Principal Update 3.6.26
- Apr 28
- 6 min read
Dear Carnation Families,
We had a fantastic and fun Read Across America Week at Carnation! Students and staff enjoyed participating in the themed days. We wrapped up the week with books and popcorn. Thank you to our PTSA for helping make this week so memorable.
This upcoming week is the final week of the second trimester, which ends on Thursday, March 12. There will be no school on Friday, March 13 for a teacher workday. Families will be able to view report cards in Synergy Parent VUE on Friday, March 20.
A quick reminder that daylight savings time begins this weekend, so be sure to set your clocks forward one hour on Sunday. While we lose an hour of sleep, we gain some extra daylight.
In partnership,
Steve Lesco
Principal, Carnation Elementary
Lescos@rsd407.org | 425-844-4553
Upcoming Events |
Tuesday, March 10 – Carnation Elementary Board Meeting Presentation
Wednesday, March 11 – PTSA Tiger Watch
Thursday, March 12 – End of 2nd Trimester
Friday, March 13 – No School – Teacher Workday
Week of March 16 – Tiger Prize Cart (PBIS Reward System)
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, Down Syndrome Awareness Day
Week of March 23-29 – Autism Awareness Week at Carnation
Thursday, March 26 – 2nd Grade Concert @ 5:00 , 3rd Grade Concert @ 6:00
Friday, March 27 – PTSA Tiger Watch
Thursday, April 2 – Wear Blue for World Autism Awareness Day, Zaniac the Braniac Assembly provided by the PTSA, Incoming Kindergarten Information Night @ 5:30-6:30
Week of April 6-10 – Spring Break
Family Survey Open Until March 19For us to continue to improve our schools, it is important to understand stakeholder perceptions about the job we are doing in providing a quality education for all our children. We are seeking information through an 8–10-minute survey that is available now through March 19, 2026.
To access the survey, visit: https://ceeffectiveness.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cZawueY9yNUPL8y
This feedback gives us valuable information to support our School Building Improvement Plans and all our students.
We value your input as we strive to continue to grow and improve. Thank you for your feedback. |
Carnation Elementary Presentation at the Board Meeting |
Each year, schools are invited to have a student presentation at a Board Meeting. Carnation Elementary will be presenting on Tuesday, March 10. We will be highlighting student specialist helpers this school year. If you were not aware, Mr. Heimfeld and Ms. Eaton have been working with 4th and 5th grade students who come in during their recess times to help model, support, and inspire students in younger grade levels.
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.
April 22 | 11:00–12:30 p.m.
May 14 | 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!
Celebrating Inclusion at Carnation
At Carnation Elementary, we are proud to foster a school community where every student feels seen, valued, and supported. Over the next few weeks, we will be recognizing important awareness events to celebrate diversity, inclusion, and the many ways our students learn and grow.
Down Syndrome Awareness Day – March 21 (celebrated March 20): Because there is no school on March 21, students and staff are encouraged to show their support on Friday, March 20 by:
Wearing blue and yellow, the colors associated with Down syndrome awareness
Rocking fun or mismatched socks to celebrate the beauty of differences and spark conversations about inclusion
Autism Awareness & Acceptance Week – March 23–29: Carnation Elementary will celebrate Autism Awareness & Acceptance Week, a time to learn, reflect, and celebrate the many ways our students think, learn, and shine.
iSET Autism Awareness Art Wall:
A student spotlight wall titled “Together, We Belong,” showcasing iSET student artwork
A schoolwide mural made of student decorated puzzle pieces with messages of acceptance
Families are invited to visit the art wall throughout the week.
Classroom Learning: Throughout the week, classrooms may explore:
Read-alouds about neurodiversity
Gentle discussions about kindness, differences, and inclusion
Age-appropriate learning about autism and how people experience the world in different ways
World Autism Awareness Day – April 2: Students and staff are encouraged to wear blue to show support, understanding, and acceptance. We’ll also create a “Blue Kindness Chain” to highlight messages of inclusion and friendship.
How Families Can Join Us
Wear blue/yellow or fun, mismatched socks on March 20
Wear blue on April 2
Talk with your child about acceptance and celebrating differences
Visit the art wall with your student
Explore books and resources about autism and neurodiversity together
These opportunities are more than just learning. They are about creating a school where every mind matters. Thank you for partnering with us to build a compassionate, inclusive community where all children feel welcome, valued, and supported.
Tiger Watch has been going great! The students and volunteers are really enjoying the experience.
Click this link for more information, to see available dates, and to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EAAAE2DABFBC43-61762866-tiger
Second and Third Grade Concerts |
We will have two concerts on the evening of Thursday, March 26. Students should arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the event. Both concerts will be held in the multipurpose room.
· 2nd Grade at 5:00
· 3rd Grade at 6:00
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!
Incoming Kindergarten Information Night – April 2nd
We are excited to welcome our incoming kindergarten parents to Kindergarten Information Night on Thursday, April 2 from 5:30–6:30 PM in the Carnation Elementary Library.
This is a great opportunity for you to meet the kindergarten teachers, as well as our principal and dean of students here at Carnation Elementary. During the meeting, you will learn about what a daily kindergarten schedule looks like and how our Smart Start and Soft Start family connections work.
If you know families in the community with children who will be starting kindergarten next year and who have not yet registered, please encourage them to attend and complete the registration process as soon as possible.
This event is intended for parents and guardians, as the focus will be on sharing information and answering questions. There will be future opportunities for incoming kindergarten students to visit the school, including Kindergarten Kickoff and playdates later in the spring and summer.
Date: April 2
Time: 5:30–6:30 PM
Location: Carnation Elementary Library
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).
There’s lots of exciting activities coming up through our Carnation Elementary PTSA. Please visit the PTSA website for more information on how to participate and support our school community. Check out the March newsletter below.
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