Reach Sudbury School of Toronto

School Status:

Startup Group

Reach will be Toronto’s only Sudbury school. Sudbury schools are democratic alternative schools that foster initiative, resourcefulness, responsibility, interpersonal skills, and attention toward self-fulfillment.

The original Sudbury-model school is Sudbury Valley School in New England, which opened in 1968. There are over 30 Sudbury-model schools worldwide.

At Sudbury schools, students are trusted with full educational freedom; each student decides what to do, how to do it, and when to change what they’re doing. They can adapt their lives to their own personal interests, goals, and learning styles. Children and youth learn together in an ungraded, multi-age setting.

Students have a huge responsibility, both educationally–to pursue activities and interests that are personally important, seeking help when needed–and socially, to build and govern a community based on mutual respect and cooperation. Sudbury education is extremely rigorous because it challenges each individual to take that responsibility, to develop into a highly capable and effective adult, with a drive for personal satisfaction and sensitivity toward others.

reachsudbury.ca

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.

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

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

Each student aged 14+ is automatically enrolled in our High School Advisor Program;

Screens are allowed at school, with restrictions.

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.

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

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

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

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.