Wednesday, November 19th

There is so much going on at Trillium right now
I thought everyone could use a quick reminder.

So...parent conferences and minimum days are continuing through Thursday.
If you did not get a chance to meet this week with your child's teacher
don't hesitate to schedule a meeting after Thanksgiving Break.
The teachers are available.

Congratulations to our new Steering Committee members
and thanks to everyone who voted in this years election.

The new committe has five parent representatives:

Jill Frizzell
Rachel Iverson
Ciara Hunt
Suzanne Swagert
Stephanie Silvia

and one community member:

Lynn Szabo (an alumni Trillium parent).

These are the voting members of the committee.
We will have our first meeting and orientation this Thursday at 6:00.
All parents are welcome to attend.

Friday is an exciting day.
We have a Center Arts fieldtrip in the morning,
and our annual Harvest Potluck in the afternoon.

Please return signed permission slips for the fieldtrip.

All families are invited to join us for the potluck from 1:00-3:00.
This is always a great way to end before we disperse for Thanksgiving Break.
We hope you can make it.

The fundraising committe is currently accepting coffee orders.
This fundraiser is through Humboldt Bay Coffee Co.
and the bags come with our own Trillium label.

They make excellent holiday gifts,
or if you buy coffee anyway, you can buy it here
and some of the money will benefit the school.

The coffee will be ordered the week after break.

I also wanted to thank our parents who have been working
so hard on their contributions to Trillium.

Our fundraising committee has been resurrected and is working hard.
The Steering Committee has all seats filled with voting members,
our grounds are looking good thanks to volunteers,
and the overall sense of community is growing.

Thank you all, because we can't do it without you.

October 20

I wanted to let you know about all that is coming up at Trillium.
First off, we have a great fieldtrip scheduled for tomorrow- Tuesday,
but we are short on drivers.

The students are scheduled to visit the Old Town farmers Market
where they each get a dollar to spend at the booth of their choice,
then on to the Discovery Museum.
Last they will have lunch by the waterfront.

We need seats for seven students.
Please help out if you can,
even if you cannot stay for the whole trip.

This Saturday, the fundraising committee has a rummage sale planned.
If you have donations, you can bring them in this week,
and they will also need help setting up and selling items throughout the day.

Also, the Halloween Carnival is coming right up.
We love to have a s many parents as possible to join in the fun.
Sign-ups to run games will be posted this week.

The first week of November,
we will be holding our Steering Committee Elections.
This is a non-profit board that governs Trillium,
and is responsible for fiscal oversight, policy development, and ongoing
program assessment. If you are interested in getting on the ballot
let Marianne know.

I also wanted to mention that our budget is currently in peril
due to low enrollment and the state budget cuts.
I am working on creative ways to supplement our finances this school year,
and I am asking for any help you can provide.

The easiest way to increase our funding is to increase our enrollment.
Word of mouth recommendations go a long way,
so if you know anyone who is unhappy with their child's current school,
let them know we have six spaces in the K-2 class
and an active waiting list for the 3-5.

Also, if you have any grant writing experience, we could use your skills.

Of course, we also accept donations,
so if you happen to know someone looking to make a tax-deductable donation
to a non-profit (large or small), tell them about our small school.

I would be happy to discuss what I am working on,
or you can find out the details at the next board meeting in November.

Tuesday, Oct. 7th

Hi everyone.

Everything at the school is moving right along into
the busy fall season, and I wanted to give you
some updates.

First off, I would like to welcome Michaela Murphy to our staff.
Michaela has taken over Jen's position,
and is excited to be a part of our school community.

MIchaela comes to us with an extensive background in
child development, parent education, and social work.
She and Jen have known each other for 15 years,
and her children went to Gateway School in this building over 20 years ago
which makes for a nice connection.

Please take a moment to introduce yourself
when you pick up your kids.


This Friday, Oct. 10th, the kids are taking their annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch.
The bus will leave at 10:45, and they'll be back for lunch.
Please return signed permission slips in the kitchen.

Parents are welcome to come along,
but there is a waiver you must sign to ride the bus.
Younger siblings cannot ride the bus,
so if you are bringing them you can just meet us there.


This weekend is also the Festival of Courage
and our annual bakesale fundraiser.
Many parents have signed up, but there are some
holes in the schedule for sitting at the table.
Check the sign-up sheets.

All volunteers will get in free, we just need you
to work for an hour or two, then you can go and play
at the festival!

The money raised will go to replenish the petty cash
for the classrooms.

Next Tuesday, October 14th will be a Steering Committee meeting
at 6:00. All parents are welcome to attend and participate.
This will be the last meeting of the current committee,
as elections are coming up in a month.

We will have three openings on the committee
for voting members this year.
If you are interested in becoming a parent representative,
Marianne can answer any of your questions
or just come to the meeting.


Looking further ahead in the month:

Tuesday October 21: K-5 trip to the Eureka Famer's Market
and the Discovery Museum
* Parent drivers are needed.

Friday, October 31: Halloween Carnival 1:00-3:00 PM
* We will need parents to help run games for the kids.
Look for sign up sheets closer to the event.


We would love some feedback on the blog.
Let us know if you find it helpful or how you really feel about it.
Thanks!

Thursday, September 25

This is a reminder that both classes are having
parent meetings today.

The meetings will cover information about your
child's classroom, what they are working on,
upcoming events, and more.

Of course, you will be able to ask questions, share ideas,
sign up to volunteer, or raise concerns.

We hope you can make it.

The K-2 class: 5:00-5:45
3-5 class: 5:45-6:30

For parents of kids attending the Wolf Creek camping trip
next week (3-5 class only),
there is a short informational meeting at 5:30.

Childcare is available, and is FREE if you pick up your kids at 3:10.
If your kids stay in extra aftercare for the meeting,
the usual charges will apply.

Autumn Equinox

Hello everyone,

Now that the school year is underway
we are planning to have a small celebration
for the autumn equinox.

Families are invited to join us tomorrow for a potluck lunch at 12:30.

This is on the calendar,
but I apologize for reminding you
only one day in advance.

At family events, we always allow the kids to
order lunch in addition to the potluck food.
This makes it possible for everyone to share what people bring
and there is always enough to go around.

We hope you can make it,
and if not there will be many more opportunities
to get together with the Trillium family.

Be sure to check your school calendar for scheduled events.

June 24

I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine out there!
I will get to soon, but right now
I am wrapping up the school year.

For all our new Trillium families,
welcome to our school blog.

This is one method we use to keep you up to date
on all school happenings.

This blog is designed to be interactive,
so subscribers can add comments or additional announcements.

So far, we have not had any comments,
but perhaps it will catch on and be more of a forum?
We'll see.

I am posting today to put the word out that the school needs parent help.
We have a person ready and willing to paint our building,
which it desperately needs.

However, we need people to do the prep wotk-
cutting back and covering bushes,
taping off windows and doors,
and maybe hand rolling the trim.

I have been trying to schedule the actual painting day,
but he won't commit to a date until we have secured a crew for prep work.
Without that, it may not happen.

Parents with outstanding aftercare bills-
we can still offer work-trade hours if that is motivating,
but some enthuastic volunteers could really bring this together.

My estimation is that we need five-seven people for half of one day
to make it managable for everyone.
Supplies and snacks can be provided if a work party is organized.

Please let me know soon.
I am closing the office on Monday June 30,
and after that will be available by email at
trilliumcharterschool@yahoo.com

I'll also mention that our beautiful garden is currently being overrun by weeds.
If you feel like getting dirty for an hour,
I can always make it possible for you to get in.

I hope some of you will be able to help out.
Jen, Aly, and I are all leaving for a few weeks,
and Wendy is finally getting uninterupted Gianni time,
so I don't know if she is available.

I am going to be around for a few weeks,
and will join in a work day if there are people to help.

Give me a call-
822-4721.

Thanks.
-Marianne

Summer time!

Hi all Trillium families.

I wanted to tell everyone that it is not too late
to order a 2007-2008 yearbook,
but I need to know ASAP if you want one.

Also, if you put in a verbal order
but didn't fill out a form (especially at graduation)
please send a reminder email.

I will call you when they come in.

I hope everyone had a great end of the year trip.
It was wonderful to spend some time with you in a beautiful
setting and enjoy our lively Trillium community.
There are some great yearbook photos from the trip!

Have a great summer.

End of the year trip

Tuesday:

We will leave Trillium at 9:30 to meet at the Bayshore mall at 10:00.
Go in the Ross entrance,
and the family fun center
is on the left.

Feel free to meet us there if you live in Eureka.
There will be no formal class before the trip.

We will check in at Pamplin Grove at 12:00.

In case you didn't get the directions:

101 South past Fortuna to Alton.
Left on rt. 36
12 miles east to Pamplin Grove
Follow signs on rt.

Remember, Tuesday night is a potluck BBQ.
We have all the side dishes,
and food for all other meals.

Students who are staying at Trillium will have
fun with Michelle, Ari, and Richelle.

Michelle is planning some mini fieldtrips
out for lunch or to the park,
so be aware that they may be off campus.

Michelle can provide details.

Richelle will be at Trillium until 4:00
on Tuesday and Wednesday only.
There is no Aftercare on Thursday.
The school will be open at 8;30.


If you ordered a yearbook,
I will call you when they are ready.
Our office is open until June 30, so you can stop in and pick it up,
or I will mail it you.

Have a great summer everyone.

-Marianne

Thursday May 29

HI everyone,

Can you believe the school year is almost over?
I can't.
It is flying by too fast.

Here's an information update:

* End of the year trip information went into the parent boxes this week.
The only thing missing is a map,
but the directions are easy-
(101 south approximately 35 miles, left on rt. 36 -5 miles east. Pamplin Grove on right. Follow signs).

I will have maps for anyone who needs one.
Please get back to us as soon as you can
to let us know if you can come.

We encourage everyone to try to make at least
one day of the trip.
It is always a wonderful experience,
and it strengthens our entire school community.

We have always wished we could begin the year with a trip,
but so many of our parents are students
and can't get away in the busy fall.

If your kids cannot come, Michelle will be at Trillium
Tuesday-Thursday, however, we have not confirmed
if there will be aftercare on those days.

That's why we want to find out what our families need
and we will try to adjust our staff accordingly.

Remember, every kid needs an adult on the trip.
Ideally, it is a family member,
but if you want to send your child with another family
who will chaperone them, that is OK.

If you are trying to find an adult chapernone, a ride, or camping gear-
let us know what you need and
we will help you.

After the trip, please makes arrangements for your kids
(or the ones you are responsible for).
There will not be anyone at Trillium to recieve them after camping-
the school group will be on a field trip.


Also on the calendar:

* Next week is our award and graduation ceremony.
Every student is recognized at this event,
so we hope you will join us Thursday, June 5th at 6:00.

* Aly is looking for someone (or a few people) to take care of Twitchy
over the summer while she is out of town.
Twitchy is a nice indoor pet and can come home with you,
or can be fed at the school.

PLease let Aly know if you can help.

* Do you have any photos from the school year?
Any event, fieldtrip, or Trillium pictures you have would be perfect
for our yearbook.
Please give a disk or prints to Marianne ASAP.

* Next Wednesday, June 4th,
the fifth graders will go out to lunch with Aly.
This is a special event each spring for the graduating class.
They are going to Tomo, and each student will need $10.00.

* Next Friday, June 6th, the 3-5 grade class is going to Moonstone Beach.
We need parents to drive and stay at the beach
for our annual beach day.

* Monday, June 9th, is water day in the afternoon.
Kids will be allowed to get wet using water toys,
so send towels and dry clothing.

Please pass the word over the summer
that we have spaces available in Aly's class for the fall.
This is quite unusual,
but is also a chance to welcome some new families
who want alternative education for their kids.

That is all the fun we have planned.
We have had a great year with your kids.
Thanks for sharing them.

We'll see you next year,
or if you are moving on, we wish you all the best.

-Marianne & the Trillium Staff

Monday May 5th

Well, STAR tests are underway.
Hopefully, the kids have been hanging in there.
They are very close to being done
unless they were absent on a testing day.

They have had a lot of extra snacks and recess,
so hopefully they are not stressed.

Tuesday afternoon, there will be a presentation from
Redwood Roots farm that will prepare the kids
for their trip to the farm on May 19th.

Looking ahead to next week, we have some fun plans
and we will need some parents to help out with driving.

First, you are invited to join the K-2 class on Tuesday May 13th.
They are hosting an island celebration and performing a play
as the culmination of their island studies.

The students will be making food to share
from islands around the world.
If you want to come in the morning to help with the preparations,
we are always happy to have extra help.

Otherwise, just come and enjoy the play at 1:30.

Then, on Thursday May 15th,
the 3-5 class has a hike planned
to Trillium Falls near Prairie Creek Park.
We need parents to drive and hike with the kids.

We will be ordering sack lunches for students,
and adults will need to bring a lunch.

Also on Thursday, the K-2 class
has their own trip planned to the petting zoo
at Arcata High School.

We need parents to drive for this as well,
and you are welcome to join in.
Wendy is planning to leave after morning snack at 11:00,
and stay at the event for about 30 minutes.

On Friday we will have a special in-class presentation
from the Wild life Care Center
.
They will bring live birds to school-
usually on nocturnal and one diurnal bird,
and will give presentations in each class about the birds,
their habitat, what they eat, etc.

The students may even get to pet them.

We are in the final stretch of the school year,
and we are always super busy.
We will try to keep you updated-
check the board out front and the blogger.

I will be putting information about the
end of the year trip next week.

We will need a head count of kids who will come
and those who may need to be at school
during those days.
Sign ups will be at the bottom of the stairs.
Please sign up as soon as you know.

This trip is always a great ending to the year-
all kids and parents have an excellent time.

This year we will be at Pamplin Grove on the Van Duzer River.
Because we explored Avenue if the Giants last year,
we are planning to take the requests of parents over the years
and close to camp.

We are planning hikes, projects, and activities at camp.
We hope you can all come.

Thursday, April 24

Hi everyone,

Here are just a few reminders:

3-5 parents-
the kids are scheduled to go roller skating tomorrow.
Kids without returned permission slips
WILL NOT be able to skate.
There are still 6 kids without permission slips signed.

These forms are from the City of Blue Lake
and are required.
They also need $5.00.

There is a check list at the botton of the stairs
that shows who has returned their form.

If you need a copy- they are also in that folder.


Next Monday begins STAR testing-
as long as the tests come in as planned.

Information went into the parent boxes
on Monday about how the testing is handeled at Trillium.

We try hard to make these days fun and painless.
The information also includes
what parents can do if they are unhappy about their
kids having to test.

If you have any more questions,
come and talk to a staff member.

Next week is the last two days of swimming,
and we are swimming on Tuesday and Thursday-
NOT Monday and Wednesday-
just to keep you on your toes.
(Actually it was a scheduling problem with the pool).

The kids will not have any testing on these days.

Tomorrow- Friday 4/25 is a minimum day,
so we will be let out at 1:10.
There will be aftercare as usual.

That's all for now.
Have a great weekend.

Our apologies

Last Friday's art project didn't go as planned,
and we wanted to aopologize to you.

The children have been asking about painting the playhouse,
and it seemed like a good idea.

However, the project was supervised by one adult
(the main staff were in a short meeting in the office),
and the children were over-enthuastic with the paint,
resulting in many children coming home with paint
on their clothing.

Although we have art and ceramics every Friday,
and the children do get messy,
this was messier than usual.

We want to assure you that this was a one-time incident.
We love our child-led projects,
but this was one time it went too far.

The children actually paint quite a bit,
from the murals in the playground
and decorating for school events,
to the weekly art projects in their classrooms.

We have never had quite so much paint in the kids
in proportion to the project.

Sorry!
We'll be more careful in the future.
And remember, Fridays are project days,
so it may not be the best day to wear your new clothes.

April 1st

The end of this school year is rapidly approaching
which means we have so much going on.

* Congratulations to Ben Whitney
whose Science fair project won 2nd place at the
Humboldt County Science Fair,
as well as a special recognition award.
We are so proud of Ben and all our young scientists!

* Swimming begins next Monday,
so please return the permission
slips in your parent boxes and
mark the swim days on your calendars.

* The 3-5 kids are having a
Conflict Resolution workshop
this Wednesday with Jen.
This will be a refresher course for returning students,
but it's always great to practice the skills of
listening to one another,
using words over voilence for problem solving,
and knowing when to ask for help.

Ask your kids about what they learned,
and even let them practice with one when conflicts arise.


*We currently have four students at school who
cannot drink dairy at all for health reasons,
but we also have another six-eight students who prefer
soy milk over cow milk.

We are happy to oblige this preference,
but have been going through incredible amounts of soymilk!
If your kid is a soymilk lover,
we would appreciate donations of soymilk to keep our kitchen stocked.

Thanks!

* We have had a generous offer to have our building painted
in the near future-
the exact day depends on weather and volunteers.

We need parents to help tie back and cover bushes, tape off windows,
and roll paint onto the trim.

This is an exciting prospect-
our building is in desperate need of paint,
but we have lacked the necessary funds.

Please sign up in the kitchen if you can help make this happen.
Our school can look beautiful again!

Looking ahead in April and May,

* In-class Ocean Day presentation Thursday April 17,

* Steering Committee meets on Monday April 21 at 5:30,

* Minimum Day Friday April 25,

* 3-5 class roller skating party in Blue Lake- date to be announced

* Trillium shirt sales will begin Monday April 14th: Look for order forms in you boxes.

* STAR Testing begins the first week in May

* 3-5 students are studying Mayan Culture & Central America,
K-2 students are studying Islands.

Enjoy the lovely Spring weather.

Trillium Info.

The most recent Arcata Eye has an article about
the city's proposal for a new Endeavor located around the corner
from our school.

Although there is a need in our community
to provide food and services to the homeless,
they have been having a difficult time finding an acceptable location
to build a new facility.

I hate to jump on the "not in my backyard" bandwagon,
but I have an uneasy feeling about this proposal
and how it could effect Trillium.

I wanted to put this out to the parent community
to hear what your thoughts or feelings are.

Anyone can respond on this blog
under comments, and can begin a conversation.
Or, you can email your thoughts to
trilliumcharterschool@yahoo.com.

Your timely input is important,
as the public comment period is
almost over.

What do you all think?

February 27th

This is just a quick reminder that tomorrow is Stephanie's
last day filling in for Wendy's maternity leave.

Everyone is invited to join us a lunchtime to say farewell,
and help us eat cake.

Wendy will be back Friday morning.

The kids are all excited to see Wendy,
and Stephanie will remain on our substitutue list.
In fact, she will be in for Aly on March 7th.

Hopefully you can join us.

Monday, Feb. 11

This Monday is the 100th day of school.
The K-2 class will be having a pajama day in their class,
and it is optional to bring in 100 of something- like buttons or beans- your choice.

Please make sue that the kids have outside footwear in addition
to pajama feet or slippers, since it is still muddy outside.

We will also be having some Valentine's Day fun.
The 3-5 class has already selected secret Valentines,
and are having fun with that.

Look in you parent boxes to see how the
K-2 class will mark this day.

Like all special occasions,
we will allow treats that are normally discouraged at school,
so if your child has strict dietary restrictions
please be sure to send them treats they can eat.

We don't want anyone to feel left out.

Happy Friday

Hi Trillium folks,

I am putting out information about fundraising.

I know that fundraising is one of those topics that
can instantly stop pepole from being interested (myself included)
because it often means extra work!

So, I wanted to share with you two simple ways that you can
raise money for Trillium by doing what you already do.

1) If you have a Washingtom Mutual checking account you can
sign up for Wamoola for Schools.

All you do is choose Trillium as your school of choice
and every time you use your debit card Wamu dontes some
money to our school.

Last year we had three participants and made $85.00,
so if we could get a few more it could be substantial.


2) If you shop online (like I do),
you probably like Ebay, Amazon, or Target online - to name a few.

If you go to http://www.yellowbrickmall.com/trilliumcharterschool.php
you will see a page for Trillium,
and if you go to your favorite online shopping sites through this site
they will also donate money to Trillium based on your shopping.

This one is even easier. because you don't have to
register or give any personal information at all.
You just have to begin your shopping on this site.

The last thing I wanted to mention is that it is time
for Trillium tee-shirt, sweatshirt and tote bag sales again.

If there is anyone with a little free time
who could volunteer to help organize sales or ordering
we would appreciate the help.

Fundraising is more important this year than it has ever been.
We have swimming lessons coming up and we will need parent contributions-
money raised could subsidize this cost.

Also, we are thinking ahead to our end-of-the-year trip.

This year we are stayiong local again due to high gas prices and Wendy's infant.
We have reserved Pamplin Grove for the last three days of school,
and will need money for food and fun for all.

We will have a planning meeting later in the spring-
but any little bit of help to raise funds goes a long way.
Thanks.

Have a great weekend.
-Marianne

Fieldtrip tomorrow

I wanted to remind everyone about tomorrow's
fieldtrip to HSU to see the Peking acrobats.

We are going to the 9:30 show,
so we have to leave the school, right away in the morning-
9:10 at the latest,
so we can park and walk to the theater.

We still need a few parent drivers,
so please sign up if you can drive.
Also, make sure you sign the student fieldtrip slips
and return them to the office door.

Thanks!

I also wanted to mention to the parents in the K-2 class
that I am really proud of your kids.

It is not easy to change teachers mid-year,
especially in Kindergarten.

There have definitely been some rough moments,
but overall everyone has been doing really well.

Wendy will be pleased to hear a good report.

If you have any extra time in the mornings,
this would be a great time to volunteer to help out in class.
Let Jen, Marianne or Stephanie know if you can help out.

Thank you!

Next Monday- Steering Committee at 5:30.

K-2 Class Update

Here are some announcements for the K-2 class
for the week of January 14-18:

The letter for the week is M and the number is 7.
1st and 2nd graders will also study the ee sound,
as in "feet" and "see".

If you have any objects that express
the letter, sound, or number of the week, send them in to share.

Also, if you have any magazines, calendars, greeting cards,
or fabric scraps that could be used for collages and art projects,
please bring them in.

Thank you!

Lastly, we are going to try a new
No toy rule in the K-2 class.

In the past, we have asked kids to keep toys from home
in their cubbies during class and only bring them
out at recess or during share time.

Unfortunately, this has not been working.

There has been a lot of toy controversy, including
arguments, hurt feelings, and even some unauthorized borrowing
(otherwise known as stealing).

We have plenty of toys available to play with at school
and are asking kids to leave their personal
toys at home for now.

Kids who do bring items to school
will be asked to leave them in the safe toy space
in the office.

They will be available for pick up
along with your children.

We hope that you understand why this is a necessary measure
for now, especially in Wendy's absence, to maintain a peaceful
space in the classroom.

We ask for your support and assistance.
Thank you all.

Have a great week.

2008

Hello Trillium families,
and welcome back all students.

I hope you had an enjoyable break.

As you may have heard,
Wendy had a baby boy just one day into the break.

Everything went well, and they have a healthy baby boy-
Gianni Orlandi.
His picture is hanging in the kitchen.

Stephanie Silvia, Wendy's long term substitute,
is doing a great job,
and the kids are making a smooth transition.

Please take a moment to introduce yourself
to Stephanie if you haven't already.

This weekend there is a work party planned for
Saturday at 11:00 to put up the rest
of our new playground equipment.

So far, we have two people ready to help out,
but they could use some more hands.
Let us know if you are available.
If it rains on Saturday, they will meet on Sunday.

We have a Center Arts field trip scheduled this month
on Thursday January 24th to see the Peking Acrobats.
This is a favorite show, and we will need parent drivers.

Look for sign-up sheets and permission slips next week.

Also, we are planning to do our annual swimming lessons
at the Arcata Pool this spring.
Unfortunately, we do not have as much
funding as we have in the past,
and will be collecting $20.00 for each student to
help with the costs of the lessons and the bus.

More information will be in the parent boxes soon.
If you cannot afford this fee,
scholarships or sliding scale rates are available-
talk to Jen or Marianne.

Our Steering Committee meeting this month is
scheduled for January 28th at 5:30.

If you have anything you would like to bring to the board-
ideas, concerns, etc.-
look for the agenda on the library bulletin board.
Anyone can sign up and attend these meetings.
The agenda will be posted on January 18th.

The spring months tend to be extremely busy
and filled with school activities.
Just some of the upcoming events include:
Science Night, Open Mike Poetry (3-5 class),
Spring Equinox family potluck,
and our final parent conferences.

We will put information out on the board out front,
in your parent boxes, and on this blog to keep you informed
so you won't miss any of the fun!