The Dog Days Are (Almost) Over

As the summer is winding down, excitement is building toward the start of another school year at Académie Lafayette . For students this is a time of transition and change – they look forward to new teachers, new friends new lessons and adventures that are sure to come. While the last few drops of summer vacation are savored, the teaching staff is already back at work, preparing for the first day of school and the year ahead. New lesson plans are being crafted and the classroom prepares for another group of students and another opportunity to engage them.

This year we celebrate 15 years of education in the Kansas City area and we welcome 4 new teachers to our staff. As the search continues for a new principle to lead and guide us, our faculty remains ever dedicated to the students and the road ahead. Like every new year, we look forward to accepting new challenges and meeting new friends. We welcome new families and say goodbye to old ones as another graduating class heads out into world armed with a multitude of memories and an unmatched education.

The new school year is upon us and we’re ready to go!

Student Video of the Week

Two kindergarten students from Mme. Israel's class enjoy lunch and display how much they have already learned this year!

Planning Starts Early

It might seem a little early in the school year to already be thinking about our spring fundraiser Evening in Paris, but volunteers are already hard at work planning this incredible event. Last Spring our annual fundraiser brought together members of our school and members of the community to enjoy an evening of incredible food and incredible fun --- all for an incredible cause (if we do say so ourselves!).

This event which is a critical fundraiser for our school is not possible without the support of our AL families and volunteers. Committees are already forming and we encourage you to get involved. Not sure what you would like to help with? Don’t worry, we have something for everyone! Contact Shelley Doucet today and let her know you would like to get involved.

Below are a couple photographs of our 2011 event. What a fantastic event it was! (here maybe share photos of the event, provide a video of the fun auction etc.... thing to entice people and get them excited about attending and of course --- donating!)

Welcome to Kansas City

As AL students were winding down those last days of summer, across the globe another group of students was preparing for the journey here. The intern program is just one of the truly unique opportunities students have at AL, the chance to have more one on one help in the classroom from French speaking interns who take up residence with AL families for the duration of the school year.

The intern program is managed by Diane Balagna, and the amount of thought and planning that goes into this role is quite expansive. Aside from selecting which interns will make the 4000+ mile journey to Kansas City, Diane recruits AL families and community members to host the interns and insure that their experience is both rewarding and safe. For some, this will be the first time they have visited the US and for others, this may be a place they eventually call home. Over the course this school year interns will aid teachers in classroom instruction giving our students access to unparalleled guidance and one-on-one instruction.

Hosting an intern is an experience that many AL families continue to do year after year. Not only does having an intern in the classroom further the engagement of students, but imagine having on in your own home who essentially becomes part of the family! Imagine the experience you’re family will gain an the experience your intern will cherish forever!

For families who aren’t quite ready to host an intern, or who maybe don’t have the space to do so, the Mentor program is another way to get involved. Through the Mentor program, families can offer help without having to host an intern in their home. Mentor families usually participate by providing occasional rides to interns, helping navigate the city and including them in a dinner or family outing during their stay here.