Week of June 1

We have made it to the LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL!  YOU DID IT!!  As your principal, I could not be more proud of each and every one of you.  You have pushed yourselves beyond what you thought you could do and had an experience that many people never have the opportunity to do:  OPEN A SCHOOL.  I sense a sentimental post about this soon, so be prepared!!

Please enjoy the last bit of time with your sweet kiddos.  I apologize for the length of this post.  There is a great deal of information to get out to you.

Lastly, I hope you will get to meet my Daddy tomorrow.  I will be picking him up from the airport at 2:20.  If you are still at school when we get back, I would LOVE the chance to introduce you to him.

DID YOU KNOW?

• that Crossroads Church (who partners with our PTO, mentors learners, sponsors field trips, provides school supplies, volunteer at school events, and MORE) will be partnering with Valley Ranch Baptist Church and Metrocrest to feed learners at Tom Landry Elementary this summer?  This neighboring elementary school has 90% of its learners on free and reduced lunch.  Crossroads is looking for volunteers on Saturdays from 9:00-11:00 am to put together bags of food to feed hungry children for the week.  If you are interested in being a part of this, for even one Saturday, please let Chantel know.  
• there is a link to Wednesday's staff meeting presentation with Technology check-in info?
• you will get a copy of the End of Year Checklist in your mailbox by the end of the day, Friday?  Please remember to work on these task during conference time or before/after school to work towards your six hours for the weather day.  These should not be done during teaching time.

“Problems can become opportunities when the right people come together.”– Robert South

“Man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

FIELD DAY

Thank you, ALL OF YOU, for helping and making our first (cold and wet) Field Day a fun event for the entire school.  Your positivity was contagious, so THANK YOU!!!  Congratulations to the tug of war winners.  We will have prizes for you at the final Spirit Assembly.  Also, please remember to upload your photos to the Google file Todd shared, by Monday, so we have time to produce a movie for the end of our Spirit Assembly.

FILL THE CAN FOR VAN
Please have your learners count and total your class funds by the end of the day Friday.  We would like to have a campus total for our PTO newsletter.   We cannot wait to see how much you collected!

INFORMATION LITERACY REFRESHER

All district employees must complete an update.  Please complete this by TODAY.  You are welcome to work together, as a house, during one of your conference times.  Thank you, Alli and Courtney, for keeping us compliant!

GRADE LEVEL SCHEDULE LAST WEEK
Please follow the schedules Todd emailed this week for the last week of school.  You will have conference time as grade levels this week, but no PLC time.  You will also have adjusted lunch times.  PLEASE communicate this information to your parents so that they are not alarmed if they bring their child lunch.  Also, Chantel will sit in on your Monday conference times to talk about class lists for next year.  Please bring your pink and blue cards and the family lists that Diana gave you at staff meeting.


ECONOMICS FAIR
Please bring your classes to the 3rd Grade Economics Fair on Tuesday starting at 1:30.  There will be items sold in the cafe, on the learning pavilion, and in the gym.  We will review expectations during morning broadcast, but all staff will be needed to help us with supervision of learners.


FIFTH GRADE GRADUATION
We will have dress rehearsal at 1:00 on Wednesday and the actual ceremony at 1:00 on Thursday.   This event is for fifth graders only (no siblings, please).  Please do not walk through the cafeteria or gym on these days and during these times.


SPIRIT ASSEMBLY
Please join us at 8:00 on Friday for our final Spirit Assembly.  Since we will be presenting awards to learners, please notify your parents if their child is on our Awards Spreadsheet.  They may want to come and watch them be honored.  Awards should be a surprise to learners, so I would request that parents not tell their child that they are receiving an award before the assembly.  Remember all awards must be posted to the Google Spreadsheet by the end of day Friday in order for us to create the certificates and get your signatures on them.


TISSUE ALERT
Please have learners packed up and lining the halls surrounding the media center by 12:45 on Friday.  For the last five minutes of the day we will play music and let fifth graders parade past their peers and  teachers.


ANOTHER SURVEY
Please forgive me, but I received this email, today, from Dr. Denison and she requests your help:  These are to measure engagement, teacher efficacy in utilizing flexible spacing, etc.  I apologize for the late notice.  We will leave these open until the end of school——will you PLEASE, as kindly and apologetically, ask your staff to take these surveys (each should only be 10 to 15 minutes) before they leave school this year?  Below are the links to the two surveys:.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Coppell-ISD-Student-Survey

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Coppell-ISD-Teacher-Survey

"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK:   “If you want to be successful, it’s just this simple...know what you’re doing, love what you’re doing, believe in what you’re doing.” -Will Rogers

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  Never stop improving.  Great people are always learning and keep their minds open to new possibilities.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

June 1- Final LEEdership Meeting (2:00)

June 2- 3rd Grade Economic Fair (1:30)

June 3- Walk at School Wednesday

            5th Grade Lunch on Pavillion (11:45)

            5th Grade Graduation Dress Rehearsal (1:00- Cafe)

June 4- Technology Turn In

             Yearbook Signing Today (details forthcoming)

             5th Grade Graduation (1:00- Cafe) 
             Projector Turn in (3:00)

June 5- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
            Spirit Rally (8:00)

            Early Release (12:50)
June 7- Elisa's Birthday

June 9- Tapping Out with Tiles Training 
            1st-2nd Grade Designers (8:00-12:00) 
            Pre K-Kinder Designers (1:00-4:00)
June 10- Apple Training (1/2 of All Staff)
June 11- Apple Training (1/2 of All Staff)
June 12- Courtney G's Birthday
June 13- Caroline's Wedding
June 15-17- CISD Literacy Academy 
June 15- Taylor's Birthday
June 17- Alli's Birthday
June 17-18- Dr. Knezek Professional Learning (Priscilla, Samira, Courtney, CK, TH)
June 20- Sara's Wedding
June 27- Viana's Birthday
July 13- Cassie's Birthday
July 26- Nicole's Birthday
July 31- Wendy's Birthday
August 3-4- Balanced Literacy Training  (Sanela and )
August 3-7- New Teacher Orientation
August 18-21- RJL Back to School Training

Week of May 25

Enjoy your THREE DAY WEEKEND!  You deserve the time off.  Be safe and make memories!

DID YOU KNOW?

• LEEdership Council is working on a virtual tour of our building with Alli's help?  We can't wait to share their finished product.  Thank you for sharing your learners with us!
• 97 % of our learners have access to a desktop, laptop, or tablet computer at home and 78 % of Lee learners shared, “Technology use in class can enhance my learning.”  This data comes from our Clarity survey completed in the fall.
• that you can donate $5 to wear jeans for the remainder of the school year?  There is an envelope in Chantel's mailbox with a staff list on it.  Mark paid next to your name.  Please wear a campus shirt with your jeans.
• this secondary school reminds me of Lee?  I especially LOVE the part of Blythe's comment" "We can't expect change to happen in education just by changing the design of a building.  If the teachers and students in the school explore new ways of learning, then it might work...I love this idea, and it might actually succeed because I think educators are now open to the idea of collaborative learning. What do you think?

“The talent you need to be great is already inside you. Don’t wait for someone or something to light your fire–you have the match.”
– HUMANeX Ventures

FIELD DAY

Stay dry!  As long is there is no lightning, Field Day will go on.  Glitters, please plan on relieving designers for 30 minutes during their Chill Station time (white and red blocks).  THANK YOU!

FILL THE CAN FOR VAN
Thank you for inspiring your learners to have gratitude and giving spirits.  We cannot wait to see how much money we raise by next Friday.  Please keep count of your daily totals so that we can contribute to the graph Cassie's class created for a school-wide learning opportunity.  Thank you to those of you (in jeans) that contributed.  After the first day we have $85 towards the Van ISD Fund.


NEED A SCIENCE EXPERIMENT?
At 1:00, on Friday, we will be cleaning out the lounge refrigerator.  If you have anything personal in there, please remove it by then.  THANK YOU!

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
Apply if you are interested in participating in this learning community.   You will meet one day in August and 3-4 half days during the 2015-2016 school year.  If you are interested in serving in this capacity, let Chantel know.

LEARNER SATISFACTION SURVEY
ALL 2-5 learners should have completed this survey by TODAY.  This is a district and campus survey that will give us feedback about our school.  It is imperative that your learners take this seriously because the district will be reviewing these responses.  I would encourage you to complete as a class so that you can answer/rephrase so that learners understand the question and how they are rating on the survey.  THANK YOU for your help!

INFORMATION LITERACY REFRESHER

All district employees must complete an update.  Please complete this by Friday, May 29.  You are welcome to work together, as a house, during one of your conference times.  Thank you, Alli and Courtney, for keeping us compliant!

CRICKET TOURNAMENT

Please inform families that the Dad's Club Cricket Tournament is rescheduled for May 30 at 8:30 a.m. at Valley Ranch.  Go to the event page for more information and Register Now!


WHAT DO I DO?
Here is the link to Wednesday's staff meeting presentation with live links to help with EOY tasks.  If you have any trouble opening, let me know.  Anyone with the link should be able to access.  Your classroom End of Year Checklists are coming SOON!


GRADE LEVEL SCHEDULE?
There is a strong possibility we will go back to a grade level schedule for the last week of school.  Just giving you a heads up that this may happen.  STAY TUNED! 

"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK:   “Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anyone else expects of you. Never excuse yourself." - Henry Ward Beecher

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  Learn from the past. Those who don't are doomed to repeat it.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

May 25- NO SCHOOL

May 26- Third Grade Field Trip to Perot Museum

May 27- Walk at School Wednesday

               Jeans and iCreate Shirt

               Sara's Wedding Shower
May 28- LEEdership Council (1:30)

May 29- Grades Due

May 30- Cricket Tournament at VRE

June 1- Final Leedership Meeting (2:00)

June 2- 3rd Grade Economic Fair (1:30)

June 3- Walk at School Wednesday

            5th Grade Lunch on Pavillion (11:45)

            5th Grade Graduation Dress Rehearsal (1:00- Cafe)

June 4- Technology Turn In

             Yearbook Signing Today (details forthcoming)

             5th Grade Graduation (1:00- Cafe) 
             Projector Turn in (3:00)

June 5- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
            Spirit Rally (8:00)

            Early Release (12:45)

June 9- Tapping Out with Tiles Training 
            1st-2nd Grade Designers (8:00-12:00) 
            Pre K-Kinder Designers (1:00-4:00)
June 10- Apple Training (1/2 of All Staff)
June 11- Apple Training (1/2 of All Staff)
June 13- Caroline's Wedding

Week of May 18

From Nancy Garvey:  I just wanted to take a minute to thank for spending your precious time with the Apple Execs yesterday!  They were all very impressed with what you, your educators and learners do every day and how they are transforming learning. 

We had a busy week at Lee and it just keeps getting busier as the year winds down.  Please help the office, as much as you can, with your discipline issues.  The first layer of communication should come from, YOU, the designer.  They second layer can come from the office (unless there is bullying, hitting, or inappropriate use of technology- then there is an immediate referral).  ALL learners who come to the office should have a discipline referral completed when they arrive.  

There is a chance that if you request a personal day during the remainder of the school year that it could be denied.  It is mighty difficult to get subs this time of year and it burdens housemates to take on learners and also muddles the fidelity of instruction.  THANK YOU TO THOSE THAT HAVE TURNED YOUR REQUESTS IN!!

DID YOU KNOW?

• we recommended more hires this week?  Please welcome: Cindy Daniel cindydaniel07@yahoo.com, Elizabeth Bateman  ejbateman1@yahoo.com, Shelley Lincoln chosenandfree@yahoo.com, and Alan Wade emailalanwade@gmail.com. They are the newest additions to our Lee FamiLEE and some will already go to the board on Monday night for contract approval.
• our former Superintendent is from Van, TX?  Here is a video honoring Van.  You might find it helpful in inspiring ideas for ways we can help.  There will be a QUICK meeting in the media center after school for anyone who is interested in organizing something as a school.
• that Daniel Bass' biotech studies class from New Tech @Coppell High is working on a field study guide for our Eco Pond?  Stay tuned for more info.
• that Stacey and Priscilla went to a gardening class yesterday?  We will find out what they learned at Wednesday's staff meeting.
• Mary Kemper will be working on the Math reporting standards over the summer break?  If you feel there is a need to edit the Math standards and would like to see something in particular in the K-4 Math section of the report card, please share your edits with Samira.

“Be careful; think about the effect of what you say. Your words should be constructive, bring people together, not pull them apart.”
– Miriam Makeba

THINKING MAPS GOOGLE FORM

Please make sure the survey is completed by FRIDAY, May 15.  This is information due to the district.  EVERYONE has a Thinking Maps Binder, so please make sure the survey reflects that appropriately.

APPLE VISIT

Thank you for the most impressive visit for our guests.  You have truly outdone yourselves!  We are continuously impressed how you have been intentional in posting your big idea, essential question, challenge, and guiding questions.  Please know your efforts are NOTICED and CELEBRATED!!  One of the CBL creators was present, smiling ear to ear, and taking pictures GALORE!  Because you have given More and More of yourselves this year, there will be a surprise in your mailboxes tomorrow!

LEARNER SATISFACTION SURVEY

Please have ALL 2-5 learners complete this survey by the end of next week, Friday, May 22.  This is a district and campus survey that will give us feedback about our school.  It is imperative that your learners take this seriously because the district will be reviewing these responses.  I would encourage you to complete as a class so that you can answer/rephrase so that learners understand the question and how they are rating on the survey.  THANK YOU for your help!

INFORMATION LITERACY REFRESHER

All district employees must complete an update.  Please complete this by Friday, May 29.  You are welcome to work together, as a house, during one of your conference times.  Thank you, Alli and Courtney, for keeping us compliant!

FIELD DAY

I hope you have volunteers stepping up to help you.  Enjoy this day with your learners!  Please follow the schedule so that everyone may enjoy the rotations.  Also, please thank Jenny Van Luven and Alicia for helping to organize this fun event!  If we have to delay due to rain, our make up date is May 29.

CRICKET TOURNAMENT

Please inform families that the Dad's Club Cricket Tournament is rescheduled for May 30 at 8:30 a.m. at Valley Ranch.  Go to the event page for more information and Register Now!

"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK:   “Always look at what you have left.  Never look at what you have lost” Robert Schuller

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  Be positive and enjoy life.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

May 20- Walk at School Wednesday

               Jeans and College Shirt Day
               NRH20 for Music Competition
               Staff Meeting (3:30)
May 22- Sheltered Instruction Training Modules Must be Completed
              Field Day
May 25- NO SCHOOL
May 26- Third Grade Field Trip to Perot Museum
May 27- Walk at School Wednesday
               Jeans and iCreate Shirt
               Social Spurs Luncheon
               Sara's Wedding Shower
May 29- Grades Due
May 30- TEDx Youth @RJL

Week of May 11

What an AMAZING week it has been meeting with each of you for your end of year summatives. Our hope is that you feel celebrated for your growth and hard work this year.  You are transforming yourselves in the process of transforming education and we could not be more proud of you! Please feel free to join us, on Friday, at 54th Street Grill for choir practice to celebrate as soon as your learners are safely dismissed!  I will be there after our 3:00 interview.

Happy Mother's Day to our staff moms.  May you feel celebrated and loved on Sunday!

“Grit is sticking with your future–day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years–and working really hard to make that future a reality.”– Angela Lee Duckworth

 

DID YOU KNOW?

• Britt Plotsky, is the latest candidate to join our famiLEE?  She is a first year teacher who will bring enthusiasm, passion, and new ideas to our school.  Her contact info is: britt.plotsky@verizon.net  Please take time to welcome her!
• that the Coppell Gifted Association offers educator summer scholarships? The application process continues through May 15, 2015.  Don't miss out on a great opportunity for up to $750 of your professional development in gifted education to be sponsored. 
• you should clean out your teacher mailbox in the office, daily?

KINDERGARTEN ROUND UP
Thank you to the Kindergarten team for designing an incredible Kindergarten Round Up DURING THE DAY for our incoming friends.  I love your ideas for a different experience for our learners.  Not only was this a great idea for the children, their parents were HIGHLY IMPRESSED with their tour of our building WITH LEARNERS IN IT!  You ALL did a fantastic job of showcasing yourselves and our building, and I thank you for that.  What an outstanding first impression!


GUEST PRINCIPALPlease welcome my Principal for Half a Day, McKenna Sweatt, on Monday.  She will start her day with the car loop and finish after lunch.  Be prepared for a drill some time Monday morning- it will be FOR REAL when you hear her voice on the intercom!  Just want you to be prepared.


STANTEC VISIT
Architects and photographers will be visiting Lee on Tuesday morning starting with our morning broadcast.  They will be taking images around the building for national recognition of our school.  Please carry on as you typically would.  This is a great time to remind you of why I like those extra spaces in your house staged for learning at all times.


APPLE VISIT
We will be having a very important district visit from Apple on Wednesday, May 13, from 1:30-2:30. During this time they will be touring the building to look at learning environment, learning design, assessment, and authentic technology integration.  Please continue to do the amazing work you always do.  I inform you of their visit because it is important for a potential partnership with them, but also in hopes that they would nominate us as an Apple Distinguished Campus. 


INFORMATION LITERACY REFRESHER
All district employees must complete an update.  Please complete this by Friday, May 29.  You are welcome to work together, as a house, during one of your conference times.  Thank you, Alli and Courtney, for keeping us compliant!


SPRING CONFERENCES
Thank you for coordinating these conferences with your parents.  As parents ask about plans for next year, encourage them to attend our next PTO meeting.  We will share our plan for the 2015-2016 school year, then.  We will also communicate our plan out through Parent Link after our PTO meeting.


SPRING PORTRAITS
Please put reminders in your weekly communication regarding ordering spring portraits. The due date is on the envelopes you sent home.


RAISING CANES
Wasn't our lunch from PTO great on Tuesday?  Please take time to write them a thank you and don't forget to contribute to Nicole's bracelet ASAP in the office.  Raising Canes wants to partner with RJL, so if you are looking for someone to come in and speak to your class about business, entrepreneurship, etc. please reach out to Randy Havekla Jr.  He is the general manager and his contact info is: havelkar@rasingcanes.com


FIELD DAY
Please seek out volunteers to help you with Field Day, next Friday.  You will need 2 parents to walk with your class and help throughout the day.  You will also want to request a wagon/cart to carry learner towels and water bottles.  Communication should come out regarding Field Day from PTO, but to keep you informed: it will include bounce houses, water slides, competitive water events, tug of war, races, and MORE.  Learners should wear swim suits, a tshirt, and shoes that can get wet and are easy to put on/off.  Girls must wear a tshirt over their swim suits.  They will need sunscreen because we will be outside ALL DAY.


MOTHER'S DAY
THANK YOU, staff, for the consideration you paid our mommas this week.  It was a treat to be part of the 2nd grade mom's celebration on Thursday, and I am certain there won't be a dry eye in the house at the Kindergarten performance today.  There is no doubt in my mind the poems, artwork, recipes, songs, plantings, and more that you prepared for this holiday have touched our moms' hearts.  The overwhelming attendance at these events, as well, goes to show that our moms do appreciate what you do with our learners!!!


"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK:   "Expect the best.  Prepare for the worst.  Capitalize on what comes."  Zig Ziglar

 

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  Accept that you are going to make mistakes. Learn from them and move on.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

May 11- 4th Grade Field Trip to Austin

               Guest Principal (McKenna Sweatt)

May 12- 5th Grade STAAR Retest
               Stantec Visit
               Leadership Council Meeting (1:30) Please remind them to wear their shirts

May 13- Walk at School Wednesday

             Jeans and Red and Black Shirt Day

             Apple Visits Lee (1:30)

             CISD Night at the Ballpark

May 14- Choir/Instrumental Ensemble Performance (6:30)
May 15-  Kindergarten Field Trip to Biodiversity Center
May 20-  Walk at School Wednesday
               Jeans and College Shirt Day
               NRH20 for Music Competition
               Staff Meeting (3:30)
May 22- Sheltered Instruction Training Modules Must be Completed
              Field Day