This is Chet. He is the tech guy, the graphics guy, the resident Dungeon Master (D&D), and our Mr. Fix-it. He loves everyone (as close as a mortal can get, anyway), and he’s always willing to do…anything you ask him to. Truly, his devotion and generosity are unsurpassed; you can find him on campus anytime during his regular hours or…any other time too. It is typical for Chet to be in such high demand during school hours that School Meeting nearly codified a law which would have prohibited wandering around asking “Where’s Chet?” or chanting his name (or “Cheddar Cheese”). Where he is, though, is usually either guiding a group of eager adventurers through the moral dilemmas and fearsome obstacles of magical worlds as Dungeon Master, (endlessly) helping a younger student sign in to some online portal or other, taking apart their computer to clean it, or tying their shoes, (or cleaning up their occasional vomit). He’s here to help, and he roots for all our students so, so hard. In closing, I’ll go right out on a limb here and say that Chet is a saint, insofar as a saint is a person who genuinely cares about others more than themselves. Chet, you may be Chester Arthur Elliot IV, but you’ll always be the number 1 Chet in our book.
Parent Involvement
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.
Parents typically grow alongside their children as the family matures together within our bold, challenging, and trusting philosophy. Many parents find themselves doing things they hadn’t before enrolling their children in our school, like starting a business, taking up a new hobby, or dedicating themselves to art. Parents who remain open, think critically, and grapple honestly with questions and concerns about the program and their children’s education provide the best support for children at our school.
We depend on parents to participate on our Fundraising and Financial Aid Committees, as well as in our Assembly, our largest democratic body, which ratifies changes to our bylaws. Many parents volunteer their expertise, and there are always at least a couple who are regularly coming in to offer instruction. Parents are also needed to chaperone field trips, and most of our substitute staff are parents too.
Sending your children to a self-directed democratic school is a bold choice, and people will question it. Many parents find it helpful to attend our events and make connections with the community, and especially with other parents.