In July, 2012, Trinity Lutheran Church (TLC) adopted a ten-year strategic plan for Trinity Lutheran Christian School (TLCS). This plan had been developed over the course of a year with input from parents, students, alumni, teachers, our pastor, community members and congregation members. That plan is based on the following Mission Statement and Vision Elements. Everything in the plan is directly related to our mission.
TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT: Empowered by Christ’s love, Trinity students engage in academic rigor to be life-long learners and serve others.
Our Mission Statement is why we do what we do; it is what drives us.
TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL VISION ELEMENTS:
1. Trinity is a community of learners who are empowered by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. Trinity is academically rigorous, challenging each student to reach his or her learning potential.
3. Trinity is a welcoming, safe harbor for diverse students, faculty, and staff, who are enriched by experiences with each other’s cultures.
4. Trinity students, faculty, and staff grow as servants of each other and the community.
5. Trinity is seen as a leader in the development of relevant curriculum that prepares students for their roles in a 21st century world.
6. Trinity is financially stable.
Vision Elements are our vision of what we will ideally look like in the future, perhaps in 2020.
Action Committees comprised of a broad representation of our various constituencies are at work implementing this strategic plan. Basic responsibility for implementation of the plan rests with the Trinity Lutheran Christian School Principal and the Board of Education with the Church Council providing oversight and coordination. Input is also received from our Pastor and Business Manager.
The following have been achieved since the implementation of the strategic plan:
1. A $1,400,000 loan has been secured from the Lutheran Church Extension Fund. $800,000 of that loan is dedicated to improving the quality of teaching and learning in the school and $600,000 to facilities upgrades primarily associated with energy efficiency and aesthetic improvements.
2. Trinity’s Principal is responsible for coordinating and implementing the school’s portion of the strategic plan. Administrative leadership for the plan began in July 2013 and progress includes evaluation of and improvements in the curriculum, use of Common Core standards and staff development in a variety of areas.
3. Growing and improving both the Pre-School and the Extended Care programs for children of our community is expected. In 2018, Trinity Early Learning Center, a year-round ECE program, opened for children aged 6 weeks through 5 years and after school care through age 12.
4. The Marketing and Recruitment Action Committee continues to suggest updates to our web presence, our communications, and our connection to the community.
5. The Technology Action Committee has made recommendations for improving and standardizing computer access for students, faculty, and staff as well as communications systems internally and with parents.
6. The Facilities Remodeling Action Committee hired an architectural firm to provide plans for remodeling that began in June, 2014. Major renovations include replacement of all exterior walls, doors, and windows with more energy-efficient, secure ones; renovating and providing ADA access bathrooms at both ends of the building; improvements to the plumbing, lighting, and HVAC systems..
7. Initially, the loan allowed us to collaborate with Portland Lutheran School and the Portland Lutheran Association for Christian Education (PLACE) Foundation to provide professional resource development, marketing, and recruitment for Trinity.