Cough noise

This is, *Cough noise* but don’t be fooled by the apparent modesty of his nick-non-name; his personality is a lot closer to his head shot (shown). He was geniously cast as a vicious faery in a recent theater production here, and he just recited part of his monologue for me: “Faeries are supposed to be happy – *happy* – not nice, and I’m brimming like mad with some magical happiness and you know what makes me happiest? Kicking the crap out of any lame-ass adventurers who decide to trespass in my magically enchanted forest.” Watching him deliver that – and other incisive lines – in his full faerie regalia – was a delicious delight. He’s following in the footsteps of an illustrious line of Sudbury Legends (he is the youngest of four), but *he* is the life of the partay. However he has been called the most annoying person in the world. More than once.

However however he’s also one of the most effusive and genuine people in the world, without a doubt. He loves his friends, and he loves doing sweet little things for them, like playing elaborate and bizarre pranks on them that usually don’t work. And- he’s friends with everyone; he really is brimming like mad with some magical happiness, for real. Whenever we have visitors, they leave remembering him. I consider him to be a wee bit of a special friend, because he was 5 and in the middle of his first year when I did an internship, and I remember him well, trying to grab my phone, my wallet, my keys…yeah. That year he created the World’s Biggest Bowtie out of construction paper, a feat still remembered fondly and often, by all of us. Well mostly by his mom ❤️ Lately, *Cough noise* has been playing outside a lot and making a farm for slime in Slime Rancher. He told me, “if you want to say I’m a gamer dude, definitely say I’m a gamer dude, ‘cause I’m proud of that.” He’s also a family man, having participated as the groom in three school weddings throughout the last 6 years (all of them to Munchkin). Oh *Cough Noise* everyone is going to give me hell for being corny (again) but you are our sunshine. That’s the truest thing I could say.

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.