Accessibility: Upcoming Dates: Dec 7 - First Trimester Progress Reports sent home; Dec 7 - Growth Rings Parent Dialogue Session (In Person); Dec 8 - Finance Committee Meeting; Dec 11 - Growth Rings Parent Dialogue Session (On Zoom); Dec 14 - Winter Concert; Dec 14 - Board Meeting; Dec 14 - Appalachian Storytelling Celebration

Dear Evergreeners,

It’s a busy month, this thing we call December. I hope you are all doing well and keeping up amidst the bustle of holidays.

I’m using my space this month in part to share necessary information with you - part of our job as a school is to ensure that you are well informed as parents so that we can partner together to best support our students’ growth and development.

Also, I’d like to invite you to explore your family’s traditions, expectations, and relationship with the holiday season. I’ve been reading and listening and really reflecting on holidays and celebrations here in the US and around the world. I’d like to invite you to join me via zoom on Monday for our next parent dialogue session - we’re discussing the holiday season and dominant culture privilege especially as relates to the holidays. My hope for this season, while spending time with my kids and family, is to dig in and learn more about traditions and beliefs that many in our country share and explore my personal biases and blind spots while expanding my understanding of celebrations. I hope you’ll join me in discussing and learning!

Here are a couple of notices to inform you of your rights as a parent; this information can also be found in our Community Handbook.

Assessments:

As a public school, Evergreen is required to participate in the state’s testing and accountability program. Although Evergreen’s program is not “test driven,” standardized testing is one of many measures of student progress by which we measure our effectiveness as a school. Regularly administered tests include the North Carolina beginning-of-grade (BOG) test in reading in third grade and end-of-grade (EOG) tests in reading and math given once per year in third-eighth grades, the EOG science test administered in fifth and eighth grades, and the Math I end-of-course (EOC) test, given to students who complete Math I. Some of Evergreen’s students with identified exceptionalities take alternative assessments or receive accommodations on standardized tests as documented in the student’s Individualized Education Plan.

Test score information is distributed to students, families, and teachers as soon as it becomes available and schoolwide results can be found on the State Report Cards website: School Report Cards | NC DPI. Parents may request and be provided with information about state policy regarding student participation in standardized tests by contacting the school testing coordinator, Tim Bushnell (5-8 Associate Director).

Dates of testing, a description of the tests, and the use of scoring will be distributed to families in a timely manner. The third grade BOG test occurs during the first ten days of school and EOG/EOC tests are administered during the final ten days of school; please refer to the school calendar on the Evergreen website for exact dates.

Additional information regarding North Carolina required testing can be found here: https://www.dpi.nc.gov/districts-schools/testing-and-school-accountability

At any time, parents and family members can request:

  • information on policies regarding student participation in assessments and procedures for opting out and

  • information on required assessments that include

    • subject matter tested;

    • purpose of the test;

    • source of the requirement (if applicable);

    • amount of time it takes students to complete the test; and

    • time and format of disseminating results.

Teacher Qualifications:

As we hire teachers, we always strive to place licensed teachers into our lead teacher roles. There are times, though, when the right person for the role is qualified but is not a licensed teacher. Moving forward, you will receive a notification at the beginning of the year if your child’s teacher is not licensed, is assigned out of field, or is teaching under a provisional or emergency license. If your child is currently in a class that is taught by a teacher in this category, we will send you a notification soon. You are always welcome to ask about your child’s teacher’s qualifications by requesting them in writing to one of our Associate Directors or to me directly.

Accessibility:

We strive to make all school communications available in a language/format that is accessible to anyone. We ask families to indicate in enrollment forms whether they need a different format or language for school communications but if at any time you would like to receive school communications in a different format or language, please let us know and we will ensure that you are receiving information in an accessible format.

Take care of yourselves and each other through the holidays and I’ll look forward to hearing all about your celebrations and family traditions this winter.

ps- When the weather turns icy/snowy, we make decisions about staying open/closing/delays that are independent of Asheville City and Buncombe County Schools. To notify families, we will send out a text/robocall and also post it on WLOS and our socials, ideally by 6am.

Also, progress reports went out today via email. Contact Cameron Brantley (K-4th grades) or Tim Bushnell (5th-8th grades) if you didn't receive the email.

Fifth Grade Holiday Market

On December 15, during school hours, the fifth grade classrooms will be transformed into the annual Fifth Grade Student Holiday Market.

Hot chocolate, treats, along with crafts made from landfill bound materials will be available for sale. All items cost $1.