Hope everyone who went to the school movie last night had a great time! Thanks so much to Claire Mooney and Kristen Coleman for organizing such a fun event.

I can't believe Fall break is almost here! But I'm getting ahead of myself. Here's what's happening during the next two weeks:

EVENTS

• School Musical Auditions are Monday and Wednesday of this week, with call backs (if needed) on Friday
• There's NO SCHOOL on Tuesday as it's Veteran's Day
• Our next PTA Meeting is on Wednesday
• The Scholastic Book Fair is coming up next week
• Parent-Teacher conferences are also next week!

HELP NEEDED

• We need some parent volunteers to help support our STEAM pilot program
• Sign up to volunteer at this year's Scholastic Book Fair
• Donate to help our Kindergarten classes go on an Elkus Ranch Adventure!

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

• Reminder about what resources are available to families impacted by ICE presence and SNAP benefits
• Thanksgiving & Winter Basketball Clinics offering 50% off to SFUSD students
• The 3rd Annual Winter Literacy, Math & Science Fair is in December in the Mission Neighborhood!

We are excited to be moving into the last phase of our STEAM pilot for the 4th and 5th grade classes!

We will be starting a module that includes Lego robotics after the Thanksgiving break and could use some extra hands on deck to support our young engineers as they build and program their bots.

We are hoping for at least 2 parent volunteers for each class. It would be ideal if the same people could continue for the full time but if you're only able to make one instance and want to participate, please reach out separately!

The Scholastic Book Fair is next week! Your child should have already received the Scholastic Book Fair flyer in their take-home folder, but you can also preview the fair and buy books online through our official Lafayette Fair Page.

All classes will have an opportunity to stop by the fair during the week, but parents and caregivers will also have a chance to buy books after school and during Parent Teacher Conferences. After school availability:

Time: Monday through Thursday from 1pm to 2:30pm
Special Evening Hours: Tuesday and Thursday from 5pm-6:30pm
Location: First floor, across from the school library.

Sign up on Konstella to volunteer during the fair! Volunteers help keep the shelves stocked and assist younger students in putting together their book wishlists.

Cash and credit is accepted at the fair, but you can also set up a convenient e-wallet ahead of time to allow kids to make purchases without carrying physical money. All sales at the fair support our school!

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Book Fair co-chairs:

Justin Haywald -- justin.haywald@gmail.com 
Anna Jordan -- amoyles@gmail.com 

Each year, all of our kindergarten classes take a field trip to Elkus Ranch in Half Moon Bay, California. It is a day when our city kids get to see what life is like on a ranch, a place many of them have never been. They learn about gardening, taking care of farm animals, working on a ranch, sustainability, and so much more.

This trip provides real-life experiences that connect to what students have learned in the classroom. It creates memories and learning moments that are not typically accessible to many of our kids living in an urban city. This is our favorite field trip of the year and well worth the high transportation costs and entrance fees.

Donate to help make this trip happen! Your donation will help pay for our two charter buses and the entrance fees for the ranch. We appreciate your support in helping our kids have this memorable and educational experience!

-Ms. Scully

School Musical Performances: April 15, 16, and 17th, 2026

Kindergarten and 1st Graders: Please fill out this form

2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders:

• Please fill out this form
• Prepare a 30-second, a capella song for our team of directors. (If you are interested in a particular role, your song choice should reflect that)
• This year's show will feature lots of dancing, so we are asking those interested to also perform the first 35 seconds or so of this choreography (at slow tempo is fine!).

Auditions are MANDATORY for students in 2nd grade and above who wish to participate.

Audition schedule:

4th and 5th Grade - Monday November 10, 2:05 - 4 pm. (@ Auditorium)
2nd and 3rd Grade - Wednesday November 12, 12:50 - 3 pm. (@ Music Room)
Call backs (if needed) - Friday November 14, 2:05 - 4 pm. (@ TBD)

After their audition, students will be brought back to their after school program, if applicable, or released to parents. Roles will be posted on Friday, November 21 after school on the door of the Auditorium.

Thanks very much - we can't wait to see what the kids have to show us!
Ben Bleiman & Hallie Albert, directors

PTA President Meghan Butler sent out a school-wide message this past week about what the PTA is doing to support Lafayette families that may be impacted by ICE presence and loss of SNAP benefits. Her message can be read in full here, but the overview is:

• What the PTA is doing: The PTA is partnering with local food pantries to put together pre-packed groceries to deliver to families in need, as well as organizing Lafayette volunteers to escort students to and from school.

• For families that need help: We acknowledge that sending emails or text messages may be cause for concern for these families. Please contact Lafayette parents Mike Winn at 703-408-1239 or Liz Voigt at 202-997-6171. Mike and Liz have volunteered to provide a private way to connect families who need support with volunteers. (They are not providing Legal support, advice or representation.)

• For those that wish to volunteer to help provide support: Complete this Google Form and a member of the PTA Board will be in touch. 

Lafayette parent Cristina Manzanares helps manage a FREE weekly community rescue pantry called “Pantry 38.” Their mission: To rescue perfectly good food from across the food groups and redistribute to our Richmond District neighborhood all while strengthening and building our community connections one family at a time. The pantry is held (1-3 per week) in the outer Richmond and open to all residents living in The Richmond District.

How to join: If you have Facebook, please join the private group.  When you click “Join” make sure to answer all the questions before submitting your request.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1248827793638251/?ref=share&mibextid=wwXIfr

We also have a great supplemental food pantry program through The Richmond Neighborhood Center located on 30th and Balboa. It’s simple to sign up as you just need to be a resident of The Richmond District.

They open the pantry 4 days a week at set locations in the Richmond District and encourage households to sign up by stopping by their pantry distribution location right here at Lafayette Elementary School by our shed in the yard from 3:45pm-4:45pm. For more information about the RNC food pantry, and for opportunities to donate or volunteer, visit their website at: https://richmondsf.org/food-security/

Empower Me Academy (EMA) invites SFUSD students to join their fun, high-energy basketball clinics this Thanksgiving and Winter Break! Develop confidence, teamwork, and skills with professional coaches who focus on both athletic and personal growth.

Use code: "SFUSD2" at checkout to apply 50% discount.

The 3rd Annual Winter Literacy, Math & Science Fair is in December in the Mission Neighborhood!

📅 Saturday, December 6, 2025
🕚 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 César Chávez Elementary School
825 Shotwell St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(Entrance and limited parking on Folsom St)

For PK-8 grades.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

• Enjoy fun Literacy, Math, & Science games and activities
• Take home FREE BOOKS for your holiday reading
• Parent workshops on how to support reading at home
• Explore community resources and family programs
• Lunch provided for attendees

The first 100 students will receive a free STEM package! Come celebrate learning and community with us this winter!

Learn more here!

There's no better way to make an impact than to become an active advocate for this community. Join now and make your voice heard!

Lafayette Elementary PTA • 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization • Tax ID# 94-6172049