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From Principal Lynn Main
 Parents, this week you need to be on the lookout for the Federal Impact Aid form that your child is going to be bringing home. Each year, the District of Columbia Public Schools receives federal funds based on its application for Impact Aid from the United States Department of Education.
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Mark Your Calendar
December 4 (Tuesday)
Parent Meeting: Boundaries & Feeder Patterns, 7:30 p.m.
December 5 (Wednesday)
LSAT Meeting, 7:45 a.m.
December 7 (Friday)
3rd Grade Recorder Concert, 2:00 p.m.
December 13(Thursday)
HSA Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
December 14(Friday)
No School, Professional Dev. Day
December 19(Wednesday)
HSA Open Chat, 8:45 a.m.
December 21(Friday)
Winter Concert, 9:00 a.m and 2:00 p.m.
See full school calendar
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From the HSA
Jenny Murray & Gayle Moseley, co-presidents
 December is here, and I spent a little time surfing the web today looking for gifts for the kids. If you are doing any online shopping on Amazon, don't forget to use the special Lafayette Amazon button so that the school will get a percentage of what you spend. If you're looking for it in the future , the Amazon button is on our website year-round, in the yellow left-hand column, right under the list of things that are "Coming Up." It's easy and doesn't cost you anything extra.
Gayle and I hope to see you this evening for our parent meeting to discuss the issue of school boundaries and feeder patterns. Many of you have spoken to us about this, and the meeting tonight will be an opportunity for interested parents to share their ideas. Everyone is invited. Our goal is to put together a clear message that represents the interests of our school community, and specific action items and next steps for parents.
Finally, a big THANK YOU to Laura Scalzo for organizing the Coats & Cocktails event this past weekend. It was tons of fun, and more importantly, we collected a huge stash of coats, hats, and other warm outwear for the Kenilworth Elementary community. More thanks go to Phil Inglima and Liz Wieser for being wonderful hosts, and to all the parents who supported and attended the event to make it such a great success.
--Gayle & Jenny See HSA board members |
TONIGHT: Parent Meeting to Discuss School Boundaries and Feeder Patterns
You may be aware of a recent bill submitted by Councilwoman Mary Cheh that calls for a special commission to review school boundaries and feeder patterns. There is some concern among Lafayette parents about the possible effects this might have on our school community, and specifically, if this could change our current feeder pattern to Deal and Wilson. We'd like to invite all Lafayette parents to an informal meeting to share information and discuss a strategy for how we want to respond as a school/parent community. We'll meet THIS EVENING (Tuesday, December 4) at 7:30 p.m. in the Lafayette cafeteria. You may want to read the proposed bill, as well as a recent Washington Post article on this issue. We hope you can join us.
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Holiday School Store
 Just in time to round out your holiday gift list, the Lafayette school store will be setting up shop on: - This Thursday, Dec. 7 after school (3:00 - 3:45 p.m)
- Tuesday, Dec. 11 before and after school (8:15-9:00 a.m. and 3:00-3:45 p.m.)
- Tuesday, Dec. 18 before and after school (8:15-9:00 a.m. and 3:00-3:45 p.m.)
We have warm hooded sweatshirt jackets, and several new items: car magnets with our new school logo, pull-on winter hats, erasers, and more! Jackets and hats have adult and kid sizes available. Quantities are limited, so please plan to come by the school store with cash or a check and pick up some great gear! |
Judith Perlin, Librarian
 Our Scholastic Book Fair starts Monday, December 3 and ends on Friday, December 4 at 4:00 p.m. The Book Fair will be open every day December 3 -7, before and after school. All students will visit the book fair with their classes as well. Everyone is welcome at the book fair before and after school. Many of the teachers here will have book boxes for parents that want to purchase books for their child's classroom. The teachers and I suggest all students have their book fair money in a plastic baggie. A suggested amount is $10-20. This will usually buy three or four paperback books from the fair. We tell all students that books must be purchased before a poster, pencil or cute eraser. If any parent has a "no junk" preference please include a note in the baggie. Last year the book fair sold just over $10,000 in books and the Lafayette Library received over $5,000 in books for the library. So much good comes from the book fair, but one thing happens that I really like every year. Students in all grades are encouraged to shop the book fair for the library. It is wonderful to see students in kindergarten through fifth grade pick out books for their library.
If you would like to purchase and donate a book to benefit Kenilworth Elementary, there is a box set up in the library.
We need a few volunteers on Friday, December 7 to help pack up the book fair. This is essential because I want the library to be open for business again on Monday morning. It takes a couple of hours to pack up the fair. Please contact me, Judith Perlin, in the library if you would like to help at the book fair before or after school, or for packing up on Friday.
>>Book Fair Flyer
>>Schedule for Class Visits
Thanks,
Judith Perlin
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First in Math
Nathan Wieand, Technology Coordinator
 Greetings Everyone!
I want to briefly inform you about the new math program we are using at Lafayette called, First in Math (FIM). FIM is a web-based math program that focuses on developing math skills for students in grades K - 8. The program has a number of educational math games for students to play in which they earn on-line stickers for their progress. In addition to the receipt of individual stickers, Lafayette is also awarding the FIM trophy to the class with the most stickers earned in a given week. The trophy will move from class to class as different classes earn the most stickers. Think of it as Lafayette's math-technology Stanley Cup.
The primary games-also called Skill Sets-are based off of the 24-math card game that some of you may be familiar with. The 24 Game is a card game that requires players to use multiple operations and numbers to arrive at the sum of 24. The purpose of the 24 Game is to help students to practice facts, as well as to gain a deeper understanding of how different operations relate to one another. As previously mentioned, there are many games in addition to Skill Sets, including K-2 World (an area specifically designed for students in grades K - 2nd), Know and Show Word Problems, and Just the Facts (a great place for students to practice all sorts of facts from addition to fractions and decimals). Students are encouraged to play all of the games that they have access to and should click on Directions or the Show Me How Video Instruction, if they are unsure of how to play.
When going on to the site, www.firstinmath.com, students should start with games at or below their grade level and steadily progress to more difficult problems and activities as they improve. Students will not be able to earn stickers for activities that they have already completed, but they can earn stickers for simpler tasks. For example, a 5th grader could earn a sticker for completing single digit whole number addition. Both our Math Specialists and I are in agreement: First in Math has more educational value than Sumdog; and we are therefore encouraging students to focus their efforts on FIM.
Your child should have received their User ID and Password from their teacher. If your child forgets any of this information, or has not yet received it, please feel free to email me at [email protected]. Thank you for your participation in the First in Math program and thank you for reading!
>>First in Math Parent Letter
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Counselor's Corner
Greetings Parents!
 Our character education program continues with a focus on Generosity for the month of December (see our poster here). We will be reading various stories on generosity, including The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, and helping the children think of ways to be generous with their peers and others. Often the holidays are times kids start thinking about what THEY want to be given, so it's also a great time to help them think of others and what they might like or need. Our bi-weekly Parent Pick-Up group will meet on Thursday, December 6 and 20, from 2:15-3:15 p.m. in the Oasis to continue the discussion on ways we can help our children be generous and empathetic towards others. Due to some technical problems with granting access to the Google groups site, that has been suspended for now. We are working on other options for sharing information with parents who can't attend the Pick-Up group but would still like to participate. If you'd like to receive a bi-weekly email with our group discussion summary, please let me know at [email protected]. Thanks and hope to see some of you on Thursday! |
Boys and Girls Basketball Team Schedules
Kevin Jackson
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Buy a WLES Shout Out Today!
Have a custom message read to your child during the morning announcements. It is a great way to say "Happy Birthday", "Good Luck" or just send a fun message to your child at the beginning of the school day. Print and fill out this form , place it and a payment of $15 (checks made out to Lafayette HSA) in the WLES Shout Out box in the Great Hall. Announcements and payment must be received at least seven days prior to the announcement date. All proceeds go towards the Spring Auction. Please contact Eden Burgess for more information.
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Coats & Cocktails
The Coats & Cocktails gathering was a great success! Thanks to all who helped out, especially Liz Wieser and Phil Inglima, our hosts, Michael Koppenheffer, who played for us, and of course, Sarah Buscher, Paul Ruppert and The Passenger for the cocktails!
Many, many coats were collected. If you would still like to donate, please put your gently used and washed coats in the box in the Great Hall.
We had the privilege of hearing both the principal and the head of the HSA at Kenilworth school speak. They are so appreciative of the coats and assured us they are well used and make a difference to the kids at their school. They need books!! If you have books that your kids have outgrown, we'd love to pass them on. There's a box in the Great Hall where you can drop them.
It was upsetting to hear that DCPS is trying to close Kenilworth School. This neighborhood school, like ours, is the heartbeat of their community. We asked how we could help and their HSA president thought the best way is to ask people to pay attention to their story. So if you have some time, please look into the story of Kenilworth School, its neighborhood and what the changes being proposed will mean to the well being of the children there.
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Community Notices
Tippi Toes. Tippi Toes has been providing fun, energetic dance classes to children for 13 years. We are excited to be providing this program to Lafayette on Tuesday afternoons!
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Household helpers available. We are three responsible Lafayette graduates who are currently in 6th grade at Alice Deal. We are available to help with lots of tasks: organizing kids' toys and rooms, dog walking, mother's help, plant/garden care, helping with parties, holiday gift wrapping, etc. Very experienced and responsible. Please e-mail us at: [email protected]. Thanks! Ellida, Anna and Emma.
Tutor available. Does your child need a little extra support or need to be challenged? Would you like help on monthly book reports? Edie Stanton is available on Tuesdays from 3:20-4:20 and 4:25-5:25 to tutor your child. Please e-mail her at [email protected].
Lafayette Chess Club Seeks Volunteer Instructor. Are you a parent who plays chess? And who may be interested and available to teach our chess club? Our usual teacher has not been able to step up this year and many kids are missing their weekly chess practice. This would be a volunteer position, on Tuesdays after school from 3:15-4:15. There are typically 10 children of varying abilities in the club. Please call Lisa Resch if you are interested or know someone who might be: 202-236-9527.
Free Ballet Class. Fairy Tales in Motion is offering a free trial ballet class to Lafayette students on Wednesday December 5.
The class for 4 year olds is from 4:00 p.m - 4:45 p.m. and 5 - 6 year olds at 4:45 p.m. Classes will be held at the Chevy Chase Baptist Church on Western Ave. Please reserve your spot by emailing Jan Taylor at [email protected].
Thanks, Jan Taylor 240-505-8253.
Fundraiser for a school in Haiti. Serge and Jewel Bellegarde cordially invite you to an open house to raise funds for The Nan Sable School in Haiti. Saturday, December 15, 2012 from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. 14104 Crest Hill Lane, Silver Spring, MD. 20904.
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Thank You Lafayette Sponsors!
These organizations support Lafayette through a generous annual donation- please support them!
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| Make a Submission
Submissions for next week's issue should be emailed to [email protected]. Submissions are due by 3:15 p.m. on Friday. Submissions received after this time will be included in the following issue, unless instructed otherwise. Please keep submissions brief. Longer articles may be truncated at the editor's discretion, with a link to the full text.
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Here are printable versions of the boys and girls basketball team schedules and key dates throughout the basketball season.