January 16th, 2025

January 20 - Martin Luther King Jr Day - No School
January 23 - Board Meeting
February 5 - Facilities Committee
February 6 - N&E Committee/ Executive Committee

February 13 - Finance Committee
February 14 - Grandfriends Day
February 18 - We Love Our Families Community Info Night


Community Circle & MLK Day

Tomorrow is our annual Community Circle in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Community Circles are student led and each class has an opportunity to reflect on content and share their ideas with the collective via student representatives. Families are welcome to attend. Community Circles are held in the gym just after morning announcements at 8:45am.

Remember that there is no school on Monday, 1/20.

There are so many wonderful community service events available to make next Monday a Day-On rather than a day off.

AVLToday posted a great list of ways you can show up on MLK Day as well as linking to a list of assorted volunteer opportunities throughout Asheville.

Marian Wright Edelman is an American activist for civil rights and children's rights. She is the founder and president emerita of the Children's Defense Fund. She influenced leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr, and Hillary Clinton. Wikipedia

This Community Circle will be led by Kindergarten and 6th Grade!


Hot Lunch is Back for 2025!

Head on over to the Nutrition Page to check out January and February Menus, or simply click here to place your order!


Grandfriends’ Day - February 14th

Ok Families! Act now! Secure your Grandfriend’s attendance at the upcoming Valentine’s Day event, have them do pick up for you that day, then let them know what an excellent opportunity it is to bond with their favorite Evergreener over pizza and a movie while you go out and enjoy Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day!

You can send the RSVP link to interested parties. And if there is a reason you DO NOT want your grandfriend to provide pick-up services, please let your child’s lead teacher know before the day of the event.

This year Grandfriends can add a greeting for their favorite Evergreen student! Send it little love their way with a customized Valentine poster.


ATTN: Middle School Students!

Vote for your fave, or design the next Tourney Shirt!

There are currently 3 different designs for the Tourney T-shirt for the Spring Fundraiser.

Click the VOTE button to see the three t-shirt designs for this year’s official Tourney shirt and place your vote, or you can submit your own designs!  New Submissions will be pitted against the winner of this poll in a second poll!

More info and design guidlelines in the poll. Click Vote to get started!


Looping Lot

Debris from cleaning up our campus is being held in the Looping Lot until it can be picked up. Therefore, there will be less room for cars and more room for patience as we navigate Monday traffic. Thank you in advance for extending grace and courtesy to our traffic team as they direct Looping Lot traffic with a few added obstacles.


Thank You to our donors!

Thanks to your generous gifts we are over half way to the Evergreen Annual Fund Goal as we pass the halfway mark on the scholastic year!

We completely understand if your family is not in a position to financially support the school this year. You can still be involved by simply SHARING about our fundraiser with friends and extended family online. Sharing IS supporting!

You can share the Evergreen Annual Fund by Copy/Pasting the below link, or sharing our Text To Give Information.

www.givebutter.com/evergreenfund
Text 53-555


Happy New Year from the Counseling Department!

This week we are sharing some unique opportunities for community support that can help your child and/or your family tap into their creative side, while also nurturing their mental health and interpersonal relationships. VeryWellMind has a great, quick-read article that breaks down Creative-Expressive Art Therapy and its various modalities. Incorporating Expressive Arts into therapy and wellness journeys has many benefits which can aid in personal growth and healing processes. 

Below are three upcoming opportunities for children, teens, and families to create and connect through expressive arts experiences. 

Evergreen Counseling Team

Annie Mast (K-4)
NCC, LCMHC
(828) 298 2173 x1312

Hunter Holland (5-8)
LCMHCA, NCC
(828) 298 2173 x1204

For children: West Asheville Yoga is offering Kids Yoga and Art Pop-up series ages 3-8. Through creative movement, restorative play, mindfulness, therapeutics, and self-expression this series helps children increase mind and body awareness, strength, flexibility, focus, and creativity. Children will learn tools for self-regulation, build social-emotional skills, and practice a variety of breath-work and mindfulness techniques to use throughout their daily life.

For Teens: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) informed Creative Arts Group for Teens with Healing Together Counseling and Wellness for ages 13-17. This group focuses on expression of teens' experience through creative arts and in teaching DBT skills relating to mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Therapy groups are open to new members with an 8-week minimum commitment. Call them at 828-649-5016 or email them through the Contact Us page on their website.

For Families: Wortham Center’s ARTS RISING! initiative, conceived in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, was created to uplift and bring the community together, while also making the arts more accessible in this challenging time. As downtown Asheville reopens, the Wortham Center welcomes longtime patrons and newcomers alike to experience the healing power of the arts through ARTS RISING!


Pisgah Legal Services continues to assist individuals/households and nonprofits with disaster recovery issues. You all have likely seen that the FEMA application deadline has been extended to February 6.  PLS can assist with: 

  • Legal help with FEMA appeals and private insurance appeals for individuals and households,

  • Help for nonprofits with FEMA Public Assistance applications, 

  • Legal assistance for renters and homeowners impacted by Helene, 

  • Legal assistance on consumer issues.

Apply online or by phone at 828-253-0406.   

Pisgah Legal Services is partnering with other legal services providers to host Disaster Recovery Legal Clinics in the coming weeks. Details for all of these events on their website. 

Keep Flooding Back Love

Need to be added to the list? Reply to The Scoop email to get us your info.


Robin’s Nest Needs

While the Robin's Nest, our school clothing closet, is well stocked for winter needs; we are missing some essentials. We could use donations socks and underwear. We now have hygiene items in there too! 

Please sign up below to help us re-feather our Nest!

Donations can be dropped off in the main office.


On Loan

Let’s keep costs down by sharing assets! Here is a list of things needed for an upcoming event/s. Please let Lynni know if you are willing to loan any of the following items:

  • Large Clock for Game Play

  • Scrimmage Jerseys - any accepted; green/blue preferred

  • Wood Burning Tools


Thank you Volunteers!

Your hours are valued!

Having a log accounting our community’s significant investment in our collective success helps us when we are applying for grants from other funding sources. Other funding sources = less need for monetary donations from families.

You can account for hours as you go, or collectively for a week, or month, or more!

Click here to become the our Staff’s Thursday Hero. And remember to log your hours! <3


Enrollment Season has begun!

Let your friends and neighbors know: Open Enrollment runs through March 31st. The lottery will be drawn on April 8th!

Click the graphic to share our Enrollment Page!


Connect With Free Resources for Families

Buncombe County
Public Library

Buncombe County Library has such a rich calendar of free events for the community! Lego Clubs, Ukelele Lessons, Intro to Mindfulness, Book Clubs, Festivals, Watercolor Painting, Clothing Swaps, D&D!

Come find your community (and a good book) at the library!

Don’t forget to check out ZOOM Passes, your free ticket to local attractions.

Bounty & Soul Market

“We know our farmers and they know us. We honor their work as sacred. 

Knowledge is power and communities are wise. Communities have the resources to care for each other. 

Together we create a just and equitable food and health system.” 

Use the button above to find a pop-up market near you.

Resources for Resilience

Resources for Resilience shares practical tools and research-based resources that people of all ages can use to manage stress and find compassion and connection. Our trainings and professional development workshops help participants work together to prevent future adversity and create healthier, more resilient communities.

Click the button above to learn more about their workshops, trainings, and listening circles.


Ways to give that don’t involve cash!

Do you use aluminum cans in life? Do you want to help support our Adventure Program? If the answer is yes to both then we’re looking for you. Our Cans for Climbing program is a major fundraiser for Evergreen’s Adventure Program that is easy to participate in. All you need to do is drop off any aluminum cans you have in the Cans for Climbing Trailer located right by our buses.

Download the app and start scanning your receipts at checkout!

Linking your card really does make a difference! If you cannot afford to give monetarily to our fundraisers, linking your grocery cards is a great way to make sure that you are helping to support our school!  
Click on the picture to get started. 
School ID Number 10713

Purchase a book for the library, or use it as a book recommendation list for your next library trip!

Did you know that 10% of each Artsonia purchase is donated to the school.


January 9th, 2025

Dates of Note

January 13 - Community Circle
January 20 - Martin Luther King Jr Day - No School
January 23 - Board Meeting
February 5 - Facilities Committee
February 6 - N&E Committee/ Executive Committee

February 13 - Finance Committee
February 14 - Grandparents Day


Keep scrolling after the Director’s Letter, more info below!

Happy New Year Evergreen!

It’s great to have everyone back at school, and I hope you all had a wonderful break and got a chance to refresh.

As we begin this new year, I’ve been taking some time to reflect on last year and my gratitude for all of you and how you each contribute to our community. And, thinking ahead to the new year and my hopes and goals for it, I am excited to see what comes out of this year and how we we will all grow together. For me, the utmost importance is that Evergreen is a safe, inclusive, and joyful learning environment for all, and my work and goals in my role revolve around this. 

As always, our partnership with families and the broader community is an essential part of this, and I am looking forward to collaborating with all of you throughout this year. 

We were surprised and grateful to receive contributions from 3 separate schools in December, who each sent grocery/merchandise gift cards for us to give to families and staff as a way to support our hurricane recovery. It is really heartwarming to feel the love from all over the state. 

Please join us next Monday, January 13th, for our first Community Circle of the year. It will take place from 8:45-9:15am in the Evergreen gym and is one of only a few times each year that the whole school gathers.

A few important housekeeping notes: 

  • We will be unable to use the lower lot for a period of time while they do creek work, starting next week. Please read communications to come about what afternoon pickup will look like until we have the lower lot available again.

  • A draft calendar for the 2025-2026 school year will go to the board for discussion this month with a vote scheduled for February.

  • Reminder that our calendar and weather related closures do not necessarily align with Asheville City and Buncombe County schools. Our year long Evergreen Calendar can be found on our website or easily added to your own google calendar.


Hot Lunch is Back for 2025!

Head on over to the Nutrition Page to check out January and February Menus, or simply click here to place your order!


Grandfriends’ Day - February 14th

Grandfriends’ Day invitations went out earlier this week. If you missed adding your Grandfriends to the invite list, you can send them the RSVP link directly by clicking the green button and forwarding them the link!

New this year: guests can add a Valentine Greeting in the form of a poster that will be delivered to classrooms for a small donation.


Around Campus

Looping Lot

Debris from cleaning up our campus is being held in the Looping Lot until it can be picked up. Therefore, there will be less room for cars and more room for patience as we navigate Monday traffic. Thank you in advance for extending grace and courtesy to our traffic team as they direct Looping Lot traffic with a few added obstacles.

Oakes Trail

Please practice Leave No Trace principles by staying on established paths. The Oakes Trail down to the parking lot does NOT run down through the East Asheville Rec Center’s Parking Lot. Please help us maintain a good relationship with our neighbors by refraining from using this path. We will rehang the Trail Closed sign soon. In the meanwhile, please use the Oakes Trail which runs parallel with the driveway.


Enrollment Season has begun!

Let your friends and neighbors know: Open Enrollment runs through March 31st. The lottery will be drawn on April 8th!


Thank you Volunteers!

Your hours are valued!

Having a log accounting our community’s significant investment in our collective success helps us when we are applying for grants from other funding sources. Other funding sources = less need for monetary donations from families.

You can account for hours as you go, or collectively for a week, or month, or more!

Click here to become the our Staff’s Thursday Hero. And remember to log your hours! <3


Like, Follow, Comment, Share

You can help be a fundraiser simply by boosting our signal! Follow us on Social Media. Like/Love/Wow our posts. Comment on posts. Share posts: in groups, on your page, in group texts with family. You may even see a familiar face in the posts!

Don’t use Social Media?

You can also ask folks to:
TEXT: WEARECREW to 53-555
or
Visit us on our website:
www.evergreenCCS.org/give


Keep Flooding Back Love

Need to be added to the list? Reply to The Scoop email to get us your info.


Connect With Free Resources for Families

Buncombe County
Public Library

Buncombe County Library has such a rich calendar of free events for the community! Lego Clubs, Ukelele Lessons, Intro to Mindfulness, Book Clubs, Festivals, Watercolor Painting, Clothing Swaps, D&D!

Come find your community (and a good book) at the library!

Don’t forget to check out ZOOM Passes, your free ticket to local attractions.

Bounty & Soul Market

“We know our farmers and they know us. We honor their work as sacred. 

Knowledge is power and communities are wise. Communities have the resources to care for each other. 

Together we create a just and equitable food and health system.” 

Use the button above to check out to find a pop-up market near you.

Resources for Resilience

Resources for Resilience shares practical tools and research-based resources that people of all ages can use to manage stress and find compassion and connection. Our trainings and professional development workshops help participants work together to prevent future adversity and create healthier, more resilient communities.

Click the button above to learn more about their workshops, trainings, and listening circles.


Ways to give that don’t involve cash!

Do you use aluminum cans in life? Do you want to help support our Adventure Program? If the answer is yes to both then we’re looking for you. Our Cans for Climbing program is a major fundraiser for Evergreen’s Adventure Program that is easy to participate in. All you need to do is drop off any aluminum cans you have in the Cans for Climbing Trailer located right by our buses.

Download the app and start scanning your receipts at checkout!

Linking your card really does make a difference! If you cannot afford to give monetarily to our fundraisers, linking your grocery cards is a great way to make sure that you are helping to support our school!  
Click on the picture to get started. 
School ID Number 10713

Purchase a book for the library, or use it as a book recommendation list for your next library trip!

Did you know that 10% of each Artsonia purchase is donated to the school.


December 19th, 2024

Dates of Note

December 23rd- January 6th - Winter Break
January 9 - Finance Committee
January 13 - Community Circle
January 20 - Martin Luther King Jr Day - No School


Winter Market Tomorrow

Friday, December 20th

Fifth Graders will be selling crafts (made from landfill bound materials), nutritious treats, and cups of warm mint tea. Each item will be priced at $1 and each student is invited to choose a craft, a treat, and tea for a total of up to $3.  In order to support Evergreen’s sustainable ethos, we ask students to bring their own mugs if possible.  

Students will visit the Winter Market during the school day with their class. The money raised will help fund the 5th graders end-of-year campout in addition to making charitable donations to our community nonprofit partners. Donations above asking price are always welcome. We appreciate your support!


Hot Lunch is Back for 2025!

Head on over to the Nutrition Page to check out January and February Menus, or simply click here to place your order!


Last Call for Grandfriend Addresses!

With Grandfriends’ Day rescheduled for Valentines Day, we will need to get invites out just after the holidays. If you did not do so the first go-round, please include your guests’ info in the form linked below!


Honey for the Holidays

Stop by the office to make your next celebration a little sweeter. Local honey for $7-22. Some sizes are selling out! Make like Janice and Get It While You Can.

Open Enrollment starts January 1

Let your friends and neighbors know: Open Enrollment starts on January 1st and runs through March 31st. The lottery will be drawn on April 8th!

 

Lost & Found

The last day to check December's lost and found is this Friday December 20th! As always, any unclaimed items will be donated to our ECCS Robin's Nest and other donation sites in need. All lost and found items labeled with names have been returned. 

Locations: Foyer outside main office, Gym


Thank You to Our Fund Raisers and our fun Raisers

Click the graphic to make a gift to Evergreen this season. Or right click to copy/paste and share!

Community Builders

Last week at the East Asheville Library, Evergreen Families made Holiday Cards for the Nursing-Home-Bound residents of Asheville.

I mustache you a question

Would you like to give the parent group feedback about the type of events you'd like to see?
Please fill out this short survey.


Thank you Volunteers!

Your hours are valued!

Having a log accounting our community’s significant investment in our collective success helps us when we are applying for grants from other funding sources. Other funding sources = less need for monetary donations from families.

You can account for hours as you go, or collectively for a week, or month, or more!

Click here to become the our Staff’s Thursday Hero. And remember to log your hours! <3


ATTN: MIDDLE SCHOOL

North Asheville Junior League is looking for middle school athletes (age 13-15) who want to develop their baseball skills.


Click the graphic for more info/registration!


Parenting Through Winter Break And Starting The New Year Strong

The end of the year is approaching, which means we are already halfway through the school year; I can’t believe it! Holiday parties, special religious celebrations and services, snow days, and winter break are all here. While the holidays are meant to bring us joy, rest, and spiritual rejuvenation, all of these changes also can be disruptive or stressful for families with children. This may be especially true for families with children who have special needs due to a mental health diagnosis.

Maybe you’ve established a system that works well for your child but are worried about how the approaching changes might interrupt the system. Or maybe your family is still trying to figure out and understand what works best for your child with special needs.

Let’s Talk About Routines

Routines and consistency are important for all children — and helpful for adults too! Routines provide children with a sense of safety and predictability in the world. Chaos or unpredictability can set children up for experiencing worry and anxiety.

From the Desk of:

Hunter Holland
LCMHCA, NCC
(828) 298 2173 x1204

 

A child may wonder:

“How do I know what to expect?”
“What if something bad happens next?”
Or they may experience oppositional behavior:
“I’m not sure what the rules or boundaries are, so I need to test them to find out.”

Keeping in mind that we can’t be 100 percent consistent all of the time, here are some general guidelines on ways to maintain consistency and routines throughout the school year and the holidays.

Try to Keep to a Similar Sleeping and Eating Schedule

Disrupting daily biological routines can lead to changes in mood, fatigue and irritability. I know it’s tempting to let kids stay up late and sleep in during their holiday break. But it’s just as important to stick to a consistent sleeping and eating schedule during the holidays as it is during a normal school week. So, during the holiday season, follow these important schedule guidelines:

  • Stick to usual eating and sleeping times.

  • If your child needs daily medication, keep the timing of delivery consistent for the medication to be most effective.

  • If your family absolutely has to stay up late for holiday travel or a holiday party, that’s OK, but try to minimize these disruptions as much as possible.

  • If there needs to be an overall shift during the holiday, try to keep it within one hour of the established routine.

Structure Throughout the Day

While most school-aged kids will have regular homework during the school year, they won’t have much, if any, homework over holiday breaks. Transitioning to a holiday break with very little structure can be dysregulating. Therefore, it is still helpful for children to have some type of structure to their day. During lots of travel or between stimulating holiday activities, try to create a regular “low-key” time of day where your child can engage in light activities, including:

  • Reading

  • Drawing

  • Coloring

  • Learning-based gameplay

This is especially important for children who struggle more with lack of structure, such as children with ADHD or those who are on the autism spectrum.

This “low-key” time may also be a good time for them to practice any skills, such as relaxation or emotion identification.

Check in With Your Child

As the first half of the school year winds down, take some time to talk with your child about how they think the semester went:

What subjects did they enjoy or struggle with?

If your child has school accommodations, are they meeting your child’s needs?

What are some fun things they do with friends?

Any major social challenges?

What do they feel most proud of this year?

Give them genuine praise for the hard work they have done this year, let them know how proud you are of them, and let them know that it’s OK if they are struggling in any area and that you can work together to help make it better.

Even though I covered a lot about routines, consistency, and schedules, please make sure to schedule times of rest, rejuvenation, and joy this winter break! See you all in the New Year!!


Like, Follow, Comment, Share

You can help be a fundraiser simply by boosting our signal! Follow us on Social Media. Like/Love/Wow our posts. Comment on posts. Share posts: in groups, on your page, in group texts with family. You may even see a familiar face in the posts!

Don’t use Social Media?

You can also ask folks to:
TEXT: WEARECREW to 53-555
or
Visit us on our website:
www.evergreenCCS.org/give


‘Tis the Season to Flood Back Love

Need to be added to the list? Reply to The Scoop email to get us your info.


Connect With Free Resources for Families

Buncombe County
Public Library

Buncombe County Library has such a rich calendar of free events for the community! Lego Clubs, Ukelele Lessons, Intro to Mindfulness, Book Clubs, Festivals, Watercolor Painting, Clothing Swaps, D&D!

Come find your community (and a good book) at the library!

Don’t forget to check out ZOOM Passes, your free ticket to local attractions.

Bounty & Soul Market

“We know our farmers and they know us. We honor their work as sacred. 

Knowledge is power and communities are wise. Communities have the resources to care for each other. 

Together we create a just and equitable food and health system.” 

Use the button above to check out to find a pop-up market near you.

Resources for Resilience

Resources for Resilience shares practical tools and research-based resources that people of all ages can use to manage stress and find compassion and connection. Our trainings and professional development workshops help participants work together to prevent future adversity and create healthier, more resilient communities.

Click the button above to learn more about their workshops, trainings, and listening circles.


Ways to give that don’t involve cash!

Do you use aluminum cans in life? Do you want to help support our Adventure Program? If the answer is yes to both then we’re looking for you. Our Cans for Climbing program is a major fundraiser for Evergreen’s Adventure Program that is easy to participate in. All you need to do is drop off any aluminum cans you have in the Cans for Climbing Trailer located right by our buses.

Download the app and start scanning your receipts at checkout!

Linking your card really does make a difference! If you cannot afford to give monetarily to our fundraisers, linking your grocery cards is a great way to make sure that you are helping to support our school!  
Click on the picture to get started. 
School ID Number 10713

Purchase a book for the library, or use it as a book recommendation list for your next library trip!

Did you know that 10% of each Artsonia purchase is donated to the school.


December 12th, 2024

December 12th - Finance Committee
December 13th - Community Builders Gathering
December 18th - Winter Showcase Grades 5-8

December 19th - Winter Showcase Grades K-4
December 19th - Board Meeting
December 23rd- January 6th - Winter Break


Keep scrolling after the Director’s Letter, there’s more below!


Happy December, Evergreen families!

I don’t know about you, but I still feel like I’m in a bit of a time warp that started with the hurricane and is still lingering as we roll into the holiday season. I hope you all are finding ways to feel more settled and recovering some - I know that there are so many various levels of recovery needed across the area. 

I want to send out a thank you to Lake Norman Charter School, whose students created “Brightness Bags” for our students and staff and delivered them to us last week. We were able to give each student and staff member a gift bag complete with a sweet handwritten note from one of their students. It was a great reminder that we are cared for!

Reminder as the weather changes: We do not automatically follow other schools’ calls for closings/delays. We make our own decisions but will send out a text and email and post on WLOS and our website when we delay or close school. Use your best judgment - if we are open and your roads are not safe to drive on, your child’s absence will be excused

We are looking forward to seeing you and celebrating student learning next week at our Winter Showcases on Dec. 18th and 19th. Students have been working hard since returning to school and are excited to share with you all before we wrap up for break. 

Happy holidays to each of you - I hope you enjoy your winter break and all have time to refresh and spend time with family and friends before we return in 2025! 

Take care of yourselves and each other!


We need GrandFriend Email Addresses!

With Grandfriends Day rescheduled for Valentines Day, we will need to get invites out just after the holidays, if you did not do so the first go-round, please include your guests’ info in the form linked below!


TOMORROW: Community Builders Gathering

Please join the Community Builders for Holiday Card Crafting!

Together we’ll make cards to be delivered to community elders in assisted living. We will provide hot chocolate, light snacks, and craft supplies! Everyone is welcome. 

Friday, December 13, 4-6pm

East Asheville Library: Meeting room AB

We loved seeing so many of you at RAD Brewing this month. If you'd like to give us feedback or tell us what type of events you'd like to see, please fill out this short survey.

Join our Whatsapp group to get gathering invites and reminders, and connect with other Evergreen families through this QR Code.

Photo Credit: Toa Heftiba: Unsplash

 

Join us on WhatsApp

 

Winter Showcase

You are invited into the classroom on December 18th and 19th, to celebrate achievements, view student work, and connect with your school community ahead of the winter break. These events will fold Fall Family Nights into our abbreviated fall/winter schedule, so that our students can still showcase the projects they have been working so hard on.

December 18th - 1:30pm - 5th-8th Grades
December 19th - 1:00pm - K-4th Grades

Look for more specific information, and ways to get involved in classroom newsletters.

We know that these daytime hours are not ideal for many parents. We apologize for the lack of evening options. If you cannot make it, consider sending a grandparent, friend, or neighbor in your stead.

On December 19th- The K-4 event will be combined with the Annual K-4 Winter Concert and will begin in the gym at 1pm.

We hope to see you on campus for these important Celebrations of Learning!


Sweet Gestures: Honey for the Holidays

We have Wildflower and Sourwood Honey from local apiary Haw Creek Honey for sale!

While you are here for the Winter Showcase, stop by the main office to buy honey for your family and friends.

Jars range in price from $7 - 22 and come in many sizes.


Calling all book lovers!

Reading Clubs and challenges for grades 3-5!

Based on student and family interest, we are planning to offer two reading extracurriculars for our upper elementary students in the new year. Our goal is to foster a love of reading and to create excitement around good books. Readers of all levels are welcome!
Third, fourth, and fifth grade students will have the option of attending "Book of the Month" meetups, which are intended to be flexible and casual times to come together after reading a common book. Fourth and fifth graders will have the additional option of participating in Battle of the Books--a higher commitment offering for those who are ready to take their reading to a competitive level! Flyers, permission slips, and additional information will be available around the school and at our Winter Showcase. Want to make sure you don't miss any details? Be sure to complete the Google Form in the embedded newsletter so that you can be added to our distribution list!


ATTN: MIDDLE SCHOOL

North Asheville Junior League is looking for middle school athletes (age 13-15) who want to develop their baseball skills.

Registration for the Spring 2025 Season is LIVE! Register at this link: https://tshq.bluesombrero.com/northashevillelittleleague

LAST CALL!
Love Capture the Hoops? Loathe Capture the Hoops? Want to do a dance-a-thon instead? Miss the Trail Run? Have your own ideas for a fun fundraiser? Make your voice heard!

ATTN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Love Capture the Hoops? Loathe Capture the Hoops? Want to do a dance-a-thon instead? Miss the Trail Run? Have your own ideas for a fun fundraiser? Make your voice heard!

Click the button to let us know what you would like to see this Spring!


Like, Follow, Comment, Share

You can help be a fundraiser simply by boosting our signal! Follow us on Social Media. Like/Love/Wow our posts. Comment on posts. Share posts: in groups, on your page, in group texts with family. You may even see a familiar face in the posts!

Don’t use Social Media?

You can also ask folks to:
TEXT: WEARECREW to 53-555
or
Visit us on our website:
www.evergreenCCS.org/give


The Power of Giving: A Lesson in Resilience and Compassion

This year I am finding myself in deep reflection about what the holiday season truly means, and I would be willing to bet I’m not alone in this, especially as our community continues to recover from the impact of Hurricane Helene. During times of grief and uncertainty, it can be difficult to feel celebratory, but there is one gift that can bring light in even the darkest of times: the gift of giving.

Don’t forget our collection of family fundraiser links as you plan your holiday giving.

Research shows that acts of kindness and giving—whether through time, attention, or resources—are not only good for others but also benefit our own mental and physical health. Giving has been shown to reduce stress, increase feelings of connection, and even improve overall well-being. In a season when many of us are grieving what we've lost, it can be incredibly healing to focus on how we can bring hope and comfort to others, whether through a simple gesture or a more meaningful act of service.

This is an opportunity to model for our children the true spirit of the holiday season: not centered around gifts we can buy, but around gifts we can give with our hearts. It’s also a chance to show them that kindness doesn’t always require money. As parents, we may be facing the reality that this year’s holidays won’t look like they usually do, and that’s okay. Give yourself grace if things feel a bit different than expected—what matters most is the love and connection we share with those around us.

From the Desk of:

Annie Mast
NCC, LCMHC
(828) 298 2173 x1312

Here are a few meaningful ways that families can give during the holiday season:

Volunteer Together: Many local organizations and shelters are in need of volunteers, especially around the holidays. Whether it's helping to pack food for those in need, delivering meals, or spending time at a senior center, giving your time can have a powerful impact on both the recipients and your own family. Hands On Asheville is a great place to start when looking for volunteer opportunities.

Acts of Kindness: Encourage your children to think of small, simple ways to give that don’t require money. Maybe it’s helping a neighbor with their yard work or providing a meal, offering to watch a friend’s children for a few hours, helping with errands, or writing cards to healthcare workers, first responders, delivery drivers, or other important community members. Even a smile or kind word can make a huge difference. There are some great ideas for spreading kindness on this 24 Acts of Kindness in December Calendar

Create Handmade Gifts: Whether it’s baking cookies, crafting a thoughtful card, or making holiday crafts & decorations, or crafting a thoughtful card, homemade gifts and holiday crafts can be a powerful reminder that the most meaningful gifts come from the heart, not the wallet. 

Support Local Nonprofits: Many local nonprofits are doing amazing work in the community. Consider donating items like clothing or toys, or helping to organize a drive. It’s a great way to involve your children in giving back to those who are facing hardship. 

This holiday season, let’s focus on the gifts that really matter—connection, kindness, and shared experiences. Remember, you don’t have to do everything “perfectly.” What matters most is the love you share and the example you set for your children. Take care of yourselves, and know that even the smallest act of giving can create endless ripples of hope and joy.

Here’s an opportunity! Support our Local Library! 
Are any of these books on your shelves? 

Having a log accounting our community’s significant investment in our collective success helps us when we are applying for grants from other funding sources. Other funding sources = less need for monetary donations from families.

You can account for hours as you go, or collectively for a week, or month, or more!

Click here to become the our Staff’s Thursday Hero. And remember to log your hours! <3


Shine On, Shine On!

Ms. Mindy’s former school, Williams Montessori sent care packages and made paper cranes and a large poster full of encouragement for students.

Fourth Graders doing Classroom Chores

After breaking the chart for number of water bottles left behind on Tuesday and Wednesday, Rachel and Sarah’s class have redeemed themselves on Wednesday! Let’s hear it for reusable water bottles and personal responsibility!

Kindergarten Art!


Connect With Free Resources for Families

Buncombe County
Public Library

Buncombe County Library has such a rich calendar of free events for the community! Lego Clubs, Ukelele Lessons, Intro to Mindfulness, Book Clubs, Festivals, Watercolor Painting, Clothing Swaps, D&D!

Come find your community (and a good book) at the library!

Don’t forget to check out ZOOM Passes, your free ticket to local attractions.

Bounty & Soul Market

“We know our farmers and they know us. We honor their work as sacred. 

Knowledge is power and communities are wise. Communities have the resources to care for each other. 

Together we create a just and equitable food and health system.” 

Use the button above to check out to find a pop-up market near you.

Resources for Resilience

Resources for Resilience shares practical tools and research-based resources that people of all ages can use to manage stress and find compassion and connection. Our trainings and professional development workshops help participants work together to prevent future adversity and create healthier, more resilient communities.

Click the button above to learn more about their workshops, trainings, and listening circles.


Ways to give that don’t involve cash!

Do you use aluminum cans in life? Do you want to help support our Adventure Program? If the answer is yes to both then we’re looking for you. Our Cans for Climbing program is a major fundraiser for Evergreen’s Adventure Program that is easy to participate in. All you need to do is drop off any aluminum cans you have in the Cans for Climbing Trailer located right by our buses.

Download the app and start scanning your receipts at checkout!

Linking your card really does make a difference! If you cannot afford to give monetarily to our fundraisers, linking your grocery cards is a great way to make sure that you are helping to support our school!  
Click on the picture to get started. 
School ID Number 10713

Purchase a book for the library, or use it as a book recommendation list for your next library trip!

Did you know that 10% of each Artsonia purchase is donated to the school.