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About Us

Panther Lake Elementary, home of the Panthers, is located in Federal Way’s Kitts Corner neighborhood and serves scholars in grades PK-5. Our mission is to cultivate a safe learning environment that embraces cultural diversity, encourages scholars to take risks, and maintains high expectations for teaching and learning by: Providing culturally responsive instruction; fostering scholar voice; partnering with our community to broaden the learning experience for each scholar; and implementing school programming that develops the whole child in partnership with all stakeholders. Scholars also benefit from an array of school activities, clubs, and strong family, PTA, and community partnerships.

Dear Families,

I hope this message finds you enjoying a wonderful summer break! As we look ahead to the new school year beginning September 2, I wanted to share some simple ways you can support your child's learning and well-being at home during the summer months.

Keep Reading Alive: Set aside 15-20 minutes each day for reading together. Visit your local library for free books, participate in summer reading programs, or simply reread favorite stories. Let your child see you reading too—modeling matters! Whether it's chapter books, comics, or magazines, any reading builds skills and keeps minds engaged.

Practice Math in Daily Life: Math doesn't need worksheets to stay sharp. Count coins when shopping, measure ingredients while cooking, play card games that involve adding or comparing numbers, or estimate distances during walks. These everyday moments make math meaningful and help students maintain their computational fluency over the break.

Build Healthy Habits Now: As we transition back to school routines, start establishing consistent bedtimes to ensure your child gets adequate sleep—elementary students need 9-12 hours per night. Consider gradually limiting screen time and replacing it with outdoor play, family games, or creative activities. These habits will help your child arrive ready to learn and thrive.

Important Dates to Remember:

  • Back to School Night Ice Cream Social: August 27, 5:00-6:00 PM – Come meet your child's teacher and see the classroom!
  • First Day of School: September 2 – School hours are 9:10 AM to 3:40 PM
  • Kindergarten Note: Our kindergarteners will attend half days for the first six days, with their first full day on September 11. More details will be sent directly to kindergarten families.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Warm regards,
Principal Ramirez

Principal Ramirez