General FAQs

Central to Waldorf Education is a recognition of and a respect for the child’s unfolding individuality. The curriculum is designed to meet the child’s specific developmental needs–where they are in their developmental stage– from the preschool through to high school. Rudolf Steiner maintained that “all education is self-education,” and therefore the task of the teacher lies in creating a learning environment in which the child can find age-appropriate nourishment and challenge. In a world in which education is focused on normative, quantifiable outcomes, the uniqueness of the individual child’s gifts and challenges often has to take a backseat to the pressure of general societal expectations. Waldorf Education values difference and strives to support developing children and adolescents in such a way that they can bring their gifts to fruition while, at the same time, learn to cope with their challenges. All of Waldorf Education is focused on challenging children in such a way that the emergent ability of independent thinking can lead to a true experience of meaning. As Steiner puts it, the earliest experiences that the world is good and worthy of imitation, followed by the cultivation of a deep sense of wonder for the beauty to be found in all things, will establish the foundation upon which the teenager will learn to discover truth in the world. Learn more here.

Class Ratios: Our average student to faculty ratio is 6:1, ensuring that our teachers really get to know every student and work closely with them to support their unique individual needs. Students in their journey here at Summerfield greatly benefit from different teaching styles, personalities, and professional expertise within a given subject. On average, a Summerfield student, depending on their grade, will have the following teachers throughout their school day: (1) Main Lesson: This is their grade level teacher who instructs them during a 1.5 - 2.0 hour (depending on the grade level) main subject lesson for that specific Block. (1-2) Movement: an instructor each for eurythmy and PE/circus arts (1-2) Music: an instructor each for choir and instruments (1-3) Arts: an instructor each for fine arts, practical arts, and drama (1) Language: an instructor specific to a language. We offer Spanish and German. (1-2) Farm: an instructor specific to farming and horticultural practices (1) Mentor: teachers who are chosen by the students as a direct contact person for guidance with any school, life, or social issues.

As a private, accredited Waldorf Education nonprofit organization (501c3), Summerfield is not required by state law to employ Standardized Testing. Our teachers have the freedom to decide how to best meet the class – and the individual – while delivering a rigorous academic/college prep curriculum along with art, music, practical skills, sports, and farm work.

It happens on rare occasion that a student and teacher dynamic is not conducive to a child's learning trajectory. When this occurs, everyone works purposefully, mindfully, and with utmost sensitivity to improve the relationship between student and teacher. The Summerfield Waldorf faculty are extraordinarily motivated to meet the child where they are to foster a lifelong curiosity for learning and personal growth. Parents are often surprised to learn that a teacher often understands their child as well as they do. We encourage ongoing communication throughout the school year between the parent and teacher to understand the academic and social wellbeing of their child. Parent-Teacher conferences are held regularly, and this is the ideal forum to address questions and concerns. Parents also receive written student assessments from their children’s teachers one to three times per year, depending on the grade level. If a situation between a student and teacher cannot be resolved with the parent/teacher loop, then our Section Coordinator is the next resource. In some instances, the All-School Director will engage with the parents and teacher in developing a plan to remedy the situation at hand.

Yes! Summerfield offers a healthy, nutritious, and delicious prepared hot lunch Monday–Friday. We source the majority of our produce (vegetables, fruit, herbs, eggs) from our 7-acre Biodynamic® farm right here on campus. Lunch is cooked fresh daily in our on-site kitchen run by our professional School Chef and his culinary team. We use as many organic ingredients as possible, and everything is cooked from scratch. We offer a daily a gluten-free hot item and seasonal specialities as well. Lunch is an additional fee and not included in the Tuition Fee. Please see our Tuition Schedule for details.

Yes! We offer Aftercare for Preschool classes during the school year and throughout certain months during the summer as an paid extension of our Summer Camp program. Online registration for Preschool Aftercare is not available so please contact your lead teacher to register for this program in-person. Aftercare is not included in the Tuition Fees and is an additional fee. Please see Aftercare Fees and Schedule for more information.

Homework starts in Grade 3 and 4 and builds to 30 minutes to an hour per night by Grade 8. In many school systems, homework now starts in Kindergarten, often with non-developmental or curriculum-related activities. At Summerfield, homework begins gently, at the class teacher’s discretion, in second or third grade. In middle school, students receive daily homework assignments from the class teacher as well as subject teachers, with the total time typically ranging from half an hour to an hour per night.

Summerfield has developed shared values regarding the importance of clothing in creating a thriving learning environment. It is our request that students come dressed to play, run, jump, skip, race, dig, climb and be actively engaged in movement as children’s exploration of the world is an essential component of each day’s work. The following guidelines are based on the need for clothing to be simple, functional, safe, and warm, meeting the body’s needs for each season, and minimizing the distracting influences of dress as a social statement, particularly for students in Grades 1-6. For Grades 1-6 Dress in layers for our variable climate. In grades one through four rain gear, extra socks, boots, jackets and hats need to be available in order for the students to enjoy outdoor play and return to the learning environment dry and ready to work. -Minimize clothing that includes advertising, logos, pictures and writing -No camouflage-patterned clothing -No clothing that is ripped or torn, excessively baggy, tight or revealing -Clothing may not reveal undergarments -Shorts must extend at least to the mid-thigh. Skirts and dresses must extend at least to the top of the knee -Sturdy shoes with backs and without high heels, especially participating in farming and movement activities -Shoes must be worn outside at all times, except with the teacher’s permission -No tattoos (even temporary) and no extreme hairdos, dyed hair, gel or hair spray -Hair should be well secured off the face -No make-up, nail polish, perfume, dangling earrings or jewelry Grades 7 & 8 As students enter adolescence in grades seven and eight, dress guidelines are relaxed to allow the students to take more responsibility for their appearance. Allowed to wear the following: -Hair spray and gel -Nail polish -Earrings that dangle below the ear -Writing, logos and pictures on shirts (minimized and not offensive) -Subtle make-up Not Allowed in Grades 1-8 -Spaghetti straps or halter tops -Necklines lower than the armpits or exposed midriffs -Extreme hair styles -Visible undergarments HighSchool (Grades 9-12) Appropriate student dress is an integral factor in creating a healthy environment. Just as in any office or work environment, appearance has a definite influence on productivity and the social atmosphere. The High School Handbook provides further discussion regarding dress-related issues. Please note the following specific restrictions: no sunglasses in the classroom and shirts and footwear must be worn at all times.

Because we are an independent and private school supported by tuition, we are able to innovate and respond to our students to meet them at their individual developmental level. We facilitate a school culture that is initiative based with a high level of student participation. We welcome parents from area schools to visit Summerfield and see our campus. Our tuition is significantly lower than other private schools and over 60% of our high school families receive financial aid. -Our Campus & Biodynamic® farm: Our 38-acre campus includes a working, Biodynamic® farm. Students work on the farm and use the campus in their studies. Summerfield offers a daily hot lunch program, which often includes produce from our farm. -Class Ratios: Our student to faculty ratio is 6:1, ensuring that our teachers really get to know every student and work closely with them to support their unique individual needs. -Student Support: Students are supported by a dedicated high school counselor and professional college counselor who truly know and encourage our students to strive for their own personal and academic best. -Freedom from Standardized Testing: Independence from “high stakes” standardized state testing means that teachers have the freedom to decide how to best meet the class – and the individual – while delivering a rigorous curriculum. -Student Connections across the Grades: Summerfield is an intergenerational campus and the high school students are connected to other grades through campus traditions like the Rose Ceremony. This connection to younger students helps older students take leadership roles and to see their own trajectory through the grades in a unique perspective. -A Smart Device Policy for Undistracted Learning: We are a Smart Device-free campus. We have found that refraining from all electronics and Smart Device use while at school allows students to be fully present with their peers, teachers and themselves. • SRJC Cross-study Program: High school students engage in a variety of research projects and have access to the Santa Rosa Junior College for coursework, which supports individual courses of study. • International/Exchange Student Program: Summerfield offers a foreign exchange student program, which is available to every high school student and is included (outside of air fare and other travel expenses) with tuition. • Drug & Alcohol-Free Students: Summerfield upholds an agreement with its students to strive to be drug and alcohol free during their time at our school. We engage parents in support of this agreement and work with the concept of accessing a deeper sense of self-awareness and interest in the world around us so that life in itself is the most pleasurable, meaningful, and enriching experience an individual can have.

A: Students from outside Waldorf Education who are coming from a non-Waldorf middle school or high school to join Summerfield's High School (Grade 9-12) are warmly welcomed by their peers, who are happy to teach them about main lesson books, class meetings, the festival cycle and other Waldorf traditions. Because our classes are small and familiar, newcomers have an honored place for the perspectives and experiences they bring. The support system we have in place for all students (mentors, class advisors, counselor and caring teachers) carries students through their transition into this unique form of education. Depending on the student, they sometimes experience surprise at how interactive our classes are, and the level to which artistic expression and critical thinking is integrated across subjects, however they reliably integrate quickly.

A: Yes! We are members of the CA Interscholastic Federation, North Coast Section. As a small school, our athletes get much more play time than many larger programs. We strive for a sports program that supports the educational aspects of sport, as well as student well-being.

A: In addition to small and aesthetically designed classrooms, we have a beautiful performance hall and well-loved library. Plus, the following facilities: Maths & Science: Physics and chemistry lab, biology lab, movement (Eurythmy) room Practical Arts & Music: Pottery studio, a new Art Tech Building with a blacksmithing forge, weaving looms, woodworking studios, and music practice rooms. Sports: Outdoor basketball court, running track, soccer field and outdoor volleyball courts and full-sized circus tent. Big Top Circus Tent: a beautiful European big top circus tent for our Circus Waldissima circus arts program where students and summer campers (students & non-students) learn to juggle, unicycle, stilts, tumbling, clowning, aerial silks, trapeze –all fostering crucial developmental skills such as agility, hand-eye coordination, spacial relationships, physical stamina, body movement coordination, teamwork, and storytelling through circus performance. Farm: Our 38-acre campus is also home to a working, Biodynamic® farm and with Permaculture Garden which is integrated into our curriculum from Preschool- Grade 12. Summerfield’s commercial kitchen provides delicious farm-to-table hot lunches, with many ingredients from our Biodynamic® farm, for our students Grade 1-12.

A: We have the opportunity to lead with diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) both in the classroom and through interpersonal relationships within our community. In the classroom, our teachers strive to include as many voices and points of view as possible in all subjects, and we encourage lively and respectful debate between our students. The high school curriculum itself covers a very broad array of cultures, histories and identities. In addition, we have offered electives in Race, Class and Gender, Feminist Literature and LGBTQIA + history. Interpersonally, students are expected to cultivate an open mind, treat others with respect and kindness, and take responsibility for the impact of their words and deeds. This is actively facilitated by mentors, counselors and class advisors as well as the curriculum itself. We have an active affinity group for LGBTQIA+ students who meet weekly. We also have an active DEI faculty committee who facilitate diverse offerings into our festival cycle, parent and teacher study groups and ongoing training for faculty and staff. Our whole educational approach is based on students learning to recognize and fulfill their unique path as human beings in the world, and the other side of this deep understanding of self is a real capacity for seeing and honoring another on their own unique path.

Our parent community thrives here at Summerfield in the active support of various programs, fundraisers, projects, and field trips throughout the year. At Summerfield, parents have the opportunity to serve on the Board of Trustees, participate on committees, act as chaperones on field trips, organize annual events such as the Sprites Night, Winter Faire, Epiphany Bonfire, and more. Through our Community Enrichment Program, they host the daily Coffee Cart* before school to create a gathering place for parents to share, support, and engage. Our parents plan educational lecture series, community dances, and family game nights...just to name a few. They also help the sport coaches, assist in food preparation for the seasonal fundraiser meals, and make handcrafts for various events. Summerfield parents also support the work of the classroom teachers by creating a home life conducive to healthy growth and learning. The parents' support of our Smart Device Policy and Social Media Recommendations reinforces our pedagogical foundation and subsequent teacher-led responsibility to present technology to a class only at the appropriate developmental stage for the child to best receive it. Regular parent evenings with the class teachers help to create a caring network of support for each child and for the class as a whole. Friendships between Waldorf families often continue for decades after the children graduate, and many parents tell us that the unusually close-knit community at the school is a joy appreciated by the whole family. *Coffee Cart is generally Tues-Fri (year-round).

A: Yes. Students are required to complete 20 hours of community service per year, however many of our students vastly exceed this requirement in their engagement with local non profits and service organizations.

(DRAFT) Summerfield is committed to supporting students with learning differences through a dedicated Educational Support Team. This team of teachers, counselors, and educational support specialists provide integrated academic support as well as resources to students, faculty, and families. Please visit our Learning Support page here.

No. Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm is non sectarian and non denominational. Our community represents a broad spectrum of religious practices and faith traditions. Our students develop a respect for the diversity of religious faiths and worship practices through their learning about nature's seasonal rhythms, ancient wisdoms, and study of global cultural significances through their curriculum, classroom experience, and seasonal festivals and traditions.

A: Our classes range in size between 15-25 students. We are small by design; many classes require hands-on learning and/or are taught in a seminar style similar to college and graduate school. Students collaborate cross-sectionally, fostering an integrated student body.

A: College admissions directors prize Waldorf graduates because our students learn how to think and learn independently, and how to participate in group initiatives. Alumni report that college classes feel similar to their SWHS classes. Our students are well-prepared for their college path. Over the past 5 years, more than 97% of our graduates have attended college directly out of high school, and we continue to send highly-qualified students to over 140 colleges around the world!

A: Due to the depth and rigor of our curriculum, G11/12 academics are considered to be on par with Honor courses. We do not offer AP courses. And we do offer a Cross Study program with Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC). High school students engage in a variety of research projects and have access to the Santa Rosa Junior College for coursework, which supports individual courses of study.

A: Our students are well prepared for their post-high school path. Our academically rigorous coursework primes them for selective colleges, a vocation of their choice, or an alternate learning path. Young people, especially those in high school, need to be inspired to be engaged and to succeed. Additionally, they need to feel safe and secure enough to take that inspiration and turn it into something real, lasting, and meaningful when they become adults. In a survey conducted by the Research Institute for Waldorf Education about Waldorf graduates, these measures of success were found: 97% of Waldorf High School graduates go on to college or university 91% practice and value life-long learning 94% are self-reliant and value self-confidence 89% are highly satisfied in choice of occupation 90% highly value other viewpoints 50% more Waldorf graduates study science and math than the general population

A: Yes, we give standard grades, as well as a narrative and student self-evaluation at the end of each class and provide transcripts as requested. Your child’s teachers and counselors communicate directly with both the parents and the students about progress, grades, and challenges.

A: Your teenager is not ready to make this decision alone, and you don't have to make it alone either. We invite you to talk to us and bring us your questions. The Summerfield teachers, Admissions Director, and Counseling faculty are happy to respond or to help direct your question(s). In addition, please speak with the Finance Committee if money is a question. Over 60% of our high school families receive tuition assistance. This is a very important decision, and one that you will want to make with as much information as possible to confirm your decision on the value and and lifelong benefit of a Summerfield Waldorf education. Resources: Admissions Director: admissions@summerfieldwaldorf.org Academic & Emotional-Social Counselor: katemackillop@summerfieldwaldorf.org Tuition Assistance questions: finance@summerfieldwaldorf.org

A: Every fall, our entire High School starts the year off by leaving campus for Open Week. This long-held tradition at Summerfield partners faculty in small groups of mixed-age students and alumni to live side-by-side for one week, creating a lifetime of memories. Different trips are offered to meet individual interests. The following is a sample of Open Week trips: Backpacking in Yosemite, Sailing in the San Francisco Bay, Meditation, Horseback riding, kayaking, fishing at Bodega Bay, and surfing trips. Students return energized and excited to start a new school year with their peers. The week-long trips provide a newfound confidence in students' social and interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and physical dexterity from having participated in Open Week...a truly unique offering here at Summerfield Waldorf.

A: The quality of student engagement deepens with hands-on, face-to-face work with teachers, peers, and course material. We engage in ethical conversations about Smart Device and Social Media use, study comprehensive online research methodologies, and learn budgeting & spreadsheets. Because digital technology evolves so rapidly, we find that teaching students critical thinking and learning skills better prepares them for life in a high tech world than teaching specific technology programs. Alumni have shared that based on their life experiences after high school, they were able to easily pick up the technology they needed for college & their careers. Please read our Smart Device Policy and Social Media Recommendations here.

At Summerfield Waldorf, we place an emphasis on direct human interaction and authentic experiences. Our approach to technology is to introduce it when it is developmentally appropriate to do so. We fully realize that when students graduate from Grade 12, technology will be a key component of their higher education and learning. Therefore, we structure its introduction in specific, teacher-led courses to be useful and relational to a subject, not a detriment or distraction. Our High School faculty and staff firmly believe that being a smart device-free campus during the school day improves a high school student’s attention, sense of self, healthy social interaction, and mental health. We are committed to creating a learning environment where each student can be as fully present and fully themselves as possible. How technology is integrated at Summerfield: Early Childhood Education No technology or electronics, including Smart devices (tablet, iPads, kiddie computers), or social media. Unstructured play in nature with open-ended toys which feeds their imagination along with stories, art, and music is where a child thrives. Our classes focus on imitation, imagination, movement so the child can learn without being encumbered by preconceived visuals and narratives found in modern television, videos, movies and alike. Technology integration: no technology is introduced until the high school level. Lower (G1-6) & Middle School (G7& 8) No technology or electronics, including Smart devices (phone, earbuds, watches, tablets, Ipads, e-readers, e-music players, and, no social media. If the family decides a phone is needed for their child, choose a flip phone or phone with no browser or internet access. Consider parental controls and agreements for parental oversight of text messages. Technology integration: no technology is introduced until the high school level. High School: No Smart Devices (phones, watches, earbuds, iPads, tablets, e-readers, e-music players) are allowed in the High School/on campus during school hours. We recommend no social media until Grade 11. Before 8 am: High School students are required to check their phones into their allotted phone slot in the "phone box" every morning, and at the end of the school day (3:10pm), students may collect their phones. A secure check in/check out process is monitored in the high school office. Technology integration: High school students use computers in the preparation and research of papers and projects for various courses. -In the Grade 10 Research Paper course, both library books and internet research skills are taught by their teacher to learn about citations & source material. Here is where we introduce responsible cyber citizenship. -Grade 10-12 prepare Physics Lab Reports on school-provided Chrome Books during school hours. -The high school yearbook is designed using computer graphic software to teach how a beneficial partnership with technology and art can exist, and fuel the creative mind. -There are elective courses on the fundamentals of computer architecture, hardware, and installation where students design and build a computer from scratch. -Our facilities consist of one computer workstation in the library, which is available for word processing and shared usage of office computers for word processing, printing, and scanning of images. Read more: Smart Device Policy and Social Media Recommendations

A: Waldorf Education intentionally builds on itself from Kindergarten through Grade 12 with high school being the time students are guided through the narrow places of adolescence into the fullness of their true selves. Your tween or teenager could be feeling nervous or concerned about what their life would look like in Waldorf High School. At this stage of your child's emotional developmental cycle, coupled with lack of life experience, they should not be making critical educational decisions about their high school choices alone. We like to engage with the parent (and student, when appropriate) to further investigate and address any topics which make the child apprehensive about continuing their education with us. Summerfield High School’s community is highly nourishing for each student. New relationships are formed with old classmates and new friendships expand across grades 9-12. Students have access to inspiring teachers who are actively involved in the students’ learning. Building new relationships and reforming old ones is an essential life skill. This is not a comfort area for most teens, and our small environment is a perfect practice space for this important social education. One look and you will see that Summerfield high school students are uncommonly happy to be learning in this community. Your teenager is not ready to make this decision alone, but you do not have to make it alone either. We invite you to talk to us. For assistance in navigating this important educational decision, please reach out to the below resources who will gladly provide any information to aid in your decision: -Admissions Director, Annalyse Jorgensen (admissions@summerfieldwaldorf.org) -Academic and Social-Emotional High School Counselor, Kate MacKillop (katemackillop@summerfieldwaldorf.org) .

A: Every Summerfield High School Student has a faculty Mentor to help guide them through the high school years. The Mentor checks in with their students at the end of each school day and is available for questions regarding courses, schedules, extracurricular activities, school agreements, and social and personal issues. Mentors are the student’s main point of contact for personal, academic and social concerns. Mentors are also liaisons for the parents of their mentees, available for questions and support. Mentors facilitate a small mixed-age group of mentees and these mentor groups are designed to provide peer support.

A: Yes. We have three (3) professional counseling resources available for your child. Depending on the topic, one our counselors is available to assist with a variety of academic, social, and health needs. Typical counseling activities include: Meeting individually with a student and their families beginning in 11th grade to discuss each family’s counseling needs. Discussing a higher education plan, host college, and any financial aid which may be required Work with seniors to complete their applications Provide a personal essay class in which they compose and peer review the essay portions of their college applications. Kate MacKillop: Academic & Social-Emotional Counselor: Kate is on Summerfield’s DEI Committee, Community Enrichment Committee, and is a liaison to high school admissions, college and career guidance, and the international exchange program. Paige Whiteside, High School Guidance Counselor: Paige develops and implements our Health and Wellness classes for Grades 9– 11. She facilitates peer mentoring, a program for Grade 12 students interested in learning about and bringing peer to peer support to their school community. Nichole Clark: Nichole works with students on college and career decisions, gathers data on our student body for our High School Profile, and provides assistance with college application process.

A: Our High School Counseling Program, Mentor Program, and dedicated student Learning Support Specialist onsite – all of whom offer students academic, college, and social-emotional support. We do not have a remedial education specialist nor sight/speech/hearing specialists on staff. However, we do have the capacity to offer limited accommodations for students with different or neuro-divergent learning needs. If your student will need learning support, please contact the counseling office (707) 575-7194 ext. 109 with any questions and we’ll be happy to discuss options. Students have the ability to take classes at Santa Rosa Junior College, online courses certified through an online program, or support through a tutor. We will work with our students to ensure their learning needs are met.

A: Yes! Summerfield is committed to keeping tuition as low as possible so that all who want to attend our school can do so. In fact, 61% of our high school families receive tuition assistance. We use an outside analysis provided by the company FACTS Grant and Aid Management to engage in a transparent conversation about what each family is able to pay towards tuition costs so that their children can receive a Summerfield education. In addition, we implemented a new Early Decision Discount (EDD) program in the fall of 2024. It is designed to meet the needs of Prospective 8th Grade Families (not yet currently enrolled at SWSF) who are ready to commit to their child's High School education at Summerfield Waldorf before the December deadline of the current school year. The tuition discount is applied to the first month's tuition fee of the incoming school year the following September. Example: apply before the December 2nd deadline in 2024 and if approved, applicants will receive an EDD applicable towards their student's first month's tuition fees of the 2025/26 school year (starts September 2025). Full details on our Tuition Assistance page or contact the Admissions Director at admissions@summerfieldwaldorf.org.

A: We currently offer Spanish I-IV and German I-IV, and students have the option to pursue independent study via accredited courses if they wish to study a different language (ex. French or Mandarin). Many of our students participate in our International Exchange Program and become proficient in the language of their host country while they are away.

A: We have a unique exchange student program within the international movement of Waldorf High Schools. In Grade 10, our Exchange Coordinator facilitates students finding a partner at a Waldorf High School in a country of their choice. Once students are matched, they spend several months living together between each other’s homes and countries. Visiting exchange students enrich the high school while they are with us, bringing new perspectives and questions to our school community. Our students frequently gain college-level proficiency in their host country’s language, and return to us with a broader and deeper understanding of the world and themselves.

Waldorf schools and associations are not anti-vaccine and Summerfield Waldorf's views do not align with the anti-vaccine movement. All students attending Summerfield Waldorf are immunized, per code of the State of California. The State of California School Attendance Law requires that all children entering school comply with the Department of Health regulations. California School Immunization Law requires that all children entering school for the first time submit evidence of their completed immunizations. It also requires that schools submit annual immunization reports to the state. Homeopathic preparations or homeoprophylaxis are not considered vaccines by the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and so do not meet the immunization requirements for entry to California schools. View Summerfield Waldorf Immunization Policy