Principal Newsletter 9.18.2026
Dear Carnation Families,
While this was our third week of school, it was also a week of firsts! Students completed their first five-day week, attended their first school assembly with the Taproot Theatre, and began their first i-Ready diagnostic assessments of the year.
Looking ahead to next week, we have our Tolt Dam Evacuation Walk and Curriculum Night Open House. Please read below for more information about these events and everything happening around Carnation Elementary!
Have a great weekend,
Steve Lesco
Principal, Carnation Elementary
lescos@rsd407.org | 425-844-4553
Important Dates |
Wednesday, September 23 – Tolt Dam Evacuation Drill
Thursday, September 24 - Curriculum Night 5:30–7:00 PM
September 28 -29 - Hearing & Vision Screening
Tuesday, September 29 – Carnation Community Listening Session Tolt Middle School @ 5:30 pm
Wednesday, September 30 - Picture Day
Friday, October 9 – No School for Teacher Professional Day
Curriculum Night - Save the Date |
Thursday, September 24 | 5:30–7:00 p.m.
We are excited to invite all students and families to our annual Curriculum Night! This open house event is an opportunity to visit your child’s classroom, explore the school, and learn more about your child's school experience. We are asking that all students start in their classrooms. Teachers will have curriculum overviews available for families, and students can pick up their passport to complete as they visit different areas of the school.
The MPR will feature a resource fair, including a free book giveaway. The PTSA will also have a treat on the playground!
We hope your family can join us!
A few reminders to help the evening run smoothly:
Curriculum Night is not the time for individual student conferences. If you’d like to schedule a private meeting, please contact your child’s teacher directly.
Parents are responsible for supervising their children at all times.
Tolt Dam Evacuation Drill – September 23
Carnation students will participate in the Tolt Dam Evacuation Drill on Wednesday, September 23 at approximately 9:45. Students and staff will follow the designated evacuation route to higher ground. The route is approximately two miles round trip and includes about 300 feet of elevation gain and should take approximately 2 hours.
Please help your child prepare by dressing appropriately for the weather and wearing sturdy, comfortable shoes suitable for walking and hiking. We also recommend sending a change of clothes in your child’s backpack.
If weather or other conditions prevent the drill from taking place, families will be notified as soon as possible. The scheduled makeup date is Wednesday, September 30.
If you have questions or concerns about the drill, please contact the Carnation Elementary main office at 425-844-4550.
Important Arrival and Pickup Information: Students and staff will be off campus during the drill. If your child will arrive late that day, please plan to have them arrive at noon or later to ensure we have returned. If you need to pick up your child before noon, please consider keeping them home that day, as we will be unable to release students while they are participating in the off-campus drill.
Strategic Planning Listening Session - September 29
Please read this important message from Riverview School District to our Carnation Families and Community Members.
Riverview School District is beginning the important work of updating its strategic plan as we prepare for the future of our schools.
Community voice is essential to this process, and we want to hear directly from the families and community members who know our students, schools and community best. Your experiences, perspectives and priorities will help the district better understand what is working well, where opportunities exist and what should guide Riverview in the years ahead.
I invite you to join us for a community listening session at 5:30 p.m., Sept. 29, at Tolt Middle School. This is an important opportunity to provide valuable context and help shape the district’s long-term direction through a community-driven process that may occur only once over several years.
This conversation is open to Carnation-area parents and community members. We hope you will join us, share your perspective and help shape a strong and inclusive future for every Carnation Elementary student.
What: Planning for the Future of RSD Listening Session
When: Sept. 29, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. (English)
Spanish only 6:45 - 7:45 p.m.
Where: Tolt Middle School, 3740 Tolt Ave, Carnation, WA
Virtual Options: Two virtual listening sessions will be held on October 5th at 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to accommodate families and community members unable to attend in person.
We hope you will join us, share your perspective and help shape a strong and inclusive future for schools.
i-Ready Inform
Students in grades 1–5 are currently completing the beginning-of-year i-Ready Inform assessment, previously called the i-Ready Diagnostic. This assessment establishes a baseline for each student, helps set growth goals, and determines the personalized lessons students receive through MyPath. At the close of the assessment window, Carnation staff will review the results together to identify students who may benefit from additional support or extension and to guide instruction and individual student goal setting.
Students complete i-Ready Inform three times each year. When they take it again in January, the results will include growth information that helps us understand how students are progressing, responding to instruction, and developing throughout the school year.
Bike and Scooter Safety Reminder |
For everyone’s safety, students must walk their bikes and scooters (including e-scooters) while on school grounds. Students should wear a properly fitted helmet, use designated crossings, wait until it is safe to cross, and always follow the directions of our crossing guards.
Once off campus, students should continue riding safely, remain alert to vehicles, and be considerate to pedestrians and drivers. Please review these expectations with your child. Thank you for helping to keep all our Tigers safe!
Safety Patrol Volunteers Needed
We’re looking for family volunteers to help support our student Safety Patrol during arrival and dismissal! Volunteers can choose to help with either a morning or afternoon shift:
AM: 9:00–9:25 AM, Monday–Friday
PM: 3:35–4:00 PM, Monday–Thursday; 2:05–2:30 PM Friday
No previous experience is needed—we’ll make sure you know what to do! All volunteers must be registered and cleared through the Riverview School District before volunteering. You can complete the district volunteer application here: RSD Volunteer Application
If you’re interested in helping keep our Tigers safe while supporting our student leaders, contact our Dean of Students, Adam Del Rosso, at delrossoa@rsd407.org.
Thank you for supporting our Safety Patrol!
School Supply Fee |
Carnation Elementary does not require students to bring individual school supplies. Instead, families pay a $45 school supply fee, which allows teachers to purchase and provide the supplies students need throughout the year.
If you have not yet paid the fee, we would appreciate families doing so as soon as possible. Payments can be made through MySchoolBucks or by bringing cash or a check to the main office. Please contact the main office if you need assistance.
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
Taproot Theatre Assembly
We welcomed Taproot Theatre for our first school assembly of the year on Wednesday, September 16! Students watched Detectives! by Melanie Godsey. In this engaging performance, students investigated the disappearance of a hamster and a stolen magic kit, eventually uncovering a more serious bullying situation. The performance explored bullying prevention, becoming an upstander, navigating friendships, and resolving conflicts.
Students also learned how to Recognize, Report, and Refuse bullying. We encourage you to ask your child what they learned and enjoyed about the assembly.
This assembly was generously funded by our Carnation PTSA. We appreciate their continued support in providing meaningful enrichment opportunities for our students.
School Picture Day - Wednesday, September 30 |
Our school picture day will be Wednesday, September 30. Informational flyers will be sent home with students prior to picture day with information on ordering.
Ordering Information
Families can place orders online at mydorian.com before picture day and for up to 2 days afterwards.
PTSA Information
Carnation has a strong, supportive PTSA that provides enrichment opportunities for the students, staff, and families. Please consider joining the PTSA to help support programs, events, and stay connected with the parent-school community. Please visit Carnation Elementary PTSA to become a member.
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