Cheeseburger

This is Cheeseburger, a rangy, fast-talkin’, justice-lovin’, blacksmithin’ HVSS Lifer. I was going to say that he’s my best frenemy, but then I looked up “frenemy” and read, “a person with whom one is friendly despite a fundamental dislike or rivalry,” so instead I’ll say he’s my best ene-friend, which I’ll define as, “a person with whom one maintains an intense rhetorical rivalry despite a fundamental friendship.” When I contemplate Cheeseburger, the word *integrity* comes to mind; he’s honest, firm, and fair. He’s a loyal School Store Clerk, a Judicial Committee aficionado, a big-outdoor-game enthusiast, a wacky monkey, and a reliably level-headed participant in School Meeting. Of the school’s democratic processes, Cheeseburger says, “it can be hard for little people or less outgoing people to speak their minds, but I think they get a lot of support, and if you’re willing to speak up, it works, and you can have influence.” Also pictured here is Magic Hat, which he always wears (yes, summer too), and who some consider to be the 86th student at the school. In our interview he clarified that Magic Hat is not a parasite: “it’s a symbiote.” Perhaps someday we’ll peel it off.

Cheeseburger has also served multiple times as our back-up Tech Clerk, which mostly involves helping little kids with their computers, which is a good fit for him, because, despite his intimidating stature and convincing swagger, he’s patient, gentle, and so so sweet. The HVSS Source Cooperative has been supporting his out-of-school blacksmithing, and tho we haven’t seen any pictures yet, we love to imagine the sparks showering him as he hammers “molten” steel and sweat flies from his brow, while the bellows labor.

Cheeseburger, we are so proud of you, of who you are right now, and we consider every day alongside you a privilege.

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.