Tuesday Bulletin
Lafayette Elementary Home and School Association 
Teresa G. Gionis, editor March 5, 2013
In This Issue
From the HSA
Auction Update
WLES Shout Out
Math Club
Jump Rope for Heart
Tennnis
Nurse Cockrell
Community Notices
Lafayette Sponsors
Join Our Mailing List
Quick Links...
 Principal 
Lynn Main  
Lynn Main

 It's auction week at Lafayette and event preparations are in full swing. While the children will not be attending the actual auction, the results of their contributions to the event are starting to show up at school. Each grade does a class contribution for bidding and many are now on display at the school.  
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Mark Your Calendar  

March 6 (Wednesday)
LSAT Meeting, 7:45 a.m.

March 7 (Thursday)
Parent Pick-Up Group, 2:15 p.m.

March 9 (Saturday)
Annual Auction Party, 7 p.m.

March 10 (Sunday)
Online Auction Ends, 12 p.m.

March 13 (Wednesday)
Internet Safety Discussion, 7 p.m.

March 14 (Thursday)
HSA Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

March 20 (Wednesday)
HSA Open Chat, 8:45 a.m.

Potomac Pizza Night, 4-9 p.m.

March 21 (Thursday)
Counselor/Parent Pick-Up Group, 2:15 p.m

March 28 (Thursday)
March Madness Basketball Game, 4 p.m.

March 29 (Friday)
Early Dismissal, 12:15 p.m.


 See full school calendar 

From the HSA 

Jenny Murray & Gayle Moseley, co-presidents 
 
Last Thursday we held an HSA General Meeting where many important proposals were presented, discussed and voted upon. Thanks to those of you who were there, though we'd like to see more parents participate in these discussions. The HSA board does its best to gather information from parents and staff and put forth recommendations we think will work best for the majority of kids at the school. At Thursday's meeting, the membership voted and approved $75,000 in classroom technology upgrades, which includes training for teachers for implementing these new technologies in their classrooms. We think this is a great way to enhance the learning experience of children at all grade levels. As fun, new things are introduced to the classrooms, we'll get updates from Mr. Wieand and pass them along to you so you can see how your HSA dollars are put to work.

 

Right now we are in the middle of the online auction. Check out the online catalog. and see what interests you. Remember, this is a fundraiser... don't be afraid to use the "buy now" button which means that the item is going for its full value and Lafayette gets the maximum benefit. I know it's tempting to look for the bargain, but this is the one shopping experience where you can feel great about every dollar you spend because you know it's benefitting our kids!

 

And of course, this Saturday is the big Auction Party. If you haven't bought your tickets, do it now. The price goes up significantly at the door. What to expect? A fun party with open bar, appetizers, dinner, deserts, casino, and an after-hours lounge. There will be a few auction categories that will be sold exclusively at the party (not online), including teacher treats, class creations, parent sign-up parties, and the climatic LIVE auction, which are unique packages you won't want to miss. Get a sitter, put on your party attire, and we'll see you on Saturday night!

 

Once you recover from the party on Saturday night, get up on Sunday morning and turn on your computer so you can place your final bids for the online auction. All bidding ends at 12:00 noon on Sunday - and that's when the action happens. Don't let someone come in and grab your favorite item at the last minute!

 

This week is pretty much auction, auction, auction! It's our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we're counting on your generous support to make it a success. Bid online and come to the party. You're sure to get some great stuff all while benefiting Lafayette. Thanks!


 

- Gayle & Jenny

 

See HSA board members 

Lafayette Auction Update  

 

This Saturday is the biggest party of the year!

 

Saturday, March 9th, 7pm! A Night in Monte Carlo...dinner, open bar, live music, and of course the

live auction.

 

Buy your tickets now, and take advantage of the $60 presale price! On Friday, March 8 th @ 5pm, presale tickets will no longer be available.

Tickets at the door will be $75. Each ticket includes your auction reservation, as well as a $50 voucher to gamble in the casino. To purchase your tickets sing in to Maestro and click on the Buy Tickets tab.  

 

While buying your tickets, we hope you'll consider the option to "Sponsor a Teacher" for $25, or "Sponsor 

a Teacher and Guest" for $50. We love our teachers and staff, and since they do so much for our kids, we give them 

complimentary tickets to the event. So, we hope you'll help us cover the cost of these tickets.

 

Best of Live Raffle:

 

"Best of Live" raffle tickets are on sale! The "Best of Live" raffle winner can choose ANY live auction package! Tickets are $100,

and only 50 will be sold, so get yours before they sell out. You'll need to write which auction package you prefer when

you buy your ticket, so check out the live auction packages in the online catalog or the print catalog (coming soon in your

child's backpack!). Tickets will be on sale before school at the flagpole until we sell out. (Checks & Cash only)

 

Sponsorship/Cash Donations: We can always use cash donations/sponsors. Your donation will go a long way to

helping us make this event happen. Go here for ways to donate cash.

 

 

Volunteers: There is still time to sign up to help with decorations on Friday, March 8th, 5-10pm. Please email us and let us know.

 

Thank you for your support!

- Hope & Julie

Buy a WLES Shout Out Today!

Have a custom message read to your child during the morning shout out dude 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.


From the Math Center

 

Math Club is a place to investigate a variety of math ideas and challenges. We have already begun to explore circles in preparation for Pi Day on March 14th. Students have been practicing with a compass and a straightedge, constructing hexagrams and other circle designs. We meet on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. in the upper library, and we welcome any student in 3rd, 4th or 5th grade. Bring a pencil, a folder, and a hunger for learning!

 

Math Team continues to explore different topics and share problem solving-strategies. We recently participated in the Maryland Math League's Annual 6th Grade Contest. Students had 30 minutes to answer 35 questions. Nate Belman (4S), Brendan Klein (5JL) and Sam Santacana (4C) tied for 1st place with 25 correct answers. Gabi Aladjem (5JJ) came in 4th with 24 correct answers. Torin O'Brien (5JJ), William O'Brien (5JL), Ella Pearlman-Chang (5JB), and Thomas Scheller (5G) all tied for 5th place with 23 correct answers. A total of 43 students participated in this competition and we are proud of them all! 

 

Can you solve this problem from the most recent 6th grade contest?

On Sunday I put two rabbits in a cage. If the number of rabbits in the cage doubled every day, on what day did the cage first have more than 100 rabbits in it?

 

Math Team meets Friday mornings at 8 a.m. in the upper library and is open to any student in 4th or 5th grade. Happy Thinking!

 

-Erin Betz for David Gregal, Robert Thurston, & Blake Yedwab


Jump Rope for Heart Deadline Extended 
 

The deadline for JRFH donations has been extended to Wednesday, March 6th.  I know everyone is very busy and some may have forgotten, but I want to make sure everyone had a chance to turn in donations before I send in our total to the American Heart Association. We are well on our way to reaching this year's goal of over $20,000.00. The Lafayette community always amazes me with its generosity and I thank everyone who has so generously donated.  I will update next week with our final total. 

If you have any questions please ask Ms. McClure.

 

 

 

  

Lafayette Tennis Update

 

There was a problem in the way space availability for the tennis programs was displayed on the

www.LafayetteTennis.org website. This has been corrected.

 

There are plenty of spaces available for the Spring Lunchtime Tennis, Afterschool Tennis, Adult Morning and Evening Tennis and the Summer Tennis camps. All the kid programs start right after Spring Break on April 8. The adult programs start two weeks earlier.

 

Check out the Tennis Party in the Lafayette Auction catalog offered by the Lafayette Tennis Association.  Have some fun with your friends on the courts this Spring.

 

From Nurse Cockrell

 

We are about to start a 3 week fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), called Pennies for Patients, and wanted to put an article in the Tuesday Bulletin.  The kick-off assembly is March 7, and fundraising begins March 11 with distribution of individual and classroom collection boxes.  The fundraiser commences on March 29. Here is the website for online donations.See flyer for more information.

 
Community   
Community Notices

 

Lafayette Recreation Center:  We would like to announce our Spring Program Schedule. Most classes will begin the week of March 18th. Please contact Lafayette Recreation Center at (202)-282-2206 for more information on Lafayette programming. Visit dpr.dc.gov for more information/program schedules for other Department of Parks and Recreation locations.

-       Young Ladies On the Rise

-       Fridays 3:30pm-4:30pm

-       Ages 6-18

Female participants engage in leisure, social, educational and community service experiences

     

-       Boys to Men

-       Fridays 3:30pm-4:30pm

-       Ages 6-18

Male participants engage in leisure, social, educational and community service experiences.

-        

-       Tiny Tots Need Recreation, Too!

-       Mondays 1:45pm-2:45pm

-       Ages 1-4

A fun-filled parent & child high energy activity program that includes songs, parachutes, games, balls, music, running, learning, and more. Focus on development of gross motor skills, coordination, socialization, cooperation and reinforcement of cognitive development. A great workout for the children...and the adults!

      

-       STEM Program (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)

-       Wednesdays 4:00pm-5:00pm

-       Ages 6-11

 A NASA sponsored program geared to enhance participants experience in science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on projects.

-        

-       Keep On Growin'

-       Mondays and Thursdays 4:30pm-5:30pm

-       Ages 7-13

Participating gardeners will learn the basics of gardening and seed to plate concepts while maintaining a communal vegetable garden bed. Gardeners will maintain the garden and harvest fruits and vegetables to share with their families and other recreation center constituents.

-        

-       Flag Football

-       Mondays and Wednesdays 5:00pm-6:00pm

-       Ages 6-12

    

-       Tee Ball

-       Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00pm-5:00pm

 Ages 4-7

 

 

I am looking for childcare for my easy going baby from May 13th through the end of the school year, during the school day only. He will be five and a half months old. Could be nanny share or a nanny whose charges are in school during the day.  Am flexible about where. Details to be worked out with nanny and family.  Please contact Dina Shapiro at [email protected]

 

 

Consider hosting a child through the Fresh Air Fund this summer.  The Fresh Air Fund is an organization that places inner-city kids from New York City with families all over the east coast for two weeks during the summer.  A Fresh Air trip is scheduled for our area from June 28th - July 12th.  Many of these children have never been outside of New York City and have never experienced the things that our children often take for granted: going swimming, playing in the park, riding a bike, or just enjoying a backyard full of grass.  Host families can specify the age and gender of the child they wish to host and may also enroll the child in daycamp while they are here.  For more information about the program go to

www.freshair.org or contact Lisa Oakley at [email protected]

   

 

 

Thank You Lafayette Sponsors!

 

These organizations support Lafayette through a generous annual donation- please support them!

 

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.