The Rudolf Steiner School has a long and distinguished tradition of student publications. The Key, the high school’s literary magazine, publishes students’ poetry, prose, photography and artwork. Students also publish Fifteen East, the school newspaper, which lets students practice their journalistic skills. Spectrum, the school yearbook, allows those interested in photography and graphic design to gain expertise in these fields.
After-school clubs and activities are an important extension of the day. Students develop their interests and talents by joining extra-curricular programs that foster skill development and strengthen social bonds.
At the beginning of the year, students present information about school clubs at a general student assembly. They also post notices for the first meeting of the club, and students “sign up” at that time. Many of the clubs, particularly Venus and Cider, are always open, so students can attend just one meeting or join the club at any time.
Venus was founded in 2014, originally intended as a space for young women. The group soon opened to all genders. Conversations broadened from the original feminism-driven themes to issues relevant to all teenagers. Each week topics of discussion are brought by different members, including: navigating coming of age and gender questions; mother-daughter, father-daughter relationships; the often devastating effects of social media on teenagers; negotiating sexuality and dress code; cultural diversity and appreciation thereof.
The Student Initiative for Diversity and Equal Rights (SID=R) seeks to promote awareness of human diversity, and to cultivate the knowledge, skill, and heart required to truly see and support all Rudolf Steiner School members. SID=R holds weekly meetings that bring together students from across the high school; it plans and promotes events and discussions that are open to the wider community.
In the face of an influx of mental health issues, preventative work is important. GLOW offers students an informal space to process their feelings and receive peer support. This process helps diminish feelings of loneliness and isolation.
The Student Union serves the entire student body. They meet weekly before school to discuss issues of importance to the students. The Student Union sponsors various events during the year, including Coffee Houses, and supports other high school interests.
Launched by Sasha Pinto ’16 with Rich Turner, HS Chemistry teacher, the Bee Club tends several hives on the HS roof. Bees are a critical element in the food chain, and actually populate approximately 80% of crops in the world. Students who join the club will have hands-on experience maintaining the hives and extracting honey, and will learn how the survival of honey bee colonies is an integral part of global agriculture. As a member of the Bee Club, the student’s experience will include classes on the environment and bee biology, as well as selling honey at school events to raise money to maintain the club.
Rudolf Steiner School is committed to promoting a social environment that fosters inclusiveness even while addressing conflict. With this goal in mind, and in support of deepening existing practices, in 2008 the College of Teachers mandated the adoption of the Social Inclusion Approach.
The school recognizes that conflict is an integral part of social development that benefits from guidance rather than avoidance. As a school and as a community, we strive to resolve conflict by fostering understanding. The Social Inclusion Process, as developed by Kim John Payne, provides an approach that guides us in the use of age-appropriate tools for amelioration, for use at school and at home. This includes a process of intervention and mediation for issues of teasing and bullying, based on “justice without blame.” This process is implemented by a committee of faculty, staff, and high school students.
The Drama Club is open to all students in grades 9-12. Students prepare two productions each year, ranging from one-act plays and musicals to full-length dramatic productions drawn from all periods of history. This club stimulates and fosters individual initiative: Some students write and produce their own plays, and others enter the Shakespeare competition.
