Nahara

This is Nahara, a hypermobile cake baker whose favorite book is apparently about dust. If you are already a little confused, you’re not alone; Nahara’s warmth is palpable, but her character is somewhat shrouded in mystery, a bit like Roald Dahl’s Matilda. When I talk with her, I often feel like she’s about to make a joke as a slightly mischievous smile plays across her lips. But then she doesn’t make the joke, and I am left wondering what it was. Like Matilda, Nahara is small and quiet, but you don’t need to have Aura Vision to sense the secret depth and complexity of the galaxies within. Unlike Matilda, Nahara is real, and we are so grateful for that!

Nahara and her friends inhabit an ultra-personal culture they build with humor, empathy, and vibes. They clerk at the School Store, eat lunch, go for walks, and play games together; they care for each other sweetly. Interviewing her and her friend for this profile, their world felt somewhat impenetrable. Her friend (full disclosure, this interviewer’s daughter) said, “she’s weird, and I like weird.” When I asked her to elaborate she said, “I already talked about that” (she had said, “I don’t know, she makes apple crackers.”) Nahara, given the opportunity to extoll her own virtues, shrugged her shoulders, as if to say, “I just am.” She is a keen observer of the world and its characters, and puts her skills to work in acting and improv. In thinking as well, I’m sure.

Nahara likes it here at Hudson Valley Sudbury School. She says, “I like to be free to choose,” and she emphasizes how comfortable she feels: “it’s a home away from home,” and she adds, “in some ways better than home because there are all these organizations and people and resources.” We are so happy she is here, and that it feels like a home to her. Thank you, Nahara, for bringing your quiet, powerful energy here everyday, and for taking such good care of your friends and looking out for your community; we see you, and your aura too!

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.