Panther Pamphlet

Dear Parkwood Upjohn Families,

I hope this message finds you well and thriving! As we move into October, I want to take a moment to express our gratitude for the support and partnership you provide to our school community. Together, we are making a significant impact on our students' lives!

Celebrations from the Week:

We had a fantastic week to kick off the beginning of October!

• Mobile Library: Kindergartners loved visiting the Mobile library and picking out a new book!
• Teacher Inflatable Day: Was a huge success! Students loved seeing teachers roaming around at arrival in costumes. Pictures below!
• Shoe Fitting Day: Students that ordered new tennis shoes through First Day Shoe Fund had fun on fitting Day and receiving their new tennis shoes.
• Student Leadership Opportunities- At Parkwood we love lifting our students up into leaders! 🎉
• 5th Graders are now starting their roles as Panther Patrol. There are three ways our oldest students support our community.
1. At Arrival and Dismissal- Several Patrol members help support our building community during these busy times.
2. Several 5th grade Panther Patrol members request to support younger students during their lunch/recess times. This could be helping guide younger students in the lunch room or at specials.
3. Finally, several members will be creating our student news called the Panther Press! We are so excited to share our first installment below and the students worked so hard to create it! We will be focusing on different character traits as a building to help build strong leaders and role models in our community.
• There will be different opportunities throughout the year for 5th graders to switch roles. Students may only receive a leadership opportunity and/or stay in their role if they are referral free. You must demonstrate that you can be a leader and PURRS in all areas of the day to receive these leadership opportunities. PURRS- Parkwood Upjohn is Respectful, Responsible, and Safe.

Important Announcements

We have several fun and important updates to share:

Panther Prowl Updates

• Current Status: We have reached 68% of our goal and raised $21,927.00 so far!
• Spirit Days:
• Tomorrow, October 5th: Extra Recesses
• Tuesday, October 6th: “Bad Hair, Don’t Care” Day Students and Teachers can wear creative, silly, or rock a bad hair day this Wednesday!
• Wednesday, October 7th: Dress Like a Teacher Day
• Classroom Week 1 Winners- Ms. Gardner's class won the Winners for the Prowl's Week 1 Classroom contest: highest percent of students registered on the website! They earned a donut party last week!
• Panther Prowl this Friday, October 9th!- More Info will be sent this week

• Times for each grade level if families want to line the route and cheer on their children:

• 9:30am - 3rd grade

  9:45am - Kindergarten

  10am - 1st grade

  10:15am - 2nd grade

  10:30am - 4th grade

  10:45am - 5th grade

Count Day

• 🫧 Count Day Pop-Up Attendance Surprise!

  This Wednesday, October 7, is Count Day, and we’re celebrating our Panthers who arrive on time with a fun Bubble Pop-Up! Students will receive a bubble wand to use outside before heading into school!

  • 🫧 Bubble machines & bubble wands
  • ⏰ Bell rings at 8:44 AM
  • 🚪 Front doors close at 8:55 AM

  Attendance matters—every day of learning counts! 💙💛

💙 Celebrating Our Attendance Progress!

We also want to celebrate the amazing progress our Panthers are making with attendance! So far this year, only 37 of our nearly 400 students (about 9%) are considered chronically absent. At this same point last year, approximately 89 students were on that list, and we ended the year with about 21% of students chronically absent.

That progress matters! Consistent attendance gives children's brains the repetition, routines, relationships, and daily learning experiences that help new skills stick and grow. Our goal isn't perfect attendance—kids get sick, and sick kids should stay home! Our goal is to help students be at school as consistently as possible when they are healthy and ready to learn.

Thank you, Panther families, for partnering with us and helping us help your children learn, grow, and thrive! 🐾💙💛

Warm regards,

Principal Rosecrans

Sept. 30th- FDSF Shoe Distribution

Oct 9th- Annual Panther Prowl- School Fundraising Event

Oct. 20 PreK-12; no students

Oct. 30 PreK-12 half day; records day 12:00 Dismissal

Nov 2nd- Conferences 4:00-8:00pm

Nov 4th- Conferences 4:00-8:00

Nov. 5. K-8 half day 12:00 Dismissal Conferences 12:00-4:00

Nov. 6 K-5 half day 12:00 Dismissal

Nov. 13 PreK-5; no students

Nov. 20th PTO Sponsored STEAM Fair

Nov. 25-Nov 27 Thanksgiving Break; all buildings closed

Dec. 9 PreK-12; no students

Dec. 21 - Jan. 1 Winter Break