The Panther Post
PAWS for the Panther Lake Family news!
Dates to Remember:
- October 11th-15th: DiscoverU Week
- October 13th: PAWS with the Principal 5pm via Zoom
- October 20th: Anti-Bullying Unity Day- WEAR ORANGE
Principal's Message
Hello wonderful Panther Lake families and community,
We are so proud of our scholars and their hard work in the first month of school. Returning to full-time in-person learning has been a complex journey for so many of our scholars, staff, and families. Your scholar(s) will continue receiving daily social-emotional learning lessons around self-regulation and conflict resolution. We are committed to increasing the support for our scholars as we continue settling into the new normal COVID has introduced to our schools.
To support our scholars, we have made a few schedule adjustments to allow for intentional social-emotional learning time during lunch and recess and have also increased our social distancing measures at lunch and recess to keep all our scholars at Panther Lake safe.
October is "National Bullying Prevention Month" and we will be engaging our scholars in targeted lessons around bullying, conflict resolution, and restorative practices.
Families can partner with us by:
- Having conversations with your scholar about safe body and kind language at school.
- Reaching out to your scholar's teacher when issues first arise.
- Reminding your scholar to find an adult when there is a problem that cannot be resolved by rocking it out (rock, paper, scissors). We are here to support!
- Reading our Rights and Responsibilities handbook regarding harassment, bullying, or intimidation (link below).
- Wear ORANGE on October 20th for UNITY day!
Please remember, all scholars deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to learn. We have refocused on the issue of bullying, intimidation, and harassment at Panther Lake Elementary and appreciate your partnership and support at home. In the weeks to come, we will be engaging our families in conversations around our school culture and learning environment.
Please join us on Wednesday, October 13th at 5pm for our PAWS with the Principal session via Zoom: https://fwps.zoom.us/j/92161989306
We are also still looking for parent partners to serve on our Parent Advisory to the Principal panel. This is a panel of parents who will work closely with me and our school leadership to ensure your voices are being elevated and scholars remain the focus of our school improvement efforts.
Thank you again for your continued partnership! We truly appreciate every one of our Panther Lake families!
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)
Please take a moment and check out these parent resources regarding bullying prevention at school!
What is DiscoverU?
DiscoverU Week returns October. 11-15, 2021! During DiscoverU Week, join other educators and youth-serving organizations in Seattle and South King County in leading college and career activities that help students explore their futures. Each day centers a theme the whole community can participate in. Let’s connect student aspirations with the pathways to get there!
What do we mean by college?
We promote all pathways that prepare students for careers in our thriving economy. This includes technical training, two year and four-year degree programs which we refer to as T-2-4.
T – Technical training
2 – 2-year degree program
4 – 4-year degree program
What do we mean by exploring careers?
The main goal of DiscoverU career-related activities is to expose students to the vast variety of careers available. This aligns to Washington STEM’s Career Connected Learning Continuum Framework. As a student progresses through their education, career preparation increases, but building the foundation of career awareness opens the door for them to participate in more intensive preparation such as job shadowing and internships by just knowing what options are out there to explore.
How is DiscoverU connected to Road Map Project?
The Road Map Project is a collective impact initiative aimed at dramatically improving student achievement from cradle to college and career in South King County and South Seattle. The goal is to double the number of students in South King County and South Seattle who are on track to graduate from college or earn a career credential by 2020. Project partners are committed to nothing less than closing the unacceptable achievement gaps for low-income students and children of color, and increasing achievement for all students. For more information about the Road Map Project, please visit www.roadmapproject.org.
DiscoverU serves as a week-long campaign in service to the Road Map Project goal. In order to increase postsecondary enrollment in our region, it is critical that career and college options are discussed early and often. DiscoverU puts added focus on these areas each fall when students are starting the new school year. DiscoverU also allows educators, students, families and the broader community to demonstrate their commitment to student success beyond high school.
DiscoverU is coordinated by the Community Center for Education Results (CCER), the nonprofit organization supporting the Road Map Project.
Themed Days During DiscoverU Week
Monday: Discover Local Jobs
Tuesday: Lead Your Community
Wednesday: Classroom to Career
Thursday: College Gear Day
Friday: Flash Forward Friday
Picture Day
Student Council and Leadership
Scholar Advisory Panel is a panel of scholars in grades Kindergarten-5th grade. These scholars are nominated by teachers and work closely with their class and classroom teachers to bring feedback to the principal for school improvement efforts.
Student Council and Leadership is an application process where scholars apply for leadership opportunities and positions. Scholars serving on Student Council and Leadership receive leadership instruction and serve in leadership roles, supporting school improvement efforts.
Scholars applying for leadership complete an application process and must receive sponsorship from their homeroom teacher, specialists, and school administration.
Scholars applying for council (leadership board) also complete a campaign and go through voting to sit on the leadership board. Scholars desiring to sit on the leadership board for Student Council will campaign through the month of October with their school speech being delivered towards the end of October via Zoom. All scholars at Panther Lake Elementary will then vote for their leadership board.
Scholars in grades 2nd and 3rd grade will be applying for Junior Council and Leadership, working closely with their older peers to build leadership and advocacy skills and capacity.
Student Council Leadership Board positions are:
- President
- Vice President
- Secretary
- Historian
- Spirit Director
More information will be going home for any scholar interested in running for council.
If your scholar is interested in running for student council, please take a moment and review the application packet with them.
Attendance Matters!
With COVID-19, attendance continues to look differently across our district and we are here to partner with our families in providing instruction, even if your scholar is in quarantine due to close contact.
Please remember: Your scholar must sign-on to their Launchpad and engage in assignments via Canvas to receive asynchronous learning attendance when not in school due to isolation or quarantine. Please remind your scholar to sign-on daily for accurate attendance marks and to prevent attendance calls when your scholar is absent due to COVID-19 factors.
Family Dinners...
To thank YOU and your family for prioritizing your scholar's attendance at school, we have officially kicked off our FAMILY DINNERS ON US program! Your family could win a FREE family dinner, delivered to your home from us- The staff at Panther Lake!
Our scholar advisory panel members suggested dinners like:
- Pizza
- Taco Bell
- Chipotle
- Thai Food
- and more!
Every scholar who attends school everyday (asynchronous attendance counts when your scholar is quarantined) will be entered into a drawing to win a family dinner for your home!
Stay engaged... Like our PTA page
Stay engaged by liking and following our school page and our Panther Lake PTA page!
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, compliance@fwps.org
Title IX Compliance Coordinator, titleix@fwps.org
504 Compliance Coordinator, 504@fwps.org
ADA Compliance Coordinator, 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