Lafayette Elementary

 

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Lafayette Elementary School serves a wonderfully diverse population, providing a unique multicultural learning environment. We offer authentic academic opportunities, a strong sense of community, and a feeling of belonging for each child. 

Highlights include:

• Strong BVSD standards-based curriculum, assessment and reporting.
• Staff members who are recognized with grants and professional awards for outstanding achievements.
• School-wide focus on talented and gifted education which offers educational and experiential enrichment, challenges, and competitions for all students.
• Research based reading, writing, and math instruction.
• Exceptional extracurricular opportunities.

Our school-wide focus on Gifted and Talented programming provides support for identified gifted students through differentiated instruction in the classrooms, flexible skill grouping, curriculum compacting, and acceleration. Enrichment opportunities are available for all students in the visual and performing arts, and through clubs, competitions, and interest groups. 

Several special programs support students with unique learning needs at Lafayette Elementary School.  In addition to a special education resource program for children with learning disabilities, our multi-intensive program supports children with multiple physical and educational needs.  All of these programs are supported by highly trained specialists including a school psychologist, a speech language therapist, an occupational therapist, and a physical therapist and skilled para educators.  Both programs work through a school-wide inclusion model to support students with special needs in meeting their Individualized Education Plans (IEP) goals.

Additionally, we offer a preschool program and support for students who are leaning English.   We offer academic and behavior intervention (RtI – Response to Intervention) opportunities for all students who would benefit from these reinforcements. The extra support and services we wrap around students helps them achieve at their highest potential.  Lafayette offers school-aged childcare (SAC) for K-5 students needing after-school supervision.

The Lafayette  PTA (Parent Teacher Association) is comprised of parents and teachers who work to improve our school by promoting volunteerism, fundraising for materials and supplies for teachers, and parent/family involvement in the school community. The SAC (School Accountability Committee) consists of parents and staff members engaged in the process of analyzing school equity, achievement, and climate data to set goals for continuous improvement.   We have parent members on the district accountability committee, special education advocacy groups, and district parent council.  

Special Programs and Opportunities
Lafayette Elementary School has many ongoing activities to enrich learning.  Some of these programs include: Cougar Choir with concerts, Talent Show or Musical performance, Basketball club, Fitness Club, Climbing Wall, Instrumental Music, Grade Level Learning Fairs, All Culture’s Festival, Destination Imagination, Spelling Bee, Lego Club, Chess Club, National Geographic Bee, Drama Club, Shakespeare Plays, Student Council, T.E.A.M.S (Technology and Engineering to Enhance Science and Math), GAMES (Girls at the Museum Exploring Science), school newspaper, fifth grade Outdoor Education at Calwood, Spanish classes, Cougar Pride Awards, Safety Patrol and Green Team. 

Lafayette Elementary is a Green Star School which means we partner with Eco-Cycle to promote Zero Waste through increased recycling, the implementation of composting, and special waste reduction activities.  Our Garden to Table program works in collaboration with the Growe Foundation to provide students with the knowledge and skills that lead them to make healthy and environmentally sustainable lifestyles choices. We do this by offering a hands-on model that brings teachers, parents, students, and communities together through growing food, learning about nutrition, and preparing and eating fresh meals.  Lafayette Elementary promotes good nutrition, physical fitness and healthy life styles for all students. We are grateful to all members of our caring community for supporting such an exceptional school.
 

​​​​All of our school goals focus on students achieving at their highest potential, allowing them to feel success, build confidence, and feel connected to our school community.  We continually reflect on student performance in all content areas, our teaching practices, and our school systems, so that all students exceed our goals.  We base our goals each year on an extensive review of student achievement to determine celebrations and next steps in the areas of achievement, academic growth, academic growth gaps and climate. Our PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Support) system and extra-curricular programming enhances our strong academic curriculum every year.