Unique to Summerfield

Open Week

"In my freshman year, I was new and, admittedly, intimidated by the prospect of a change. What undoubtedly helped make the change smoother was an annual High School event called, "Open Week". Open Week was established to help the four classes mingle and to help build bonds between students and teachers, instead of enforcing a segregation between age and activities. Open Week trips ranged from local community-based excursions in Sonoma County to great trips such as river rafting, participating in a Habitat for Humanities project in Mexico, mountain biking, Vision Quest, sailing in San Francisco Bay and kayaking in the ocean among the seals, otters and sharks. Not only do students gain new friends on Open Week trips, but they also are given a great opportunity to explore the wonders of the world. Open Week occurs in the beginning of the year, generally September." 

- SWSF Graduate

Project Week

Project Week is similar in principle and process to Open Week, but more community based. Students and teachers work together on giving back to their local area. Project Week was initiated in the spring of 2001, with projects ranging from working on the grounds of the Sonoma Mountain Zen Center to working with wolves and wild horses in Washington. We continue to dedicate a week each spring to give back to the wider community, as a group of concerned young residents. Students are additionally responsible to volunteer, as individuals, throughout the year.

Mentors in the High School

Each student has a faculty mentor to help guide the student through his high school years at Summerfield. The mentor checks in with the student at the end of each school day and is available for questions regarding courses, schedules, extracurricular activities, school agreements, and social and personal issues. When the nature of the question exceeds the faculty member's scope, the student is referred to the school's guidance counselor. Almost every month there is a mentor meeting in which each mentor meets with all the students that he or she mentors, in a group setting, to discuss issues such as studentship, plagiarism, and progress through the grades. Mentor groups are also responsible for working together to tidy the classrooms and campus at the end of the day, including recycling. A mentor is intended to be an 'elder' for the student, a person to be there for him/her when needed.