Accessibility: Upcoming Dates: Sept 29 - Development Committee, Sept 29 - Parent Dialogue Series - In Person, October 2nd-6th - Fall Break, October 10th - Odyssey of the Mind Zoom Option, October 12th- Odyssey of the Mind In Person, October 12th Finance Committee, Oct 19 - Board Meeting, Oct 21-Community Workday
Tonight! Check out this free event from Blue Ridge Audubon! Join Us for Swift Night Out! Blue Ridge Audubon's Annual "Swift Night Out" Thursday, September 28th at 7:00 p.m. It's Chimney Swift season, an exciting time of year to see swirling clouds of Swifts as they gather at sunset to enter communal roosting sites. Blue Ridge Audubon will sponsor our annual Swift Night Out, a Chimney Swift viewing event scheduled for dusk in downtown Asheville. We'll meet at 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 28th on the top floor of the Harrah's Cherokee Center (Civic Center) Parking Deck (68 Rankin Avenue, Asheville).
Lights Out Asheville! The Coalition for a Bird-Friendly Asheville encourages all business owners, residents, and building managers to extinguish non-essential outdoor lighting between Midnight and 6AM during the Spring and Fall. Lighting that cannot be safely extinguished should be addressed and modified to meet bird-friendly, International Dark Sky Association standards. Sign our pledge to show your commitment to reducing light pollution, saving energy, and helping birds! Click Here to learn more, sign the pledge, and join the effort to make Asheville a safer place for our feathered friends!
Parent Dialogue Series kicks off tomorrow
Accessibility: PARENT DIALOGUE SERIES FIRST SESSION IN PERSON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29th at noon.
There’s no quick or foolproof way to talk about the complexities of race with your child(ren). But, it’s a conversation all families need to have, no matter your race, background, education or experience. Let’s get started, continue, or expand the conversation together.
Click Blue/Teal/Purple (Left on Desktop) Graphic for RSVP form.
Resources to get the Conversation Started
We will be hosting these events regularly , both online and in-person. They may center around articles, books, book chapters, podcasts, or even issues that you bring to the table. This initial meeting is just a place to get the conversation started. Have you explored these resources yet?
Articles:
How to Talk About Race and Racism with Teens
How Should I Talk about Race in My Mostly White Classroom? (written for teachers but has good suggestions parents can use as well)
Podcasts:
Seeing White
Nice White Parents
Spotlight on a Black Content Creator:
Britt Hawthorne (Instagram account) - like, follow, or use the buy me a cup of coffee button to support her work
EverAfter has space left during next week’s fall break.
The cost is $55/day. To sign up use the Extended Day Sign-up form link below. If your child isn’t registered for the ‘23-’24 school year yet, you’ll need to do that, too.
All sign-ups need to be in by Friday morning at 11AM!
Extended Day Sign-up:
https://form.jotform.com/evergreenccs/everafter-extended-day-care-23-34
EverAfter ‘23-’24 Registration:
https://form.jotform.com/evergreenccs/everafter-registration-23-24
Need Childcare during Fall Break? Sign up Now!
Lunch! Place your orders for Lunches by October 3rd! Order through My Payments Plus!
School Fees - Auto-Pay Option Now Available
Sign Up for Auto-Pay. Less work for you, less letters from me. Kindly, Beth
If you would like to sign up for auto pay for school fees including EverAfter charges, please complete THIS form.
You will be notified monthly before we charge your card.
If you have any questions about EverAfter fees charged to your MPP account please contact James Wilson. If you have questions about autopay or any other fees please contact Jean Reese.
Fees are due and payable one week after being added to MPP if you are NOT signed up for autopay.
Challenging Curious Minds
Are you ready to sail the high seas of creativity? Create, problem-solve, build, write, direct, act, & produce high quality nonsense while making friends, having fun. and learning new skills? Of course you do! Come see if Odyssey of the Mind is right for you!
Curious about Evergreen Acedemically/Intellectuall Gifted program AKA A. I. G. Program? Click on the Purple and Gold Graphic (Right on Desktop) for a program overview and qualifying criteria.
Odyssey of the Mind kicking off soon!
Evergreen parents of 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade kids! We are excited to continue our successful participation in Odyssey of the Mind - a wonderful problem-solving competition. If you'd like to learn more about OM, visit the Odyssey of the Mind website, or watch this super cute video! You can also check out these interviews from students who were world finalists! 2022 WLOS Interview 2023 Mountain Xpress 2023 WLOS Interview
Odyssey of the Mind will host two information meetings:
Tuesday, October 10th - on zoom from 4:00 to 4:30.
Thursday, October 12th - in Kendall's classroom in the modular from 3:30 to 4:30 in person.
Practices will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 to 5:00.
We're also looking for parent volunteers and parent coaches. If your child is interested in OM, consider being a coach.
If you are interested in Odyssey of the Mind, please fill out this quick Registration Form! Email Kendall if you have questions!
Empathy Building
Children and teenagers naturally have the capacity for empathy, but that doesn’t mean they develop it on their own. Kiddos learn how to notice, listen, and care by watching and listening to those around them, and they take cues from these people about why empathy is important. We are inclined to feel more empathy for those who are similar to us. But when it comes to building a school community here at Evergreen, we strive for more. In strong school communities, students (and adults) have empathy for everyone – including those who are different in background, beliefs, or other ways.
Check out this great playbook by The Choose Kindness Project on how to support kindness and empathy in our youth. There are also some great books showcasing black voices, accessible through the Public Library Catalog. Some suggested works for upper middle school include: “Like Home”, “The Black Kids”, “Who Put This Song On?”, “Monday's Not Coming”, “Crossover”, “The Hate You Give”, “All American Boys”, “Love is a Revolution”, and “Tristan's Story”. Suggestions for lower elementary grade levels include: “Ophie's Ghost”, “Brown Girl Dreaming”, “Watch Us Rise”, “Ghost Boys”, “The Stars Beneath Our Feet”, “Playing the Cards You're Dealt”, “Love Double Dutch”, most of which can also be found in our Evergreen library.
Lastly, 6th-8th graders either learned about, or had a refresher course on how to use, the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System this week. The Say Something-ARS allows you or your kiddos to submit secure, anonymous safety concerns to help someone who may hurt themselves or others. This anonymous tip is then screened by crisis counselors, 24/7, who either report to Evergreen administrators or to emergency professionals for the next steps in keeping our community safe.
Thank you all for your continued partnership. I hope each one of you has a restful and restorative Fall Break!
-Hunter Holland, Middle School Counselor
Stay tuned next week for some suggestions for the K-4 crowd!
Volunteers Make Evergreen Shine!
To Bren Dendy of Bren Photography for being the driving force behind Evergreen’s exceptional School Photos and the what has become an annual School Photo Fundraiser for Evergreen. And to Sandlin Gaither for lending his time and considerable talent. Click here to check out Bren’s portfolio. We will let you know when proofs are ready to order!
Events Committee Seeking Members. First meeting Friday, OCTOBER 13th @ 4:15pm at Highland Brewing. Please RSVP if you’re interested in joining! Looking for dreamers, party planners, crafters, fun-makers, for our year’s social and fundraising events. Come choose one event to focus on, or be involved in shaping all!
Saturday, Oct 21st is the next community workday. 9 A M to Noon. Click the yellow/orange graphic above to volunteer.
A note from Kellam, Teacher Appreciation Coordinator: Fearless Parents,School has started and our brave teachers and staff are back to give our kiddos their best. Let's show them how much we care by giving them a special treat once a week (preferably Thursday) in the staff lounge. Click on the pink and brown graphic above to learn more or to sign up for a week!
Take advantage of this Free Webinar Series Airing in October
Earlier this year, Attorney General Stein convened leaders from across North Carolina to discuss the challenges facing our youth and strategies to help keep them safe – and following that event, several parents noted that they wished there was a way to share this important information with others who are concerned about our kids. To do so, the NC Department of Justice is organizing a series of webinars targeted to parents, caregivers, and those who work with youth.
This series – Protecting the Next Generation of North Carolinians – will address four specific topics, one per each brief session, and at each, we’ll convene experts to provide background information and practical tips to help keep NC kids healthy and safe. We’ll cover topics including online dangers for youth, safe gun storage, and youth substance use. More information on the series is available here.
The series kicks off in October with Keeping Kids Safe at School, at Home, and in our Communities with Safe Gun Storage.
Wednesday, October 4 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Speakers include NC Department of Public Safety Deputy Secretary William Lassiter, Raleigh Police Department Lieutenant Billy Gartin, parent advocate Baker Burleson, and Attorney General Josh Stein
Register here
Breakfast! Available each morning in the foyer! No need to pre-order, $2.75 will be charged to your MPP account, unless you qualify for free/reduced lunch, then there is no charge! Click on the pink graphic for the weekly menu.