October 2016Ms. Paula McPhee, Principal
34424 1st Ave South, Federal Way, WA 98003 Ph: (253) 945-3600FX (253) 945-3636
Office Manager: Christine Young Secretary: Liz Austin Office Assist:Bonnie Hagen
Dear Parents, Guardians and School Community Members,
During this time in the school year, our student-scholars are well into the new school year routines of learning and re-learning behavior expectations. I am proud that at Panther Lake we have set our expectations extremely high for both. I know the support from you as parents/guardians with regards to these high expectations, is paving the way for high levels of academic success for your student-scholars. There are several key changes in expectations this school year. These changes are because research clearly tells the staff here at Panther Lake that these protocols/procedures are needed for our scholar’s high levels of academic success. Here are the key changes this school year and the rationale for those changes:
- Attendance – All student-scholars are in school on time (8:50am) for the entire school day (3:20pm dismissal) and miss no more than 9 days in an entire school year (one day per month). When scholars attend at least 95% of the school days (170 out of 180 days) in a school year, learning potential is increased. Evidence is clear that when students are absent, especially in elementary school, the percentage that graduate from high school is diminished.
- Reading 30 minutes every night at home for every student-scholar grades K-5 with their independent reading level book. When scholars read materials at their exact reading level independently and consistently each day for an hour 30 minutes at school, reading academic growth can increase two full years in their reading level during the school year.
- Rigorous reading and writing curricular materials that align with the Common Core Standards that prepare all students to be college and career ready. When scholars are taught to the highest levels, more students reach higher levels (as opposed to low expectations and lower achievement).
- Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) school-wide behavior expectations for all student-scholars to follow that maintain a safe and secure school as well as an optimal learning environment. When scholars feel safe and understand that all scholars are held to the same expectations for behavior, their sense of security is increased and thus, they are open to learning at high levels and the rigorous challenges.
- 100% attendance of all student-scholars and their parents/families at student-led conferences in November and April. When scholars self-reflect on their own learning, set goals, and report to their parents and families on their progress as well as their plans for improvement, they are more likely to succeed. This school year all families will meet at least twice a year with teachers.
- Dismissal School Procedures – Safety is our number one priority for our student-scholars. It is not a safe dismissal unless every one of our student-scholars is accounted for in how they are getting home each day or whom they are released to at the bell. In order to ensure safety, we have to move parents into one area under cover for student pick-up so our teachers could track who their students are going home with. In our bus zone the Panther Lake staff is responsible to see each and every scholar that boards the buses. With parents in our bus zone, we are not able to clearly account for students. Finally, in the pick-up zone, our staff must supervise who children are getting into cars with.
At Panther Lake Elementary I appreciate your feedback including our School Improvement Plan (SIP) and we would like you to share your input. I want to let you know that your student-scholar’s well-being and high level of academic success is at the heart of why these changes are necessary.
I welcome your input in making Panther Lake the very best school for your scholar’s well-being and academic success.
Warmly,
Paula McPhee – Panther Lake Principal
A big Panther Lake “Thank You!” to parent Gina Holcomb and the PTA for sponsoring our Walk-A-Thon. We have had to postpone the WALK-A-THON due to impending poor weather it will be rescheduled soon so watch for the notices going home. The Walk-A-Thon supports our scholars and scholar programs that make our school a great place for learning. If you did not get a chance to donate, please do so by making checks out to Panther Lake PTA Walk-A-Thon and placing them in the PTA Mailbox in our school front lobby.
October 18th from 5:45-6:30pm please join the principals and parents in this student-scholar safety input meeting. We are trying to improve the safety of our scholar’s arrival and dismissal from school and need your input on how we can make these improvements.
Please join Assistant Principal Erika Rudnicki and myself for Coffee with the Principals from 9:15-10am on October 20th in the school cafeteria. It is a great time to ask any questions, provide school input, and enjoy coffee and pastries with the principals.
Light Purple Emergency Cards
For the safety of your children we absolutely need the light purpleemergency cards completed. Don’t forget to include your emergency phone numbers where you can be reached.Please also add your email address as we will be able to communicate to you over email this year.
We absolutely need your signature so your child can be treated if “911” needs to be called.
Absence calls
The absence line is (253)-945-3603, please call this number to report an absence or if your child will be late for any reason. If you are unable to call but can send an email please email us at: .
Arrive on Time – Not Early
School does not start until 8:50am. Breakfast is served from 8:15-8:45. Students who are not eating breakfast should not arrive before 8:40am. There is no adult supervision for students who arrive early to school.
Volunteers
Volunteers are always needed and appreciated. Many of you have completed the Annual Call for Volunteers form in your student’s New Year packet. THANK YOU!
Please don’t forget to put your volunteer hours in the notebook at the front desk. Washington State Law requires that any person volunteering within a public school district must have a completed Washington State Patrol Background check. This form is available in the office and is valid for two years from the approval date. Christine Young, our Office Manager, will be coordinating volunteers this year along with our PTA. Please contact her at 253-945-3601 for additional information regarding volunteering.
Early student pick up
If your child is going to leave early, please send a note to their teacher. You will need to sign them out at the office. Allow a few extra minutes when picking them up, in case their class has to be located.
We do not call students to the office until the parent arrives at school.We are protecting your student’s learning time.
Write your child’s name on everything!
As you send your child to school with personal supplies, lunch boxes, sweaters and coats, remember this golden rule: Write your child’s name on everything.We don’t want your favorite jacket, thermos or Tupperware container to end up in the Lost and Found or the local clothing bank. Items with children’s names are easily returned. Please help out by identifying all of your child’s belongings with ink or permanent marker.
Medications at School
We are unable to give medication to students at school without written permission from a doctor or dentist. This applies not only to prescription medicines, but also to ALL over the counter medications such as cough drops, aspirin, decongestants, vitamins, etc. An adult or parent must bring all medication to school. Medication must be in its original container. Medicine brought by a student will not be dispensed. The necessary forms are available in the office or the health room. These written permission forms must be redone at the beginning of every school year.
Preparation for the Battle of the Books has begun!
I am currently unveiling the 2016-2017 Battle of the Books titles with our students. The books selected for the battle are the current Sasquatch and Young Readers Choice Award nominees. Students in grades 3-5 read multiple battle books, and then work as a team to answer questions about the books. Mrs. Hagen and I will meet with the teams during their lunch time to practice for this year’s battle. The Battle of the Books is a great reading program because it encourages children to pay attention to details in their books. It also generates a huge amount of excitement for some truly great books. The Panther Lake Battle of the Books will be in spring, so they have plenty of time to read lots of Battle Books! The winning team from our school battle will be invited to participate in the district Battle of the Books in April. See you at the battle!
Happy Reading!
Tom Cerne
Panther Lake Librarian
2017List of the Battle of the Books
FERPA INFORMATION
English
Federal law requires schools inform parents that some of their child’s information, called “Directory Information,” might be used for certain school-related purposes. Parents and guardians may tell schools not to release this information. This is part of a law called The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).
We ask parents to think carefully before restricting this information. Unfortunately, by restricting your child’s directory information for school publications, your student’s name and photo cannot be included in student annuals and yearbooks. He or she will not be able to be part of classroom, team or club photos which are intended to be published in yearbooks.
And, if you say “no” to providing contact information to outside organizations, your child’s name, address and phone number/s will not be provided to non-district organizations, including: graduation supplies companies; colleges; or military recruiters; and, after graduation, school reunion committees. Publishing photos of your child in district publications and websites, or in the news media, is one of things you can restrict, if you wish.
For more information about FERPA, please visit the district website at:
If you would like to fill out a form to restrict information about your child, please contact your school office manager for the FERPA form.
Korean
연방법률에따르면‘디렉토리(인명부) 정보’라불리는자녀의정보가학교와관련된목적에사용될수도있다는것을학교는학부모에게알려야합니다. 학부모와보호자는이정보를다른데제공하지말도록학교에요구할수있습니다. 이는1974년가족의교육및사생활에관한권리법령(FERPA)이라불리는법의일부입니다.
학부모님께서이정보를제한하시기전에신중하게고려해주실것을부탁드립니다.학교출판물을위한자녀의인명부정보를제한하시면, 자녀의이름과사진이학생의졸업앨범이나연감에포함될수없습니다. 따라서자녀는졸업앨범에들어갈학급사진이나팀사진혹은클럽사진을다른친구들과함께찍을수없습니다.
또한, 연락처정보가외부기관에제공되는것을“거부”하시면, 교육구가아닌기관, 즉졸업물품회사; 대학교; 군모집기관; 졸업후에는학교동창회를포함한기관등에자녀의이름, 주소, 전화번호등이제공되지않을것입니다.
원하시는경우, 교육구출판물과웹사이트혹은뉴스매체에자녀의사진이나오지않도록제한하는것또한가능합니다.
FERPA에관한더자세한정보를원하시면교육구웹사이트인를방문하십시오.
자녀의정보를제한하는양식을작성하시려면FERPA 양식을달라고학교사무장(office manager)에게연락하십시오.
Russian:
Федеральный закон требует, чтобы школы поставили родителей в известность, что некоторая информация о их ребенке, называемая «Directory Information» (контактная информация) может быть использована для целей связанных со школой. Родители и опекуны могут запретить школам использовать эту информацию. Это право является частью закона “The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)” (закон о правах семьи на образование и конфиденциальность от 1974г.)
Мы просим родителей тщательно подумать, прежде чем запретить использовать эту информацию.
К сожалению, запрет на использование данных о Вашем ребенке, сделает невозможным включать его имя и фотографию в ежегодные книги выпускаемые по окончании учебного года. Он не сможет быть включен в общие фотографии класса, спортивной командыили клуба, которые могут быть размещены в ежегодной школьной книге.
И, если вы говорите "нет" на предоставление контактной информации сторонним организациям, имя Вашего ребенка, адрес и номер телефона не будет предоставляться другим организациям, в том числе: организациям предоставляющим принадлежности для выпускной церемонии, колледжам или рекрутерам на военную службу, а также комитетам выпускников организующим встречи учеников после окончания школы.Если хотите, Вы можете запретить только публикацию фотографий Вашего ребенка в печатных изданиях школьного района, на веб-сайтах и в средствах массовой информации.
Для более подробной информации о “FERPA” Вы можете обратиться на веб-сайт школьного округа:
Если Вы хотите заполнить форму о запрете на распространение контактной информации о Вашем ребенке, пожалуйста, обратитесь к менеджеру школьного офиса, где учится Ваш ребенок.
Spanish
La ley federal requiere que las escuelas les informen a los padres de familia acerca de la posibilidad de compartir parte de la información personal de su niño/a, pero solo para asuntos relacionados con la escuela, a esto se le llama “Información de Directorio”. Los padres y tutores le pueden exigir a las escuelas no divulgar esta información. Esto es parte de una ley llamada Derechos Educativos de la Familia y la Ley de la Privacidad de 1974 (FERPA).
Les pedimos a los padres que piensen cuidadosamente antes de restringir esta información. Desafortunadamente, restringiendo la información del directorio de información de la escuela, el nombre y Foto de su hijo no pueden incluirse en anuarios y publicaciones anuales de la escuela. Él o ella no podrá ser parte de ninguna foto que se tomen en los salones, equipos, o clubs las cuales son tomadas con el propósito de publicarlas en los anuarios.
Y si dicen "no" a proporcionar información a organizaciones externas, el nombre, dirección y número de teléfono de su hijo/a no se proporcionará a las organizaciones que no son del distrito, incluyendo: empresas de cosas para graduación; colegios; o los reclutadores militares; y, después de la graduación, comités de reuniones escolares. Publicar fotos de su hijo/a en sitios web y publicaciones del distrito, o en los medios de comunicación, es una de las cosas que pueden restringir si lo desea.
Para más información acerca de FERPA, por favor visite la página web:
Si desea llenar un formulario para restringir la información sobre su hijo/a, solicite una forma de FERPA con la administradora de la oficina de escuela.
Panther Lake Safety Drills
In September, Panther Lake students successfully practiced exiting the building in case of an emergency such as fire or earthquake. They will be practicing fire and lockdown drills every month during the school year. In October we are having an earthquake drill, this is in conjunction with the state drill on October 20th.
Safety drills are explained to students prior to the actual drills. Students know ahead of time that these are just for practice so they will be prepared if something were ever to really happening.
All staff members have assigned tasks and duties to perform, both in the practice drills as well as in a real emergency.
Erika Rudnicki – Assist Principal
I am excited to join the Panther Lake Elementary School Community as Assistant Principal. Prior to joining the Panther Lake staff, I earned bachelors and master’s degrees in music education from the University of Oregon, I moved to Washington to teach 5th- 9th grade music on the Olympic Peninsula in Forks, WA, and I completed my administrative coursework and internship at Seattle Pacific University. I joined Federal Way Public Schools as Dean of Students at Star Lake Elementary in 2013, and I transitioned to Assistant Principal at Star Lake in 2014.
When I’m not working, I enjoy music, sports, and travel. I’ve played piano and French horn for several years; most recently, I’ve played in the Seattle Wind Symphony. I enjoy swimming, softball and skiing in particular.
I am committed to partnering with Principal McPhee and Panther Lake Elementary students, staff, and families to achieve the mission of Federal Way Public Schools.
Darci Downs – Instructional Coach: I look forward to meeting you all and joining the Panther Lake Elementary community. During my educational career, I have taught grades 1-6 and served as both a math coach and math specialist. My most recent position was at Midway Elementary in the Highline School District where I served as K-6 Math Specialist for the past seven years.
My undergraduate degree is from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA and you will come to find out I am very proud of my ZAGs.
I have been married to my husband Kelly for 29 years. We live in Des Moines, WA with our dog Abby. I have one son (Scott), two wonderful step children (Amanda and Kevin) and a beautiful granddaughter (Bella). I cherish the time I get to spend with my family and friends. I am an avid walker, with over 25 half marathons, and love to “spin” at the YMCA. I also love traveling and enjoying the outdoors.
I am eager to work with all of you at Panther Lake as your instructional coach as we collaborate to best support the needs of our students and families.
Annette Sternberg – 2nd grade teacher:I have two children of my own, Ali is 21 and Jeffrey is 18. I’m currently attending SPU for my second masters and Principal Certification. My favorite activities include; hiking, backpacking and gardening.
Tom Cerne – Librarian: Two grandsons, Wyatt age 8 and Brady age 2, love to be read to, when they come to visit.Both sets of grandparents immigrated and settled in Enumclaw in the 1880’s, where I went to school and currently live.I’ve taught grades K-12, and coached baseball, basketball and track. Graduated from WWU.
Seth Williams – 4th grade teacher
I hail from southern California. I went to school at UC Berkeley and am brand new to Washington state. I am currently enrolled in the University of Washington’s education grad school. I love reading, hiking, and eating dark chocolate.
Vicky Reidy – 2nd grade teacher
I am so happy to be part of the Panther Lake Team. I just moved to Washington in June in order to teach here. I have been a teacher for 15 years. I have taught kindergarten, third grade and the majority of my years in 2nd grade. I have also been an art teacher for three of those years. I love canoeing, flying kites, painting, playing games, camping and of course teaching 2nd graders. I have been married to my wonderful husband for over 25 years.
John Rumrill – 5th grade teacher
I have been teaching for almost twenty years and recently moved to the Federal Way area. Most recently, I lived in the White Mountains of Arizona and taught 4th grade. prior to that I was overseas teaching English to local children in a multitude of countries for about eight years. I will complete my second master's degree in Educational Leadership in Spring 2017.
Lindsey Lippert – 5th grade teacher
My name is Lindsey Lippert and I am excited to be at Panther Lake teaching 5th grade this year! This is my seventh year of teaching and the past 2 years I have been teaching middle school math in Seattle. When I am not at school I love spending time with my husband and daughter, baking, camping and enjoying the outdoors!
Shelly Smith – 1st grade teacher: I grew up in Eastern Washington and attended Corban University and Western Oregon University. Things I like to do in my free time are: fishing, kayaking, camping, reading and spending time with my 3 nephews. I am a big sports fan and love to go to any kind of sporting event.