Lafayette Leopard Look Out
Summary : Lafayette Leopard Look Out
Lafayette Leopard Look Out
Message from the Principal
Happy 2026! We hope you had a relaxing winter holiday and are feeling refreshed as we return to school. It has been great to welcome everyone back. It is an exciting time in Seattle Schools as we welcome our new Superintendent, Ben Shuldiner on February 1st.
As we settle back into school, our focus will be on reteaching and reinforcing routines and expectations. We continue to stress that if students are having a conflict with a peer, they should ask the peer to stop and then get help from an adult if needed.
Given that this is a wet and cold time of year, we kindly remind families to send their children with winter coats and, if possible, keep a change of clothes at school. We really do try to go outside unless it is absolutely horrible out!
We understand that the holiday season can be challenging for many students and their families. If you are experiencing hardship or are in need of assistance, please reach out to Deb Blume (deblume@seattleschools.org) our school counselor.
We have many things coming up on our calendar. January 23rd is our family school dance. This is a great family event. We also have mid-year testing coming up the first week of February. Please make sure that your child gets plenty of sleep and has a healthy breakfast. Also, please check with your student’s teacher for their calendar for information on field trips, etc.
Thank you for your continued support and collaboration. Please reach out to me or Mr. Baisden. I can be contacted at 206-252-9500 or cpchaput@seattleschools.org. Mr. Baisden can be reached at the same number and his email is tpbaisden@seattleschools.org.
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Music Update from Mr. Payne
Hello Lafayette community!
In music, we have been working on a variety of musical ideas, rhythmic and melodic practice, and instrument playing. We have also been going around the world to different countries to learn about the culture and the music from the area. We ended December learning about the Philippines and this month we will be learning about South Korea!
We have also had a great time learning about the different styles of music and a variety of new instruments. As we step into the month of January, we are transitioning into a new area of music. We will be learning and discussing new musical terms that affect the speed of a piece of music, building on our rhythmic and melodic practices with new symbols, while diving into the messages and ideas by Martin Luther King Jr. and how we can connect his ideas to the music we learn during class.
If you have any questions, please email me at sapayne@seattleschools.org
Thank you for all your help and support!
-Mr. Payne
Physical Education
Last month we developed skills and knowledge related to skating. Leopard learners had to manage time and equipment very efficiently for this unit to be successful and everyone did a great job. We were impressed by how many students were able to bring equipment from home to make the unit even better!
In January we will be learning skills and games related to basketball and pickleball. We will also talk about health and fitness related to our fitness measurements and goals. We hope everyone had opportunities to be healthy and active over winter break.
Shawn Cudney – Ellen O’Connor
Fine Arts
Happy New Year Lafayette Families!
As I write this newsletter, the kiln is running! Third grade students will be taking home their clay projects next week. Fourth grade students will be glazing next week. In two weeks, fifth grade students will make a clay projects.
All of my students are learning a drawing technique I use when I’m not sure what to draw. They are creating amazing creatures and landscapes.
If you did not see your K-2 students art on the wall in December, they probably forgot to give it to me. I had two turned in today. I will hang them up and keep the work on display for a couple more weeks.
Best,
Mrs. Bajaj
Visual Arts Teacher
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
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
Coping With our Holiday Emotions
A few things to be mindful of:
- A tendency to avoid strong emotions.
- Grief both recent and historical
- Substance misuse
- Loneliness
- Stress both individual and familial
- Familial patterns
- Mental Health strengths/challenges current and historical
- Expectations around time use, gatherings and others
- Generational awareness (technology, conversations, etc.)
Possible Strategies:
- Family notebook
- Balance of time use
- Ask/try to honor what children value about traditions, etc.
- Allow big emotions to be expressed safely
- Maintain some structure w/flexibility
- Wellness check-ins
- Model vulnerability/create safe space
- Make space for options or try a new lens
Questions we might as ourselves:
- Is this negotiable?
- What are my emotions around this?
- Is my child experiencing compassion from me?
- Do they feel heard?
- What do boundaries look like in our Family?
- Is a desire or need for specific outcomes an obstacle?
- Am I willing to monitor and adjust?
Train Your Brain to be Less Stressed
Food Resources in Seattle
We know many folks in our Lafayette Community may be struggling with food insecurity and anxiety is rising as the possibility of SNAP benefits not being dispersed for November. Here are a few sites that may be helpful.
- United Way
- Food Lifeline
- King County Find a Food Bank
- West Seattle Food Bank
- White Center Food Bank
- Hot Meals Offered Various Locations
211
Calling 211 is a way to be connected to local resources.
Let’s all take good care of one another.
Caring for our emotional health is crucial and can be complicated to achieve in a fast-moving world.
Here are a few resources for parents and families.
988 Crisis Line
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@seattleschools.org.
Stay Home when Sick
This is a reminder for all families to please keep your student home from school 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.
Students with fevers must be fever-free without medication for 24 hours before returning to school.
Please see the guide, “Is My Child Too Sick to Go to School?”
Is My Child Too Sick to Go to School?
Updated guidance on Respiratory Illness from SPS, including advise on when to return to school, please see: Updated guidance on Respiratory Illness from SPS, including advise on when to return to school
Get your Flu and Covid-19 Vaccines
Seattle Public Schools is partnering with Seattle Visiting Nurse Association (SVNA) to provide vaccine clinics to the public.
SVNA is offering flu vaccine to anyone age four and up and covid vaccine to anyone age five and up. SVNA clinics require insurance (most plans accepted) or payment. You can find the school locations, dates, times, and registration link here:
School locations, dates, times, and registration
Additional vaccine resources for children and uninsured adults
Head Lice Information
Fall is often the time that we start to see cases of head lice at school. Please be sure 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
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, 7:30-3 p.m.
Phone: 206-252-9507, Main Office: 206-252-9500, Fax: 206-252-9501
Alki Elementary
Alt. Wednesdays, Thursdays 7:30-3 p.m.
Phone: 206-252-9057, Main Office: 206-252-9050, Fax: 206-252-9051
ahangell@seattleschools.org
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 6th 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, Jan. 8th – Madison MS Open House for Parents and Guardians 6:30pm – 8 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 9th – Kindergarten Tour 8:15 a.m.
- Friday, Jan. 16th – MLK Jr. Assembly – 1st & 5th graders to Garfield HS for James & the Giant Peach
- Monday, Jan. 19th – MLK Jr. Day – No School
- Friday, Jan. 23rd – 3rd grade Rooms #10 & #14 to MOHAI – PTA sponsored family dance @6:30pm- 8pm
- Monday, Jan. 26th – 3rd grade Rooms #9 & #11 to MOHAI
- Wednesday, Jan. 28th – Coffee w/the Principal @8:15am
- Thursday, Feb. 5th – 1st graders to SCT for Ada Twist Scientist
- Friday, Feb. 6th – Lunar New Year Assembly
- Feb. 16th – 20th – Mid Winter Break – No School
- Feb. 25th – Jazz Assembly TBD