We hope everyone had a relaxing & fun, long Thanksgiving weekend! I certainly enjoyed time spent with both family and friends. Before you know it, it will be Winter Break...

This is definitely a season in which we are encouraged to be thankful for what we have, as well as to be giving-both within and outside of our community. The annual Coats & Cocktails event is this Friday. Although this wonderful event is already sold out for the "cocktails" part, the "coats" part is never sold out. It's hard to imagine what it must be like not to have a warm coat to wear or a pair of gloves to keep your fingers from freezing as the weather turns colder and colder. Please consider donating your gently used (or newly purchased) coats, hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, and boots (children's sizes) so that we can pass them along to elementary schools in our hometown. Families around the city are in need of outerwear to keep them warm during the next several winter months. Our generosity will help the principals have the means to offer their students' something warm to wear this winter.

Closer to home, we have two opportunities for generosity. Although our donation drive ended in September, the HSA is still accepting donations. Any tax deductible amount you might be willing to give is greatly appreciated. Also, this March is our annual Spring Auction, and we are in need of a few brave volunteers to help organize this fundraiser. Every penny earned by the auction, and all HSA donations, go a long way in helping our children have the programs and tools that make Lafayette the wonderful school that we all know and love.

Have a great week!

Hope and Laurie

See HSA board members

Join the HSA

Lafayette Enrichment Update

The Winter Session of LEP starts the week of January 5th! Registration begins Thursday, December 4th. Visit our registration site to enroll.

LEP can be found on the school website in two navigation areas: "For Parents" and "Student Life." Read the class brochure and look at the class calendar.

Questions? Email Hope Scheller at [email protected] .

From the Art Room

Laurie McLaughlin, Art Teacher, Graders 1-5

As we say goodbye to November and Native American Heritage Month, I want to say what a joy it has been to celebrate Native American culture with our Lafayette students. I truly enjoy how the Native American Indians value the importance of beauty in functional objects and their relationship with the natural world. In the art room we have immersed ourselves in working with ancient and traditional media such as clay in grades 1 and 2, weaving in grade 3, and exploring the art of the Kachina doll in grade 4. You are invited to enjoy our Kachina Museum taking place as every 4th grade student has their Kachina assemblage on display in the Great Hall and window hall for the next few weeks.... made of wood and mixed media these delightful Kachina sculptures are each unique, contain a spirit power, and promise to teach one of our school rules!

For more of a sneak peak into some of the art behind the second grade Native American Museums, check out the current post on the art room blog at lafayetteartwithlaurie.blogspot.com.

Fifth grade has been exploring art of the 19th century and just completed a unit on impressionism, neoimpressionism and post impressionism and how it is different from the realism of the early to mid part of the 1800s. Every 5th grade student has a painting from this wonderful era on display either in the Great Hall or in the Nurse's Hall. Please stop by sometime this December to check us out! Next up for 5th grade... a digital underground railroad coded message quilt!

From the Library

Judith Perlin, Librarian

The Scholastic book fair will begin in two weeks. The Fair will run December 7-12, Monday through Friday. Last December we sold over $12,000 in books and earned $6700 in Scholastic dollars. Students visit the book fair with their classes. The recommended amount of money is $10-20 in a baggie or envelope with student's first and last name on it. The book fair is also open before school and after school.

Volunteers are needed to ring up sales at the book fair. I need volunteers for every day after school next week, 3:15-4:00. I also need morning help from 8:15-8:45 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday please send me an email at [email protected] , if you can help with the book fair.

The schedule will be 8:15-8:45 and 3:15-4:00 and I also need help packing up on Friday afternoon. Packing up the book fair starts at 4:00 pm.

Expecting a new computer or printer this holiday season?

Consider donating your gently used computers and printers to the Lafayette Technology Program. We are happy to take gently used Mac laptops and desktops, Windows-based laptops and most printers and monitors as long as they aren't too old and in good working order. Please contact Mr. Wieand if you have a donation you want to make or a question about equipment you might want to donate at [email protected]. Thanks for your support and to those parents who have already given!

Jetties Gives Back to Lafayette!

Have you been to the new Jetties location, right in our neighborhood?So close and delicious! On Thursday, December 11 from 4:00-8:00 pm, make sure you stop by to check it out for a snack, dinner and even dessert. Jetties has generously agreed to donate 10% of the proceeds from this event back to Lafayette! Make sure you mention Lafayette. 5632 Connecticut Avenue.

Deal Open House Is Today

Deal Open House
Tuesday, December 2
9:00 am - 12:00 pm ( open to arrive and stay as long as your schedule allows )

Community Notices

Backpack Project in Peru.The Backpack Project aims to give a better start for children living in poverty through providing a backpack, supplies, and one week of scholastic reinforcement for children in need. Umbrella works with local churches and community organizations providing the materials and supplies in addition to a general plan of action for the groups to use. To donate, visit the website www.umbrellainitiatives.org. All donations are tax-deductible.

Caregiver available. The Holidays are around the corner and there's lots to do. Enjoy shopping and parties without the worries. Call on an experienced care giver and you can shop and rock the night away without watching the clock. Available week nights and any time weekends. contact Mom's nanny @ 202- 526- 3361 or [email protected]

Lafayette mom Peaches Scribner will be selling art at this annual holiday sale in Chevy Chase with fantastic handmade gifts from local artisans, including beautiful jewelry, scarves, handmade greeting cards, imported chocolate, pottery and lots more. Come stop by for an hour, have a glass of wine, and do a little holiday shopping.

Saturday, December 6
2:00 - 5:00 pm

Martel Residence
3213 Farmington Drive
Chevy Chase MD 20815

Enjoy refreshments with friends while you get your holiday shopping done. Great teacher & host/hostess gifts.

Please help spread the word and invite friends!

A portion of all proceeds will be donated to
The Lisa J. Flaxman Fund
for the Celebration of the Arts

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.