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100%! Nine out of nine! Yes, we are crowing and please forgive us if we continue to do so for a few more months. Every single one of our fine Eighth Grade students has been admitted to his or her first-choice private/independent secondary school. It is a great honor for them and for the school; the list of schools admitting members of the class of 2005 speaks for itself: Athenian, Bentley, Branson, College Preparatory School, East Bay Waldorf, Holy Names, and Orinda Academy.
It is not that they were all selected to some commonly perceived “top” school or schools. We don’t rank schools, and we discourage those who attempt to do so. Rather then pushing or pressuring our students to apply only to “marquee” schools, we carefully counsel our seventh and eighth graders to consider a wide variety of schools, and in that thorough process we work to match up each individual student with the school which we believe will be the best fit for his or her unique abilities and particular educational experience goals.
That it happened this year does not mean that every year 100% of Saklan’s 8th grade students will be admitted to a first choice school. It may never happen again. Independent high schools are increasingly in demand, the competition can be fierce, and Saklan will always host a range of students of varying talents, attributes, and learning styles.
But it is OK to not get a first choice placement! It is by no means a disaster that some students will go to a second, or third, or even fourth choice school. Second choice does not mean second rate; fourth choice does not mean fourth rate. There are many good schools where our graduates will flourish beautifully and advance marvelously toward their goals. There are many good public high schools, many good local independent day schools, and many good boarding schools too, all over the country.
Saklan prepares students for success. Our students enjoy excellent academic preparation, and they are also benefit enormously from an education that develops each of them as a whole child. They have great, expansive, life training in their student travel programs; they grow as confident leaders through family groups and student council; they learn to care for others and contribute service to society; they are instructed in social and emotional skills via our advisory program. We are confident that Saklan students have better odds for admission and Saklan graduates have better preparation for success at selective high schools than do the students of other comparable schools, but there are no guarantees, and each individual child is exactly that: individual, and standing on his or her own merits.
I recently heard Michael Thompson speak on the subject of his new book, The Pressured Child. For those of you who do not know this renowned child psychologist, best know for Raising Cain, take it from me, he is the best. His book Best Friends, Worst Enemies is an excellent parent resource for supporting your child through their inevitable rough patches of the social realm.
Dr. Thompson addressed the anxiety that affects far too many upper middle class families. Paradoxically, the very folks with the least to worry about, those in the upper middle class providing their children the most enriched and supportive childhoods the world has ever known, are the ones who seem most worried about the future.
Although the American pre-collegiate education system does have its weaknesses, upper middle class families nevertheless have great educational options. The American university system is the best in the world, widely sought after by international students, and there are more than three thousand US institutions providing undergraduate education. Even if you were to limit yourself to the top ten percent, that would give you a range of 300 colleges for your consideration. Yet some families seem to believe that only the “top” ten colleges really make the grade, only ten will put them at “the top of the food chain.” Thompson spoke of having asked a class of 100 high school seniors how many different colleges they had applied to, and being told by a senior that it was a total range of 30 schools. The college counselor called out that they were wrong—it was more than 90. The obsession, however, with marquee universities made it hard for students to even admit to their friends they were applying to schools not perceived to be in the most elite category.
Saklan students benefit from marvelous good fortune, not only to be at the school that they are at, but to be in the type of family that would send them to a school like this. With these twin advantages, they will be well prepared for the challenges they will face. Our children will be fine, but our anxieties do not assist their growth.
School is hard. Dr. Thompson spent days shadowing schoolchildren, and he reminded us of the challenges our students face. He asked the audience how many of us would happily accept a job, even a high paying one, where we had to spend as many as six hours a day attending meetings where the agenda was entirely in other people’s hands. Students must switch gears many times a day, face new academic challenges and new social problems, and on top of all that, they must do homework nearly every night. School is what it is; we the educators believe deeply it is what our children need, but let’s never forget how hard it is. Some children manage school beautifully, others less so, but bear in mind that students who are really good at school are just that: good at school, but not necessarily good at everything else.
Given how hard it is, Thompson emphasized to the audience, let’s remember that it is perfectly acceptable to do less than perfectly. Not every student will earn an A, and not every student needs to earn an A every time. If your child is generally happy, if your child has a friend or several, if your child has something (other than TV) that they really enjoy doing, if your child is progressing generally in their learning, and if your child is earning B’s, that is great, that is just fine. Your child is well rounded and certainly on a fine track to the future.
Now, not all of those B average students will be admitted to the very most selective secondary schools, or colleges, but a surprising number of them will be—high schools and colleges do enjoy enrolling happy children who are passionate about pursuits outside the classroom. For most of those that are not admitted to a first choice, the second choice school, or the somewhat less selective school, will be just as good a match, and often a better one. If we wish to support our children, and provide for them the best we can, we need to celebrate their joys, encourage their love of learning, and strive not to put too much pressure on them. By doing so, you will be most effective at doing what you most hope to do: to quote the subtitle of Thompson’s book, you will “Help Your Child Find Success in School and Life.”
Jonathan Martin
Jonathan Martin
Head of School
Greetings Saklan Families:
Wow, what a wonderful time we all had last Saturday night at our annual auction! Happy faces, great music, wonderful items for auction and the warmth of the Saklan community made for an amazing evening. Once again, I felt incredibly proud to be a parent member of such a great and lively group.
There are so many folks to thank and to list them all would take more space than available here. Let me just say that the parents who came through in big and small ways for this auction are greatly appreciated and your hard work will never be forgotten. Many of us have bonded during the past several months of working together on such a fun team. The spirit, good humor, dedication and resilience of each and every one of you has been a joy to watch.
I also want to extend a warm thank you to each person who attended the auction Saturday. You each brought your own special flair to the evening and many of you opened your wallets with enthusiasm to support our children’s school. I was also very happy to see so many teachers and staff in attendance. It speaks highly of a community when teachers, staff and parents can come together for such a great night. This does not happen in every school and we should all be proud of how we work (and play) well together!
The Auction Committee and the Parent’s Association Board extend our heartfelt thanks to the wonderful families that make up such a unique school community. I would like to revisit the theme from the 2004 auction event and just say once again…Ohana means family; and now we are definitely Stepping Out!
The best,
Kate Dey
Parent Association President
Dear Parents:
Last month, ten of your Saklan trustees attended the annual Trustee/School Head conference of the California Association of Independent Schools (“CAIS”). CAIS is the accrediting entity that awarded Saklan the maximum (six-year) accreditation term last year after a grueling and devoted effort by many Saklan troopers. A majority of Saklan trustees attends this important event each year (at their own expense), switching between sites in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Since its founding 64 years ago, the CAIS has endeavored to strengthen its member schools (Saklan is one of only four CAIS-accredited member schools east of “the Tunnel”) by setting standards of academic quality and ethical conduct. Accompanied by our Head Mr. Martin, Saklan’s trustees devote this week-end to trying to get smarter and do better at their jobs as fiduciaries and leaders of our School.
Since several alternative sessions are simultaneously offered in each time slot over the week-end conference, trustees agree to split up in order to attend as many relevant sessions as possible. However, we catch the Keynote Speeches. This year’s opening Keynote was delivered by Rob Evans, an accomplished teacher, administrator, consultant and parent. We can’t reproduce, and only the most intrepid would fully read, all of his many observations about education in America (public and independent). Some that stood out to me as a parent and a member of society were the following (paraphrased of course).
While schooling is an essential part of child-rearing, it is still finally only a part. The vexing reality is that independent schools have become “counterculture” when juxtaposed with the social environments from which their students emerge in the morning, and to which they return in the afternoon. Students spend the majority of their lives outside of school, in environments that are at odds with the values that schools endeavor to promote and need to succeed. When our corporate and government leaders are front-page news because of lying, cheating or stealing, it doesn’t make our schools’ mission easier. When our children are not taught that actions beget consequences (as our Science class would teach us, an absolute reality in the physical world), we do them and our society a disservice. Schools are increasingly alone amongst our American institutions in promoting core values, the same values that are important to families as well as society at large. Conversely, they are pressured to dedicate more resources towards discipline and conflict resolution, with less available for teaching.
At Saklan, it shall continue to be part of our mission to balance achievement and socialization as we pursue that “Golden Mean” that our Head Mr. Martin often discusses. It is reassuring to witness the remarkable partnership with the parents, teachers and administrators that we enjoy.
Best regards,
Your trustees and fellow parents
Paul Felton, Board Chair
Ed Rice, Vice Chair
Paul Nathan
Betsy Hill
Marcela Salem
Diana Wilcox
Ruth Bailey
Bett Tokar
Annie Barendregt
Jennifer Griessel
Dan Dahlen
Kate Dey
John Macauley
Maureen Gibeson
Jonathan Martin, Head of School
Middle School Student Scoop
7th & 8th Grade Hawaii Trip
by Chris LaBonte
Once a year Saklan’s 7th and 8th grade students step outside the classroom and embark on a week long academic adventure. These trips are designed to support the School’s mission to foster academic and personal growth. They provide a terrific vehicle for our students to apply their knowledge, strengthen friendships, and develop a sense of independence.
Our seven day trip to the big island of Hawaii certainly fulfilled this mission and exceeded all of our expectations! From picking up molten lava to participating in impromptu ukulele lessons, our students took an active role in exploring their new environment. Some activities, such as hiking through lava tubes and observing the frequency of a breaking wave, expanded and supported our students’ prior work in physics and geology. Other experiences were unique to all of us. Mme Amy and I were certainly surprised to learn that coconuts needed to be slammed against the cement before being enjoyed!
Throughout the trip our students kept journals of their experiences. Later, while reading their journal entries, I was struck by your children’s balanced and thoughtful approach to their experiences. In typical Saklan fashion, the students responded to their new environment with intellectual curiosity, open minds, and open hearts –a successful combination for any trip.
In one thoughtful entry a student carefully analyzes the culture, stating “Hawaii is really a unique culture because of its traditions and past. Hawaii is a state that is completely different from others because its culture has been thrown about, changing its culture as more influences come along. Hawaii is somewhere I wish I could stay and learn about forever.”
Another journal entry demonstrates a willingness to approach new situations with an open mind: “on my (own) trip, I would never have taken a hike on an active volcano. I would have walked right past the opportunity to watch lava slowly flow.”
Finally, and most importantly, our students approached this trip with an emotional openness. Each student demonstrated a willingness to be changed in their hearts as well as their minds. The last entry in one journal expresses a sentiment shared by all. “Through events like these you fully realize how much your friends are there for you and how much you rely on them. Not only do I bring back experiences with me from Hawaii but also a newly found attitude.“
Integral to the success of this program was the leadership, collaboration, and assistance of Mme. Amy Sullivan and Mrs. Sally Andrew. I am deeply grateful to them for helping make this such an amazing trip.
Fourth Grade Trip to Coloma
by Marianne Haesloop
The fourth graders returned from Coloma with gold dust in their pouches and brimming with stories from our outdoor experiences. The 3-day trip into the foothills is the culmination to our California geography, history, and wildlife studies. Our shared ‘miner experience’ bonds students and adults in a unique way.
Escaping the classroom walls for a few days allows students to explore and experience the rich natural environment of the historic gold rush sites first hand. It is thrilling to see how each student shines in his/her way in the new context. Some children who consider themselves ‘in control’ at school do not mind a helping hand from a classmate sewing the gold pouch! Children learn to take risks in a confined and safe environment. Some overcome the fear of leaving home for the first time in their life, others venture with butterflies in their stomach on the solo hike.
The focus of the program at the Coloma Outdoor Discovery School is on community building, appreciation of nature, and having a grand time while learning about the wild times of the late 1840’s and early 1850’s. The enthusiastic staff captures the attention of the young miners with catchy tunes, claps, and lots of humor.
Among the students’ highlights are the hoe down, the campfire with a Miwok Indian sharing stories, panning for gold, building a shelter, and hiking. The highlight is for many the solo hike in which each student gets a turn to experience the natural environment by him/herself. Many students have butterflies in their stomach on the outset, yet each face is beaming with joy and pride after the few minutes. Some set out with eyes focused on the path, others take in the grand vistas, are aware of the buzzing insects and distant rushing of the river.
Students return from Coloma with happy memories and an environmental awareness that will help our globe in the long run.
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