12 August 2019

Le Journal: Back to school Edition




From the Head of School and Principals

Welcome Back! 

Dear families,

Welcome back! Another summer has come and gone, and it's time to think about the new school year ahead. Please take a few moments to read today's back to school newsletter carefully, as it will provide you with many pieces of information to make your child's year successful. This information is meant as a brief overview.  More information can be found on our website, www.academielafayette.org . You can always contact us at communication@academielafayette.org or send us a message on Facebook if you need help.

You will receive a newsletter every Friday by email with important school and event information. We hope you can take a few minutes to read it and keep up with what's going on in our wonderful school. If you are on Facebook, feel free to follow our page for info & event sharing, and join our private group for school discussions and help. 

This August, our community will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Académie Lafayette. It is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate our founding faculty and staff who helped make the vision of providing a world-class education a successful reality.

We look forward to seeing you and your child(ren) at Meet the Teacher Night on Thursday, August 15 (5-7 pm for Cherry & Armour, 6-8 pm for Oak). The Student Success Nights will be parent/guardian-only nights to discuss curriculum, classroom expectations, learning objectives, and what's ahead for your child(ren) this year (Oak 8/27 - Armour 8/28 - Cherry 8/29, 6 to 8 pm).

See you all soon!


Elimane Mbengue                     
Head of School                    






  

In This Edition:


calendar

Upcoming Events

August 15
Meet the Teacher Night
Cherry: 5 - 7 pm
Armour: 5 - 7 pm
Oak: 6 - 8 pm

August 28
Armour Student Success Night, 6 pm

September 9
Board Meeting,
6:30 pm, Armour campus

August 20
First Day of School
Armour: 8:15 am - 3:45 pm
Cherry: 8:30 am - 4 pm

Oak: 8 am - 3:30 pm

August 29
Cherry Student Success Night, 6 pm

September 20
NO SCHOOL 
August 27
Oak Student Success Night, 6 pm



September 2
NO SCHOOL - Labor Day


Parent-Principal Coffees
Oak: 9/10, 7:30 am
Cherry: 9/11, 8:00 am
Armour: 9/12, 7:45 am

Access the 2019-20 school calendars by clicking here


INFO SHARING

Agendasagenda

The Agenda is a combination of Student Handbook and student planner. All students with the exception of kindergarten, will receive an agenda on the first day of school. Please refer to your child's agenda daily for his/her class schedule, as well as daily work, homework assignments, special projects and important reminders. It is your child's responsibility to show you his/her agenda and have you check it each day. 

The following format will be used in all classes to record information: 
C: (what was done in class that day) 
D: (homework assignment--"devoirs") If there is no homework assigned for that night, your child should write "pas de devoirs".

Remember
The Agenda costs $10.00 each. Please wait for further instruction from your child's teacher on this purchase. 


INFO SHARING

Allergiesallergy

Some of our classrooms have students with allergies. Please check with your child's homeroom teacher to know if the room is nut-free. 

Click here for resources from the nurses. 


INFO SHARING

Arrival & Dismissal Proceduresarrival

Arrival and dismissal procedures for each campus vary. Below are the procedure for Armour.  Please note the school times are 8:15 - 3:45 pm but doors open at 7:30 am. 


  • 7:30 am - Doors open - Parents will enter the parking lot on McGee (please go north on McGee to enter) and will flow through the parking lot to drop off their children, exiting on Warwick. Students go to the cafeteria if they are eating school breakfast. Students go to the gymnasium if they are not eating breakfast.
  • 8:05 am - Students leave the cafeteria and gymnasium to report to homerooms.
  • 8:15 am - Classes begin. Please plan to be at school by 8:10 am. The parking lot gate on McGee will shut at 8:10 am. After 8:10, parents can park in the Warwick parking lot. Classroom instruction starts at 8:15 am, and having time to transition between home and school is important. Students arriving at school after 8:15 am are tardy and will need to get a pass at the front office prior to joining class.
END-OF-DAY PARENT PICK-UP:
  • 3:40 pm Bus riders and walkers are dismissed. Buses will line up on Warwick.
  • 3:45 pm Classes are dismissed. There will be no classroom pickup for middle school students. Parents will enter the parking lot on McGee, pick up their children in the gated AL parking lot, and exit on Warwick.
  • 4:00 pm* Remaining students are brought to the office. *Every minute after 4:00 pm, a $1 charge is incurred

INFO SHARING

Athleticsathletics

Académie Lafayette has recently gathered city championship trophies in girls basketball, girls volleyball, and girls and boys track & field, but our coaches and staff know sports participation is about more than winning. AL students are learning the value of teamwork, the rules of sportsmanship and friendly competition, and the beauty of supporting one another in all endeavors. It's more than fun; it's life-changing. For information about sports at AL go to our website, academielafayette.org. Do you have time to help out? We need sports volunteers! Contact Athletic Director Mamadou Dieng at mdieng@academielafayette.org.

cartoon-basketball.jpg cartoon-soccer-ball.jpg athletic_running_shoes.jpg


INFO SHARING

Back to School CoffeeCoffee

The PTO excited to start the new school year with some community by inviting all parents to a "Back to School Coffee." Some of us will be happy to have the kids out of our hair and some of us will cry over our chai while we talk about our new kindergarten babies starting their first year. All in all, it will be a good time to catch up.  Armour parents can meet at Mother Earth on 3504 Gillham Rd., Kansas City, MO 64111. 

INFO SHARING

Bus Transportation bus

Académie Lafayette provides free door-to-door bus transportation to students who live more than two miles from the campus he or she attends. Bus questions? For  Armour, please contact Carlos McClain,  cmcclain@academielafayette.org. Please put "Transportation" in the subject line. 
 
If parents submitted transportation request with enrollment forms by July 15, and child(ren) are eligible to ride, then your student(s) will have transportation on August 20. If you did not submit the form then you can come to any campus and pick up a paper form. Typically there is a three week wait for bus assignments.

Bus 101: 
  • All campuses have their own routes, starting at 6:45 a.m. 
  • During the first week of school, please allow additional time for pick-up and drop-off. 
  • Please wait until after 8:00 am before calling the bus company if your child has not yet been picked up. 
  • Please have your child ready to get on the bus five (5) minutes prior to their scheduled pick-up time. 
  • If your child will not be riding the bus on a certain day, PLEASE contact the transportation company at 816.241.8822 before 6:45 am.
  • Someone needs to be home to receive your child after school or your child will be returned to the school. The bus driver is required to observe your child entering the home.
For more information, click here

INFO SHARING

Casual Days! casual
 
Casual days -- or days when students are not required to wear their school uniforms -- are a fun break from routine. Casual Days are usually held once a month, on the first Friday. Follow us on the Académie Lafayette Facebook page for monthly reminders! 
Here is a friendly reminder of casual day rules:
  •  No bare midriffs, tank tops or halter type shirts or dresses allowed. 
  •  Shorts and skirts must not be more than four inches above the knee. 
  •  Saggy pants and shorts are not allowed. 
  •  Leggings should be covered by skirt or short.
Additionally, parents are welcome to eat lunch with their child on the first Friday of each month! Please coordinate with your child's teacher and be sure to sign in at the front desk and get your visitor pass beforehand.


INFO SHARING

Citizens of the World Charter School Updatecotwupdate
 
In February, we shared with you the board decision to lease the 4th floor of the Armour campus to Citizens of the World Charter Schools (CWCKC) for a middle school. As we clearly indicated this lease will have no adverse impact on our K-12 growth plan. 

We have been working with CWCKC leadership to coordinate schedules and safety plans, and the use of common areas. They will be using the same traffic pattern as us for drop off and pick up and will have the exclusive use of the east door and stairs. Their school hours are 8:00 am to 3:00 pm while AL middle school's are 8:15 am to 3:45 pm.  

We are excited for this colocation that will benefit both schools! 


INFO SHARING

Communicationcommunication
 
facebook logoAcadémie Lafayette sends a weekly e-newsletter to all families using the email addresses provided during enrollment. If you know someone who is not receiving this newsletter, encourage them to contact communication@academielafayette.org.

In addition to the weekly newsletter, the periodic all-calls and email blasts, we also use Facebook to communicate with our families. Please "like" us at https://www.facebook.com/LafayetteKC/ and join our private FB group! 


INFO SHARING

Database: eSchoolCoredatabase
 
Académie Lafayette uses the eSchoolCore  database to track student academic and food service records.  

Current parents/guardians will use the same password they used last year. New parents/guardians will receive a personal letter with your password and instructions on accessing the Parent Portal. If you find the password issued to you is difficult to remember you can create a new one. If you lose your password please contact Edem Addoh to ask for a new one.  

Contact eSchoolCore assistant Edem Addoh by email, eaddoh@academielafayette.org for password or username assistance.


INFO SHARING

Dress Codedresscode
 
Académie Lafayette students wear uniforms to school every day unless it is a pre-announced casual day. In summary, students wear red, white, or navy collared shirts and khaki slacks, skirts, jumpers, or shorts. An Académie Lafayette plaid or khaki is also available for skirts and jumpers. Leggings can be solid red, white, or navy blue only. Complete details are found in the student agenda and in the student handbooks. Click here to download a copy of the student agenda.    

Remember the uniform closet is free to all families to take, exchange and donate gently used uniforms. If you would like to visit the uniform closet before school starts, call the office of either campus to set up a time to come by.


INFO SHARING

Fundraising Questionsfundraising

Fundraising at Académie Lafayette is one of those traditions that started when the school was founded in 1999. Why? Because Missouri charter schools, like all public schools, are seriously underfunded. Fundraising makes a HUGE difference in what we can provide for our students. Last year the Development Office raised almost $500,000. That money supports our operating budget or capital improvements such as the renovations at the new Armour campus. This fundraising also paid for new  text books , Chromebooks fresh fruit  and new science equipment .

Our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) also actively fundraises to support our after school activities and travel opportunities for our students. 

We invite you to participate in our fundraising efforts. However, nothing is required. If your family chooses to not be involved, we understand. Or choose the events you want to support and ignore the rest. It's up to you!

To help you know what is coming, a Development Calendar is currently being created in partnership with the PTO. Both school and PTSO events are included in that calendar. We hope to share this calendar with you soon! 

The first big fundraiser -- the $10,000 Cash Raffle -- is coming soon. You can find out more in this newsletter under Raffle.

INFO SHARING

Generations Daygenerationsday

Generations Day is a special day when we invite grandparents and other special friends of your child to visit our campuses. It is scheduled for November 20, 2018, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Keep an eye out in the weekly newsletter for sign-up information!

INFO SHARING

Lockerslockers

Middle school students will be using lockers. S tudents  will need to bring a numerical combination lock  (no locks with keys allowed) to secure their belongings.  Please take a minute to review the locker agreement with your child  here

INFO SHARING

Meet The Teacher Night: August 15meetteacher

Students and their families will be able to meet their teachers and bring school supplies for the 2019-2020 school year during this informal event held on Monday, August 15, from 5 to 7 pm for Armour. Several organizations and vendors will be present in as well. 

INFO SHARING

Newsletter Communicationsnewsletter

The school newsletter is used to communicate weekly with families. It is published on the last school day of the week. It contains vital information about upcoming events, school issues, as well as PTO news and articles about what goes on in the classrooms. 

We have several mailing lists and if you receive emails not pertinent to you or your child, please let us know by emailing communication@academielafayette.org. Unsubscribing will remove you from all of the mailing lists, so please communicate with us before clicking "unsubscribe". 

If you know someone that is not receiving this newsletter, please encourage them to email the address above, so we can add them to our system.

To place articles and/or ads, please read the newsletter guidelines before contacting us. 

INFO SHARING

Parent Teacher Organization PTONews

Académie Lafayette has a Parent Teacher Organization. As a member of the AL community, you are automatically a member of the PTO. There are no association fees. We are an all-inclusive organization who is here to support our school, staff, and students. If you'd like to volunteer on the PTO please contact Leslie Kohlmeyer at 816-606-1646 or  ezl101@hotmail.com. Areas of need are as follows: 
  • Event Coordination
  • Website Management
  • Accounting/Treasurer 

INFO SHARING

Armour Student Success Nightstudentsuccess

Mark your calendar
Wednesday, August 28, from 6 to 8 pm. This is a parent/guardian only event. You will learn more about curriculum, expectations, classroom schedules, procedures, and what's ahead this year!

More information will be provided soon! 

INFO SHARING

$10,000 Cash Raffle Coming Soon!raffle

Kurt Kellermeyer won last year, winning ticket sold by the Kraft sisters.
Académie Lafayette's 10th annual $10,000 Cash Raffle begins August 30th. This fun event supports the general fund and helps provide salaries for nurses and social workers, international interns, and funds for transportation. Raffle packets with your tickets and all the details will be sent home on Friday, August 30th.  

Volunteers are needed to help count money, deliver prizes, and stuff Raffle packets. Stay tuned for a sign-up form! 

INFO SHARING

Spirit Wear spiritwear

Accepting spirit wear orders now! New items and $2 off non-clearance items!  Online store remains open until September 1st and reopens October 14th for Generations Day ordering. 

If you placed an order by August 11th, your order will be ready for pick up at your child's Success Night the week of August 26th. Orders placed now through September 1 will be delivered free to your child's campus the week of September 16th. Please note campus for delivery when checking out (Armour, Oak, or Cherry). 




INFO SHARING

Storiesstories

What is your AL story? Has attending AL made a difference in your child's life? In YOUR life? Did your family make a special effort to attend AL (such as move to the KCPS district so that you could apply?) Has it given your child the language skills to help someone in need? Does attending a free public school (i.e. not paying tuition) give your family the extra financial cushion to do something that you feel is important -- like start a not for profit? Has the foundation laid at AL given your older child an edge in high school or beyond? (Like Tom DeZutter who scored a perfect 36 on the English ACT.) Please share your AL story with us! Send them to Robyn King at rking@academielafayette.org. Put STORIES in the subject line. Thank you!

INFO SHARING

Trash Bag Sale trash

Get a jump on the competition! If you haven't received a Trash Bag order form during Summer school, you can print one here or pick one up at Meet the Teacher Night this week. Extra forms on a nice yellow card stock will be available at the front desk of each office. This is one of our most successful fundraisers, the bags are in demand and practically sell themselves.

Orders are due September 6th and pick up will be the last Saturday of September at the Armour campus. Money is due at the time you order. Please make a copy or take a photo of your order form before turning it in to make it easier for you to deliver to your customers!


INFO SHARING

Visiting School During The Dayvisits

visitor badge Safety is our first priority. Please sign in at the front desk and get a visitor pass when visiting either campus during the day. Enter only through the front doors. If bringing supplies to your child, we will ask you to drop them off at the front desk. We will then make sure your child gets them. Parents are welcome to come eat lunch with their child on the first Friday of the month. Otherwise, please always contact the teacher before coming to school. Thanks for helping keep our campuses safe.

INFO SHARING

If you are interested in helping with recruitment efforts at AL please sign up  here
This includes staff, parents, and alumni. Recruitment includes providing tours with admissions information and history of AL to prospective families during open houses, attending recruitment events and supplying application information to the community.

Please email Robyn King Director of Admissions and Community Outreach at  rking@academielafayette.org if you have any questions.

INFO SHARING

If you would like to be a room parent please express your interest to your child's teacher who will be the one to collect that information. Please give the teacher permission to share your contact information with the PTO. The PTO later will collect all of the room parent information from the staff as we begin to compile these lists they will be used for communication and for the organization of events. Thank you in advance for your service!

INFO SHARING

Websitewebsite

Please check out our website at www.academielafayette.org. If you find an error or need to make a change, please contact  communication@academielafayette.org. Please note that we are still updating our website to reflect the 2019-2020 school year! We appreciate your patience! 

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



Oak Street Campus
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