With less than two weeks left in the school year, we are busy making plans for school year 2014 - 2015. We know your children are ready to move onto the next grade. We can see how much they have grown, both socially and physically from where they started last August.

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DCPS Attendance Protocol

1) The Office of Youth Engagement now identifies students who accrue 10 unexcused absences as "chronically truant."

2) Students must be referred to court once they have reached 15 unexcused absences.

3) Students must be at school 80% of the entire school day in order to be considered "present".

Reminder

The only excusable reasons for a student's late arrival and/or absence from school are:

Illness or medical cause (a doctor's note is needed for 5 or more absences)
Medical or dental appointment
Death in the student's immediate family
Summoned to attend in judicial proceeding
Religious holiday
Lawful exclusion or expulsion from school
Failure of DC to provide transportation
Emergency or circumstances approved by LEA

In order to be acknowledged as "excused" the student must provide a note to the attendance counselor (written or electronically) from the parent and/or guardian citing at least one of the reasons listed above.

If you have any questions please contact the office and ask to speak to Ms. Bright, or email her.

Mark Your Calendar

June 12 (Thursday)

HSA Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

June 13 (Friday)

Pre-K Graduation

5th Grade Awards

June 18 (Wednesday)

5th Grade Promotion

June 20 (Friday)

Last Day of School (full day)

See full school calendar

From the HSA

Gayle Moseley & Hope Scheller, co-presidents

Last Friday afternoon, I parked on 33rd Street and wandered toward the back of the school. As I approached the track, all I could see were the bright colors of Lafayette field day t-shirts across the amphitheater and the grassy hill. I knew the annual tug-of-war was scheduled to take place, but I was not prepared for just how awesome this event would be. The weather was beautiful, and the chanting was loud as classes challenged one another to a battle of strength and will. Starting with Hebert against Paul and ending with a battle that pitted teachers against one another, it was truly something to see. It is moments and events like these that showcase the spirit of Lafayette. They also tell of a school year that is almost over.

After months of anticipation, we are very pleased with the appointment of our new principal, Dr. Carrie Broquard. Dr. Broquard will be at Lafayette the last week of the school year. Look for her around the school during drop off, pick up and at class parties. There will also be a short meet and greet for her on Thursday, June 19. Be on the lookout for details on that event. Until then, please read this letter from Chancellor Henderson about Dr. Broquard.

Thanks to all who came out to the last HSA general meeting of the year. The 2014-2015 Budget was approved. Over the last several weeks, many have participated in the budget discussion and took the time to send us emails with their comments concerning budget. As hard as we all work to raise money for the HSA, it is only fair that everyone have a voice when we decide how to spend the money. Thank you for taking the time to be a part of the process!

Have a great week!

Hope & Gayle

See HSA board members

From the Library

Thank-you everyone for another terrific book fair. We sold just over $10,000 in books. We earned $6,998 back in Scholastic dollars to spend on books. That is a great profit from this book fair. Because it was our second book fair, Scholastic gave us $1,000 bonus. I want to thank all the parents who came in the morning and afternoon to help run the cash registers with me. Our profit from both fairs generated well over $13,000 to buy more books for the library.

Just a reminder to return all library books to the library. We still have hundreds checked out. Keep on reading.

Judith Perlin, Librarian

Mindfulness at Home Workshop

We had a great time at the first Mindfulness at Home Workshop. This was a chance for parents to learn how to practice along with your child. Your kids have quite a lot of experience with mindfulness and I'll bet they will be eager to teach it to you. If you were unable to join us and are interested in the resource list that I put together please send me an email. I'll be holding another workshop in September. As always, if you have any questions or want to talk more about mindfulness or the Peace of Mind program in general, please contact me at [email protected].

Linda Ryden

IMAGES last a lifetime

IMAGES is the school's treasured art and literary anthology and every Lafayette student has BOTH artwork and a piece of writing in it.

Kids read and re-read it from cover to cover.

The opening pages play homage to Ms. Main and to Ms. Baldwin, another staunch supporter of publications at Lafayette, who is retiring this year,

It includes serious and goofy pictures of each class.

We are going to be selling IMAGES in the Great Hall after school on Wednesdays from now through the end of school. Beth Taubman will sell to parents who pick up their children from after school activities on Wednesdays, too, and she can take credit cards.

The cost is $15 or two for $28. Checks can be made to the LHSA.

Olive Juice Tent Event

Save the date and visit the Olive Juice Tent Event at Lafayette on Saturday, June 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Lafayette will receive a generous donation from the event.

Buy a WLES Shout Out

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. Please contact Eden Burgess for more information.

Community Notices

Summer Sitting or After School Sitting in the Fall.
Contact Marcia at [email protected].
Feel like a little Caribbean spice to your summer cook out, family gathering or even a birthday party? Use above contact and we'll make it a summer to remember for you and your guests.

Babysitter/Nanny Available. We are moving out of the area and our lovely babysitter, Soledad Rodriguez, is available to work with a new family in the neighborhood. She has been with us for seven years! She is loving and reliable. She is legal to work, speaks English very well and drives. She has taken care of our three kids, cleaned our house, and can take care of dry cleaning, laundry, and cooking if needed. Please contact me at [email protected] or you can contact her directly at 202-697-3750. Erin Balog

Babysitter available week of June 23. Looking for childcare in late June? Claire Parker (Lafayette graduate who lives in the neighborhood) is a rising senior at Wilson High School and an experienced babysitter who is available the week of June 23 - June 28 to babysit during the day and evening. Rates are flexible. If interested, please call Claire at 202-680-0366 or email [email protected].

Ingleside Retirement Home Expansion. The management at the Ingleside retirement home is planning a substantial expansion program which includes a proposed new delivery entrance that would be located on Military Road, directly across from 30th Place. An informational meeting was held at Ingleside on May 19, where several nearby residents raised questions about whether the new delivery entrance and associated traffic might divert Military Road traffic into the surrounding neighborhood and whether that might impact children walking or biking to Lafayette. Ingleside has not yet applied for any of the required permits for this new entrance or for any of its planned expansion nor has any final decision been made about this proposed new entrance.

In order to exchange further information between Ingleside and the community, there will be another meeting at Ingleside on June 19 at 7:30 p.m., at which time Ingleside's traffic consultant will report on his surveys and analysis and listen to concerns from the community. The meeting will be held in Ingleside's main building, across from the Manor House.

Free Art Classes at Barstons Child's Play Stores. Sign up for a FREE art class at Barstons Child's Play stores! Faber-Castell artist, Franz Spohn, is stopping by all four Child's Play locations to teach us all a thing or two about art! He will lead two creative classes at each store, and show us how to use Faber-Castell's awesome line of products. Children 3 and up will make an animal mask, and children 7 and up will make a pop-up card. Call your neighborhood store to sign up for a class today!

1382 Chainbridge Rd., McLean, Friday 6/20 at 11 a.m. for children ages 3 and up & 11:30 a.m. for ages 7 and up. 703-448-3444.

4510 Lee Highway, Arlington, Friday, 6/20 at 3 p.m. for children ages 3 and up & 3:30 p.m. for ages 7 and up. 703-522-1022.

1661 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Saturday, 6/21 at 11 a.m. for children ages 3 and up & 11:30 a.m. for ages 7 and up. 301-230-9040.

5536 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC, Saturday, 6/21 at 3 p.m. for children ages 3 and up & 3:30 p.m. for ages 7 and up. 202-244-3602.

HoopEd Summer Camps June, July and August 2014. Children ages 5 to 13 are welcome. All summer long your child has the opportunity to join the best sports and games camp in the DC metro area! HoopEd will be hosting Hoops Basketball and All Sports & Games Camp at numerous locations in DC and Montgomery County...
In fact, All Sports and Games will be right HERE @Lafayette ES starting June 23rd!!!!
www.hoopeducation.com for camp details, camp schedules and to register!

First Touch Soccer Summer Programs. In case you are stilling looking for some summer fun at the Palisades Recreation Center.
Play some soccer, enjoy the newly renovated water park and take a walk with us to the Mac Market for lunch.
www.FirstTouchSoccer.org
2014 SUMMER PROGRAMS

DATES:
June 23-27
June 30-July 3
August 11-15
August 18-22
August 25-29

TIME:
9am - 12:15pm (half day)
9am - 3:30pm (all day)

LOCATION:
Palisades Recreation Center Turf Field
(5200 Sherier Place NW DC)

WHO:
Girls and Boys Ages 7 and Older
(Younger players on a case by case basis)

COST:
$250/player/all week (All day)
$160/player/all week (Half day)

$60/player (All day)
$40/player (Half day)

DETAILS
All skill levels and abilities;
Focus on dribbling, passing, receiving, controlling, first touch and shooting;
Use multiple formats of small-side games to apply skills;
Player/Coach ratio approximately 7:1;
Emphasis on skill development including dribbling, ball control, passing, shooting, small-side games and team work;
Great atmosphere.

Registration and further information at:
www.FirstTouchSoccer.org or 202.256.2558

Thank You Lafayette Sponsors!

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

Learn more about becoming a Lafayette sponsor.

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