Message from Principal Collins
Hello Evergreen Families,
It is officially fall and we are excited to bring in October and all that goes with it! We have completed our beginning-of-the-year testing. Teachers and staff engaged in the analysis of that data, and the other information they've collected as they've gotten to know students. We have also begun to take a look at our attendance data. Please remember that in order to support academic growth, student attendance needs to be consistent! This means absences only for illness, medical/dental appointments, or funeral services. Our goal is for each student to have 93% or higher attendance- that means they can miss about 1 day per month maximum!
A big thank you to all the families that participated in our school fundraiser. Thank you for either purchasing or helping sell the items. The funds will go a long way in supporting our scholars and building. Next week is Discover U Week. During Discover U Week, Evergreen will join other educators and youth-serving organizations in Seattle and South King County in leading college and career activities that help students explore their futures. Each day centers on a theme the whole community can participate in. We will connect student aspirations with the pathways to get there! Research finds that attending a school with a college-going climate is one of the most important predictors of students attending college.
Career and college exploration is also important because:
· When students think about and plan for their futures, they do better in school
· Currently too few students are exposed to career awareness activities
· Research shows young women and students of color often limit their career choices early
· Middle school is a time when kids are forming ideas about careers, however, they often lack awareness about careers or have unrealistic ideas about the world of work
· Experiential learning opportunities help students develop and connect their interests to their academic pursuits.
In October our 8th grade scholars will take the PSAT. The PSAT helps scholars become more comfortable with the SAT and ACT tests, which are often required for college admission. These tests also provide opportunities to get financial aid and are offered at no cost to FWPS scholars.
On the test date, students are encouraged to get good rest, eat a balanced breakfast, if possible, and plan to arrive on time.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact me or your child’s teacher.
Teaching Our Children the Virtue of Honesty
Having integrity—acting in a manner consistent with one’s moral principles—is reliant upon living honestly. It can often be easier and more convenient to bend the truth or look the other way instead of standing firmly on principle and doing the right thing. To help teach our children we must model honest behavior and create an environment where truth is valued. Here are some ideas that can be implemented at home:
- Demonstrate honesty in daily actions, even when it's difficult. Speak up against unfairness, and set an example.
- Discuss situations where telling the truth may be challenging, but explain why it's ultimately right. Share examples of times you chose honesty over comfort.
- Praise a child's honest moments, especially when it requires bravery. Help your child take pride in truthfulness.
- If a child is dishonest, remain calm and use it as a teaching opportunity. Teach children to acknowledge their mistakes, take responsibility for them, commit to making better choices, and make amends.
- Remind your child that nobody is perfect and that honest mistakes don't define a person. What matters most is learning and improving.
- Create an open family culture where truth can be shared without fear of excessive judgment. Be understanding but precise.
To help children learn to be individuals with integrity, it is essential to instill the virtue of honesty. At Evergreen Middle School, we teach children that honesty is a fundamental virtue that is essential for personal growth, healthy relationships, and happiness. Honesty is more than just telling the truth or avoiding lies—it means having the courage to recognize and accept reality as it is, not as we wish it to be.
As we work together with patience and care, we can teach children that living honestly, while not always easy, is an essential part of living a happy, productive life. Then, hopefully, and thankfully, children will continue to embrace this virtue long after childhood and use it as a guiding principle in their moral foundation.
I want to express my sincere gratitude for your ongoing support. Together, we can ensure that your child receives the best education possible. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to contact me.
In partnership,
Mrs. Collins
Principal Evergreen Middle School
253 945 5100
Message from Mr. Wilkins, Intructional Coach
Dear Parents,
Hello! My name is Zephyr Wilkins. I’m so excited to be the new Instructional Coach at Evergreen!
A few things about me:
I was a classroom teacher (English) for 13+ years.
I was recognized as a model co-teacher at the most diverse high school in Colorado.
I am a graduate of the IB Programme and taught the IB in China and Thailand.
I look forward to working with parents, especially the PTO, on a variety of items.
The first two items are (1) HiCap Nominations and (2) iReady scores.
If you think your child is Highly Capable, please recommend them for testing using this link: https://www.fwps.org/academics/advanced-programs/highly-capable-services
Your child has recently taken the iReady which assesses their math and reading skills. I am working with the PTO on creating a system where students can be rewarded for doing iReady, Lexia, and/or CollegeBoard activities at home. More information to come.
Please feel free to reach out to me at zwilkins@fwps.org with any questions.
