Week of November 2

I found this article about The Anatomy of a Great Teacher.  IT SOUNDS LIKE EACH OF YOU!!! Enjoy the extra hour this weekend- YOU DESERVE IT!

OUR GUIDING PURPOSE: We empower learners to positively impact the world by designing learning experiences that promote relationships, risk taking, and collaboration in a flexible environment.

DID YOU KNOW?

• there is a cheat sheet on how to use the CRICUT in the CRICUT manual in the drawer by the CRICUT machine?  Designers can create their own project by using the CRICUT app on a device and logging into our Lee Elementary account. (USERNAME: ckastrounis  PASSWORD:  LeeRocks)  Please only use items with the word SUBSCRIBED next to them.  The office can help to cut out the projects if you SAVE them to the account. 
• the count on the workroom copier says 547,770.  That is over half a million copies which is over 2400 copies a day.  THIS IS NOT OKAY.  When possible...PLEASE have learners create or make their assignment. Please work on this so that we do not have to pass out copy codes and monitor printing.
• that there is a great deal of black/white printing being sent to the color printer?  It  costs more than 6 times as much to print a black/white copy to the printer than it does to print to the copier.  Only color printing or printing on labels should be sent to the printer.  Please fix this before we disable printing to the color printer.

LEADERSHIP MEETING
Our Leadership Meeting is at Buffalo Wild Wings after school today.  Remember...anyone is welcome to join us and share ideas.  


WALKTHROUGHS
Please remember to sign off on your Walkthroughs in Eduphoria after a visit.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE

THANK YOU for attending the school dance for your learners.  It was so fun to see you dancing with them!


OFFICE HELP
Please make sure you inform the office of special events, visitors, projects, etc. This helps us make sure the office is covered adequately, that they know where to send guests, and so that we can answer questions when parents call.  I am more than happy to put house/grade events on the faculty calendar, too. Thank you!


RED RIBBON WEEK

Thank you, Angela, for planning a WONDERFUL Red Ribbon Week for our school.  It was a BLAST to dress up and have fun with our learners!  We can't wait to see you in your book character costumes on Friday!


BEAN BAGS
We delivered five of each color to each house.  Please write the letter of your house on the red Fatboy label so that they stay in the correct house.  Sara, please put PK on your three and Megan, please put MC on yours.  THANK YOU!


ENRICHMENT HOUR AND SPECIALS
There will be times where Kandice and our Specials designers ask learners to bring devices to class.  I support this request and ask that you cooperate with them so that our learners can use technology in their spaces, too.  Specials teachers will be responsible for the devices when they are in their care and will walk learners back to return them in their charging stations or shared carts.  Thanks for your help.

NEED YOUR FEEDBACK
Thank you to those of you that contributed to our needs assessment for writing.  We will be having training, as a campus, on February 15 in addition to some training in upcoming staff meetings.


TECH"KNOW" SATURDAY
Please make sure that you fill out the extra duty pay form so that we can compensate you for your time.  We will have forms ready for you in the office.


BOOK CHARACTER PARADE
Friday, after broadcast, we will have our Book Character Parade.  If the weather cooperates, we will make one pass around the track after morning broadcast.  Those who did not participate can sit along the inside loop of the track and cheer on our participants.  If the weather does not cooperate, we will walk twice through the building and learners can sit along the walls as we pass through the PreK hall, in front of the office, through yellow house, then red house, through the cafe, and past Art.

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK

Perseverance- the ability to persist or continue to the end

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The man who moves mountains begins by carrying away small stones.” -Chinese Proverb

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

Make every effort to be as organized as possible.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Nov 1:  Daylight Savings Time
Nov 3:  Red and Black Shirt with Jeans

             Dad's Club Mtg. (7:00pm)

Nov 4:  College Shirt w/Jeans

              Walk at School Wednesday

              Fall Picture Retakes
              Staff Mtg. (3:30) CANCELLED!

Nov 5:  Spurs Savings (7:30-7:50)
              Leadership Council Mtg. (8:00-9:00)
              Tours (9:00 and 1:00)

Nov 7:  Tech KNOW Saturday (9:00-11:00)

Week of October 26

Thank you SO MUCH for the celebration of Todd and I for Bosses Day.  We truly work with the BEST STAFF ON EARTH!!  We appreciate you following through with expectations for our visitors this week.  Your digital signage looks fantastic, your displays of learning are informative, and your spaces look incredible!!! EXCELLENT JOB OF DISPLAYING CHALLENGE LANGUAGE, TOO!!  Today's guests were in AWE of what you are doing.

OUR GUIDING PURPOSE: We empower learners to positively impact the world by designing learning experiences that promote relationships, risk taking, and collaboration in a flexible environment.

DID YOU KNOW?

• this blog post has great thoughts about work that can be done in a professional learning community?  Collaboration, team designed rubrics, and common assessments are ideas throughout the entry.  Don't forget to finish Chapter 2 in our book study and post in Schoology.
• this is the link to our Lee Gizmo account?  This website shows how accounts are created.  If you would like future training on Gizmos (which we get because we are a Title I school) please let Chantel know.
• that Shanna attached this year's individual photos in your permanent files for you?  Please take time to thank her!
• All, except 5, of our learners were given permission to attend a school-sponsored field trips when they were enrolled using Infosnap?  This means that a “permission” slip is not required but you will still need to communicate specific details about the trip.  A parent could decide that their child should not attend a specific trip.  This permission does not include trips such as Austin or Allaso Ranch, but includes everything else in the DFW area.
• this video about Halloween will make you laugh? Especially 2 minutes in!! (I expect comments on my blog about this one!)

WRITE A CHECK

Thank you ALL for your excitement with our Write a Check fundraising.  We know it is because of YOU that learners are bringing in their acknowledgement sheets and donations.  Thank you for your continued HYPE!

SPIRIT RALLY
We will start our Spirit Rally at 8:05.  3-5 will sit in the bleachers with K in front of 3rd (closest to water fountains), 1st in front of 5th (center of the bleachers), and 2nd in front of 3rd (closest to the gardens).  If you have learners in Instrumental Ensemble, please have them sit in the front row of the fifth grade bleachers so that they can easily get out to perform.  Please follow this grade level schedule and inform your parents of adjusted lunch times for this day.


TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Please use the following link to nominate a colleague for RJL's 2015-2016 Teacher of the Year.  We have special permission to nominate anyone with TWO years or more in CISD.  Nominations are due by Friday, October 30.  Remember to include as much detail as possible because we will score each form submitted with a district rubric and can only score what is written in the responses. PLEASE PUT THE PERSON'S NAME ONLY in the nomination box.  For the other responses DO NOT put their name.  This helps us judge based on what is written and not the person.

LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL

Please give your LEEder a few minutes to come back and talk with your class.  They will inform your learners about our norms and treasurer, secretary, VP and President.  We will share their "big ideas" in our next meeting on November 5.  Please remind them to wear their shirt.  THANK YOU! 


SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
THANK YOU for planning to attend the dance.  Please remind your learners to sign their name (once) on the butcher paper on the wall that matches your house color.  We need your help reminding them to write their REAL name (sadly, issues last year).  The house with the greatest attendance will win a surprise.  Designers, sign up, too!  Dancing with designers will happen at 7:15.  Beware...you are going to need to "shake it" to win!!!  The winning house for Write a Check donations will be announced at the end.


RED RIBBON WEEK

Next week is Red Ribbon Week.  Please encourage your learners to participate in each Spirit Day.

• Monday:  “Love Yourself”- Wear as much RED as you can. 
• Tuesday: “Follow your Dreams” – It’s PJ Day! 
• Wednesday: “Be Strong and Confident!”- Wear your work-out clothes to support a healthy lifestyle. 
• Thursday: “The Heart of the Matter”- Learners will digitally share or bring in a photo of their family.
• Friday: “Show Your Character”- Learners will bring their favorite book and come dressed to school as their book character.

NEED YOUR FEEDBACK
We have the opportunity to bring Write From the Beginning and Beyond to our school for support and training.  It could potentially be during the school day, or after the school day.  If it is after the school day, we will pay you for your time.  Please comment here if you are interested/not interested in WFTBB support as you grow as a designer.


BOOK CHARACTER PARADE
Friday, after broadcast, we will have our Book Character Parade.  If the weather cooperates, we will make two passes around the track.  Those who did not participate can sit along the inside loop of the track and cheer on our participants.  If the weather does not cooperate, we will walk through the building and learners can sit along the walls as we pass through the PreK hall, in front of the office, through yellow house, then red house, through the cafe, and past Art.


RED HOUSE MUSIC PERFORMANCE DRESS REHEARSAL 
Thursday will be our school dress rehearsal for our Red House Music program.  Please bring your classes down to the cafe at 8:30.  We will practice audience etiquette and celebrate the hard work of our Red House learners and Mrs. Benson.


LANYARDS AND NAMETAGS
Please make sure your learners wear these all day, everyday.  THANK YOU!

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK

Problem solving- creating solutions; finding answers

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” -Charles Swindoll

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

You should never complain if the line is too long, the food isn’t good, or there is a wait.  You don’t want to be negative to the point where you spoil the enjoyment of the event for others.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Red Ribbon Week
Oct 26:  RJL receives recognition @ Board Mtg. (7:30)

Oct 27:  Report Card Grades Due (8:30)

Oct 28:  House Shirt w/Jeans

              Walk at School Wednesday

              New Learner Luncheons w/Angela (10:30-1:30)

Oct 29:  Buffalo Wild Wings Night  
              Learning Walks @ Lee (8:15)
              Music Performance Dress Rehearsal (Cafe 8:30)
              Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
              Leadership Mtg.(3:30)

              Red House Music Performance (Cafe 6:30)

Oct 30:  Report Cards Go Home

              Jessica F's Birthday

              TOY Nominations Due
              Book Character Parade (8:05)
Nov 1:  Daylight Savings Time

Week of October 19

Boy what a fast week this has been!  Thank you for your hard work and positivity.  I promise I still work in CISD!!  I will be at Principal's Institute today and start my morning at Admin on Friday.  I will be at school by 9:00.  

DID YOU ADD THIS TO YOUR EMAIL SIGNATURE??

OUR GUIDING PURPOSE: We empower learners to positively impact the world by designing learning experiences that promote positive relationships, risk taking, and collaboration in a flexible environment.

DID YOU KNOW?

• that it is time to nominate someone for Teacher of the Year for RJL?  We have special permission this year to include employees that have been in the district two years.  Please have nominations turned in by Friday, October 30.  
• that this website has great resources to enhance your PLC work?  There is also these resources for our PLC book.  Don't forget to respond on our Schoology course.
• Klyde Warren Park hosts field trips for grades 3-5?  Here is a website with information if you are interested.
• we will be having another PPCD aide joining Heather and Rikki?  Please welcome Jennifer Rooney on Monday as she joins our famiLEE!
• you can get up to $500 per semester for going to grad school?  Fill out this form if you ARE!  

WRITE A CHECK

Our Write a Check campaign is in full swing.  YOU are an integral part of helping to make this a successful fundraising event for our school.  Money raised will help with adding projector carts to houses, pay for transportation for house field trips, bringing in visiting authors, and MORE.  Please hype this up to your learners and help get 100% of your acknowledgment forms back in.  The Golden Boot will be on display for the house collecting the most money.  We will share totals, daily, on morning broadcast.  Popcorn parties will be provided to every classes that have 100% of their acknowledgement forms returned.

CAMPUS VISITS
We will have multiple important campus visits next week.   Please make sure that your displays of learning are current and have a description with the learning objective posted alongside it.  Please, also make sure that your learning objectives are posted in a visible place for each lesson.  Lastly, be sure there is evidence of Challenge Based Learning in your space.  If you have any questions, please ask me.


REPORT CARDS
As you begin working on report cards for the first nine weeks, please remember to include a citizenship grade in each subject and a personalized comment for each learner.  "Chantel is a joy to have in class" is not personal and does not convey to parents that you KNOW their child.  Also, if you have learners below a 70 or receiving IPS's, please plan on having a problem solving conversation with Chantel.


TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Please use the following link to nominate a colleague for RJL's 2015-2016 Teacher of the Year.  We have special permission to nominate anyone with TWO years or more in CISD.  Nominations are due by Friday, October 30.  Remember to include as much detail as possible because we will score each form submitted with a district rubric and can only score what is written in the responses.  PLEASE PUT THE PERSON'S NAME ONLY in the nomination box.  For the other responses DO NOT put their name.  This helps us judge based on what is written and not the person.

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

Please send learners down to the flex area of the media center following morning broadcast, on Thursday.  They will need to bring their signed LEEdership Council Constitution and up to 3 ideas for needed improvement from your class. They will need a small amount of time to share when they return from our meeting.  THANK YOU! 


CAFETERIA EXPECTATIONS
Thank you for firming up your cafeteria procedures.  We will be adding recycling signs and table numbers as soon as our sign holders are delivered.  


SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
We hope you plan on joining us, next Friday night, for our school dance.  This event has been on the calendar since August and it means the world to your children and their families to see you there.  Please feel free to bring your loved ones so they can join in on the fun.  Breaking news: there may be a hay ride!!


SPIRIT RALLY
Please come down to the gym as soon as your learners are unpacked.  We would like to begin promptly at 8:05.  If you are new, please ask your house leaders where grades sit.   There will be a teacher event....so be READY!  Also, please review our school song with your learners before Friday.  

EDUCATION FOUNDATION RED and BLACK SUPERSTARS

Wouldn't it be AWESOME if RJL showed our Education Foundation some love by participating in this recognition program?  Please take time to nominate using this Nomination form link .  It is SHORT and EASY!!!  Another free t-shirt, too!!!

CLARITY SURVEY FOR DESIGNERS AND LEARNERS

All current designers at Lee need to take this survey no later than Oct. 22.  Please note that the survey will work best when taken in Google Chrome or Safari.  http://www.BByt.es/GM4WT

If you teach PreK-2nd grade, your learners do NOT have to take the survey.  If you are a 3rd-5th grade designer,  a separate link to information on how to administer the learner portion of the survey is below.  

3-5 Grade Learner Survey and Instructions

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK

Accountability- being responsible for one’s actions

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I am NOT a product of my circumstances.  I AM a product of my decisions.” -Stephen Covey

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

If you are asked a question in conversation, you should ask a question in return. It is only polite to show others that you are just as interested in them as they are in you.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Oct 19:  Yearbook Covers Due to PTO

Oct 20:  Transformation in Action Site Visit (8:30-11:30)

              Social Spurs Happy Hour (3:30 BWW)

              DLC Twitter Chat

Oct 21:  School Shirt w/Jeans

              Walk at School Wednesday

              Staff Meeting (3:30-5:00)

Oct 22:  LEEdership Council Mtg.  (8:00-9:00)

              Tour Thursday (9:00 and 1:00)

Oct 23:  Britt's Birthday
              End of 1st 9 Weeks

              Spirit Rally (8:00-9:00 Gym)

              ASBO Visit (40 people at 10:45)

              Flu Shots @ Lee (1:00-1:45)

              School Dance (6:30 Cafe/Gym)
Oct 30: TOY Nominations Due

Week of October 12

May each of you have a wonderfully restful three day weekend.  I have already received two parent emails bragging about conferences so THANK YOU for all of your preparations and hard work!!  I appreciate you all showing me some love by redecorating my office.  I may have to leave a few things in their new places. :)

OUR GUIDING PURPOSE: We empower learners to positively impact the world by designing learning experiences that promote positive relationships, risk taking, and collaboration in a flexible environment.

DID YOU KNOW?

• that Chantel will be out on Wednesday and Thursday to attend Principal's Institute in Dallas?
• there is FREE Apple PD called "Building an Interactive Book and Animated Story.  It is at Stonebriar Apple Store and you will earn 2 hours of flex time.  Let Chantel know if you are interested.
• some of our parents are sending birthday treats in for snack time?  Please remind your parents that birthday treats will be shared the last few minutes of lunchtime, only.  THANK YOU!
• we will host our first parent TechKNOW Saturday on November 7 from 9-11?  Please mark your calendars.  If you cannot attend in November, the second round of training will be on January 23.  You will be paid for your participation and must choose one to present at!
• Principal Hall from Lakeside will be touring our building on Tuesday between 11:30 and 2:30. Please make sure you have your learning standards posted and your spaces are tidy.  THANK YOU!

WRITE A CHECK
Tuesday is the kickoff of our Write a Check campaign.  YOU are an integral part of helping to make this a successful fundraising event for our school.  Money raised will help with adding projector carts to houses, pay for transportation for house field trips, bring in visiting authors, and MORE.

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL:

Please send learners down to the flex area of the media center following morning broadcast.  They will need a small amount of time to share when they return from our meeting.  Please make sure ALL learner names and shirt sizes are in the Google form.  THANK YOU!

FED EX DAY

Enjoy your one hour on Wednesday where you learn about a topic of YOUR choice related to YOUR goals, and earn flex credit for it.  This is a time for learning.  Please post to this Today's Meet after 4:30, but by 5:00, on Wednesday.  Please share what you learned during your time to get credit for your hour.  Those who post will automatically be enrolled through Eduphoria.  If you need ideas, Fed Ex time is a great opportunity to get our PLC chapters read, post in our Schoology course, and more.

EDUCATION FOUNDATION RED and BLACK SUPERSTARS
Wouldn't it be AWESOME if RJL showed our Education Foundation some love by participating in this recognition program?  Please take time to nominate using this Nomination form link .  It is SHORT and EASY!!!  Another free t-shirt, too!!!

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Self-Discipline- the ability to choose and control one's own actions.


QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"If we were supposed to talk more than listen, we would have two mouths and one ear." -Mark Twain


LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP
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:
Oct 12:  NO SCHOOL
              Shanna's Birthday
Oct 13:  Write a Check Begins
              LEEdership Council Mtg. (8:00-9:00)
              PTO Mtg. (6:30 Cafe)
Oct 14:  Convocation Tshirt w/Jeans
              Origami Owl in Teacher's Lounge (8:00-12:00)
              Fed Ex Day (3:30-4:30)
              Education Foundation Grants Due (4:30)
Oct 15:  Spurs Savings (7:30-7:50)
              Tour Thursday (9:00 and 1:00)
Oct 16:  Social Spurs Luncheon
              Dad's Club Camp-In (6:30pm- 9:30am)

Week of October 5

I hope you have an outstanding weekend!  The highlight of my week has to be seeing the work getting completed on our vertical scope and sequence and listening to our Teachers Observing Teachers discussions.  There is GREAT work happening in our building. THANK YOU for all that you do!

OUR GUIDING PURPOSE: We empower learners to positively impact the world by designing learning experiences that promote positive relationships, risk taking, and collaboration in a flexible environment.

DID YOU KNOW?

• that part of learning our guiding purpose is seeing it every day?  Please add our campus guiding purpose to your electronic signature on your email.  This will communicate it to parents with each and every email you send.  
• your house lanyards and nametag holders have arrived and are in the office?  We will place enough for your class in your teacher mailbox by the end of day Friday.  Please share if you create a template for the nametag.
• that this folder contains all the information you need regarding field trip planning, collection of money forms, and staff favorites?  Please use the documents in the Field Trip folder as field trips start approaching.
• Alli will be hosting a more in depth training session/design time with Schoology during the October 14th FedEx time?  Sign up here if you are interested in attending!
• Chantel will be with 5th grade at Allaso Ranch Tuesday-Thursday?

GOAL SETTING DOCUMENTATION
Copies if your signed goals are due to Todd by end of day, Friday.  THANK YOU for your help! Yay to getting everyone's goal setting done before the due date!

DISCIPLINE REFERRALS
Thank you for documenting learner misconduct on the discipline referral form.  Please view this document (thank you, Todd) to ensure that you are filling out the forms correctly.


DIGITAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Interested in learning more about strategies for Digital Learning?  Check out the fall offerings from the DLC team.  Save the date or dates of sessions you are interested in now.  More Eduphoria sign ups and more details will be coming soon!

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL:

Please let me know who your LEEder is, by October 8, on this form.  

POSITIVE POST IT DAY
Monday is Positive Post It Day.  Please spread campus love by writing a positive note to someone and posting it in a special place.  If you see a positive post it, please take a picture and tweet it out to @positivepostit and #rjlyear2


FALL CONFERENCES
Please make sure that you have parents sign in for your conferences.  This is excellent documentation that they attended.  Save the documentation in case you need it in the future.


SPIRIT MONKEY RINGS
A letter will be going home with learners in Kindergarten, and new learners to Lee, on Monday.  We will provide them a ring for their lanyards so they can collect their Spirit Sticks.


"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Responsibility- making the choice to be reliable and dependable


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


LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP
After we eat, we will clean up after ourselves. This includes cleaning off the tables and making sure we haven’t left any trash on the floor or around the eating area.


DATES TO REMEMBER:
Oct 5: Kinder Design Day
Oct 6: Red and Black Attack Shirt w/ Jeans
           Fifth Grade at Allaso Ranch
           Dad's Club Mtg. (7:00 Buffalo Wild Wings)
Oct 7:  Fifth Grade at Allaso Ranch
            College Shirt w/ Jeans
            Staff Mtg. (3:30-5:00)
Oct 8:  Fifth Grade at Allaso Ranch
            Tour Thursday (9:00 and 1:00)
            Science is Messy Training (4:00)
            Going Bonkers Night (6:00-8:00)
Oct 9:  Conference Day
Oct 10: Taylor's Wedding Day!!
Oct 12:  NO SCHOOL
Oct 14:  Education Foundation Grants Due (4:30)