Principal Newsletter 10.3.2026
Dear Carnation Families,
We have officially wrapped up our first month of school! Students recently completed their beginning-of-year i-Ready Inform assessments in reading and math, and it was wonderful to welcome so many families to Curriculum Night last week.
October brings many exciting opportunities for our school community, including the Tiger Walk, Movie Night, a fundraiser for students in grades 3–5, and our recognition of Disability History Month, just to name a few. The month will also conclude with Halloween, and we will share more information soon about how it will be recognized at Carnation. Please read below to learn more about these events and other happenings around Carnation Elementary.
As a reminder, there is no school for students next Friday, October 9, due to a scheduled teacher professional learning day.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Steve Lesco
Principal, Carnation Elementary
lescos@rsd407.org | 425-844-4553
Important Dates
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Curriculum Night Feedback
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 24. It was wonderful to see so many families in the building. This year we used an open house model and we’re interested in hearing your feedback. Your input helps us continue to make events like this meaningful and supportive for our school community.
Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts by completing our short feedback form: Carnation Elementary's Curriculum Night 2026/2027 - Feedback Please! – Fill out form
i-Ready Inform Results
Students in grades 1–5 recently completed their beginning-of-year i-Ready Inform Diagnostic in reading and math. The launch of Riverview School District’s new website on Friday caused the previous i-Ready information page and family directions to become temporarily unavailable.
We will share an updated link and instructions for accessing your child’s results as soon as they are available. In the meantime, families may email me directly, and I will send them a copy of their child’s results report. Thank you for your patience during this transition.
Disability History Month |
October is Disability History Month in Washington schools. Throughout the month, we will share announcements that help students learn about people with disabilities, the disability rights movement, and ways each of us can help create a school where everyone belongs.
Students will also see a hallway display celebrating disability representation and have an opportunity to participate in an accessibility scavenger hunt. In addition, our speech-language pathologists will provide staff with learning about augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and how they help individuals communicate. Through these activities, we hope to build greater awareness, understanding, and inclusion throughout our school community.
Riverview Education Foundation Support
We are grateful to the Riverview Education Foundation (REF) for its generous support of Carnation Elementary. REF recently awarded our school a $2,500 grant to support this year’s fifth-grade Outdoor Education experience. Along with our fundraising efforts, this donation will help reduce the cost for students to attend.
REF is also helping fund an opportunity for a small team from Carnation, along with teams from across the district, to attend a professional learning conference. The team will bring back important learning that will help us strengthen how we support the academic, social-emotional, and behavioral growth of all students at Carnation. We sincerely appreciate REF’s continued investment in meaningful opportunities for our students and staff.
Carnation Elementary to be a Seattle Soccer Spirit School
We are excited to announce a new partnership with Seattle Sounders FC and Reign FC! Carnation Elementary is now an official Seattle Soccer Spirit School, connecting our students and families with opportunities to engage with our region’s professional soccer clubs.
To celebrate, students will participate in a special assembly on Friday, November 6. The assembly will be led by Reid Sundblad, Youth Curriculum & Initiatives Manager, and former Sounders player and current radio color commentator Brad Evans. Students can look forward to a fun afternoon celebrating soccer and our school community, along with a few special giveaways.
“We’re proud to welcome your school as an official Seattle Soccer Spirit School! Seattle is a soccer city, and now your school community is part of the story! Scan the QR codes below to learn more, sign up for Sammy’s Squad—the official Kids Club of Sounders FC—and join the Reign FC Kids Club. You can also discover other ways to attend matches, connect with the clubs, and become part of the Sounders and Reign families.”
Fundraiser for Outdoor Education (Grades 3-5)
In partnership with Believe Kids Fundraising, our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes will participate in a two-week Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough Fundraiser beginning Monday, October 12 to support our Outdoor Education program. In recent years, a state grant helped offset the cost of our fifth-grade Outdoor Education program. Because that funding is no longer available, we are returning to fundraising to help keep the experience affordable for families.
Beginning this year, students in all three grade levels will raise funds for their own future fifth-grade Outdoor Education experience. Funds raised by each grade level will remain with that specific group of students—for example, funds raised by this year’s third graders will be used when they attend an outdoor education camp in fifth grade. The funds will help reduce the cost of camp for all students in that grade-level group. Additional information and fundraising materials will be sent home soon.
Free & Reduced Meal Benefits Reminder |
Current Free & Reduced Meal benefits will expire on October 14. To continue receiving meal benefits for this school year and avoid any disruption in benefits, please submit a new application as soon as possible. Apply online at MySchoolApps.com
A new application is required each school year to determine eligibility for Free & Reduced Meal benefits.
Thank you for completing your application promptly to ensure uninterrupted benefits for your student(s).
Please visit this food service page for information on menu pricing, applying for meal benefits, and managing student meal accounts: https://rsd407.org/back-to-school-information#food-services
Great Washington ShakeOut – Thursday, October 15
Thursday, October 15th is the Great Washington ShakeOut, a statewide earthquake preparedness drill. During the drill, students and staff will practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in classrooms and workspaces.
Riverview Elementary Invitational |
The Riverview Elementary Invitational cross-country run is just around the corner. Families can sign up using the QR code below or this link: https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/prdembd?ref=ZZ67LGGJXR2LQPZ_ZZ68FP9WZXWK8DJ.
PTSA Tiger Walk – Thursday, October 22 |
We are excited to invite all families to our annual PTSA Tiger Walk. This event will take place on Thursday, October 22. This is the PTSA’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and the goal is to raise $20,000 to directly benefit our classrooms, teachers, and students.
The schedule for the day is:
ISET: 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. (in the gym)
Grades K–2: 2:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Grades 3–5: 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
All families are welcome to attend and join in the fun! Donations to support the Tiger Walk are due by the day of the event.
To donate, please click here: Tiger Walk Donation
To learn more about becoming a corporate sponsor, click here: Tiger Walk Corporate Sponsor
Reminder about Cell Phone and Electronic Watches
I would like to remind students and families of our building procedure below regarding these devices. We appreciate your help in reinforcing these expectations at home. Limiting distractions from personal devices helps students stay focused and engaged in their learning throughout the day.
Cell Phones and Electronic Watches: Students with cell phones and watches that can receive and send messages/calls must have them OFF and in their backpack during the school day. If a cell phone or smart watch is used during the school day, guardians will be notified and will be responsible for picking it up from the school. There is a phone in the main office that is available for supervised student use during the school day. Families wishing to relay a message to their student during the school day may do so by calling the main office 425- 844-4551.
Veterans Day Assembly – Save the DateOur Tigers will be producing a celebration to honor Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 10 @ 2:00 pm. There will be no school on Wednesday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day. |
PTSA Information
Please see the PTSA newsletter below for important information about membership and all the events taking place in October. Also remember to visit the PTSA website: https://carnationptsa.org/
Suicide Prevention Training |
The Cedarcrest Forefront Team invites Riverview School District parents and caregivers to attend a free suicide prevention training on Tuesday, November 17, 2026 from 6:30pm - 8pm at the Cedarcrest High School Library. Come learn a five-step process to help you talk with someone you're worried about, learn if they are considering suicide, and take early steps to keep them safe. This training is designed for parents and caregivers of students in grades 9 through 12, but the steps can be adapted and used with youth of any age, particularly middle school and up. Anyone working with youth is encouraged to attend. More on this program is at forefrontintheschools.org. Register by November 13 at https://bit.ly/CHSForefrontNovember2026
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