Student Involvement
Dunn School has an active network of leadership opportunities and student-run clubs
Clubs
Dunn School has a vibrant and active network of student-run clubs that enable students to explore areas of interest and make friends outside of their academic day. All clubs have a faculty sponsor who oversees activities. While a core number of clubs lives on year after year students are free to form new clubs at any time. Students, Faculty, Parents, Alumni, and greater community members are welcome to join and attend club events. Clubs that have been active on campus include:
- The Academy
- Chess club: One of the largest clubs on campus, the chess club has grown into a valley-wide event with members from nearly every school in the area. The chess club meets weekly at lunch and also hosts a community Chess Center some nights to provide instruction, chess matches, and fun for elementary school students. Dunn has even hosted US Chess Federation tournament.
- Community Service: Helping others in the Santa Ynez community is a priority for the Dunn School Community. Weekly community services trips are organized for anyone who would like to volunteer.
- Organic Garden Club: Maintains Dunn's organic garden, located behind the biology lab. Members learn all aspects of cultivating healthy soil by planting, growing, and harvesting their own organic vegetables. Members also are involved in "pig posting"-- collecting food scraps and feeding pigs placed on campus by a local farmer.
- Ping Pong Club: Organizes tournaments for faculty and students.
- School Newsletter: Students with an interest in journalism are encouraged to write articles for a weekly newsletter published by members of the student government.
- Sushi Club: The sushi club is organized by students and faculty to promote sushi making. The club is responsible for the annual Japanese Family Dinner night and routinely has sushi lunch days and outings to Japanese restaurants. A very popular club that has between 35 and 50 members each year.
Student Leadership
With so many leadership opportunities available at Dunn, every student can find his or her niche. In an atmosphere that encourages all to reach outside their comfort level to better themselves and the community, Dunn's student leaders instill clear expectations and a compassionate network of support in the classroom, on the athletics fields, and in the dormitories.
Student Government
Student Government is an avenue for all members of the community to influence the governing values and institutions of Dunn School. The Student Government consists of elected council members and class officers who, under the guidance of a faculty advisor, review and set policy regarding student ethics and expectations. The President of the Student Body leads an Executive Committee comprised of an elected Legislative Vice President and Administrative Vice President, and an appointed Chief Justice. The rest of the governing body includes elected Class Senators, Senators at Large, and a Day Student Senator.
Senior Prefect Program
The Senior Prefect program dates back to the founding days of the school and was initiated by founder Tony Dunn following the English boarding school practice of the day. Prefects serve as active student leaders in the dormitories and around campus. Their responsibilities are to serve as role models of Dunn School's code of honor and ethics among students and faculty. Prefect candidates are identified by faculty during freshman, sophomore, and junior years and then elected by the student body at the end of their junior year. They meet at the end of the summer before senior year to bond, set goals for the year, and establish their motto.
