Mission

Trillium Charter School is a democratically-structured environment that fosters students' natural curiosity, creativity, and self-awareness. Students learn to take initiative and assume responsibility for their own learning, which supports constructive interaction with the local, regional, and global community.

Vision

Trillium Charter School's vision is to bridge the gap between the school and community with a K-12 educational program where children and adults, school and community work together to understand and interpret our relationship with the world around us. We educate the whole child, recognizing that intellectual, emotional and social needs must be met for the healthy development of a successful individual.

Students graduate from Trillium meeting or exceeding state standards; prepared for adult life, including the possibility of post secondary education; possessing effective leadership and communication skills; possessing critical thinking skills; and with a desire to be life-long learners.

In support of these concepts, we have created a school that:

  • focuses on community, urban, and global studies, including a model United Nations, emphasizing community and personal responsibility;
  • supports a student's growth with a flexible case-management approach that continuously defines individual goals, tracks progress, and uses feedback to adjust the educational plan;
  • uses a customized curriculum steeped in practical experience and community service, and fosters each student's own interests.

 

Target population

Trillium provides for families who want greater educational choice and involvement in their children's education. Our target population includes students wanting a community atmosphere in which to pursue learning. We reach out in our community to build economic, ethnic, cultural, and educational diversity in our student base. We leverage the rich human talent in the Portland area through service learning, job shadowing, public outreach, and active solicitation of community volunteers.



Curriculum

Trillium's curriculum moves students through a logical progression of community, urban, and global studies. Graduates of Trillium meet or exceed state standards and are prepared for college, with exceptional communication and critical-thinking skills. We also emphasize foreign language studies. We believe students learn more when they are active participants in their education, pursuing their own interests in a variety of ways under the guidance of their educational team. Trillium employs mixed-age classes that reinforce teamwork, problem-solving, and respect for others. Courses are built around interests and abilities rather than grade level.

Trillium's integrated curriculum is founded on the belief that learning is achieved in a variety of ways, allowing students to construct knowledge without the restrictions of conventional subject areas. Our philosophy is centered on contextual teaching and learning, and constructivism. Contextual teaching and learning employ problem-based learning, collaborative/cooperative learning, project-based learning, service learning, and work-based learning. We provide a curriculum in which the arts, academics, critical thinking, and problem solving are valued equally. Within this context, our three core study areas are summarized as follows.

Community Studies (grades K-5)

Community Studies provides a platform for safe exploration of the community. It builds the foundation of global awareness and helps link the three core study areas together. Along with solid academic instruction, students are given ample opportunities to explore art, music, movement, and drama. They explore the interconnectedness among themselves, their home, their community, and their world. The major goals of this program are to:

  • increase awareness and understanding of our community.
  • prepare future community leaders.
  • instill a desire to explore and serve the community.
  • develop life-long learning skills.
Urban Studies (grades 6-8)

Urban Studies provides a framework for expanding students' understanding of the larger community in which they live. The middle school focuses on four areas: urban planning, art/architecture/design, leadership, and community/environment. Community service is part of each student's education plan and students have the opportunity to explore career fields. The major goals of this program are to:

  • increase awareness of the symbiotic relationship between urban and rural environments.
  • prepare future regional leaders.
  • instill a desire to understand the various cultures and people that make up a community.
  • engage in service to the regional community.
  • develop life-long learning skills.
  • develop an aesthetic sense of the world around them.
Global Studies (grades 9-12)

Global Studies provides an opportunity for inquiry into global interdependency, relationships between peoples and nations, and multiple-identity. Students test their beliefs by analyzing multiple points of view on wide-ranging issues. In addition to required courses in rhetoric and public speaking, students spend large amounts of time in the field doing research, job shadowing, and community service. Students and staff focus on important skills, such as writing, research methods, and computer literacy. The major goals of this program are to:

  • increase international awareness and understanding.
  • prepare future world leaders.
  • instill a desire to explore, learn, and understand other cultures and people.
  • engage in service to the international community.
  • develop life-long learning skills.

Assessment

Trillium relies upon a balanced set of assessment tools. Along with the Oregon state-mandated tests, Trillium includes individual Education Team assessments, academic descriptors, student-led conferences, and student work portfolios. They may also include performance projects, community service logs and project evaluations, and exhibitions. An exhibition is a student presentation to a panel of faculty and experts to determine the student's knowledge and ability to explain what was learned. By using a variety of assessment tools, we increase the likelihood of gathering accurate information. We use narratives as an alternative to letter or number grades.