19 august 2016

Le Journal



From the head of school

Happy New School Year!

Dear families, 

It has been a real pleasure to welcome back the children. The building is alive again. My son is now in middle school, and I cannot believe it! I hope you all had a fun and restful summer break with the students. I myself spent one month in Senegal, first one in 8 years. My wife and kids stayed two months there. It was wonderful to reconnect with my mom, brothers and sisters, childhood friends and former colleagues.
 
We are off to a great start! All our new teachers arrived at least 10 days before school started and they have been well taken care of by the Welcome Committee, the PTSO and many parents who are hosting them while they find an apartment or house for their family. Thank you to Antonia and Trevor Acorn, Robin Rusconi, Angela Watson, Sara Harms, Hilary Lemon, Carla and Matt Warriner, and Karen and Brian Hand for coordinating and/or hosting while our new teachers find a place of their own.

I am pleased to tell you that we have reached a new technological milestone! Interactive White Boards -- SMART boards or TEAM boards -- have been ordered and have arrived for all classrooms at both campuses. In addition, Chromebook labs have been purchased for grade levels 2-8 and we have two building computer labs.
 
I am grateful to be the leader of such a wonderful school community and I appreciate your invaluable support and commitment to the school.
 
Have a great weekend!

Monsieur Mbengue

From the Cherry principal

From The Cherry Campus

Dear families,

Merci for a great first week. It is so exciting to meet new friends and see old ones. Our new teachers all arrived early, and they are off to a good start. Thank you so much to the families and teachers who have offered assistance, lodging, transportation, and welcome gifts. We are truly making them feel welcome.

As we prepare for week two, we have a few reminders: 
  1. Starting Monday, August 22, students are expected to walk themselves to the classrooms in the morning. They have practiced with their teachers, and we will have plenty of staff to help. Parents should let them off curbside or escort them to the front door. We will take care of the rest. 
  2. Please re-read the dress code policy. We have seen numerous students in clothing items that are not approved (blue pants or shorts or jumpers, different colored shirts, etc.). Make sure to send your student in the appropriate items, or they will be asked to change. 
  3. Please help us make the end of the day go smoothly. If you must make a dismissal change, please contact the office by noon. Also, if you are part of the car rider lane, please enter on Cherry street. Cars entering from the Gillham entrance on the west via 34th will have difficulty joining the line.
Thank you for your support!

Madame Heather

calendar

Upcoming Events

August 23
Oak Parent Orientation Night -
6 pm, Oak Auditorium

August 31
Early Release Day
Cherry: 12:45 pm
Oak: 1 pm

September 13
PTSO Meeting
6 pm, Cherry Campus
August 25
Cherry Parent Orientation Night 
6 pm

September 1
Raffle Kick-Off



September 15
Trash Bag Sale Ends
August 30
Athletics Meeting
5:30 pm, Oak Auditorium


September 5
NO SCHOOL



September 16
NO SCHOOL 


Access the 2016-2017 School Calendar here

Info Sharing

Start Time Reminders

time_2_learn_vector.jpg Our two Acad�mie Lafayette campuses start their school day at different times. Start time at Cherry is 8 am, and start time at Oak is 8:15 am.

If your child arrives late, for safety reasons, please escort them inside the building.


Info Sharing

Reading Volunteer Program

Acad�mie Lafayette is looking for volunteers to work with a small group of either 4th or 5th graders. This reading program is held daily from 10:15 am to 10:45 am. You may volunteer for 1-5 days, whatever works for your schedule. Books and other materials will be provided, as well as instructions. 

You will be required to do a background check (paid for by the school) before you can begin volunteering. This program will be starting after Labor Day. 

Thank you for helping improve the lives of our children! 

Interested? Questions? Contact Leslie Houfaidi, [email protected]


Info Sharing

Board Retreat

The Acad�mie Lafayette Board of Directors will be holding their annual retreat on August 20th at the World War I Museum (100 W 26th St, Kansas City, MO 64108), in the Board Room. The meeting begins at 9:00. The Museum is closed until 10:00 but you will be admitted if you ring the bell by the entrance. Click here to view the agenda


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 6 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 23rd! 


Info Sharing

Cherry Parent Orientation Night

Please join us at 6:00 pm on Thursday, August 25, for Parent Orientation Night at the Cherry campus. Teachers will be welcoming parents in their classrooms to hear more about curriculum, expectations, classroom schedules and procedures. Parents will also have the opportunity to hear from our Head of School, Elimane Mbengue and our Board President, Chad Phillips.  

To accommodate so many parents we will offer two sessions: 6:00 and 6:50Support and English teachers will be available at both sessions.
  • Parents of Kindergarten and 1st graders should report to classrooms first at 6:00 to see teacher presentations, and then to the auditorium to hear from school leadership at 6:50.  
  • Parents of 2nd-3rd graders should report to the auditorium first and then transition to classrooms for the second session at 6:50
  • If parents have multiple children, they can choose to attend two classroom sessions if they prefer, in lieu of the meeting in the auditorium. Support and English teachers will also be available at both sessions.
We look forward to see you on the 25th!


Info Sharing

School Growth Brings Changes 

Our school continues to grow: we now have 947 students, vs 906 last school year. Because of that growth, we have changed our organization a bit: 
  • Mme Leslie Houfaidi is now the Oak building principal just as Mme Heather Royce is the Cherry building principal.
  • Each building will have its own BLT (Building Leadership Team) composed of the principal, the vice principal, the nurse, the social worker and the grade level team leaders. The BLT will be focusing on student learning, student physical and emotional safety, building environment.
  • At the school level, we will have a School Improvement Committee with teachers and administrators working together to monitor the school strategic goals, review the school data, different surveys and make recommendations for improvement.
  • We will still have the Conseil d'Ecole composed of parents, administrators and teachers. The CE is a venue for parents to give feedback and discuss major changes in the management of the school. This structure will promote a better shared-decision making process at all levels.
  • As for the high school/K-8 replication project, we have been working with a consultant and few advisers to build a 10 year business plan to be submitted to the board for final a decision. We hope that this phase will be finalized by mid-September. We will give you more details next week at parent orientation night. I hope you will all be able to attend.

Info Sharing

Traffic Safety At Oak Street 

The Oak parking lot is a busy and congested place at 3:45 pm. Parents who pick up their children from the picnic tables must encourage their children to be ready to get into vehicles when parents pull up. Also, parents, if your child is not at the curb, you must take another turn around the campus, exiting with a right turn onto 69th Terrace. Do not idle and wait, unless in a sanctioned parking place. 

Please DO NOT pick up or drop off  children on 69th Terrace. This is a no parking or idling zone. All picking up should be done in the parking lot, and not on the street south of campus.

Please adhere to the no parking signage around the campus. Also, please continue to use the clockwise traffic pattern when entering the school area at Oak. Cars exiting the parking lot should turn right only. Many thanks for helping to keep traffic moving smoothly. 



Info Sharing

Dismissal Procedures

Cherry Campus:
  • 3:30 pm: classes are dismissed. 
    • Kindergarten students are picked up in the auditorium. 
    • First through third graders with a sibling at Oak are picked up in the gymnasium.
    • First through third grade students who are Cherry only families are dismissed through the car rider line.  
    • Students who use bus transportation are sent to buses or students are excused to the YMCA after-school program.
    • Cherry transportation changes and questions should be directed to Diane Balagna at 888-7400 or dbalagna@academielafayette.org.
  • 3:45 pm: remaining students are brought to the office.
    • A $1 charge is incurred every minute after 3:45 pm. 
Oak Campus:
  • 3:45 pm: classes are dismissed. 
    • Parents pick up in classroom. Children leaving from classrooms must be accompanied by an authorized adult. 
    • Students who use bus transportation are sent to buses or students are excused to the YMCA after-school program. 
  • 4 pm: remaining students are brought to the office.
    • A $1 charge is incurred every minute after 4 pm. 


Info Sharing

Countdown begins for Cash Raffle

The eigth $10,000 Cash Raffle begins on Thursday, September 1st. Remember, one lucky person will win $10,000! Raffle packets and tickets will go home after the kick-off assemblies on September 1st. Thank you for your participation!
Raffle sign


Info Sharing

Want an Old Seat?

armrest before
Arm rest before refinishing
Renovation of the Oak Auditorium begins next week with the removal of the wooden arm rests. Arm rests will be refinished and reattached to the seat frames. This is a 4-6 week process. The area under the arm rest will be covered to ensure that students can use the auditorium safely while the arm rests are being refinished. Meanwhile, the new seats and backs are
being made in Mississippi and then finished in Michigan.  

The new seats and backs 
refinished arm rests
Arm rest after refinishing
will be shipped to Kansas City and hopefully be installed by mid-October.  

If you want one of the old seat backs or seats, please find the one you want and put your name on it written on masking tape. Please email [email protected] to let me know that you have done this. I will do my best to make sure it is removed carefully and is available for you to pick up. Remember, we are re-using the seat frames so only the individual seats or backs are available. All of the seats and backs in the first three rows are spoken for.


Info Sharing

PTSO Is For All

Welcome to the Parent Teacher Student Teacher Organization (PTSO) here at AL.  Because you are a parent or guardian you are automatically a member! No dues, no forms. It's a great way to meet new friends and work together to make our school even better than it is!

Two projects we are working on now:
Our first meeting is at 6 pmSeptember 13, at the Cherry campus. Dinner will be served, and child care provided. 

If you have questions please reach out to one of the officers:

President - Meghan Flavin [email protected]   (913-449-9991)
Vice President (Oak) - Robin Rusconi  [email protected]
Vice President (Cherry) - Antonia Acorn [email protected]
Secretary - Shelby Johnson [email protected]
Treasurer - Jennifer McGreal  [email protected] 
Communications - Abby Royal [email protected]
Gratitude Officer - Jesse Kidwell [email protected]  (816-304-0726)
EIP Chair(s) - TBD 
Events/Volunteer Coordinator (Oak) - Monica Schaefer [email protected]
Events/Volunteer Coordinator (Cherry) - Laura Flynn [email protected]


SPORTS

Middle School CC Back In Action
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The 39 member Middle School Cross Country Team is already looking strong this year with several tough pre-season practices under their belts!


Hurry, there is still time to join our team, online registration for Middle School CC will close on Monday, August 22, 2916. Join us as we have fun and work hard in the hopes of achieving back to back championship seasons! 

All information, practice and meet schedules, required forms and registration can be found on the AL website: http://www.academielafayette.org/cc-and-track-field/


We are excited that our following 8th graders from last year are now running CC in high school:
  • Nora Sjue: Varsity CC at Pembroke
  • Cole Williams: Freshman CC Team at Rockhurst
  • Sidney Boyd: JV CC Team T at the Lutheran High School of KC
Questions? Contact Head Coach, Brenda Kumm, [email protected]


FUNDRAISING

Back To School SpiritWear Sale


Info Sharing

Interested In Cub Scouts? 

First thru fifth grade families: come join us for our New Parents Meeting to see what it's all about and enroll your boy(s) in Cub Scouts!

When:   Monday, Aug 29th 6:30 p.m.
Where:  Keystone United Methodist Church, 
              406 W. 74th Street

For more information on Cub Scout Pack 50 please contact Jennifer Means, [email protected]


Info Sharing

K-3 Robotics Program

Enrollment for Jr.FLL Robotics is now open for K - 3rd graders. This is a LEGO F.I.R.S.T Robotics program (http://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/flljr) that is run by parent volunteers with the support of Acad�mie Lafayette and the PTSO.


Info Sharing

4th-8th Robotics Program

The 4th - 8th Grade robotics program is currently accepting applications. The program is offered on a first come, first serve basis, and prior club members have priority. New members will be added based on the number of spots available. Click here to enroll your child (filling out the form does not guarantee enrollment, you will receive a confirmation email when your child is accepted). 


Info Sharing

Athletics

Questions about sports opportunities at Acad�mie Lafayette for your 4th-8th grader? Come to the sports meeting for parents on August 30th at 5:30 pm in the Oak Auditorium. Mr. Djiba and coaches from Track and Field, Cross Country, Soccer (Boys and Girls), Basketball (Boys and Girls), and Volleyball (Girls) will be available to answer your questions and share important information about the important role parents play. To see the informational flyer, click here .


AL in the community
  



Report your sightings of Acad�mie Lafayette parents, staff, or students accomplishments to [email protected].  

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