28 August 2015

Le Journal



From the Head of SCHOOL

Good Things Happening 

Dear Families, 

Thank you for your great attendance at both Parent Orientation meetings. That is one of the strongest parts of our school - interested parents who take the time and effort to learn more about our program by attending events such as Parent Orientation.

Spirit WearThank you to the PTSO, especially Becky Smith, for creating the new Spirit Wear line and making it available to parents at the Parent Orientation nights. Thank you to the many volunteers and 8th grade students and parents who staffed those events. You can see I am now the proud owner of a new blue fleece pull-over and a 26 oz tumbler! It will remind me to drink water during the day - a good reminder for all of us.  

I have had questions about the time students are on the bus. I understand - my children ride the bus as well. Bus routes will not settle down until after September 8 when all the late changes have been arranged. During that time, we are analyzing all of the routes, the number of children on the bus, and the pick up and drop off times for both morning and evening routes. Please watch the newsletter for more information on this important subject.

Thank you again for your support.
Bon weekend! 

Elimane Mbengue
Head of School

From the cherry Principal

Orientation Night Takeaways

Dear Families, 

Thank you to all the parents who attended Orientation Night last night. It was wonderful to meet new parents and to see "old" ones.  :)  I enjoyed being able to introduce our Board president, Chad Phillips and our PTSO president, Jeff Johnson.  I appreciate all the English and support teachers being there in the general session to give out information, as it is important for parents to get acquainted with all the teachers and staff who work with our students.  

For those unable to attend, here are a few pieces of information that I shared in the general session:

1. Welcome to our new staff members at Cherry: Jean-Claude Diatta (vice principal), Kelly Lee (special education), Amanda Lyons (library), Marie-Louise Sock (2nd grade), Yannis Taillasson (2nd grade), Orianne El Krimi (3rd grade), Mamadou Dieng (PE), and Yannick Mauvois (substitute), and the entire 3rd grade team.

2. We are so excited about our new classrooms, but there are still some finishing touches to be done: painting, signage, and exterior work. 

3. 3rd grade students are NOT required to wear PE uniforms at Cherry.

4. Dismissal is going well. We have gotten much more efficient since the first few days.  We would like to request that parents call early with any changes, and we would like to be specific with the words and phrases we all use. (Parent pick-up seems too vague.) So, please say, "YMCA,"  "Bus,"  "Car rider,"  "Gym,"  or "Auditorium." This will help us make sure that you and your child are in the same location.  

5. Direct communication is so important. If parents have a question or concern regarding their child or the classroom, please contact the teacher directly. If this does not resolve the issue - please then talk to an administrator. Mme Royce will be working with Kindergarten and 1st grade students and teachers. M. Diatta will be working with 2nd and 3rd grades.  

Thank you again for your support. I am looking forward to a wonderful 2015-16 school year at Cherry!

Madame Royce

calendar

Upcoming Events

September 4
Free Casual Day



September 18

NO SCHOOL


September 30
Early Release Day
Cherry - 12:45 pm
Oak - 1 pm
September 7
NO SCHOOL - Labor Day



September 24
2016 France Trip 6th Grade Families Meeting

October 12
Board Meeting -
6 pm, Oak Campus

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

September 28
$10 for 10 Raffle Deadline


October 21-22
Parent -  Teacher Conferences

Download the 2015-16 School Calendar by clicking here


INFO SHARING

Robotics Club News

Thank you to all the parents that came to the information meeting at Cherry on Wednesday. If you were not able to join us, there is still one more meeting you can attend, tonight, August 28th! We will get together in the Oak auditorium at 6 pm if you would like your child to participate in the Jr. FLL or FLL clubs. 

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! Meeting attendance is mandatory. 

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, or go check out our Facebook page.

INFO SHARING

Who Is Ready For The Allez 5K?

Oh no, you aren't? Well, it's a good thing you have 2 months to get ready! 
 
The Allez 5k is back and bigger than ever (or that's the plan anyway)! The PTSO listened and are planning fewer, but larger, FUNdraising opportunities and this is one of them! We will be having the 5k and 1-mile Family Fun Run/Walk out at Arrowhead on October 31, 2015. Run starts at 9 am. If you choose to wear a costume, we encourage that behavior, there will be prizes. If you don't, no worries, you'll be faster than the others. This is a fast, flat course, so it is good for all levels of runners/walkers. 
To sign up visit the website: www.Allez5k.com
What are you waiting for - ALLEZ!

*** If you are interested in becoming an event sponsor (lots of perks including online and print advertising/marketing as well as logo on the race day shirt, please contact Meghan Flavin ([email protected]) as there are limited spots remaining. ***


INFO SHARING

Boo Bayou Needs You!

Boo Bayou is the all school fall party happening on October 17. We are in the planning stage, and need your help. Join us on September 1st at 9 am at the Filling Station in Midtown. 

Questions? Contact Leslie Kohlmeyer at 816-606-1646

INFO SHARING

Casual Day Is On The First Friday

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

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 FAQ'S

Where do I sell Raffle Tickets?

Kansas Raffle Laws have changed. Acad�mie Lafayette was able to purchase a Kansas Raffle License thus enabling our students to freely sell tickets in Kansas. However, raffles are illegal in Alabama, Hawaii, and Utah

Your neighborhood is a great place to sell tickets as well as your workplace, church or other faith community, the soccer field (you can sell in KANSAS now so those soccer fields out south are no longer off limits.)

REMEMBER: Local businesses have agreed to let our students (with an accompanying adult) sell tickets at their stores. See Signup Genius for a list of places, dates, & times. Addison and Imogen Long sold 18 tickets EACH in two hours last weekend at Brookside Market. Their mother, Amy Long, thinks their large creative sign - with lots of glitter - helped them get attention. They are willing to loan it to other AL families. 

How can people pay for tickets?
Cash or checks (made out to Acad�mie Lafayette) are always welcome. This year there are two new forms of payment:   
  • Square or equivalent:  Raffle tickets can be purchased with a personal Square or equivalent. This method is especially appropriate if your children are selling tickets in front of local businesses. However, if you are escorting your children as they sell tickets in your neighborhood or to friends feel free to use your personal Square. Parents are responsible for sending a check for the amount of the tickets sold, less Square fees, and completed ticket stubs to the school by the deadline to ensure your child receives credit, incentives or cash prizes. 
  • PayPal: This year tickets can be purchased using the Raffle PayPal account on the school website, www.academielafayette.orgThere is a field to identify the child who is to receive credit for the sales. Payment comes directly to the school. HOWEVER - and this is VERY IMPORTANT - It is the parents responsibility to send in the completed ticket stubs by the deadline so that your child receives credit, incentives or cash prizes. And, the buyer gets his/her name in the raffle barrel.  Please ask friends or family members who are using PayPal to tell you how many tickets they have purchased so that you can send them their ticket receipts and can send us the stubs. 

INFO SHARING

E-School Core Replaces 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. 


Sports

Registration For Fall Distance Running 

Middle School Cross Country Team
Registration is now closed and our roster is set for our inaugural Middle School Cross Country Team. Our first meet is Monday, September 14 at 4:30pm at Swope Park in the field near Starlight Theatre. Running far is hard! They need your support!
 
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 to do together with their families to prepare to run the Allez 5K/mile fun run. Program will be posted the week after Labor Day.
 
3rd-5th Grade Distance Running Program- Registration extended
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.
 
To register and for more detailed information, click this link: http://www.academielafayette.org/cc-and-track-field/
 
Registration is only available online and has been extended to Monday, August 31.
3rd-5th Registration is at the top of the CC and Track & Field Page under Athletics.
 
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.

INFO SHARING

Why A Newsletter? 

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).


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]


Advertisement

OM Film Fest - Double Feature

Come enjoy two movies at the Cinemark Palace Theater on the Plaza on Saturday, September 5th, 2015, at 11 am. Children and teenagers get in FREE with an adult ticket purchase (limit one free child/teenager ticket per adult).

L'Odyss�e Polaire (Arctic Odyssey)
This is a wonderful opportunity for French language students to immerse themselves into the language and culture of a beautiful "French" film, with English subtitles for the benefit of their English speaking parents and friends.
Six youngsters, who never had the chance to travel are facing a challenge: fighting weather conditions, tiredness and pain during a trek in Lapland, they will need to communicate and help each other to get through this journey! Click here to buy tickets

Imba Means Sing
This is a beautiful movie that parents can give to their children to plant the incredibly essential seed of the importance and value of education. This movie is in English. 
IMBA MEANS SING is a character-driven heartfelt story of resilience and the impact of education. The film follows Angel, Moses and Nina from the slums of Kampala, Uganda through a world tour with the Grammy-nominated African Children's Choir. Click here to buy tickets








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