Stevenson School

Last updated
Stevenson School (RLS)
Stevenson School.jpg
Stevenson School Sign
Address
Stevenson School
3152 Forest Lake Rd.

,
United States
Coordinates 36°34′58″N121°57′6″W / 36.58278°N 121.95167°W / 36.58278; -121.95167
Information
Type Boarding school
Motto Suaviter in Modo Fortiter in Re
(Gentle in manner, resolute in deed)
Established1952;72 years ago (1952)
FounderRobert U. Ricklefs
PresidentDan Griffiths
Teaching staff
  • 9–12: 59.1 (FTE) [1]
  • PK–8: 38.8 (FTE) [2]
Grades Pre-K12
Gender Co-ed
Enrollment
  • 9–12: 498 (2017–18) [1]
  • PK–8: 236 (2017–18) [2]
Student to teacher ratio
  • 9–12: 8.4 [1]
  • PK–8: 6.1 [2]
Colour(s)Forest green
Nickname Pirates
Affiliations
Website stevensonschool.org

Stevenson School (also known as Robert Louis Stevenson School and abbreviated as RLS) is a coeducational, private school for boarding and day students in preschool through 12th grade. Its high school campus is in Pebble Beach, while its PK-8 campus is in an unincorporated area of neighboring Carmel.

Contents

History

Rosen Family Student Center Rosen Family Student Center.jpg
Rosen Family Student Center
Robert Louis Stevenson by Henry Walter Barnett Robert Louis Stevenson by Henry Walter Barnett bw.jpg
Robert Louis Stevenson by Henry Walter Barnett

In 1925, Grace Parsons Douglas (1880-1968) founded the Douglas Camp School for Girls in Pebble Beach after purchasing the land on the Monterey Peninsula from Samuel Finley Brown Morse. [3] After operating the school for a quarter century, the school was sold in May 1952 to Robert and Marian Ricklefs and became the Del Monte School for Boys, [4] then the Robert Louis Stevenson, which they named in honor of Robert Louis Stevenson, the well-known Scottish author who reportedly found inspiration for his tales of high adventure during his 1870s sojourn in the Monterey area. [5] Many of the school buildings, the school newspaper, sports teams, and other features of the school are named for places or themes from Robert Louis Stevenson's life or writings.

In the early years, Stevenson was a boys' school offering education in grades 7-12, though grades 7-8 were discontinued when the high school expanded. [6]

The Pebble Beach Campus has had an Episcopal chaplain from the early days, though the school has always been open to students of all faiths. The school considers itself to be non-sectarian and explicit religious instruction is not included in the curriculum. In 1987, the Church in the Forest was established in Erdman Memorial Chapel on the Pebble Beach campus, initially with both Episcopalian and Methodist chaplains. [7] The chapel is used by some local residents, and is where boarding students attend vespers.

Robert Ricklefs (May 23, 1909 – 20 May 1985) served as headmaster until he retired in 1970; he was succeeded by Gordon Davis, during whose term (19701982) the school opened its doors to girls as day students (1976). [8]

Joe Wandke arrived in 1983, and during his administration the school has undergone a thorough renovation of the physical plant. In 1988 girls were first admitted as boarding students with the opening of the Silverado dormitory. [9]

Also in 1988, the school was approached by the board of Briarcliff Academy, a private elementary school in the unincorporated area of Carmel Woods, north of Carmel, regarding a merger of the two schools. Stevenson then became a two-campus school comprising grades kindergarten through 12. The Carmel Campus (grades K through 8, adding Pre-K in September 2011) is located in Carmel, while the Pebble Beach Campus (grades 9-12) occupies the original school's location in Pebble Beach. [10]

In 2003 the Rosen Family Student Center was opened. Located in the middle of the Pebble Beach campus, the building features a college center, photography lab, tech center, activities center, wilderness center, multiple classrooms, and the new location of KSPB 91.9. The building is decorated with plush rugs and also features an amphitheater stage, which hosts school assemblies and concerts. [11]

In 2016 Stevenson's food service transitioned from Aqua Terra to Flik. Flik would set up tents in various places in the Carmel Campus and would have trucks come from the Pebble Beach Campus where the food was cooked. Eventually Flik would receive their own dedicated building to serve food in 2018.

In 2011 the Carmel Campus received a new turf field with the center featuring an "S" replacing the old grass field. In 2014 the assembly building located in the northeastern area of the campus was renovated and split up into 3 rooms. This was done to improve STEM learning by giving students spaces specifically designed for the sciences. In 2016 a new amphitheater was constructed between the lawn and blacktop resembling Wandke amphitheater at the Pebble Beach campus. Minor changes were made to the blacktop layout as well. In 2018 a new building located in the northern area of the campus began construction for Flik Dining Services to prepare and serve lunch. In 2020 renovations were made to the main playground adding a seesaw, 2 swings, a tire swing, and two climbing structures. This replaced the previous playground which consisted of 4 swings, monkey bars, a wooden house, and a central structure with slides and bridges. Similar changes were made with the Kindergarten playground. The Pre-K playground remains the same. In 2022 the blacktop received a change in layout, a new ramp, and an improved passageway to the field.

In 2018 the Pebble Beach Campus constructed a new field next to the older baseball and football field. In 2024 the science building is planned to be replaced with a new and improved science building. This is predicted to be complete in 2026.

In 2015, it was announced that Stevenson graduate Kevin Hicks would succeed Wandke as president. [12]

In September 2022, President Hicks was placed on temporary administrative leave from Stevenson School pending an independent inquiry into certain employee concerns that were voiced to the board. [13] In December 2022, it was announced that Hicks' employment had been terminated for undisclosed reasons, with then-Acting President Dan Griffiths accepting an offer to become the school's next president. [14]

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

Stevenson fields varsity teams in tennis, golf, baseball, basketball, American football, lacrosse, field hockey, swimming, water polo, and sailing, among others. In 2018, Stevenson installed a new AstroTurf field for soccer and lacrosse. Historically, Stevenson has fielded strong teams in tennis, golf, lacrosse, and soccer. Stevenson's athletic director Justin Clymo was awarded the Golden Whistle Award in February 2019. [15]

Stevenson also hosts the Stevenson Lacrosse Camp each year in July.

Clubs and activities

The school is home to KSPB 91.9 FM. Other clubs include international debate societies such as Model UN, music and athletic fan clubs, Amnesty International, community service groups such as the Red Cross Club, and a competitive robotics team. [16]

Arts

Stevenson offers courses in both the fine and performing arts including levels of drama, choir, radio and media, drawing and painting, filmmaking and ceramics. Each year the school puts on two plays and one musical in Keck Auditorium located on the Pebble Beach campus. [17]

Academic program

Stevenson offers a wide range of courses geared to prepare students for further study at colleges and universities around the world. Students take courses in English, fine arts, foreign languages (currently Latin, French, Spanish, and Japanese)[ citation needed ], history, mathematics, science, technology and outdoor education. The school also has a long history of hosting AFS exchange students. Several students participate in study abroad programs each year[ citation needed ].

Stevenson students have a long history of attending universities all over the United States. Popular choices include UCLA, USC, and LMU[ citation needed ]. Nearly 100% of Stevenson graduates continue their education elsewhere[ citation needed ].

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pebble Beach, California</span> Unincorporated community in California, United States

Pebble Beach is an unincorporated community on the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey County, California, United States. The small coastal residential community of mostly single-family homes is also notable as a resort destination, and the home of the golf courses of Cypress Point Club, Monterey Peninsula Country Club, and Pebble Beach Golf Links. Nonresidents are charged a toll to use 17-Mile Drive, the main road through Pebble Beach, making it a de-facto gated community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State University Channel Islands</span> Public university near Camarillo, California, U.S.

California State University Channel Islands is a public university in Ventura County, California. Located near the city of Camarillo, it opened in 2002 as the 23rd campus in the California State University system. CSUCI is located on the Central Coast of California, at the intersection of the Oxnard Plain and northernmost edge of the Santa Monica Mountains range. The Channel Islands are nearby where the university operates a scientific research station on Santa Rosa Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appleby College</span> Independent, co-ed, day/boarding school in Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Appleby College is an international independent school located in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, founded in 1911 by John Guest, a former Headmaster of the Preparatory School at Upper Canada College. Guest dreamed of establishing a small boarding school in the country, and did so with the support and financial assistance of his father-in-law, Sir Byron Edmund Walker, a Canadian businessman. Today, Appleby is a co-educational day and boarding university-preparatory school, with a curriculum based around the liberal arts. It is situated on Lake Ontario in Oakville, Ontario, roughly 50 kilometres west of Toronto. Students are drawn primarily from Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga, but boarding students come from other parts of Canada and throughout all continents of the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Thacher School</span> Private, independent, boarding school in Ojai, California, United States

The Thacher School is a private co-educational day and boarding school in Ojai, California. Founded in 1889 as a boys' school, it began admitting girls in 1977 and is California's oldest co-educational boarding school. The school educates approximately 250 students, who come from 21 states and 12 countries.

Stevenson University is a private university in Baltimore County, Maryland with two campuses, one in Stevenson and one in Owings Mills. The university enrolls approximately 3,615 undergraduate and graduate students. Formerly known as Villa Julie College, the name was changed to Stevenson University in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pine Crest School</span> Private preparatory school with campuses in Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton, Florida, United States

Pine Crest School is a private preparatory school with campuses in Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton, Florida. It was founded in Fort Lauderdale in 1934 by Mae McMillan, who also served as the school's first president. The Boca Raton campus, originally Boca Raton Academy, was absorbed by Pine Crest in 1991 and hosts students in pre-kindergarten through grade 8. The Fort Lauderdale campus hosts students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canyon Crest Academy</span> Public high school in San Diego, California, United States

Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) is a public high school in San Diego, Southern California. Founded in 2004, the school is a member of the San Dieguito Union High School District and is located in Pacific Highlands Ranch, a residential suburb neighborhood of San Diego.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Academy</span> Private/co-educational school in Japan

Canadian Academy, founded in 1913, is an independent pre-K – grade 12 international school in Kobe, Japan. The day and boarding school consists of an elementary school, middle school, and high school all located on the campus on Rokkō Island, a man-made island. The school is approved by the Japanese Ministry of Education and accredited by the U.S. based Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS). The school is certified to award both the International Baccalaureate (IB) and U.S. high school diplomas.

The Overlake School is a grades 5–12 private, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory school in Redmond, Washington, United States that was founded in 1967 by Charles Clarke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulf Breeze High School</span> Public school in Florida, United States

Gulf Breeze High School is a public secondary school located at 675 Gulf Breeze Parkway in Gulf Breeze, Florida. It is one of eleven high schools of the Santa Rosa County School District and the only high school in the city of Gulf Breeze.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunswick School</span> Private, college-preparatory school in Greenwich, Connecticut, United States

Brunswick School is a private, college-preparatory school for boys in Greenwich, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1902 by George B. Carmichael.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristoffer Polaha</span> American actor (born 1977)

Kristoffer Polaha is an American actor. He is best known for his starring roles on television as Jason Matthews in North Shore, Nathaniel "Baze" Bazile in Life Unexpected, and Henry Butler in Ringer. He has also appeared in films Devil's Knot (2013), Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape Henlopen High School</span> Public school in Lewes, Delaware, United States

Cape Henlopen High School (CHHS) is a public high school in unincorporated Sussex County, Delaware, United States, with a Lewes postal address. The school is part of the Cape Henlopen School District and is located between Savannah Road and King's Highway. Cape Henlopen's school colors are bright gold and Columbia blue. Its mascot is Thor the Viking. The school is known for its expansive career pathways. In athletics, the school is best known for its championship-winning lacrosse and field hockey teams

Savannah Christian Preparatory School (SCPS) is a private, college preparatory, non-denominational Christian school located in Savannah, Georgia, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abington Friends School</span> Private school in the United States

Abington Friends School is an independent Quaker school in Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a Jenkintown postal address. Serving students from age 3 to grade 12, Abington Friends School has stood on its original campus since 1697, and is the oldest primary and secondary educational institution in the United States to operate continuously at the same location under the same management. The school draws students from approximately 75 ZIP codes around the greater Philadelphia area, as well as international students from many regions of China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSPB</span> Radio station in Pebble Beach, California

KSPB is a radio station broadcasting a Variety format. Licensed to Pebble Beach, California, United States, the station serves the Monterey Peninsula, Salinas and Santa Cruz areas. The station is currently owned by Stevenson School and features programing from Public Radio International. Operating for more than fifty years, in some form since 1966, the station plays primarily student-selected music historically known as alternative, modern, or college rock. Outside of student programming hours, the station broadcasts BBC World Service news programming plus Climate One from the Commonwealth Club of California broadcasts on weekend mornings. KSPB has listeners in five counties in California - Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Santa Clara, San Mateo - with a potential total listenership of more than 1 million. With a fan base spanning from Monterey to Santa Cruz, KSPB is one of the largest high school radio stations in the United States. A live Internet stream is available on the station's website. Every year, KSPB also presents live broadcasts of various local sporting events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlanta International School</span> Private high school in Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Atlanta International School (AIS) is a private elementary, middle and high school in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. An International Baccalaureate school, it was opened in 1985.

Tampa Preparatory School is a 6–12 private, co-educational middle and high college-preparatory school in Tampa, Florida, United States. It was established in 1974.

The Framingham Public School District or Framingham Public Schools (FPS) comprises thirteen public schools in the city of Framingham, Massachusetts. It is classified as one of the state's 24 urban school districts, while the district generally describes itself as urban/suburban. The school district's main offices are located at 73 Mount Wayte Avenue in Framingham, in what is known as the Perini building.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for STEVENSON SCHOOL - PEBBLE BEACH CAMPUS". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for STEVENSON SCHOOL CARMEL CAMPUS". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  3. "Douglas Camp for Girls". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. 7 Jun 1925. p. 129. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  4. "Negotiations for the sale of Douglas school". The Californian. Salinas, California. 2 May 1952. p. 10. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  5. "Mrs. Weaver's Farewell Dinner Highlighted By Musical Revue". Daily Independent Journal. San Rafael, California. 15 Apr 1954. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  6. "Local students win honors in county math competition". Daily The Californian. Salinas, California. 14 Apr 1980. p. 13. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  7. "History of Church in the Forest". www.churchintheforest.org. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  8. "Stevenson School - Many Happy Returns". www.armanasco.com. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  9. "Tampa Pre Partrons bid Headmaster adieu". The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. 31 May 1983. p. 41. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  10. "Stevenson Alumni Magazine Spring/Summer 2010". issuu.com. May 15, 2010. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  11. "New center opening, graduation set at RLS". The Californian. Salinas, California. 20 May 2003. p. 27. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  12. "Stevenson Alumni Magazine Spring/Summer 2015". issuu.com. June 16, 2015. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  13. http://pineconearchive.fileburstcdn.com/220902PC.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  14. https://www.nais.org/magazine/authors/dan-griffiths/ [ bare URL ]
  15. "Stevenson Coach and Athletic Director wins Golden Whistle Award". www.ksbw.com. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  16. "Cypress Circuits #6039". www.team6039.com. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  17. "Arts". www.stevensonschool.org. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  18. Cabrera, Marc (November 20, 2008). "Nerd rap". www.montereyherald.com. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  19. "Stevenson Alumni Magazine Fall/Winter 2010 by Stevenson School - Issuu". issuu.com. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  20. "Carmel Valley's Heather Pease-Olson, Olympic champ, enshrined at Stanford" . Retrieved 2018-05-30.
  21. "Kristoffer Polaha". IMDb .
  22. "Kristoffer Polaha". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-05-28.