Paris Panther Page
October 2026
🍂 Welcome, October! 🎃🐾
The leaves are changing, the excitement is growing, and October is here at Paris Elementary! We are looking forward to a fun-filled month of learning, celebrating, and making special memories together. There is so much happening across our school, and we can’t wait to see our Paris families at our upcoming October events!
From school celebrations to family activities, there’s always something exciting happening at Paris! Be sure to stay connected and keep up with all that’s happening by visiting our school website and following us on social media for the latest updates, reminders, and event information.
Let’s make October another month to remember, Panthers! 💙🐾
Game On…The Journey Continues!
Mrs. Cook
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
October 2026
2- PTA Charleston Wrap Fundraiser Ends
6 & 7- CogAT Testing (2nd Grade)
8 & 9- IOWA Testing (2nd Grade)
12- MVPA ELA Benchmark Testing (3rd-5th)
14- MVPA ELA Benchmark Testing (2nd)
14- MVPA Science Benchmark Testing (4th)
15- End of Q1
16- Teacher Professional Development Day (No School for students)
19- BooGram Sales Begin
22- Q1 Report Cards
23- Panther FunFest
26-30- Red Ribbon Week
29- BooGram Sales End
29- 4th Grade Veteran's Day Musical Concert @ 6:30 PM
30- BooGrams Delivered
November 2026
2- Teacher Work Day (No school for students)
3- Election Day (No school for students & staff)
6- PTA Board Mtg @ 8:30 AM
9-13- Fall Book Fair
12- Fall Literacy Night (5:30-7:00)
17- Quarter 2 Progress Reports
PTA Spirit Night @ Chick-fil-a (Taylors)
19- SIC Meeting
25-27- Thanksgiving Break
School Improvement Council 2026-2027
The School Improvement Council is a group of parents, teachers, administrators, and community members who work together to support our school, provide input on school improvement efforts, and help make Paris Elementary an even better place for our students and families. SIC members bring valuable perspectives and ideas that help us continue to grow and move our school forward.
We are excited to welcome our 2026–2027 School Improvement Council (SIC) members! We appreciate their willingness to serve, share their perspectives, and partner with us as we continue working to make Paris Elementary the best it can be for every student and family.
Our SIC Members:
Mrs. Lakisha Cook, Principal
Ms. Emily Gerard, Assistant Principal
Curtis Carr, Community Member
Rusty Duncan, Community Member
John Laderer, Community Member
Bert Watts, Community Member
Summer Fowler, Current Paris Parent
Taylor Jacobs, Current Paris Parent
Nicole Kornfeld, Current Paris Parent
Stephanie Lofink, Current Paris Parent
Leticia Lucas, Current Paris Parent
Evan McFarland, Current Paris Parent
Joshua Moore, Current Paris Parent
Jodi Rubio, Current Paris Parent
Roxana Evans, Teacher
Tina Powell, Teacher
A Message from the Paris PTA!
The Paris PTA is so excited to serve our students, families, and school community this year! We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with our school and help make this a fun and memorable year for everyone.
We hope to see you and your family at our upcoming PTA events! Your participation and support make such a difference, and we can’t wait to Game On together this school year! 🏆🐾
Have questions or want to connect with the PTA? Please reach out to us at infoparispta@gmail.com. We’re always happy to help!
SCHOOL UPDATES!
- Parent Academy: Learning Opportunities for Families Receiving Special Education Services: Please help us spread the word about our upcoming Parent Academy workshops for families of students receiving special education services! English and Spanish flyers are attached. Please share them on your school’s social media pages and include them in upcoming newsletters to help us reach families who may benefit from these sessions. Thank you for helping us promote these valuable learning opportunities. Links: English Flyer | Spanish Flyer
Crossing Guard Needed: We are currently in need of an afternoon crossing guard to assist our students and families as they cross busy E. Belvue Road during dismissal. Having a dedicated crossing guard would provide an additional layer of safety and support for our students, staff, and families as they leave campus each afternoon. If you or someone you know may be interested in serving our Paris Elementary community in this important role, please consider applying. You do not have to be a Paris parent to apply, so please feel free to share this opportunity with others in our community. APPLY HERE: https://selfservice.greenvillecounty.org/mss/EmploymentOpportunities/JobDetail.aspx?req=1365&sreq=1&form=DET&desc=SCHOOL+CROSSING+GUARD-PART-TIME&utm_source=chatgpt.com
Technology Usage and Safety Workshops for Parents: For the 2026–2027 school year, the Security and Academic departments are co-hosting a four-part webinar series on student technology use and safety. Please share the linked flier with your staff and parents by adding it to your school website and including it in upcoming newsletters.
Link: Flyer
GCS Instructional Updates
This school year, Greenville County Schools has made a few updates designed to better support student learning and success.
- Grades Matter: Students will earn the actual grade they receive on assignments and assessments. The previous "grade floor" has been removed, and assignments that are not submitted will receive a zero. Completing work on time is an important part of student success.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI tools will not be used by students in elementary school. Any instructional use of AI begins in grades 6–12 under teacher guidance.
- Technology Use: Students will continue to use technology in meaningful ways that support learning while maintaining age-appropriate screen time. Classroom devices will be used to enhance instruction, collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving—not replace quality teaching.
- Content Recovery: While this update primarily impacts middle and high school students, it provides additional opportunities for eligible students to demonstrate mastery of course standards and recover credit when appropriate.
Thank you for partnering with us to encourage strong attendance, timely completion of assignments, and a love of learning. Together, we can help every Paris Panther have a successful year! 🐾
Counselor Connect
What's For Lunch?
Please visit the following link to review our October lunch menu HERE!
- Breakfast and lunch are free to all students and served starting at 7:15 AM.
- Students must arrive in the cafeteria no later than 7:30 to be able to eat breakfast.
- If you are planning to eat lunch with your student, please note the following:
- Outside lunch can be offered to your student (no sodas please).
- Due to limited space, we ask that you not bring any additional guests to lunch. This is just for you and your student.
- Lunch must be eaten in our designated dining room.
- When lunch is over, please allow your student to rejoin their class. And parents need to report to the main office for checkout. Please do not follow your student out to recess.
- We invite parents to eat lunch with your child in our small dining during their assigned lunch time. This opportunity will begin after Labor Day, as our students need time to learn our lunch room procedures. Thank you for understanding. We look forward to seeing you for lunch beginning September 8th.
A Quick Look at the School Day!
7:15 Building Opens
7:30 Breakfast Ends
7:45 School Begins
1:45 Early Dismissals End
2:15 School Dismisses
2:45 Pick Up Ends
About Us
Mission
Our mission is to develop the whole child by partnering with families and the community to ensure students are college and career ready.
Vision
Traditions of Excellence.
Our Beliefs
- Educational goals are best accomplished in a safe and comfortable environment.
- Creative thinking and problem solving skills are essential for life-long learning.
- All children have individual strengths, needs, and learning styles.
- Education is a shared responsibility of home, school, and the community.
- Dignity, respect, and appreciation are vital.
- Students are the center of the learning process.