Community

Sterne students are charismatic leaders, community organizers, artists, performers, and athletes. Sterne families are engaged, invested, and excited to see our program continue to grow to meet the needs of our students. We are a strong community, united in the belief that all students deserve to learn in an environment that recognizes and celebrates their strengths.

Our Parent Community

Sterne provides many ways for parents to engage, connect, and learn:

Regular Parent Association meetings, volunteer opportunities, and social gatherings
Room Parent program
Parent dialog group, facilitated by Sterne's counselor
Parent Education workshop series, in partnership with Parents Place
Third-party offerings shared throughout the year, such as Common Sense Media's "Healthy Digital Media Usage"

After-School Programs

Sterne partners with the Salesian Boys and Girls Club for after-school care, available at very low cost daily until 6pm. The Salesian Club is in North Beach at 680 Filbert. It's a short ten minute walk from Sterne, and we provide a daily walking bus.

We have grown our after-school program offerings with the completion of our new gymnasium, theater, and film and music studios. Starting 2023-2024, after-school classes include:

After-school athletic programs such as basketball, futsal, and yoga
Comic book and Manga drawing
Gardening and Nature Design
Special EF photography
Stop motion film
Fashion design
Cooking
Mixed media studio art
Rock Band
Drama: Sound & Lighting
Book design and binding
Improv
Private instrument lessons (by request)

Clubs & Affinity Groups

We believe in a school culture where no student feels sidelined. Student passions have a place here, and we are proud of the many clubs and affinity groups that emerge within our community every year. We also have a strong student council who take a leadership role in student events throughout the year.

Clubs offer an opportunity for development of leadership skills, creativity, and social engagement. Because all clubs and affinity groups work with a faculty advisor, they also reinforce a culture of trust and communication between teachers and students. They are a way for all of us to get to know each other a little better, and to expand our horizons.

Here are some examples of past and present groups:

Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
Student Council
Gardening Club
Pokemon Club
Coding Club
Dungeons & Dragons Club
Music Appreciation Club
Lego Club
Video Games Club
Animal Enthusiasts Club
Chess & Board Games Club
Sports Club

Traditions

Faculty, staff, and students all collaborate to create memorable rituals each year. Some examples include:

Weekly Monday afternoon meeting
Movie parties
Faculty vs. students basketball game
Artist visits
Spirit weeks
Spirit points competition
Dolphin Days every Friday (spirit wear and activities)
Indigenous Peoples' Day field trip
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
Women's March (organized and led by Sterne High School students)
November "Month of Gratitude," with community service opportunities
Holiday food drive
Valentine's Day special deliveries
End of year celebration days

Counseling

Student social-emotional well-being and development is as important as academic development at Sterne. Our Lower and Middle School counselor is available to support all aspects of social-emotional health, including navigating friendships and being a good community member. Our counselor works with families to support students at home, and with teachers to support students in class.

While the counselor is always available for students, Sterne also makes sure that social and emotional wellness is built into our classroom and school culture. We train our faculty and staff to embed conflict resolution, stress management, and inclusion practices into their curricula at all levels.

Lower School students can also benefit from mentorship counseling through the Eye to Eye program. Learn more about Eye to Eye on our Signature Programs page.