Dricko

This is Dricko, a Fortnite fanatic who loves him some foursquare and can floss like the dickens, fool. He’s a sorta-lifer (he’s done a pinch of unschooling here and there) and a total-hoot; he has a warrior spirit but he never hurts a fly. He can vault over a fence and land on his toes, he can outfox a fox, he can out do the pros! He’s first on the scene to the trampoline, he’s fleet on his feet and he’s neat on the street!

Actually, he dresses like a schlub a lot of the time (snowboots all year long), BUT- he dresses to the TENS for our fancy events (he’s got a red tuxedo!), and he DOMINATES the dance floor (at least while his mum and dad aren’t out there breaking all their legs). Dricko is like a teddy bear, you just want to hug him! He can make his face do things it shouldn’t even be able to, but you’re always happy when he does! He rolls with a tight pack of friends who say he’s like a brother. The “brother” thing actually makes a lot of sense, because he brings his home with him everywhere; I swear that one day recently his dad make like 7 trips back and forth from the school to the car carrying Dricko’s things under his arms. There was like a bed, a mini-fridge, 3 computers, stuffed animals, and *so much more* (was that a parachute?) Dricko has an amazingly sweet and loving relationship with his *extraordinary* big sister, to the point that, when my own kids came out girl first boy second, I was like, I hope they’re like Rosa and Dricko! He’s absorbed quite a lot of gushy loving care from his sister and her friends, and he takes it all in stride. He has no affect; he is a real dude. A real good one, too.

Dricko, your nickname sounds like, “sicko,” but also cool like a manga villain. We love your energy, and your spark, and your bold spirit, and we’re so, so happy and grateful to have you here with us, doing your thing, jumping, and vaulting and landing on your toes.

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.