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		0 events 1 0 events, 1	0 events 2 0 events, 2	1 event 3 1 event, 3 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Welcome Back Picnic September 3 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Welcome Back Picnic A potluck picnic at Forsyth Nature Center to kick off the new year	0 events 4 0 events, 4	0 events 5 0 events, 5
0 events 6 0 events, 6	0 events 7 0 events, 7	0 events 8 0 events, 8	1 event 9 1 event, 9 8:30 am - 4:00 pm First Day of School September 9 @ 8:30 am - 4:00 pm First Day of School First Day of School!	0 events 10 0 events, 10	0 events 11 0 events, 11	0 events 12 0 events, 12
0 events 13 0 events, 13	0 events 14 0 events, 14	0 events 15 0 events, 15	0 events 16 0 events, 16	0 events 17 0 events, 17	1 event 18 1 event, 18 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Ice Cream Social September 18 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Ice Cream Social ZDS Families and alumni are welcome to join us for ice cream and friends!	0 events 19 0 events, 19
0 events 20 0 events, 20	1 event 21 1 event, 21 2026-09-21 No School – Yom Kippur No School – Yom Kippur September 21 No School – Yom Kippur No School - Yom Kippur	0 events 22 0 events, 22	0 events 23 0 events, 23	0 events 24 0 events, 24	1 event 25 1 event, 25 9:00 am - 11:00 am Parent Coffee House September 25 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am Parent Coffee House The Parent Squad invites parents and ZDS caregivers to come together to talk about their experience as ZDS parents and to support each other on their parenting journey. Event will take place in the Box.	1 event 26 1 event, 26 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Fall Open House September 26 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Fall Open House ZDS Open Houses are the best way to learn more about the school. Students, parents, alumni, and staff members will be in attendance to give tours of the campus, discuss the school, and answer questions. Panel discussion at 2:00pm.
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There are no events on this day.

September 3

September 3 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Welcome Back Picnic

There are no events on this day.

September 9

September 9 @ 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

First Day of School

There are no events on this day.

September 18

September 18 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Ice Cream Social

There are no events on this day.

September 21

All day

No School – Yom Kippur

There are no events on this day.

September 25

September 25 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Parent Coffee House

September 26

September 26 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Fall Open House

There are no events on this day.

October 2

October 2 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Community Organizing with Paul Mersfelder

October 2 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Fall Potluck

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Welcome Back Picnic

First Day of School

Ice Cream Social

No School – Yom Kippur

Parent Coffee House

Fall Open House

Community Organizing with Paul Mersfelder

Fall Potluck

Parents’ experience of the school is a crucial factor in determining their childrens’ experience of the school. Children of parents who work hard to understand our philosophy, communicate with staff, attend events, and connect with the community usually get the most out of our program.

Students may receive a diploma if they elect to undergo our internal diploma process.

Every student and staff at Zena Democratic School is assigned a cleaning job by the Physical Plant Clerk.

At Zena Democratic School, the jobs of administration and maintenance are divided into roles called Clerkships;

At Zena Democratic School, a Cooperative (coop) is a group of like-minded students and staff who organize around a common interest, like music, art, or sports.

Screens are allowed at school, with restrictions.

Each student aged 13+ is automatically enrolled in our High School Advisor Program;

Age-mixing is one of the most potent developmental experiences at Zena Democratic School.

At Zena Democratic School, rule infractions and interpersonal conflicts are resolved using sophisticated restorative justice tools.

Zena Democratic School is located on a parcel of 67 wooded acres in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains in the Hudson Valley region of New York State.

Zena Democratic School is a direct democracy; each student and member of the staff has an equal vote in managing all aspects of the school’s operation.

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