Colder

This is Colder, a notoriously warm-dressing – yet (self-described) “pretty chill guy” whose tree-climbing prowess has earned him a bevy of additional nicknames, from, “Orangutan,” to, “Spaceman.” He might be wearing three snowsuits layered over 44 pairs of merino long underwear, but he can still nimbly climb to heights that would make you dizzy just to imagine. Or it might make you cringe and cross your fingers every time you see it, like some staff members. Once he finds a high-enough perch, Colder lounges up there like the Cheshire Cat making puns and dropping acorns on the heads of unsuspecting staff members. Funny! He says, “it’s pretty nice up there. The wind it nice. I’m working on a wind-powered tablet. Maybe wind-powered medication too. It would be a breeze.” Indeed, Colder is inclined towards the sciences, and sometimes imagines pursuing medicine later in life. You could operate on me any day, pal! He’s funny, smart as a whip, fair, and reflective. He maintains his individuality proudly. He loves competitive games; he used to rage incredibly when he lost (which was rarely), but over the years he’s learned to channel it (“it’s like a power plant, it gives me more energy to play.”) Colder is always willing to help, he’s a fixture of the school, and pretty punderful having him around. I hope that’s an ice enough pun for ya, dude.

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.