Carkenord Elementary Update
May 26, 2026
Principal's Note
Greetings Coyote Families!
It is hard to believe that we are in the last 2 weeks of the school year! Last week we completed our NWEA testing and saw some great growth from our students! Congratulations to Mrs. Brownson's and Mrs. Quick's classrooms for showing the most growth and earning the Coyote Grow awards! In addition, Kindergarten and 3rd grades have earned an extra recess for their hard work and making the most growth overall! All of our students have much to be proud of, and all grade levels made growth from the fall to the spring in both reading and math. Help your students keep up with their skills over the summer by having them spend time reading and using Exact Path.
Over the next couple of weeks, we have several fun events and celebrations. This Friday we have our Kindergarten Promotion Ceremony here at Carkenord. Next Tuesday we have the 5th grade promotion ceremony at JAPAC. We look forward to seeing you celebrate the successes of your students! In addition, 4th grade is heading off to transportation day this Thursday morning. PTC is bringing in the SkyDome Assembly so that the remaining classes have their turn visiting the mobile planetarium. And the most exciting day of the year...Coyote Day is next Monday, June 1st! PTC is busy planning a great day for our students. This is not a spectator event--so only parents who have signed up to volunteer will be allowed to attend. We will be sure to post several photos on our Facebook page.
Please continue to encourage your child to be their best selves each day as we wrap up the year. Talk about making positive choices not only in the classroom, but on the playground, in the cafeteria and on the bus too. Kind Coyotes are what we need to end the school year strong! Thank you all for your help and support!
With Coyote Pride,
Angela Szczepanski
Attendance Matters
You have to show to grow!
Let's finish the year with positive attendance! Be here, all day, every day!
Positivity Project
Dear Families,
This week, our school will review the 24 character strengths and the five elements of the Other People Mindset.
Throughout the school year, we’ve explored these 24 strengths, learning how they help us build strong relationships and become the best versions of ourselves. Every 1–2 weeks, we focused on a different strength or element of the Other People Mindset.
The Other People Mindset involves five key practices:
Identifying and appreciating the good in other people,
Knowing our words and actions affect others,
Supporting others when they struggle,
Celebrating others when they succeed,
Being fully present and giving others our attention.
This year, staff and students have learned that positive relationships are built on these principles. As a school community, we have experienced firsthand how these connections help us become happier, healthier, and more resilient.
To practice and encourage the Other People Mindset at home, please visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.
Exact Path
With the school-issued iPads being turned in, I have had parents ask about how their child can continue to use Exact Path on their own devices at home. Students can log onto the Carkenord home page>academics>media center>Media Center Resources>Exact Path or use this link: Edmentum® Learning Environment Login (https://auth.edmentum.com/elf/login)
From there, students should click on the Microsoft button. They will then log in using their LCPS email and password that they use for Schoology.
This will allow students to access Exact Path from any device. In addition, our media center home page has other great resources for students to use at home. Consider bookmarking that page to your child's device.
LCPS Non-Homestead Millage Replacement
Set a calendar reminder for Tuesday August 4, 2026! On that day, LCPS Voters will vote on a Non-Homestead Millage replacement that does not impact the taxes on your home in any way. For more information about the non-homestead millage, along with FAQs, please visit the district website at: https://www.lc-ps.org/community/operating-millage-proposal/
Birthday Treat Reminder
As a reminder, it is our building policy that students do not bring in food items for birthday treats. Birthdays are special for our students and will still be celebrated, however, due to the large number of students with various allergies and other medical conditions, we do not celebrate with food. Parents are welcome to send in non-food items. In addition, please refrain from bringing in trinkets or toys that resemble weapons or depict violence in any way. Be sure to connect with your child's teacher about how they celebrate birthdays in the classroom if you have specific questions. We appreciate your help in keeping everyone safe.
Looking ahead
Monday
- Memorial Day-No School
Tuesday
- Welcome Back!
Wednesday
- Restructured Day-2:55 dismissal
- 4th Grade Transportation Day
- SkyDome Assemblies
Friday
- Kindergarten Promotion Ceremony 9:30 am
- Space is limited--please only immediate family
- Older siblings may not be pulled from class due to space restrictions
- June 1 Coyote Day
- June 2 5th Grade Completion Ceremony @ JAPAC 10:00 am
- June 4 Half Day, 12:10 Dismissal
- June 5 Last Day, Half Day
- 5th grade Parents vs. Student Kickball Game 10:15
- 5th grade Clap Out, 11:30 am
- 12:10 Dismissal