November Updates

Dear Lafayette Families –

 

Within a blink of an eye, we are in the middle of November!  Thank goodness for a full 5 day week this week!  This year, DCPS has created a new elementary school report card.  We anticipate that they will be mailed out next week.  In order to help our families know how to read and interpret the new report cards, I will be hosting a parent meeting on Tuesday, 11/29 @ 7 pm via Teams.  The login information is below. 

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Meeting ID: 275 879 726 058
Passcode: M6wkc9

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+1 202-539-1291,,404936009#   United States, Washington DC

Phone Conference ID: 404 936 009#

 

On Tuesday, 11/15, we will be practicing our monthly safety drills, including a fire drill and a lock down drill.  A lockdown drill is used to secure our school building and campus during an incident that could pose an immediate threat in or around the school. During a lockdown, teachers and staff quickly clear hallways and lock or secure classroom doors. Given that our children are young, our teachers and staff work to talk to students about this drill in an age appropriate way.  We utilize language that assures students of their safety.  For example, we tell students that this is a way we can keep ourselves safe at school in case there is something that is not safe outside of school.  Please know that every school in DCPS is required to complete two lockdown drills per year, as well as a fire drill every month.   

We are sharing the information in advance so families will not be alarmed if they hear about the drill from their child during the day or when they come home from school. We encourage you to talk to your child about the exercise and reassure them that this is being done to help keep them safe and that they should not be scared or stressed about practicing these emergency procedures. We hope there will never be a time when we must face an actual emergency. However, by practicing drills, we prepare our students and staff to remain calm and take proper action if an emergency arises.  

Thanksgiving is right around the corner!  As a reminder, we don’t have school Wednesday, Thursday or Friday next week.  Additionally, DCPS will be utilizing test to return for all families when they return to school on Monday, November 28th.  More information and a test kit will be sent home to support your family in test to return.

Finally, I know we are all looking forward to two classic Lafayette events that will sneak up on us in early December – the book fair and cookies and coding!  Our Book Fair will be hosted in person this year the week of 12/5.  Please be on the lookout for volunteer sign up opportunities!!!  More information will also be coming out about the Cookies and Coding event hosted by Mr. Gregal and the teachers! 

Please have a great week, stay warm, and find your groove in this full 5 day week of school in November!  Deep breaths as we are about to plunge into the holiday season officially.

 

Take care,

Dr. B