Student Publications

The term acta diurna, “daily acts” or “daily public records,” dates back to ancient Rome. Words carved in metal or stone, their purpose was to record and share information about official business and vital public affairs. We, the students, want this service to live on in Altamont’s The Acta Diurna. We want this digital publication, updated by Media & Journalism students, to be an honest reflection of Altamont students’ school, community, thoughts and experiences. The Acta Diurna explores and illuminates our world and the vital issues that shape it.

The Altamont Beacon documents the feelings and beliefs of the time in a way that highlights the independent thinking and innovative ideas nurtured at Altamont. The publication is an homage to Ida B. Wells-Barnett, an investigative reporter and advocate for women’s suffrage and civil rights. She lived under constant threat and faced continuous efforts to deny her livelihood, but she was determined to tell the truth.

The Altamont Beacon welcomes work from students in grades 8-12, and from a wide range of disciplines, perspectives, and subject areas that speak to social and political phenomena.

The Altamont School has nurtured many authors who began their careers in our school literary journals. The Dragon's Toe (Middle School) and The Dragon's Tooth (Upper School) remain two of Altamont’s oldest literary traditions. The journals include an assortment of poetry, narratives, visual art, photography, sculpture, and more.