Dear Cougar Families,
We hope you had a wonderful three day weekend! Often it takes a few weeks to get into the routine of school and build up the stamina for full school days. This weekend Megan spent time in Steamboat Springs with her family. We saw a bear and went white water rafting! Robin went camping with friends and floated down the river near Salida.
Thanks for coming to Back to School Night! We want to give a special “thank you” to our hard-working PTO and our fifth grade ambassadors for helping families make the most of their night at Lafayette Elementary. If you couldn’t make it to Back to School Night or you wish to review the presentations, please see this Back to School Night Presentation master document.
We have been hiring for recent vacancies for the past three weeks. Our new healthroom para, Ms. Katie, is starting on Wednesday. We want to thank Ann for subbing in the health room for the start of the year. We are excited for Ms. Dedra to come back as a literacy tutor. She will also start this week. We held interviews for a night custodian and an Intensive Learning Center paraeducator this week, so we are hoping to welcome these new staff members into the Lafayette community soon!
We are still hiring for a half-time special education teacher and a math tutor. Please spread the word, so that we might add to our talented staff!
University of Colorado teachers-in-training will be coming to Lafayette this week! These CU student-teachers will be receiving training from us and will help out in various classrooms this year. In addition, we are continuing our partnership with Centaurus High School Student Council. On Wednesdays, this group of amazing students (some students are Lafayette Elementary alumni) will be assisting with science activities and teamwork building on the playground. Lastly, we are also partnering with New Vista High School so their students can get some community service hours in. Please welcome all of these new helpers to our community!
Have a wonderful week.
Go Cougars!
Sincerely,
Megan Weir, Principal and Robin Stone, Dean of Students
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
24-25 BVSD Calendar LINK
Upcoming Events September 2024
2 Labor Day, No School
3 Curious Cougar News Club 2:55-3:55 in the library Multi-purpose Room
4 3rd Grade Garden to Table (various times)
6 First Parent Coffee Chat, outside by the front doors, at drop off (AM)
11 Fourth grade Covington Garden to Table
11 Vision and Hearing Screening
12 Second grade Garden to Table
18 Individual Picture Day #1
23 Individual Picture Day #2
24 Class Picture Day
24 Meet & Greet with PTO 5:00 to 7:00 PM
30 Professional Development, No School
Fall Art Letter
Dear Parents,
Welcome to another exciting, joyful, and creative year in Visual Art! Thank you for sharing your wonderful cougars with me. We’ve had a fantastic start, creating gold medals to showcase our strengths and beginning abstract backgrounds for realistic self-portraits across all grades.
ART ANGELS NEEDED: Are you interested in helping Kindergarten or 1st-grade students in Art? Whether you can commit to a regular time or assist intermittently, please email me at jennifer.wise@bvsd.org. Our greatest need is for Kindergarten on Wednesdays from 2:05-2:45 PM and Thursdays from 1:55-2:45 PM. Help with 1st grade on Wednesdays from 11:35-12:20 PM or Thursdays from 12:00-12:50 PM would also be greatly appreciated.
DANCE AND ART CONNECTIONS:
I have written a grant with the T2 Dance Company for the fifth consecutive year. This year, Grades 3, 4, and 5 will participate in the T2 Dance Company Color Wheel Project, creating original dance and visual art during workshops at the end of November. You are all invited to a gala supporting the T2 Dance Company, where I will be promoting the Color Wheel Project on October 14. More details to come.
3rd GRADE DONORS CHOOSE LINEN AND WOOD CANVASES:
Thanks to a Donors Choose grant sponsored by Jared Polis, each third grader will receive a real canvas frame for their acrylic self-portrait painting.
HAPPY BACK TO SCHOOL IN ART, COUGAR FAMILIES!
Clinica Dental Information
Clinica Dental Team is partnering with some BVSD school to provide dental screenings and preventative dental services. Students receiving sealants and/or fluoride varnish may be pulled from class multiple times over the semester as these treatments occur as a series. More information to come!
Counselor's Corner
At Lafayette Elementary, we are focusing on the importance of mindfulness in our daily lives. Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged with the current moment, which can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being.
To support our mindfulness journey, we will have a Mindful Moment during our announcements every Wednesday. This dedicated time will provide us with a brief mindfulness exercise or reflection to help center our thoughts and promote a sense of calm. We encourage everyone to take a few moments to participate and embrace the benefits of mindfulness.
We invite you to practice mindfulness at home as well! Simple activities such as deep breathing exercises, mindful walking, or even meditating for a few minutes can make a significant difference in how we feel.
Thank you for your continued support in nurturing a mindful community!
Best Regards, Anna Gamble
Volunteers at Lafayette Elementary
Volunteering is a fun, simple way to get involved within the Lafayette community. We have all sorts of opportunities to get involved. Whether you volunteer regularly in your teacher’s classroom or bring treats and coffee to teachers for late start or volunteer for the upcoming book fair, the impact can be huge. Not only does it benefit the school but it benefits your kids and families in our community as well!
Please take a moment to explore this link: https://www.bvsd.org/parents-students/get-involved/volunteers you may need the Raptor check or CBI Background fingerprint check. These are both good for 12 months.
Volunteers and field trip chaperones should be under line-of-sight supervision by BVSD staff at all times. Line-of-sight can be through a transparent wall or door. For volunteers, partners, or field trip chaperones who will not be under line-of-sight supervision by BVSD staff at all times – CBI fingerprint check required through a third party vendor, paid by the volunteer/partner/school AND volunteer must sign a BVSD volunteer agreement (Spanish).
Please see the Volunteer/Visitor FAQ and the Volunteers/Visitors Flowchart for additional details.
We appreciate your help! Thanks!
Colorado University Wizards
Dear CU Wizards Fans,
I am thrilled to share with you the upcoming schedule of free STEAM shows at the University of Colorado for the next 2024-2025 season! These free, engaging and educational shows are perfect for families and friends to enjoy together.
Starting in September, join us for a special show at Fiske Planetarium for "Blackholes!" presented by Prof. Andrew Hamilton.
In October, Professors Susan Hendrickson and Steven Brown will present the Halloween favorite, "The Magic of Chemistry!"
In November, don't miss Prof. Brian Hynek's presentation on "Rocks from Outer Space!" at the Fiske Planetarium. Additionally, Prof. Katja Friedrich will take us on an adventure in January as she explains "The Tumultuous Life of Cumulus Clouds!"
CU Wizards Director, Prof David Nesbitt will present an all new CU Wizards show in December, "Simplifying the Quantum World."
Next year, a few of the shows will delve into the physics behind topics that kids already know and love! Look out for Prof. John Bohn's "The Physics of Sports!" and Prof. James Thompson's "The Physics of Superheroes and Villains!"
Exploring the STEAM of the living world, Prof. Monica Fleshner will showcase "Superheroes Within: Immunity in Health and Disease!" while Prof. Tom Perkins will present "Microscopy and the Powers of Ten!"
We are also excited to welcome back Susan Marie Frontczak with her world-famous show, "A Visit with Marie Curie."
We can't wait to see you, your family, and friends at these shows each month.
Free and Reduced Lunch Applications
Although school meals are free, we strongly encourage eligible families to fill out the Free and Reduced Price School Meal application; doing so might qualify your family for reduced fees and impact funding for your school. If your family received an email with a F&R notification letter for the 2024-25 school year through DirectCert, you must fill out the sharing form linked within the letter to share your status with your school to receive benefits.
If you have not received a notification letter and your household income is within the guidelines to qualify (found on right side of FRL webpage), fill out the Free & Reduced Price School Meal application found in your Infinite Campus Parent Portal of Infinite Campus under More > Meal Benefits. More program info can be found on our site. If you have questions, please contact Lola Campos-Herzfeld at dolores.campos-herzf@bvsd.org.
Character Trait Television
Each Wednesday, announcements are shown virtually in the classroom and feature our students, their artwork, and other student talents throughout the school. Please enjoy last week’s CTTV: -LINK
Parent Teacher Organization
Hi Parents,
Please note our REVISED Save the Date – Meet and Greet is now Tuesday September 24th Dinner, bring the kids, more details to come. You do not want to miss it. It will be from 5-7.
Cheer on the Rockies and support Lafayette Elementary School. Buy tickets through our link for Rockies vs Chicago Cubs 9/13-9/15. Once we hit 50 tickets, PTO will earn $5 back per ticket.
Go to rockies.com/SCHOOLFUNDRAISER. Make sure you put Lafayette so we get credit for your ticket.
Have a fabulous week.
Email: president@cougarpto.org
