Enrichment

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

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 the Music for Minors website for more information.

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.