Our School
Meet Our Principal
Mrs. Diana Verduzco
“We are very excited to welcome our families to our school, Global Language Academies of Downey at Carpenter. We would like to share some exciting news; Carpenter Elementary is authorized as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education- that we believe is important for our students.
In conjunction, our dual-immersion program and IB program will help us provide a well-rounded, rigorous, globally competitive, 21st-century education. Our students will have the opportunity to develop as bilingual, knowledgeable, courageous, balanced, principled, reflective, caring, open-minded, communicators, thinkers, and inquirers. We strive to grow students that are college and career-ready, globally competitive, and citizens of strong character. We work together with our families and community to support all of our students in being the best that they can be.”
Fun Facts:
- Mrs. Verduzco is bilingual in Spanish and continues to be fascinated by the language.
- She studied in Greece.
- Mrs. Verduzco also loves music! She played the flute in middle and high school honor band.
Our Mission
At Carpenter Elementary, we cultivate a love of learning; we ignite curiosity through inquiry-based experiences while thriving in a compassionate, active, and multi-linguistic environment. We foster a school community where our internationally-minded youth develop an appreciation of differences and respect for the dignity of all people.
Our Philosophy
Our Mascot
Carpenter Elementary School is the home of the Explorers! This unique mascot is a perfect fit for the values we hold dear at Carpenter Elementary School.
Explorers symbolize adventure, the pursuit of information and knowledge, and seeing more of the world to better understand its past, present, and where it might be headed in the future. Explorers are lifelong learners just as we want our students to be.
The globe emphasizes our Global Language Academies of Downey (G.L.A.D.) program. Our dual-language immersion program is unique in the district to our campus, and we’re proud to have the Explorer mascot readily present that.
It’s a big world out there, and at Carpenter, we want to make sure our students are not only prepared but excited to begin exploring it.
Instructional Program
Assessment Policy
The purpose of assessment is to inform teachers about students’ learning and guide instruction. This policy also outlines the tools used to assess student progress.
Download: English
School-wide Points of Inquiry
This matrix outlines the points of inquiry and how they are addressed for each grade level.
Download: English
Language Policy
This document covers our language learning philosophy, the role of the teacher, and how we will support students' language learning process.
Download: English
2025-2026 School Home & School Compact
What is a School-Parent Compact?
A School-Parent Compact for Achievement is an agreement that parents, students, and teachers develop together. It explains how parents and teachers will work together to make sure all our students reach grade level standards.
Effective compacts:
- Link to goals of the school improvement plan.
- Focus on student learning skills.
- Describe how teachers will help students develop those skills using high quality instruction.
- Share strategies parents can use at home.
- Explain how teachers and parents will communicate with regard to student progress.
- Describe opportunities for parents to volunteer, observe, and participate in the classroom.
Jointly Developed
The parents and staff of this school developed this School-Parent Compact for Achievement. Meetings are held on a yearly basis to review the Compact and make changes based on student needs. Parents are welcome to contribute at any time. If you would like to volunteer, participate, or observe in the classroom, please contact the school.
Building Partnerships
Your support and input are valued and instrumental in helping our students succeed! Opportunities for involvement include:
- Back-to-School/Parent Night
- PTA Meetings
- Parent Workshops
- Open House
- School Site Council Meetings
- Title I and English Learner Advisory Council
- Awards Assemblies
- District Sponsored events
District Goal
By June 2026, 90-100% of all students will perform at grade level or higher and upon graduation meet the requirements for entrance into the UC and CSU system or have developed skills to be career ready.
School Goals
By June 2026, we will continue to increase the number of students reaching proficiency in mathematics and reading.
Our focus in reading will be:
- Develop life-long reading and comprehension strategies, which will increase proficiency in state testing and meet our critical reading focus.
- Encourage and foster students’ interest in reading using a variety of fictional literature and nonfiction texts.
- Determine the meaning of, comprehend, and appropriately utilize academic vocabulary in speaking and writing.
Our focus in mathematics will be to:
- Integrate technology to enrich day to day learning, intervention, and authentic assessment.
- Have students explain their mathematical reasoning that supports their problem solving strategy.
- Provide homework in order to review and practice concepts instructed in class, as needed.
At School
The staff will work with students and their families to support students’ success in reading and math. Some of our key connections with families will be:
- Communicate regularly with parents regarding current academic programs and be accessible to parents/guardians to discuss questions and/or concerns.
- Provide materials and information to help parents support the school’s academic program.
- Offer Parent Workshops in Literacy and Math to provide strategies and resources for home support.
At Home
Elementary School staff, in collaboration with parents, will develop ideas about how families can support students’ success:
- Discuss and review my child’s schoolwork nightly and contact the teacher with questions and/or concerns.
- Read and use the classroom materials and information to support learning at home.
- Read with or listen to my child read every day.
- Attend family literacy and math workshops and use the strategies learned.
- Involve my child in solving real-world math problems every day.
- Ask about homework, reading requirements, and iReady reports.
Student Responsibilities
Our students know the importance of being responsible. A responsible student will come to school every day on time, prepared, and ready to learn. To make connections between learning at home and at school, students will:
- Take home, review, and discuss schoolwork and materials nightly with parents/guardians.
- Ask for help when they have trouble with their schoolwork.
- Participate in classroom discussions and group work.
- Read to and discuss the text with an adult for 20-30 minutes every day.
- Use strategies learned in class to solve real-world math problems.
- Update iPad Regularly and come to school with it fully charged.
- Complete 2 or more i-Ready lessons in BOTH math and reading weekly.
- Exemplify and model the Six Pillars of Character, everywhere and all the time.
Engagement Policy
Carpenter Elementary School recognizes that parents and guardians are their children’s first and most influential teachers. We believe that continued parental involvement in a child’s education contributes greatly to student achievement and conduct. This Parent and Family Engagement Policy is an integral component of our school plan to promote a meaningful partnership between the school and the home.
Part 1: General Expectations
Carpenter Elementary agrees to implement the following requirements to support student achievement and conduct
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Joint Development: The school will jointly develop and distribute a School Parental Involvement Policy that parents and staff agree to uphold
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Language Accessibility: Notifications regarding this policy will be provided in an understandable format and distributed in both English and Spanish to the extent practicable
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Annual Review: This policy is revisited yearly to meet the evolving needs of our families and the school.
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Community Transparency: A link to this policy will be made available to the local community on the school website
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Home-School Compact: The school will adopt a Home-School Compact as a core component of this policy.
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Inclusion: We provide accessibility for parents with limited English proficiency, disabilities, and those of migratory students.
Defining Parental Involvement
We believe involvement means regular, two-way, and meaningful communication regarding academic learning
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Parents play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning
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Parents are encouraged to be actively involved in school education
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Parents are full partners in decision-making and advisory committees
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Part 2: Policy Implementation
Carpenter Elementary will take the following actions to involve parents in the joint development and joint agreement of its Engagement Policy and its schoolwide plan, if applicable, in an organized, ongoing, and timely way under section 1118(b) of the ESEA:
- Title I Parent Team Meetings will be held to create, review, and improve the Engagement Policy and the Home-School Compact yearly.
- Parents will have the opportunity to discuss and share ways to improve the Title 1 Program.
- Parents will have the opportunity to complete a survey about our Title 1 Program each year.
- Parents will be provided, if they request an appointment for regular meetings.
Carpenter Elementary will take the following actions to distribute to parents of children participating and the local community, the Engagement Policy:
- The hard copy of the school’s Parent and Family Engagement Policy will be available to any parent when requested.
- The Engagement Policy will be posted on our official School web site for the community to view.
Carpenter Elementary will review yearly and update periodically its Engagement Policy to meet the changing needs of parents and the school:
- A team meeting will be held yearly to review and/or update the Engagement Policy. The Fall Information Meeting will review the Williams Uniform Complaint Procedure
- Fall meeting with survey regarding dates times and topics
Carpenter Elementary will convene an annual meeting to inform parents of the following:
- That their child’s school participates in Title I,
- About the requirements of Title I
Of their rights to be involved in:
Parent and Family Engagement Policy - Home-School Compact
- Williams Uniform Complaint Procedure
- About their school’s participation in Title I
- Invitations emailed home in English & Spanish and posted on social media
- Dialer callers in English and Spanish and at convenient times for parents
- Parents are encouraged to attend parent functions, through various incentives
- Parents are encouraged to take the LCAP survey yearly, to voice their opinions
Carpenter Elementary will hold a flexible number of meetings at varying times, including child care:
- Invitations will be sent home in English and Spanish, with plenty of notice along with automatic dialer calls.
- Childcare will be provided by trained volunteers.
- Spanish translation will be provided at parent functions.
- Parent surveys will be given to determine parent interest needs.
will provide information about Title I programs to parents of participating children in a timely manner: - A Fall meeting will be held.
- Written notification will be sent home with all Title I students, explaining the program
Carpenter Elementary will provide to parents of Title I students a description and explanation of the curriculum being used, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet:
- A letter will be sent home with all Title I students, explaining the curriculum, assessments being used, and what level is expected of them.
- This will also be discussed at the Informational Meetings.
Carpenter Elementary will provide parents of Title I students opportunities to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children:
- Informational meetings
- SSC – School Site Council
- PTA Meetings
- Annual Title I Meeting
- District LCAP Survey
Part 3: Shared Responsibilities for High Academic Achievement
- Carpenter Elementary will build the school’s and parents’ capacity for strong parental involvement, in order to ensure effective involvement of parents and to support a partnership among the school involved, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement, through the following activities specifically described below:
- Needs Assessment Survey taken by parents (conducted by Title I)
- Parent input through team meetings (conducted by Title I)
- Parental requests (conducted by Title I)
- Varied / multiple meeting times (conducted by Title I)
- PTA Meetings (conducted by the PTA board members)
- Encouragement to attend “Back To School” night and Open House (conducted by the staff and principal)
- Principal’s newsletter which is distributed in Spanish and English
Carpenter Elementary will incorporate the Home-School Compact as a component of its Parent and Family Engagement Policy:
- Both policies will be reviewed at the meetings held for Title I parents
- Both policies will be displayed on our school website
Carpenter Elementary will, with the assistance of its district, provide assistance to parents of children served by the school in understanding topics, such as the following:
- the State’s academic content standards,
- the State’s CAASPP proficiency levels
- the State and local academic assessments including alternate assessments,
- the requirements of Title I
- how to monitor their child’s progress, and how to work with educators
- Results of the annual Title I review
- These various topics will be addressed at the Title 1 Informational Meetings and through Parent Education throughout the year.
Carpenter Elementary will, with the assistance of its district, provide materials to help parents work with their children to improve their children’s academic achievement, through:
- parent brochures/newsletters
- parent education
- parent meetings and school functions
- Gathering parental input on desired parent education trainings
Carpenter Elementary, with the assistance of its district and parents, educate its staff, on how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners.
- Staff Meetings
- Professional Development
- Professional Literature
- ‘Q’ Parent Connect Online System through the DUSD App as well as Blackboard
Carpenter Elementary will, to the extent feasible and appropriate, take the following actions to ensure that information related to the school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities, is sent to the parents of participating children in an understandable and uniform format, including alternative formats upon request, and to the extent practicable, in a language
the parents can understand:
- All parent invitations and information will be translated in Spanish.
- All parent invitations will be emailed home and posted on social media.
Auto dialer and email.
Part 4: Adoption
This policy was approved and adopted by Carpenter Elementary’s School Site Council in April 2025 and will be in effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The policy will be available school-wide to all parents of students through our website. It will be made available to the local community.
Notification to parents of this policy will be in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, provide a copy of this policy to parents in a language the parents can understand.
