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Le Journal
AL News & Updates
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| Building Our Own Path: AL’s Bus Growth Story | |
Dear AL Community,
When Académie Lafayette opened in 1999 with 285 students enrolled, one of our biggest challenges was transportation. Partnering first with Della Lamb’s City Wide Transportation, we invested nearly 8% of our budget to get students to school each day.
Over the years, families experienced both stability and struggle. In 2022, our partner City Wide decided to withdraw from school transportation. Facing nationwide shortages, AL eventually launched its own bus service at Armour with seven buses. A year later, four more buses were added for Cherry. By fall 2024, we expanded service to all three campuses—providing full transportation for the first time. AL continues to offer door to door bus service for elementary school students.
Today, AL operates 14 buses and 2 vans with 12 drivers, a coordinator, and a dispatcher. This summer, we completed renovations on our newly acquired bus lot, giving us a permanent home base and a fully self-sustained transportation system. We also launched a new bus tracking app, already improving convenience for families. Looking ahead, we plan to add a bus supervisor and four electric buses through EPA grants.
Thank you to our parents for years of support—from referring drivers to contributing to the Annual Fund. Together, we have turned transportation from a challenge into a strength, ensuring reliable service for every student from K–12.
Have a great weekend.
Elimane Mbengue
Superintendent
embengue@academielafayette.org
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September 26
$10,000 Annual Raffle Kick-Off - Check backpacks!
September 27
Shrimp Boil EIP Community Party, 6 pm
September 29
Armour HealtheKids Screenings
September 30
AL PTO Restaurant Giveback Night, 5-8 pm, Culver's (7953 State Line Rd)
September 30-October 1
Oak HealtheKids Screenings
October 1
Oak Bike & Walk to School Day
October 1-2
Cherry HealtheKids Screenings
October 2
Conseil d'Ecole, 6 pm, Armour
October 3
Casual Day
K-12 Fall Pictures Retake Day
October 7
Title I Fall Informational Meeting, 6-7 pm, Oak
October 8-10
ALIHS College Trip
October 15
AL PTO Trash Bag Sale Pickup, 5-7 pm, Armour
October 16
ALIHS Open House, 5:30-7:30 pm
October 18
AL PTO Trash Bag Sale Pickup, 9 am-noon, Armour
| Access our live academic and athletics calendar here. |
| | $10,000 Cash Raffle is Underway! | | |
AL’s annual raffle has officially kicked off! Check your email for additional information. Tickets are just $5 each, with all proceeds supporting the Annual Fund for essential programs like classroom technology, field trips, transportation and teacher supplies.
2025 $10,000 Cash Raffle
September 26 – October 24
Grand Prize Drawing: Saturday, October 25
Ticket Booth Sales: Sign up to sell physical tickets and help reach our goal!
Stay tuned for weekly updates every Monday with student challenges, prize highlights, and tips for selling tickets.
Get tickets or learn more: www.academielafayette.org/raffle
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- Wanted: Instruments & Music Gear
- Adopt a Family for the Holidays
- Title I Fall Informational Meeting
- ALIHS News
- Fall Picture Retakes Information
- AL PTO Events
- Boo Bayou
- MS Mixer
- Restaurant Giveback Night
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- Miles that Matter
- AL Open Houses: Mark your Calendars
- Volunteers Power Our Community
- 24-25 K-8 Yearbooks Reorders
- School Communications
- Ads:
- Franck's Real Estate Corner
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💡 Did you know? Our newsletter is often so full of important updates that some browsers cut it off early. Be sure to click "View entire message" at the bottom so you do not miss a thing!
| | Wanted: Instruments & Music Gear | | |
Calling all failed musicians! All have-beens and never wases! Have you given up on your dream of playing music? Is your guitar amp collecting dust? Your microphone laying lifeless? Your axe untouched?
The MS Band Club is seeking donations of instruments (guitars and basses), amplifiers, and other music gear to help support the success of the club. If you'd love to free up some space and support AL's best club, please send donations to the front office. Questions? Feel free to contact Mr. White, swhite@academielafayette.org.
| | Adopt a Family for the Holidays | | The holidays are still three months away, but it is never too early to start organizing our annual adopt-a-family program. Please complete this form to let the social workers know how many family members you are willing to adopt. Typically, each family member receives presents or a gift card valued at $50. The deadline is Friday, October 17, and this link will be closed. Thank you for supporting our community! | | Title I Fall Informational Meeting | | |
The AL Title I Fall Informational Meeting will be Tuesday, October 7, from 6:00-7:00 pm, in the Oak auditorium (6903 Oak Street).
Because AL is considered Schoolwide Title I, any AL parent is welcome to attend and hear about the program. If you have received notification that your child is receiving Supplemental Instruction services (including After School Academic Support) this year, please consider attending to give your feedback. This meeting is an opportunity for you to:
- learn about AL's obligations to parents under Title I,
- gain a better understanding of what Supplemental Instruction does for your child or children
- ask questions about our efforts
- share your thoughts on Supplemental Instruction
If you are able to attend, please email the Supplemental Instruction (Title I) Coordinator, Keith Christensen, at kchristensen@academielafayette.org and specify how many people will be in your group. Please also know that we are available to answer questions and address concerns at any time by email. Online meetings are also possible by appointment. We hope to see you on October 7th!
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Twelfth graders Teaylor, Jordan, and Gerardo joined students from all over KC at a leadership workshop at the Kauffman Foundation. Chosen by the Foundation as Real World Learning Ambassadors and Storytellers, our students will help promote career-focused opportunities for ALIHS students. With Teaylor studying Culinary Arts, Jordan focused on EMT, and Gerardo pursuing Automotive Technology at the Manual Career and Technical Center, they are uniquely positioned to share the value of earning industry-recognized credentials and exploring real-world career pathways. Additionally, throughout this school year, the trio will introduce AL students to the International Baccalaureate Career-Related Program, which will offer 11th and 12th graders the opportunity to attend Manual Tech while pursuing rigorous IB courses, including an IB Personal and Professional Skills course.
| | Fall Picture Retakes Information | | |
Missed the original picture day? Retakes are coming on October 3rd. You MUST let your student and their teacher know that you need them to have their picture taken in casual clothes if you were absent that day or would like a redo. This picture will be in the 25-26 yearbook. Order on the Strawbridge website using codes below:
- ALIHS: FM487974
- Armour MS: FM487979
- Cherry: FM487969
- Oak: FM487972
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Boo Bayou
Boo Bayou is an annual family party for everyone in the AL community, hosted by AL PTO. While most of the activities are designed for K-5th grade students, all families are welcome to attend. Join us Saturday, Oct. 25 from 3-6 pm at the Armour campus soccer field. This free event includes Trunk 'n Treating, a costume contest, DJ, crafts, cake walk and fun activities. Volunteers are needed!
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MS Mixer
It's dance time! All middle schoolers are invited to the Fall Mixer on Oct. 25 from 6-8:30 pm in the Armour gym. There will be a DJ, snacks and Haunted Hallway (more details coming soon). Tickets are $5 for the dance. We need volunteers to make sure everyone stays safe and has fun. Please sign up to chaperone. Parents from all campuses are welcome as volunteers.
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Restaurant Giveback Night at Culver's
Support AL PTO by joining us for a Restaurant Giveback Night at Culver's at 7953 State Line Road on Tuesday, September 30. Stop by for dinner, dessert, or both from 5-8 pm! No special code or flier is needed and a portion of each order (even drive-thru) benefits AL PTO.
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ALIHS teacher and cross-country coach Hope La Sota is running the 2025 Chicago Marathon to help fund a life-changing trip to Peru for our Spanish students. This journey will give them true cultural immersion and global experiences they’ll never forget.
Click here to support Mme La Sotas’s run!
| | AL Open Houses: Mark your Calendars | | Volunteers Power Our Community | | Every great organization is built by people who step up. Your time and talent can spark real change! Join our amazing family of volunteers and help us grow, thrive and celebrate success together. Sign up today! | | 24-25 K-8 Yearbooks Reorders | | K–8 parents who did not order a yearbook but would still like one can now place a reorder directly until the end of October through Strawbridge using code YB31447. Orders will be shipped straight to your home address. Click here to view the flyer and ordering instructions. | |
Armour MS & ALIHS
201 E. Armour Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64111
816-800-8771
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Cherry K-5
3421 Cherry St
Kansas City, MO 64111
816-888-7400
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Oak K-5
6903 Oak St
Kansas City, MO 64113
816-361-7735
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