Enrichment

O.B. Whaley 5th graders attend Koinonia Outdoor Science Camp nestled in the coastal Redwood forest of Santa Cruz mountains for four days each year.

Santa Cruz Outdoor School is owned and operated by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and is offered as a four day program to our 5th grade students.

During field class, students study the forest, meadows, and streams with a qualified naturalist. Through the use of games and other activities, instructors teach concepts about the natural sciences. Children see the interrelationships between plants and animals and learn about the affect they as people have on the environment.

Classroom teachers accompany their classes and provide constant support throughout the week. A week at outdoor school provides a unique learning opportunity. Living 24 hours a day with other students requires your child to cooperate and work together with others toward common goals. Friendships that are made during this week, particularly from different schools may last a lifetime.

Developmental assets are positive relationships, opportunities, values and skills that young people need to become caring and responsible. O.B. Whaley is committed to helping our children in developing these assets. Through our partnership with Project Cornerstone, students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of class and school wide service projects. In addition to our commitment to students, we are making a commitment of the families of our community. We would like our community to become knowledgeable about developmental assets and ways to build them in our youth. Workshops and opportunities for parents to participate in the program will be made available.

Evergreen District School Band (Grades 5 and 6)

This Instrumental Band Program is an optional part of the curriculum of the Evergreen School District. The program is offered to all 5th and 6th grade students interested in learning to play a band instrument. Band class meets for 45 minutes once a week during the school day and is a “Performing Arts” class. Performances are important and all students are expected to perform in the district's spring concert at Quimby Oak Middle School. There is no cost for this program. However, all students are expected to purchase “Standards of Excellence, Book 1” by Bruce Pearson (the red book) and a cleaning/care kit for their instrument of choice. Students may also need to rent or buy their instrument. Instruction will be offered on flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. Registration and classes begin in September. For more information, contact: Yessica Gallagher, Evergreen School District Music Teacher, yrodriguez@eesd.org or 408-270-6827.

Through the Evergreen Elementary School District, an art teacher visits our 4th through 6th graders on a weekly basis. Lessons integrate art with science and music.

In the spring, we participate in Walk n' Roll Week. O.B. Whaley families are encouraged to walk or bike (3rd-6th graders only) to school each day to promote daily physical activity, reduce traffic congestion around O.B. Whaley, and learn critical skills that enhance biking and pedestrian safety.

This program is funded through the city of San Jose's Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Climate Initiative grant to increase the number of students who walk or bike to school. Since the program began in 2012, there has been a 53.5% increase in the number of students who walk and bike to school at least three times a week. To learn more, visit the Walk n' Roll website.

Students participate in choreographed music and dance programs throughout the school year. Two, nine week, programs culminate in spectacular dance showcases in the fall and spring.

This engaging and participatory program focuses on singing, listening, reading theory, movement, dancing, and playing rhythm instruments and recorders.

Classical Art Instruction for the 21st Century classroom encourages students to Explore, Reflect, Express, Appreciate, Question, Process, Observe, and Create art.