March 6, 2019

By Kelli Gile, WVUSD Office of Community Resources

 

DIAMOND BAR, CA--Evergreen Elementary has once again been rewarded for engaging students in civic-minded activities as recipient of a 2019 Civic Learning Award.

 

California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye has announced this year’s honorees and Evergreen is among 83 schools to receive the Civic Learning Award of Merit.

 

Students qualified for the accolade by participating in a Conflict Mediator program, Collaborative Groups, and Election Day.

 

The Conflict Mediator program provides an opportunity for students to learn how to resolve disputes and negotiate resolutions themselves.

 

A dozen students receive Conflict Mediator training to handle different scenarios with their peers and then sign up to work with partners during lunchtime and recess shifts.

 

Evergreen students work in designated Collaborative Groups at every grade level. 

 

Whether it’s completing a Project Lead the Way assignment or programming a robot, they work together to accomplish goals.  

 

During each STEAM-based lesson, students solve real-life problems and complete design projects, such as building a vehicle to protect its passenger (an egg) during a collision or rescuing a trapped tiger with a machine built with levers and pulleys.

 

“I like to solve problems together and ask others for advice. We don't have to figure it out on our own,” one fifth grade student commented.

 

On Election Day, every student on campus votes for their favorite yearbook cover design, rather than a political figure.

 

Fifth graders submit their original artwork and Student Council officers facilitate the popular polling activity.

 

The school’s elected leaders distribute “I Voted” stickers to classmates after they participate in the online selection process.

 

“This is a wonderful honor!” said Principal Trina Dreyer.

 

“Evergreen is rich with civic learning opportunities and our dedicated staff is committed to teaching the whole child.”

 

The Chief Justice visited Evergreen when it received the Civic Learning Award of Excellence in 2015.

 

Now in its seventh year, the Civic Learning Award program is co-sponsored by the Chief Justice and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond to celebrate public schools’ efforts to engage students in civic learning.

 

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