Hello wonderful Panther Lake families and community,
It is hard to believe the end of February is here already and March is right around the corner. These shorter month go by so fast!
Thank you to all our wonderful families for attending our Spirit Assemblies in person and on Zoom. We love seeing our families in building and always invite you to join us in school. We are still in need of volunteers and volunteer forms can be picked up in the office anytime during the school day.
March kicks off National Reading Month and our district has so many exciting opportunities for scholars, INCLUDING a Reading Marathon Challenge! Every Panther Lake scholar who enters will have a chance to win a Panther Lake T-Shirt! Get your scholar registered using the link above and let's get reading!
This coming week is our Read Across America week!
We would love for you to come in and read with your child or to share a book or story with the whole class.
Please contact your child’s teacher to arrange this.
Monday 2/27 Activity: Morning assembly kick off with our school mascot, Shadow.
Tuesday 2/28 Activity: Teachers may switch classrooms to read to other classes or grade levels.
Wednesday 3/1 Activity: Wacky hat day. Scholars will be creating bookmarks in their classroom and other literacy activities.
Thursday 3/2 Activity: Wear red for the love of reading and heart health.
Friday 3/3 Activity: PJ, blanket, pillow day. Scholars can get cozy and read. Please check in with your child’s teacher(s) if you would like to schedule a time to read with your child or read a story to the whole class.
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)
All 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders Invited to Join Battle of the Books!
Battle of the Books is an extracurricular activity for third, fourth and fifth graders that centers on reading. Students read from a set list of books, form teams, attend practices, and compete in our school’s Battle of the Books. The winning team will go on to the district Battle of the Books. Practices will be held in the library during afternoon recess.
Practice dates are on Wednesdays on the following dates: 2/22, 3/8, & 3/22
However, if you complete your Treasure Map assignment before Sunday, you can earn up to 10. How exciting! Today‘s students with the highest contributions from each grade are:
Kindergarten - Rosie Vazquez
1st Grade - Diego Ramirez
2nd Grade - Violit Stephenson
3rd Grade - Elijah Noa
KHC Update- Be the Torch!
Dear Families –
We are halfway through our Kids Heart Challenge, and I am so proud of our students for Moving More and Being Kind! So far, 27 students have registered and taken the challenge, and 6 families have learned the steps to Hands-Only CPR! Thank you so much for helping our school stay heart-healthy and save lives at the same time!
To do Today:
- If you have not yet, Register TODAY at http://www2.heart.org/goto/pantherlakeelementary or on the Kids Hearts Challenge App to complete FINN’S MISSION, learn the steps to Hands-Only CPR as a family and Spread the Word: Send 10 (pre-written) emails from your KHC headquarters
- If you have already Registered, thank you! Click on Connect to Facebook Fundraiser in your online headquarters to reach even more family and friends!
- Double your Gift! Check to see if your employer will match your donation today! Follow the steps and forward the confirmation to matchinggifts@heart.org to have it added to your fundraising page.
Special School Incentives:
Goal: 200 students registered
• 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, Principal Ritch will get silly stringed!
ANY student who completes Finn’s Mission will earn an XL Finn The Shark Keychain!!
Check out our current Teacher Leaderboard below. Please register today and help your class take the lead!
Family Empowerment for 21st Century Learners
It can be tough helping your child navigate through their academic journey. Attend the next Family Academy session, Family Empowerment for 21st-Century Learners on Thursday, March 2, 2023, from 6-7:30 p.m. to foster an in-depth understanding of scholar grade-level curriculum, assessments, and district resources to help your scholar achieve academic success.
During the event, you’ll have an opportunity to select two micro workshops centered around topics that matter to you most covering:
Attendance
State Testing
Academic Supports
Social Media
Preparing for College and Career
Getting Ready for Kindergarten
Student-Led Conferences
To make it easier, families can attend the event in person at Silver Lake Elementary or online through Zoom. Interpreters are available for each option, and a hot dinner and childcare for potty trained children over five years old will be available for families who attend in person.
Sign up today at: 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