Dear Panther Lake Families,

I’d like to take a moment to share some information about the FAST assessment, which all of our students take during the school year. The FAST assessment is given three times a year—fall, winter, and spring—and serves as a progress monitoring tool.

This assessment helps us understand how your child is growing in reading and math and gives teachers valuable information to guide instruction. It is a way for us to track progress, identify areas of strength, and provide support where needed. Your child, recently took the fall assessment and will serve as a baseline for their progress this year. It is important to remember that this assessment evaluates what your child should know and be able to do by the end of the year. It is normal for these scores to be lower than expected at this time in the year as much of the content has not been taught yet.

By checking in three times a year, we can ensure that each student is on track toward grade-level expectations and can adjust instruction quickly to meet their needs. As parents, you will receive updates on your child’s performance so you can see their growth throughout the year.

Thank you for your continued support in helping our Panthers succeed!

This past week our students participated in Start With Hello Week! Start with Hello Week is a national annual event dedicated to making new social connections and creating a sense of belonging among youth.

The 2025-2026 yearbook is now on sale! Use the link below to order!

A special thank you to our Panther Lake PTO Teacher Appreciation Committee for providing a food and drink cart for our teachers last week! 

Our students honored the memory of those who died on September 11, 2021 by wearing red, white and blue last week.

Mission-The PTO at Panther Lake Elementary is the connecting point between parents, school, staff, students and the surrounding communities. Our goal is to provide opportunities for students, families, and school staff to build long-lasting relationships and shared experiences outside the classroom, while supporting work inside the classroom through volunteer opportunities and fundraising activities!

Support the PTO as a Family Sponsor for the 2025-2026 school year! Family Sponsors receive a free Panther Lake t-shirt (multiple options to choose from) and many additional benefits. Visit our sponsorship page for more details. We appreciate your support! 

Want to get your business out in front of local families, while also supporting our school community? Consider sponsoring the Panther Lake PTO! We have a variety of benefits and marketing opportunities designed to fit your unique needs and budget. Plus, we're a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your sponsorship donation is tax-deductible! Visit the link below to learn more.

Mark your calendar for our 2025-2026 PTO General Meetings. We'd love to see you there! 

We're partnering with Jersey Mike's in Waterleigh for a fundraiser! Make sure to check students' backpacks for a card that is redeemable for a free regular sub with a minimum $3.00 donation. Stop by to get your sub during business hours (10 AM to 9 PM) on Sept. 23 or Sept. 24. All donations will go to the Panther Lake PTO to help us support our school! 

We're excited to offer this new club, led by PTO board member Celine Biaugeaud, who is a registered yoga teacher with a specialization in child meditation. Meditation can have a number of benefits for your child: arrive to class calm and ready to learn; build confidence and emotional balance; improve focus and attention span; and gain tools for handling stress and big emotions. For more details and to register, visit this link: 

Island H2O is offering PLE families discounted water park tickets, with a portion of all sales going back to the PTO! Purchase your tickets here: 

We're excited to once again partner with Booster for our biggest fundraiser of the year! The Panther Fun Run will take place on Oct. 23 (times TBD and dependent on grade). Be on the lookout for more details, fundraising info and ways to get involved!