Tuesday Bulletin
Lafayette Elementary Home and School Association 
Miriam Van Dyck, editor March 19, 2013
In This Issue
From the HSA
School Boundary Update
Lost and Found
Writers' Competition
Counselor's Corner
Open Library
Community Notices
Lafayette Sponsors
Make a Submission
Join Our Mailing List
Quick Links...
 Principal 
Lynn Main  
Lynn Main

One of the eternal promises of the District of Columbia Public Schools is that schools that demonstrate exceptional performance should be rewarded with flexibility in programming, use of funds and staffing. This year the State Education Office named us a Red Ribbon School. We were just one of three elementary schools where over 90% of the students scored proficient or advanced on the DC-CAS. 

>> Read More

Mark Your Calendar  


March 20 (Wednesday)
HSA Open Chat, 8:45 a.m.
Potomac Pizza Night, 4-9 p.m.
Parent Discussion: HSA Budget, 7:30 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.
  
April 8 (Monday)
School Resumes
  
April 10 (Wednesday)
LSAT Meeting, 7:45 a.m.


 See full school calendar 

From the HSA 

Jenny Murray & Gayle Moseley, co-presidents 
  

The last two Fridays I've been fortunate enough to be at school to watch the special performances at the end of the day for Celebrate Art & Music in the Schools month.  Not only did the students amaze me with their talent, they also exhibited so much self-confidence by getting up to perform in front of their peers (many of them SOLO)!  I was also very impressed by the respect the students in the audience showed the performers.  Even the teachers and staff participated by treating everyone to entertaining performances both weeks!   

 

Two weeks ago, to the great delight of the students, some teachers lip synched and danced to "Call Me, Maybe" - click here if you missed it!  Last Friday, a group of teachers and staff, led by Mr. Hover, performed two songs with musical accompaniment - what a treat to see such talent!  How lucky our kids are to see their teachers having so much fun!

 

Beginning at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow (until 9:00 p.m.), Potomac Pizza is hosting another pizza night for Lafayette families.  A percentage of all dine-in and carry-out purchases will be donated to Lafayette.  It's a great excuse to meet up with friends in the middle of the week and not have to cook dinner!  After dinner, please join us at school for an informal . . .

 

Budget Discussion.  Tomorrow evening at 7:30 in the cafeteria, Jenny and I (and other Board members) would like to sit down with interested parents to listen to your thoughts, suggestions and questions regarding the HSA operating budget.  We will begin preparing a draft of next year's budget when we return from Spring Break and look forward to hearing parents' ideas before we start.  The draft operating budget will be presented at the next General Meeting on May 9 and the finalized budget will be up for vote and approval at the last General Meeting of the year on June 6.   

 

We hope you'll join us tomorrow night.  If you are not able to attend, but have ideas you would like to share, please feel free to email Jenny or me.

 

Also, if you haven't done so already, please sign the letter to Chancellor Henderson (and Councilmembers) in support of preserving Lafayette's boundaries and feeder pattern to Deal Middle and Wilson High Schools (see article below).  We also encourage you to pass it on to neighbors who may not currently have children at Lafayette, as this is an issue that affects us all.

 

Only 10 more days 'til Spring Break!

 

--Gayle & Jenny   

 

School Boundary Update

The group of Lafayette parents monitoring the school boundary/feeder pattern issue continues to meet on a regular basis to stay up to date on this important matter.  Several new parents have recently joined the group.  The group continues to recommend that Lafayette parents as well as parents of future Lafayette children and Lafayette alumni review and sign on to a letter in support of maintaining the Lafayette, Deal, Wilson feeder pattern.  Please note that this includes, for example, both parents from one household signing on -- not simply one parent representing the household.  To sign on to the letter, please click here

Hundreds of parents have already signed on, but it is important to get as many signatures as possible as we seek to maintain the Lafayette, Deal, Wilson feeder pattern.  Your participation is very important.  If you would like to join the working group on this issue, please contact Jared Cohen


Lost and Found


All items in the lost and found will be donated to charity over spring break. Please check the rack (located in the great hall on the way to the music room) to pick up lost coats, hats, lunch boxes and other items on or before March 29.
30th Annual Larry Neal Writers' Competition:  April 4 Deadline
Kathy Echave, Reading Specialist

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) has announced the City's 30th annual Larry Neal Writers' Competition. This contest is open to all DC adults as well as young people in grades 4-12. Entries must adhere to strict guidelines, and the application system is complicated. On top of that, the due date for submissions is during our spring break: Thursday, April 4 at 6 p.m.

In spite of all this, it's a wonderful opportunity for Lafayette students, alumni and parents who are interested in writing. The panel of judges is usually top-notch, and the winners will be announced at a classy awards ceremony on Saturday, May 4 at Folger Shakespeare Theatre Library. The presentation is in done in conjunction with the PEN/Faulkner Foundation.

About 35 students in grades 4-5 attended the preliminary meeting and most seem eager to enter, however, due to the late notice, the untimely deadline and the cumbersome submission process, every child will need adult help to follow through. Teachers on the Library/Reading Committee--Ms. Jackson, Mr. Jewett, Ms. Fratto, Ms. Hallstrom, Ms. Jensen, Ms. Yedwab, Ms. Cobb, Ms. Nickel, Ms. Phillips, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Howard, Ms. Hill, Ms. Hallock, Ms. Perlin, Ms. McClanahan, Ms. Echave and Mr. McCoy--are ALL willing to help students with some stages, but parent support will also be needed. Below are two links that parents need to know:

Submission Guidelines

 

Entries must be submitted online through the ZoomGrants application system. No hand-delivered submissions will be accepted. 


The deadline for all applications is Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. 

To review submission guidelines and access the application portal, please visit
http://dcarts.dc.gov/ 
Counselor's Corner
Rashida Mosby, 3rd-5th Grade School Counselor
  Ms. Mosby

 

A 5th grade parent meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 27 from 6:30-7:30: 6:30-6:45 (chat and chew)

and 6:45-7:30 (meeting discussion).

 

Come join me in a discussion about middle school transition: your wishes and worries, and upcoming support for your son/daughter.

 

Hope to see you there!

 

Contact me at [email protected]

Open Library Parent Volunteers Needed


Some 4th and 5th graders like to spend their recess in the Library on Mondays and Wednesdays (noon until 1:00).  However, they need a parent volunteer to be there to keep a watchful eye.  Duties include checking out books for students and re-shelving books for Ms. Perlin.  If you can be available on Monday or Wednesday at lunchtime once in a while, please contact Student Council representative Maddie Gold.
-Community   
Community Notices

 

   

I am looking for childcare for my easy going baby from May 13 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].

  

HoopEd After School Programs are back at Lafayette Elementary this spring. Classes begin the week April 8th and will run for 10 weeks. K-2 basketball will meet on Tuesdays, 3-5 grade basketball will meet on Wednesdays, and our new and popular Body Movement and Ball Skills class for K-2nd graders will meet on Thursdays. All classes run right after school from 3:20-4:20. Boys and girls of all skill levels and abilities are welcome to join. To register, check the After School Programs link on the home page at www.hoopeducation.com. Also join us for Spring Break All Sports and Games Camp at Lafayette April 1-5. See you on the courts!  

 

Arts Camps and Classes at CREATE Arts Center in downtown Silver Spring. Spring Break Arts Camp - 2 sessions: March 25-29 and April 1-5. These camps are filling up fast. Also check out our No School Day Camps for days when DCPS and MCPS schools are not in session. Have a different school schedule? With at least 4 students, we will hold a Custom Arts Camp just for you! And don't forget about our Summer Arts Camp - June 17-August 30 in 1 and 2-week sessions. All camps are 9 am-3 pm; ages 6-12, 13 & 14 year olds can be Campers In Training; before and after camp care available. Spring arts classes for ages 2-adult begin on April 14. See our website for details and to register for all camps and classes:   
www.createartscenter.org

Babysitter available.  Experienced babysitter available week of March 25-29 for full or part-time work. Great with babies and children of all ages. Drives, lives in the neighborhood, U.S. citizen.

Excellent references.  Please call Mary at 230-2337.

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.