Le Journal
AL News & Updates
03 December 2021
From the Head of School
Dear AL Community,

Please take the time to read a few COVID protocol updates and reminders:

  • If your child is vaccinated, please submit a copy of their vaccination card to the nurse showing both doses as soon as possible. 

  • COVID vaccines are now widely available for anyone age 5 and up. We encourage all our families to consider getting their child vaccinated. Students two weeks past their second dose are considered fully vaccinated per the CDC and are not required to quarantine after a known exposure if proof of vaccination is on file, but must monitor for symptoms for 14 days. If any symptoms develop during these 14 days, they should stay home and get tested. Your student must not return to school while awaiting the results of a COVID test.  

  • Unvaccinated close contacts will be given the option to quarantine for 7 days if they obtain a PCR test on day 5 or later and submit the results to their campus nurse. If the family chooses not to obtain a PCR test the student will be required to quarantine for 10 days. In all cases we require close monitoring of symptoms and good masking practices, including at recess, for 14 days from contact.

  • We now allow fully vaccinated parents or grandparents to once again volunteer in person. Interested parties must fill out this survey. The nurses will verify the information submitted. Teachers will only be provided the names and contact information of parents/guardians who have completed the survey. When a volunteer opportunity arises, teachers will contact those people on the provided list to inquire about their availability. Volunteers must wear a properly fitting mask covering their nose and mouth the entire time they are in the building. 

  • After the first of the year, we will allow small group work and cluster seating in the classrooms. These new seating allowances will create small cohorts within the classroom. 

  • We still offer free, painless, weekly testing done by a nose swab. The collected swabs are ran as a pool. Tests are only administered to students with a consent form on file. Click here to complete this consent form. The access codes are as follows: AL-OAK, AL-ARMOUR, AL-CHERRY. If, at any time, you choose to withdraw your child from this program, please email your campus nurse immediately.

  • We will continue to encourage our teachers to take all students outside for recess on a daily basis as much as the weather allows. Please be sure to send your child(ren) with a coat, gloves, hat/ear warmer, and a scarf as the weather gets colder. If you need any assistance in providing those items for your child(ren) please contact the social worker/counselor at your child’s campus.

Click here to read the full communication sent on 11/23/21 regarding our latest updates. 

The Nursing Team
Upcoming Events
December 6
Armour Parent-Principal Coffee, 8 am, cafeteria

December 7
Oak & Cherry Parent-Principal Coffee, 8:15 am, auditorium

PTO Meeting, 6 pm, virtual

December 8
Early Release Day,
Armour: 12:45 pm
Oak & Cherry: 1 pm

December 13
Board Meeting

December 18-January 2
NO SCHOOL - Winter Break

January 3
NO SCHOOL - School Improvement Day

January 7
Casual Day
Access our live calendar here.
From alihs_journalism

Do you know how flies sleep? They sleep like us! Our brains share a similar structure, the hippocampus, which plays a major role in learning and memory. Last Tuesday, November 30, the researcher in biology, Stephane Dissel, from UMKC, came to AL to speak to the high school students about his experiments on sleep. Flies have sleep cycles, like us. They sleep during the night, like us. Young flies need more sleep, like us. Flies go through deep sleep, like us. We got confirmation that lack of sleep in teenagers negatively impact our learning capabilities. We were also made aware of the fact that the light from our screens blocks a hormone (melatonin) that helps with falling asleep. Well, since you are probably on your phone right now, you have been warned! Wait, what? You’re driving too… Mr Dissel was invited by Mr Payelle, high school biology teacher. Pictures & text by Kahleel Jackson, Ana Damian, Jean Dunn, Emily Buck, Josh Story.
From the Nurses
Vaccine FAQ: English - Spanish
Vaccination clinics: English - Spanish
The truth about vaccines: English - Spanish

Weekly Covid-19 Testing: Click here to read the full announcement. If you would like more information about this testing program, click here.
COVID-19 Numbers
Let’s keep our school open by following the safety guidelines. Click here to read them and view our dashboard.
Table of Contents
  • Armour Spirit Week Information
  • Armour Library Update
  • Enrollment Open for New Students & Siblings New to AL
  • Oak Lost and Found
  • PTO Meeting Information
  • Wanted: Hotspots
  • Ad: Franck's Real Estate Tip
  • Ad: Nature in Your Neighborhood Competition
AL Insights
Armour Spirit Week Information
The week before winter break (Dec 13-17th) will be a spirit week at Armour. If you do not feel comfortable with following the spirit week plan you can wear casual instead. All clothing must conform to the school dress code. Thank you from the 21-22 STUCO.

  • Monday 12/13: Pajama day (bring a stuffed animal too) 
  • Tuesday 12/14: Decade day (80s, 70s, etc)
  • Wednesday 12/15: Runway day (dress fancy/ red carpet looks)
  • Thursday 12/16: Sports day (jerseys, sports attire, plus supporting winning AL teams.)   
  • Friday 12/17: Ugly sweater/Casual day

Armour Library Update
We have an exciting update from the library. Académie Lafayette has partnered with Kansas City Public Library to offer synchronous services with our school library cards. Student cards can now be used at any Kansas City Public Library branch, and to access all of their online resources.

KCPL books can be requested from their system to be brought to our school library using the Armour Library catalog. Public library books can also be returned at our school library via courier service!

Families were sent their library card account information by email this week. If you would like to opt out of this program for your child, or have any questions please contact Armour Librarian, Mme Julia Belcher at jbelcher@academielafayette.org. Merci!
New students only: Apply to Reserve Your Child's Sibling Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st and 9th grade seat
Please note this only applies to new siblings not currently enrolled at Académie Lafayette. All current pre-K-10th grade students will re-enroll in the Tyler system at a later date. 

Pre-K, Kindergarten,1st & 9th grade Sibling Seats: To be fair and transparent with all prospective families, we want to be able to tell them how many seats are available and how many seats will be taken by siblings. Your help is essential. If you have a new incoming child or sibling entering in the fall of 2022, please apply here now until Tuesday, March 1st, 2022 for the 22-23 school year. The process will take you less than one minute! Sibling applications received after the deadline will be placed on the waiting list. For additional information click here.

Questions? Email enrollment@academielafayette.org. After you fill out your child's application, share with your friends and neighbors wanting to join the AL family!
Oak Lost and Found Items
The Oak lost and found area is overflowing and you will have access to go through it the next two weeks before holiday break! Between Monday 12/6 and Thurs 12/16 the lost and found will be OUTSIDE the south door (off the new addition) AFTER 4 pm on tables for you to actually grab! On Friday 12/17 anything left will be donated or absorbed into the uniform closet. 
PTO Meeting Information
Join us virtually on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 6 pm for the PTO meeting. Please watch the PTO website and Facebook page for more information, including links to join the meeting. 
Communication
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Oak K-5
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