I so admire the ethos of Woodhaven’s education, and its effect on young people. Marli Jenkins sent this letter to the community, which I am glad to repost here. –Kate
Dear Families and Friends of Woodhaven,
We are sharing some important news with you: Woodhaven is open! We are currently serving a small group of learners. Our vision—to nurture a community where young people are encouraged and empowered to think, feel, and act with love and purpose, developing the capacity to collaborate for the good of the whole—remains strong. To continue and to thrive we need your partnership. What we need right now are:
• People passionate about alternative education
• Curious learners who want to be inspired by dedicated and highly qualified teachers who love the subjects they teach
• Donations to pay classroom rent and sponsor learners
At the end of August, due to a sudden and significant shift in projected enrollment, we believed our only path forward was to finish the year with our 12th grade class and then close. We regret not communicating more clearly about this, mostly we are sorry for the confusion and hurt that resulted. Yet in the face of that challenge, something remarkable happened: the Woodhaven community rallied. With the determined energy of a few, we reopened this fall.
Although some have expressed concerns about the validity of Woodhaven transcripts, we continue to enjoy a 100% success rate of accepted transcripts. Woodhaven is an approved private school recognized by Washington State, fully authorized to provide transcripts and issue diplomas. In our seven years, no learner has ever been required to repeat a grade due to an invalid transcript.
Since 2019, Woodhaven has been a refuge for young people who love to learn and for mentors who love to teach. We’ve offered both traditional and innovative classes, always working to ground education in humanity, compassion, and real connection. We believe that connection creates engagement, and that engaged learners who are involved in caring for their community are happier and more fulfilled. This is what makes Woodhaven unique, and this is what we want to preserve for our South End community.
We invite you to join us in growing Woodhaven by whatever means you can contribute, whether through time, energy, or resources––your support matters. If you are able to help financially, please consider making a donation HERE. If you know of young people who are curious learners and who would excel in small class settings, please reach out HERE.
Together, we can work to thrive in these challenging times and ensure that community-based, experiential learning continues to flourish on Whidbey Island.
With gratitude and hope,
Claudia, Fergus, Marli, Michele, Nancy, and Robert
The Woodhaven High School Team
