Lafayette Leopard Look Out
Summary : Lafayette Leopard Look Out
Lafayette Leopard Look Out
Message from the Principal
Dear Lafayette Families,
It has been a great month, and students are doing wonderfully in their classrooms. Many students have already completed their midwinter assessments. There have been many field trips and students seem to really be enjoying them. The weather has been very cold and it has been sunny in the afternoons this week, and we have now returned to rain. I think students really enjoyed being out in the sunshine.
We had our dance on Friday the 23rd and it was attended by many students. PTA does a great job every year on the dance and this year was no exception. Students were really dressed in glittery dresses and suits. There are many things coming up before our February break. Please check with your child’s teacher to find out your student’s schedule. After break, we will be celebrating our 100th day of school. This is such a fun day!
Please review with your child our school expectations of Show Respect, Make Good Decisions and Solve Problems. Unfortunately, there has been an increase in bullying. We encourage students to be kind to everyone. If your child experiences unkindness or bullying, please encourage them to report this to an adult when it happens. We are really trying to teach students appropriate behavior. Every classroom receives lessons in Second Step and common language and problem-solving strategies are taught. You may access the website for this through your child’s classroom code. Please see your child’s teacher about this.
We will continue to be assessing children so please make sure that your child is getting plenty of sleep and is eating a healthy breakfast. This really makes a difference on their attitude and their ability to perform.
Please also ensure that students have clothes for the winter weather. We really try to be outside as much as possible! It is also a great idea to have a dry change of clothes, just in case!
There have been many questions regarding ICE. Please refer to Seattle School districts website to review the policies and procedures that we use here at Lafayette. You can access the link here: Superintendent Procedure 4310SP.B – Limiting Immigration Enforcement at Schools.
Resources for Families
Families and community members can find resources and supports on our website. These include links to know your rights materials, the City’s rapid response program, legal resources, and family preparedness planning.
Emergency resources can also be found by calling (844) 724-3737 to report immigration enforcement activity or get connected to emergency resources.
We are grateful for our community’s partnership in upholding our students’ sense of security and their right to an equitable education. We ask that any reports of immigration enforcement presence near our schools be provided via Safe Schools Hotline at 206-252-0510. The Safety and Security Department is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Community members can make reports of safety issues impacting schools to District staff. In an emergency, reports should be made directly to 911.
Please feel free to contact us at 206-252-9500 if you have any questions. Also, you can reach out to us by email at cpchaput@seattleschools.org or tpbaisden@seattleschools.org.
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Music Update from Mr. Payne
Hello Lafayette!
I hope everyone is staying safe as the weather gets colder!
As we end January and step into February, we will be working on a variety of things, such as a new country to learn about in our World Music unit. The students will be traveling and learning about South Korea, voted by Ms. Dukes class!
Also, the students have been working on a variety of new musical concepts. We are learning new music symbols, expressions, and time signatures to add to our rhythmic practice. We are also developing an understanding of melodies and learning to combine that with our rhythm to compose original pieces.
We will also be working on a unit that I call Songs of Inspiration, where we will be listening to incredible pieces of music from past to present and discussing the message they hold while developing an understanding of the power and feeling of hope that music can bring us.
Finally, we will continue to practice our songs in preparation for our end of the year concerts for each grade.
If you have any questions, please email me at sapayne@seattleschools.org
Thank you for all your help and support!
-Mr. Payne
Physical Education
Hello Lafayette Families!
Last month we worked on a variety of basketball and pickleball related skills. We also learned some basic volleyball skills. We also talked about the importance of our routine and how it helps the gym stay ready for each class. We also talked about personal space and keeping our hands to ourselves.
This month we will be finishing our work on net sports like pickleball and volleyball. After midwinter break we will do our second set of fitness measurements. This set of measurements will allow students to monitor their progress since the first set of fitness measurements, and modify their fitness goals to reflect something attainable and challenging for the third and final set of fitness measurements at the end of the school year.
Stay active at home and make healthy choices!
Shawn Cudney / Ellen O’Connor
Fine Arts
Dear Lafayette Families,
There is a lot of amazing art being made in Visual Art. Here is an update for each grade level.
Kindergarten: My kindergarten students are practicing their scissor skills and fine motor skills. They have traced their hand twice and have cut along the lines to create a flower. They are also now creating an abstract artwork that will be finding its way home soon. Students are able to choose their color medium from the following choices: oil pastels, markers or crayons.
First Grade: First grade students are creating creatures real or imaginary and when finished with this project are creating an abstract artwork that focuses on lines, shapes and color. The creature artwork is going up on the bulletin board outside the art room.
Second Grade: Second grade is also creating an abstract artwork. Second grade will be cutting along the outermost lines of this work to glue onto a separate background.
Third Grade: Third grade has completed a clay project, hopefully they all made it home in one piece. They are now working on creating an abstract artwork that will be displayed soon over the lockers outside the art room.
- Third grade will begin the animal mask project in March. If your family has a cereal box or that type of cardboard, we would love to have it for our mask project!
Fourth Grade: Glazing of the clay projects is now complete. I will be loading the kiln and firing the fourth-grade clay projects this next week. Fourth grade students are now learning to layer oil pastels and then lightening or darkening the value of their base layers.
Fifth Grade: My fifth-grade students created a clay project this week. Now we just wait for the pieces to dry out so that I can bisque fire them in the kiln. Students will then glaze the projects. I will fire them again and then they will be ready to take home. Students have created some really fun pieces this year!
*I plan on creating a diorama with my fifth-grade students in the Spring. If you have a shoebox, please save it for this project.
Best,
Mrs. Bajaj
Multilingual Families
Hello!
I am Traci Hogrefe, our school’s multilingual learner teacher. You may see me around school helping all students and families at our school.
Please connect with me if you are interested in our newsletters that are sent out. Many of the topics that we cover in the newsletter can be helpful to any new family in the area or to Seattle Public Schools. Please reach out to me so I can add you to our distribution list. tdhogrefe@seattleschools.org
We are completing WIDA testing during the month of March. Families participating in WIDA testing will receive results in the mail in the summer. After testing is completed, our program will be back working with students, families, and teachers. You will receive a message when we begin our “Hello Thursdays” support for families on Thursday mornings. Happy spring!
Here are some helpful resources:
PTA
The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at Lafayette is another support that helps you get involved in the community. They are a wonderful resource and offer scholarships as well as connections to community events and activities. You do not need to join as a member to receive newsletters or be part of activities. Please let me know if you need support.
English Language Arts (ELA)
In 2016, Seattle Public Schools adopted English language arts instructional materials created by Center for the Collaborative Classroom for reading and writing instruction in grades Kindergarten – 5th. This includes reading, writing, and oral communication. This all happens in the classroom.
Mathematics (Math)
enVision Math 2020 Common Core has been adopted as the K-5 math instructional material starting in the 2022-23 school year. Students can access SavvasRealize, the digital content for enVision, through the Seattle Public Schools student portal (Clever). Here is Seattle enVision Community Support Video
Need support understanding your child’s math? Go to Bounce Pages and aim your camera at their schoolwork.
You can find videos in English and in Spanish to support your understanding of what they are learning.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
At Lafayette, we use several programs to support Social Emotional Learning, including:
Learn more about Social Emotional Learning at Seattle Public Schools
Science
Assessments
Besides classroom assessments, we also have district and state assessments. Information about assessments at Seattle Public schools.
Have a great school year!
Traci Hogrefe (pronounce)
she/her
Multilingual Teacher & Interventionist
Multilingual at Seattle Public Schools
Lafayette & Alki Elementary Schools | Seattle Public Schools
Counselor Connection
Greetings Lafayette Families
As we move into the new year it is an excellent time to talk with students about emotions, the ones that feel good and the ones that do not feel so good. It is crucial to their development that we teach them how to navigate them all and not avoid any of them. Our experiences with recognizing and navigating our own and other’s emotions build a lifelong toolbox of skills to rely on. If these opportunities however uncomfortable are avoided or mitigated, students may have a deficit when they need one of the necessary tools. I have attached a few articles for your consideration and encourage you to reach out to me with any questions.
Question of the month
What was the kindest thing you did today?
Consider asking your student who they impact their school community.
Kindness can be a learned and intentional action.
Here is to a new year filled with wellness.
Take Good Care,
Ms. Blume
10 Strategies to Help Kids Manage Uncomfortable Emotions
https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/help-kids-manage-emotions
Avoidance Behaviors National Association for Child Development
https://www.nacd.org/anxiety-in-our-children-the-role-of-avoidance-behavior
Understanding Feelings
Harvard Health (Co Regulating Emotions)
Childhood Stress
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/stress.html?scrlybrkr=5e06542a
The Lafayette School Counseling Department would like to share that this is a week not to celebrate us, rather it is a time to share with the community what it is School Counselors do. As a group across the country, we ask ourselves, “How are students different for having had a school counselor?” We collect data to drive our interventions and aim to have contact with every student through tiered systems of support including schoolwide initiatives, classroom lessons, group and individual counseling and responsive services. We engage with students, families, teachers and community partners. As I work to build a comprehensive school counseling program at Lafayette, I am excited to learn alongside each of you. If you would like to connect, please email at deblume@seattleschools.org.
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Health Room News
Hello! My name is Alison Angell, and I am the school nurse at Lafayette Elementary. I am at Lafayette on Tuesdays and alternating Wednesdays/Fridays. Please call or email me if you have any health concerns for your child. Health Office: 206-252-9507; Email: ahangell@seattleschools.org.
Stay Home when Sick
We are in the midst of cold and flu season, and this is a reminder for all families to please keep your student home when they are sick. This allows them to rest until they are ready to learn and helps prevent the spread of illness to other students and staff. Call or email the school attendance line (206-252-9502 or lafayette.attendance@seattleschools.org) if your child will be absent.
Students with fevers must be fever-free without medication for 24 hours before returning to school.
Please see the following guide, “Is My Child Too Sick to Go to School?” https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/health-services/#prevent-spread
For updated guidance on Respiratory Illness from SPS, including advise on when to return to school, please see: https://www.seattleschools.org/resources/covid-19-health-and-safety/
Clothes for the Health Office
We are in need of gently used or new leggings, sweatpants, socks and shoes for the health office. We have been quickly running though these items on these winter days and can use all sizes.
Thank you!
Head Lice Information
Please continue to check your student for any signs/symptoms of lice infestation and see this important information:
• Signs & Symptoms – itching, tickling feeling of something moving in the hair, live lice and eggs (nits) attached to hair roots, sores or scratch marks on head caused by scratching.
• Transmission – direct head-to-head contact or via personal articles (hats, combs, clothing, etc.). Lice cannot jump, hop or fly, and cannot live away from a human host.
• What to Do if Lice Present – Notify any close contacts, begin treatment, and continue to come to school.
• Resources – There are drugstore over-the-counter products as well as lice salons that remove lice. Whichever route you choose, be sure to be vigilant and follow all instructions. Getting rid of lice often involves more than one treatment. For helpful information about lice from Seattle Children’s Hospital: https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/head-lice/
Vision and Hearing Screening
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Library News
This year there are 10 teams competing in the Global Reading Challenge. Members are busy reading the list of books to prepare for the Quiz Bowl on Friday, February 6 in the school cafeteria. The winning team will advance to the Semi Final Field Trip after Mid-Winter Break.
The Scholastic Book Fair was a great success! Every classroom will receive books from the Fair, and $1800 new books will fill our library shelves. A special thank you for the donations made to the Lafayette Book Fairy. The Book Fairy fund was able to provide over 30 students with a book using the funds given. Thanks to all our families, Book Fair volunteers, and students for supporting our Library Fund Raiser!
Linda Nakagawa – School Librarian
Important Dates
- Thursday, Feb. 5th – 1st graders to SCT for Ada Twist Scientist
- Friday, Feb. 6th – GRC Quiz Bowl 8:15am – 9:15am
- Friday, Feb. 6th – Lunar New Year Assembly
- Friday, Feb. 13th – Grades 1-5 – 100th Day Celebration
- Feb. 16th – 20th – Mid Winter Break – No School
- Wednesday, Feb. 25th – Kindergarten 100th Day Celebration 8:15am – 9:15am
- Tuesday, March 3rd – 1rd graders to The Seattle Children’s Theatre
- Monday, March 9th – Kindergarten Tour at 8:15am