Panther Press

Hello AES families,

November is here, and Thanksgiving Break is getting closer! We have just 16 school days left until the break. As a reminder, there is no school for students on November 3rd. We also want to thank everyone who donated candy, decorated a trunk, or volunteered their time to make our Trunk or Treat a success. We had a great time, and we appreciate the support from our AES families and community!

One additional reminder: Dental forms are due back to school by December 4th.

We hope everyone has a wonderful November!

Dr. Guerin & Mrs. Pinn

Administrative Team!

Amherst Elementary School

In this Newsletter you will find: Staff of the Month; Student of the Month, Nurses Notes; PTO Corner; Car Rider Reminder; Avoid the FOMO; and Upcoming Events

Since the flu has already made its appearance in our schools, I wanted to share the “When Should I Send My Child to School?” document as a reminder of our illness guidelines and procedures.

A few important reminders:

• Fever: A temperature of 100.2°F is considered a fever under our school guidelines.

• Return after antibiotics: Students should have been on antibiotics for at least 12 hours before returning to school, when applicable to the diagnosed condition and in accordance with school guidelines.

• Student assessments: Teachers and staff should not take students’ temperatures in the classroom or provide ice for injuries. Students who need assessment should be referred to the school nurse or health assistant.

I am currently working on creating an improved electronic version of this document. In the meantime, please share this information with your staff to help ensure consistent practices across our schools.

Thank you for your continued support and collaboration in keeping our students and staff healthy!

October Recap: A Spooktacular Thank You!

AES PTO extends a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who donated candy and monetary contributions to help make our Trunk or Treat a success! A special shoutout to all the families, staff, and community members who showed up and shared their creativity with their fun, festive, and frightfully fabulous trunks. Your generosity, time, and Panther spirit made the evening extra special for our little trick-or-treaters.

We appreciate each of you for helping us create wonderful memories for our AES family.

November News: Mark Your Calendars!

November 1–30 | AES PTO Calendar Fundraiser

Get ready to support our Panthers! Throughout November, AES PTO will be hosting a Calendar Fundraiser with two exciting goals:

• $1,500 for the AES Archery Team to cover tournament entry fees

• $1,500 toward the Panther Mascot Costume that AES can use for years to come

Our combined fundraising goal is $3,000! Every contribution brings us one step closer to supporting our archers and bringing our Panther mascot to life. Keep an eye out for details on how to participate and help us reach these goals. Let's show what our Panther community can accomplish when we shine together!

November 4 & 5 | AES PTO Fall Catalog Fundraiser

The Fall Catalog Fundraiser items have arrived and are ready for pickup!

• Wednesday, November 4

• Thursday, November 5

• Time: 4:30–6:00 PM

• Location: AES Cafeteria

If you participated in the fundraiser, please plan to pick up your orders during one of these designated times. Thank you for supporting AES PTO! Your participation helps fund student activities, school events, teacher appreciation, and special opportunities for our Panthers.

Monday, November 16 | Parent-Teacher Conferences | Friendsgiving Fidget Swap and Squishy Sale

As families connect with teachers to celebrate student progress and discuss goals, be sure to stop by the cafeteria for our Friendsgiving Fidget Swap and Squishy Sale! It's a fun opportunity to swap, shop, and find some exciting little treasures.

Monday, November 16 | 5:00 PM

Join us for our next PTO meeting! We welcome parents, guardians, and anyone interested in helping make AES an amazing place for our students. Your ideas, involvement, and support make a difference! We will keep note of attendance and the grade that has the most attendance will receive a pop up popcorn party on Friday, November 20.

Friendsgiving Chili Update

Our Friendsgiving Chili event has been postponed until January. With Amherst Middle School moving its Glow Dance to November 20, we decided to reschedule our chili event to help avoid overlapping community activities. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to celebrating with you in the new year!

Thank you for being part of our Panther community! Every donation, volunteer hour, and helping hand makes a difference. We are so grateful for a community that continues to show up, give back, and shine together.

Stay tuned for more AES PTO happenings as we head into the holiday season!

AES PTO | Shining Together!

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!

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!

November 3rd: Election Day (NO SCHOOL)

November 4th & 5th: PTO fall fundraiser pickup

November 16th: Interim Reports sent home

November 16th: Parent Teacher Conference

November 16th: PTO Meeting

November 25th-27th: Thanksgiving Break (NO SCHOOL)

-looking ahead-

December 17th: End of Q2

December 18th - January 1st: Winter Break (NO SCHOOL)

January 4th: School resumes.