Evergreen Middle School
January 19, 2024
Message from Principal Collins
Hello Evergreen Families
Important Attendance Reminders
We have almost reached the midpoint of the year and I wanted to share some attendance reminders. We always reinforce the importance of class attendance in our conversations with students for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, attendance in scheduled classes is an essential part of completing their lessons and receiving a grade. We need parents to communicate with the Attendance Office when their child will be or has been absent from class. If your child is going to be absent for the day, arrive late, or be picked up early, all such instances need to be communicated to the Office. You can use ParentVue or call 253 945 5102.
Our new year is off to a great start! Our Reset is underway and we have already seen great improvements in our hallway transitions. We appreciate the support from our community as we hold our students to the clear expectations that will help make our school a safe and highly effective learning environment.
I want to take a moment to highlight how important our school community is to me. We have dedicated parents, teachers, and staff, who show up each day in support of our students. In my conversations with parents, I hear about how thankful they are to have teachers who care about their child. As an administration, we are working hard to create memorable middle school experiences for our students, while teaching them life lessons of being Safe, Kind and Responsible.
When people talk about Evergreen, we want the conversation to be one of pride. This starts with each stakeholder. Our school is filled with amazing staff, kind and thoughtful students, and supportive parents. As you engage with your own family, friends, and community members, we hope that you will share the positive experiences you or your child has had at our school.
As we approach the close of the semester, students are encouraged to check their grades regularly and reach out to their teachers to ensure they have no missing assignments. Striving for academic excellence means taking a proactive approach. While grades are important, we also want students to celebrate showing growth and mastering the content curriculum through practice and work completion.
As we re-enter the academic routine, I also want to take a moment to express my sincere excitement for the opportunities that lie ahead. The second semester is a time of fresh beginnings, renewed focus, and continued growth for our students. I am eager to work collaboratively with each of you to support your children in their academic, social/emotional, and developmental journey through middle school. Our collective goal is to create an environment that fosters the holistic development of every student. Academic achievement is just one aspect of this growth, and we understand the importance of addressing the social, emotional, and developmental needs of our students as well. By working together, we can ensure that your child receives comprehensive support that extends beyond the classroom.
Building positive relationships between our staff and parents is paramount to creating a positive school culture. We value the partnership between home and school, recognizing that a strong collaboration enhances the overall educational experience for our students. Open lines of communication enable us to better understand your child's individual needs, strengths, and areas for growth. Together, we can create a supportive network that promotes a positive and inclusive learning environment. I encourage you to actively engage with your child's education by attending and participating in school events, and communicating with teachers and staff as the needs arise. Your involvement is invaluable in shaping the educational journey of your child and contributes significantly to our shared goal of providing a well-rounded and enriching middle school experience. Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to working closely with each of you throughout the second semester. Here's to a semester filled with growth, learning, and positive collaboration and together let’s make 2024 amazing!
Your Partner in Education,
Mrs. Collins
253 945 5100
Walking Through the Classrooms
Your child may have noticed a few visitors in their classes this week. This is because we’ve been doing “Walk Throughs”, which is a form of peer learning where teachers observe other teachers and give each other feedback. Each observer filled out a note catching tool and looked for themes in the teaching. The results are not fully in, but here are early indicators of what we found.
- Teachers are making a big effort to clarify the purpose of their lessons so that there is no ambiguity about what students are learning about today.
- Teachers are making connections between how the learning connects to past and future learning, and often to the students’ own lives.
- Students are receiving a steady diet of the essential ingredients of research-informed instruction: Modelling, questioning, feedback, and practice.
- The teaching at Evergreen is laser focused on rigorous and interesting academic material.
I am proud to work at a school where we can walk into each other’s lessons and learn from each other. Teaching should be a visible, collaborative enterprise, not something that hides behind closed doors. If you would like to visit your child’s classes, please talk to their teachers. I am always happy to assist.
Zach Groshell, Ph.D.
Instructional Coach
Evergreen Middle School
