Carkenord Chronicle

November 2024

Message from the Principal

The first two months of school have flown by, and we have reached November! The holidays are quickly approaching, and with that, comes a great lesson for all: the lesson of helping others and being grateful for all that we have.

We are beginning a new intitiative called the Positivity Project. The first topic we are working on is Other People Mindset. This is a foundational concept withing P2, teaching students that positive relationships are important-and that there are actions students can take to build positive relationships. Here are the 5 Other People Mindset elements:

Identify and appreciate the good in other people
Understand that your words and actions affect other people
Cheer other people on when they succeed
Support other people when they struggle
Remain present and give other people your attention.

While mental health is incredibly comples, we know that positive relationships can help people become happier, healthier, and more resilient. And, relationship-building skills are critical for leadership, collaboration, and effective communication.

In my weekly communications home, I will keep you informed of our upcoming topics and share resources with you that you can use at home with your children.

PTC News and Updates

Our next PTC meeting will be held on Monday, November 11th at 6:30 pm. Childcare will be available thanks to our middle and high school volunteers. Come join us!

Be on the lookout for information about our upcoming Bingo Night on November 20th! This event is fun for the whole family!

Positivity Project

On November 1st we are officially kicking off the Positivity Project with an all school assembly. The Positivity Project will teach students a variety of character traits. In the month of November, students will be learning about Other People Mindset (understanding that other people matter) and Curiousity. We look forward to integrating social emotional learning into our days. Have your child wear his/her grade level shirt from the fun run for this assembly.

Kroger Community Rewards

Kroger Rewards—Link your Kroger Plus card to Joseph M. Carkenord and earn money every time you shop!! Follow the link above to register your plus card (if you haven’t already) and choose to support Carkenord!

Conferences

Thank you to everyone who came out to conferences! 91% of our students had a family member attend conferences! We appreciate your dedication to your child's education and value your partnership.

iPads at Home

We are off to a great start with the use of iPads in the classroom! Students have been engaged in all different kinds of activities to support their learning. This has been an exciting intiative for both students and staff. All students have access to an online program called Exact Path. This program is aligned to your child based on how he/she tested on the NWEA. It creates what is called a learning path. If your child is looking for something to do at home, Exact Path is a great option! Your child can access exact path on this site: https://www.lc-ps.org/schools/elementary/carkenord/academics/media-center/

Many teachers may have already had your child bookmark this page to their iPad for easy access. If you need help logging your child in, please reach out to his/her teacher.

Picture Retake Day

Picture retake day will be November 14th. Anyone who would like to replace their original photo package, or was absent on the original retake day, may have their photo taken on the 14th. Any student who was not photographed on the orginal day will be photographed for the yearbook. You can order photos online by visiting www.KaiserStudio.com and using school code 24CARKEN25.

Parent Pick Up

At the end of the day, please use caution when walking your child to your car. Please do not allow your child to walk or run into the parking lot without you. We want to keep all children safe. As always, drive slowly through the parking lot when entering and exiting, and keep an alert watch for anyone crossing to their vehicles.

Attendance Matters

If your child is going to miss school, please be sure to call our attendance line and share the reason for your absence. Call 586-493-5230 and press 5 for attendance. When possible, please submit doctor's notes when your child is absent and has seen a medical professional.