Amelia

This is Amelia, a new student who feels like they were “welcomed and accepted very quickly” here, which they “weren’t used to.” They have made several solid friendships already and is getting more connected to the community all the time. Their new friends report that they have two speeds: “super funny or not funny at all.” One of them calls them, “the silliest little raindrop I know.” In comedy they specialize in deadpan and satire.

Amelia is an avid and competitive hip-hop dancer; they dance 3x/week up to 3 hours per session. Since arriving at school Amelia has had some realizations about what they *don’t* like too. They have always done art, but recently realized they actually don’t really like making art, and they quit. That’s pretty cool, especially given the cultural pressure to see everything we start through to completion (even if it turns out to be a bad fit!). We talk a lot about students figuring out what they’re passionate about, but it’s just as important to figure out what you don’t like! Amelia recently got certified to enjoy the woods on our 65 acre campus, and they are in the Theater Cooperative’s upcoming show Eurydice (next week!) Amelia says they “appreciate being able to do whatever I want and learning whatever I want, rather than having my time wasted in classes.”

Amelia, we are so grateful to have you here, and that you’re having a good beginning to Sudbury experience; we are looking forward to watching you continue to open up and grow and figure out what you like and what you don’t like and who you are and who you

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.