Signature Programs

Sterne READS

Sterne READS
Reading Education And Dyslexia Support

Sterne School’s intensive dyslexia intervention program

Dyslexic students need intensive and structured literacy intervention to achieve success in reading and school. We know that these learners are not limited in their capacity to understand, process, and express sophisticated concepts. This understanding drives our approach, and it is the reason why Sterne READS is not a pull-out program, but rather, a comprehensive intervention program embedded in our English Language Arts courses.

Our unique intervention model, based on the Orton-Gillingham approach, integrates dyslexia support within English Language Arts classes. Students participate in shared learning experiences like novels, workshops, and writing projects with their peers. Our inclusive design provides individualized support while keeping students connected to their classmates, teachers, and grade-level curriculum.

Experiential Learning

A Sterne education isn’t contained within the classroom walls. Our academic calendar includes days and weeks devoted to experiential trips and community service opportunities.

Experiential Education competencies at Sterne:

Skill acquisition
Career exploration
Hands-on, project based engagement
Application of classroom learning to real life
Self-reflection and exploration

Experiential Week

Lower/middle and high school students participate in Experiential Week annually, within their divisions. The week is thematic and includes opportunities for students to engage in projects on and off campus. Activities are designed with student interests in mind, and all students are given a choice of which experiential trip options.

Trips range from no cost to around $250; students that receive tuition assistance will have the same percentage of the TA applied to their trip. No student will be turned away from participating in an experiential trip due to finances.

Recent Experiential Week Adventures

California history tour of Sacramento
San Francisco Chinatown tour
Hands-on culinary classes
Local mural artist workshops
Community service projects with Surfrider Foundation, SF Community Food Bank, I-Hotel, and others
8th grade annual trip to Westminster Woods

Lower-Middle School Expedition Days

On Expedition Days, students venture out of the school building to engage in hands-on learning with their homerooms. They find opportunities to learn about the natural history, ecology, and preservation of San Francisco’s natural environment. Sea kayaking near Candlestick Point, service projects at Cayuga Park, and birdwatching at Heron’s Head are some of the activities that engage students in meaningful work and create incredible opportunities for connecting with each other.

Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Sterne partners with The Institute for Social Emotional Learning (IFSEL) for an evidence-based CASEL-aligned program (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning). Sterne faculty receive training that includes practical tools, approaches, collaboration, and reflection to create a caring and inclusive community. Monday Meetings, peer mentorship programs, counselor-led groups and activities, and a thematic, experiential SEL framework, teach vital skills and promote student leadership and self-awareness.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB)

Student-led and supported affinity groups, and a Diversity Council, provide safe spaces for students to gather for civic engagement, discussion, and the identification development needs and opportunities at Sterne. Affinity groups exist across grade levels and divisions; students in grades 4–8 and 9–12 are invited to create and participate in these groups. Participation in community service, civic engagement projects and activities, and local parades and celebrations is vital to the success of DEIB at Sterne school at the student-level.

For more on Sterne's DEIB initiatives, click here.

Eye to Eye

Eye to Eye is a national mentoring organization for students with learning disabilities. Our High School students apply to be mentors and are paired with Lower and Middle School students (mentees). The goal of the program is to develop robust social and emotional skills, create supportive environments, cultivate advocacy and leadership skills, and provide a path out of stigma and self-doubt.
Learn more about Eye to Eye (external site)

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