Welcome Back, Panola Way Families! 

Dear Panola Way Families, 

We are so excited to welcome you back for the 2025–2026 school year at Panola Way Elementary! The first day of school is Monday, August 4th, and we can’t wait to see our students' smiling faces back in the building. 

This year, our schoolwide theme is: 
 “Leading with Kindness, Learning with Heart.” 

This theme reflects what we believe at Panola Way—that every child matters, and that every decision we make is centered around helping students grow, thrive, and succeed. We’re here because we care, and we’re proud to partner with you in your child’s journey. 

We’re excited to share that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) will be coming to Panola Way this year! This is a big step forward in helping our students become creative thinkers, strong problem-solvers, and curious learners ready for the 21st century. 

We also know that learning isn’t just about academics—it’s about helping our children grow socially and emotionally. That’s why we’ll begin every school day with a Morning Meeting from 7:45 AM to 8:00 AM. This dedicated time will help students build relationships, feel connected, and start their day in a positive way. 

This summer, we had the opportunity to work with our district PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) coaches to create stronger, more consistent systems across our school. We are excited to put those plans into action as we work toward a unified culture we call “One Panola.” This means that every classroom and every team will be aligned in supporting your child with high expectations, clear structure, and plenty of encouragement. 

Throughout the year, we’ll also be focusing on: 

• Building strong classroom communities 

• Engaging students in critical and creative thinking 

• Providing academic support through collaborative teaching teams 

• Tracking student progress closely so we can meet their unique needs 

• We truly believe that education is a team effort, and we’re honored to have you on this team. Thank you for trusting us with your child’s education—we don’t take it lightly, and we are ready to give our best every single day. 

Let’s work together to make this year one of joy, growth, and success for every student. 

With gratitude and excitement, 
 Mr. Eric T. Johnson, M.Ed. 
 Principal 
 Panola Way Elementary