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From Principal Lynn Main
 Last week, some really big boxes arrived at Lafayette. Lots of really big boxes. Boxes that were delivered to Ms. McClure and Mr. Jackson in the gym. This week they are going to be unpacked and soon our first through fifth grade students will get their first look and try at the Railyard Active Play system. Thanks to the Home and School Association, students at Lafayette are getting another way to explore movement while they are in physical education classes during the week. |
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Mark Your Calendar
December 12 (Wednesday)
Alice Deal Open House, 9 a.m. to 12 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
We'd like to thank Ms. Perlin for putting together another successful Scholastic book fair last week. Also, a big thank you goes out to parents who helped with and purchased books at the fair. The kids really seem to enjoy a little sense of independence when choosing a book for themselves and our library benefits enormously from the proceeds of the sale.
Those of you who have older students at Lafayette may be interested in the open house at Alice Deal Middle School tomorrow morning. You can show up anytime between 9:00 and noon and learn more about life at Deal. Another open house is scheduled for January 12, 2013.
--Gayle & Jenny See HSA board members |
From the Art RoomLaurie McLaughlin, Art Teacher Grades 1-5
 Native handcrafts of clay pottery and woven "rugs" have been the focus of our 1st-3rd graders for the past few weeks. Parents of 1st- and 2nd-graders, the coil and pinch pots coming home have been glazed and are food-safe, as well as dishwasher- and microwave-proof. In addition, the first portfolio of artwork from 1st- and 2nd-graders should be coming home in a week or two. First grade units this fall explored the elements of art: line, shape (geometric and organic) and color (primary, secondary, warm, cool, tints and shades). We also learned how artists represent our country's patriotic symbols, and traveled back in time to the "first" artists with cave paintings, aboriginal art, and clay pottery. Second-graders remembered the elements of art with a Cuna Indian Mola, then explored how facial expression and color can show emotion, how diagonal and curvy lines show movement, and prepared work for the Native American Museums last month.
Get to know our 4th-graders a little better... characteristics, likes and looks. Check out the Great Hall display during December and into January! Since the Powwow in early November, fourth-graders have been looking at early colonial portraiture, studying the proportions of the human body, and working on the skills of super-realism with drawings of our shoes. We are beginning a full-length portrait of ourselves with 17th and 18th century gesture, clothing, and setting.
Check out the art room blog to read about the fascinating visitors we had in our 5th-grade art classes last month, and about the latest open art creations.
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Student Council Fundraiser: The Heifer Project
Maddie Gold, Secretary
The student council is sponsoring a holiday fundraiser. It's for an  organization called the Heifer Project. The Heifer Project is an organization that raises money to buy animals for poor families all around the world. The animal provides people with a way to earn money and produce their own food. Depending on how much we raise, we could buy a yak, a cow, a goat, or chickens for needy families. The student council is asking Lafayette kids to bring $1-$5 to school for the Heifer Project. They should give the money to their teachers. Everyone in the student council would greatly appreciate it if your kids donated to the Heifer Project.
Let's buy an animal!
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Lafayette Pet Food Drive
The Lafayette 4th grade is sponsoring a pet food drive from December 10 to December 20 in support of the Pet Food Bank at the Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL). Several of the 4th-grade classes have been part of the newly introduced Humane Education Program and classes sponsored by WARL. As part of Lafayette's December theme of generosity, food will be collected to help stock the Pet Food Bank at WARL which helps low-income residents feed their pets throughout the year. Please bring in unused bags and cans of dog and cat food to place in the box in the Great Hall at Lafayette. The children will be calculating the total weight of all food collected and learning how to convert pounds to ounces as part of a math lesson. Thank you so much for your generosity. If you need any additional information, please contact Harriet Kuhn, Lafayette psychologist at [email protected] or 301-379-8705.
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Track Team Kicks Off Indoor Season
Friday, December 7- The opening meet of the Indoor Track season was quite a flurry of activity and excitement, starting with the very late arrival of our team bus, guaranteeing that we would have to scramble to get our athletes into events. Sure enough, three different events were starting just as we walked into the PG Sports and Learning Center, but between coaches and parents we were able to get the required stickers ready for all the athletes in time so that we did not miss any events.
For this meet they lifted the limits on how many events each individual could participate in, and many of our athletes took full advantage, jumping into as many as six events out of the eight that they held. (They ran out of time and had to postpone the 800 meter run and the 200 meter dash until the next meet on Dec. 12.)
Complete results will be posted soon on www.CoachO.com , but we can report that we had a number of event and heat winners:
Rachel Wallach and Sophie Gross finished first and second in the triple jump; Daniel Freymann, Dylan Blumenthal, and Nathaniel Belman were the top three boys in triple jump; Avery Wright and Dorien Green won their heats in the 55 meter dash; and Eli Moore, Brendan Klein, Mia Pino and Daniel Freymann won their 400 meter heats. Ella Pearlman-Chang and Lauren Chineme were the top two girls in the 1600 meters, with Daniel Freymann winning the boys' 1600 in under 5:50, and Michael Senko taking second in that event. Kevin Oakley was the highest jumping boy, with Daniel Freymann tied for second. Liza Willsey was one of the best girls in the high jump.
It is always a thrill to see some of our Lafayette graduates doing well at the meets. This time we were able to watch Jonathan Barnes win his heat of the 1600 meters and Alahna Sabbakhan win her 500 meter heat.
Our next meet is on Wednesday, December 12, and it is a relay meet. We will have teams competing in the 4 x 200, 4 x 400, and the Sprint Medley (200, 200, 400, 800) relays (plus the 800 m and 200 m events postponed from Friday).
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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:
- Tuesday, Dec. 11 before and after school (7:45-9:00 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! |
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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Community Notices HoopEd at Lafayette on Friday. DCPS is off on Friday, December 14 and HoopEd is offering one-day camps.The All Sports and Games format will be running at Lafayette ES and Oyster ES. Hoops Basketball Camp will be at Stoddert Elementary, if your child is lookin to ball! All camps are for boys and girls ages 5-13 and all skill levels and abilities are welcome to join. Camps run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with after-care available until 5:30. $60.00 per child/$70.00 w/after-care. Check out www.hoopeducation.com to for more information and to register! Tutor available. Mr. C. has been working in the Special Education department at Lafayette since the beginning of the 2011 school year. He currently leads the Creative Writing Club and is on the Spelling Bee Committee. Mr. C. has primarily worked with 4th and 5th grade students as a one-on-one aide and a classroom assistant. He has previously tutored students in mathematics, science, and reading/writing. Mr. C. is willing to teach students at all grade levels in whatever areas they may need extra help. Please feel free to contact him by phone or email at 201-312-7426 or [email protected] for information. Tutor available. Does your 1st or 2nd grader need a little extra support or to be challenged. Lynnea Rice is available after school 5 days a week from 3:20-4:20 to tutor your child. Please email her at [email protected] 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. Deal youth XL hoodies on sale only $20! Holiday shopping comes to you. Please contact Sue Wright at [email protected] if you would like a Deal youth XL hoodie. Please let me know how many you would like and I will bring it to you at Lafayette. |
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Thank You Lafayette Sponsors!
These organizations support Lafayette through a generous annual donation- please support them!
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