Our Stone Soup Story
Toshi Seeger & a special starter stone, way back when. (photo from the Clearwater)
Before the first Beacon Clearwater Festival in 1966, Pete and Toshi Seeger (long-time friends of Randolph School) put an ad in the local paper which told the story of the stone soup folktale. Then Toshi brought a huge pot to the festival grounds and added the starter stone; Pete kept the fire going all day. After seeing the ad, folks caught on, bringing vegetables, meat, spices, and; “by the end of the afternoon, it was a great soup, and she fed about a thousand people with it,” Pete remembers.
Everyone brought what they could contribute to the pot. Each ingredient, on its own, could feed only a few. But all of them together, nourished many. That day everyone enjoyed a special stone soup made by community collaboration.
The Randolph School is the special starter stone that brings out the unique flavors of all who contribute to it. We know that we can enrich the educational experiences of children with less means and children with more means, and those in between. Together we make a soup that serves many when each family contributes what tuition they can.
Families may choose to forgo submitting financial information, contributing the maximum amount in our recipe. Families seeking to apply for a Community-Based Tuition placement will be able to do so beginning in January 2024. Families requesting consideration will apply through SSS, providing financial disclosures and supporting documents. By clicking the button below, you can access a worksheet to help your family prepare for the community-based tuition application process, facilitated by SSS. When applying, use partner code: 200577.
We ask that folks complete these processes accurately and truthfully. We are well-aware that an income line does not tell the whole story of a family, and we don’t believe a family should quantify its value as such. You should certainly take stock of what your family can, and cannot, contribute. The more we can all pitch in, the richer the soup for everyone. Our goal is to find stability and longevity; that you can maintain a tight family budget and so can Randolph, so that we can continue living and learning together each year.
Stone Soup Tuition
Below is an approximate breakdown of Tuition in different contribution levels.
(over 12 month payment schedule beginning May 2025 - figures reflect 10% deposits paid with enrollment agreements)
Community-Based Tuition B: $900/month
Community-Based Tuition C: $1,100/month
Community-Based Tuition D: $1,300/month
Community-Based Tuition E: $1,500/month
Activity & Equipment Fees are distributed across the payment schedule.
For more information or clarifying questions, please feel encouraged to reach us at office@randolphschool.org or by phone at 845-297-5600.
