Alumni Spotlight Series

Sanderling Waldorf School has been honored to serve students and families for over 25 year and in that time we have had a vast number of graduates. In our Alumni Spotlight Series we are blogging about what our alumni has gone on to accomplish and explore after their experience with Sanderling. Here are a few stories we are thrilled to share with our community and beyond!

Meet TATE SIMS (Grade 8 graduate in 2019)

Tate Sims graduated 8th grade from Sanderling in 2019.  Tate then graduated from The Grauer School and loved his high school experience participating in school expeditionary travel, music performances, basketball, soccer and surf. Tate’s parents said “We were very happy with his transition from Sanderling, a place he’d only known his whole life, to 9th grade at The Grauer School in which he was completely prepared for in all subjects.” They go on to say “Our hearts are filled with gratitude for all the great teachers he had along the way, and especially to his lead teacher at Sanderling: Mr Brian Ruel.”

Tate is headed to Cal Poly in September, majoring in nutrition, with a keen interest in business as well. He will be rooming with another Sanderling/Grauer student, Sage Stern.  Look out Cal Poly here they come…!!!

Meet SAGE STERN (Grade 8 graduate in 2019)

May 2023 The Grauer School awarded Sage with the "Surfer-Scholar Award.” The “Surfer-Scholar Award” is for an all-around waterman not only rides waves with expertise but also takes care of the coastal ecosystem and, in and out of the water, embodies the school’s core values. His high school believes that the surfer-scholar embodies what’s best about our beautiful town of Encinitas and is prepared to take that talent and skill to the global level.

Athletically, Sage achieved the highest level of competitive surfing success, including 1st place overall in regional high school competition seasons, top 4 in the high school state championships, and competing in higher-level regional amateur competitions. Sage also captained The Grauer Surf Team for multiple years, volunteered at beach cleanups and ocean-oriented events, and achieved excellent grades while taking honors-level coursework. Next year, Sage will continue his Surfer-Scholar journey as a competitive surfing athlete at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he will be studying business. Congratulations to Sage for earning this special award!

Meet BIALI PELLEGRINO (Grade 8 graduate in 2019)

Graduated from San Diego Waldorf High School in June with 3.744 GPA , he was accepted to University of Utah Salt Lake City and has chosen a one year deferment.  During this year he plans to pursue his passion for cycling.  He has accepted a position with VeloSolutions as a builder of PumpTracks.  He'll continue to compete and explore pump track, dirt jump & MTB.

Biali has expressed a genuine appreciation for his Sanderling experience.  It has most certainly created bonds with fellow students that are sure to last a lifetime.

Meet EMBRY RUCKER IV (Grade 8 graduate)

Embry graduated high school from The Grauer School and will be attending Fort Lewis College in Durango Colorado with plans to major in Adventure Education with a minor in entrepreneurship.