Lafayette Leopard Look Out
Summary : Lafayette Leopard Look Out
Lafayette Leopard Look Out
Message from the Principal
Dear Lafayette Community,
Welcome Back! I hope that everyone enjoyed their summer break connecting with family and friends. The school year has begun with a smooth transition into the new year. Welcome to all those new to the school.
Lafayette does well with academics and students perform well on standardize tests. As a result, this year our theme is “You make Lafayette Bloom”. We want students to continue to do their best. As a reminder, many classrooms will be doing our fall assessments to see where students are. Please make sure that your child gets a healthy breakfast and a good night’s sleep.
At Lafayette, we have three expectations: Show Respect, Make Good Decisions, and Solve Problems. When students are caught doing these, they receive a Leopard ticket which goes into the teacher’s bucket. On Fridays, each teacher sends a student down to the office area and their picture is taken and they receive a prize. Their picture is posted on a bulletin board for the year.
There are many things coming up. Our PTA is very active and I encourage you to join and volunteer if you are able. This month we will be having a clothing swap on Saturday, September 27th from 10:00am-2:00pm in our cafeteria.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I can be reached at cpchaput@seattleschools.org or 206-252-9505.
Sincerely,
Cindy
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Message from the Assistant Principal
Greetings Lafayette Community,
Welcome back to school! We had a fantastic first day and it has been great to see everyone again! We look forward to welcoming our Kindergarten students on Monday!
We will be starting the year with a big focus on routines and expectations and will be focusing on our school moto: “Show respect, make good decisions and solve problems”. Please encourage your student to report any problems to an adult if they need assistance during recess or class.
Please mark your calendars for Curriculum Night on September 30th from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, with an earlier start time of 5 PM for kindergarten.
Please review the back-to-school forms carefully and pay close attention to the parent contact information and the individuals who are designated to pick up your child from school. In the event of an emergency, this information is crucial for ensuring your student is released only to authorized individuals, and we cannot release the student to anyone else. If you want a trusted neighbor or another parent to be able to pick up your child in the event of an emergency, that adult needs to be designated as an emergency contact.
We are looking forward to a great year!
Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Thank you!
Tom Baisden, M.Ed. (he, him)
Assistant Principal
Lafayette Elementary
206-252-9540 (office)
206-713-8052 (cell)
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Music Update from Mr. Payne
Welcome back Lafayette!
I hope everyone had a wonderful summer!
As we swing back into the new school year, it has been wonderful getting back into the routine of music learning and planning for the year!
We have a lot to look forward to this year and I know the students are excited to get started on a lot of these things!
Such as learning some new instruments, new songs to sing, and get into some new musical ideas!
Also, the music room is now in room 4! So, if you would like talk to me about anything, you will find me there!
And of course, If you have any questions, you can always email me at sapayne@seattleschools.org
Thank you for all your help and support!
-Mr. Payne
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Physical Education
Hello Wonderful Lafayette Community,
Welcome back to the 2025- 2026 School Year! I am excited to announce that the PE program is growing at Lafayette. Allow Ms. O’Connor to introduce herself:
Hello Lafayette families,
My name is Ellen O’Connor and I’m thrilled to be joining Shawn Cudney as an additional .5 Physical Education teacher and the Lafayette community this year. I bring over 30 years of teaching experience in Seattle Public Schools and am passionate about helping students build healthy habits, stay active, and most importantly have fun while moving. I’m a longtime member of the West Seattle community and love everything it has to offer. When I’m not teaching, you can usually find me out on the golf course or enjoying the outdoors. I’m excited to get to know all of you and to support our students in their physical and social development this school year. Let’s make it a great one!
As we begin the school year, our focus will be building a routine that lead to healthy habits and continued growth throughout the school year! Ms. O’ Connor and I look forward to working in partnership with families to build lifelong healthy habits for your little ones!
Sincerely,
Shawn Cudney (he/him)
Physical Education Specialist
Lafayette Elementary School
Phone: 206-252-9513
Email: smcudney@seattleschools.org
Address: 2645 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116https://lafayettees.seattleschools.org/
Fine Arts
Welcome back to Lafayette or Welcome if your new to the Lafayette community!
My name is Nicole Bajaj, I teach Visual Art at Lafayette. All students at Lafayette get Art, Music and P.E.! We will explore many forms of visual arts this year and I will keep you posted in the Lafayette newsletter. Also, as soon as the artists have had time to create their first pieces of the art for the school year, you will have a chance to see some of it displayed on the bulletin boards in the school.
The beginning of the year is all about setting the stage for a great year! Students will learn how to keep our tools organized, create portfolios and share with me what their interests are in art so that I can create lessons that spark their interests.
A little bit about me: I have now taught for twenty years! I have taught Art for seven of those twenty years. I love teaching art! I studied painting in college, have an Art History degree and a M.I.T. in elementary education. In my life outside of school I love to spend time with my family, my husband and daughter. I also live with two cats. I love to paint, hike, travel, hang-out, cook and garden. I look forward to this year, and the creative adventures to come!
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
We use amplify science curriculum.
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
The new School Counselor at Lafayette is Ms. Blume. She has started the year off doing an introduction in classrooms and inviting class for a brief tour of the School Counseling Space. Her hope is that this makes students feel like the office is a safe place to visit and ask for support. If you need to contact her, please email at deblume@seattleschools.org
Health Room News
Hello! My name is Alison Angell, and I am the school nurse at Lafayette Elementary for this school year. 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: 206-252-252-9507; Email: ahangell@seattlschools.org. Additional Health Information for the start of school can be found at: https://www.seattleschools.org/news/health-information-for-the-start-of-school/
Medication at School
If your child requires medication at school, ask your health provider to complete the appropriate medication authorization form found on the SPS Health Service forms page: https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/health-services/forms/
A medication authorization form is required for ALL medications (including over the counter medications). All medications must be in their original container with a pharmacy label. Emergency medications must be in the building on or before the first day of school.
Stay Home when Sick
Please call or email the school attendance line and keep your child home when they show signs of:
- Fever (100.4 or higher) or chills
- Cough (new, changed, or worsening)
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea, vomiting, or Diarrhea
Vision and Hearing Screening
Every year SPS provides mandated vision and hearing screenings. Students in grades K-3, 5 will begin to receive vision and hearing screening this fall. If your child wears glasses, please send the glasses to school every day so they can use their best vision in the classroom and be prepared for vision screening. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s vision or hearing or want to opt out of screenings, please reach out to Nurse Angell at ahangell@seattleschools.org.
Alison Angell, MSN, RN (she/her)
School Nurse, Health Services
Regional School Nurse Coordinator
Cell Phone: 206-639-8782
Lafayette Elementary
Tuesdays, alt. Wednesdays, alt. Fridays, 7:30-3pm
Phone: 206.252.9507, Main Office: 206.252.9500, Fax: 206.252.9501
Alki Elementary
Alt. Wednesdays, Thursdays 7:30-3pm
Phone: 206.252.9057, Main Office: 206.252.9050, Fax: 206.252.9051
Library News
The K-2nd graders are participating in the Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award (WCCPBA) by listening to a variety of books and will be voting for their favorite. Click the link to view Presenting this years Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award nominees presenting this year’s nominees. Using these books students will explore and learn about a variety of topics and genres. We are currently learning about Biographies and discovered why pianist Mahani Teave is a special person to know about creating the Rapa Nui School of Music & Arts.
In Partnership,
Linda Nakagawa
School Librarian
Important Dates
- Monday, Sept. 1st – Labor Day – No School
- Wednesday, Sept. 3rd – 1st day of school for grades 1st – 12th
- Friday, Sept. 5th – EIM Demonstration for 4th & 5th graders
- Monday, Sept. 8th – 1st day of school for Kindergarten & Pre-K
- Monday, Sept. 8th – Cheers & Tears for Kindergarten Parents
- Wednesday, Sept. 10th – Welcome Assembly
- Friday, Sept. 12th – Picture Day
- Wednesday, Sept. 17th – Taproot Theatre Assembly
- Monday, Sept. 22nd – First day of Autumn
- Thursday, Sept. 25th – Madison MS Curriculum Night 6:30pm
- Saturday, Sept. 27th – Clothing Swap 10-2pm
- Tuesday, Sept. 30th – Lafayette Curriculum Night 5:30-6:30pm
- Wednesday, Oct. 8th – PSC Assembly
- Thursday, Oct. 9th – WSHS Curriculum Night 7pm
- Friday, Oct. 10th – State In Service Day – No School for Students
- Wednesday, Oct. 15th – Coffee with the Principal 8:15am
- Thursday, Oct. 16th – Picture Day Make-Ups
- Friday, Oct. 24th – Move-A-Thon