The students at Evergreen Mill work to reach out to the community.

The fifth-grade class has the “Students Caring about Others,” or SCOA program that is a community service club. Past projects have included coat and food drives to help better the Leesburg community, McDonald said. Fourth- and fifth-graders also participate in a chorus program that performs at area nursing homes. They also perform at the Loudoun County Arts Festival, which takes place at the Dulles Town Center.

Evergreen Mill Elementary was one of the first schools in Loudoun County to participate in the foreign language in the elementary school, or “FLES” program. Current fifth-graders have had the benefit of regular Spanish instruction since first grade and are learning more advanced reading and writing skills, principal Laurie McDonald said. More information about Loudoun County’s FLES program is available here.

There is, however, no specific ESL program at Evergreen Mill. ESL students attend Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School.

Because Evergreen Mill Elementary is located on high-traffic Evergreen Mill Road, no students are permitted to walk to school.

Ninety-two percent of students passed all SOL tests they took during the 2005-2006 school year. This exceeds the goal of 90 percent district-wide. Data from the 2006-2007 school improvement plan are available here.

There are regular activity nights, like “Bingo for Books” and movie nights to encourage parent involvement in the school. Bedtime story nights, where parents will come with students dressed in their pajamas to read stories, take place several times a year, McDonald said.

There also are events before and after school, like art nights, during which students and parents work together on a project, or physical education events in the morning to keep parents involved, she said.

Looking to the future, McDonald said she plans to “keep on having high expectations for students and staff and parents.” In her welcome note on Evergreen Mill Elementary’s Web site, McDonald wrote,
“Our school's mission is to ensure that all children acquire the knowledge and skills they will need to become responsible, contributing members of society. Through the cooperative efforts of an outstanding staff and supportive, involved parents, students are guided to strive for excellence and to reach their full potential as students and citizens.”

Her full message is available here.