Week of December 22

WINTER BREAK IS HERE!  Only 1/2 more day!!!  

THANK  YOU, each and every one of you, for being a part of our famiLEE.  The beginning of this year has not been easy, but you remain positive, steadfast, and ambitious!  There is not a better bunch to be on this journey with and I cannot wait to begin 2015 with YOU!

DID YOU KNOW?

• that you may leave on Friday once all of your learners are safely dismissed?  IT'S TRUE!  Please make sure that all pets are taken care of and that your Thanksgiving and Holiday displays are taken down so that we can start the new year showcasing new work.
• that we will have a long term sub joining us when Jamye has the baby?  Her name is Janell Bunt.  She is a former Coppell ISD educator, and she will take good care of Yellow 3 while Jamye is home with sweet Finley Gray.
• that most people do not stick to their New Year's Resolution?  Why not focus on One Word for 2015 instead?  Please take time over the break to reflect on your "One Word."  We will complete an activity with it at our first Staff Meeting when we return.  

“Do what others won’t today, so that you can do what others can’t tomorrow.” – Unknown

CBL PLANNING DAYS
Thank you to all of our houses for tackling your first CBL planning sessions.  We are so thankful for the support from Central Office and support staff on campus.  You all put in some HARD WORK and EFFORT.  Todd and I are excited to see the units you created put into action in the new year.  You will have ONE MORE CBL Planning Day before the 4th 9 weeks.  Please look at your house calendar and get these scheduled.  Wednesdays and Thursdays are days that I will approve for these design days.


FRIDAY
Todd sent our daily schedule out this week.  Please wait to bring your learners down until we call them on the PA system.  Once called down, please strategically sit where you can help monitor them.  We will have morning announcements in the cafeteria.  Please watch Polar Express in the most manageable way for your group (house vs. individually).  If you have Amazon Prime, Netflix, or iTunes, you can stream it through your Apple TV or use the dongle in your house.  We have a site license purchased so that you can legally watch the entire movie at school.  

Please make sure to have your learners promptly ready for dismissal by 12:50.  There is no dismissal bell, so we will need your help.  Once your learners are safely dismissed, please GO HOME.  Start enjoying the break that you have certainly earned!

GOING BONKERS

Our Dad's Club will be hosting a Going Bonkers Night on Monday, December 22, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Please send this information out to your parents looking for something to entertain their learners over the break.  50% of admission goes back to our school!

SUPER TEACHERS
You have, without question, witnessed incredible lessons at RJL.  Please take time to nominate a person or team for Super Teacher.  This link will give you a place to acknowledge your peers.  Dr. Waldrip will personally award Super Teachers and provide them with lunch.  Let's get Lee designers recognized!!


CLUB 21
When we return from break, we will have a session with Cottonwood Creek educators who are in year 2 of implementation of 1:1 iPads.  Please come prepared with something to contribute to our App Smackdown.  If you are interested in learning more about iPad integration and you are not in 4th or 5th grade, you are more than welcome to join us in the PreK classroom after school on Monday, January 5.  THANK YOU: Cassie, Nicole, Taylor, Katie, Nick, Samira, and Rachel for the FANTASTIC work you are doing on a daily basis with using these devices and for attending extra meetings after school.  


WALK AT SCHOOL WEDNESDAYS
Walk AT School Wednesdays will start the Wednesday we return.  If you choose to participate by walking in the gym, before school, on these Wednesdays, you may wear sweatpants and sneakers with the Spirit Shirt of that day.  For example, on January 7, you can wear your house color shirt with sweatpants (instead of jeans).  We hope to model a healthy lifestyle for our learners!  Thank you, Alicia, for creating our indoor "walking path" during the colder months.  We look forward to warmer weather and utilizing the track later in the year.

"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” -George Bernard Shaw

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  Make eye contact. When someone is speaking, keep your eyes on him or her at all times. If someone makes a comment, turn and face that person.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

December 21- Jamye's Birthday

December 26- Alicia's Birthday
December 27- Elisa's Wedding
December 22-January 4- Winter Break
January- School Board Appreciation Month
January 5- 4/5 Club 21 Collaboration with CCE (3:30 RJL)
January 7- House Shirt Day with Jeans
                  Walk at School Wednesday (7:30-7:45)
                  District Spelling Bee (9:00 CMSW) 
                  Staff Meeting (3:30)
January 9- Nick and Priscilla's Birthdays
January 10- iCreate Shirt Day with Jeans

             Walk at School Wednesday (7:30-7:45)
                    Curriculum Meetings (3:30 Content Specialists' Spaces)
January 15- 3/4 Music Performance (7:00 pm)
                    Jean's Birthday
January 16- End of 2nd 9 Weeks
                    Spirit Assembly (8:00 Gym)

Week of December 15

It is SO GOOD to be "home" and back at school.  I am looking forward to our last week together before the Winter Break.  Hang in there- YOU'VE GOT THIS!  It has been so fun seeing you in your jeans and holiday attire.  One more week of Frozen treats coming your way!

DID YOU KNOW?

• that Peter Reynolds created a new video that is his gift to educators to remind you to follow your instincts and remember why you got into teaching in the first place.  See the potential in every child, nurture those emerging gifts and talents, and change their lives!!!  ENJOY!
• that an alternate schedule will be used on Friday?  Todd will send that out to you.  
• that the Madrigal Choir is going to perform so that your room parents can set up for the party on Thursday.  Join us in the gym at 1:00 for their singing.
• that we have a formative assessment resource, compliments of Debbie Youngs and Diana Saylak?  Diana suggested printing off on card stock and putting on a ring.

 

“A leader succeeds only when they find a way to make people excited and confident in what comes next.”
– Marcus Buckingham

HOUR OF CODE
Please invite me in for your learners to showcase what they learned during their coding time this week.  I would love to see what they have been working on!


MOY MAP TESTING
Please only assess learners on middle of year MAP assessments if they are on RtI or you have a concern about their progress.  THANK YOU!

DISTRICT HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Thank you for going to the Holiday Open House today!  Ashley did and incredible job leading our choir and instrumental ensemble.  Todd was a magnificent impromptu sound mixer!  It is nice to LEAVE SCHOOL and remember the reason for the season! 

YEARBOOK CONTEST
Please send out information this weekend to your families regarding our yearbook contest.  I am sorry this is such short notice, but...I just got word from our PTO about the deadline.  Entries are due in the front office by the END OF THE DAY, Wednesday, December 17.  Misspellings will disqualify entries.  The cover selected will depict the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.  Other entries that showcase our school, the building, our logo, etc. will be used for the back cover and title page.  Please make sure learners write their name, grade, and house in pencil on the back.  We will announce the winners at our second Spirit Rally in January. 


THURSDAY
We have more guests coming to perform for learners.  On Thursday, from 1-2, the CHS Madigrals will be coming to perform in the gym so that your parents can set up in your rooms for the party.  (Did I just hear a sigh of relief?)  Yellow learners will be supervised by Specials so you still have your conference time.  What are your thoughts on asking learners to dress to impress for this day?  I will be sporting another sequenced sweater.  :)


FRIDAY
We will start with morning broadcast from the stage, followed by a performance by the Drama Club.  How would you feel about our choir singing after a little brain break?  Then we can send you back to watch Polar Express in each house, complete Polar Express activities, eat lunch, go to recess, and GO HOME!!!  You can leave as soon as your learners are safely dismissed!  


"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” -Dr. Suess

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  Use your utensils for eating.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

December 15- West Winter Band/Choir performs for Lee (1:30-2:00)
                        TOY Recognized at Board Mtg. (6:00)
                        Taylor's Half Birthday

December 16- Lee Night at CHS Basketball (8:00 p.m.)

December 17- College Shirt Day

                        Yearbook Cover Submissions Due

                        Spur Savings (7:30)

                        Red CBL Planning Day

                        Staff Christmas Party @ Anamias (3:45)

December 18- Latest at Lee Parent Meeting (9:00)

                        Madigrals Play for Lee (1:00)                       

                        Winter Parties (2:00)
                        Rob's Boot Camp (3:30-Gym)

December 19- Ayesha's Birthday
                        Polar Express Day
                        Drama Performance (8:15- Cafe)

                        Early Release Day (12:50)
December 21- Jamye's Birthday
December 26- Alicia's Birthday
December 27- Elisa's Wedding
December 22-January 4- Winter Break
January 5- 4/5 Club 21 Collaboration with CCE (3:30 RJL)
January 7- House Shirt Day with Jeans
                  Walk at School Wednesday (7:30-7:45) Info coming soon!
                  District Spelling Bee (9:00 CMSW) 
                  Staff Meeting (3:30)
January 9- Nick and Priscilla's Birthdays
January 10- Potential Lee Parent University (Info coming soon!)

Week of December 8

I know NONE of you are feeling this way, especially after today's Best Christmas Pageant Ever snaffoo:

It sounds as if you handled everything in the best way possible.  I'm disappointed that our learners missed the performance, but the optimist in me is touched by the way everyone pulled together and made lemonade out of lemons. 

DID YOU KNOW?

• that there are yummy snacks at the CISD Open House?  Make sure you drop in at Admin during your conference time.  
• that Dr. Waldrip does not want you to stop what you are doing when he comes to visit?  He just likes to take a look at what is going on in our school.  Now, if a learner wants to invite him to "join in," well....so be it! :)  If you DO NOT want him to drop by your room, please let Diana know so that she can inform him.
• that you can register your class for Hour of Code by going to this website? Please tweet out using @codeorg  #HourOfCode  #RJLHourOfCode
• that we may be saying farewell to district MAP testing?  Dr. Waldrip, Curriculum Directors, and Principals have been looking at the number of assessments that our learners are taking. We have proposed eliminating this and replacing with iStation.  More information about this will be coming soon. 

TASA VISIT BEFORE BREAK

I cannot express how proud of our school I was when the Superintendents visited RJL.  They were BLOWN AWAY by YOU and YOUR LEARNERS. You did an incredible job of utilizing all of the places in the building and seamlessly integrating technology.  The hugest compliment came from Dr. Turner when he turned to me and said, "Wow!  I am so impressed with how far you all are since my visit in September. You are much further along than I thought you would be."  This may not mean much to you, but he is a man who does not throw out compliments so, to me, this was a HUGE ONE.  Please know that your hard work does not go unnoticed by me or ANY of the visitors that come to our school.  Jaws are dropping and ideas are generated by watching and seeing YOU in action!

LUNCHROOM EXPECTATIONS
You are doing a FANTASTIC job of holding our learners to the cafeteria expectations we discussed.  THANK YOU!  Thank you to Mrs. Shannon for numbering our tables.


WEDNESDAY FED EX DAY

Please remember that Fed Ex hour is for professional growth.  This hour is not to complete a task that is on your designer plate, I'm sorry.  Please do not disturb others who are working on individual goals.  ​

• ​Fed Ex IS:  technology training with Alli, a book study, learning about something new like the Comprehension Toolkit from KK

• ​Fed Ex IS NOT: grading, lesson designing, completing Information Literacy, watching Bloodborne Pathogen video, writing your professional goals

Please ask me if you are unsure.  Your post on Today's Meet is your accountability to each other and administration.  I will go through Wednesday night and grant credit to those who posted after 4:30 but before 5:00.  

TOY DRIVE AT LEE
4th graders will be hosting a CBL toy drive from December 8 - December 19 at our school.  This is to go along with their Global Read Aloud book study of One for the Murphys.  Please post in your newsletters that they will be asking for new, unwrapped toys during these days.

FROZEN DAYS OF GIVING
Just a reminder how about much we love you!!  Don't forget to wear your jeans and holiday attire the next two weeks.  Clever Frozen themed treats will be in the lounge daily.  Please thank Diana and Veronica for helping me with the organization and set up of these!  

CBL PLANNING DAYS
Hours for you on these days are from 7:30 - 3:30 in the Pre K room.  Dress is casual.  Please bring your resources and be in there on time so that Curriculum Directors, support staff, Todd, and I can support you.   Plan to order in lunch that day for your group.

HOUSE DIGITAL SIGNAGE
Please work as a group to update these a minimum of once a month.  When you have new projects, learning, etc. to display on these, please send them to James and tell him which TV to run it on. (until we are trained otherwise).   These should be turned on every morning and turned off every afternoon. I appreciate your help.

"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Growth only occurs when you successfully adapt to change.”
-Summer Jeirles (timely for all of us this year and TODAY)

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  Surprise others by performing random acts of kindness. Go out of your way to do something surprisingly kind and generous for someone. (perfect timing for our 4th grade CBL)

DATES TO REMEMBER:

December 8-14- Hour of Code Week 

December 8- Frozen Days of Giving Begin 

                      Signed Progress Reports Due back to School

                      CK at Learning Forward Conference
December 9- Lee Campus Spelling Bee (3:15 Library Flex Space)
                      NO PTO Mtg.

                      CK at Learning Forward Conference
December 10- Red and Black Attack shirt with Jeans
                        Fed Ex Day

                        CK at Learning Forward Conference

                        Dr. Waldrip visits Lee @ 10:30
December 11- Todd's Birthday
                        Yellow CBL Planning Day
                        PTO Holiday Luncheon for staff
                        Channel 11 News films 2nd Grade (10:00)
                        Elisa's Bridal Shower (3:30)

                        Instrumental Ensemble Performance (6:30)
December 12- CISD Holiday Open House (Conference Time)
                        Possible Drama Club Performance (8:15)
                        Lee Performs at Holiday Open House (10:15)

December 15- West Winter Band/Choir performs for Lee (1:30-2:00)

December 16- Lee Night at CHS Basketball (8:00 p.m.)

December 17- College Shirt Day

                        Spur Savings (7:30)

                        Red CBL Planning Day

                        Staff Christmas Party @ Anamias (3:45)

December 18- Latest at Lee Parent Meeting (9:00)

                        Winter Parties (2:00)

December 19- Polar Express Day

                        Early Release Day (12:50)

Hallelujah! Let it Go!

Thank you for letting Todd and I interrupt your learning this afternoon to share that the office will celebrate YOU the next two weeks.

Our hope is that the gift of time allowed you to "let something go."  We know it evoked a "Hallelujah" from quite a few of you.

Please take a moment to enjoy this beautiful song and video!

Week of December 1

Before we leave for our FABULOUS week off, I want to express MANY THANKS for the blessings that each of you bring to our school.

THANK YOU for the tireless effort that you give our school and children EACH and EVERY day. I know the personal time you sacrifice to go above and beyond to make our school the most fun and exciting place for children to learn and grow.  I am honored to work with you!

THANK YOU for all you did to make Friday a day of showcase for our school.  I have no doubt these leading Superintendents will be mesmerized with what you are doing with our learners. 

THANK YOU for making my 42nd Birthday and "AMAZING" one that will forever be in my memory.  I was touched, humbled, and blown away with your creativity, generosity, and thoughtfulness.  I become overwhelmed with emotion thinking about the WEEK OF CHANTEL and how special and celebrated I feel. I love each and every one of you!

PLEASE ENJOY YOUR WEEK OFF!  I pray that you have wonderful memories with friends, family, and loved ones.  I also pray that you get some well-deserved rest and "YOU time."  I plan to avoid this building.  I hope you each will do the same- you have earned it!

DID YOU KNOW?

• that you can plant in our raised beds now?  Check out this site if you want to know what you can start as seedlings for when the spring gets here.  

• that we received the sweetest praise from a parent?  They said,  "I wanted to compliment your staff at car line. I have been observing this since the school started: they are all smiling and waving while making eye contacts with the parents all the time. They create a  happy feeling which is very contagious and gives me extra energy while I drive to work."  WHAT A GREAT EMAIL TO GET!!!
• that Shelley and Kylie moved a total of 863 pounds of cans?  That was 879 cans of food. These cans will provide access to 719 meals for hungry children, families and seniors in need in North Texas!
• we are going to take a staff Christmas picture on Monday, December 1, right after school?  Please bring a Santa hat, Christmas props, or wear a tacky sweater so we can send out holiday wishes from Lee to the other Coppell schools.
• that you need to get fun pajama bottoms SOON?  We will have a Polar Express day where you can wear them to school.  Maybe we will even have a pajama parade?
• that most shelves should be finished being installed by the end of the day?  YAY!
  
  
  

TURKEY DRIVE
I can't wait to see how many turkeys come in from RJL!  THANK YOU to those of you that succumbed to the pressure of a phone call plea for turkeys.  THANK YOU to Alicia for being our point person for the Turkey Drive and to Stacey for sharing her turkey hats with us in the car loop!  :)



TASA VISIT ON FRIDAY
I cannot wait to tour our visiting Superintendents around our school tomorrow.  Thank you to those who already shared that you will be in the flex space, the outdoor learning pavilion, and more.  If anyone is interested, the data dashboard is up and working with close to accurate information, now.  The pen is in the front office.


LUNCHROOM EXPECTATIONS
Please review the lunch expectations from our Leadership Meeting with your houses.  Some already started on Thursday- WOW!  


HOUR OF CODE
If you are planning on participating in this event, please let CK know.  


TOY DRIVE AT LEE
4th graders will be hosting a CBL toy drive from December 8 - December 19 at our school.  This is to go along with their Global Read Aloud book study of One for the Murphys.  Please post in your newsletters that they will be asking for new, unwrapped toys during these days.

BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER
Thank you for getting your estimated lunch counts in to Jean.  Also, remember that this day you will eat in your spaces.  Todd will send a schedule your way so that you know what to expect that day.  I'm sad to miss the event.  Please have your learners make Thank You cards for PTO for funding the busses for our learners and staff. 


LITERACY COACHING
Don't forget to book Roxann on this website!


LIVE MORNING BROADCAST STARTING MONDAY
We hope you have enjoyed our new LIVE morning broadcast.  We will continue to do our best to start promptly at 7:55.  We hope that this helps with getting your learning day started.  Thank you Courtney and Alli for your efforts with this!

"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK:  “Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding on the 20th.” -Julie Andrews

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  While you are with a substitute teacher, obey the same rules that you follow when your teacher is with you.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
November 24-28- NO SCHOOL

November 25- Going Bonkers w/ Dad's Club (6:00-8:00pm)
December 1- 5th Grade visits from Wilson
                      Staff Christmas Picture (3:20)
                      SBDM Mtg. (3:30)
                      Clay Night at Lee (5:00)
December 2- 5th Grade Spelling Bee in classes
December 3- Wear your House shirt day with jeans
                      Progress Report Grades Due
                      3rd Field Trip- Arboretum
                      Picture Retakes (8:15)
                      Staff Meeting (3:30-5:00)
December 4- Spur Savings (before school-cafe)
                      Chantel at TAGT Conference
                      4th Field Trip- FMSH
December 5- Chantel at TAGT Conference 
                      Progress Reports go home (under 73%)
                      School Wide Field Trip (CMSW)
December 8- Signed Progress Reports Due back to School
December 9- Lee Campus Spelling Bee (3:15 Library Flex Space)
                      NO PTO Mtg.
December 10- Red and Black Attack shirt with Jeans
                        Fed Ex Day
December 11- Todd's Birthday
                        Instrumental Ensemble Performance
                        Yellow CBL Planning Day
                        PTO Holiday Luncheon for staff
                        Channel 11 News films 2nd Grade (10:00)
                        Elisa's Bridal Shower (3:30)
December 12- CISD Holiday Open House (Conference Time)
                        Possible Drama Club Performance (8:15)
                        Lee Performs at Holiday Open House (10:15)

Week of November 17

Thank you for a super fun week as we cap it off with our school dance tonight.  We can't wait to see you there.  

DID YOU KNOW?

• that you can nominate a colleague for as a Super Teacher.  Here is a link to recognize them.  

• that we are going to have a luncheon next Wednesday?  Please sign up to bring in something on our Social Spurs document.

• that we will have TED Ed Clubs at Lee on Tuesday afternoons?  Please share this with your parents.  Thank you Elisa for spearheading this!  Our learners, parents, and Admin are VERY EXCITED!  If you didn't watch the TedEd video I tweeted out this week, please take time to watch this.

• that the fall window for observations closes next Thursday?  Todd and I will be in your classrooms within the next week to perform a 20 minute observation in your classroom.  This is a focused walkthrough based on your professional goals.  
• that we are ordering Number Talks for all designers.  Thank you Courtney for writing up this order with Library bond dollars! 

SO YOU THINK YOU "CAN" DANCE
Thank you to those of you that are able to attend our Fall dance.  Our PTO really wanted a free family event and did their best to put together a fun time for all.  We appreciate that you would take your personal time to connect with our learners and families!  This is so important the first year and it makes a difference that you were there!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!

LOCK DOWN DRILL / SAFETY AUDIT

You all did an incredible job performing all three drills on Wednesday.  We recognize that this is a disruption to the learning day, so we appreciate your cooperation.  The auditors were HIGHLY IMPRESSED with how quickly and quietly our learners respond in these drills.  THANK YOU DESIGNERS for your efforts!!!  We will share the results of their project when we learn more.

SPURS SAVINGS
We had an incredible Grand Opening to the bank.  48 learners deposited over $545.53 on our first day! Our next Spur Savings day will be December 4.

LEADERSHIP MEETING ON WEDNESDAY
Everyone is welcome, but our campus leadership team is required to attend our after school meeting on Wednesday from 3:30-5:00.  This will be in place of our Staff Meeting.  During this time we will develop school wide expectations in the cafeteria and more.  


LEARNER "LEE"DERSHIP COUNCIL

Your council member was given a home"fun" assignment.  They are to find out their t-shirt size.  Please remind them and send them to the PreK classroom from 9:00-10:00 on Wednesday, November 19.  THANK YOU for sharing your leaders with me!

TURKEY DRIVE
Friday is our turkey drive and our LEEdership council has challenged us with bringing at least 350 turkeys.  Please bring turkeys to school Friday morning.  Dads Club will help us with collecting them and Ready, Set, Teach students will tally our donations.  If you do not want to shop for a turkey, you can donate online at www.ntfb.org/turkey . Select Kid’s 4 Turkeys and choose Richard J. Lee Elementary.


TASA VISIT ON FRIDAY
Friday is a huge day on campus.  Not only do we have our turkey drive and PTO Presidents meeting here at Lee, but we have a visit by our former Superintendent, Dr. Turner.  If you don't know, he is the one that envisioned this school.  He will be bringing Superintendents from all over from 9:00-10:00 on Friday.  I know that we can count on you to showcase all that you are doing in and with our building to transform education and he will see our school in a positive way!

FLEXIBLE USE OF SPACES
Thank you for using ALL parts of our building ALL of the time.  This is something that each of you have pushed yourselves with, and we notice!!   Just a friendly reminder to pay attention to the library schedule.  If Mrs. George is scheduled with a class, we ask that you use the flex space or exterior areas of the library so that it does not disrupt her lesson on the carpet space by the checkout.  Please remind learners that if they go to the library and she is teaching class, that they should not walk through the middle of her lesson.


LITERACY COACH ROLE
I want to share some exciting news with the role of our Literacy Coach.  This website will help you with seeing the vision of how we are going to be utilizing this role at Lee.  This is different than you are used to, so I encourage you to visit with me if you have any questions or suggestions.  We are transforming the role of this job in the district, and (shocker) Lee is the model for what other schools will be moving toward.  I am excited to see how using Roxann in this capacity benefits YOU and our learners.


LIVE MORNING BROADCAST STARTING MONDAY
Weeks ago you got an email from Alli about signing up for a Livestream account.  If you haven't done that yet, please do that this weekend.  On Monday, we will be live (thank you James, Alli, and Courtney)!  We will begin our live broadcast at 7:55 each morning, so BE READY!  Coming soon: CK interviews learners interested in being our anchors for morning broadcast.


DISMISSAL FROM THE GYM IN THE MORNINGS
Just a reminder to be ready to greet your learners as they are automatically dismissed from the gym for you each morning at 7:45.

"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK:  “Be like a postage stamp, stick to something until you get there.” -Josh Billings

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  Do not smack your lips, tsk, roll your eyes, or show disrespect with gestures.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
November 17- Chantel's Birthday

November 19- Red and Black Attack Shirt with Jeans
                        Leadership Meeting (3:30-5:00)
November 20- Courtney M's Birthday
                        2nd Grade Field Trip-Arboretum
                        Learn About Lee (9:00 Media Center)
November 21- Turkey Drive (7:30-9:00 Car Loop)
                        TASA Visit (IMPORTANT- 9:00)
                        PTO President's Meeting @ Lee (9:00)
November 24-28- NO SCHOOL
November 25- Going Bonkers w/ Dad's Club (6:00-8:00pm)
December 3- Wear your House shirt day with jeans
                      Progress Report Grades Due
                      3rd Field Trip- Arboretum
                      Picture Retakes (8:15)
                      Staff Meeting (3:30-5:00)
December 4- Spur Savings (before school-cafe)
                      Chantel at Conference
                      4th Field Trip- FMSH
December 5- Chantel at Conference 
                      Progress Reports go home (under 73%)
                      School Wide Field Trip (CMSW)

Week of November 10

What a week!  It was so much fun watching you run around the building looking for feathers (thanks for the idea, Rachel!)  Check out this great action pic that Angela caught:

I swear YOU are the best staff a principal could ask for!  Each of you bring spirit and fun to this place we call work!  THANK YOU!


DID YOU KNOW?

• that you still have to put in an absence request in Eduphoria for your CBL planning day so that we can book your substitute?  Sign up fast so you can get the sub you request!
• that the entire school is going to go see The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at Coppell Middle School West.  PTO will be providing us busses to attend.  Please take time to thank them for this holiday gift to our learners.
• that our plastic and paper recycling can go in the same containers?  Please check out this document that explains our new district recycling program.
• that there is a great DMN article about why families from India move to this area in droves.

LOCK DOWN DRILL / SAFETY AUDIT

At 10:00, on Monday, we will perform our first "Lockdown, Lights Out, Out of Sight" drill.  Please go over with your learners that when they hear this phrase on the intercom that you are to go to the outer co-labs or storage rooms.  In PE, Music, and Art, learners can go in your storage closets.  Designers, remember to lock your classroom doors and turn out the lights.  Learners should sit silently as Admin will go around checking doors.  Please prepare them that they should not panic when they hear us jiggle the door handle.

On Wednesday, we will perform all three drills at 9:00.  We have a team coming from UNT to watch our procedures and to give us feedback.  With your cooperation we will get through with these as quickly as possible.  Thank you for your help!  No more drills until December!

LEE "LEE"DERSHIP COUNCIL

Thank you so much for electing a representative for your class for our Leadership Council.  We will meet on Tuesday in the PreK classroom from 9:30-10:30.  Please give them some time when they return to share what we did during our meeting. 


VETERANS DAY 
We will call you down to the cafeteria by grade level (like our School Dedication) starting at 8:05 on Tuesday.  We would like to begin our ceremony at 8:15.  We will perform our morning announcements (with the help of learners) and honor the guests in attendance.  Please send out a reminder to your parents to sign up their visitors here so that we can have ample seating for them.  At the conclusion of our ceremony we will play Taps and learners should walk back at a Level 0 to your spaces.  Please explain this to them ahead of time.

Don't forget to get Alli your digital contributions so that she can update them on the digital signage.  Thank you, Mrs. Floyd, for the beautiful flags around the campus!

You may wear your jeans on Tuesday with a red, white, or blue shirt.  Please encourage our learners to do the same.

SPURS SAVINGS
On Wednesday, we will have the grand opening of our Spurs Savings Bank before school in the cafeteria.  This will be run by our fifth graders.  Thank you for spearheading this, fifth grade designers!  Please remind your learners to bring their deposits to school on Wednesday.  If you have questions, please contact Mr. Coenraad.


SO YOU THINK YOU "CAN" DANCE
Please talk up our first school dance that is happening this Friday from 6:00 - 9:00.  Learners are encouraged to bring canned food for donations.  There will be food trucks and snacks at the event.  We hope you can be there for a little while!

"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK:  “Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” -Newt Gingrich

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  When you cough or burp, it is appropriate to turn your head away from others and cover your mouth with the full part of your hand.  Afterward, you should say, “Excuse me.”  When you sneeze, you should sneeze in your elbow. ​

DATES TO REMEMBER

November 10- Lock Down Drill (10:00)
November 11- Veteran's Day Ceremony (8:15 Cafe)
                        LEEdership Council Meeting (9:00 PreK)

                        PTO Mtg. (6:30 Cafe)
November 12- College Shirt Day with Jeans
                        Curriculum Mtg. (3:30- Specialist's Spaces)
                        4th Grade to Arboretum
                        Grand Opening of Spurs Savings
                        Safety Drills (9:00)
November 13- Samira's Birthday
                        1st Grade Field Trip-Ft Worth Museum of Science & History
                        5th Grade Music Dress Rehearsal  (8:30 AM Cafe)
                        5th Grade Music Performance (7:00 PM Cafe)
November 14- School Dance (6:00-9:00 PM)
November 17- Chantel's Birthday
November 19- Red and Black Attack Shirt with Jeans
                        Staff Meeting (3:30-5:00)
November 20- Courtney M's Birthday
                        2nd Grade Field Trip-Arboretum
                        Learn About Lee (9:00 Media Center)
November 21- Turkey Drive (7:30-9:00 Car Loop)
                        TASA Visit (IMPORTANT- 9:00)
                        PTO President's Meeting @ Lee (9:00)

Week of November 3

We had an absolute TREAT with pampering you with snacks this week.  THANK YOU for another amazing week at Lee!  Congratulations to our second "name-changer," Nicole.  We know you will be a beautiful bride on Saturday!


DID YOU KNOW?

• that we have Lego Robitic Kits?  If you (or any of your learners) are interested in learning more about these, please put in a help desk ticket to James.  He will need to add software to computers.
• that the shelving for your storage rooms is in!  Louis is scheduling his guys to come out and install them.  YAHOO!!!
• that only paper is supposed to go in your slotted recycling cans?  We are bringing a large round blue can to each house for plastic bottle and aluminum can recycling.
• that there are microphones for presentations on the stage or flex area of the library.  See CK or TH if you want to utilize these microphones.

SITE VISITS ON TUESDAY

We will have MANY visitors from the North Texas Regional Consortium visiting RJL on Tuesday.  Please represent your best during these visits.  We are considered an exemplar campus BECAUSE OF YOU!  Our LEEdership team reviewed what makes our building an exemplar campus.  Please reflect on the photograph of our work and ensure that you showcase these everyday, but especially on Tuesday.  You can expect visitors from 9:00-11:00 and 12:45-2:00.  THANK YOU!

LEE "LEE"DERSHIP COUNCIL

Tuesday, November 4, is Election Day.  One of my professional goals is communication and I would like to start with the creation of our first learner leadership council.  Some time next week, I KNOW this is short notice, please vote on, as a class, one leader to represent your space.  This person must be a strong communicator, respected by their peers, and be voted on.  Please let me know who your LEEder is by the end of the day on Tuesday.  Please ensure that the democratic process is practiced; it aligns beautifully with your curriculum.  As your candidates "run" for this position the stipulations are:

1. They can spend no more than $5 on their campaign
2. They must present a brief presentation in front of the class and be dressed professionally (age approp)
3. They may pass out marketing, but it cannot be food (ex: self created buttons on construction paper, little notes: Vote for Diana, etc.)

TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS EXTENDED UNTIL TUESDAY 4PM

Every fall in CISD, educators are nominated by their peers to be the campus Teacher of the Year.  SO MANY OF YOU exemplify the characteristics of a Teacher of the Year.  Please look at the following documents and timelines and nominate a peer.

• CISD TOY Presentation
• TOY Timeline
• TOY Nomination Form
• TOY Campus Nomination Rubric

LUNCH AND RECESS UPDATE
In addition, I cannot stress enough, that you MUST walk around and spread out during recess time.  Some parents live right across the street and our playgrounds are visible from the street.  We cannot afford for people to assume we are visiting and not watching learners while out there.  Spreading apart will help squash any misconceptions.  THANK YOU!

Please talk with your house leader about a plan for lunch and recess.  I shared with the leadership team that a consistent person on lunch/recess duty is helpful in maintaining consistency with the learners.  Some houses already have the same designers on lunch duty and the same on recess.  Please work on considering this if your house is not doing so.


UPDATE ON BALANCED LITERACY (from Curriculum Courier)

more on this will be shared at our Staff Meeting on Wednesday

• Vocabulary- A vocabulary committee met last year to work on identifying and aligning vocabulary at each grade. The district is in the process of completing the vocabulary lists for each grade and will begin the process of K-12 alignment of vocabulary this fall. More information will come!

• Spelling- This year educators have been given the flexibility to use Words Their Way as a spelling program or the program that came with the Reading Street adoption.  If educators choose to use the spelling program that came with the adoption, they must remember to include some kind of word work in their balanced literacy block.

• Write From the Beginning and Beyond- WFBB is a mandatory district program. Campuses should be working on refining their expository writing process and training new educators in expository writing.  All campuses should be training their staff on narrative writing this year.

• Standards Based Report Cards- The district has been researching a solution to eliminate educators taking letter grades and filling out the standards-based grading portion of the fourth grade report card. Communication on a possible solution will be going out in October to fourth grade educators followed up by an optional round-table discussion after school in November. 

THANKFUL FOR BOOKS

Our Storybook Parade will be on Friday!  Here is the form Lauren created to share with your parents. We cannot wait to see what our staff favorites are, too!

SO YOU THINK YOU "CAN" DANCE
Shine up your dancing shoes, our PTO will be hosting a school dance next Friday.  More info will be coming out but the event, but so far, it will include: a DJ, dancing, food trucks, popcorn, laughter and fun.  We hope you can come for a good time.  Watching Chantel and Todd dance will be a highlight, for sure!

"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK:  “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” – Babe Ruth

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  If you approach a door and someone is following you, hold the door and allow the other person to pass through it first, then you can walk through.

DATES TO REMEMBER

November 2: Daylight Savings Time
November 3: Signed Report Cards Due Back 

November 4: Transformation in Action Site Visits
                      TOY Nominations Due
                      LEEder Names Due to CK
November 5: iCreate Shirt with Jeans
                      FOSS Kits Due (stage steps by end of day)
                      Staff Meeting (3:30-5:00)
November 6: Baby Barron Shower (3:30)
November 7: ELPS Training Due
                      Book Character Day
                      Dad's Campout @ Lee (7:00 PM - 8:00 AM)
November 11- Veteran's Day Ceremony (Cafe)
                        PTO Mtg. (6:30)
November 12- College Shirt Day with Jeans
                        Curriculum Mtg. (3:30- Specialist's Spaces)
                        4th Grade to Arboretum
November 13- Samira's Birthday
                        1st Grade Field Trip-Ft Worth Museum of Science & History
                        5th Grade Music Dress Rehearsal  (8:30 AM Cafe)
                        5th Grade Music Performance (7:00 PM Cafe)
November 14- School Dance (6:00-9:00 PM)