Panther Post

• October 12th: Early Release
• October 12th: Parent Advisory via Zoom 6:30-7:30pm
• October 26th: Early Release
• October 26th: Coffee with the Principal 7:30-8:30am
• November 9th and 10th: Scholar-Led Conferences (no school)
• November 11th: Veterans Day (no school)

Don't forget Spirit Wear Days!

Mondays: Sports wear! Wear your favorite team or favorite sports wear to show that Panther Spirit!

Wednesdays: Panther Pride Wear! Wear your Panther Lake shirt or our school colors (black and blue) to show off that Panther Pride!

Fridays: Future Friday! Keep yourself focused on your future by sporting your favorite college!

Hello wonderful Panther Lake families and community,

Our first month of school is finished and we sent our scholars off with the first of the year Panther Pride Spirit Assembly! It was so wonderful to see our families celebrating their scholars in person and on Zoom! Thank you for joining us and celebrating the hard work our scholars are doing every day!

We are still in need of parent partnerships and have plenty of opportunity for all! If you are interested in volunteering, please let us know by clicking the button below! We are in need of:

• Recess Coaches: If you enjoy playing basketball, foursquare, jump rope, or just enjoy having fun playing games with kids, please consider volunteering as a recess coach!
• Reading Buddies: Nothing beats a good book with a child! If you enjoy reading with children or listening to children need, our scholars would love you as a reading buddy!
• Lunch Bunch Buddies: Socializing while eating is an important skill for kids to learn at a young age! If you would enjoy supporting scholars in the lunchroom or sitting with scholars who need a quieter space to enjoy lunch, consider signing up as a Lunch Bunch Buddy!
• Big Sister/Big Brother Mentors: Sometimes, our scholars just need a mentor, a caring adult, to support them through processing big emotions. Our scholars are faced with so much complexity, they find success in processing with a safe and caring young adult. If you would be interested in mentoring a scholar, please consider signing up!
• After School OR Wednesday Clubs: Our scholars do not have access to many opportunities after school. If you would like to lead an after school program, please let us know! Our scholars love chess, legos, art, dance, sports, cooking, and even crafts! Our scholars have also shared their interest in wanting to learn foreign languages! If you have a skill or hobby to share, please consider leading an after school club. We also have opportunities on Wednesdays during the school day to ensure scholars who do not have transportation after school have access to extra-curricular activities during the school day.

After School Program FREE Trial

Right At School, Panther Lake's trusted after school program provider, is offering first-time families a Free Trial Week, October 3–7. We encourage you to try out their programs for free – no risk, no commitment. With daily homework support, hands-on learning activities, fitness games, and lots of social time with friends, Right At School offers a meaningful after school enrichment experience that you and your children are bound to enjoy. Learn more and register for your free trial today! Check out our Community Corner below for more information!

BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPLINE UPDATE

As we enter October, I want to ensure I am communicating clear expectations of our scholars and our families now that we have had some time to adjust and acclimate to the school year.

Fighting

Some scholars are struggling with keeping their hands to themselves. There have been a few physical altercations during school, primarily at recess. We have spent this first month reteaching expectations and meeting with families. We will continue to partner with our families and work with scholars to ensure expectations are understood. There may be times where we must suspend a scholar due to unacceptable and intolerable behavior at school. These major behaviors that disrupt the learning environment or cause others to feel unsafe will be subject to a school suspension.

Please ensure you have read and fully understand the Rights and Responsibilities Handbook as it clearly outlines the definitions of the law, to include Physical Assault which will lead to immediate suspension. Please find the handbooks below and reach out if you have any questions.

We will not tolerate the learning environment being disrupted by fighting and/or vulgar language.

Panther Peace Dens (Calm Down Corners)

As scholars continue adjusting to school, we want to be sure families and scholars know about supports in the classroom. Learning can be difficult and quite exhausting! We recognize this and provide our scholars with the Panther Steps for Success. Please support your scholar with utilizing the Panther Peace Den (calm down corner) in the classroom as some of our youngest scholars are wanting to simply leave the classroom. Our goal is to ensure 100% of our scholars are actively engaged in learning and that starts with providing supports to reach that goal.

If your scholar struggles to regulate themselves or "throws temper tantrums" often, we have resources to help! Reach out to your scholar's teacher our Ms. Cravioto, our school counselor, to learn more about re-enforcing positive behavior in school and at home.

Attendance

Your scholar's attendance is imperative to their success in school! Please remember, attendance in school is re-enforced by Washington State Law. Please ensure you are partnering with your scholar's teacher, our office staff, and/or administration to ensure your scholar is at school on time and ready to learn everyday. If your family will be out of town, there are forms that must be filled out prior to the absence. Attendance at school is very similar to attendance at work. We must be notified; we understand family emergencies come up; we want scholars to stay home and get well if sick; and communication is what keeps us all working together!

Thank you again for your continued partnership! We truly appreciate every one of our Panther Lake families!

Tabatha Ritch

(Principal)

tritch@fwps.org

253-945-3634

253-391-7444 (Cell - Text okay)

and

Emily Smith

(Assistant Principal)

emsmith@fwps.org

253-945-3608

253-391-6251 (Cell - Text okay)

To report absences:

1. Call Mrs. Hagen at 253-945-3603 or office 253-945-3600, email: bhagen@fwps.org
2. 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 9:15-9:40am

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.

Please see below flyer for “what is excused or unexcused”

If you have any attendance questions, please contact Data Secretary Bonnie Hagen 253-945-3603 bhagen@fwps.org

Join a group of dedicated parents & guardians to plan events such as book fairs, movie nights, BINGO, & Walk-A-Thon for the benefit of all children at Panther Lake. Meetings are once a month

All families are welcome to attend/join our Parent Advisory to the Principal. We offer two meetings per month to ensure all families have an opportunity to attend and provide voice to our school improvement efforts. On the second Wednesday of every month, we meet via Zoom from 6:30pm-7:30pm. We also meet in person on the 4th Wednesday of every month for coffee from 7:30am-8:30am.

Provide perspective and feedback for building & classroom positive recognition efforts for all children at Panther Lake. You will also be introduced to data monitoring to see how our school can ensure positive growth through proactive practices to help ensure that children feel safe & supported through learning moments throughout the school day. Meetings are once a month

Join a team of teachers & parents to help build our community through engagement in education. Your feedback & perspective are valuable in ensuring that we are partnering together for the academic benefit of every child at Panther Lake. Meetings are once a month

Join our school day to support your child or all children in the classroom, outside at recess or during lunch. We love our Panther Lake V.I.P.'s and are so happy to welcome volunteers back at Panther Lake. Please come to the office to pick up your Washington State Patrol form to begin the process. All volunteers must have proof of vaccination.

Do you speak, read & write in another language? Do you enjoy helping advocate & connecting with other families that speak the same native language as you? Then you would be a great addition to our community to welcome, support and connect with other families at Panther Lake.

Hey Panther Lake Families!

We have some exciting news to share about our on-site after school provider, Right At School.

Right At School is offering an After School Free Trial Week, October 3–7, for families who have not previously enrolled in the program. To learn more about this offer and register for your free trial, please visit their website. The attached flyer includes additional information.[JB1]

START YOUR FREE TRIAL

With daily homework support, hands-on learning activities, fitness games, and lots of social time with friends, Right At School offers a meaningful after school enrichment experience that you and your children are bound to enjoy. We encourage you to give the program a try October 3–7!

In partnership,

Principal Ritch

Does your scholar want to dance? Have you been looking for preschool or after school programs? Maybe you have a scholar who just wants to learn the discipline of martial arts? Or maybe you need some adult time away to get health and relax! Our Federal Way Community Center has programs available for all kids and adults in Federal Way! Check out their website here!