CARLSON COURIER
Home of the Champions
Greetings Champions,
Happy Labor Day! Nothing like an extra day that lands right when we need it most. Growing up, I can remember learning about the young children sent to work in the coal mines as young as 5 years old during the Industrial Revolution. I couldn't help but think how I would have fared had I grown up during that time and often used that to remind my own boys how lucky they had it when being reminded for the 3rd time to clean their rooms. Well, a lot has changed and improved since then. And this gift of time is a priceless commodity. One so scarce that it can rarely be purchased. However, there's a debt we owe for this time we receive. It goes to those that came before us helping deliver better working conditions than they endured. Their labor helped build this great nation affording us the opportunities we have today. They fought so that one day we would enjoy the fruits of that labor. Furthermore, to repay this debt, we too, are tasked with continuing this legacy by helping to further balance the time we spend working and the time we have for family and leisure. As an educator, this premise is rooted in what motivates us to do this work. For us, education is the key that can unlock a future where your happiness is maximized by the ability to chose a career or job that realizes your potential and talents. One that compensates you fairly for your time and effort so that you may spend more of your time than previous generations with your family and friends doing things that make you happy.
OK, a quick recap of last week: Several of our clubs kicked off their year meeting for the first time. Thank you to all the students that showed up for Yearbook, Student Council and Battle of the books. Also, our Red, White and Blue committee led by Mrs. Coking has been working hard to prepare a special Patriot Day and Flag Raising ceremony coming up this Friday. Additionally, our staff met to dive deeper into our theme of TEAM this year and learn about different personalities and how they work in groups. Then our PLC leads met and after getting input from staff put the finishing touches on our school wide plan for writing improvement. I will be presenting this at our site council meeting on September 15th at 3:30pm. Then on Thursday we practiced our 1st lockdown drill of the year. Thanks to Chandler PD for their help and assistance. And our 5th graders met last week during lunch to discuss plans and are working on improving their soccer games at recess. Thank you to our captains Ian, Kinley, Wen-Long and Jagger for their leadership roles. Looking forward to seeing how this goes these next few weeks. And finally, we met with Hamilton's STEM Club president to work out the details for next quarter where they will host several STEM classes after school throughout the year. Thank you to Charles Zhang and Mrs. Bruder for coordinating this opportunity for students. More info to come on that and more before we go on break.
For this week: We are kicking off PTO's STEP IT UP Fundraiser. If you were with us last year you will remember we did this mostly virtual where students sent links to family members asking for support. Students loved the incentives and prizes they received and we are looking to step it up ourselves as well this year. Wednesday will be our assembly to unveil this year's class incentive along with all the other prizes. The goal is raise money to improve or enhance our playground for students. I have put together a list of items for PTO that includes more shade, sporting equipment (balls, jump ropes, hula hoops, etc.), a gaga ball pit (pending district approval), additional playground equipment (slides, shorter basketball hoops), seating/tables for outdoor learning, and more. So, depending on the amount of funds, projects that can be approved this money will go toward enhancing students' outdoor recess and learning time.
Finally, on Friday is our Patriot Day ceremony. This year we are moving to the basketball courts on the South side of the building so we can space out better. We have some very special guests lined up to attend and share a few words about 9/11 to honor and remember those we lost, our 1st responders and those called into action as a result. This is the 20th anniversary and want it to be special for our kids and community. I need you to help me by having a conversation with your student(s) about the event so they understand it. Of course, our teachers will have age appropriate lessons for our students leading up to the event. But we do have a recorded message from a retired FBI agent that was in NY that day and very close to the attack. He has prepared a wonderful video for our kids that gives an overview of the event. So, I just want to ensure our students understand that they need to be on their best behavior and it's a mature topic that involves some mature conversations. We don't get into any graphic detail but over 3,000 people lost their lives and if it is too much for your child please let Mrs. Thelen know so she can support them. You are invited to attend as well. You don't need to sign in the front office as the double gates will be open and you can walk over to the event. It starts at 9:00 AM. Please don't arrive before 8:45 AM for this event though. We have morning drop off and will be setting up. We will do our best to have some chairs and shade but you can always bring your own chair if you want. We will need to space out the best we can. There will be sanitizer upon arrival and masks for those that wish to wear one. They are still highly recommended. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you and honoring this important event. We will send out more info on Thursday as a reminder.
That should do it for this edition. As always, thank you for your continued support for both CUSD, Carlson and your kids' education. Have a great week!
Kindly,
Mr. Morgan
Important Dates
Wednesday 9/8
- PTO's STEP IT UP Fundraiser kickoff
- Patriot Day Ceremony 9:00 AM in honor of 9/11; On the basketball courts. Enter through double gates starting at 8:50AM. Please do not arrive before 8:45 AM.
- Site council meeting 3:30 PM in the media center; Open to anyone interested in attending.
- Champion's Lunch - Responsibility
- PTO - First FUN Friday
- Deadline for 1st Quarter AR Dog Tags
Friday 9/24
- Champions Assembly
- End of Quarter 1; last day for students
Fall Break 9/27 - 10/11
- Students return on 10/12/21
Step It Up Fundraiser - Kicks off this week!
This week's Breakfast & Lunch Menu
What's For Breakfast & Lunch
A Look Around Campus
August Teachers of the Month Mrs. Rivas (KG) & Mrs. Pearson (2nd)
Mrs. Rivas
Mr. Davis
Mrs. Pearson
Mrs. Drewry's Class
Book Report Time
Fantastic Fourth Grade Team
Mr. Sword
A Special Day
Mrs. Simpson
Mrs. Simpson
Staff Meeting Fun
Southerns
Go West Young Man!
Mrs. Ruddle's Class
Another One Bites The Dust
And Another One
Mrs. Malizia's Class
Mrs. Murrieta's Class
Mrs. Franzen's 3rd Grade
Mrs. Hays Class
Safety Guidelines
Please continue to notify Mrs. Franco, our health assistant, at franco.nohemi@cusd80.com and send her a copy of any positive test results. If your child was in close contact you will be personally contacted and all quarantining procedures will be reviewed. After all close contacts have been notified, a general exposure letter is sent to the class or classes affected.
Counseling Connections
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
Dear Carlson Families,
The following are your 2021-22 PTO board members:
Katie Palichuk, Carlson PTO President
Nikki Macias, Carlson PTO Secretary
Denise Coracides, Carlson PTO Director of Technology & Communications
Stephanie Wesselmann, Carlson PTO Director of Merchandising
CARLSON ELEMENTARY
Name: John and Carol Carlson Elementary School
Mascot: Champions; Champ is a cougarAddress: 5400 S. White Drive, Chandler, AZ 85249
School Hours: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Office Hours: 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Principal: Andy Morgan
Dean of Students: Bridgett Matson
Office Manager: (480) 224-3807 - Mrs. Benfield, Office Manager
Front Office: (480) 224-3800 - Mrs. Kleinholz, Senior Administrative Clerk
Attendance: (480) 224-3803 - Mrs. Lang Attendance Tech/RegistrarHealth Office: (480) 224-3802 - Mrs. Franco, Health Assistant
Fax: (480) 224-9443
Website: https://www.cusd80.com/Domain/4422
Location: 5400 South White Drive, Chandler, AZ, USA
Phone: 480-224-3800
Facebook: facebook.com/CarlsonChamps
Twitter: @CarlsonChamps