Nuts and Bolts of the Upper School

In addition to helping students develop their passions and pursue their interests, the Upper School has a dynamic lineup of classes and service learning opportunities. Students are supported in making choices about what and how they learn. They work on teacher directed activities as well as independent goals. Upper School students are also encouraged to serve the Trillium community by selecting from a variety of Community Jobs, or Teaching and Tutoring Positions.

Students use a combination of systems to demonstrate their learning at Trillium. The Trillium Framework contains a detailed set of goals that students must master before moving on to the next grade level or graduating from high school. The Personalized Learning Plan is a document that details the ways in which students pursue their interests and complete the requirements of the Framework. The Portfolio is a compilation of the student’s work that demonstrates unique accomplishments and progress over time. Students are given regular opportunities throughout the year to present their work during Friday Exhibition Days and Project Fairs.

Personalized Learning Plans

One of the ways to make the transition back into school smoother is by having Personalized Learning Plans created before the year starts. Although the advisor will help your student fill out the PLP during the home visit, your student can prepare by writing down a list of goals, interests and passions ahead of time.

The first step, then, to developing a Learning Plan is for the student to brain storm a list of:

- Their likes

- Their interests

- Their passions

- Things they want to work on

- Their struggles

- Their strengths

- Their goals

The goals should be authentic academic, creative or personal pursuits that each student wants to fulfill. It takes some serious self-reflection and self- motivation to create one's own academic goals. Please assist your student in brainstorming which skills or projects would best suit their needs and growth at this time. Most goals should be measurable and attainable within a 10-week period. These goals are student-directed, although the advisers will help each student find appropriate resources and assist them when needed. (Students who have more experience and comfort with goal setting may want to set year-long goals).

This year we will be encouraging all eighth graders to choose a project that will demonstrate to the community that they are ready to move on to the High School. Twelfth graders are required to complete a Senior Project. The Learning Plan is a great place to start generating ideas for these projects.