Have a custom message read to your child during the morning announcements. It's 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, and 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.

As February comes to a close and we continue to celebrate Black History Month, this week we will be treated to the second grade's Heroes in Wax Museum, featuring famous African-American heroes. The teachers have been documenting the process as the students researched, conducted character interviews, practiced tableaus, used the Curriculum Based Reader's Theater in a choral reading, and learned music to accompany it all, a complete arts integration unit. Look for them to be spotlighted on our CETA board next.

Speaking of documentation, one of the things that those of us on the CETA committee have noticed is that there are so many arts integration lessons going on that we need to document it, for all to see. So, please take a "museum walk" down the hallway leading to gym, and check out the documented lessons by Ms. Perll's kindergartners who studied and learned about patterns, and Ms. Paul's first graders, as they learned geometry using the art of Kandinsky. Learning how to document our arts integrated lessons is also one of the CETA courses that is offered. One of our AI goals is to show this documentation more and more.

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Leslie Nicole Jean, Fifth-Grade Teacher

In January, Ms. Jean and Ms. Jackson's class hosted the 37 Youth Ambassadors from Brazil. The 2013 Youth Ambassadors of Brazil represent the wide geographic and cultural diversity of their country-each state and the Federal District! The youth are ages 15-17 years old and attend public high school, chosen from an applicant pool of over 16,000! They were tested and selected based on their English abilities, demonstrated leadership potential and commitment to community. Their program ran January 11-February 2 and began in DC where they spent one week exploring leadership, US democracy, youth civic engagement, and volunteerism. Then the group split in four and continued their exchange in the host communities of Seattle, Bozeman, Tulsa, and Charlotte. They lived with American host families, attended high school, volunteered, and even experienced MLK Day, the National Day of Service, and the Inauguration! The whole group reunited in DC for their final week and joined Lafayette students in a cultural exchange of songs, dances, and food. 

The Youth Ambassadors Program with Brazil is sponsored by the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the US Embassy in Brazil, and implemented by World Learning and its US community partners. Next month, as part of Ms. Jean's class relationship with the Embassy of Brazil through the Embassy Adoption Program, the group will be performing for Mayor Gray and the Mayor of DC's new sister city, Brasilia.

Girls on the Run registration is now open! GOTR is a life-changing,

character development program for girls in 3rd through 5th grade, which combines training for a 5k (3.1 miles) event with healthy living education.

The Lafayette Team will meet twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 for 10 weeks beginning the week of March 4. All participants will walk/run in the 5k on May 19 at Anacostia Park. We are excited to have teachers Gretchen Paul (1st grade) and Erin deJonckheere (Kindergarten) as our coaches this spring.

Registration is now open and will close once it is full.  Registration is to be completed online and is first come, first served.The $165 program fee includes 10 weeks of curriculum-based lessons led by trained coaches, all lesson materials, a tee shirt and water bottle, and 5k registration and incentives. Please see this link below to register.  Questions may be directed to Steve Dolge, [email protected].