The Panther Print - Week of August 17, 2026

Posted Date: 08/16/26 (06:00 PM)

The Panther Print

A NEWSLETTER FOR THE PANTHER LAKE SCHOOL COMMUNITY

Principal's Message

The Panther Lake Principal - A woman with brown hair smiles at the camera against a blue background.

Dear Panther Lake Families,

What an incredible first week of school! Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and partnership as we welcomed our students back to Panther Lake Elementary. Our halls have been filled with excitement, learning, and lots of Panther pride! We are so grateful for the support you have shown to our students and staff as we begin another wonderful school year.

As we settle into our routines, we want to remind everyone about the importance of following our arrival and dismissal procedures. These procedures are designed to keep our students and staff safe while also helping traffic move as efficiently as possible.

A few important reminders:

Please follow the directions of our staff members during arrival and dismissal. They are there to help keep everyone safe and the process moving.
During morning arrival, please use the designated car loop and drop students off only in the designated area. The back gate is designated for walkers and bike riders.
Please do not park and allow your child to walk across traffic or enter through an unauthorized entrance. This creates a significant safety concern.
During arrival and dismissal, please remain in your vehicle and follow the designated traffic pattern. Please do not cut through or around the car line.
Please be patient. Our goal is to move everyone through the process as quickly and safely as possible.
Remember that safety must always come before convenience. A few extra minutes can make a big difference in keeping our Panthers safe.

We appreciate your partnership in helping us maintain a safe, orderly, and welcoming environment for everyone. When we all follow the procedures, we can make arrival and dismissal smoother and more efficient for our entire Panther Lake community.

Thank you again for helping us make the first week such a success. We are excited about the year ahead and look forward to all that our Panthers will accomplish together!

With Panther Pride,

Dr. Christine Szymanski

Principal

Visit Our Website

School Cash Online

Our district uses SchoolCash Online to complete transactions at all Orange County Public Schools.
SchoolCash Online is an easy to use and safe way to pay for your children’s school fees. Now, with a few clicks, you can pay for your child’s yearbook, class trips and so much more from your own home. All you have to do is register an account, attach your children and in no time you will be able to make payments online. SchoolCash Online accepts many different payment forms for the convenience of our families.
If you are new to OCPS or PLE, please set up our account!

Set Up Account Here

College Colors Day

Fall Picture Day

Instructions to order fall pictures for Panther Lake Elementary School using a QR code or website.

A flyer from Panther Lake Elementary School displays photo package options and pricing for school pictures, dated 9/14/2026.

Patriot Day

Birthday Bites

Get Your Birthday Bites

Food & Nutrition Services

Students enjoy healthy meals in a school cafeteria with text overlay 'ALL STUDENTS ALL MEALS NO CHARGE'.

See Meals

A young student with his hand raised in a classroom, promoting National Attendance Awareness Month.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, with an orange and yellow ribbon symbol.

Two smiling boys in school uniforms give each other a fist bump, promoting "Start With Hello Week" from Sept. 21-25.

A graphic celebrating Freedom Week, Sept. 21-25, with a distressed patriotic seal and historical document background.

National Hispanic Heritage Month banner with colorful floral designs and text.

Graphic celebrating Constitution and Citizenship Day on September 17, featuring the US flag and text.

PTO

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!

PTO Website

Become a Panther Pack Family

Advertisement for Panther Lake Elementary PTO Family Packs, featuring lion cubs and donation tiers.

Please consider donating to the Panther Lake PTO! Your generous support helps fund teacher grants, classroom materials, student clubs, school beautification, staff appreciation, and fun events throughout the year. Every contribution makes a difference for our students, staff, and community!

Donate Here

Corporate Sponsorship

Looking for a way to connect your business with local families while giving back to our school community? Become a Panther Lake PTO sponsor! We offer a range of sponsorship levels and marketing benefits to fit your business's goals and budget. As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, your sponsorship is also tax-deductible.

Spirit-wear Store

The Spirit-wear Store is officially open for the 2026-2027 school year! New this year: Dri-Fit class shirts and cute new designs! Pre-sale has ended, but you can still order... all purchases will be delivered to your child's classroom within approximately two weeks of placing your order.

Get Your Spirit-wear

The Panther Print - Week of August 17, 2026