Dear Lafayette Community,

Thank you to everyone who volunteered to make Halloween a fun and memorable celebration last week! The costumes were, once again, a perfect mix of adorable, hilarious, and creative.

According to Halloween Co-chair Anna Turner, "We had about 50 volunteers, some who stepped in all day to help make it so special for all of the students. The day truly would not have been a success without them!" We'll have photos to share next week, but for now, you'll find a few at the end of this newsletter... along with a link to upload your own to share. HUGE THANKS to our Halloween Co-chairs: Anna Turner, Mary Tran, and Nina Wu!

In this week's Dolphin Digest:

🐬 Last PTA Meeting of the Year - November 13th @ 6pm
🎬 Lafayette Movie Night - Nov 16th
🏐 LAST CHANCE: New After-School Sport - Volleyball!
👐 Rise-SF - A Group to Support Newcomers
🍂 Autumn Carnival Results & Thanks
🗳️ Voter Info - Proposition Endorsements from California PTA
📷 Lately at Lafayette
📅 Calendar at a Glance 
👋 Community (Non-PTA) Corner: Help Local Seniors with "One Hard Thing" - Saturday Nov 16th

Please join us for this month's PTA meeting! It will be our last one of the year, since we'll have Lafayette Gives on December 11th instead of our usual meeting that month.

November 13th (Wednesday)

6pm

Lafayette school auditorium

Light refreshments and free child care (till 7:30) provided. 

We'll also have fun door prizes for attendees!

In order to be eligible to vote on our motions you must be a paid member of the PTA for a minimum of 30 days. The cost is $10 per member and anyone can join (parents, students, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.). Be sure to join the PTA today! We're so close to 250 members.

If you can't join in person, join via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387233183?pwd=VHA0MlpuMUtsc3dPSTJaazlzU0FsZz09

Meeting ID: 873 8723 3183
Passcode: 933176

Join us for a night of free family fun on Saturday, November 16th as we turn our school yard into an outdoor movie theater for a showing of IF.

[  Trailer  |  Common Sense Media Review  ]

Free popcorn provided! Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and any other snacks you'll need to get you through the evening.

Movie starts at 5:30pm. Be sure to arrive early and snag the best seat in the house!

Starting Wed, Nov 6th
Volleyball with college athletes is starting soon! All grades and levels are welcome and it's fine if you've never played volleyball before. Classes are on Wednesdays, 12:55-2:00pm.

Sign up on Homeroom. 

Contact Kristen (kjkrieger@gmail.com) with any questions.

The school district created RISE-SF to support immigrant and refugee students. Attend Lafayette's RISE-SF gatherings to meet and build community with other newcomers.

First meeting:

November 13 (Wednesday), 1-2pm

Lafayette Wellness Center (office next to the attendance office)

Questions:

Contact Ms. Emily (School Social Worker) - 650-260-5872, newmane1@sfusd.edu

View Autumn Carnival pics (and add your own) here!

A note from our Autumn Carnival Co-chairs, Mariela and Priscilla: 

"Thanks to everyone who attended the Autumn Carnival last Saturday. And a special thank you to all the volunteer parents, teachers, and parents running the teacher tables. We hope that everyone had a memorable time. We raised about $4,000 in tickets with $380 earned by the 5th graders in the Wacky Witch Lair. Please don't hesitate to reach out to the chairs for any comments. Until next year!"

[Editor's note: You can always find contact info for PTA officers and committee chairs from the Dolphin Digest. Click on "Contact PTA" at the top or bottom of this newsletter.]

For the November 5, 2024, Statewide General Election: California State PTA, or CAPTA, takes positions on statewide ballot measures that have the potential to significantly impact the lives of California’s children, youth, and families.

CAPTA supports each of the following four measures slated for inclusion on the ballot for the November 5, 2024, Statewide General Election.

• YES on Prop 2 - $10 billion for school bonds
• YES on Prop 3 - Marriage equality
• YES on Prop 4 - $10 billion for climate protection
• YES on Prop 5 - Affordable housing

Studies were undertaken to research the content, background, impact, and PTA authorities associated with each ballot measure; links to these study reports are shown on CAPTA's website, along with links to the ballot measures as posted by California’s Secretary of State.

Download the PDF of CAPTA's 2024 Ballot Measures Flyer to share and advocate locally.

Nathan (top Donut Dash fundraiser) had a pretty fun looking popsicle party with his class to celebrate his contribution!

Thanks always to our Stop, Drop and Go volunteers, who kept it safe and fun for Halloween week!

Did you know that our PTA hosts school tours for prospective incoming families? Contact lafayettevolunteers@gmail.com if you'd like to help out with these--you basically answer questions and calm nerves! Along the way, you'll be reminded how special our school is.

Below: PTA President Erin Feher Montoya leads a tour for 25+ families. We dropped in on several classrooms, including a 5th grade STEAM class (pictured).

And here are a few shots from Halloween! We'll have more soon, and you can upload yours here to share with the community.

NOVEMBER 6

- Secure Drill @ 10:40am

NOVEMBER 11

- NO SCHOOL - Veterans Day

NOVEMBER 13

- RISE SF Meeting - 1pm @ Wellness Center (next to attendance office)

- PTA Meeting - 6pm @ Lafayette auditorium

NOVEMBER 16

- Movie Night - 5:30pm showtime

NOVEMBER 18-22

- Scholastic Book Fair

- Parent-Teacher Conference Week

NOVEMBER 25-29

- NO SCHOOL - Fall Break

Community announcements are shared as a service to our members and are not from the PTA. Do you have events, resources, or other info to share with the community? Email lafayetteschoolpta@gmail.com to request a spot in the Dolphin Digest.

One Hard Thing 
SATURDAY 11/16/24
9:30 am - 12:00 pm 

Meet at: Richmond Senior Center 6221 Geary Blvd. 3rd Fl. 

More information: 
Email/Call Joey: 
Jyu@ggsenior.org
(415) 525-2571 
Sign Up on this Form
or visit: ggvillage.org/volunteer

"It’s no surprise that older people have a harder time taking care of their homes. Whether it’s weeding, clearing clutter, cleaning hard-to-reach areas, flipping a mattress, seniors often don’t have the strength, energy or stability to handle these chores. 

"That’s where 'One Hard Thing' comes in. One Hard Thing, a project of the Golden Gate Village (GGV), matches able-bodied volunteers with Village members needing help with the difficult chores they cannot handle on their own... [READ MORE IN RICHMOND/SUNSET BEACON]" 

Thanks for reading this week.

Go Dolphins! 🐬

Patricia Wada

VP, Communications 2023–25

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Lafayette Elementary PTA

501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization

Tax ID# 94-6172049