Principal's Message

Welcome to the start of the 2023-2024 school year! Serving as Carmela's Principal for the fifth year is my privilege. Over the course of my time at Carmela, my goal has been to support all our students, families, and staff members. Together, we have accomplished so much, yet there is still much more to be accomplished.

Our teachers and staff work hard daily to provide an outstanding learning environment for our students. Our team is dedicated to collaborating with the Carmela community to create safe and nurturing learning environments that focus on the whole child, ensuring that every student reaches their full potential. We are dedicated to continuing our participation in the Capturing Kid's Hearts initiative, which emphasizes creating positive connections between students and staff members and constructing collaborative agreements for positive behavior.

A major focus this year is improving school attendance. Did you know that Chronic Absenteeism can negatively impact a student's ability to learn to read by the third grade, perform well in middle school, and graduate from high school? As a school community, we are committed to ensuring our students attend and arrive on time every day. Carmela School will implement strategies to address any obstacles preventing students from attending. Let's work together to ensure all children can participate in school daily, learn, excel, and achieve high academic success.

As a parent, you are your child's most important teacher. I invite you to get involved by joining our Parent Groups, such as School Site Council, Coffee with the Principal, English Language Advisory Committee; volunteering at school activities; and taking an active role in your child's education. We aim to focus on increasing student achievement and doing whatever it takes to help ALL students succeed and find joy in coming to school daily. Our mission at Carmela is to ensure that all scholars are provided with the necessary skills through rigorous instruction to learn at high levels. We are entirely committed to providing your student with the best possible educational program. Please review the student handbook for more information on the policies and programs our school offers. 

Karina Hartl

Carmela Elementary School Principal