Hello Carver Elementary Families,

What an amazing week we had—thank you for being a vital part of it all!

🌟 Teacher Appreciation Week
Your kind words, thoughtful gestures, and generous support made our teachers feel truly celebrated. Thank you for helping us honor the incredible staff who give so much to our students every day!

🌞 Field Day Fun
What a blast! Huge thanks to Coach for organizing such a phenomenal event, and to all of you for your support. The weather was perfect, and the smiles were nonstop!

💼 Career Week Highlights
Shout out to Gio and Ms. Taylor for planning an inspiring Career Week, including our fantastic guest speakers on Tuesday. It was a powerful experience for our students!

💻 Hour of Code with USAA
We were thrilled to partner with USAA to bring coding to our 2nd–5th grade students. They had a great time learning new skills and exploring the world of computer science!

📚 Academic Updates

Please continue to support your child’s learning by making reading a daily habit—just 20 minutes a day can make a huge difference. Our goal is to have all students reading on grade level by the end of third grade, and your support is key!

🙌 Thank You for Participating!

We appreciate everyone who joined us for:

• The 4th and 5th Grade Band Concert

• Talent Show Auditions

• A year of support for the YES Program

And a reminder: Library books were due Friday, May 9th—please return any outstanding books to the library.

🎺 Upcoming Events

🟢 Wednesday, May 14

• Ron Hein Track Meet (Selected students) at Garry Berry Stadium

🟢 Thursday, May 15

• 3rd & 4th Grade Musical Performance | 5:30–6:00 PM in the gym

🟢 Friday, May 16

• Skate City Trip (Selected students) | 12:00–2:00 PM

📅 Save the Dates

🍦 May 19 – Rizuto’s Ice Cream Walking Field Trip
🎤 May 20 – Carver’s Got Talent Show | 1:15–2:50 PM
🍔 May 21 – 5th Grade BBQ | 12:00–2:50 PM
🏆 May 22 – Quarterly Awards | 2:00–2:50 PM
🎓 May 22 – 5th Grade Promotion | 5:30–6:30 PM
🎉 May 23 – Kindergarten Promotion | 8:15–9:00 AM
🎒 May 23 – Last Day of School!

📈 Attendance, Punctuality & Achievement

Being present and on time sets the tone for learning success. Thank you for helping your child arrive ready to learn and for notifying us when they’re absent. Every day counts!

🏡 At-Home Learning Tips

Reading:

• Read together for 20 minutes daily

• Take turns, ask questions, and talk about the story

Math Practice:

• K–2: Count to 100 and skip count by 2s, 5s, and 10s

• 3–5: Practice multiplication facts through 12

🚗 Arrival & Dismissal Reminders

• Avoid early pickups between 2:00–2:50 PM to minimize classroom disruptions

• After-school program pickup is by 4:00 PM

• Breakfast starts at 7:30 AM in the gym (free for all students)

• First bell: 7:45 AM | Second bell: 7:50 AM

• Students arriving after 7:55 AM must be signed in at the front office

🛍️ Carver Online Store – Now Open!

Show your school spirit with Carver gear!
🎉 Use promo code SPRING20 for 20% off orders over $100.

💬 Final Thoughts

To our longtime families and those new to Carver—thank you. Your partnership means the world to us and makes a real impact on student success. We invite you to stay connected by joining the PTA, volunteering, or getting involved with our School Accountability Committee.

Let’s finish the year strong—together!

With gratitude,
Mrs. Bizzell
Proud Principal of Carver Elementary

As a quality neighborhood school in D11, the Carver community is supportive and safe as staff, parents, and students are valued and involved in creating engaging, intentional learning experiences that are responsive to student needs and results in a place where everyone wants to be.

Carver Elementary is proud to be the Heart of Our Community!! Our staff recently attended the Capturing Kids' Heart training and we are excited to build relationships, challenge ourselves and our students, and truly become the Heart of Our Community! We will continue to partner with local businesses, resources, and community members to enhance our identity statement and challenge our students to be the BEST they can be, every day at school. We are providing intentional learning experiences that involve and engage all of our students and our staff. We look forward to this school year and partnering with YOU!!

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May 15th-Third and Fourth Grade Music Performance 6:00-6:30 PM

May 16th-Talent Show Performance

May 22nd 4th Quarter Awards 2;00-2:50 PM

May 22nd-Fifth Grade Promotion 5:30-6:30 PM

May 23rd-Kindergarten Promotion 8:15-9:00 AM

May 23rd-Last Day of School!

August 7th Back to School BBQ

August 12th Kinder Jump Start 8:00-10:00 AM

August 13th First Day of School!!

Our focus this month is Perseverance! Please read the newsletter below with some strategies to support this at home.

Breakfast in the cafeteria 7:30-7:45 AM (cold breakfast 7:45-8:10 AM)

Office Hours: 7:30 AM-3:45 PM

Carver School Hours: 7:50 AM-2:50 PM

Tardy bell rings at 7:50

Students will have a 15 minute recess, prior to lunch.

10:50-11:10 Kindergarten and First Grade

11:10-11:30 Second and Third Grade

11:30-11:50 Fourth and Fifth Grade

Under the Healthy School Meals for All program the State of Colorado provides free meals for all D11 students. Please take a moment to fill out our Free and Reduced Meal Application regardless of whether you think you would qualify or not. This program benefits the school as well as your family. Our goal is 100% participation. As a reminder, Carver is a free breakfast and lunch school. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the front office. Carver is currently 85% free or reduced lunch and we receive Federal Funds for this.

https://linqconnect.com/public/meal-application/new?identifier=JX9G3Q

K/1 12:10-1:00

2/4 1:05-1:55

3/5 2:00-2:50

Essentials: Art, Music, PE, Technology

Adaptive PE/Art: Fridays from 9:00-10:05 AM (Selected students)

Band for grades 4th and 5th (Tuesdays and Wednesdays)

Orchestra for grades 4th and 5th (Mondays and Wednesdays)

We are still accepting interested students for BAND and ORCHESTRA! Please stop by the front office for a permission slip!

We LOVE having family members in the building! Please complete the link below if you have some time to volunteer to help at school. Some activities include: cutting, tearing out workbook pages, reading to students, testing sight words, and sometimes just helping in class.
Please join us!

Hello friends!

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month is celebrated annually in May in the United States to highlight the history, heritage and contributions of Asian Pacific American communities. Asian-Americans and Pacific Islander Americans (AAPI) play a large role in the history of the United States. Contributing to stronger societies as individuals and as a group, their ancestry tracks back to continental Asia (the Middle East, East Asia and Southeast Asia) and the Pacific Islands (Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia) in the United States. The contributions of the AAPI community are vast, from art to infrastructure to politics, and much more.

May is significant because the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, and the Transcontinental Railroad was finished on May 10, 1869 by a majority of Chinese immigrant workers. After failed individual resolutions in the House and Senate in 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution the following year that proclaimed the “7-day period beginning on May 4, 1979 as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.” In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a bill expanding the week to the full month.

There are many ways you can learn more about and celebrate Asian/Pacific Heritage Month. Whether through art, culture, history or music, find your unique path and rejoice in the diversity of our people and the world.

Here are 8 Ways to Celebrate Asian/Pacific Heritage Month

Explore AAPI History

The history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is the core of this observance. PBS has a great documentary series about the history of identity, contributions and challenges experienced by Asian-Americans. “Asian-Americans" is a five-hour film series that delivers a bold, fresh perspective on a history that matters today, more than ever. Told through intimate personal stories, the series casts a new lens on U.S. history and the ongoing role that Asian-Americans have played.

Read Books with AAPI Connections

Read up on the history of AAPI communities, both within the states and in their home and/or surrounding countries. The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center has a great list of books to learn about the experiences of Asian Americans. Or check out Erika Lee’s “The Making of Asian America: A History.”

Watch a Movie

Watch this year’s Academy Award-winning film, “Nomadland,” directed by Chloe Zhao, the first Asian woman to win the top directing prize. Or enjoy “Minari,” a sweeping story that follows a Korean-American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American dream features s South Korea’s Youn Yuh-jung in her Academy –Award-winning role for supporting actor. In addition to other recent amazing Korean movies like “Burning” and “Train to Busan,” there are Hollywood films directed by Asian filmmakers like “Crazy Rich Asians,” “The Farewell,” and “Searching". To get your fill of Bollywood, Netflix has compiled a comprehensive list and to capture Hollywood’s take, watch “Viceroy House,” “Gandhi” and “Mississippi Masala.”

Explore Asian/Pacific Art

Consider the diverse cultures of the AAPI community by looking at Asian art. Check out the Smithsonian’s Museum of Asian Art online. Appreciate a multitude of diverse ethnic backgrounds by exploring the Smithsonian photo gallery A Day in the Life of Asian Pacific America. Try Origami. The sale of jigsaw puzzles has surge, so why not try the calming Japanese art of paper folding? Visit Origami.me to learn about the history of the most famous paper model, the crane, and make your own.

Discover Asian/Pacific Horticulture

Learn more about how, in 1912, Japan gave several varieties of over 3,000 cherry trees to the U.S. as a symbol of friendship. These trees were planted in Washington, DC, and produce the well-known cherry blossom. According to the National Park Service, in 1965, Japan gave another 3,800 trees. In 2011, about 120 propagates from the surviving 1912 trees were sent back to Japan to retain the genetic lineage. Read about bonsai and penjing and your hand at creating a bonsai.

Try Asian/Pacific Gourmet

Research different countries in the Asian-Pacific region and learn about the region’s culinary culture. Many grocery stores carry ingredients common to Asian cuisine. Locally, visit the Asian Market grocery store. Support local restaurants and buy some takeout. If you have been ordering from the same places, consider expanding and trying something new.

Learn about Indianapolis’ Three Asian Sister Cities

In 1978, Taipei, Taiwan became Indianapolis’ first sister city followed by Hangzhou, China in 2008 and Hyderabad, India in 2010. Visit here to learn more about our sister cities and watch this video United Way of Central Indiana put together for our recent travel-themed fundraiser ELEVATE and learn more about Taipei, Taiwan.

Here are some books to explore: Mali Under the Night Sky: A Lao Story of Home(opens in new window)/ Age: 5-8

This book tells the true story of Lao American artist Malichansouk Kouanchao, who had to leave her home as a child due to war. Through warm watercolor illustrations, we see how Mali and her family lived in their community, what they did every day, and her memories of crossing the Mekong River to get to safety in Thailand when she was just five years old.

Mrs. Gio (Giovanny) Franco-Diaz

School Counselor, Carver Elementary

Email: giovanny.francodiaz@d11.org - Phone # 719-328-2171

“I can’t do this, I don’t get it, take a deep breath… then try adding “YET” at the end of the sentence”

Active coping strategies:

· Go for a walk

· Do jumping jacks.

· Bounce or kick a ball.

· Squeeze a stress ball.

Relaxing coping strategies:

· Take some deep breaths.

· Tense and relax your muscles.

· Have a drink of cold water.

· Close your eyes, and count to 10 or backward from 100.

Creative coping strategies:

· Color, draw or paint.

· Play with Play-Doh.

· Build with Legos or blocks.

Social coping strategies:

· Play a game with the family.

· Cuddle or play with your pet.

· Read a book together.

· Share your feelings with someone you trust.

Coping strategies that shift your mindset:

· Think of something positive.

· Think about something that makes you laugh.

· Practice reframes.

· Focus on what you can control.

We are a PBIS (Positive Behavior and Support School) and we will continue to practice our School Wide PAW expectations.

P- I am Prepared

A-I have a great Attitude

W-I Work hard

S-I am Safe

Student Council participated in Carver Cleanup day! All of this events help students learned to be a leader by taking responsibility, ownership, follow through on their word, advocating for school activities for all students to enjoy and leading by example.

Important dates for StuCo activities:

Saturday May 10th - 8:30am-12:30pm StuCo giving back to Carver lunch included

Career week is this week, thank you for all pour guest speakers, if you still want to be a guest speaker e are more than happy to have you please contact Mrs. Gio Franco Diaz or Mrs. Mello Student Council Advisors for more information.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT 😊!

Our PTA board is:

President: Brittany Shelly

Vice President:

Treasurer: Betty Barnett

Secretary: Kelly Dawson

All our welcome to attend our meetings!

Safety is our top priority at Carver Elementary School, and we are committed to ensuring the well-being of all students, staff, and visitors. We now have a secured entrance to monitor ALL visitors and a fence that surrounds the back of the school. To this end, we follow the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to prepare for and respond to various emergency situations. We conduct monthly and quarterly drills to practice these protocols, ensuring that everyone in our school community knows what to do in case of an emergency. Here is an overview of the SRP we follow:

• Hold - In Your Classroom or Area

• Directive: "In Your Room or Area"
• Purpose: This protocol is used when hallways need to be kept clear of occupants. Students and staff remain in their rooms or areas until further notice.

Secure - Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors

• Directive: "Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors"
• Purpose: This protocol is used to safeguard people within the building by securing all exterior doors. Normal activities continue inside the building.

Lockdown - Locks, Lights, Out of Sight

• Directive: "Locks, Lights, Out of Sight"
• Purpose: This protocol is used to secure individual rooms and keep occupants quiet and in place. Doors are locked, lights are turned off, and everyone stays out of sight.

Evacuate - To a Stated Location

• Directive: "Evacuate to [Location]"
• Purpose: This protocol is used to move people from one location to a different location, either within or outside the building. The specific location will be communicated during the drill or emergency.

Shelter - State the Hazard and the Safety Strategy

• Directive: "Shelter [Hazard] and [Safety Strategy]"
• Purpose: This protocol is used for group and self-protection based on the specific hazard (e.g., tornado, hazmat). The safety strategy will be clearly communicated.

Monthly Drills:

To ensure we are prepared, we conduct monthly/quarterly drills for each of these protocols. These drills help students and staff practice the appropriate responses and become familiar with the procedures. Your support in reinforcing the importance of these drills at home is greatly appreciated.

Communication:

In the event of an actual emergency, we will communicate with families promptly. Please ensure that your contact information is up to date in our records so that you can receive timely notifications.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our school safe. If you have any questions or concerns about our safety protocols, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Together, we can ensure a safe and secure learning environment for all our students.

Carver Elementary is a Title I school.

The purpose of Title I is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic achievement standards and state academic assessments.

If you have any questions, please reach out:

https://www.d11.org/TitleI

Email: lisa.bizzell@d11.org
Website: https://www.d11.org/Page/69
Location: 4740 Artistic Circle, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Phone: 719-328-7100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carver.d11.org/