Week of April 4

"It takes a village" is a phrase I found myself using this week.  It truly DOES each and every day, but it is especially noticeable during testing season.  Many thanks go out to each and every one of you for helping to pull off our first round of state testing.  

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.

What YOU are doing to do to LIVE out this VISION at Lee?  

Please focus this last nine weeks on the FLEXIBLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT part of this statement.

DID YOU KNOW?

• that we had a delivery of Makey Makey, Vex Robotics, Little Bits this week?  Your learners will have extra exposure to these learning tools during Enrichment Hour, and so will YOU at our next Staff Meeting! Get ready for some hands-on FUN on Wednesday!
• we are putting the steel walls to the cafeteria down after dismissal duty?  This will prevent YMCA learners and parents from reentering your spaces and keep our building secure.  THANK YOU, Julie L, for adding this to your dismissal routine!
• that we will have Cultural Sensitivity training the last week in April?  Stay tuned as we arrange April 25 or April 28 for half day training. 
• there is a great (and short) blog about learners designing their own learning.  Check it out!
• if you are injured at work that you MUST fill out an Employee Incident Report?  If the injury is serious enough, then you MUST go to our Worker's Comp doctor.  We do NOT want anyone to be out of pocket and not reimbursed if injured.  Campus administration must be informed when anyone is injured!
• that our district just enrolled their 12,000th learner this week?
• PTO REALLY needs our help?  I would ask if you could PLEASE take 10 minutes out of your day, on Friday,  to upload some pictures to the site in the email I am forwarding you.  This is one way you can ensure your class is represented in the yearbook.  They have tried to use your pictures off Twitter to avoid bothering you, but they need them in original size.  THANK YOU!  Perhaps next year we can have a weekly class historian that submits pictures.

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW:

We have already covered the ASSESSMENT portion of the Learning Framework at the beginning of the year.  As a house, please revisit the graphic hanging in your design studio that supports this topic.

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Flexibility- the ability to make adjustments or alter plans.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what come." Zig Ziglar

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

A leader is able to change and adjust to different situations and settings with a positive attitude.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
April 2:  Meghan's Birthday
              World Autism Awareness Day (Wear Blue)
April 5:  Red and Black Attack shirt with Jeans

April 6:  College shirt w/ Jeans
             Walk at School Wednesday
             Purple Music Performance (8:30 and 6:30pm)
             Staff Mtg. (3:30)  
             Chapter 9 PLC Book Study Due
April 7: Spurs Savings (7:30-7:50)
             LEEdership Council (8:00)
April 8: Megan's Birthday
              Jennifer's Birthday
April 9: PreK Exploration Fair (9:00-1:00)

Week of March 28

ENJOY the three day weekend!  I can't think of a better way to prepare for our next week of school than three days off!

Please take two minutes to listen to this voice recording (you will have to turn up your volume).  This is what Cathy Bryce (former Highland Park Superintendent) had to say about YOU, OUR SCHOOL, AND OUR LEARNERS at our Principal's Institute.  Cathy was part of a group of visionary Superintendents that wrote Creating a New Vision for Public Education in Texas.  This document has guided much transformation and many visionary changes in public education.  She continued after my phone died to say that "what the staff does at Lee Elementary is transformational and aligns with everything the document stands for and dreams of for learners and that OUR SCHOOL, Lee Elementary, is the ONLY school she has EVER seen this kind of work being done with children on all levels."  I hope you feel proud of yourselves for the continued recognition you receive. Your ears should be burning from your exemplary work being shared with leaders in education.  Each of you is transforming learning on a daily basis.  It is HARD work, but you are on this journey because YOU are special! YOU are the BEST school famiLEE!!  Thank you for being at Lee.

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.

What YOU are doing to do to LIVE out this VISION at Lee?  

DID YOU KNOW?

• that you can Tweet without using your data plan?  If you authenticate before attempting to access Twitter by going to www.777.com and entering your network username and password, you can Tweet. YAY!
• that Alex will be a permanent addition to our staff for the 2016-2017 school year?  She will be in a full time educator role.  Please take time to congratulate her and stay tuned to learn where that will be later this Spring as staffing issues help determine her placement.  I know you will ALL be gunning to have her in your grades and houses!

SCHEDULES

Don't forget that we have adjusted schedules on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday due to Spirit Rally and STAAR Testing.  Brenda Baker, from Thinking Maps, will be with your during your grade level conference time on Monday.  Please bring writing samples with you so that she can help you with calibrating your scoring and help answer any questions you may have with our WFTBB implementation.  Please be ready to start Spirit Rally at 2:00 on Monday.  We have a packed agenda. It will help if your learners are already packed up in your spaces before coming down.  Please invite parents to attend in your weekly email.  Here is the agenda, to if you have a learner being recognized or performing.

Monday Schedule

Tuesday Schedule

Wednesday Schedule

STAAR

If you are a STAAR administrator, please wear jeans and sneakers with a school shirt, if you like. We know that you will be doing a great deal of walking while actively monitoring and want you comfortable.  Thank you for everyone's efforts to get furniture moved and set up, for getting all items covered up, and for lifting up one another.  We will have a Jason's Deli menu for anyone who wants to order in lunch on testing days.  The office will call the orders in for you once you have sent your money down.

SURVEY HELP

Coppell ISD is requesting you participate in an innovative on-line survey developed by the Center for the Built Environment (CBE) at the University of California, Berkeley to evaluate your satisfaction with our building and identify how to improve our facility services.  Your participation is very important.  Please visit this web address before Friday April 04, 2016: https://berkeley.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2t3xCC03wU2Oit7

This survey will give you an opportunity to comment on your satisfaction with spatial layout, office furnishings, office temperature, air quality, lighting, acoustic quality, building maintenance, and the building overall. The survey will take less than 15 minutes to complete and is confidential and anonymous. The results will greatly assist us in making this facility work for you.  Thank you in advance for your participation.

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW: LEARNING

This week we will spend our third week reviewing learning design.  Educators utilize standards and future ready outcomes to to design constructivist experiences that facilitate the learners' conceptional development and deepen understanding as they construct meaning of the world.  Let's review AUTHENTICITY.  

According to our CISD Educator Evaluation System: the educator approaches learning design in a way that encompasses real-world connections which promote sustainable, transferrable knowledge and skills as well as learner engagement.  Standards and experiences within the unit are inked to content concepts that create a holistic approach to learning the discipline, problems are complex within the discipline, more than one perspective for addressing and providing solutions that reflect the skills and thinking in the real world, and opportunities for learners to see how content is used in the real world.

• standards and experiences within the unit transcend many disciplines and create a holistic approach to solving global problems within the context of multiple disciplines 
• opportunities for learners to address global issues, collaborate with mentors, and interact with authentic audiences

This area of the learning framework is easily visible with your Challenge Based Learning units.  CBL gives learners the chance to connect multiple disciplines, provide solutions, address global issues, research and connect with experts, and share for feedback.  You are rocking it!

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Compassion- the ability to share another's feelings or ideas.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"It is the weak who are cruel.  Gentleness can only be expected from the strong." Leo Roskin

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

When a designer is having a serious conversation with a learner, don't look at that learner. You wouldn't want your classmates looking at you in a similar situation.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
March 28:  Brenda meets with Grade levels during PLC time
                   Spirit Rally (2:00 Gym)

March 29:  Report Card Grades Due (8:00)
                   2nd Grade Field Trip
                   4th Grade STAAR Writing
                   5th Grade STAAR Math

March 30:  Convocation T-shirt w/ Jeans
                   Walk at School Wednesday
                   5th Grade STAAR Reading
                   Leadership Mtg. (3:30)  
March 31: Learning Walks (8:15)
                 Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
                 Youth Art Month Reception (6:00)
April 1: Report Cards Go Home
             Dad's Club Camp In (7:00 pm - 8:00 am)
April 2: Meghan H's Birthday

Week of March 21

I hope that you had a relaxing and refreshing Spring Break filled with memories and FUN.  Welcome back- it is the first day of Spring, already, and there is greatness in store for the next two months of school!

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.

What YOU are doing to do to LIVE out this VISION at Lee?  

DID YOU KNOW?

• there is a new Kid President Video?  Check it out here. 
• that our campus raised $10,170.00 for Jumprope for Heart? THANK YOU for your support of this wonderful association!
• that we will have our Spirit Rally at 2:00, next Monday, since there is no school on Friday?
• that if learners collect the amounts pledged that we could raise almost $14,000 for our Fun Run?  THANK YOU for hyping this up and sacrificing class time for this!  

SPRING CARNIVAL
Our Spring Carnival is approaching and I hope that your house has come up with a great auction date for our PTO to raffle off.  Please make sure you email your ideas to leeptocoppell@gmail.com.  These were due on March 11.

PTO NEWSLETTER

In next week's Friday email, please remind parents to sign up for our weekly school newsletter through PTO.  We learned that only half of our parents are signed up.  They can sign up at www.leepto.com

HUMAN RESOURCES

Lots of information was emailed to you from Kristen Streeter this week.  Please fill out paperwork NOW if you want to bring your learner to Lee next year.  Also, if you are planning on applying for an in district transfer, please visit with Chantel at your earliest convenience so that we can plan accordingly for next year.  NOT THAT WE WANT ANYONE LEAVING OUR FAMILEE!!! 

SUICIDE PREVENTION

Please read this memo regarding required suicide prevention for all CISD employees.  Online training must be completed by May 31 and documentation will need to be provided to Angela before then.

ACTION NEEDED

Don't forget to sign up for you Spring Observation with Chantel and your EOY Summative.  This task was due on March 11,  and there are many of you who still have not signed up.  ALL STAFF must sign up for an end of year Summative conference.

FED EX

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 before 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.

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW: LEARNING

This week we will spend our second week reviewing learning design.  Educators utilize standards and future ready outcomes to to design constructivist experiences that facilitate the learners' conceptional development and deepen understanding as they construct meaning of the world.  Let's review responsive learning.  According to our CISD Educator Evaluation System: the educator approaches learning design in a way that reflects the diversity of each learner's prior experiences and skills and takes into account his/her learning style, multiple intelligences, and interests while incorporating the learner's voice in both process and product. 

• consistently organizes flexible grouping based on learners interested, multiple intelligences, socioeconomic/cultural background, gender, other assessment data

Think about where you are with your PLCs and the creation of your common formative assessments.  Are you using these to flexibly group learners?  Outside of CBL, are you giving learners choice in product and process as well as organizing them by their interests or other areas? 

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Fortitude- strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened." Lau Tzu

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

If someone in the class wins a game or does something well, we will congratulate that person.  If you win or do well at something, do not brag.  When you lose, do not show anger. 

DATES TO REMEMBER:
March 18:  Sanela's Birthday  

March 21:  2/3 TELPAS
                  LEEdership Council (8:00)
March 22:  4/5 TELPAS

                  Spirit Stick Sales (Recess Time)
March 23: House T-shirt w/ Jeans
             Walk at School Wednesday
             Spirit Stick Sales (Recess Time)
             Fed Ex Day (3:30-4:30)  
March 24:  Spurs Savings (7:30-7:50 a.m.)
                 Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
                 Spirit Stick Sales (Recess Time)
                 Buffalo Wild Wings Night
March 25: Bad Weather Day (NO SCHOOL)
March 27: Happy Easter

Week of March 7

Thank you for taking the time to tell your learners WHY you come to school each day.  Your videos captured your kindness, compassion, and love for our children.  I appreciate that you found your perfect someone and brightened their day.  I am sure you know that I come to school for our learners, but I also come to school because of each of YOU!  You challenge me to be a better version of myself and push me to learn and grow each day. Your belief in me as your leader and in our school is remarkable and I feel lucky to be part of our famiLEE!

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.

What YOU are doing to do to LIVE out this VISION at Lee?  

DID YOU KNOW?

• Chantel will not be at school on Friday or Monday?  She will be in Florida visiting her family.
• that administrators in CISD had Religion in Pubic Education Training this week? Here are my notes if you are interested in what we learned.
• Spring conference time is just around the corner?  Don't stress about them before the break, but start talking with your house and grade about when these will start.
• our Canadian visitors and Apple were impressed ONCE AGAIN with the work you are doing.  They left some key chains and stylus' for you.  They are in the teacher's lounge if you would like one.
• not everyone has taken the Lee Staff Self Analysis and it is due tomorrow.  Please go to our February 22 blog for the link.

TELPAS WRITING SAMPLES

These are due to Claudia on Friday.  Please make sure they are dated and the legal first and last name are on them. THANK YOU for getting these completed.

FUN RUN

Please feel free to wear your warm ups and t-shirts to school if you are going to participate in the Fun Run on Thursday.   It is possible that we will do sack lunches from the cafeteria that day (stay tuned) if weather is inclement and we have to move the run indoors. 

OPEN HOUSE

I have no doubt (from PLC sessions) you are going to pull out all the stops to make sure that our building is alive with work all over the place for Open House.  I cannot wait to walk the building and see how you creatively showcase learning.  Please be dressed to impress that night.  You may also encourage famiLEEs to download QR code readers and bring ear buds to hear the technology projects you are showcasing. Don't forget to have them tweet to #rjlyear2

STAFF MEETING

The entire staff (office, paraprofessionals, specialists) MUST be in attendance at Wednesday's staff meeting.  This is our STAAR Security training and everyone must be trained.  We are doing our best to use staff time for this, so please be on time and prepared to learn.  Angela will be sending more details. 

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW: LEARNING

This week we will spend our second week reviewing learning design.  Educators utilize standards and future ready outcomes to to design constructivist experiences that facilitate the learners' conceptional development and deepen understanding as they construct meaning of the world.  Let's review scaffolding.  According to our CISD Educator Evaluation System: the educator designs learning experiences to promote deeper understanding allowing them to experience new knowledge, activate prior knowledge, and internalize new concepts.

• makes connections to community stakeholders and real world/global concerns 
• connects and leverages various experiences, interests, and contexts in which learners participate in and out of school
• engages diverse learners by using brain-based strategies to help learners represent their thinking

What are ALL the things you consider when you design learning experiences for your learners? How do you know what you will teach learners? Do you decide what learners will study or do they?  Are YOU directing the learning for individuals or are THE LEARNERS? 

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Courage- strength to act even when afraid or uncertain

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak;  Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." Winston Churchill

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:
Week of March 7: National School Breakfast Week
Week of March 7: TX Public Schools Week
Week of March 7: 4th Grade Writing Camp
Mar 8:  PTO Mtg. (6:30 Cafe)

Mar 9:  Convocation T-shirt w/ Jeans
             Walk at School Wednesday
             Staff Mtg. (3:30) ALL Staff must attend!
Mar 10: Fun Run (During Specials Time)
             Campus Tour (9:00)
             Open House (6:00-7:30)
Mar 11: Brenda Visits 4th Grade Team
Week of March 14:  Spring Break