15 December 2017

Le Journal

From The oak Principal

What Makes our School Great

Dear families,

During this week I thought about the things that make our school great. Yes, the test scores are wonderful but really often it is the little things that count so much. Here are a few things that I thought of to jot down...I am sure you could add many others.  
  1.  Special staff members took it upon themselves to plant seasonal plants in school planters and gardens creating a wonderful environment for our school.
  2.  Our lunch coordinator lends an ear and sage advice to any student wanting to  speak to her.
  3. Two students, arms around each other, shared an interesting book.
  4. Nine parents and community members volunteer to serve as readers (listeners) in the school's reading intervention program. Other staff members also serve as readers to our 4th & 5th graders.
  5. Staff and teachers made a memorable baby shower for a staff member.
  6. Students wrote and performed songs, plays, or presentations for our character assemblies.
  7. Teachers rallied together to help newly hired colleagues start the school year and helped them thrive in a new country.
  8. A parent sent letters of appreciation to the principal and teachers for the way a difficult situation was handled.
  9. Some staff members bought items for our Christmas gift giving to families in need.
  10. A teacher provides after-school tutoring for a child -- without extra compensation.
  11. Fifth graders that lead the Pledge of Allegiance over the school intercom every Monday.
  12. Parents stop in at a Principal Coffee to have a cup of coffee and talk together.
  13. A third grader that stopped to tie the shoes of a kindergarten student.
  14. A parent that gave the principal a hug (yes, principals need hugs too!).
  15. A 9-year-old student that collects trash on the playground. When a parent asked the boy what he was doing he replied, "This is my school and I want it to look good!"
  16. Kids that drag in bags and bags of labels, can goods, pop-tops, clothes, etc. to raise texture-graphic-community.jpg money for school/community programs.
Thanks for all you do: families, staff, and community.
 
Leslie Houfaidi
Oak Principal
 



In This Edition:


calendar

Upcoming Events

December 20-21
Oak Winter Concerts, 6pm, Oak Auditorium (class schedule)

January 8
NO SCHOOL
Board Meeting, 6:30 pm Oak Campus Music Room


January 18
Cherry Open House, 5:30-7:30 pm
 December 22
Winter Parties



January 11
Parent Forum, Oak Auditorium, 5:30 pm, pizza supper, meeting 6-8 pm childcare provided

January 23
PTSO General Meeting, Cherry Campus		 December 25-January 8
NO SCHOOL, Winter Break, Happy Holidays & a Happy New Year! 

January 15
NO SCHOOL




January 27
PTSO Trivia Night, 6 pm, 1221 Union Ave. 

Access the 2017-18 School Calendars by clicking here. 


from the head of school

Congratulations
Congratulations to the teachers and students at the Oak campus for earning 100% on the Annual Progress Report (APR).  The APR (part of the MAP tests) is used to show how well a school is doing in meeting the Missouri School Improvement Program standards. The Oak campus has increased 14% since 2014.


from the head of school


As part of the K-8 Expansion we are soliciting parent thoughts about the reconfiguration of the Cherry and Oak campuses. A short survey will be emailed tomorrow, December 16, at 8 am to the address where you receive the newsletter. Please complete the survey as soon as possible. Thank you.


from the head of school


Remember the Parent Forum to discuss the reconfiguration of the Cherry and Oak campuses. A pizza dinner begins at 5:30 pm. The meeting will be held from 6-8 pm. Childcare will be provided by reservation. Click here to reserve a place.

INFO SHARING
Coins for the Cabinet Totals Raisedcoinsforthecabinet


Oak Campus was able to raise $159.07 and Cherry Campus raised $312.59! That's a total of $471.66 in coins raised for the KC Medicine Cabinet which provides medical equipment, prescriptions, dental, and vision care for our neighbors who are less fortunate. 

Thank you to all who contributed!



INFO SHARING
Support AL While You Shop!amazonsmile


This holiday season you can support us while you shop! Wrap-up your holiday shopping at AmazonSmile and Amazon donates 0.5% of the total of eligible purchases to Académie Lafayette. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know; the same products, same prices, and same service. Simply click on the link in this article to get started! 


INFO SHARING
Operation Breakthrough Toy Drivetoydrive


The deadline has been extended to December 19!
You can donate a new and unwrapped toy for ages infant-12 yrs old, to be given to Operation Breakthrough just in time for Christmas. Your child can drop off their donation in the green bins which will be placed in the entrances at both AL campuses. 
If you have any questions and/or would like to be a part of the big toy drive drop-off on Tuesday, December 19, right after school, please email Debbie--Cora and Emma Jones' mom, at debbiebarrettjones@gmail.com. Thanks so much and Happy Holidays!

INFO SHARING
Civics Club civicsclub

It's such an interesting time in our country's history. What we know more than anything is that we have to be educated and involved. What better way to do that than to help our children understand how our government works. Beginning  February 6, 2018  we will have Civics Club after school at Oak for middle schoolers 6-8th grade. We will meet once a month. We will be taking 15 kids on a first come, first serve basis. The time is  4:00-5:00  Tuesday, room number TBA. Lessons will be led by parent Jacqui Brewer who is both an educator and has a background in social studies. Parents will need to sign a contract of understanding so that we are all clear what types of topics will be covered. If you are interested please email Leslie Kohlmeyer at lkohlmeyer@academielafayette.org.

INFO SHARING
Oak Campus Journalism Clubjournalism

Thanks to the PTSO, a journalism club will start after winter break. It will meet every Monday when students have school, from 3:50 to 4:50 pm, in Mme Werner's classroom. The club is open to all 4th-8th graders who are interested, there is no cost to join. Five to six spots are reserved for each grade. If a student is interested, please ask them to write a letter to Mme Werner in French or English as to why they should be considered for a position on the AL newspaper. The deadline to submit is Friday, December 22, 2017. Questions? Contact Mme Werner, dwerner@academielafayette.org.

INFO SHARING
AL Newsletter Guidelines newsletter

If you'd like to post an article or an ad in the newsletter, or if you are a regular contributor connected_people_colors.jpg please take a moment to review our updated Newsletter Guidelines. Suggestions from AL Staff and parents on what to include have been taken into consideration. Our newsletter is only as good as the information that is made known to us! So, if you have an article or ad you'd like to share please send it directly to communication@academielafayette.org. We'd love to hear from you!

INFO SHARING
Kinsa FLUency Program: Sign up!  kinsa


If 100 families sign up by TODAY all are eligible for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card! The final deadline to sign up is December 31. 

The Kinsa FLUency program is now live for our school! This program will keep our school healthier by: 
  • Giving each family a FREE Kinsa Thermometer
  • Showing all families "what's going around" for preventative care
  • Reducing sick days through early detection and increased awareness 

The more families that participate, the more successful the program will be in keeping our students healthier throughout this flu season. 

How to sign up for your FREE Kinsa Thermometer: 
1. Download the FREE Kinsa app for iOS or Android
2. Create profiles for your family members
3. Go to "Groups" and search for our school using our location. Join our school group. An email will be sent to you when your thermometer arrives to the school. 

We are excited and proud to be chosen for this exclusive program and look forward to a healthier flu season this year! Questions?  Contact Alyvia Elliott, 

INFO SHARING
AL Family Cookbookcookbook


Be sure to visit the AL Family Cookbook page on Facebook! 

INFO SHARING

The first concert will take place on Wednesday, December 20, 6:00 pm in the Oak Auditorium for students in the following classes:
4th Gr: Charruau - Sifadjam
5th Gr: Mauvois - Brichet - Hanriot
6th Gr: Tsafack - Ndiaye - Sammou
7th Gr: Mcdowell/Setter - Sonko
8th Gr: Wabo - Sprehe - Desbleds

The second concert will take place on Thursday, December 21, 6:00 pm in the Oak Auditorium for students in the following classes. 

4th Gr: Seydi - Mejean - Ghisalberti piano_keyboard.jpg
5th Gr: Werner - Givens
6th Gr: Chouita - McCreary
7th Gr: Dufranc - Pasqualini - Toure
8th Gr: Balde - Hynes
Important to note:
1) Participation is mandatory for students. However, please send Ben Combreas, bcombreas@academielafayette.org, an email if a student can't participate for any reason.
2) Rehearsal information: 
  • Wednesday 12/20  8:20-11:05 for classes performing on Wednesday
  • Thursday 12/21  8:20-11:05 for classes performing on Thursday
3) Dress code: school uniform / 8th graders with 8th grade sweatshirt. 

INFO SHARING

Lost & Found, Uniform Closet uniformcloset

Cherry's uniform closet is overflowing with zip-up sweatshirts and sweaters! If you need those items, please come by during the school day (just ask for a visitor's pass at the reception desk). 
Finally, please go through the lost and found bin in lobby -- it's completely packed. All items not picked up by the end of the year will go to the Uniform Closet or Goodwill.  
Questions? Contact Sally,  sallyk1975@gmail.com. 

INFO SHARING

French Deputy Consul Chloé Visits ALchloe

The new French Deputy Consul, Frédéric Chloé (third from left) visited the Oak campus with Sarah Guthrie, Director of Development, Cyprienne Simchowitz (second from the left), Honorary French Consul, and Elimane Mbengue, Head of School. Simchowitz, a Kansas City local, invited Chloé to see all Académie Lafayette has to offer. 


info sharing

AL After School Drama Programtheatre

There was a lot of drama fun at Theatre of the Imagination's Cherry Campus show "Fidget Spinner Beach Party." Many of the after school drama club kids got to act, sing, and dance in this fun show. The audience burst into laughter throughout the show, and word has it many of the performers are getting calls from Hollywood agents as we speak (this rumor has not been confirmed!)

Theatre of the Imagination will be offering another round of after school drama at the Cherry Campus Tuesdays, February 6-March 6 with two new plays "Space Warriors: The Last French Fry," and "Pink Fluffy Unicorns from Planet Candy." For more information call Miles McMahon, Director of Theatre of the Imagination, 816.561.2827. 


Pictured here AL students (left to right): Jonas Anderson, Inara Chewning, Silas Bartel.

al in the community

Mme Werner's 5th grade class visited Research Medical Center, Brookside Campus holiday lunch last week, where they entertained guests with a medley of songs in French.  Research Medical Center, Brookside campus, partners with AL and provides nursing supplies and free health club memberships to our staff.


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RESEARCH MEDICAL CENTER, BROOKSIDE CAMPUS, IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF ACADEMIE LAFAYETTEresearchad

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6903 Oak Street
Kansas City, MO 64113
816-361-7735

Cherry Street Campus
3421 Cherry Street
Kansas City, MO 64109
816-888-7400
www.academielafayette.org

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