Two years ago, the Evergreen School District, working in partnership with our District Leadership Team and Community Council and representing all areas of our schools and broader community, developed the Evergreen School District Learner Profile. This profile identifies the key skills and competencies our students need in order to be well-prepared for high school and post-secondary success. 

We know that this preparation cannot wait until students get to the Junior High School. At East Evergreen Elementary School, we begin building these skills the moment students walk through our doors. From our 3-year-olds in preschool to our fourth graders, students learn and practice the 10 competencies in the Learner Profile every day. Each month, we intentionally teach and emphasize one competency, ensuring all students understand what it means, why it matters, and, most importantly, have meaningful opportunities to apply it in their interactions with others on a daily basis. 

School-wide Expectations 

Each day at East Evergreen, we ensure that our Learner Profile competencies are incorporated into our school-wide expectations.  Our District motto of Ever Giving, Evergrowing, Evergreen is supported through the three guiding pillars of our Learner Profile: Adapt, Thrive, and Contribute. These cornerstones of the Profile provide clear direction for helping students work through challenges, show kindness to themselves and others, and put forth their best effort as they grow beyond what they once believed possible.  At East Evergreen, these cornerstones are taught, practiced, and reinforced daily in classrooms, hallways, the cafeteria, and on the playground so that students consistently experience what it means to Adapt, Thrive, and Contribute in all aspects of their school lives. 

As principal Henry Mack notes, “We want students to focus on the positives in themselves and others, and the competencies provide a framework for our expectations.  We tell students that we don't expect you to be perfect; we all make mistakes, including myself. It's when we reflect on our mistakes and make changes to how we react to our challenges that we grow and do better next time.” 

Classroom Instruction 

In addition to school-wide expectations, students begin each day in their classroom with dedicated time for a “morning meeting.” During this time, classes explore the District Learner Profile competency of the month, defining the word and discussing what it looks like to demonstrate that competency both inside and outside of school. Evidence of this practice can be seen in classrooms throughout the school. 

For example, in Melissa DeShaw’s first-grade class, students recently focused on what it means to be a confident learner, our focus for November.  Mrs. DeShaw introduced a simple activity, juggling scarves, to illustrate that confidence often grows with practice.  Mrs. DeShaw shared that her “first graders learned that confidence grows when we keep trying, even when something feels hard, and that we don’t need to be perfect to believe in ourselves. After practicing some very challenging scarf juggling, the class agreed that with patience and a positive mindset, they could grow into confident learners.” While few students felt confident when they first learned of the challenge, they quickly built confidence as they listened to directions and practiced the skill. Mrs. DeShaw also brought in other real-world examples that resonate with first graders, such as learning to tie a shoe or to throw and catch a ball. These simple, relatable experiences help even our youngest learners begin to understand and develop confidence at an early age. 

Celebrations of Students Demonstrating Competencies 

One of the most powerful ways to encourage positive behavior is to recognize and celebrate whenever it occurs.  At East Evergreen, we intentionally shift the focus away from the consequences of poor choices (understanding we must sometimes address that reality, too) and instead emphasize the joy, pride, and excitement that come from demonstrating the positive behaviors we value as a learning community.  Every day offers a fresh start and a new opportunity to do the right thing.  Every staff member is always looking to “catch” and celebrate students making good choices and doing the right thing. 

Student Attendance: Each week, we celebrate students who demonstrate perfect attendance throughout the week. Our Mario Kart racing board displays overall student attendance and is updated every Friday and celebrated with the winning grade level each month.  

Student Character: One of the ways we recognize students doing the right thing is through our KITS cards, which celebrate when students display our school-wide expectations of being Kind, Independent, Trustworthy, and Safe.  We want our young Wolverines, our “Kits,” to be ready to enter Evergreen Junior High School and our community with strong character, and we know that students consistently developing and demonstrating these positive KITS attributes will help them do just that.  

Student of the Month: At each monthly school board meeting, one student in the school is chosen to be recognized for demonstrating what it means to be a positive KIT role model for others and for demonstrating positive Learner Profile competencies. 

Student Leadership: At the end of each month, one student from each classroom in the school is chosen to attend a special leadership lunch with our administrators, counselor, instructional coach, and teacher where they enjoy a special treat and some time to celebrate with other peers in the same grade who are also displaying positive behaviors. These students are also honored by having their picture on the main hall bulletin board for the month.      

As counselor Michelle Mitchell shared, "Success in academics isn't just measured by knowledge but also by the soft skills that shape how we communicate, collaborate, and adapt. These skills turn learning into growth and ideas into impact." 

East Evergreen continues to be appreciative and excited to partner with our families and community members, working intentionally to incorporate essential character traits and competencies into our daily school schedules. Together we want to ensure that the skills students develop in class and in school align with the needs they will encounter far beyond school in Evergreen.  

As assistant principal Jesse McFarland shared, “We expect kids to make mistakes, to push boundaries, to do the wrong things from time to time; that is their job.  It is our job to show them that it is okay to make mistakes, how to move forward, and that there may be better ways to treat one another, to treat themselves, and to build kind, positive connections with peers and adults.  When we are patient and give grace to this process and celebrate the victories at every opportunity, we see real change in students and in their school experience.  We believe in spreading kindness, making connections, and building relationships and that every child can succeed, no exceptions.” 

Henry Mack is the principal, Jesse McFarland is the assistant principal, and Michelle Mitchell is the counselor at East Evergreen Elementary School.