing, please submit most recently administered standardized testing. If none available, please contact the office to arrange for an academic skill assessment on our campus.

4. An all day classroom visit, scheduled through the admissions office. Please call the Admissions Office to schedule a visit for your child.

5. Send the signed Release of Records Form to the Applicant’s current school. The school will then send copies of report cards and test results to us.

6. Recommendation forms should be completed by two current teachers/administrators and returned directly to the Saklan Valley School Office.

7. Parent Interview with the Head of School. Please call the Head of School to make an appointment.

It is the parent’s responsibility to supply all the information required for the admissions process. No decisions on admission can be made without having received these documents. The East Bay Independent Schools have agreed on a common mailing date for admissions letters and due date for enrollment agreements. Admissions letters will be mailed on March 8, 2007 and the enrollment agreement with a $1500.00 deposit is due by noon on March 16, 2007.

*The Application Checklist items must be completed by February 20, 2007 for all admission decisions made on March 8, 2007. The Admissions Committee can not make a decision on an applicant until all of the checklist items are complete.

Nondiscriminatory Policy of the School

The School has a nondiscriminatory policy as to students and employees and therefore does not discriminate against applicants, employees, and students on the basis of race, color, religion, and national or ethnic origin. Specifically the school admits students and employees of any race, color, religion, and national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to such persons, respectively, at the school and the school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, and national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions and hiring policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs