Welcome
When you come into our school, please remember.........
It's a child's world
these activities are
their ideas
their work
their fun!
Sometimes a child's idea of decoration, beauty and good housekeeping does not coincide with an adult's. A child's imagination is great!
Children can do wonderful things, paint the wind, dance like a leaf, and find joy and happiness in performing simple tasks. These are abilities that adults may have lost along the way.
Enter and return for a brief visit to the wonderful world of young children.
Enjoy their enthusiasm for living and learning!
-Anonymous
History & Philosophy
Then
Then
Then
History
Evergreen Learning Center opened its doors in June of 1997 under the name, Evergreen Discoveries Learning Center. Evergreen Discoveries was the sister program to Discoveries Learning Center in Santa Barbara, and owned by Morris Squire of the Forrest Foundation with Marilynn Jorgensen as the executive director and Jill Shervym as director. A few months after its opening, Loretta Smargon was hired as the new director. In 1998 Evergreen Discoveries became an independent program and was renamed Evergreen Learning Center. Loretta Smargon continued to direct the program for the next 5 years then purchased the program and property from the Forrest Foundation in 2003, becoming director/owner.
Evergreen has seen thousands of children and families come through its doors and proud of the relationships that have been made and continue to flourish well into young adulthood. In 2019 Evergreen enrolled its first second generation child and hired its first alumni teacher! We continue to meet the child care and early education needs of our community, even during a pandemic, and plan to welcome many more children and families for years to come.
Now
Then
Then
Philosophy
Our philosophy at Evergreen Learning Center is based on respect and appreciation for each child and each family that we serve. We are committed to providing a high quality program that is developmentally appropriate for children 18 months to 6 years, with after school kindergarten care available. We recognize that learning happens most effectively through respect for each child and responsive relationships between child and adult.
Our approach to learning emphasizes all aspects of the child's development, thus promoting 'the whole child'. The social, emotional, cognitive, physical and creative aspects of each child's experience is encouraged through hands-on activities from which a child can absorb new information and learning. We strive to empower children with the language of their feelings as they work and play with one another. We are very committed to the concept of cooperative conflict resolution.
Our philosophy has a strong basis in respectful and cooperative relationships between adults and the children in their care. There is a direct and ongoing link between caregivers, parents, children and the environment and we believe that within this circle, learning takes place.