The Panther Post
PAWS for the Panther Lake Family news!
February is Black History Month
A Message From Your Principal
Thank you to all the families that attended our Family Zoom session last night! If you missed it, we recorded the session and it is available on our website: Click Here. We have also embedded the video below for ease of access.
As we near our transition to deliver BOTH the hybrid model and fully remote model of instruction, we have been working hard to prepare classrooms to be safe and ready for your child(ren). Hopefully you have had a chance to review the FWPS Hybrid Family Guide! It is available at https://www.fwps.org/Page/8030 and provides many details of our plan. We have attached the Family Guide below as well.
Deadline for confirming Hybrid or 100% Remote Model is today: February 19th
As a reminder, the deadline for confirming your selection OR changing your selection is TODAY....Friday, February 19th. While we will make every effort to keep teachers and students together, recognizing we must adhere to social distancing guidelines and class size limitations and respond to parents’ choice of the model and staff accommodation requests, we must rebalance classrooms. This means your child’s teacher may change. We recognize changes are not ideal, and we’re doing what we can to maintain continuity as much as possible and school staff will be supporting the transition.
To confirm your remote selection, please use this survey link.
To confirm your hybrid learning selection, please use this survey link.
Return to Campus Reminder: Complete Daily REQUIRED Health Screening (attestation) Before Sending Your Child to School
- One of the most important things to remember is that you will need to complete on online health screening every day before you send your child to school.
- This is one of the important ways we are partnering with families to ensure our campus is safe and healthy. It will ask you a few questions and to verify your child is fever free. Please visit www.fwps.org/healthscreening for more information.
Important Health and Safety Measures
Here is a preview of some of the safety measures we are taking:
- Daily health screening attestation and temperature checks that must be completed every day for all staff and scholars before they enter the school building
- Masks will be required for all school staff and students; if a scholar does not comply and wear their mask, parent/guardian will be called to pick them up
- Scholars will arrive on a staggered schedule to promote social distancing: what this means is that scholars arriving by bus or by car will remain in their vehicles until waved in by a staff member.
- Social Distancing will be practiced in all areas and there will be regular handwashing throughout the day
- Visitors will not be allowed on campus in order to minimize the number of people on campus
Kindergarten Back to School
We know that the first day of in person learning for Kindergarten students is a big day! It is also a very different kind of day in the light of our health and safety protocols. For this reason, we will not be able to have parents walk students onto campus or into the classroom. We know this is not ideal, but we want to remind those driving or walking their children to school that you will have to say your goodbyes at the parking lot. We will welcome your little one with a smile and do everything we can to ensure they are comfortable and make a smooth transition!
I will keep you informed along the way and thank you for your patience and grace as we prepare for return to in-person learning! Let’s continue to do our part in our community to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a face covering, practicing social distancing and washing hands regularly.
In partnership,
Tabatha Ritch
(Principal)
253-945-3634
253-391-7444 (Cell - Text okay)
And
Dianne Harlow
(Assistant Principal)
253-945-3608
253-391-9748 (Cell - Text okay)
More info to come....
- Arrival/Dismissal video walk through
- Classroom transition and setup video walk through
- Mask wearing and Handwashing protocols
Stay tuned and be on the lookout for a guest appearance from Shadow, our Panther mascot!
Covid-19 Response
Hybrid Learning Schedule
Designated Entrances/ Exits
Panther Lake Classroom Setups
Families and Scholars: We NEED YOU (AND YOUR ARTWORK)!
This is your time to release your creativity and let your imagination guide you. Research where your family roots were first established and spend some time learning about your family culture. Then, create a piece of artwork (you are the artist- you decide) that captures your family. Finally, provide a short explanation of the artwork so we can include it in our virtual gallery walk.
You can send your artwork to Principal Ritch via email: tritch@fwps.org or text a photo to 253-391-7444. Please reach out if you have any questions. The deadline for your artwork and description is February 22nd.
Feel free to take a look at a sample of a virtual gallery walk below to get an idea of what we will be creating for our Panther Lake Art Gallery.
Aspiring scientists, engineers, designers, and more!
Mr. Morgan will be opening a Zoom for each grade level to support scholars with exploring these STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) opportunities on Wednesday, February 24th.
Your scholar, based on their grade level, can join Mr. Morgan on Wednesday at the following times:
K-2nd 10-10:30
3rd-5th 10:30-11:00
Mr. Morgan's STEAM Link: https://fwps.zoom.us/s/98390217442
See more info below...
Our Attendance is IMPROVING!!!
Your family could win a FREE Panther Pizza delivery to your home!
Every day your scholar is in attendance for synchronous (live) instruction AND asynchronous (independent) learning, your scholar is automatically entered into the raffle for Panther Family Pizza Night- Where we order your family pizza and our very own Panther delivers it to your home!
On Wednesdays, your scholar could earn TWO entries into the Pizza raffle, PLUS triple Panther Points! Don't forget to logout of Launchpad at the end of the day to have your attendance counted towards our Panther Pizza giveaway.
If your family wins, don't forget to contact our office to schedule your pizza delivery and order your preference of pizzas for your family.
We will be drawing for our February Panther Pizza deliveries soon!
Keep up the amazing attendance Panthers!
Please call the office to schedule your pizza delivery if you have not already done so.
School To You Friday Drop-Offs and Materials Pickup
You can now check ParentVue to find the School to You Bus Stop closest to your family.
www.fwps.org/schooltoyou. You will also be notified by Assistant Principal Harlow if there are supply drop-offs.
Missed a drop-off?
Family pick up for missed supplies this week
Wednesday 24th February 9:00am - 3:00pm
If you have any items to return from last year please take them to the bus or bring them to the parent pick-up - we will be happy to take those back from you.
Questions about School to You Supplies and Pick Up?
Contact Assistant Principal Dianne Harlow at dharlow@fwps.org or 253-391-9748
Attention 5th Grade Families- Middle School Information Night!
A word from our counselor
Non-Discrimination Statement
Federal Way Public Schools does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin or ethnicity, religion, creed, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, age, marital or family status, veteran or military status, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal. The district provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups.
If you have questions or complaints regarding alleged discrimination please email one of the coordinators listed below, or call the district office at 253-945-2000 and ask for one of the coordinators listed below.
Civil Rights Compliance Officer, Dan Dizon, compliance@fwps.org
Title IX Compliance Coordinator, Dan Dizon, titleix@fwps.org
504 Compliance Coordinator, Dr. Jennifer Westover, 504@fwps.org
ADA Compliance Coordinator, Janet Hodson, ADA@fwps.org
Panther Lake Elementary
Email: tritch@fwps.org
Website: https://www.fwps.org/PantherLake
Location: 34424 1st Ave S, Federal Way, WA 98003
Phone: 253-945-3600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PantherLakeFWPS/
Twitter: @PantherLakeFWPS