Maybeck students engage in a broad range of activities, and show great independence and initiative in doing so. If the school’s current extracurricular activities do not satisfy their interests, they often initiate their own clubs or organizations. In recent years, students have started a Gay-Straight Alliance, a Sushi Club (for which students met to prepare and eat sushi at lunch once a week), and an Animal Rights Club. They have produced a student newspaper, an anthology of Valentine’s Day poetry, and a literary magazine. Students who want to initiate an activity should discuss their plans with a staff member who can offer guidance and serve as a sponsor.

While students can pursue almost any interest they choose to promote, they can also take part in the regularly scheduled activities listed below. Finally, each year two students are elected by their peers as representatives to the Rules Committee.

Student Activities Committee

The Student Activities Committe (SAC) meets weekly to organize events for the school. It is a primary venue for students to become involved with the school community and promote activities that interest them. Two days each year are reserved for activities planned by SAC. In the recent past we have gone to the beach in the Marin Headlands and to Tilden Park where the whole school spends a day playing volleyball, frisbee, soccer and having fun. Often the group sponsors film festivals and sports days. SAC also plans the Halloween scavenger hunt, Secret Santa gift exchange, the prom, and several theme days.

Student Productions

There is a strong dramatic tradition at Maybeck; besides the fall play produced by the Theater Production class, there are student-produced One-Acts in the spring. Recently, students have also become increasingly interested in making films. Drama productions take place in local theaters, and we show student films at school film festivals. Every year, the Maybeck Parents’ Association sponsors a Film and Art Night to showcase student work. Besides directing and producing the plays and films, students also design costumes and do the technical support for our dramatic ventures, so almost anyone who is interested in taking part in a student production can do so. Students who are interested in producing a play or film should speak with the drama staff supervisor, who can offer support and explain the school guidelines.

Yearbook

Maybeck’s Yearbook is student-produced under the guidance of a staff supervisor. Students take photographs over the course of the year and meet to plan and lay out the yearbook. The project is coordinated by a team of core editors, who take part in a spring class focused on design and production.; Anyone can work on the yearbook: the school seeks contributors and photographers from all grade levels, as we aim to produce a yearbook that reflects all of the facets of Maybeck.

Full Moon Camping Trips

A couple of times a year, on a weekend near the full moon, a group of interested students, staff, and parents go on backpacking trips in parks such as Emigrant Wilderness, Big Sur, and Point Reyes. A recent trip included the Skyline to Sea trail through the Santa Cruz where we were treated to beautiful waterfalls flowing through old growth redwoods, and even a mountain lion sighting!

On most trips, the hikers are accompanied by two pack llamas owned by Maybeck teachers. Beginning hikers are welcome, and the only fees are for food and campground expenses.

Bike Trips

The school has a long and proud cycling tradition: one graduate who started riding while at Maybeck has ridden from Vietnam to India, and others have competed in national cycling competitions. When Maybeck goes camping, rather than ride the bus with the rest of the school, students may choose to take part in a three-day bike trip to the camping destination—Tuolumne, Lake Mendocino, or wherever we go. For more on our bike trips, click here.