Principal Update 2.20.26

Tiger Talk

Principal Update

February 20, 2026

Dear Carnation Families,

I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend! It’s hard to believe we’re entering our final week of February.

March will begin with Read Across America Week and is quickly followed by the end of our second trimester on Thursday, March 12. There is no school on Friday, March 13 for a teacher workday. Families will then have access to report cards through Synergy Parent VUE on Friday, March 20.  

Have a great weekend,

Steve Lesco

Principal, Carnation Elementary

Lescos@rsd407.org | 425-844-4553

School Website

CE PTSA Website

Upcoming Events

• Friday, February 27 – PTSA Tiger Watch

• Week of March 2 – 6 – Read Across America Week sponsored by PTSA

• Wednesday, March 11 – PTSA Tiger Watch

• Thursday, March 12 – End of 2nd Trimester

• Friday, March 13 – No School – Teacher Workday

• Wednesday, March 18 – Carnation Learning Walk

• Friday, March 20 – Report Cards available to Families in Synergy @ 4:00 pm, Talent Show All School Assembly, and Talent Show Family Performance @ 6:00 pm

• Friday, March 27 – PTSA Tiger Watch

Read Across America Week

The PTSA is planning Read Across America Week (March 2-6) to help celebrate the importance and joy of reading. There are a series of reading spirit days to bring some fun and excitement to the week. 

Kindergarten Registration Now Open

Kindergarten Registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now open! Click Registration and Forms

Children must be five years old by August 31, 2026 to register for Kindergarten for the 2026-2027 school year.

​Registering as early as possible helps us forecast class sizes and staffing needs for the coming school year. Please help spread the word!

PTSA Tiger Watch

We had our first Tiger Watch on February 11th and we’re looking forward to our upcoming date on February 27th. 

Click this link for more information, to see available dates, and to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EAAAE2DABFBC43-61762866-tiger

Carnation Elementary’s Tiger Watch, a PTSA volunteer program, draws inspiration from the national Watch D.O.G.S. initiative to cultivate a more positive school climate. Our program actively seeks a diverse range of volunteers, particularly encouraging male role models such as dads, uncles, grandpas, and other father figures. We warmly welcome parents, family, and community members from all backgrounds to contribute as positive influences, helping to create a safe and supportive learning environment for every student.

Carnation Learning Walks

We invite you to come see Carnation Elementary in action by joining one of our upcoming Learning Walks!

A Learning Walk is a guided tour of our school during the day, hosted by a school leader. These visits offer a unique opportunity to:

• Observe classrooms in action

• Learn more about our programs

• Gain a deeper understanding of what students experience every day

Each Learning Walk includes a brief introduction, several classroom visits, and a short debrief discussion at the end. To ensure a respectful and focused experience for both visitors and students, each session is limited to four participants.

Upcoming Dates:

• March 18 | 11:00–12:30 p.m.

Reserve Your Spot - Space is limited, so we encourage you to sign up early. Please click HERE to reserve your spot.

We look forward to welcoming you and sharing the incredible teaching and learning happening every day at Carnation Elementary. Thank you for your partnership and support!

Highly Capable Referral Window

Riverview School District is now accepting referrals for Highly Capable Services for the 2026–27 school year, including the Grades 2–5 Program for the Academically Talented (PAT). The goal for Highly Capable Services is to support and provide appropriate academic challenges to students with extraordinary ability in English/Language Arts and/or Math.

All parents/guardians who wish to refer their 2nd through 11th grade students may submit a Referral Form (available digitally in English and Spanish), to be turned in by February 28, 2026 (This is an extension from the previous date that was communicated). Printed referral forms are available upon request. No late referrals or outside (private) test scores will be accepted. Families of referred students will receive further information about assessment for identification.

Key Dates to Remember:

• Feb. 28, 2026: Referral forms due for students in Grades 2–11

• March 2026: CogAT administered for referred students in Grades 2–11 at their home schools

More information about Riverview’s Highly Capable program can be found on the district website.

*If a child is ill or unable to attend a testing session, parent(s)/guardian(s) must contact the Assessment Coordinator, Jen Bauer (bauerj@rsd407.org, 425-844-4507) to schedule a make-up test. No outside test scores will be accepted.

No Flood Make-up Days

The two instructional days missed in December due to flooding have been waived by the state and will not need to be made up. As of today, the last scheduled day of school remains June 16.

May 22 continues to be identified as a potential make-up day and is currently scheduled as a no-school day. If additional weather-related closures occur, May 22 would become a 90-minute early-release school day.

Free Suicide Prevention Training

The Cedarcrest Forefront Team invites Riverview School District parents and caregivers to attend a free suicide prevention training on March 12, 2026 from 6:30pm - 8pm at the Tolt Middle 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 March 9th at bit.ly/CHS-Forefront-March26 (en Espanol: bit.ly/CHS-Forefront-March26-Spanish).