Activities
Friendly Helper Students

Don’t underestimate the importance of having fun participating in school activities. Some of the best times and memories students have are the experiences of belonging to a club or participating in an after school activity. Clubs and activities are important to join just for the enjoyment that they will bring to most students, but they also allow the students to more easily make friends because the groups are small and they get to be themselves!

Clubs and activities provide students with many positive experiences that help them to become well-rounded individuals who are ready for college or the workplace. It helps students to become active in their school and to feel a connection the school and to others. It provides a sense of pride and school spirit and it is a positive influence on our youth today.

There is something for everyone! Get involved!

Character Education at Evergreen Elementary School

Did you know our PTA sponsors a very important character education program for our school? The Eagle Excellence Program has been in place for over 7 years and is based on Chesterfield County’s four core values of Respect, Responsibility, Honesty and Accountability. Teachers nominate 2 children in their class every eight weeks who are consistently demonstrating positive behaviors that show a core value. These students are recognized at a school assembly.

Students learn about the behaviors that represent our core values in several ways. Mrs. Conrad and Mrs. Anderson, our school counselors, support several initiatives that help students to learn more. Look for some of these and more this year!

  • Morning Announcements: Mr. Maher makes announcements every morning to give students examples of ways the core values can be shown. We focus on topics that promote student academic and social success. Announcements might feature good student study skills or peer relations such as including others, sportsmanship, acceptance of others, and helping others.
  • Our Evergreen Expectations was created to set five simple expectations for all students.
  • The S.O.A.R. Matrix was created to establish clearly defined behavior expectations throughout the school that are consistently taught and modeled, using common and consistent language.

Both of these documents can be viewed on the counselor website as well as here.

Parents can support the program using everyday interactions to help children learn more about the core values by recognizing and reinforcing the positive behaviors they see students use and connect them to the value. We hope you will join staff in recognizing and celebrating actions that show good character!

Basic definitions we use at school are:

Respect: To treat other people the way you want to be treated (use the Golden Rule)

  1. Raise your hand and wait to be called on by your teacher…do not call out.
  2. Use your manners when talking to teachers, friends and parents.
  3. Look for ways to include everyone in games and other activities.
  4. Share with a classmate who may need a pencil or other school supply.
  5. Listen to other people’s opinions or views.
  6. Accept the differences in people and do not tease or use put downs.
  7. Give a complement to someone such as “You are a good artist” or “You keep your desk really clean”.
  8. Be a good sport on the playground. Take turns and let others go first sometimes.

Honesty: To be truthful in words and actions; to be someone others can trust; to not steal, cheat or lie.

  1. Tell the truth all the time…even if it means there are negative consequences.
  2. Always do your own work
  3. Keep a secret or confidence when someone trusts you with private information.
  4. Be fair in games. Play by the rules.
  5. Do not gossip or tell stories about friends or classmates.

Responsibility: To be dependable, reliable and fit to be trusted. Getting credit or blame for one’s actions or decisions.

  1. Admit when you’ve done something wrong or made a mistake.
  2. Complete your school assignment during the given time, and always ask for help if you need it.
  3. Do your homework every night and turn it in on time.
  4. Take care of your body. Get enough sleep, exercise and eat healthy food.

Accountability: The state of being responsible for what one does and able to choose between right and wrong.

  1. Think before you act or speak so you can make good choices.
  2. Remind yourself of the rules and what is right, and then follow the rules by using self-control.
  3. Line up in an orderly way and walk through the halls in a considerate manner using low voices.
  4. Stand up for someone who is being mistreated. Use your words to say stop.

The Friendly Helper Program is a peer counseling/peer tutoring program for elementary students. Friendly helpers are identified at the end of fourth grade to serve during their fifth grade school year. Students are nominated by their peers and confirmed by their teachers as students who exhibit the habits of good academic skills and demonstrate the ability to be self-directed, motivated, organized and helpful.

Friendly Helpers participate in 6-8 weeks of communication training with Mrs. Conrad preparing them to perform many leadership and volunteer duties throughout the school. Each Friendly Helper works with one or more students (K-4) to promote social growth and academic performance. Friendly Helpers are respected role models for the entire school.

Our PTA sponsors a Mileage Club to support health and fitness in the Evergreen community.  The club meets on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8:50 until 9:10 to run or walk laps on the track. The sign up sheet was in the Back to School Packets, as well as in the front office. The Fall Season runs from Sept 18th  until Nov 15th  and the Spring season runs from March 11th  – May 15th, weather permitting. If you would like more information about Mileage Club, please contact Lauren Rogers or Jon Pigg at [email protected]

St Mark’s United Methodist Church and Evergreen Elementary School have sponsored a successful mentoring program for over twenty-four years. Adult volunteers from the church and community and teen volunteers from local high schools visit a child at school for ½ hr per week. Mentors are matched with two children for a total time commitment of one hour per week. Volunteers and students meet on a consistent basis starting in November and continuing till May to help with academics and to form a special friendship. Mentors serve approximately 100 students each year.

If you would like to mentor please contact Amy Conrad at [email protected] or call 804-378-2400 ext 3019.

Volunteers don’t necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.

~Author Unknown

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