Good afternoon,
As an HSA organization, we recognize our responsibility to foster a sense of community and belonging at Lafayette Elementary School. Recent concerns regarding the safety of one of our students on their walk home after school have raised important questions within our community. Addressing these concerns is a priority.
To support our efforts, the board has reached out to local law enforcement for guidance and to explore the resources they can offer to help ensure the safety of our families.
Below are some resources we hope you will find helpful.
DC Police Department guidance:
https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/school-and-child-safety-0b
DCPS guidance on Self Dismissal (K-5)
Per DCPS policy, students in grades K-5 are eligible to dismiss with a sibling or by themselves with proper permission from a parent/guardian.
PreK students may not self-dismiss and must be picked up by an approved adult that is 18 years or older.
Before returning the self-dismissal form, please:
-Walk or review with your child on the route(s) they will use to travel to and from school.
-Be sure that your child knows their address, your phone number, and where to go or who to contact if there is an emergency.
-Discuss safe walking behaviors with your child, including crossing streets safely at intersections with crossing guards, marked crosswalks, or other safe locations.
Self-Dismissal
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In closing, the role of the HSA typically falls outside the scope of creating materials of this nature. However, we hope that sharing this information will inform and inspire meaningful conversations among our families.
Thank you for all that you do to contribute to the growth of our community. It is a privilege to serve your families each day.
Warmly.
The Lafayette Elementary School HSA Board
