Dear Lafayette Families –
Happy First Day of Spring!!!! Please read below for updates from the last several weeks and some notes on upcoming events!
Budget Update
This past February, the Lafayette LSAT engaged around the DCPS budget for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. Lafayette’s total allocation for next school year was 5% less than this school year’s allocation, despite a slight increase in projected overall enrollment. Across the city, several schools saw this same 5% reduction in overall funding. Despite the reduction, Lafayette’s budget for the upcoming school year will continue to preserve the current programming (art, music, Spanish, peace, library, technology, interventionists in reading and math, as well as instructional coaches). We will have a slight decrease in our number of ELL teachers (from 3.5 3 full time employees). We were also able to make reductions in several vacant positions to preserve current staffing. The final submitted budget also includes a few reductions to in the number of classes at each grade level. Below is how many sections of each grade we anticipate for next year:
PK4 – 3 classes
KDG – 6 classes
1st – 6 classes (currently at 7)
2nd – 6 classes
3rd – 6 classes (currently at 7)
4th – 6 classes
5th – 5 classes (currently at 6)
The final budget can be found here and the LSAT minutes and meeting recordings can be found here for more information.
Peace Update
The big news coming out of the Peace room is that Linda Ryden is transitioning to the next chapter of her career next year! Ms. Ryden was the pioneer and creator of our Peace class and has left an indelible mark on Lafayette with her work on mindfulness, social emotional teaching, and peace programming. Ms. Ryden is saying goodbye to the classroom to focus on the next level of endeavors with her Peace of Mind company. Lafayette will continue to have peace class – so start the recruiting for any educators you know who may be a great new peace teacher!!!!! We cannot thank her enough for her service to Lafayette. Be on the lookout for more information about how we can help celebrate her as a community.
Enrollment – Opens Friday, 3/31!!!!
It’s almost here…..Enrollment season for 2023-2024!!!!! Beginning on Friday, March 31st, we are accepting online enrollment forms for next school year! The link is here. Every student who is returning next year must complete a new enrollment packet! Prizes are available for the first grade levels and classrooms to complete re-enrollment! For our families who utilize CLS, be on the lookout for re-enrollment for aftercare for next school year as well.
Extra Curricular Fun
We have been very busy having lots of fun and success outside of the classroom! Last week we had our annual Pi Day recitation competition. Our top three students were Abby Cohen (4th grade, 465 digits); Emma Lomba (5th grade, 304 digits); and Rosie Cohen (3rd grade, 230 digits). To note, there were some powerful sibling duos and lots of practicing in their household for the Cohens (Abby and Rose, 430 and 230 digits respectively), and our younger sibling duo the Speights (Grayson 2nd grade with 40 digits and Nia in PreK with 25 digits!). Our boys basketball team is enjoying lots of success this season as well. They are playing in the city championships tonight. For our runners in the building, track and field has started with over 70 students in 4th and 5th grade participating!!! And our big spring events are just around the corner. Please save the dates! These evenings will highlight our music and arts programming in the building.
- May 18th – Arts Night for PreK/KDG/1st grade
- May 25th – Arts Night for 2nd and 3rd grades
- June 1st – Arts Night for 4th and 5th grades
- June 7th – Field Day for PreK/KDG/1st grade
- June 9th – Field Day for 2nd – 5th grades
Upcoming Community Engagement
Both the LSAT and the HSA will have elections this spring for the upcoming school year. Looking to get involved with advising on school policy, budget, and programming? Then LSAT is the choice for you! Want to volunteer at events, support with fundraising, and advise on community engagement? Then the HSA has a spot for you!!!! Be on the lookout for more information on how to sign up to be involved with either of this incredibly important parts of our school community!
We look forward to seeing everyone virtually at our next HSA general meeting on April 11th at 7:00 pm
- HSA General Meeting #3: Topic: Parent Mindfulness Training w/ Ms. Ryden and 2023-2024 Budget Review
Zoom Link
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87009915508?pwd=blFwd05UeEhnK0tCR0hjWHFxWGg0dz09
Hopefully you all had a great first day of spring (Monday, 3/20) and are looking forward to the next few weeks before Spring Break (4/17 – 4/21)!!
Wishing you a mild spring allergy season,
Dr. B