Hello wonderful Panther Lake families and community,
It has been a busy week and the scholars are hard at work learning! We have several fun things happening at Panther and the learning never stops!
First, we want to thank you for your partnership as we continue supporting our scholars with unexpected behavior and language. This behavior disrupts the learning environment and will not be tolerated. Continue encouraging your scholar to prioritize their own learning while at school. All our scholars are capable of success- No exceptions, no excuses!
As a reminder, there are no toys allowed at school. This includes basketballs, footballs, and soccer balls. We also want to be sure all cell phones are put away in backpacks or left at home. We are seeing items go missing and get broken at school.
With nicer weather coming (hopefully soon), we will be opening the field during recess. The field is rather muddy and can retain water for weeks after the last rain. Please ensure your scholar understands we do not wash clothes and do not have spare socks or shoes to hand out. If your scholar chooses to play outside and gets muddy, this could make for an uncomfortable remainder of the school day.
In the weeks to come, we will be inviting scholars to tour our lost and found to ensure they have picked up any items they may have lost or forgotten. After, we will be sending remaining items to support children in Ukraine.
Our Kids Heart Challenge has officially kicked off!! Be sure to check out our newsletter for updates around what our amazing scholars are doing for a great cause.
We truly appreciate your partnership in ensuring our school is the best place to learn for every scholar.
Thank you for your continued support!
In partnership,
Tabatha Ritch
(Principal)
253-945-3634
253-391-7444 (Cell - Text okay)
and
Emily Smith
(Assistant Principal)
253-945-3608
253-391-6251 (Cell - Text okay)
Kids Heart Challenge Has Kicked Off at Panther Lake!
Dear Families – Kids Heart Challenge has officially kicked off, and we are so excited to Be the Torch that will light the torch of hope in the fight against heart disease and stroke! We are encouraging ALL our families to sign up and learn the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR. Thank you for all your HEART work supporting our school and the American Heart Association!
Each week, the class with the most students registered will get the traveling torch!!
Next Steps:
- Join our team and Take the challenge to Move More or Be Kind and receive a FREE Be the Torch Wristband! Register at http://www2.heart.org/goto/pantherlakeelementary or use the Kids Heart Challenge App!
- If you already registered, THANK YOU! Start FINN’S MISSION in your HQ, where you can learn Hands-Only CPR as a family, how to spot a stroke F.A.S.T. When you complete Finn’s Mission, you’ll earn an XL Finn’s Keychain!
- Check out our Virtual Envelope to learn more!
School Goal: 200 students registered
Donations Due: Wednesday, March 8th
Special School Incentives:
• When the first 25 students signed up, Mr. Jackson will get silly stringed!
• When we get 50 students signed up, Mr. Jackson will get silly stringed again!
• If we can get 200 students signed up, Mrs. Ritch will get silly stringed!
When you raise $50 you will earn a Be The Torch wristband, 4 Heart Heroes, and a Mystery Gift!!
Dear parents and families of Federal Way second grade scholars,
The FWPS Highly Capable Program annually performs a Universal Screening (including assessment and data review) of all second grade scholars for potential identification for Highly Capable services. You do not need to complete a Highly Capable referral for your child to be screened.
All Panther Lake Elementary, second graders will participate in Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) assessment during [test administration information for your school]. If you wish to opt your child out of CogAT assessment, please contact our school office.
The Highly Capable Program provides services to identified scholars (both Math and/or English Language Arts) within the general education classroom at their current home school.
Family Empowerment for 21st Century Learners
If you would like more information or to register for this even, please visit www.fwps.org/FamilyAcademy
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