The Panther Print - Week of October 26, 2026

Posted Date: 10/25/26 (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,

We are excited to celebrate Storybook Character Day on October 30! This special day is an opportunity to nurture our students’ love of reading and bring favorite stories to life.

Students are encouraged to select a character from a book and dress to represent that character. Please help your child choose a book they enjoy and talk about what makes their character special. Simple, creative outfits using items you already have at home are welcome!

Storybook Character Day is a celebration of reading, not a Halloween event. Please keep your child’s choice connected to a specific book character.

Thank you for helping us make reading joyful and meaningful. We look forward to seeing our favorite characters step out of the pages and into our classrooms!

Christine A. Szymanski Ed. D.

Visit Our Website

A smiling student peeks from behind a teal wall next to Orange County Public Schools text.

Principal's Award

A large group of elementary students and a teacher pose happily on a stage holding a Panther Lake Elementary banner.

Congratulations to our students who were recognized this past week for our October Principal’s Award winners!

Character Trait Awards

Let's give a BIG Panther shout-out to our amazing Character Trait Award winners for demonstrating Self-Awareness and Self-Management!

These incredible Panthers are showing us that being a leader starts from within! We are SO proud of our students for growing not only as learners but also as thoughtful, responsible, and resilient individuals.

Red Ribbon Week

A colorful poster for Red Ribbon Hero Week at Panther Lake Elementary, featuring superhero themes and daily activities from October 26-30.

Storybook Character Day

A Thanksgiving greeting image with sliced turkey, cranberry sauce, pie, and pumpkins, featuring the text 'Happy Thanksgiving'.

A patriotic graphic features silhouettes of service members against an American flag and the text 'VETERANS DAY HONORING ALL WHO SERVED'.

An adult and child sit together at a table, drawing in a notebook, with text reading "NOVEMBER IS FLORIDA FAMILY ENGAGEMENT MONTH" and "Orange County Public Schools."

An informational graphic for American Diabetes Month in November by Orange County Public Schools, featuring medical icons and text.

SAC Meetings

An informational flyer for the Panther Lake Elementary School Advisory Council with meeting dates for 2026 and 2027.

OCPS Food & Nutrition Services

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

Menu Here

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

Papa Johns Nifty 50 Fundraiser

Support Panther Lake Elementary and save on pizza night! For only $15, you can get a Papa Johns Nifty 50 Card, which gives you 50% off 18 regular menu-price online orders. It’s a great deal for your family, and the proceeds help fund PTO-sponsored school events.
Sales run November 9 through November 30. Cards will be distributed about two weeks after sales end and expire 7/31/27.

Movie Night Under the Stars

A purple flyer for a Panther Lake Elementary PTO Movie Night featuring event details, popcorn, a drink, and movie tickets.

Grab your lawn chairs and blankets and join us for a Panther Lake Movie Night on the PLE Field!

Friday, November 13

Doors open at 5:30 PM

Movie starts at 6:00 PM

Food trucks will be on site, and treats will be available for cash purchase.

This event is weather permitting, so please check our Facebook page for any updates.

Save the Date: Panther Fun Run

A promotional flyer for the Panther Lake Elementary PTO Panther Fun Run scheduled for November 17, with a calendar graphic highlighting the date.

Mark your calendars! The Panther Fun Run is coming Tuesday, November 17, and we’re once again partnering with Booster for this year’s fundraiser. Students will run during school hours, with run times varying by grade level.
Fundraising kicks off in late October, so stay tuned for more details coming soon!

The Panther Print - Week of October 26, 2026