May 19, 2006

Four Evergreen schools named California Distinguished Schools

Matsumoto, Millbrook, Cedar Grove and Evergreen honored

By Daniel DeBolt
Staff writer

Only five percent of schools in the state are awarded the “California Distinguished Schools” designation every two years, and this year that five percent includes four Evergreen elementary schools.

Matsumoto School principal Mary Helmer called her school a "family" when discussing the variable factors behind the school being named a 2006 California Distinguished School. Here the entire Matsumoto student body and faculty gathered for a photo op in a display of unity. In total, four Evergreen Schools were named 2006 California Distinguished Schools, with Millbrook, Cedar Grove and Evergreen elementary schools also receiving honors.

Selected from a pool of 2,000 eligible elementary schools in the state, Matsumoto, Millbrook, Cedar Grove and Evergreen elementary schools were four of the 377 schools selected to win the award.

Evergreen principal Kathy Shepard said it takes a combination of many things to be a successful school, but “first and foremost, we have high standards,” she said. And the school has lots of community support to meet those standards. Shepard said parent support, either fundraising, in the classroom or at home, was important.

“Whenever there is a need for volunteers they are always there, for everything,” she said.

The more obvious ingredient is having good teachers. At Matsumoto School, teachers get together to refine lessons and make sure students are absorbing them, said Principal Mary Helmer.

“We’re always striving to look for ways to refine ourselves,” she said. “Evergreen School District tries to provide quality instruction for our teachers. We have many opportunities to grow professionally. That transfers to the classroom.”

The teaching theory known as “differentiated instruction” has been an influence, Helmer said. It’s the idea that every student is unique and rather than having a student bend to fit the curriculum, the curriculum bends to fit the student.

Matsumoto School also wrote a grant to have an expert in writing strategies come to the school and help teachers improve the way they teach writing. The teachers now have a standardized vocabulary when teaching writing. Helmer said it helps when teachers have a common approach to a subject as the students move through grade levels.

The Noyce Foundation also had its hand in the curriculum at Matsumoto, providing an innovative math program. The Noyce Foundation was created by Robert Noyce, the man who founded Intel and helped create Silicon Valley.

Shepard said fundraising was also an important key. At Evergreen School, a walk-a-thon earned the school enough money to add a new computer to each classroom.

There are many other small elements, from after school programs, art programs and music programs, to having a math night and a literacy night. But the key element is working together, Helmer said.

“I think here we are a family,” Helmer said. “We work here as a team to help the children.”

Shepard agreed.

“We really believe in working as a team with the community and the students,” she said.

Every school in the Evergreen district has won the award except for the newest addition, Carolyn A. Clark School. A school must be at least three years old to be eligible.

The schools will be honored at the Disneyland hotel on May 26. The ceremony has been sponsored by major corporations including Wells Fargo, AT&T, The Boeing Company, IBM Corporation, Pepsi, Apple Computer and Chevron. A handful of representatives from each school will be invited to attend the daylong event.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell, is expected to give the keynote address at the ceremony. He personally called all 377 school principals to give them the news of winning the award. In the 21 years the award has existed, there have never been so many schools selected to win the award.

"These schools are the best of the best,” said O’Connell. “They share a vision of excellence and they have brought that vision to life. Hearing the excitement and the pride in their voices was incredible. These deserving school leaders and their teachers, staffs, and students have worked extremely hard to achieve academic success and this recognition.”