Principal’s Message for November 2019: 

“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues” – Cicero

 Dear Carnelian Family,

The month of November reminds us of the importance to focus on all that we have to be thankful for.  At Carnelian, we are extremely thankful for each child who calls Carnelian home. I am thankful that we have a staff and faculty that love and care for our students, and for our families that work alongside us in our educational goals!  Take time to instill the joy of thankfulness and gratitude into your children’s lives this month. This is also a good time to teach our children about the ways that our military and first responders serve our country. It is important for our youth to appreciate the freedom that we have as Americans, and the fact that it is a result of the sacrifices that many have made.  

As we approach a couple of vacation periods, I encourage you to keep your child’s mind active through reading or playing educational games.  You are your child’s first and best teacher. Some ways to encourage writing at home are to have your child write stories, letters, or keep a journal or diary.  Have your child use math when you are at the grocery store by estimating cost. Talk to your child about what she or he is reading and ask questions about the text.  As students think and communicate about what they are reading, their ability to comprehend grows. Your child has an amazing brain. Let’s nourish that brain at school and at home so that our students are maximizing their learning opportunities.  

Our first trimester has come to an end.  With that in mind, this is a good time to review with your child his/her goals.  At the appropriate level, have conversations about what they want to do in the future.  Help to create some clarity pertaining to how to get there. I suggest looking at a goal and backward mapping the steps that are necessary to ensure success.  I also recommend reviewing your child’s reading goals, and check in with how they are doing in this area based on the first trimester report cards and data. Setting goals is a valuable life skill that increases our success, satisfaction, and overall happiness and well-being.  Albert Einstein once said, “Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts.” Remember, we want all of our Cardinals to be at or above grade level in reading and that takes practice and a concerted effort. Talk to your children about what they are reading and ask questions to help solidify their comprehension.  As of today we are at 33,017,280 words as a school. That is 25% of our annual goal of 135,000,000 words. Let’s keep up the great work!

Finally, take time to edify your children.  Build them up. Tell them how wonderful and amazing they are.  When we let our children know how much we believe in them and accompany that with high expectations, they have a great advantage in reaching their dreams in life.  Thanks so much for partnering with us and supporting us as we do all that we can to enhance the lives of our students.

Mr. Deegan