Evergreen School

About Evergreen School

Principal's Message:

Every day we provide a caring, personalized and enriched environment where children learn with joy.

And because our children explore, create and contribute to their community, they develop a foundation of skills and character that lead to fulfilling lives of purpose.

We value student choice, teamwork, leadership, and independence.  These principles promote growth-- and are essential for children's moral, emotional and intellectual development. We are proud that Evergreen buzzes with joyful energy.

A child at Evergreen will not lose his or her natural love for learning.  When our students graduate, they are confident about their skills and secure in their identity as capable learners and as compassionate friends.

The quality of the Evergreen experience comes from our philosophy, our size, and our structure. Most of all, it comes from our teachers and parent community who work hand-in-hand together to provide our children with the very best opportunities to learn and grow.

Our Mission

Evergreen School develops the intellect, independence, confidence and compassion of each child through a Montessori curriculum and a diverse, inclusive community which fosters creative and inquisitive thinkers who will be prepared to make a positive impact on the world.

At its core, Evergreen places each child at the center of this learning process to allow for individual growth at his or her own pace.  

We believe the first years of life are the most critical time in a child’s development. This is when children learn the foundational skills and habits they need for academic success, and when they establish patterns of independence, confidence, and a relationship to the world that will forever influence who they are.

We value a diverse, inclusive community of children, families, and faculty that promotes respect for the identities and perspectives of all.

Through our nurturing Montessori program and an array of enriching co-curricular experiences, Evergreen School strives to cultivate the curiosity, confidence, social responsibility that will empower our students to create a better, more peaceful world. 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

At Evergreen, we consider the diversity of our school community to be one of our most distinguishing characteristics.

Our many voices, backgrounds, and experiences contribute to a learning environment in which Evergreen students can flourish and all can feel safe and welcome. We believe that understanding, appreciating, and expressing curiosity about human differences is central to the social-emotional and cognitive growth of each child. By engaging with diversity, Evergreen students learn to work with others peacefully, and they grow to be engaged citizens who are prepared to join together to make a positive impact on the world.

Evergreen’s leadership, including the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and teachers embrace the values of diversity, inclusion, and equity. This is reflected in decision making regarding hiring practices, board composition, and community engagement and in everyday practices. Adults in the school community consistently aim to model these values by engaging in respectful dialogue, speaking out against bias, and seeking to effect change.

At Evergreen, we strive to intentionally embed the values of diversity, inclusion, and equity throughout our programs and daily life. Our classroom curriculum places special emphasis on the exploration of culture with the express purpose of celebrating the heritage, dignity and worth of each child. Students develop their sense of self and expand their social worlds through an inclusive Montessori curriculum that provides a broad perspective on the diversity of human experience. Moreover, we actively empower students to identify and reject bias, prejudice and inequity. As they take these critical steps towards appreciating the complexity and interconnectedness of the world around us, their capacities for kindness, compassion, and empathy grow.

Respect for the Environment

We are Evergreen for a reason.

We believe that each of us has a sacred responsibility to take care of our natural environment. Our children’s future depends on it. Environmental education is intertwined with the Montessori curriculum daily. Just as students learn to care for the materials in the classroom, they plant in the rain garden, tend the bird feeder, recycle, compost and repurpose art materials.  Our Playgarden won a top environmental prize in the Keep Montgomery County Beautiful Contest by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation.

Our community is active and engaged.

Evergreen offers many opportunities for parent involvement. The Evergreen School Parent Association (ESPA) is an organization that helps build community and support our families.

The purpose of ESPA is to:

• Promote a cohesive school community through involvement and volunteerism
• Facilitate communication within the Evergreen School community
• Enhance the educational environment of Evergreen School through fundraising
• Support Evergreen School’s mission and programs

ESPA lead activities such as the Fall Festival, Parent Socials, Pizza on the Playgarden, Teacher Appreciation Week and more.  They support activities such as Parent Education programs, International Day, Esteemed Elders' Day, Winter and Spring Festival.

All Evergreen parents and guardians are members of ESPA. The organization seeks to coordinate efforts by parents to provide a helping hand to teachers and fosters communication between parents, teachers and administration.

ESPA Officers 2019-2020

• Melody Goodman, President
• Molly Grasso
• Nacole Hillman
• Christina Lohs
• Rob Pederson

To know more about the PTSA, please check the below link:

http://evergreenschool.com/about-evergreen/parents-association