Dear Panther Lake Elementary Parents and Families,
It is incredibly hard to believe we are halfway through March already! This will be the last time you hear from me until I return from leave. Please check out the blurb about our guest principal, Mr. Jeff Soltez.
In case it was overlooked in last week's message, I will be taking medical leave beginning Friday, March 10th, 2023. I plan to return to Panther Lake on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
During my absence, Jeff Soltez will step in as guest principal to serve our scholars and staff. Mr. Soltez has 21 years experience as a principal within Federal Way Public Schools, most recently serving as principal at Enterprise Elementary. I worked closely with him while I was assistant principal at Enterprise, and I know he will serve our school well. To help support a smooth transition, Mr. Soltez’s first day on campus was Thursday, March 9.
While I will miss our dedicated staff and their commitment to your children during this time, I have the utmost confidence in the Panther Lake leadership team, including assistant principal Emily Smith, instructional coach Lisa Esquibel, K-3 Literacy specialist Meghan Davis, our counselor Andrea Cravioto, family liaison Emiliano Sanchez, and administrative intern Glyn Jenkins. This leadership team, along with Principal Jeff Soltez, will ensure academic, social-emotional, and partnership supports are in place for our scholars and families.
It is an honor to serve the families and scholars in the Panther Lake community, and I look forward to seeing how much our scholars have grown when I return in April.
Sincerely,
Tabatha Ritch
Principal
Jeff Soltez
Dear Panther Lake Families,
It is my pleasure to introduce to you Mr. Jeff Soltez. He will be working as my substitute principal while I am on medical leave. He has already been at Panther Lake over the last two days, working with staff and students. He recently retired from Federal Way after 23 years of working as a principal in the Federal Way school district. Mrs. Emily Smith will still be here to help maintain and support the continuity our school needs.
Please join me in welcoming him our school!
All 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders Invited to Join Battle of the Books!
Battle of the Books is an extracurricular activity for third, fourth and fifth graders that centers on reading. Students read from a set list of books, form teams, attend practices, and compete in our school’s Battle of the Books. The winning team will go on to the district Battle of the Books. Practices will be held in the library during afternoon recess.
Practice dates are on Wednesdays on the following dates: 3/22
Seeking Members!
President- Renee Metanoia
Vice President- Katie Finch
Secretary- Jason O'Daniel
Treasurer- Glyn Jenkins (5th grade teacher/admin intern)
PTA is still in need of members to support family event planning and building up our Panther Lake community.
If you would like to join our PTA, please reach out to Mr. Sanchez or any of our board members.
To report absences:
- Call Mrs. Hagen at 253-945-3603 or office 253-945-3600, email: bhagen@fwps.org
- Report on ParentVue, preferable before school starts at 9:10am (before teacher submit absences)
*If absences are not reported before 10:15am, parents will get a district automated absence callout* to remind them to call students absence in.
TIP: If students go to a medical appointment and misses school, you can provide a doctor's note so the absence can be excused as “medical” which will not count as an absent for BECCA.
**If you have a question about BECCA, our state school attendance law, please feel free to email or call me for more information.**
Prearranged absence: Form attached needs to be completed when student is out for more than 2 days BEFORE missing school. This applies for vacations or extended absences.
*parent will complete the top portion, then teacher will complete their section, parent and student will sign and final step will be completed from our principal, Mrs. Ritch.*
Tardy hours 9:10-9:40am
Absence is after 9:40am
If students are late and check in after 9:40am and it is under an unexcused reason, parents will get the auto absence callout.
- PLEASE put a reason down when students are coming in late or leaving early, if there is no reason written down, then the attendance code will not be accurate and it will be automatically coded as unexcused.
If you have any attendance questions, please contact Data Secretary Bonnie Hagen 253-945-3603 bhagen@fwps.org