Lafayette Newsletter
February 5, 2016
Message from Mrs. Russo
I am positively overwhelmed with the World According to Humphrey feedback. For some families it was a slow and challenging start to get everyone to sit down together, but when Humphrey's adventures picked up so did their interest. Over the next week, you should work to finish the book, if you have not already. Once we return from break, I'll wrap up the book with the students.
On my end, it has been such a great pleasure connecting with your children over this playful character. It seemed to make our large school a bit smaller for a little while. Thank you for the role you played in our new adventure.
As with any book I enjoy reading, I head into the final chapters with a bit of sadness. It is as if you will be leaving a good friend behind in the final pages. If you are feeling the same, Humphrey is a series, so I encourage you to pick up book two and continue reading as a family. The title of book two is Friendship According to Humphrey.
- Excerpt from Good Reads: After the holidays, Humphrey is shocked by a big surprise in Room 26-a new class pet! Humphrey tries to be welcoming, but Og the frog doesn't respond to any of his friendly squeaks or visits (remember, he has a lock-that-doesn't-lock). Friendship can be tricky, but Humphrey is an intrepid problem-solver. If any hamster can become buddies with a frog, he can.
Thank you again to the PTO for supporting this school wide initiative. We could not have done it without you.
Marco Freyre....Assistant Principal
Please continue to encourage your children to dress for the weather. We go outside for recess, unless we are having extremely cold or rainy weather.
Lafayette homerooms have started taking class trips to the Hillside Food Bank. On the trips, our students put together sustainable lunches that get delivered to people who are experiencing difficult times. The students consistently put together record breaking amounts of lunches. Keep up the great work. I am so very proud of all of you.
During my visits into the classrooms, I’ve seen students creating bridges in Design and Technology, fraction exercises during math, and Literary Essays in their language arts classes. Reflex Math continues to be a great resource for our students to practice those, very important math facts. Be sure to encourage that at home, too.
If you haven’t joined the Lafayette School Facebook page, be sure to do that and keep up with all of the fantastic activities/assignments happening each day. I hope you all have a wonderful long weekend coming up and if you are traveling, please be safe.
Lafayette PTO
I hope you are all enjoying the winter season! Here’s what’s happening in the LAF
PTO community.
AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT
Thanks to Lauren Beegle and Cecille West for launching another semester of After
School Enrichment courses. Classes began on January 26th and they are all running
smoothly.
ONE BOOK, ONE SCHOOL
Our One Book, One School initiative began on January 8th when all students were
sent home with a copy of the book The World According to Humphrey by Betty G.
Birney. We hope you have been enjoying the book with your family. Our students
have been participating in classroom and school wide activities focused on themes
from the book. Some lucky students have even brought home Humphrey the stuffed
hamster. They have been taking Humphrey on adventures and documenting these
adventures with photos and journal entries.
READATHON
Our annual Read‐a‐Thon begins on March 1st. This event has been hugely successful
in past years in getting our students excited about reading and in raising money to
support our PTO and library.
GIFTS
In addition to the robot for the 5th grade students and the 3D printer for the 4th grade
students, the PTO has recently purchased special tables for Design and Technology classes. These tables are smaller and will allow the students more room to work on their design challenges. As always, thanks for your generous donations to the LAF PTO!
PTO BOARD 2016-2017
Fourth grade parents – please be on the lookout! Shortly after we return from
winter break, we will be sending out a list of PTO board positions and committee
chairs for next school year. We need parents to lead a variety of committees to
continue the wonderful programs and events organized by the PTO. Please consider
volunteering for a leadership position‐ no experience is required!!!
Sincerely,
Wendy Kuppenheimer
LAF PTO President
After School Pick Up Procedures
Dear Parents,
For the safety of our ASE students, we are instituting a new traffic pattern during dismissal pick-up. Parents are to park their cars in either of the front parking lots or along the circle next to the high school. From there, you should walk to the front doors to pick up your child from his/her instructor. Those students who are permitted to walk home or to go to Work Family will be dismissed accordingly. We ask that you keep the entrance lane to LAF clear. Also, as a reminder, there will be no crossing guard on duty at that time.
Thank you for your cooperation.
The ASE Committee
CHS Theatre Department presents Shrek The Musical
Thursday, March 3 at 6:00 p.m.
Friday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 5 at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $12.00 for students and seniors or $15.00 for adults. Tickets can be purchase in advance on-line at http://chsshrekthemusical.brownpapertickets.com/ starting Monday, February 15. Tickets will also be sold at the door before each performance at CHS in the main lobby from Monday, February 29 – Friday, March 4 from 10:45 – 11:30 a.m. For more ticket information email Jill Horowitz at jhorowitz@chatham-nj.org.