Welcome to the 6th week of school! This week we are saying goodbye to September and welcoming October. This month will bring fieldtrips, International Walk to School Day, the Fall Festival, Picture Day, and our attendance COUNT DAY! October will finish strong with the Halloween Parade and festivities on a � day of school. As we get further into the month, be on the lookout for more information to come about Halloween.

A HUGE "thank you" to all the room parents. The Shutterfly websites are up and rolling. The teams of parents are being organized, events are being planned, and volunteers are being recruited. I am amazed at the level of commitment, dedication, and organization that room parents provide to our teachers and classrooms. It is truly remarkable.

>> Read More

Mark Your Calendar

October 2 (Thursday)

HSA General Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

October 6 (Monday)

Count Day

October 8 (Wednesday)

Walk or Bike to School Day

October 10 (Friday)

No School, Professional Development Day

October 13 (Monday)

No School, Columbus Day

October 14 (Tuesday)

Picture Day (individual and classes)

October 25 (Saturday)

Fall Festival

See full school calendar

From the HSA

Hope Scheller and Laura Lindsley, co-presidents

Wow, the first month of school went unbelievably fast! I hope by now everyone has settled into their daily routines and looking forward to this fall's activities. Speaking of which, this Thursday, October 2, is our first HSA General meeting! Hope and I are looking forward to sharing with you what the HSA has on tap for this year. This is your opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on how we are doing as an organization. Your voice is very important to us and we look forward to hearing from you. The HSA again will be providing a pizza dinner and free babysitting at 6:30pm ($1 per slice, salad, dessert & beverage) and the meeting will start at 7:00pm.

Today was the last day of our "September to Remember" campaign. Thanks to everyone who made a donation to the HSA. It can't be stressed enough how much we appreciate you taking the time to donate. This year's donation drive was so important. As you all are aware, next year our school will be undergoing major renovations which will limit our capacity to raise funds. By making this "September to Remember" a success, we hope to offset next year's predicted decline in fundraising. So, thank you everyone for your donations!!!

Please, mark your calendars; next Monday, October 6 is Lafayette's official student count. It is very important for your child to attend school that day. DCPS holds an official count every year and this count effects per student funding at Lafayette. So let's have 100% attendance that day.

Lastly, a big congratulations goes out to Lafayette's cross country team for winning their first race. Great job and best of luck throughout the season!

Have a great week!

Laura & Hope

See HSA board members

Join the HSA

One, Two Three...Get Counted!

Monday, October 6th, is the official student count day at Lafayette. A team assembled by DCPS will come to our school and count every student to make sure the number of students listed as enrolled at Lafayette is accurate.

Why does this matter? The budget for our school is linked directly to the projected number of enrolled students from year to year. This count can change the money given to Lafayette for each student by thousands of dollars.

The count will take place after lunch. Please be sure that students are in attendance. While we understand that there will be students who are sick, please be sure that these are as limited as possible (think vomiting, fever, etc). Students attending for a 1/2 a day in the p.m. is better than not attending at all.

Growing Healthy Schools Week

This week, Lafayette, along with other schools in the District, is participating in the fourth annual Growing Healthy Schools Week, which highlights the importance of school gardens, local agriculture, and healthy eating. Students will take part in activities aimed at engaging them in conversations about nutrition, the environment, and being active. During the week, several grades will be visiting local farms, while other classrooms will have visits from farmers and dietitians, participate in garden activities, and have the opportunity to enjoy locally-grown produce from the school's cafeteria.

Walk or Bike to School Day

Walk or Bike to School Day is coming up on Wednesday, October 8th! We'll have two walking school buses plus a bike train from the Hawthorne neighborhood this year. Get your walking shoes or bikes ready, and join us for a fun morning!

We will need volunteers to chaperone the walking buses and the bike train, and to staff the prize tables at the school. This is a brief and fun volunteer commitment, you're done by the time school starts! If you are interested in helping out, please contact Katie Burke. Thanks!

Picture Day Is in TWO Weeks!

Now is the time to get Jonah's hair trimmed and sort through Sophie's wardrobe! All students will be photographed by Bethesda photographer Freed Photography on Tuesday, October 14 (rain date: October 28).

Both class photos and individual photos will be taken. Freed Photography operates a little differently than traditional school photographers. Students will be photographed outside using sunlight and the backdrop will be various spots around the school. Some students may have the lovely red school brick behind them, others may have natural greenery. You do not pay for photos before you see them. Approximately two weeks after picture day, you will have the opportunity to view your child's proofs online and you may order as many or as few photos as you like. The photographers use many different tactics to get your child to smile his/her most natural smile, so you may see some full-body or waist-up shots of your child - these may be cropped to show just the traditional head and shoulders pose. For a sneak peak of what to expect, please go to their website to see their portfolio.

Picture Day Clothing Suggestions: solid colors and simple patterns photograph best; collared shirts or polos for boys look great; avoid sweatshirts/sweatpants and t-shirts with large logos or letters.

Please contact Gayle Moseley with any questions you may have.

Dragons at the Fall Festival

At this year's Fall Festival, we'll be celebrating with...Dragons!! Everyone is invited to party it up with the Viking villagers of Berk. Join Hiccup, Toothless and all their friends decorating pumpkins, playing games and jumping in one of 3 moon bounces. Instead of an all you can eat feeding station, we will have pizza, beverages, a bake sale and a pie baking contest. We will also have face painting and a costume contest. The afternoon will end with the movie How to Train Your Dragon 2 in the cafetorium at 5:30 complete with popcorn and candy.

Sign up for your volunteer slot early or I'll sent Drago and Eret to capture you!! Also, we are looking for 2 additional folks to be lead Volunteers. If you like to play games or bake/eat pie and judge costume contests then these opportunities are for you.

Please email Amy Harper with any questions.

Mindfulness Program in the News kids holding hands

Lafayette's mindfulness program is featured in the October edition of Washington Parent magazine! To read more, click here.

Lafayette Renovation Plans Released

The Department of General Services, which has been working closely with the Lafayette School Improvement Team, released the floor plan on September 22. The drawings are available on the DGS website.

Student Newspapers Up and Running

Student publications got underway yesterday as work began on Vol. 7, #1 of the Sports X-Treme. Only fifth graders will work on the first edition but interested fourth graders will be added during the second marking period. It should take about two weeks to complete and distribute Lafayette's sports newspaper. Mr. Benab and Mr. Wieand will continue to assist Ms. Echave with the SXT.

Then work on the Bear Facts, will begin the second week of October. The first edition will also be for fifth graders with fourth graders coming on board for the next edition. Interested students do research, conduct interviews and work on their articles during DEAR time in the computer lab with Ms. Echave and Mr. Wieand. Reporters also work at home on their articles and with Ms. Echave in her room after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 3:45 p.m.

Student publications are a fun and enriching way for students interested in writing to learn how to write news, feature and opinion articles. To see some great student work over the years be sure to check out the students publications link on the website. Many of our budding journalists go on to write for their junior and senior high school publications. For more information about Lafayette's newspapers contact Kathy Echave.

From the Art Room

Congratulations to 5th grade artists Ellen Carrier, Esther Nachbar-Sechel, Abigail Evans, and Cole Norris, whose Linoleum prints created at the end of 4th grade are featured on our new Lafayette directory cover!

More congratulations are in order for the first group of artists to have art framed and hanging in the Principal's Gallery: 2nd graders Griffin Frazier & Sophie Fold's Cuna Indian Mola drawings, Esther Flores-Calderon & Susanna Orr's O'Keefe inspired flower paintings, and Kate Turpin & Jordan Mongardini's Indonesian Kawung Batik designs. In addition, a collection of 5th grade linoleum prints grace the bulletin board. All of the 2014 lino prints are now hanging either in the hallway or in Dr. Broquard's office!

Please remember to encourage your children to wear dark colors on art days as some paint stains even if it claims it is "washable." We do have new plastic smocks and aprons in the art room this year but somehow paint still seems to get onto interesting places:)

Finally, thanks to those of you who volunteered to be art room parent coordinators! You make my job so much easier!!! Please help make their job easier by signing up to volunteer as they ask for help with certain art room projects and tasks! Remember, a grandparent or au pair or uncle can also be your family's art room volunteer.

Community Notices

Baseball Moms Clinic by Homerun Baseball
Calling all Moms of rising ballplayers who want to expand their understanding of baseball and learn effective parent-child drills. The linic will feature throwing, hitting, fielding and pitching drills led by Coach Mac and his guest coaches. We will get into macro and micro of many aspects off the game with active drills everyone can do. Each participant will get a specially designed HRBC Hoodie and a few special items! All proceeds from this clinic will go directly to support the Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in the Dominican Republic.

Sunday October 26, 2014, 1:00pm to 3:00pm at Friendship Recreation Center, 4500 Van Ness St NW 20016. Dress ready to participate and bring a glove. We'll have some extra gloves on hand. The cost of the clinic is $75 and should be in the form of a check made out to: Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. Please RSVP.

Second Wind Training Bootcamps
You may remember the Second Wind Training Bootcamps at Lafayette Park, run by Lafayette/Deal parent/Chevy Chase neighbor Steve Dolge. We moved across the park to upper 14th Street (only 5 minutes away, 1 block from Carter Barron) and opened Second Wind CrossFit. But maybe CrossFit isn't for you.

Good news: we've added bootcamps to our schedule!

Starting this week (Monday, September 29th) our new bootcamp schedule is: Mondays and Wednesdays 10:30 a.m., and Saturdays 9:15 a.m. $18/class drop-in fee.10 classes/$150. Combine with our yoga classes (Tuesdays/Thursdays 11:30am) for a monthly membership.

Need a fitness "re-set?" Getting no results from your hourly "workout" at the globo-gym? Our bootcamp classes include circuit training, core work, body weight exercises, games (like 6th grade gym class), flipping tires... We are a supportive community and a lot of fun! When the weather is nice, we can even workout in the park. No CrossFit experience required, but you will get a good workout! Everything you need to know is at

SecondWindCrossFit.com (including details on our next CrossFit Foundations course, if you need a nudge for that).

We hope to see you next week!

Steve and Michelle Dolge, Second Wind CrossFit

Group Music Classes
Would your son or daughter like to explore his or her imagination through music? Learn to play the glockenspiel, the recorder, the dulcimer, or piano with other kids?

The Music Center is a small, non-profit organization that offers age-appropriate group classes each incorporating the philosophies, methods, and pedagogies of Suzuki, Dalcroze, Orff, Kodaly and Gordon all together in a holistic mind-body-spirit approach using the curricula and programs of Music Together for ages 0-4 years, Kindermusik for ages 3-7 years and Musikgarten for ages 7+ years. Afterschool and weekend classes available. Classes located near Whole Foods on River Road in Bethesda.

More information at centerformusic.org.

Care Giver Available

Care Giver available for occasional babysitting, morning and weekend hours. Currently work for families in Lafayette community. References available upon request. If interested contact Kinga.

Nanny Available for School Days Off

Nanny of two kindergarten students will be a care giver for mothers in need for school days off. Limited space so book early. Contact Marcia, 202-378-0192.

Baby Sitter Available

Alex Joyce-Johnson (15), Lafayette alumnus and current Georgetown Day School sophomore is available for babysitting on weekends. He is life scout in Boy Scout troop 52 and has been trained in first aid. Has experience taking care of six year old sister. If interested, please call 202-966-4941 or click here to email.

Thank You Lafayette Sponsors!

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our very generous Annual Sponsors for 2014-2015, your continued support is amazing!

Learn more about becoming a Lafayette sponsor.

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.