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-on
activities, 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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