1510 196th St SE · Bothell· WA · 98012 · 425-489-2050
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1510 196th St SE · Bothell· WA · 98012 · 425-489-2050 |
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Sudbury SchoolsFor a list of Sudbury Schools see below. The Clearwater School is part of an international network of Sudbury schools, all of which are based on the 35-year-old Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts. The concepts of Freedom, Trust and Responsibility are at the heart of the Sudbury model. Sudbury schools are run democratically, ensuring that students have the freedom to direct their own education. Sudbury graduates move into their adult lives as self-confident, articulate, resourceful and motivated citizens. History of The Clearwater School
The Clearwater School was started by a dedicated founders
group comprised of parents, educators and other advocates of the Sudbury
model. The founders began meeting in the spring of 1994, brought together
by a classified ad placed in Mothering Magazine. For two years, the group
met regularly to lay the infrastructure of the school. Through grassroots
volunteer efforts, huge tasks were accomplished: the organization incorporated
and obtained non-profit 501(c)(3) status, created an introductory brochure
and developed a structure for democratic decision making. Public informational meetings were held frequently to spread the word about this new school and to recruit new founders and prospective students. During the summer of 1996, several founders attended a workshop at Sudbury Valley School. That visit inspired the first incarnation of The Clearwater School, a twice-weekly home-school cooperative in a founder’s home. This group quickly expanded from 12 to 25 students and continued as a home-school group, meeting three days per week for two more years. The founders group became The Clearwater School Assembly—an acknowledgement that the dream of starting a Seattle Sudbury school had been accomplished.
The Clearwater School now enjoys an active Assembly and a thriving student body. Public relations activities aimed at informing the public about the value of the Sudbury model and the existence of The Clearwater School led to media attention from KING 5 News and KUOW's "Weekday". As new families become involved, Clearwater grows in strength and diversity. For a personalized account of Clearwater history read this article from staff member and cofounder Shawna Lee.
Related Links
Other Sudbury SchoolsThis list is courtesy Sudbury Valley School
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The
democratic process was similar to a Sudbury-model School Meeting—each
founder had one vote and no individual had authority over another. This
early practice in participatory democracy created a strong understanding
of the governing principles of the school. 
In
the fall of 1999, The Clearwater School moved to a temporary location
near Woodland Park, and offered full-time enrollment for the first time.
The school also obtained the status of an official private school, approved
by the state of Washington. Late in the spring of 2000, Clearwater found
a permanent location in the Meadowbrook neighborhood of north Seattle.
Through an amazing volunteer effort, the school Assembly was able to obtain
building and zoning permits and complete a significant renovation project
over the course of four months. Here is a 
