21 August 2015

Le Journal



From the Head of SCHOOL

Welcome Back! Merci!

Dear Families, 

We have had an excellent start to the new school year. Thank you for all that you have done to make this possible. I want to especially thank our Welcome Committee under the leadership of Stacia Milius with the help of Marion Guihard and Jessica Wallace. They have spent hours helping our new teachers adjust to our school and life in the United States. Parents, you too have made a critical difference in the lives of these new teachers by your gifts of temporary housing, household goods and friendship. You are an excellent example for your children. Thank you. We would like to say "un grand merci" to the families of Amanda Bartel, Edward and Maiko Robinson, Edward Vogt, Amandine Brown and Edouard Djiba for welcoming the new teachers into their homes. 


As you can see, the new $10,000 CA$H RAFFLE T-shirt looks great. This T-shirt  is the Early Bird Prize for students who sell 20 raffle tickets by September 14. I am trying to figure out how I can help my three children win their own t-shirts. Do you have any ideas? And I understand there is another prize they will want - the $10 for 10 Prize. If they sell just 10 more tickets for a total of 30 tickets each they will win a gift card for $10 to spend at Baskin Robbins, Topsy's or Brookside Party Warehouse.  Do you think they will take me out for ice cream? or popcorn? or buy me a balloon?

I am also excited about the academic progress our children are making. Look at the MAP score chart below: our students are doing better academically than students across the state and in neighboring school districts in every category - English Language Arts (ELA), Math and Science. This is really significant because this was the first year that the tests were all online. Also the tests were based on the new Missouri Learning Standards. Parents are key to their success. Thank you.
2014-2015 MAP Scores
















Bon weekend! 

Elimane Mbengue
Head of School

kids_welcome.jpg

From the cherry Principal

Back To School Thanks

Dear Families, 

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the support and involvement of our school community.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all those who gave to the Give 2 Grow Capital Campaign. We love our new classrooms. When one of the 3rd grade teachers walked in to her room for the first time, she practically gasped and said, "It's beautiful."  

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all those who have helped welcome our new teachers. Parents and staff have donated items, given their time and opened their homes to our new teachers. I have heard from several teachers about their warm welcome and the assistance they have received. 

It is great to be part of such a caring community.

Madame Royce

calendar

Upcoming Events

August 22
Kindergarten Girl Scout Meeting - Rockhurst University Community Center, 10:30 am - noon

August 27
Cherry Parent Orientation Night 
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

September 18
NO SCHOOL 
August 25
Oak Parent Orientation Night
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm



September 7
No School - Labor Day



September 28
$10 for 10 Raffle Deadline
August 26
Early Release Day
Cherry - 12:45 pm
Oak - 1 pm


September 14
Board Meeting - 6pm, Oak
Early Bird Raffle Deadline


September 30
Early Release Day
Cherry - 12:45 pm
Oak - 1 pm

Download the 2015-16 School Calendar by clicking here


INFO SHARING

Oak Parent Orientation Night Schedules
 
Dear parents, 

The Oak campus is a big place, and while your children already know where to go, you might not! So you can plan on meeting with all of your children's teachers, please look at the two documents below for room information as well as the night's schedule. Please arrive on time as the event will start at 5:30 pm sharp in the Auditorium. The agenda will posted on the day of the event at the school as well. 


We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, August 25th! 


INFO SHARING

Database Update: No PowerSchool
 
Acad�mie Lafayette is using a new database this year. E-SchoolCore (http://www.apsoftwareservices.com/) was chosen after an exhaustive review of other school database options. Teams of teachers and administrators visited and observed this database in use at Alta Vista and Genesis Charter High Schools; it was demonstrated to staff and faculty in spring 2015.

Parents will receive a personal letter with your new password and instructions on accessing the Parent Portal. Unlike Power School, you will be able to change the school-assigned password to one that is easy for you to remember. If you lose your password you can create a new one. However, new Passwords or Usernames cannot be delivered over the phone or by email for security purposes. They can be mailed to a physical address or given in person after showing a proper photo ID. Contact eSchoolCore assistant Edem Addoh by phone (816-361-7735), in person or by email, [email protected] for password or username assistance.

With the Parent Portal, parents can track their child's daily attendance, grades and food service bill. Food service bills can be paid online using PayPal through the school website. 


INFO SHARING

Dismissal Procedures

A few updates for Cherry arrival and dismissal:
  • Beginning Monday, August 24 -  students should plan to walk independently to their classrooms in the morning. Teachers have practiced with their students, and we will have support staff ready to assist any students who needs help. Parents can give hugs and say goodbye at the door. 
  • Our new dismissal procedure is going more smoothly, as we are getting buses loaded quickly and students are learning the routines. We would like to remind parents to be considerate of our car rider line and our neighbors. Please do not park in the car rider lane or in front of driveways or fire hydrants. Also, parents who come in for pick-up in the gym or auditorium need to exit by those doors. We do not want to add traffic in the halls as we are loading car riders on the Kenwood side.
  • We will have our next dismissal committee meeting soon, and we will continue to communicate any updates or changes. 

Dismissal procedures at the Oak Campus:
  • Students who use bus transportation are escorted to the buses; students who attend YMCA aftercare are dismissed to go to that location. Parents pick up remaining students in the classroom.

INFO SHARING

You can "like" us on Facebook
 
Did you know Acad�mie Lafayette has a Facebook page?  We use this page to provide quick announcements and to highlight student or teacher achievements.  Please "like" us at https://www.facebook.com/academie.lafayette.


INFO SHARING

$10,000 CA$H RAFFLE

Yes - someone will win $10,000. Last year it was a school neighbor who bought a ticket at Brookside Market. It was his lucky day. It could be yours as well.

Raffle packets with instructions and 20 tickets are in your child's backpack today. Please look for the envelope. This year we have added another prize - the $10 for 10 Prize. If your child sells 30 tickets by September 28 they will receive a $10 gift card to use at Brookside Party Warehouse, Topsy's, or Baskin Robbins! We hope you will help your child sell a minimum of 30 tickets!

Special thank to our generous raffle sponsors: Country Club Bank, Brookside Party Warehouse, Topsy's Popcorn, Baskin Robbins, Font & Folio graphic design, Hyde Park Auto, Greg Patterson Commercial Real Estate, iCON Architecture, Red Hammer Roofing, Reece & Nichols (Pam Gard), Teague Electric, and Westbrook CPAs. All of our sponsors are either AL family businesses or companies that do business with AL. 
 
 


INFO SHARING

Casual Day Changes 

Beginning on September 4, 2015, the first Friday of each month will be a free casual day.  This will continue throughout the school year for a total of 10 free casual days for students.  

Beginning on September 15th, all Tuesdays will be "T-shirt Tuesdays" for those students who win the Early Bird T-shirt Prize in the 2015 $10,000 Cash Raffle. Only students who qualify by selling 20 raffle tickets and turning in the money and ticket stubs by Monday, September 14 will receive this t-shirt. Only t-shirts won in 2015 are eligible on T-Shirt Tuesdays for school year 2014-2015. This t-shirt is also approved for gym class.

Early Release Days (the last Wednesday of the month from August through March) will NO LONGER be casual days. Students will wear the regular school uniform on these days.

INFO SHARING

Newsletter Communications

The school newsletter is used to communicate weekly with families. It is published on the last school day of the week, before noon. It contains vital information about upcoming events, school issues, as well as PTSO news and articles about what goes on in the classrooms. 

We have several mailing lists, and if you receive emails not pertinent to you or your child, please let us know by emailing [email protected]. Unsubscribing will remove you from all of the mailing lists, so please communicate with us before hitting the button!

If you know someone that is not receiving this newsletter, please encourage them to email the address above as well, so we can add them to our system.

To place articles and/or ads, please read the 2015-2016 Newsletter guidelines before contacting us. 

INFO SHARING

A Message From the 15-16 PTSO Officers

Hello parents,

We'd like to extend a hardy welcome to all the new and returning AL families! We hope your children have gotten off to a great start of the new school year. As always, it is our goal to be a resource and support for the parent community. As the voice of the parents, we work hard to ensure that the interests of the students and families are always represented and considered. If you are interested in joining the PTSO, we'd love to have you. Our first quarter meeting will be held on September 16th at 6 pm in the Cherry auditorium. Dinner and child care will be provided. A tentative agenda will be posted one week before the meeting.

We are always willing and available to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your child or the school in general. Below is the contact information for our officers. Feel free to contact us!

Officers:
            President - Jeff Johnson ( [email protected] )          
            VP of Oak - Meghan Flavin ([email protected])
            VP of Cherry - Antonia Acorn ([email protected])
            Treasurer - Jennifer McGreal ([email protected])
            Secretary - Susan Breshears ([email protected])
            VP Communications - Abby Royal ([email protected])
            EIP Chair - Darron Story ([email protected])
            Event Chair Coordinator - Nadirah Angail ([email protected])

INFO SHARING

PTSO Announcements

1. Parent-Elect Board Member Election - Acad�mie Lafayette Board of Directors has one open parent-elect position. Marvin Lyman's seat on the Board is open as he has accepted a permanent position on the Board. NOW is your opportunity to get more involved in your child's education. Consider serving a two-year term on the Acad�mie Lafayette Board, beginning October, 2015. The forum for candidates will be held at the September 16th PTSO meeting, with the election taking place September 16 -23. 
As an AL parent-elect board member, you will be expected to:
�      Attend monthly AL board meetings and/or special meetings
�      Attend PTSO executive and community meetings, with the option to alternate with other parent-elect board member (Mark Flavin)
�      Represent and report back to the PTSO and AL community family members
�      Undergo a background check
�      Have a high interest in school policy
Interested? Specific details on nominations and dates will be in next week's newsletter.

2.    Room Parent Volunteers - We are looking for one or two parents from each home room to help the teachers coordinate activities and communication with the other parents. This position is ideal for parents who want to be involved in their child's classroom and in regular communication with the teacher and other parents. It is a simple way to make an impact in your child's class. Interested parents should contact Antonia (Cherry) or Meghan (Oak).

3.    AL Spirit Shop at Orientation Night - This September, AL will launch its online Spirit Shop, where parents will be free to order bags, mugs, shirts, shorts, hoodies and more at their own convenience. Don't want to wait? Spirit Shop merchandise will be available at discounted prices at both Cherry and Oak Orientation Nights. The sale of this merchandise helps support our school and student activities. We appreciate your AL pride!


INFO SHARING

Robotics Club Mandatory Parent Meeting

The Acad�mie Lafayette Jr. FLL and FLL robotics club mandatory parent meetings will be held next week. Jr. FLL is for students grades K-3 and FLL for students grades 4-8.

Jr. FLL meeting at 6 pm in the Cherry Auditorium on Wednesday, August 26th.

FLL meeting at 6 pm in the Oak Auditorium on Friday, August 28th. 

If you cannot attend the meeting corresponding to your child's grade, you can come to the other meeting. Children should come as well so they know what they are getting into. It's a lot of fun, but requires a year-long commitment! If you do not attend one of the meetings, your child will not be allowed to join. We will ask parents to sign-in at the event. If you have children at both campuses, you only need to come to ONE meeting.

We are also on Facebook: look for our Acad�mie Lafayette Robotics Club page and our events to let us know you are coming! 

Questions? Please bring all questions to the meeting so I can respond to the entire group, or go check out our Facebook page.

Sports

Fall Distance Running Programs at AL

With the re-introduction of the Allez 5K School Fundraiser (October 31), fall is a perfect time to introduce our younger athletes to distance running, using the Allez 5K/mile fun run as a goal and incentive. For race information, click here: http://tinyurl.com/Allez5k
 
K-2 Fall Distance Running
While we will not be offering a formal K-2 distance running program this fall, we will post a fun, basic training program students can do together with their families to prepare to run the Allez 5K/mile fun run. Program information will be posted the week after Labor Day.
 
3rd-5th Grade Distance Running Program
This group will meet at Oak Street Campus after school 3:45pm-5:15pm on WEDNESDAYS** for one practice a week for 8 weeks starting Wednesday, September 9 to prepare for the Allez 5K /mile fun run.  **NOTE: practice was moved from Tuesdays to Wednesdays due to a change in coach availability.
 
Please visit here to register and for more detailed information: http://www.academielafayette.org/cc-and-track-field/
 
Registration is only available online and has been extended to August 28.
 
Parent volunteers are needed to assist the Head Coach.  Running experience is NOT necessary.
 
Contact Coach Brenda Kumm with any questions [email protected] or cell (816) 500-4482.

Painless fundraising

Box Top Bonus = $8 For AL

Each box top is worth ten cents, and Price Chopper is currently running a promotion where your weekly grocery store trip could mean eight dollars for AL! With more than 900 students enrolled at the school, this could really add up! 

Questions? Contact Alise [email protected]


INFO SHARING

Spirit Wear Sale at Parent Orientation 




INFO SHARING

Dennis Uniform Sale 

Don't miss 50% off on select shorts and pants online and in-stores! Click here to go to the clearance page.   


Advertisement 

Earn A Free AFKC 1-Year Membership

Alliance Fran�aise de Kansas City needs your help! Volunteer in the France Booth at the Ethnic Enrichment Festival at Swope Park in Kansas City, MO this Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday August 21st - 23rd and earn a 1 year membership! Click here for more details about the event and to sign up! 

This fundraiser represents the AFKC's 2nd largest source of funding. Thank you for helping us invest in our future!










Oak Street Campus
6903 Oak Street
Kansas City, MO 64113
816-361-7735

Cherry Street Campus
3421 Cherry Street
Kansas City, MO 64109
816-888-7400

www.academielafayette.org