Principal Update 2/6/26

Tiger Talk

Principal Update

February 6, 2026

Dear Carnation Families,

Please remember to vote by February 10. Riverview School District has three local school funding measures on the ballot for consideration. We encourage all eligible voters to take time to review the measures and participate in the election. More information can be found below.

This is also a reminder that there is no school on Friday, February 13 or Monday, February 16 for Midwinter Break. When students return, there will be fewer than four weeks remaining in the second trimester, which ends on Thursday, March 12.

Have a wonderful weekend and go Seahawks!

Steve Lesco

Principal, Carnation Elementary

Lescos@rsd407.org | 425-844-4553

School Website

CE PTSA Website

Upcoming Events

• Tuesday, February 10 – Election Day – Remember to vote

• Wednesday, February 11 – PTSA Tiger Watch and PTSA Cupid’s Clay Café

• February 13th-16th No School Mid-Winter Break

• Wednesday, February 18 – Carnation Learning Walk

• Thursday, February 19 – PTSA Talent Show Auditions

• Friday, February 20 – Student Council Spirit Day - Twin Day, Popcorn Friday, and PTSA Talent Show Auditions

• Friday, February 27 – PTSA Tiger Watch

Upcoming School Funding Measures

Election Day is Tuesday, February 10. Please remember to vote on the three local school funding measures. These measures are designed to continue funding for programs and services currently in place and to address long-term facility needs.

Two of the measures are levy renewals that replace levies set to expire in 2026. The third measure is a Capital bond. Together, they support students, staff, and school facilities across the district.

More information is available on the website. Questions may be sent to bondandlevy@rsd407.org

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!

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:

• February 18 | 11:00–12:30 p.m.

• 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!

PTSA Tiger Watch

Our first date is February 11th!

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.

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

Highly Capable Referral Window

The referral window for the 2025–26 school year opened in December and closes February 17. Families interested in referring their child must complete the online referral form prior to February 17.

All kindergarten and first grade students are automatically screened for services based on district assessments and do not need referral. Students in grades 2–11 may be referred for Highly Capable services for the upcoming school year. Referrals may be submitted by parents/guardians, staff, students, or community members.

For full details and access to the referral form, please visit the Riverview School District Highly Capable webpage: https://www.rsd407.org/highly-capable

PTSA Happenings Around Carnation

There’s lots of exciting activity coming up through our Carnation Elementary PTSA, including Cupid’s Clay Talent Show auditions! Please read below for event details and visit the PTSA website for more information on how to participate and support our school community.

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). 

Nurse’s Announcement: Flu Season Staying Healthy

Flu season is here, and we want to keep our school community as healthy as possible. Respiratory illnesses, including the common cold, influenza, RSV, COVID‑19, and others, are circulating in King County. In addition, Riverview School District is seeing higher‑than‑normal student absences due to illness.

To protect students and staff, Riverview School District follows OSPI (Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction) health guidelines. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and healthy school environment.

If your student has been diagnosed with any of the following, please include this information when emailing your student’s attendance office.

• Strep,

• Influenza,

• Whooping Cough,

• Pneumonia

• RSV

Key Guidelines for When to Keep Children Home or When Your Child May Be Sent Home

• Fever: 100.4°F or higher, with a return only after 24 hours fever-free without medication.

• Sore throat (especially with fever): Stay home until at least 24 hours after symptoms have improved and student is well enough to attend without medication.

• Vomiting/Diarrhea: Stay home until symptom‑free for 24 hours.

• Respiratory Issues: Severe cough, wheezing, or difficulty breathing.

• General Behavior: Unusually tired, pale, or lacking appetite.

• Skin/Eyes: Rashes of unknown origin or pink eye with thick drainage. 

Children should be kept home until they are fever‑free for at least 24 hours without medication.

Flu Vaccinations

Health experts recommend that everyone 6 months and older receive a yearly flu vaccine. Vaccination is the best way to reduce the risk of illness, prevent missed school/work days, and protect vulnerable family members. You can get a flu shot through:

•             Your family doctor or pediatrician

•             Local pharmacies

•             Community clinics

•             County health departments

If you need help locating a flu vaccine, visit Vaccines.gov or your local health department's website.

Strep Throat Awareness

Strep throat is a contagious bacterial infection that requires antibiotic treatment.

Common Symptoms of Strep Throat:

•             Sudden sore throat

•             Painful swallowing

•             Fever

•             Swollen lymph nodes

•             Red or swollen tonsils (sometimes with white patches)

Note: Strep throat usually does not cause a cough or runny nose.

Help Us Keep Our Schools Healthy

In addition to staying home while ill, other ways to reduce the spread of illnesses include:

•             Cover your coughs and sneeze with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, not your hands

•             Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.

•             Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after coughing, sneezing or using the bathroom and before you touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

•             Avoid close contact, such as shaking hands, sharing cups and eating utensils with others while ill.

•             Increase disinfection of frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, railings, and personal electronics.

•             Consider seeing a medical provider when needed

•             Stay up to date on vaccines, including COVID-19 and influenza.

Thank you for your support in keeping our students, staff, and families healthy this season.

Resources:

For additional information on how to prevent and what to do if you have a respiratory virus visit Respiratory Virus Guidance | Respiratory Illnesses | CDC. Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent severe illness, and early treatment is crucial in reducing its spread.

•             COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth- COVID-19 vaccination - King County, Washington

•             Influenza Vaccine for Youth: Flu Overview | Washington State Department of Health