Incident LaFayette Jr/Sr High School Friday 9/29/23:
October 2, 2023
Dear Families and Staff Members -
I am writing to inform you about a situation that occurred in one of our classrooms at the LaFayette Jr/Sr High School on Friday September 29, 2023.
The district was recently made aware that an insensitive statement was reportedly directed by a district staff member toward a Native American student. It is our understanding that the statement was not made intentionally, but nonetheless inappropriately referenced the experience of Native American children who were forced to attend boarding schools.
At LaFayette, it is our goal to treat all students with dignity, kindness and respect. We take reports such as this one seriously and will complete a thorough investigation of the incident.
Thank you for your patience ...
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Early Release Drill Friday October 6, 2023:
September 28, 2023
Dear Families:
New York State requires school districts to perform an early release drill at least once per school year. LaFayette Central School district will perform an early release drill on Friday October 6, 2023.
Here are the dismissal times for students on Friday October 6, 2023:
Grimshaw Elementary: 1:45 Dismissal
Jr/Sr High and Big Picture Dismissal: 2:00 Dismissal
Onondaga Nation School:1:45 Dismissal
Students will board buses at the times mentioned above. If you normally pick your child up from school, please be sure to pick your child up at the times listed above. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the main office at your child's school. ...
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LCSD Receives CEP Designation:
The LaFayette Central School District has received designation as a “Community Eligibility Provision” (CEP) school district. This means a few different things, but the headline is: All LaFayette students are eligible to receive free meals in school! That includes both breakfast and lunch, and no paperwork needs to be filled out to receive this benefit.
However, there is a CEP form that can provide additional benefits for students when filled out, as it can affect future P-EBT disbursements, allow eligible students to have testing fees waived, and more. While filling out this application isn’t required for students to be able to receive free meals, doing so may help the district provide them with additional resources.
To fill out the form and update your student's ...
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Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Completed Capital Project:
Grimshaw Elementary is excited to extend an invitation to the community for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of its re-imagined building! The ceremony will be held on Wednesday, June 14 at 4:30 p.m.
The culmination of the 2020 capital project vote, the renovations to Grimshaw Elementary are many, and can be found in the attached images. Some of the highlights include:
Prioritizing the enhancement of air circulation and the addition of air conditioning systems in the cafeteria, gym, and second-floor classrooms.
The comprehensive garden-inspired redesign of the Library-MediaCenter. This revamped hub of learning now boasts impressive features such as a makerspace, a learning commons, group study areas, more diverse seating options, and an updated circulation desk.
We hope you ...
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No Outdoor Activities Thursday June 8, 2023:
Thursday June 8, 2023 - All Outdoor Activities Canceled
Dear Staff Members and Families:
Based on the current outdoor air quality, we are canceling all outdoor activities for Thursday June 8, 2023. Please limit strenuous physical activities based on the current air quality index reading.
There will be no afternoon or evening modified sports practices or competitions. There will be no sports study hall. The 3:15 bus run will be available for students who have made arrangements to work with a teacher. There will be no 5:15 late bus run this evening.
Indoor activities, such as Academic Galleria at the Onondaga Nation School and Scholarship Night at LaFayette Jr/Sr High School will still occur as planned.
...
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No Outdoor Activities Wednesday June 7, 2023:
Wednesday June 7, 2023 - All Outdoor Activities Canceled
Dear Staff Members and Families:
Based on the current outdoor air quality, we are canceling all outdoor activities for Wednesday June 7, 2023. Students have been enjoying indoor activities. Please limit strenuous physical activities based on the current air quality index reading.
There will be no afternoon or evening modified sports practices or competitions. There will be no sports study hall. The 3:15 bus run will be available for students who have made arrangements to work with a teacher. There will be no 5:15 late bus run this evening.
Please keep an eye on students, co-workers or loved ones that have asthma or other respiratory ailments.
...
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Information About 2023 Senior Parade:
The LaFayette Athletic Booster Club is currently planning a hometown salute parade honoring LaFayette’s Senior Class of 2023 on Tuesday, June 13, beginning at 6 p.m. and originating at the Onondaga Nation Arena. As a reminder, the parade is open to all members of this year’s graduating class, not just athletes. We would love for all seniors, including all those from BOCES, the Big Picture School, and the high school to join the parade!
The parade will start at the Onondaga Nation Arena, and the club is asking that seniors (and their drivers) meet there and begin to line up their vehicles behind the Onondaga Nation fire truck at 5:40 p.m. A New York State Trooper escort will be on hand, stopping traffic at Tully Farms Road and the four corners in ...
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ONS Students Organize Awareness Event:
On Friday, May 5, Onondaga Nation School (ONS) students participated in the “National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women ” (MMIW). From the Native Hope website:
"Native Americans today face some extraordinary challenges. These statistics from the Urban Indian Health Institute were compiled from a survey of 71 U.S. cities in 2016.The numbers speak for themselves: Native American women make up a significant portion of the missing and murdered cases. Not only is the murder rate ten times higher than the national average for women living on reservations but murder is the third leading cause of death for Native women.”
During a discussion about the day (and the meaning behind it), an idea was brought about by Lela Lyons ...
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Budget Approved; Bus Purchase Approved;:
May 16, 2023 - For Immediate Release
LaFayette voters approve $23.7 million budget, elect board members
On May 16th, LaFayette Central School District voters approved the district’s $23.7 million 2023-2024 budget proposal, elected three board of education members and approved purchasing two 66-passenger school buses.
An $23,721,781 budget for the 2023-2024 school year that increases spending 10.9 percent and carries a 1.99 percent tax levy increase: 165 yes, 32 no;
Purchasing two new student transportation vehicles at a total cost not to exceed $334,000: 164 yes, 34 no;
Voters also elected three candidates for the three open board of education ...
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Optimist Club Holds Oratorical Contest:
Earlier this week, the Optimist Club hosted an Oratorical Contest for students in grades 7-9! A total of 17 students stepped up on stage to participate in the event (including one surprise speech by Bryce Stevenson while the judges deliberated). The topic of the speech: “Discovering the Optimism Within Me.”
During the contest, participants were graded on the content, presentation, and length (with a target range of 3-5 minutes) of their message. After the grading was finalized, these students took home the top honors:
First Place - Jeremy Aldrich
Second Place - Cambria Stanton
Third Place - Rory Cawley
Congratulations to the winners, but also, to each and every other contestant who had the courage to put themselves out there in front of an audience. ...
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NYSED Recognizes LaFayette as MBK Community:
On May 1, 2023, the LaFayette Central School District (LCSD) received word that it earned designation as a My Brothers Keeper (MBK) Community! Per the New York State Education Department:
The New York State My Brother’s Keeper initiative seeks to “Change the Narrative” of boys and young men of color, and all students, by closing and eliminating the opportunity gaps they face and helping them to reach their full potential.
The LCSD is very excited to have received this designation, particularly as LaFayette serves as the first Native American representation in the program! Meagan Smith, the My Brother Keepers Grant Coordinator for the district, talked a little bit about the background process, the motivations for seeking this designation, and the programs ...
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"Backyard Battle" Event to Benefit LCSD Alum:
The LaFayette Athletic Booster Club is hosting “A Backyard Battle” on Thursday, May 11 to help raise money to benefit LaFayette Central School District alumni Joe Evans, who suffered serious injuries this past fall that will require home modifications, rehabilitation, and adaptive equipment. Please see the image below for more information about Joe, his family, and the accident that’s so greatly impacted his life.
The Backyard Battle will feature lacrosse competitions for the boys’ and girls’ varsity teams. The event will be held at the LaFayette High School Lax Field. The matchups:
The Lady Southern Hills (LaF, OCS, FP, Tully) vs Mexico 4:30 p.m
Boys’ varsity Lancers vs. Tully Black Knights 7 p.m. (under the lights), ...
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Unused Emergency Closing Day - No School Friday 5/26/23:
Unused Emergency Closing Day - Friday May 26, 2023
Dear Families and Staff Members -
There will be no school on Friday May 26, 2023. The district is giving back one unused emergency closing day to allow our students and staff an extra long weekend.
All schools will be closed on Friday May 26, 2023.
Also, there will be no school on Monday May 29, 2023 in observance of Memorial Day.
Thank you and have a great day.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Belfield
Superintendent of Schools
LaFayette Central School District
315-677-9728 (office)
315-529-9550 (cell)
jbelfield@lafayetteschools.org
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April 2023 Green Sheet:
The April 2023 Green Sheet is now available.
You can read all of the latest news from LaFayette Central Schools by clicking here .
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Swatting Incidents 3/30/23:
Swatting Incidents - March 30, 2023
Dear Families and Staff Members:
We have been alerted that schools across New York State are dealing with swatting incidents. A swatting incident occurs when a fake 911 call is made indicating that an active shooter is in a local school building.
While this issue has impacted other schools across the state, it has not impacted any of our schools in our district. Again, we have not been impacted by any swatting incidents at our schools. Our school security teams and district leaders are aware of this issue. In the event that we receive a call, we will follow our emergency response plan and cooperate fully with law enforcement.
Thank you to our partners at the Onondaga County Sheriff’s ...
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Snow Day - Tuesday March 14 2023:
Good Evening-
Due to forecasted weather conditions, LaFayette Central School District will be closed on Tuesday March 14, 2023. Stay home and stay off the roads tomorrow.
I hope that everyone has a safe, restful, and relaxing day tomorrow. We look forward to seeing everyone back in session on Wednesday March 15, 2023.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Belfield
Superintendent of Schools
LaFayette Central School District
jbelfield@lafayetteschools.org
315-529-9550 (cell)
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LaFayette Players Readying Spring Production:
The LaFayette Players are pleased to present their spring production, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder,” on March 10 & 11 in the junior/senior high school auditorium. Both shows will be held at 7 p.m.
“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” is a hilarious (yet murderous) romp through England, filled with unforgettable music and non-stop laughs. The musical follows the low-born Monty Navarro after he discovers that he's eighth in line for an earldom in the lofty D'Ysquith family. He figures his chances of outliving his predecessors are slight, and sets off down a far more ghoulish path. Can he knock off his unsuspecting relatives without being caught and become the ninth Earl of Highhurst? Join us to find out!
Admission will ...
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Incident Social Media Post Sunday 2/26/23:
Sunday February 26, 2023
Dear Families and Staff Members:
This evening, a school staff member was notified that a student at the LaFayette Big Picture School posted concerning messages on social media. It was reported that a student posted a picture of a handgun after posting a concerning message about a staff member. Our school safety plan was immediately put into action which involved notification to Onondaga Nation leaders and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s department.
Out of an abundance of precaution, the student has been disciplined for posting an inappropriate message on social media directed at a school staff member which was followed by a picture of a handgun. The investigation into this matter is ongoing and the family ...
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Nicole Petranchuk
