Mission and Core Values
Mission Statement
Portland Language Arts strives to cultivate our students to be creative, expressive and intellectually curious through a multilingual academic program in an environment that celebrates diversity of cultures and experiences.
Core Values
At Portland Language Arts …
- WE VALUE INTELLECTUAL CUROSITY by fostering a love of learning and developing critical thinking and intellectual risk taking by our students
- WE VALUE MULTILINGUALISM by providing an environment where our students are taught in both English and Chinese, thereby providing critical skills that will prepare them for the future in our ever evolving global society.
- WE VALUE ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE WHOLE CHILD by not only focusing on academic growth, but incorporating programs and activities that support their emotional and social growth.
- WE VALUE OUR PLA Family, WHICH:
- Is a committed partnership among students and their families, our faculty, volunteers, and community.
- Is founded on respect, trust, teamwork and safety.
- Embraces authentic, respectful and positive communication.
- Promotes open-mindedness and acceptance and respect for our cultural similarities and differences.
- Models the possibilities to our students through the choice of our faculty, volunteers and programs.
Affiliations
Oregon Montessori Association
Board Of Advisors
Location
PortlandThe school is located on the border of Forest Heights and opposite from Cedar Mill Elementry School off NW Cornell Road.
STAFF
Lillian
Languages: English and Mandarin
Lillian was born in Beijing China and has been in the USA for over 12 years. She is married with 2 boys (4 and 6). She holds a BA in Business and a MSc in Information Systems. She is passionate about education and providing a quality education that will be beneficial in a globalized world.
Elena
Languages English, Mandarin and Italian
Elena is a mother of a beautiful daughter. Elena enjoys languages and is fluent in English, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, as well as being able to speak Classic Arabic, Spanish, Intermediate ASL (American Sign Language). She holds a / B.A. in International Affairs from John Cabot University in Rome, Masters in Oriental Studies (Chinese Major / Arabic Minor) from Univerity of Rome, and studied a year at Beijing Normal University in China. Elena is passionate about teaching.
Volunteers
Kate - VOLUNTEER
Kate originates from Taiwain. She holds a B.A. Applied English from Shih Chien University. While in Taiwan, Kate has taught Chinese and English at PS-K levels. Kate recently moved to Oregon to begin a Master in Education at Concordia University. For the last few months she has been taking courses in early childhood education at Clarke College and volunteering at American West Vancouver Chinese School, Vancouver, WA.
Enrichment
Ann- Violin
Violinist Ann Christensen has earned a reputation as an exciting and accomplished artist. She has appeared both nationally and internationally as a recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician. Her gift for an expressive, powerful sound of extraordinary beauty has brought acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Ann is an equally devoted and gifted teacher. Her passion for teaching has inspired students from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, to China's Shanghai Conservatory to Ulaanbaatar Music College in Mongolia, and many places in between!
USA Wushu Center
PLA will offer Wushu (Chinese Martial Arts) powered by U.S. Wushu Center starting in January 2012