17 April 2026

Armour Reminders

Since the start of the fourth quarter, we have seen a significant increase in toys and personal items being brought to school. While these items are fun, they have become a major distraction during instructional time. Many students are physically present but find it difficult to engage with the lessons because their attention is focused on these objects. To ensure that everyone can make the most of our learning time, we kindly ask that all toys and non-school-related items remain at home.

Our goal is to finish the school year strong, and minimizing these distractions will greatly help the students stay focused on their academic progress.

Summer School Information

The deadline to enroll for summer school is April 30th. Students enrolling past this deadline could be placed on a waitlist and may not be guaranteed an afternoon bus.

Summer school dates: June 8 to July 8. No school on 6/19 or 7/3. Summer school hours:

• Armour: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm (doors open at 7:45 am)
• Cherry & Oak: 8:15 am - 3:15 pm (doors open at 7:45 am). Upper Room after-school care available until 6:00 pm for elementary students.

💡 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!

Cherry Beautification Day - 4/19

Join us on Sunday, April 19th, from 10 am to noon for a community work day to get the Cherry campus ready for spring. We will be weeding flower beds, spreading mulch, planting annuals, and picking up trash. We also have a special project planned to add a decorative design and barrier to the playground fence.

To help the morning run smoothly, please bring any of the following if you have them: rakes and shovels, wagons or wheelbarrows, gardening gloves and trash bags, small hand trowels or weeding tools.

This is a family-friendly event, and all students and community members are welcome to participate. We look forward to working together to make our campus shine.

Chili Bingo Night

"Chili & Bingo Night", Friday, May 8, 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Armour campus (201 E. Armour Blvd).

$15 adult, $10 student, children under 5 free (dinner only). Delicious chili & fixin's, cold refreshments, dessert. Multiple rounds of bingo and fun prizes to celebrate Spring and Mother's Day. Crafts table for kids. All proceeds to benefit ALIHS international trip programs. Click here to buy tickets.

MO HB 2404 Needs Your Support Now

House Bill 2404—supporting fair access to public school buildings for charter schools—has passed the House and is now eligible for a vote on the Senate floor at any time.

We need your help now.

Please take a moment to call Senator Patty Lewis at 573-751-6607 and ask her to support HB 2404. This bill ensures publicly funded school buildings can be used to serve students and communities.

Your voice matters—especially at this stage. Thank you for advocating for our students.

Quick script

“Hi, my name is ___, and I’m a parent at Académie Lafayette. I’m calling to ask Senator Lewis to support HB 2404. Thank you.”

Parent Academy: Language Immersion — Navigating Languages & Connecting Cultures

Whether you are just starting out at AL or are a veteran parent, join us on May 6 at 5:30 pm at the Cherry campus (3421 Cherry St) for a presentation titled Language Immersion: Navigating Languages and Connecting Cultures. This event will highlight how immersion supports strong literacy development across languages and fosters global mindedness in our students.

We will explore how students learn to read and write in an immersion setting, the strategies that support bilingual literacy, and how learning in two languages builds cultural awareness, empathy, and confidence in a diverse world.

A highlight of the evening will be a panel of AL alumni who will share how their immersion experience shaped their academic journeys and broadened their global perspectives. Their stories are a powerful reminder of the long-term value of a multilingual education. Dinner will be provided from 5 to 5:30 pm. Please click to RSVP so we can plan accordingly. We hope to see you there! 

8th Grade Completion Ceremony Information

EIP 2026: Cirque — Updates

Raffle ticket sales are LIVE here!

Cherry and Oak are bringing back the student vs. staff soccer game, and this year Armour is joining the raffle fun too. One lucky student (and up to three friends) will star in an official school marketing campaign across social media this fall.

Fund-a-Need is also LIVE!

Our goal is to raise $30,000 to transform nursing offices across all campuses so every student has access to safe, modern and fully equipped care spaces. These much-needed upgrades will help our nurses continue giving students the care they deserve.

A favorite is back:

the ALIHS Meal Train!

We are looking for 12 high school families (new or current) to each provide one dinner for the winning family. It is a simple but meaningful way to show the heart of our AL community. Sign up here!

Wine/Liquor Pull Donations Needed

AL parent Carissa Brown is collecting bottles valued at $25+ for this year’s wine/liquor pull. If you have a bottle to donate or know someone who can help, please reach out:

carissam.brown@gmail.com | 913-515-5189

The silent auction opens virtually on Friday, May 1 at 5:00 pm. Bid from anywhere, even if you cannot attend the event. Bookmark: www.academielafayette.org/eip for easy access!

May Math Club for 5th Graders

After-school math club for 5th graders at both Cherry and Oak will start around the beginning of May. At Oak, we will have math club on Thursday April 30th and May 7th, 14th, and 21st. At Cherry, we will have math club on Tuesdays in May. Math club will start right after school and end at 4:30 pm. There is no cost or fee required to participate. In math club, we play some math-adjacent games, we explore a few topics outside the regular curriculum, and we do some math competition problems, which help stretch the kids' math minds. If you think your 5th grader might be interested and wants to register, or if you have any questions, email Bill Kalahurka, bkalahurka@academielafayette.org.  

Spring Pictures Information

The weather interrupted our class pictures and pre-paid individual spring picture day. Pictures will continue on Friday, April 24. Students must be in uniform. Click here to order. At this time, only class pictures can still be purchased. Classroom pictures can continue to be purchased until April 24 at 8 am. They will be delivered to our campuses. Class pictures can ordered after 4/24 but will be shipped home for a fee.

ALIHS

Class code: FM487975

Armour Middle School

Class code: FM487980

Cherry

Class code: FM487965

Oak

Class code: FM487970

AL Booster Club Presents: AL Outstanding Coach Award

Nominations are now open for the AL Booster Club's first annual Outstanding Coach Award. We are looking for stories of coaches who have made a lasting impact on their athletes, fostered a culture of sportsmanship, and demonstrated dedication to the AL community. All nominations must be submitted by May 10th.

Who is eligible: Any coach of an official AL sport for the 2025-2026 school year.

How to nominate: Please share a brief story or explanation of why your AL coach is outstanding. 

Host Families Needed for 26-27

Become a host family for a French intern in 2026-2027! Interns are carefully matched with host families who open their hearts and homes to these wonderful individuals. A private bedroom and meals when you are together is all that's required. In return, host families experience the joy of language immersion and cultural exchange within their own household. Don't let this opportunity pass you by – seize the chance to make your home a beacon of hospitality and warmth!

Please contact: Crista Peeler (Oak), cpeeler@academielafayette.org or Danielle Coates (Cherry), dcoates@academielafayette.org.

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