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Happy Sunday everyone 👋

The first week of school is done! I hope everyone's back-to-school nerves have eased and you are all enjoying having routine back into your lives as much as I am. 

PLEASE NOTE: Emails coming from @sfusd.edu email accounts have been getting caught in Gmail's spam folder, so if you use gmail please be sure to check your spam folder to ensure you're getting all emails from staff, leadership, etc. 
 
Here is a quick rundown of what this newsletter will cover:

• Annual Giving Campaign kick-off details!
• Show love for our teachers by helping to stock the staff room
• Lost & Found information
• Sign up for after school enrichment classes (by September 7) and/or after school care
• A call to volunteer for Stop, Drop & Go 
• Information about being a Room Parent
• Enjoy a Back-to-School discount at Sports Basement!
• A word from our Principal!

See you on the yard,
Courtney
Mom of Saoirse (1st) and Éamon (4th)


💸 Lafayette's Annual Giving Campaign 💸

The Lafayette Annual Giving Campaign (AGC)  is BACK and we're kicking off with popsicles! To welcome everyone back, your PTA's Annual Giving Campaign is sponsoring The First Popsicle Dance Party of the year on Friday, Aug 28. It's our way of saying thank you! Everything the AGC funds, from STEAM to the arts to field trips, is powered by this wonderful community. More to come soon. 💙 Learn more on our website here.



🥤 Help Us Stock the Staff Lounge for the New School Year! 🥤

As we kick off a new school year, the Teacher Appreciation Committee is seeking donations to stock the staff lounge with everyday essentials so we can focus on providing fun treats and surprises throughout the year.

If you can help, please sign up via this Google Doc. Items can be dropped off in the staff lounge located on the 2nd floor (middle of the hallway) or shipped directly to the school.

Thank you for helping us start the year off right!

Teacher Appreciation Committee
Crisel, Natalie & Christina


🎒 Lafayette Lost & Found 🎒

Please be sure to label all of your child's items with their name. When items appropriately labeled are lost, a team of volunteers will sort them and get them back to the appropriate classroom. Items that are neither labeled nor claimed will be donated. 

The Lost & Found is located outside of the music room, which is next to the Auditorium.


🧘 After School Care + Enrichment Programs 🎨

If you need to sign your child up for after school care through YMCA or RNC, you can do so by following the instructions on our PTA website here.

If you wish to sign up for after school enrichment classes such as yoga, Spanish, gymnastics and more, you can do so on Lafayette's Homeroom website. The deadline for after school enrichment classes is September 7th.

Details on how to sign up for Lafayette's after school Mandarin program, provided by Qiao Ji Mandarin, can be found here.



🚦 Stop Drop and Go: Volunteers Needed 🚦

Our drop off program, Stop Drop and Go, needs volunteers to sign up to help! If you're available before school in the mornings, please sign up on Konstella here.

Throughout the year, grown ups from each classroom are called upon to volunteer for SDG. To see when your child's class is responsible, check out this schedule.


🙋 Call for Room Parents! 🙋

If you would like to support your child's classroom and teacher, please consider signing up to be a Room Parent. Details on what the role entails can be found here. 



⚽ Sports Basement Back-To-School Discount! ⚽

From August 21–Sept 4, Lafayette families can enjoy an exclusive discount on back-to-school essentials, fall sports gear, shoes, apparel, and more, in-store or online. Even better, your purchases give back 10% to Lafayette Elementary, helping support the programs and activities that make our school community so special. Use the coupon or code LAFAYETTE at checkout.



Hello Dolphin Community! 

*Please note that we are aware of an issue where some SFUSD emails are ending up in folks’ spam folders. We’ve alerted the Department of Tech, and await a resolution. In the meantime, please regularly check your spam folders.*

Thank you all for a wonderful first week of school! Ms. Yin and I have been overjoyed with how well things are going. Students are excited, staff are energized, and families and community members have been so welcoming and supportive. 

As we head into a new week I want to share a few morning reminders.

• Drop-Off: Please use our “Stop, Drop, and Go” system on Anza Street. Note that we have implemented TK Escorts to support TK students in making their way to the yard after exiting their vehicle. Please DO NOT double-park, block neighbors’ driveways, or block our white bus zones. 

• Breakfast: Students are welcome to access free breakfast in the cafeteria beginning at 7:30a. Please remember that per SFUSD policy, breakfast is only provided for students, and that students are required to pick-up their own breakfast. 

• Running late? If your student is arriving after 8:00a, please remind them to stop by the office on the way to class so their attendance is corrected to “tardy” instead of “absent.” Thanks in advance.

Looking forward… Mark your calendars! Back-to-School Nights are scheduled for September 2nd (TK-2) and September 3rd (3-5th), both from 6:00p to 7:00p. Stay tuned for childcare updates and other details in the coming week. Looking forward to seeing you all then! 

Lost & Found

Believe it or not, sweatshirts, jackets, water bottles and other precious items are already finding their way to the lost and found. Please remember to label all of your student’s belongings. This will support us and getting those items back to your family.

To-Dos

• Fill out and return the yellow emergency card that was sent home with your student. We need hard copies in case of power or internet outages.

• Complete the Multipurpose Family Income Form (MFIF)

• By completing the annual MFIF through SchoolCafe.com, you're helping bring additional resources to our school, regardless of your family's income.

• Learn more at sfusd.edu/MFIF.

Highlights & Bright Spots

A huge shoutout to Lafayette’s new teachers, Ms. Leah (1st), Ms. O’Toole (TK), and Mr. Choi (2nd), who have stepped into their first week of instruction with incredible confidence, poise, and enthusiasm. They are already making their mark, building relationships with students, establishing strong classroom communities, and embracing all that comes with the start of a new school year.

We also want to celebrate the grade-level partners and other staff members who have surrounded our newest teachers with support along the way. From planning and prepping to answering questions, sharing resources, and helping them get acquainted with our community, their partnership has made a meaningful difference. This is what it looks like when a staff comes together to ensure everyone feels supported and set up for success. What a strong start for our newest teachers and our entire team!


We also want to recognize and celebrate the incredible efforts of our teachers and staff as they reestablish the foundations of our beloved community. Through their intentional work to establish clear norms, reinforce positive expectations, and create meaningful opportunities for students to connect and contribute, they are setting up the year in the most positive way. Their dedication, care, and consistency are helping cultivate the welcoming, supportive, and positive school culture that we all value so deeply.

Important Dates

• September 2 - TK-2nd Back-to-School Night, 6:00-7:00p

• September 3 - 3rd-5th Back-to-School Night, 6:00-7:00p

• September 7 - Labor Day - No School

• September 23-24th - Picture Days

• October 12 - Indigenous People’s Day - No School

We can’t wait to get back together for another joy-filled week! See you Monday!

J.D. Ellingson (Mr. E)

Principal | Lafayette Elementary School