Check out these helpful tips from the Lafayette front office to get you set up for a successful school year, including:

• How to report absences or tardies

• Places you may NOT park

• Nurse’s office request

• Websites to bookmark

Let’s give a warm Leopard welcome to our new Vice Principal, Thomas Baisden!

In his words "I have been working in education since 1995. I started off in Virginia working as an instructional assistant in special education classrooms and then became a special education teacher in 1999. I moved to Seattle in 2000 and taught in a special education classroom at Adams elementary school in Ballard for 21 years, before transitioning into an administrative role. I live in Ballard with my wife and have 2 kids, ages 19 and 16. I love playing music, camping and skateboarding! I look forward to meeting everyone!"

Thanks to everyone who attended our first Kindergarten & New Student playdate! It was wonderful to see so many new faces and familiar ones coming together to make this event a great success. The laughter and joy that filled the playground during the playdate was truly heartwarming. We would like to extend a special thank you to all the volunteers who helped organize and set up the activities, as well as our amazing Face Painters: Roma and Juniper! We couldn't have done it without all of your support and dedication.

Since we have yet to secure a volunteer who can coordinate our Fall Enrichment/After-School Program, we have no choice but to cancel the program for the upcoming season. We are continuing to look for a passionate and committed individual to take on the role of Enrichment Coordinator. This would allow us to revive the program for the Winter and Spring sessions.

Please spread the word if you or someone you know might be interested in this rewarding volunteer position. We truly appreciate your understanding and support as we strive to make the Enrichment/After-School Program a resounding success in the near future!

There are so many exciting events coming up that we hope you can join us at as we get ready for going back to school!

• August 20th @ 10am-12pm : Kinder + New Student Playdate

• August 26th @ 10am-12pm : All-School Playdate and Playground Cleanup

• August 31st @ 4:30-5:30pm : Back to School Teacher Meet and Greet

• September 9th @ 10am-12pm : Kinder + New Student Playdate

Come by to meet other Lafayette families and students! PTA members will also be available to answer questions. We hope you can join us!

To Our Incoming Kindergarten Families, the Kindergarten Team at Lafayette is so excited to meet you and welcome your little ones to school here in the Fall.  Our goal is to make sure you and your child are feeling comfortable about what to expect, and we look forward to getting to know you this year.  To our returning families, welcome back, we look forward to continuing our partnerships with you!

West Seattle Grounds coffee shop in North Admiral has teamed up with the Admiral Neighborhood Association to collect new and lightly used school supplies for our Lafayette community! Stop by anytime this month (thru 8/31) to drop off extra school supplies! Thank you, West Seattle Grounds & Admiral Neighborhood Association!

Teachers have released grade specific school supply lists for this school year. Take a look HERE!

Note that many of the supplies on these lists are intended to be shared in classrooms. Backpacks, water bottles and anything that says it should be labeled with your student’s name will be kept and used by your student. Anything else may be collected by the teacher to be shared with the class as a whole. Where teachers have asked for a specific brand or color, please try to purchase that specific item. If your student wants something unique or personal, please purchase that in addition to the specific items the teacher has requested.

Back to School Shopping Fundraiser! Learn more about the Office Depot Give Back to School program, Lafayette School ID 70107359.

When you buy from Office Depot / Office Max, Lafayette earns much need funds to help reach our fundraising goals (the higher the purchase amount, the greater the PTA earns).

How it works

Simply make a purchase of qualifying school supplies, provide Lafayette’s ID# 70107359 at checkout (in store and online) and our school will receive 5% back in credits for FREE supplies! It's a small act that can make a huge difference.

Sign up to receive PTA emails and follow us on social media - you don't have to be a PTA member to stay informed but we would love if you joined us.  Be part of the PTA - we will be resuming our weekly Monday emails soon!

Look for August Kindergarten Playdates to be announced in the coming weeks!

Hello wonderful Lafayette families!

Each summer we look for volunteers to tend and water the school garden for a week; starting each Sunday and going through Saturday. You will pick the keys up from Ms. Alden's home in North Admiral on Sunday morning and return them the following Saturday.

The kindergarten garden is the area that you will be watering and tending; it takes 30-60 minutes each day. Feel free to bring things to plant, harvest what is there, and explore with your little ones! The garden is located off Lander Street, there is parking right outside.

Feel free to email Ms. Alden with any questions: amalvarado1@seattleschools.org. 

SIGN UP HERE!

Lafayette Leopard Families, this is our LAST PTA newsletter of the 22/23 school year! Appropriately similar to how it feels to raise kids, every day of this school year felt like an eternity and yet somehow, I blinked and it's over. Before we scatter to the winds of summertime activities, travel, work and BBQs, I wanted to send you all a sincere thank you for making this year at Lafayette pretty dang amazing. 

Congratulations to William Peterson in Mr Marks' class. His art was chosen for the cover of this year's Lafayette Yearbook! Thank you to everyone for your creative entries - you all light the way!!

SPS student devices (iPads, laptops, and accessories) will need to be returned to your school before the end of the school year. If the SPS device and accessories are not returned, you will be charged a fine.

Congratulations to the incoming leadership and THANK YOU to all of the outgoing PTA Board Members!

Volunteerism is at the core of what makes Lafayette great, and our school would not work without the dedication and caring of everyone who gives even the tiniest amount of themselves to this space of learning and community. If you are interested in helping in any way, big or small, please reach out to the PTA to find a way to plug in and make a difference! You might even have a little fun while doing it.