Panther Press
October 15, 2026 (mid-month reminder)
Greetings from AES!
Hello AES families,
We hope everyone had a restful fall break! We have several exciting events left this month, and we don’t want you to miss out. Tonight, join us for our Annual Title I Meeting from 4:30–5:00, followed by Bingo for Books from 5:00–6:00. On October 17th, stop by the PTO table at the Apple Festival from 9:00–4:00 to say hello! Our next PTO meeting is October 19th, and Trunk or Treat is coming up on October 23rd. We are accepting candy donations at the main office to help make this event a success. There are plenty of other exciting things happening at Amherst Elementary, so be sure to read through the entire newsletter to stay up to date!
Dr. Guerin & Mrs. Pinn
Administrative Team!
Amherst Elementary School
In this Newsletter you will find: Staff of the Month; Student of the Month, PTO Connection; RED Ribbon Week; Car Rider Reminder; Avoid the FOMO; and Upcoming Events
Staff of the Month - Mrs. Ford
Student of the Month - Fern Walker
PTO Connection
October is Full of Panther Fun!
October is shaping up to be a BIG month for our Panther family! There are so many ways to get involved with AES PTO and you don’t have to do it all! Whether you can volunteer your time, donate an item, or simply show up and participate with your family, we appreciate you being part of our Panther community.
Apple Festival — October 17th l 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Come see us at the Apple Festival! We’ll have an AES PTO booth and are looking for families who would like to:
Donate baked goods
Donate themed gift baskets or other items for us to sell
Volunteer to help at the PTO booth
Stop by and support PTO!
Every donation and every helping hand makes a difference!
Trunk or Treat — October 23rd
Get ready for some Panther Halloween fun! Families can participate by:
Donating candy or prizes
Decorating a trunk and handing out candy or prizes
Bringing the kiddos to trick-or-treat
Joining us afterward for even more fun in the Town of Amherst!
Flyers and sign-up information have been sent home. If you would like to participate or donate for the Apple Festival or Trunk or Treat, please return the appropriate form to school or email it to aespantherspto@gmail.com.
💙 However You Join In, We Appreciate You!
Our PTO is powered by Panther parents, guardians, families, teachers, and community members who are willing to lend a hand. There’s no contribution too big or too small and sometimes simply showing up is the best way to support our school!
We're looking to a FUN-filled October
🐾Next PTO Meeting: Monday, October 19th
Keep an eye out for our PTO newsletter coming home in your child’s bookbag for more details and upcoming opportunities.
And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for updates, reminders, pictures, and ways to get involved!
🐾 facebook.com/AmherstVAElementaryPTO
Spirit Gear — If you placed an order for Spirit Gear, we are working on fulfilling orders and will be in touch soon to let you know when the shirts are coming home with your child. Shop. Support. Show Your Pride. Pre-order Sale Ends October 23rd! Shop here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/26-27-amherst-elementary-school-ptos-spirit-gear-shop
RED RIBBON (October 26th-30th)
October 26th - Rally in Red Day (dress in red from head to toe to celebrate Red Ribbon Week and saying NO to drugs)
October 27th - Camo Day (wear your favorite camoflage...drugs can't see me)
October 28th - Pajama Day (follow your dreams and steer clear of drugs)
October 29th - Mismatch Day (wear mismatch colors...don't let drugs mix you up)
October 30th - Storybook Character Day (wear your favorite, school appropriate costume and bring your matching book as we say boo to drugs)
*check out the upcoming events section below for more themed dress-up activities.
Car Rider Reminder
Please remember to display your car rider pass in your vehicle window when picking up your child. This helps us accurately record student names and keeps our dismissal process running smoothly and efficiently. If you need a car rider pass, please email Mrs. Dowdy at jdowdy@amherst.k12.va.us for assistance. Thank you for helping us ensure a safe and efficient dismissal for all of our students!
Avoid the FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)
Communication is important at AES, and we want to make sure families have multiple ways to stay informed! In addition to this monthly school newsletter, teachers send weekly classroom newsletters and share updates through ClassDojo. We also use Facebook to share important reminders, school news, and upcoming events, so be sure to follow the Amherst Elementary School Facebook page. The AES PTO Facebook page is another great resource for staying up to date on PTO activities, events, and other school information.
We appreciate your partnership and encourage you to stay connected throughout the school year!
Upcoming Events
October 15th: Title I night (4:30-5:00)
October 15th: Bingo for Books (5:00 - 6:00)
October 19th: PTO Meeting
October 21st: Unity Day - Wear Orange
October 22nd: Breast Cancer Awareness Day - Wear Pink
October 23rd: PTO Trunk or Treat
October 23rd: Report Cards sent home
October 26th-30th: Red Ribbon Week
November 3rd: Election Day (NO SCHOOL)
November 16th: Interim Reports sent home
November 16th: Parent Teacher Conference
November 25th-27th: Thanksgiving Break (NO SCHOOL)
December 17th: End of Quarter 2
December 18th: Teacher Work Da (NO SCHOOL)