“Synergy is better than my way or your way.  It’s our way” – Stephen Covey

 Dear Carnelian Family,

 I can’t express how happy I am to have our students back on campus full time.  Seeing students learning in class, playing on the playground, eating lunch and simply being at school is how it is meant to be.  Our teachers have done an incredible job helping our students learn and grow throughout the past 18 months, but it is so refreshing to see them in action each day with our campus full of children.  I know that we are not back to where we want to be, but we are continually moving in the right direction.  One thing that is helping tremendously is our amazing families continuing to work together with us by screening their children at home and erring on the side of caution when our students are feeling under the weather.  We appreciate your ongoing patience and flexibility as we do whatever it takes to keep our students in school, healthy and learning.  Your partnership with us reminds me of the above quote from Stephen Covey, “Synergy is better than my way or your way.  It’s our way.”  I value the input and insight that I get from conversations with our parents.  

We are excited to recognize students in our first Flag Assembly for the year on Friday, September 3rd.  We will be notifying the parents of children who will be recognized in our Flag Assembly and posting a link so our families can watch this event.  This year for Patriot Day, we will also present a virtual assembly to honor those who lost their lives twenty years ago on 9/11.  We will also be honoring First Responders who are close to our Carnelian students.  Every student will have an opportunity to make a slide that is dedicated to a First Responder.  These slides will be part of our Patriot Day assembly.  

We hope that you take a moment of time to join our PTA.  You can stop by the office to join or click on the following link:  Join Carnelian PTA.  Our goal is to have the highest membership percentage in Alta Loma.  Supporting PTA not only helps us provide enriching experiences for our students, but it sends a message that we value education and we want what is best for all of our children.  

As I mentioned at Back-to-School Night, it is very important that all of our families fill out the Household Income Form.  This will allow us to continue to receive Federal Funds through Title I.  These funds used to be allocated based on data from our National School Lunch Program Applications.  Now that meals are complimentary for all students in California, we will not have that information.  Carnelian receives approximately $100,000 per year in Title I funding for our school site to offer reading, math and other learning support for our students.  Here is a link to access the brief form that we will need from each family:  Household Income Form.  

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