Enrichment
Art Programs
Research has consistently proven that music and art education build vital critical thinking skills in children. Through the Evergreen School District, an art teacher visits our 4th through 6th graders on a weekly basis teaching them a variety of art concepts such as:
- Portraiture
- Perspective
- Still life
- Realism/Abstraction
- Art history
- Color theory
- Fundamental composition skills
- Line and patterning
- Art vocabulary
Music - During and After School
Music During the School Day
Evergreen District School Band (Grades 5 and 6)
This Instrumental Band Program is an optional part of the curriculum of the Evergreen School District. The program is offered to all 5th and 6th grade students interested in learning to play a band instrument. Band class meets for 45 minutes once a week during the school day and is a “Performing Arts” class. Performances are important and all students are expected to perform in the district's spring concert at LeyVa Middle School. There is no cost for this program. However, all students are expected to purchase “Standards of Excellence, Book 1” by Bruce Pearson (the red book) and a cleaning/care kit for their instrument of choice. Students may also need to rent or buy their instrument. Instruction will be offered on flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. Registration and classes begin in September. For more information, contact: David Bakken, Evergreen School District Music Teacher, dbakken@eesd.org .
Music for Kindergarten students through the fourth grade
In conjunction with the Music for Minor Program, Montgomery offers free 30 minutes of music classes once a week to every kindergarten through fourth grade class. Here are the goals of the program: Engaging and participatory Based on grade-level objectives aligned to California music education standards.A foundation for upper-grade choral and instrumental music education. Please visit https://mfm.org/programs/ for more information.
Koinonia Outdoor Science Camp
John J. Montgomery 5th graders attend Koinonia Outdoor Science Camp nestled in the coastal Redwood forest of Santa Cruz mountains for four days each year.
Santa Cruz Outdoor School is owned and operated by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and is offered as a four day program to our 5th grade students.
During field class, students study the forest, meadows, and streams with a qualified naturalist. Through the use of games and other activities, instructors teach concepts about the natural sciences. Children see the interrelationships between plants and animals and learn about the affect they as people have on the environment.
Classroom teachers accompany their classes and provide constant support throughout the week. A week at outdoor school provides a unique learning opportunity. Living 24 hours a day with other students requires your child to cooperate and work together with others toward common goals. Friendships that are made during this week, particularly from different schools may last a lifetime.
Language Arts & Reading
Accelerated Reader Program
Accelerated Reader (AR), created by Renaissance Learning, Inc., is an individualized reading program used to assess and improve each student’s reading skills and to increase reading enjoyment. To find out more about the AR program click here.
Read-a-thon Month
Barnes & Noble kicks off this annual event with a night where students receive a reading log. All month long students read, track their reading and earn prizes. The top reader for our school receives a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card. Additionally, the one upper and the one lower grade student who reads the most across all Title-1 schools will win a Nook.
RAZ Kids
RAZ-Kids is an interactive reading tool for students to practice reading fluency and comprehension. Students have a log in and a password to get into their reading account. Teachers are able to monitor each students' progress and change their reading level. These levels are all individually based on each child's reading level and are adjusted to reflect their abilities. The students can listen to a story, read a story out loud, record themselves reading, and then take a comprehension quiz. Each child earns points or stars to use for their RAZ Rocket which allows them to buy things for their rocket very similar to Webkins.
Reading at Home (RAH)
This PTA sponsored program encourages students to read when they are away from school. Students record the number of minutes they read and/or an adult reads to them each day. Students are eligible to participate in our weekly drawing for children books.
Kindergarten Book Shelf
Kindergarten students decorate their very own bookshelf and select books to keep at home at this family event in the fall. Childcare is provided to help every family attend. A parent workshop “How to Help your Child Read” is held in English and Spanish.
Curl Up and Read Day
Curl Up and Read Day is a special event to promote reading. Students wear their pajamas to school with their regular school shoes. Teachers set a special time during the day when students spend time reading and enjoying a cookie and milk. The goal of the program is to encourage students to continue to read daily while having fun with their friends.