Week of May 2

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?

• we ordered a dash and dot robot for each house, an Ozobot class kit for the school, and imagination playground small blue block desktop building sets?  More ways to make learning FUN and to use this last month of school
• if you are interested in continuing to learn about Schoology, the DLCs will be offering a self-paced course this summer called Schoology Poolside?  Keep and eye out for more information about summer professional learning coming soon.  Can't wait for summer?  Alli would be happy to help you get started!

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK SCOOP

I hope you feel celebrated and LOVED this next week.  Our office, PTO, and Dad's Club have some sweet gestures planned to thank you for ALL that you do!  We will kick the week off with a delicious breakfast for our entire staff from Chick-Fil-A on Monday.  We will do our best to have it set up in the teacher's lounge, by 7:15, so that those who have a morning duty can enjoy too.  Tuesday, we will have a salty and sweet Crave popcorn bar set up for you.  Wednesday afternoon, PTO will provide snocones at the end of the day and there is NO STAFF MEETING.  Thursday morning, our Dad's Club will be making breakfast for you, and on Friday, PTO will provide lunch from On the Border.     ENJOY!  

During this part of the school year it is easy to forget how #luckyatlee we truly are.  I would like to reshare something I shared with our Leadership Team this summer.  May it carry you through the remainder of this school year, motivate you to be a marigold to someone, and encourage you to CRUSH SOME WALNUTS:

This year will test you more intensely than just about anything you’ve done. It will deplete your energy.  It may bring you to tears and make you question your talents and skills.  But all these tests, if you approach them the right way, will leave you better and stronger than you are today.

Advice is available everywhere you look, and some of it is very good.  Still, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of all that is ahead of you this year.  The fact is, a great deal of those tips won’t work very well if you fail to follow this one essential rule:

Surround yourself with good people.

By finding the positive, supportive, energetic educators in our school and sticking close to them, you can improve your job satisfaction more than with any other strategy. Your chances of excelling in this field will skyrocket.  Just like a young seedling growing in a garden, thriving depends largely on who you plant yourself next to.

The Marigold Effect

Many experienced gardeners follow a concept called companion planting: placing certain vegetables and plants near each other to improve growth for one or both plants.  For example, rose growers plant garlic near their roses because it repels bugs and prevents fungal diseases.  Among companion plants, the marigold is one of the best: It protects a wide variety of plants from pests and harmful weeds.  If you plant a marigold beside most any garden vegetable, that vegetable will grow big and strong and healthy, protected and encouraged by its marigold.

Marigolds exist in our school– encouraging, supporting and nurturing those around them.  When you find a marigold in our school and stay close to them, you will grow.  Find more than one and you will positively thrive.  

At Lee, designers will be fortunate to be planted close to marigolds.  You can identify them by the way they genuinely welcome you to school each day, or by the way their offers to help sound sincere.  Perhaps it is just by how you feel when you’re with them:  Are you calmer, more hopeful?  Excited to get started on a teaching task? Comfortable asking questions, even the foolish ones?  If you feel good around this person, chances are they have some marigold qualities.

Once you’ve identified your marigolds, make an effort to spend time with them. Having a hard day? Go to your marigolds.  Not understanding how to operate the grade reporting system?  Go to your marigolds.  Confused by something the principal said at the staff meeting? Marigolds.  They may be on the other side of the building, out of your house or grade, or otherwise less convenient to reach than others.  Make the effort to find your marigolds.  It’s worth the trouble.

Beware of Walnut Trees

While seeking out your marigolds, you’ll need to take note of walnut trees.  Successful gardeners avoid planting vegetables anywhere near walnut trees, which give off a toxic substance that can inhibit growth, wilt, and ultimately kill nearby vegetable plants.  Sadly, sometimes, walnut trees will be around.  They may not seem dangerous at first.  In fact, some may appear to be good teachers – happy, social, well-organized.  But here are some signs that you should keep your distance: Their take on school or the learners is negative.  Their take on campus administration is negative.  Being around them makes you feel insecure, discouraged, overwhelmed, or embarrassed.

WALNUT TREES ARE POISON. Avoid them whenever you can. If you don’t, they will start to infect you.  Doing this may be a challenge.  Touching base with your marigolds will help flush out the toxins that build up from contact with walnut trees.  Perhaps having enough marigolds around a walnut tree can deaden the roots and weaken the tree.  This year is going to be filled with hard work, challenge, and growth.  Communicate with others in a helpful manner and remember why you are part of this incredible profession.  As a valued member of our our leadership team, we challenge you to be a marigold.  Plant seeds around our school and contribute to building a campus culture of positivity, happiness, connectivity, and success.   

-Adapted from Cult of Pedagogy 2015  http://www.cultofpedagogy.com/marigold/

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Resiliency- recovering from or adjusting easily to misfortune or change.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit." -Napoleon

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

Accept that you are going to make mistakes.  Learn from them and move on.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
May 2-May 6:  Staff Appreciation Week
May 2:  EOY Summatives
May 3:  1st Grade Field Trip (Arboretum)
              Red and Black Shirt w/ Jeans
May 4:  Alan's Birthday
              College Shirt w/ Jeans

              Walk at School Wednesday
              Learning By Doing Chpt 10 Due
              EOY Summatives
              NO Staff Mtg. 
May 5:  Spur Savings
              LEEdership Council (8:15 Cafe)
              Kindergarten Round Up (9:30-10:30)
              Tour (1:00)
May 6: Project ACES Day
            PTO Luncheon
            Due Date for 3-5 Math Schoology Course
            EOY Summatives 

Week of April 25

THANK YOU for completing the MANY surveys that have been required of you this week.  Please know I do my very best to filter things from you when I can.  These were not tasks I could control, I'm sorry.  I do appreciate your participation and voice in these.  What you have to say, really does matter.  I hope you will have fun at our Spring Carnival with your learners and their families.  May each of your auction dates go for top dollar!!

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?

• we ordered some more TEKS Prep resources with our State Comp Ed Funds?  These resources are from Mentoring Minds and are barcoded already.  Meghan is happy to check these out to you!
• that both Monday and Tuesday will be Day 1 on our schedule?  Due to training there is no PLC on Monday, but PLC will resume on Tuesday. 
• you are required to electronically sign each walkthrough and observation in Eduphoria?  Please check and sign yours before your Summative meeting. 
• Jacque helped design our RJL year 3 staff shirts.  Thank her for her hard work and creativity when you see her!
• you need to sign in and out of the Spring Carnival on Friday night?  I will count the time you are there towards your 8 hours you need to earn for June 3 (remember the email from Kristen about Bad Weather Days?)

CULTURAL SENSITIVITY TRAINING

Our training is Monday, and the schedule is here.  Please make an effort to leave a positive post-it or note in the spaces you observe throughout the district and HAVE FUN learning from others.  Training will take place in A120.

CLARITY SURVEY TO COMPLETE

Please complete this survey If you are a 3-5 grade Designer your learners need to complete it, too. It must be completed by Friday.

• Designer Link: http://www.BByt.es/GM4WT
•  3-5 Grade Learner Survey and Instructions

VISIONING DOCUMENT ARTICLES III, IV, V SURVEY TO COMPLETE

Please complete this survey from Dr. Denison.  Every person is expected to fill this out.  Be aware it captures your name and our school, so the district knows if you do not participate.  

SECOND STANTEC SURVEY

Staff, please take this 15-minute survey at your convenience:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TeacherSurvey16

Please also find a 15-minute window to have your 3-5 students take the student survey.  The question language on the student survey has been adapted for their comprehension, but this still needs to be an activity guided by you.  
Student Survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ESStudentSurvey16

Please complete the student and teacher surveys before Friday April 29^th, 2016

END OF YEAR SUMMATIVES
Designers, don't forget that these need to be submitted in Euphoria by end of day Friday.  This is your time to brag on yourself, so please take every moment to do so, but do not write a book!  Summatives for EVERYONE start next week, so please double check the schedule to make sure you have a time.  All employees must have an EOY Summative conference. 

VOLUNTEER BREAKFAST 

If you do not have morning duty, please come out on the pavillion at 7:30, on Friday.  This is a great way to mix and mingle with our parents as we thank them for all they do for our school and learners.  With this being our second year, we are going to have to go out of our way, at times, to make our parents feel welcome and I believe this event will help.  We will put all leftovers in the teacher's lounge following the event.  Please tweet and email the invitation out and remind your learners that this event is for parents only.  Thank you, Kristen for designing our invitation and Samira for helping with food items from Social Spurs.

GEMS

      Congratulations to Nicole, Sanela, and Sam for earning district GEM Awards.  Please join us on Monday, at 6:00, in the Board Room, as they are recognized for being Great Educators that Matter.  

MOBILE VOTING AT LEE
Voting begins next Thursday.  Please be extra watchful that voters are not wandering through the building outside of the gym area.  Also be on EXTRA ALERT at recess times for drivers and voters.  We request that you please park in the front parking lot on Thursday and Friday, so that the voters can park in the back.  

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Friendship- caring for and trusting one another

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"The reason dogs have so many friends is because they was their tails and not their tongues." - Anonymous

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

Do not save seats in the lunchroom.  If someone want sot sit down, let him or her.  Do not try to exclude anyone.  We are a family, and we must treat one another with respect and kindness.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Administrative Professionals Appreciation Week
April 25:  Cultural Sensitivity Training
                School Board Meeting (GEM Awards 6:00)

April 27:  House T-shirt w/ Jeans

                Walk at School Wednesday
                Administrative Professionals Day
                Summatives (all day)
                4/5 Progress Report Grades Due (8:00am)
                New Learner Luncheon with Angela
                Staff Mtg. (3:30-5:00)  
April 28:  Buffalo Wild Wings Night 
                Technology Inventory @ Lee
                Mobile Voting at Lee (Gym- 7:00-7:00)
                Donuts with Dads (7:30-8:00)
                Learning Walk @ Lee (8:15)
                Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
April 29: Amanda's Birthday
                Summatives (all day)
               18 Flex Hours Due
                Mobile Voting at Lee (Gym 11:00-7:00)
                Progress reports sent home
                Diana's Last Day :(
April 30: Relay for Life

Week of April 18

Happy Friday!  What a GREAT week of Challenge Based Learning experiences for our learners.  It is really neat observing the learner generated Guiding Questions posted in your spaces.   Keep up the great job using all of the spaces in a flexible manner and telling your story on Twitter.  

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 all of you will be getting a macbook and dongle to connect to your projectors for a presentation station?  Please thank Jennifer for going to bat for us to get these!
• that Chantel will be at TTES (our new evaluation tool for next year) M-W next week?  I will start my day at Lee and head over to the Admin building after morning broadcast.  
• CSMW will be visiting on Thursday?  9 educators will be with their Principal in the morning and 8 with her in the afternoon?  They want to see what a typical day looks like at Lee and learn all they can about #challengebasedlearning
• there is an optional guest Marimba performance on Friday at 9:30 
• summative documents must be submitted in Eduphoria by Friday?

FED EX WEDNESDAY
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.  You have permission to complete the Math Schoology Course, and the 3 surveys listed below during this time.


ASHLEY VISITS LEE
We have been trying to get Ashley on campus (as much as her schedule will permit) as she transitions to her new role as our AP.  Please give her a FEW minutes at the beginning of your house conference time, on Friday, to visit with your house.  She is working on building relationships with each of you and completing a needs assessment as she prepares to work at Lee.  If you want, you can complete this 2 question form (anonymous) or you can answer with her in person. 


EARTH DAY
Friday is Earth Day.  In celebration, please encourage learners to participate in Waste Free Lunch Day on Friday.  Check out these blogs Ashely found on Twitter.


VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION
Please invite your parents to attend our Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on the outdoor learning pavilion on Friday morning from 7:30-8:30am.  Social Spurs will pick up the tab for ordering breakfast.  Each house is to create a banner to hang Thursday night or before 7:15 a.m. on Friday. 


FAMILEE CARNIVAL
Thank you for bringing your family and friends to attend the FamiLEE Carnival on Friday from 5:30 - 8:00.  If you have not turned in an auction date idea to PTO, please send it to them ASAP so they can create bid sheets.   It can be as simple as a lunch date with a learner or as fancy as you like.  Wouldn't it be nice for every staff member in the building to have some item in the auction?  Please consider signing up for the teacher event, on the sign up, by Designer mailboxes.  Also, there will be a sign in/out sheet in the front office for our carnival.  This time will be recorded and documented because you are scheduled to be off for a bad weather day on Friday, June 3rd, but you are scheduled to work Saturday, June 4th. A decision has been made to move the bad weather day to Saturday, June 4th, so now nobody is scheduled to work on that Saturday. 

FOR REAL?
If you would like to have an option to wear jeans for the remainder of the school year, please put your cash (with name attached) in the inter-office envelope on Chantel's round table.  $20 = jeans with school shirts every day and $25 = jeans with school shirts on Wed and Fri Spirit Days and your choice on the others.  Jeans begin the day you submit payment.

CULTURAL SENSITIVITY TRAINING

The schedule is here.  If you are the AM session, your training is from 7:30-9:30.  You must be back from observations, ready to teach, at 11:30 (including a 30 minute lunch).  If you are in the PM session, your training is from 1:30-3:30.  Please observe, and have a 30 minute lunch between 11:30-1:30.  Be back on time, ready to learn, at 1:30.   It is up to you to connect with other educators to ask permission to observe.  Principals were emailed and so far we are approved at Cottonwood Creek, Wilson, Mockingbird, Austin, Town Center, Valley Ranch, and Pinkerton. (will add other schools on here as I hear back from Principals) You can also observe here, at Lee, if that is your preference.

CLARITY SURVEY TO COMPLETE

Please complete this survey (you completed this at the beginning of he year and our district uses this as a comparative study.)  If you are a 3-5 grade Designer, your learners need to complete it, too. It must be completed by Friday.

• Designer Link: http://www.BByt.es/GM4WT
•  3-5 Grade Learner Survey and Instructions

VISIONING DOCUMENT ARTICLES III, IV, V SURVEY TO COMPLETE

Please complete this survey from Dr. Denison.  Every person is expected to fill this out.  Be aware it captures your name and our school, so the district knows if you do not participate.  

SECOND STANTEC SURVEY

Yes, there is a THIRD SURVEY THIS WEEK.  This is a different survey than the one I emailed you about earlier this week.  This survey was conducted last year and in order for Stantec to compare before and after results and have validity over time, it’s imperative it is completed again by the same elementary schools.

Staff, please take this 15-minute survey at your convenience:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TeacherSurvey16

Please also find a 15-minute window to have your students take the student survey.  The question language on the student survey has been adapted for their comprehension, but this still needs to be an activity guided by you.  Kindergarten, First and Second grade students are not required to take the survey.  
Student Survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ESStudentSurvey16

Please complete the student and teacher surveys before Friday April 29^th, 2016:  The survey  is confidential and anonymous.

PURCHASE ORDERS AND CHECK REQUESTS

      This is our FINAL CALL for any orders or check requests through SEPTEMBER 10, 2016.  Our Business Office is changing over systems so we must these turned in to the district.  

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Optimism- to anticipate the best possible outcome.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Everyday may not be good, but there is something good in every day." -Anonymous

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

Be positive and enjoy life.  Keep everything in perspective and focus on the good.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
April 16:  CISD Ed Foundation Fun Run
                Coppell EarthFest
April 18:  Austin Elem 5th graders visit Lee (am)

April 20:  Convocation T-shirt w/ Jeans

                Walk at School Wednesday
                Counselor Mentors at Lee
                Fed Ex (3:30-4:30)  
April 21:  Spur Savings
                 LEEdership Council (8:15 Cafe)
                 Tours (9:00, 1:00, and 3:15)
                 CMSW visits Lee (morning)
April 22: Volunteer Appreciation Event
                Heather's Birthday
                Summatives Due in Eduphoria
                Clarity Surveys Due
                FamiLEE Carnival (5:30-8:00)

Week of April 11

It has been one remarkable week for me as an administrator!  I spent Monday and Tuesday (and most of Friday) in classrooms completing most of my Spring Observations and Walkthroughs.   What a great opportunity to be reminded about the talent in our building.  Not every Principal can say that they go into observations and see GROWTH, but I can!  I am honored to serve with people who have a heart for children~ who keep pushing themselves~ who read feedback on their forms and TAKE ACTION.  I wonder at times how it can get any better... and then I visit your spaces and you SHOW ME!  I see objectives posted that match what is being learned, student-led learning experiences, authentic use of technology, movement and use of flexible learning environments, Schoology and SeeSaw, learner goal setting, and Designers who KNOW their learners.  We truly are #luckyatlee because of each of YOU!

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 there is training at Region 10, on April 26, related to math problem solving.  If you want to attend from 9:00-4:00 pm, let me know!  
• we will have the SAME Convocation t-shirts next year?  Don't get rid of yours this summer!!  

NOTES FROM NURSE AMY

Please remember to let Nurse Amy know about upcoming field trips so that she can have medication prepared for you.  (You should also be notifying the cafeteria) In addition, on Friday, April 22, we have 5th grade spinal screenings in the morning and the 5th grade growth and development video in the afternoon.  


APPLE VISIT ON TUESDAY
We have NO TOURS on Thursday, however, we do have a very important visit on Tuesday afternoon.  From 1:00-3:00 we will have 4 visitors from Apple that are here to see CBL and Apple technology in action.  I want you to continue to do what you always do, but if you can shift any CBL work to this time, it would be appreciated.  It is exciting to see Interdependence, Impact, Separation, Change, and Effect in action around our building.  GREAT job with your bulletin boards and walls capturing the process and thinking.

SPRING PICTURES

Don't forget you need to be here early, on Thursday, for our Staff photograph.  Since you will need to be here BY 7:10 for our 7:15 photograph, you can leave as soon as your learners are all safely dismissed.  We want our whole famiLEE in the picture, so please do your very best to be here on time.  Class pictures will take place in front of the tree in the cafe and the flex space in the media center will be used for individual photographs.  Here is our schedule (Picture Schedule tab). Keep in mind pictures will impact learning spaces. Please send an extra email reminding your learners and families that they can only BUY class pictures on Thursday.  

CULTURAL SENSITIVITY TRAINING

Our training has been confirmed for Monday, April 25.  The office will put in for your subs and the schedule is here.  If you are the AM session, your training is from 7:30-9:30.  You must be back from observations, ready to teach, at 11:30 (including a 30 minute lunch).  If you are in the PM session, your training is from 1:30-3:30.  Please observe, and have a 30 minute lunch between 11:30-1:30.  Be back on time, ready to learn, at 1:30.   It is up to you to connect with other educators to ask permission to observe.  Principals were emailed and so far we are approved at Cottonwood Creek, Wilson, Mockingbird, Austin, Town Center, Valley Ranch, and Pinkerton. (will add other schools on here as I hear back from Principals) You can also observe here, at Lee, if that is your preference.

CLARITY SURVEY TO COMPLETE

Please complete this survey (you completed this at the beginning of he year and the district uses this as a comparative study.)  If you are a 3-5 grade Designer your learners need to complete it, too. It opens on Monday and must be completed by next Friday, April 22.

• Designer Link: http://www.BByt.es/GM4WT
•  3-5 Grade Learner Survey and Instructions

SUBSTITUTES 

Please be mindful the rest of April and May that I will not approve personal days unless we receive two weeks notice.  In addition, our Fridays are substitute heavy, already, so we need you to take those vitamins and stay healthy!  I am not a supporter of "splitting classes" at any time, so stay healthy and turn in your absences to SmartFind as early as possible to ensure they get picked up.  Thanks for your cooperation!


REMINDER FROM THE OFFICE
Kinder, 1^st Grade, 3^rd Grade & 4^th Grade (Austin) CHECK REQUESTS are due by April 21^st.  Please be sure to consider ALL expenses – admission, tshirts, supplies, etc.  ALL Chaperone google sheets should be created and shared with Diana and Shanna ASAP. You can use the following link to create a google sheet.  Just click “FILE” – “MAKE A COPY” and rename it.  Be sure to “share” it with the office!  Chaperone List for Field Trip

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Curiosity- the eager desire to learn, to explore, to investigate

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"The future belongs to the curious. The ones who are not afraid to try it, explore it, poke at it, question it, and turn it inside out." Anonymous

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

Learn and inquire about things that interest you.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
April 11:  Ashley @ Lee all day

April 12:  Apple Visit (1:00-3:00)
                PTO Mtg. (6:00)
April 13:  Convocation T-shirt w/ Jeans

                Walk at School Wednesday
                Leadership Mtg. (3:30-5:00)  
April 14:  Faculty Picture (7:15 a.m.)
                Class and Spring Picture Day (all day)
April 15: MKB teachers observe at Lee
April 16:  CISD Ed Foundation Fun Run
                Coppell EarthFest
April 22:  EOY Summatives Due in Eduphoria