Welcome to the 2025-2026 School Year!

Welcome back to school! I am so excited to continue as a part of the Bengal family! This will be my third year at Orange Elementary, and I’ve truly enjoyed getting to know our staff, students, and community. I live right here in the community, and outside of school I enjoy spending time with family, reading, and making the most of life’s everyday moments. I love my job and feel honored to serve the students and families of Orange.

This year, we’re continuing to build on the solid foundation we’ve established together. At Orange, we are focused on strengthening our professional learning community, deepening our implementation of restorative practices, and launching the next phase of our instructional growth with the beginning of Standards-Based Report Cards. These efforts are all designed to better support student learning and growth across all areas.

Our teachers are committed to improving their instructional practices through high-quality professional development grounded in the Science of Reading and effective mathematics instruction. We use data from a variety of sources—including FastBridge screeners, state assessments, and daily formative practices—to inform our teaching and meet student needs.

Your partnership is critical to student success, and I thank you for the support you continue to provide for both your child’s education and our school community.

Wishing you and your family a fantastic school year! Please don’t hesitate to reach out—I am always here to support.

All my best,
Kris Effinger, Principal