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Enrichment
Science Camp
Each year all the 5th grade students attend Walden West Science Camp, located on 32 acres in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains near Saratoga, California. During the one week long program, students and teachers live and learn outdoors with guidance from experienced field instructors. Walden West promotes hands-on science learning that emphasizes life sciences and sustainable living practices. Lessons in the natural sciences come to life, helping students better understand and appreciate their world.
During their stay, students have full access to the wooded trails in Sanborn County Park, which provides an additional 6,000 acres of study area. They enjoy learning about the forest, meadow, and stream communities through the use of games and other activities. Qualified naturalists use their expertise to help children see the interrelationships between plants and animals as well as the effect we have on the environment. The Walden West site provides everything needed to assure your child's comfort. The facility includes a dining hall, shower room, infirmary, as well as cabins that are carpeted, heated, and furnished with wooden bunks and mattresses. The students eat nutritional and tasty food during their stay. Students serve themselves during family style meals and are encouraged to eat as much as they would like. The cooks are experienced in preparing and serving balanced meals and help make sure your child's needs are met.This experience is social as well as academic. Students also develop their social and leadership skills at Walden West 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 will last a lifetime. For more information, please visit Walden West Outdoor Science School.Science Fair
Each year students participate in the Science Fair traditionally held in the spring. Winners from each school in the district advance to the Evergreen School District Science Fair. Students complete one of five types of projects: experiment, demonstration, model, collection, or invention. Each project focuses on science concepts correlated to grade-level standards.
Band
Evergreen District School Band
Band is an optional part of the curriculum offered to all 5th and 6th grade students. Class meets for approximately 45 minutes once a week during the school day and is a “Performing Arts” class. Instruction will be offered on flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, and trombone.
There is no cost for this program. However, all students may need to rent or buy their instrument and are expected to purchase a cleaning/care kit for their instrument of choice. Students choosing to learn Clarinet or Alto Saxophone also need Reeds.
Performances are important and all students are expected to perform in the Winter & Spring Concerts. (Time & Location TBA)
Registration and classes begin in September. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/gallagherband
Or contact Mrs. Gallagher directly at ygallagher@eesd.org
Art Classes
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
Project Cornerstone
ABC Project Cornerstone's most popular program, with more than 2,800 adults reading to 40,000+ kids in over 100 schools throughout Silicon Valley. The ABC Program is a literature-based program addressing important issues like respect, tolerance, honesty, peaceful conflict resolution, taking a stand against bullying behaviors, and refusing to participate in gossip. Volunteers read specially selected books then lead discussions and activities that help teach valuable lessons related to these issues.
The program's goal is to help school communities achieve the following:
- Create a common language and vocabulary about student respect and behavior expectations among all members of the school community — students, parents and caregivers, teachers and staff.
- Help students develop skills to handle physical, verbal, relational and digital bullying and to STAND UP if they see someone else being bullied.
- Increase the number of caring adults on campus so that all students feel that there is at least one adult they can turn to if they have a problem.
- Contribute to a positive school climate where every student feels valued and supported to achieve and thrive.
ABC Program Books
During the school year, 8 books are read, once monthly (skipping December and June.) The ABC program is a cumulative program spanning 3 years, so books are repeated every three years.
Get Involved – Become a Volunteer Reader!
Become a volunteer and empower a life. For more information, contact the school front office. More information can be found on the Project Cornerstone Website.
Walk n' Roll
Every Wednesday is Walk n' Roll to School Day for students. Laurelwood families are encouraged to walk, bike and roll to school each Wednesday to promote daily physical activity, reduce traffic congestion around Laurelwood and learn critical skills that enhance biking and pedestrian safety. A "Lion Pass" is given to each student. Every Wednesday that students walk or bike to school, they can receive a special hole punch on their Lion Pass given by a parent volunteer, or staff member wearing a bright yellow vest beginning at 7:55 a.m. at the following two points: Evergreen Way and Partridge Drive/Buena Park Court and Buena View Court. Students can earn special prizes for every 5 hole punches they receive in the office during first recess. (Students must get their "Lion Pass" punched at these drop-off/walking points to earn prizes.)
PARENTS - Our drop-off loop will be CLOSED each Wednesday morning until 8:15 a.m. to ensure safe passage for students on to campus. The loop will be open in the afternoon for dismissal.
This program is funded through the city of San Jose's Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Climate Initiative grant to increase the number of students who walk or bike to school. Since the program began in 2012, there has been a 53.5% increase in the number of students who walk and bike to school at least three times a week. To learn more go to the Walk n' Roll website.
