Principal's Message

Dear Encinal School Community,

Welcome to the 2024-25 school year at Encinal School! We are thrilled to embark on another exciting journey of learning, growth, and community together. Our mission is clear: “We educate, nurture, and inspire all voices to contribute to a better world.” This year, we are committed to creating enriching opportunities that elevate every student and family, ensuring the best educational experience possible. At Encinal, everyone is valued and belongs.

Our “Community Reads” initiative will continue, this year, featuring two carefully selected children’s books highlighting identity, justice, diversity, and action themes. At Encinal, we honor every student’s identity and ensure that everyone’s name is pronounced correctly.

Aligned with our mission, we will focus on helping every student and staff member be their best selves through engaging, age-appropriate social-emotional learning in every classroom. We’ll empower students to use their new skills during recess and lunch, with additional support from our school counselor.

Our dedicated teachers will engage in ongoing professional learning in balanced literacy, science, and mathematics. We will also host two school-wide mathematical problem-solving challenges to showcase and celebrate our students' mathematical thinking.

Thanks to our PTO, the ENspired Lab will be redesigned this year to offer even more creative opportunities for students to design, build, and explore. We’ll continue to offer a variety of joy-filled events, including our garden curriculum, school-wide assemblies, cultural events, bike rodeos, and beloved community gatherings like the Fall Family Picnic, book fair, movie nights, and Science Night.

As part of MPCSD’s secure campus plan, we have installed new fencing and gates, which will be locked during school hours for added safety. Visitors will access the campus through the main entrance. A new door has been added to the back of the main office, allowing students to easily visit the office and nurse throughout the day. We also plan to plant trees in front of the new fences and will invite families to volunteer for this project.

We are excited to continue offering our additional 3:00 PM bus service, which began last spring. This bus, designed for 3rd-5th graders and their siblings, aims to enhance road safety and reduce traffic congestion. We encourage families to consider this option and sign up to support student independence and convenience.

We warmly welcome all families to another fantastic year of learning and friendship at Encinal School. Together, we’ll continue to contribute to a better world.

In partnership,

Principal Burns