Lafayette Elementary School
Tuesday Bulletin
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Feb. 2, 2016          Gayle Moseley, Editor
Mark Your Calendar
Feb 2
First Grade Field Trip

Girls basketball, 4:00 pm

Feb 4
Fourth Grade Field Trip, Alvin Ailey
 
Feb 12
No School - PD Day for Teachers
 
Feb 15
No School - President's Day
 
Feb 22
No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences
 

From the Principal
 
Dear Lafayette Families -
 
Welcome to February! Hopefully, Punxsutawney Phil won't see his shadow and spring will be right around the corner. Thank you to everyone for your support and patience as we weathered a mighty blizzard last week. Despite mountains of snow and ice, we managed to be almost "business as usual". A tremendous thank you to our custodial crew who worked round the clock in conjunction with SKANSKA to make sure that the trailers were ready for staff and students on Wednesday. Their efforts were herculean.
 
Perhaps because of winter, we are starting to see a significant rise in the number of students who are late in the morning. Please be sure that students are on campus by 8:40. Classroom instruction begins at 8:45 am. The drop off line is open from 8:25 am - 8:40 am. We need to all work together to be sure that students arrive on time and teachers can begin their mornings smoothly.
 
There are many congratulations owed to our teachers for a variety of accomplishments and additions. First, a huge congratulations to 4th grade teacher Jared Catapano who finished his Master's Degree in Education in December. This year is also the year of the baby at Lafayette! We have already welcomed Violet Mae to Kerry Cassidy's family. Our most recent addition is Josiah Victor to Mr. Holmes and his wife in January. Still to make their arrivals are a new baby for Mrs. Hebert (1st grade), Mrs. Brown (Kindergarten), and Mrs. Di Renzo (aka Ms. Shapiro, 5th grade).   Please also help me in welcoming Ms. Vesper Osbourne as our music teacher while Mr. Holmes is out on paternity leave. Ms. Osbourne is a certified music teacher with an early childhood endorsement. She has an outstanding background in musical performance and TV production. We are so very lucky to have her with us.
 
And finally a congratulations to our student Spelling Bee winners, Claire Thorne 1st Place, Ella Davis, 2nd Place, and Mackie Boone 3rd Place. Thank you to Kathy Echave and the entire Spelling Bee Committee! It was a huge, live-streamed, success!!!
 
In other exciting news....Recess Clubs are back!!!! This week and next, students will be signing up for recess clubs if they choose to do so. We will publish descriptions of the clubs and make every effort to try and honor students' requests for clubs. We need your help! Recess Clubs will only be possible this year with the support of parent volunteers during recess. Please sign up online if you can spend any time/days at recess supervising students.
 
February promises to be a fast and full month! This is the only week in February with 5 full days of school. We have an upcoming Professional Development Day on 2/12, President's Day on 2/15, and Parent/Teacher Conferences on 2/22. Be on the lookout for report cards coming home at the end of the week as well. Let's keep our fingers crossed for Spring!
 
Take care,
Dr. B
 
 
Seeking LEP Advisory Team Members
 
Would you like to play a greater role in the management and vision of Lafayette's after-school enrichment program (LEP)?
 
The LEP program manages all after-school enrichment programs at Lafayette. The HSA oversees the LEP program, but does not directly operate any of the after-school programs. In an effort to enhance the program and the enrichment offerings for Lafayette students, the HSA is forming an advisory group to assist the LEP coordinator with the management and vision of the program.
 
The LEP Advisory Group will meet periodically to assist the LEP Coordinator in making decisions regarding the future of LEP and assist with concerns or problems regarding the program. We are looking for individuals interested in volunteering for the following positions on the LEP Advisory Group:
  • PK-2nd Grade LEP Parent (non-HSA Board Member)
  • 3rd-5th Grade LEP Parent (non-HSA Board Member)
  • 2 LAP Parents (non-HSA or LAP Board Members)
  • LAP Board Representative
  • Classroom Teacher
If you are interested in serving on the LEP Advisory Group, please email [email protected] and indicate which position you are interested in volunteering for, as well as a short description regarding your interest in serving on the advisory group, before February 15, 2016.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Colleen Lyster.

  

Spelling Bee Results! 

 

Spelling Bee

 

It took two days, 26 rounds, and the correct spelling of the winning word a-d-h-e-s-i-o-n, but the first-ever, live-streamed school spelling bee is over and we have our winners: 

 
First Place
 Claire Thorn, 5-Skubel

Second Place 
 Ella Davis, 5-Raugitinane

Third Place
 Mackie Boone, 4-DeMaria

Fourth Place: (Tie)
 Dana Clocker, 4-Catapano
 Arthur Duval, 4-Catapano

We are calling them the Fab Five, so be sure to congratulate them when you see them. Claire and Ella will represent Lafayette at the regional bee on Feb. 23. Mackie, our alternate, will be preparing along with them for the next level of competition.

I want to thank our veteran pronouncer, Bob Thurston, our custodial staff, the administration, the parents of the HSA, and most especially the awesome members of the spelling bee committee  This event couldn't have happened without the help of so many dedicated staff members. They composed and ran off study packets, judging materials, programs. They helped with set up, management, dress rehearsal, live streaming, and banner making and hanging. They helped with folder stuffing, judging, morning announcements, and a million other details. Most of all, I'd like to thank Blake Yedwab, Judy Fratto and Annie Campbell who helped me through the initial planning and came up with a schedule that allowed students to have 30-minute, daily practices in two different spots that required FOUR teachers for a full two-month period! Wow!

So glad this step of the process is over.....Thanks again to everyone for all your help!

Kathy Echave
  

Lafayette Boy's Hoop Team Beat Takoma to
Advance to the Regional Semi-Final Tomorrow!
(Last Game for the Girls is Tuesday at Shepherd Elementary)
 
The Lafayette Boys Basketball Team, who were undefeated with a 5-0 record in the regular season, kept their win streak going in the opening round of the regional play-offs on Monday at Brightwood Elementary where they beat the Takoma Park team 42-16. They will face Shepherd Elementary in the regional semi-finals to be played at Hearst Elementary at 4pm this Wednesday, February 3. This is a single-elimination play-off so the teams must win each game to advance.

Meanwhile the Lafayette Girls Basketball Team, who is 3-3 this year, will play their last regular season game at Shepherd Elementary on Tuesday, February 2 at 5pm and appear to be on track to the play-offs as well.

There has been a nice showing of Lafayette parents, teachers, staff and student fans in the stands for the past few games. Both teams as well as Coach Hover and Coach Johnson are so grateful for their support. As we head into the play-off season, we hope to see more loyal Lafayette fans in the stands with our Mascot Laffy the Lafayette Grizzly Bear.

In addition to playing really well, both the boys and girls teams look great in their new warmups purchased this year by the HSA. 
  
Jump Rope for Heart News
Jump Rope for Heart
All students should have received their Jump Rope for Heart packet by now. In the packet there is a letter with all important dates, the collection envelope with permission slip and "puppy" coupon and a direction sheet for registering on line to collect donations. If you did not receive these items have your child contact their PE teacher and we will give them new forms. Please click HERE to get started.

This year our event will look very different than our past JRFH event. All activities will take place during the school day during PE classes the week of February 22. PK will jump on Wednesday, February 24 and K will participate on Thursday, February 25.
All paperwork should be turned into your child's PE teacher on their PE day. Younger students may hand in paperwork to classroom teacher who will hand off to PE teacher. Puppies will be distributed during PE class.

Important Dates:
 
January  19 - Begin turning in permission slips
January  25 - Start bringing in coupons to collect "puppies"
February 16 - Start bringing in collection envelopes
February 22 - We are jumping all week
February 26 - Last day to turn in donations

As always, we are so grateful for the support we have received over the past 18 years for this community service project. Thank you for your continued support. If there are questions please contact Ms. McClure.
 
Marjorie McClure
Physical Education Teacher

 

Register Now for Girls On The Run!
 

Registration is now open for the Spring 2016 Girls on the Run Season! Over a period of 10 weeks, girls in the 3rd through 5th grade participate in an after-school program like no other. The program is designed to allow every girl to recognize her inner strength--It's not just about the running! To learn more about the program, check out the Girls On The Run website.
 
  • Online registration can be found HERE and spots fill quickly so register soon! Coach Hallock, Coach deJonckheere and Coach Cacibauda will be leading the team again this year. Practices will be held afterschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting the week of February 29th. Please contact Site Liaison Sarah Boone if you have questions.
  •  
     
    Two Cool LEP Programs with Openings
     
    Next Gen Minipreneurs
    (Tuesdays 3:30-4:30 - 2nd thru 5th grade)
    Does your child have a great idea to make money with their best friend? Do they enjoy supporting charitable causes through raising money or donations?  Do you think they would like to earn their own money? Do they love to watch Shark Tank? Next Gen Minipreneurs will teach you how turn your great ideas into real businesses that can make money, and make a positive impact on the world! For more information on the program visit their website. To enroll for the winter session please go here.

    SCRABBLE Club
    (Thursdays 3:30-4:30 - 3rd thru 5th grade)
    There's tension. There's competition. There's teamwork. There's even math, and yes, there's plenty of spelling. Scrabble builds spelling, vocabulary, and social skills, and gives students a chance to compete against one another. Scrabble club is a fun and innovative way to develop vocabulary, spelling, math, and spatial relation skills. It improves your social skills as well your language skills, and it's F-U-N! Join our very own Ms. Yedwab and Ms. Echave and start preparing for competitive Scrabble challenges at Deal! To enroll in Scrabble, please go here.

    Natural Grass or Artificial Turf?
    New School Update
    field day picture
    At the December 15th Community Meeting, there was no time to reveiw the topic of the Lafayette ES Playing Field Material. The feedback received thus far from the School Improvement Team, Envelope group, emails, and comment cards from the Community Meeting have been predominantly in favor of a natural grass field.  To ensure we have allowed all members of the community to provide comments, DCPS / DGS have set up an online survey. The survey will be open until 11:59pm, February 5.
     
    Stay tuned for the scheduling of the next community meeting.

     

     

    Check Out the New Camp Page

    graphic-summer-park.jpg

     

    Looking for information on summer and school holiday camps? Missed the first annual Lafayette Camp Fair last month? Don't despair. We have created a special page on our school website featuring the camps who came out to the Fair. Interested in an arts or sports camp? Camps are categorized so you can find what you are looking for. We've even listed which camps send buses to pick up kids at Lafayette. It's a terrific resource. We also asked camps to share their printed materials, which you can find in the New HSA Display case in the main office trailer.

      

     

     

    Easy Way to Support the 2016 Auction
     

    HOST A PARTY FOR KIDS OR FAMILIES

    New to the Lafayette Auction? Here's an easy way you can support the auction. Sign up to host an Auction Party for kids, families or adults. It's really easy.  Just come up with a fun idea like a Mother-Daughter Garden Party, a marathon Monopoly tournament, a Japanese Summer Festival, a Parent-Child Golf Tournament or Yoga class, or a Paint your own Pottery session. Enlist some of your friends to co-host and away you go.  Hosts pay for the cost of the party and guests pay a fee to come when they sign up at the auction. You determine the amount your guests should pay to attend.

    Our goal is to raise $500 minimum for kid parties and $1500 for adult parties. Just email Chris Lisi at or Jenny Backus and let us know your party idea, your co-hosts and the suggested date you want to host it.  We are especially in need of more creative kids and families parties.  And we are happy to help you find co-hosts or come up with creative ways to build your crowd. Thanks for supporting the 2016 Auction.

     

    Annual Auction Wine Party 

    wine-madeira.jpg

     

    Do you like Red, White or just plain Champagne? Then Save the Date for the Annual Auction Wine Party: February 20

    Be on the lookout for the sign up this week.  Your admission for the party is to fill the Auction 2016 wine fridge and then spend the night tasting some fine wines!  Limited spots will be available, so act fast - in the past years, the party has filled up quickly.   Hope to see you there! 

     

     

    Lafayette Rocks In Groundhog Day 


    It was a rocking Groundhog Friday night at Tenley Bar & Grill thanks to Lafayette's own parent band Cheaper Than Therapy. 
    Thank you to all the parents, teachers,  family members, and groupies who came on out on a cold night to show their true rock and roll spirit. Folks rocked the house until the wee hours and the band and Tenley Bar & Grill generously donated the proceeds from the door and a portion of the food and drink from the night to the HSA. A special shout-out goes to Hope Scheller, lead singer of the band, for suggesting the idea and to the super team of parent bouncers who ran the door.

    Community

    Support Nurse Cockrell - As a member of Athletes vs Epilepsy, I plan to compete in the Columbia Maryland Triathlon this May in honor of all those like my daughter Becky, who battle epilepsy. My primary goal is to raise awareness about the impact of this chronic condition, but donatons would be great! Click HERE to learn more about Becky and Athletes vs. Epilepsy.

    Thank you!
    Nurse Cockrell


    Kids Elite Sports, Inc. is a youth development organization offering summer instruction on an array of recreational and competitive sports including basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, badminton, flag football, swimming and much more.

    Where:  Wilson High School
    When:   6 sessions, from June 20 through August 5
    Who:    Ages 4 through 12

    Click HERE for Early Bird registration. 


     
    Thank You Lafayette Sponsors!
    We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our very generous Annual Sponsors for 2015-2016, your continued support is amazing!  
    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.