Week of Oct 3

It is starting to feel like Fall is in the air!  ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND... maybe even try some fun State Fair of Texas foods!  I want to thank you and acknowledge the risk-taking visible during learning walks, walkthroughs, and class visits.  We saw great use of outdoor spaces and house collaboration this week.  The work you are accomplishing in Team Time is astonishing!  You each continue to stretch yourselves and push for greatness for our learners.  

We're also impressed with the learning that comes back to Lee from content specialists and Math and Literacy Academy participants.  You are the MOST INCREDIBLE models of learning I have ever seen!  This graphic reminds me of you and was created by my doodle teacher, Trae.

DID YOU KNOW

• the State Fair of Texas opens tomorrow?  You will get your Designer and Learner State Fair tickets in your box on Friday.  PLEASE send these home with learners, on Friday, in a secure way so that they do not get lost.  Not using your staff ticket, return it to Deepa.  She will add it to the extras.  If you want an extra adult ticket, email her and she can get you one on a first come, first serve basis.
• you and your learners can still shop the Book Fair VIRTUALLY? Click here until 10/8 and books will ship to Lee the week of 10/15 for FREE.
•  that "Dyslexia affects up to 1 in 5 people, but the experience of dyslexia isn't always the same? This difficulty in processing language exists along a spectrum -- one that doesn't necessarily fit with labels like "normal" and "defective." In this short video, Kelli Sandman-Hurley urges us to think again about dyslexic brain function and to celebrate the neurodiversity of the human brain."   Thanks for sharing, Mary!

MAD HATTER
Please encourage your learners to participate in the new (tags on) hat drive on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  If they participate, they may wear a hat to school on Thursday.

LAWSUIT
From Dr. Waldrip: Our reply to anyone that asks for comments or your opinion on the federal lawsuit in our district, our reply is "This issue is in litigation, I can't comment at this time."


TEAM TIME
From our Admin. Mtg. this week, Dr. Waldrip has requested that we DO NOT USE THE WORD PLC.  He feels passionate that a meeting is not a PLC.  Please make sure you refer to our learning communities as "Team Time" or  for both yourselves and our learners.  THANK YOU. 



SUBSTITUTES
A friendly reminder...if you are going to be out for a planned absence (whether it is school business or not) you must submit your absence through Eduphoria Formspace.  We need to maintain this practice to make sure subs are paid from the proper budget and to make sure they are put in SmartFind for you.  THANK YOU!



WEEKLY WALKTHROUGH FOCUS
We will continue giving you feedback on, 3.2 Managing Student Behavior, this week.

ATTENDANCE

1. Please remember to submit your attendance by 10:00am every morning.  It is imperative that we follow that time deadline in order to report accurate information for our school.  Please set an alarm on your phone and set up notifications (see Chantel's blog from a few weeks ago) to receive an email notification when you haven't taken attendance.  
2. Please make sure your attendance is ACCURATE.  It does not build trust with parents when they get a call their learner is absent when they are at school.  
3. If you did not include the updated attendance information from our website in your newsletter, please do that this week!  You can provide them a direct link here.  http://www.coppellisd.com/Page/14000

RED AND BLACK SUPERSTAR PROGRAM
The Coppell Education Foundation is continuing the Red & Black Super Star Program.  This year the awards will be given out on 4 occasions.  The first nomination deadline is October 7th.  Subsequent deadlines are December 9th and March 3rd.  Each winner will receive a Super Star shirt, a certificate and a stylus/pen.  The awards will be presented at an assembly or during announcements.  Students can be nominated by any CISD employee.  CISD employees can be nominated by a parent, a middle-school student or a CISD employee.  Nominations can be made at http://www.coppellisdef.com/r-b-super-star.

THIS WEEK'S CURRICULUM COURIER

CUSTODIAL APPRECIATION

Social Spurs will take care of gift cards for our custodians, but your learners may want to create cards or poems during your writing time.  

FALL CONFERENCE DAY AND HOURLY EMPLOYEES

Please document the parents that you conference with.  It is a best practice to add this to your communication log.  

If you are a Paraprofessional or Instructional Aide, please let Chantel and Ashley know what your plans are for Friday.  If you have 8 hours of comp/flex time, already, you do not need to come in on Friday.  If you are trying to earn more for the week of Thanksgiving, we need people to greet in the front office because Shanna and Deepa will be out.  Comp/flex hours should NOT be greater than 20 at this time.

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Friendship- caring for and trusting one another.

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

Do not save seats in the lunchroom.  If someone wants to 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.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

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

DATES TO REMEMBER:

National Dyslexia Month
Oct 3-  National Custodian Appreciation Day
            Global Read Aloud Begins
            Bring New Hats for Mad Hatter
Oct 4- Allaso Ranch Parent Mtg. (6:00-7:00 Cafe)
           Dad's Club Mtg. (7:00)
Oct 5- College Shirt Day
           Walk at School Wednesday
           Staff Mtg. (CANCELLED) you have Watson two days next week!
Oct 6- Wear Hats for Mad Hatter Day
            4th Grade at Science Training
            1st Grade Science Training (3:45-5:00 DCE)
Oct 7- NO SCHOOL for learners
           Elementary Conference Day
           Red and Black Superstar Nominations DUE
Oct 8- Chess Club Movie Date
Oct 10- NO SCHOOL

Week of Sept 26

Happy Fall Y'all!  What another incredible week here at Lee.  Ashely and I have concluded BOY Goal Setting meetings and hope to have a walkthrough for each of you by the end of Friday- WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.  Goal setting is truly THE BEST- getting face time with each and every one of you and hearing your dreams and ideas for the year.  It is exciting to think about where we will be, as a campus, with our questioning by the end of the year!  You continue to amaze us with the innovative, creative, and child-centered experiences you design for our learners.  Of course, our first tour GUSHED about you.  They were inspired by the learning inside and outside the building, the inquiry science based activities, the use of technology at high SAMR levels, the integration of special education learners, multi-age level interactions, and the engagement of your learners.  Two different people commented about how focused our kids were on their learning- that is ALL DUE TO YOU!  Please know we appreciate the amazing work you do. 

DID YOU KNOW...

• there is a website that can help you with classroom volume?  Check out this site, but be aware it only works in Chrome.  Thanks for the share Hillary!
• here is the link to sign up for the Coppell Gifted Association Scholarship.  It is a great resource!
• that tour dates and times are on our faculty calendar? You will notice that they are not every week this year.
• that our district uses #75019math, #75019science, #CISDinspire, #CISDproud, and #TellMeSomethingGood to capture stories on Twitter? Maybe the district will like or retweet you!
• you can easily see iPad barcodes WITHOUT removing the case? Go to Settings -> General -> About -> Name? This will help when adding tickets for devices that need help. THANKS LAYNE!
• that PTO put navy FamiLEE shirts in all of our new hire boxes?  Please take time to write them a thank you note for their generosity!
• Ms. Satish will join us in B4 until Taylor returns.  Her email is msatish@coppellisd.com  Please welcome her to our famiLEE!

FALL PICTURES
We will cycle classes through pictures (in the flex area of the media center) on Monday according to our Specials Rotation.  We will send a "runner" to your space so we have minimal disruption to the learning day.

MATH EDUCATOR ACADEMY
Since we have such a large number of participants in all grades and houses, please plan on sharing your learning in your house and team meetings when you return.


HOMECOMING PARADE
I hope to have our letter from PTO on Friday.  I will forward the letter for you to send to your float rider as soon as I can approve it.  It is important your learner wear a school spirit shirt and meet at Cottonwood Creek Elementary at 5:00 on Wednesday.


BUFFALO WILD WINGS NIGHT
We have our FIRST BWW night on Thursday.  This business gives 10% of purchases back to our school and the manager is a Lee parent.  Since this is our first night, we invite EVERYONE to drop by.  Please talk this event up to your leaners and let them know what time you will be there so we can fill the place up!  Parents need to present this card when they pay their bill and can use the card ANYtime, not just on our BWW Nights.

PARENT COMMUNICATION
Do you keep a parent communication log?  This is a good idea for both positive and not so positive conversations.  In education: if it is not documented, it didn't happen.  Also, think about picking up the phone (instead of emailing) when you have an issue that could potentially escalate.  We have a caring staff, and typically if there are issues, it is due to miscommunication.  When a parent has your listening ear and hears your voice on the other end showing concern, most problems will be solved.


LEARNER LED CONFERENCES
Thank you for getting parents AND LEARNERS signed up to attend conferences on October 7.


WEEKLY WALKTHROUGH FOCUS
The next 4 weeks we will focus our walkthroughs on 3.2 Managing Student Behavior.  We look forward to seeing the systems you have in place.

BULLYING PREVENTION COMPLIANCE
Bullying Prevention compliance training has been added to Schoology.  It is located in the folder called Campus Compliance Course.  Please view the ppt and sign off on the quiz by October 14. We are assured it should only take a few minutes to complete.

THIS WEEK'S CURRICULUM COURIER

RTI UPDATE:

1. Please sign up for a time slot on September 26th or October 3rd to discuss your learners in RtI.  
2. You may begin the Behavior RtI Gating process as a House.  Information about the Behavior RtI can be found in the Intervention Services google folder.  This document is a quick-guide to the Gating Process for Tier 1/Tier 2.  Please meet as a House to nominate your top three externalizers and top three internalizers.  This information will be shared with Angela and Ashley, and we will discuss these learners more in-depth at future RtI meetings.  Please have the Gating Process complete by September 30th.     

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Patience- the ability to wait calmly

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

When a designer is assisting another learner, wait calmly until her or she can help you.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"Consider the chicken; you get them by hatching the eggs not smashing them." -Arnold H. Glasow

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Sept 26-Sept 30:  Book Fair Week
                             Homecoming Week
Sept 25:  BOY Screener info in AWARE
Sept 26:  Fall Picture Day
               Chantel at District Training
Sept 27:  K-2 Math Educator Academy
Sept 28:  3-5 Math Educator Academy
               School Shirt w/ Jeans
               Leadership Mtg. (3:45 Buffalo Wild Wings)
               Homecoming Parade (5:00-?)
Sept 29:  Buffalo Wild Wings Night
                Learning Walks with Parents (8:00-9:00)
                4th Grade Science Training (3:45-5:00- DCE)
Sept 30:  Social Spurs Dues Due

Week of Sept 19

I MISS YOU!!!  It has been a great three days of learning, but I am ready to be back with our famiLEE.  THANK YOU to all of you for your posts to Twitter.  Those posts fill my bucket when I am away and also gave me "bragging rights" about the incredible efforts of our Designers and Learners at Lee.  Thank you to Ashley, Angela, and April for "holding down the fort" while I was away.  I hope you all found joy in your journey this week!

DID YOU KNOW

• that people are leaving exterior and vestibule doors open?  This is a safety and energy efficiency concern.  Please help by closing these doors if a learner or designer have left them open.
• that the only way we can track technology help is by submitting a help desk ticket?  Please ALWAYS use this system.  In the case of a learner who is locked out, after submitting your help desk ticket, email Layne the learner name, username, and new password so she can get it reset. 
• that the new Apple coding app, Swift, has launched?  Check it out here.
• that our new office assistant will be starting on Monday?  Her name is Candace Haywood and her number is 469-682-9065

PTO MTG
Don't forget to bring a learner to Tuesday night's meeting at 6:30.  They need to be ready to share a brief overview about your house CBL work. Please remind parents in your weekly communciation.

DONUTS FOR DADS
Our Dad's Club will host Donuts with Dads Wednesday morning. Please remind them in your weekly communication.

SPUR SAVINGS
Please remind parents that we will begin Spur Savings.  The registration and information sheets can be found on PeachJar here.

BOOK FAIR

Preview sign ups from Melinda were shared for Friday, September 23 and Monday, September 26.

WEEKLY WALKTHROUGH FOCUS
3.1 Environment- By the end of this week, you should have one walkthrough from Ashley and Chantel.

FROM ASHLEY

Updated attendance information has been added to our Lee website, including a new form to complete for approval for religious holidays.  All attendance approvals for religious holidays and extended absences will come to Ashley.  As a reminder, if a learner is absent, they should bring a handwritten note (not email) to the office within 3 days of their absence that indicates the learner's first and last name, date of absence, and reason for absence.  Thank you for your help in this!   

Please make sure to provide a direct link to this updated page in your weekly communication.    

http://www.coppellisd.com/Page/14000

FROM NURSE AMY
If you are CPR Certified, please give a copy of your card to Amy.  Also, planning on getting a flu shot at Lee this year?  Email Amy so she can get a head count.

THIS WEEK'S CURRICULUM COURIER

BWW NIGHT
We have posted our nights for the year on the faculty calendar for the year.  It is our hope that Houses will take a night (we tried to plan most on a performance night) to go to at least one Buffalo Wild Wings Night this year.

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Encourage- to inspire with courage and hope

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

If someone in the class wins a game or does something well, congratulate that person.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"When someone does something good, applaud.  You make two people happy."

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Sept- 19- Send home Progress Reports (3-5)
                5th Grade Field Trip
                BOY Goal Setting
Sept 20- Spurs Savings Bank Training
               BOY Goal Setting
               PTO Mtg. (6:30)
Sept 21- Convocation T-shirt and Jeans
              Donuts with Dads (Cafe 7:00-7:50)
              Staff Mtg. (3:30-5:00)
Sept 22- Global Character Day
              Spurs Savings Grand Opening (Cafe 7:30-7:50)
              Campus Tour (1:00)
              3rd Science Training (DCE 3:45)
              Kinder Stop Collaborate & Listen (Lee 3:30)
Sept 23- Layne's Birthday
              Fall Book Fair Begins
              BOY Screening Window Ends
              Campus Tour (9:00 and 1:00)
Sept 25- AWARE Data Due in System

Week of Sept 12

Thank you for a great four day week.  We had wonderful turnout for Curriculum Nights and parents left smiling and fulfilled!  THANK YOU for communicating so effectively to our famiLEEs and helping them feel at home in our school.  Have an incredible weekend!

DID YOU KNOW:

• You can split the screen on your Mac?  Thanks for the share, Ashley!

NEXT WEEK:
Chantel will be off campus Tuesday at Documentation Training and Wednesday and Thursday in Austin.  Ashley will be off campus on Wednesday at Documentation Training.  April Dyke will be here to fill in on Wednesday.  Please communicate with me, electronically, if you need ANYthing.

BUDGET
We are excited that we now have our budget dollars to order what you need to work with your learners.  Part of my role is to make sure you have the supplies you need to do your job.  Please try to plan ahead so that you do not have to spend personal funds on supplies.  Also, be thinking about items we need to add to house storage closets (like manipulatives, science tools, etc.) and write up a PO and put it in my box.  Remember that it will take a couple of weeks to process, get quotes, and ship.  You also must use these approved vendors ONLY.  We are NO LONGER PERMITTED TO USE AMAZON, so please do not submit a PO with them as a vendor.

LEAVE YOUR MARK
Please wear your dots on Thursday, in celebration of Dot Day. Here is a  Dot Day Resource website for educators for The Dot.

APPLE TEACHER
Interested?  Check out more here. I will award you flex hours if you invest your time in this endeavor.

BULLYING
If, at any time, a learner or parent claim that there is a bullying situation, you MUST alert Campus Administration (Chantel, Ashley, and Angela).  We will follow the CISD Bullying Protocol and investigate for you.

DISCIPLINE
As stated in our Lee Staff Handbook: Only after all efforts by the designer have been exhausted should a learner be sent to the office with a referral.  Repeated or serious misbehavior should be communicated to the learner’s parents as soon as possible. There is a new district discipline referral form.  Please use this instead of the three page carbon one.  Learners MUST be accompanied by a completed referral if you send them down.  Please watch this short video created by Courtney to review our discipline practices at Lee.

CISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION GRANT REQUESTS
I am forwarding you the email from the Education Foundation.  Grants are due by October 17 at 4:30 pm.

PTO MEETING
Our PTO Meeting date has been changed to Tuesday, September 20, since I will be in Austin.  Please have a learner from each house prepared to come to the 6:30 meeting, on the 20th, to share what your house is doing with CBL.

WORLD CHARACTER DAY
This special day is coming up on Sept 22.  As a district of character, CISD is participating to show our commitment to the character development of all learners.  Please watch the short film "Science of Character" together as a house.  Below are reflection and discussion questions.  More info in Angela's S'more!

Ages 4-9:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/letitripple-media/Downloads/SOCDiscussionGuideAges4-9.pdf

Ages 10-14

https://s3.amazonaws.com/letitripple-media/Downloads/SOCDiscussionGuideAges10-14.pdf

FROM ALLI:

4th and 5th grade iPad Rollout/Apple ID switch will take place in A120 on Thursday, September 15.  We will have Apple Reps, DLCs and Jennifer on campus assisting with the procedures.  If you are a 4th or 5th grade designer, please make sure to review your what to expect videos and have learners fill our their Apple ID sheets before the day of rollout.

4th grade What to Expect Video

5th grade What to Expect Video

Slides covered in the videos can be found on Alli's blog:  http://diaryofadlc.blogspot.com/p/resources.html

CURRICULUM COURIER

Here is this week's courier.

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Courtesy- consideration, cooperation and generosity

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

If you approach a door and someone is following you, hold the door and allow the other person to pass through it first, then you can walk through.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"Manners are like the zero in arithmetic; they may not be much in themselves, but they are capable of adding a great deal of value to everything else" - Freya Stark

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Sept 9- Educator Goals due in Euphoria
Sept 12- BOY Goal Setting Meetings (all day)
               Social Spurs Mtg. (3:30)
Sept 13- 3rd and 5th Stop Collaborate and Listen (3:30-5:00 AT LEE)
Sept 14- Walk at School Wednesday
               House Shirt with Jeans
Sept 15- Dot Day
              2nd and 4th Stop Collaborate and Listen (3:30-5:00 AT LEE)
              Kinder Science Training (3:45-5:00 DCE)
Sept 16- Lee Handbook must be signed off (office)
              Progress Report Grades Due (8:00 am)
              BOY Goal Setting Meetings (am)
              Homecoming Float names due (3:00 pm)

Week of Sept 5

Enjoy your well deserved three day weekend!  Make memories with loved ones and catch up on some well needed sleep.  

DID YOU KNOW:

• that there are inventory lists on our faculty website?  Check out all three tabs to see what is available to you in the broadcast studio closet, the garden, and your storage rooms.  If there are materials you need, please see your house lead to learn how to write a PO for approval.  
• we have a new MLI Designer joining us?  Her name is Mary Kennington and we couldn't be HAPPIER to have her!  Please take time to email her and welcome her to our famiLEE!  She will be emailing the designers of our 4 MLI learners.
• with campus mobility and some spaces not having phones, we could benefit from having everyone's cell number in one place.  If you are comfortable, please share your number here. When the office has an urgent message, they can contact you.  Your number will NOT be shared outside of our staff.
• we are going to have to request that staff members park in the back parking lot, if you arrive after 6:30am?  With so many employees, there are not enough spots when parents come for lunch.  Duc is unlocking the second set of back doors by 6:30, so you should have no trouble getting safely inside.  

UNITY RALLY

See you in the gym at 8:00, tomorrow, for our UNITY RALLY.  I LOVE THIS IDEA and can't wait for our school spirit to be celebrated.  Thank you to our #unitysquad for their planning and follow-through!

RED AND BLACK T-SHIRTS
If you would like to buy an Ed Foundation t-shirt, and get an extra jeans day the first Tuesday of each month, stop by the front office for an order form or go online to www.coppellisdef.com  Orders will be taken from Aug 29- Sept 21 and delivered the first week of October.


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 Today's Meet after 4:30, but before 5:00, on Wednesday and share what you learned during your time in order to get credit for your hour.  We will send out a separate email about goals and these CAN be worked on during Fed Ex since they are due by Friday.

DYNA PRODUCTS
Are you using any DYNA products in your class (digital OR print)?  I MUST talk to you if you are.  This is a request from Dr. Waldrip.


REMINDERS

• Sign off on Employee handbook in Talent Ed Records
• Fill out the Dismissal roster for Specials
• Add the Faculty Calendar to your devices
• Sign off on our Campus Handbook in the front office
• Select a learner from each house to attend our PTO Mtg. on September 13
• Your house morning broadcast should be watched live (at 7:55) or be started by 7:57 at the latest.  

BADGES
You are required, by the district, to wear your ID Badge at school-please wear yours!  If you see anyone in our building without a badge, you must escort them to the office.


CURRICULUM NIGHT
Please request parents arrive at 5:45 to begin promptly at 6:00.  Also, please post a PDF of your presentation on your websites.  THANK YOU!


SPURS SAVINGS
Flyers and membership applications are posted on PeachJar (our district digital flyer system).  Please inform your parents about this REAL opportunity to start a savings account that learners can begin AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.  Spur Savings dates are already on our faculty calendar for the year.

CISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION
New hires, don't forget to tweet out pics to @CoppellISDEF with images of your Back to School purchases with your Walmart gift cards.  Be thinking about any @CoppellISD EF grants you want to submit.  The window is from September 12- October 17.  I will forward the application to you.  New hires, don't forget to send thank you cards to the Admin Bldg. for your $250.


BOY GOAL SETTING MEETINGS
Please sign up on this Google spreadsheet to meet with Ashley and Chantel to review your goals for the year.  These meetings are not necessary for hourly employees.


WALKTHROUGHS
Ashley and I will continue to visit and give you feedback on the "3.1 Learning Environment" portion of the TTESS Walkthrough form.  It was DELIGHTFUL visiting your spaces this week.  By the end of next week, each of you should have a minimum of one walkthrough, each.  Remember there is a comment button to chat electronically about your comments.  Also, if you want to visit about the snapshot we are open to chat ANYtime!

STOP COLLABORATE AND LISTEN
I hope you will consider joining in with the professional learning ON CAMPUS for math.  You will earn flex credit for attendance.

5th grade - Sept 13 @ Lee (3:30-5:00)       https://coppell.schoolobjects.com//wshop/default.aspx?cid=7985

4th grade - Sept 15 @ Lee (3:30-5:00)            https://coppell.schoolobjects.com//wshop/default.aspx?cid=7986

3rd grade - Sept 13 @ Lee (3:30-5:00)           https://coppell.schoolobjects.com//wshop/default.aspx?cid=7985

2nd grade - Sept 15 @ Lee (3:30-5:00)          https://coppell.schoolobjects.com//wshop/default.aspx?cid=7986

1st grade - Sept 20 @ Austin (3:30-5:00)      https://coppell.schoolobjects.com//wshop/default.aspx?cid=7987

Kindergarten - Sept 22 @ Austin (3:30-5:00)         https://coppell.schoolobjects.com//wshop/default.aspx?cid=7988

I also added the FOSS Science sessions at Denton Creek Elementary to our faculty calendar.

PTO MEETING
In a couple of weeks we have our first PTO Meeting.  (date may be changing to the 20th)  We look forward to seeing April, Stephanie, Shari, Cindy, Courtney, Melinda, and Wendy there.  Don't forget to bring a house learner to share out what they are doing in CBL, and your house, with our PTO.

CISD CURRICULUM COURIER
none sent this week

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Patriotism-love for or devotion to one's country

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

Stand up for what you believe in.  You shouldn't take no for an answer if your heart and mind are leading you in a direction that you feel strongly about.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"I only regret that I have one life to lose for my country"-Nathan Hale

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Sept 5-  LABOR DAY (No School)

Sept 6-  1, 3, 5 Curriculum Night (6:00-7:00)

Sept 7-  Julie L's Birthday

             College Shirt Day

             FED EX (3:30-4:30)

Sept 8- K, 2, 4 Curriculum Night (6:00-7:00)

Sept 9- Goals Due in Euphoria