MISSION STATEMENT
The Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School was founded in 1995 as a Massachusetts Public Charter School. Our mission is:

• To involve young people in a school which uses experiential, hands-onactivities, the arts, and interdisciplinary studies, to foster critical thinking skills and a joy of learning.
• To sustain a cooperative, intimate community of students, staff, families and local community members which operates through a consensus-based governance structure.
• To cultivate children's individual voices and a shared respect for each other, our community, and the world around us.

PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT
The Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School was founded in 1995 as Massachusetts
Public Charter School. Inspired by the pre-schools of Reggio Emila in Italy, our
educational approach is grounded in knowledge of children's development and in a commitment to teaching creative, critical thinking skills, and strong basic skills.

At HCCS, we believe that children construct their understanding of the world through direct experience, with teachers serving as guides and resources. We create an engaging and joyful learning environment using an interdisciplinary, project-based curriculum. Emphasis is placed on asking children and adults to reflect on and document the learning process. The expressive arts play a critical role in the academic and social curriculum, and create a common language that brings our community together in meaningful ways.

HCCS welcomes and relies on family involvement. Children, families, staff and community form an integrated, interdependent system whose governance structures guide and support the school and its educational program. Beyond academiccurriculum, children learn essential life skills through participation in an intimate, whole school cooperative. Involvement in the local environment and its communities inspires learning and encourages social and civic responsibility as well as stewardship for the earth.

Parents and teachers help children to care for and respect themselves and each other. We strongly believe that cultivation of each individual voice within a community leads to inclusion of and respect for differences and multiple perspectives.

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