Thursday, April 27, 2017

Week of May 1

What another amazing week we have been a part of at Lee.  Ashley and I have enjoyed our first couple of days of summatives.  Getting the chance to celebrate each of you and how far you have come is REWARDING and UPLIFTING.  We look forward to more meetings this week.  Thank you for coming prepared and being on time. 

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week.  Our PTO will be celebrating you all week long!  YOU deserve it! 



DID YOU KNOW

  • it looks like there will be no Specials or team time next Monday and Tuesday during STAAR testing?  Stay tuned for details about Specials schedule for 1, 2, 4, and 5 on May 10. 
  • your contracts are ready to sign in Talent Ed? 
  • we have a tour from 1:00-2:00 (tomorrow) Friday, April 28.  Our visitors want to see Watson Element and Enlight being used, so please make sure your app is updated and you are using it during that time.

STATE SCHOOL OF CHARACTER VISIT
Our National visit is on Tuesday afternoon starting at 11:00.  We would like to make sure if you are doing something special from 11:30-12:15 that you let Angela and Chantel know so we can make sure our learner tour guides bring guests to your space.  ALL learners and staff throughout the campus should be prepared to talk to our judge, so please be prepared.  Please make sure you have the following clearly posted in your space:

  1. Character traits posted and on our current life principle
  2. Digital citizenship pledges 
  3. Kelso Choice problem solving posters 
  4. Class norms/expectations
  5. 8 Expectations for Living
  6. Digital signage is updated with latest Big Idea and evidence of solutions


NELSON VISIT
We look forward to having Nelson on campus Tuesday-Thursday this week.  He will work with folks on Tuesday and Wednesday (you should get an email) and will be in house meetings on Thursday.  Please have the Deeper Learning book on a device before the meeting with him.


KINDERGARTEN ROUND UP
We are looking forward to having our new learners and famiLEEs on campus on Thursday from 9:00-10:30.  Please help us with a smooth and quiet transition into music and PE during our presentation with parents.  Thank you to our office staff for managing our crowd.  Thank you to our Kindergarten team for taking on 100+ extra bodies.   Thank you to our support staff for helping in the kinder rooms.


BALLPARK TICKETS
Please remind your parents in your newsletter that there is only ONE more week to get their ballpark tickets here.



SCHOOL LUNCH HERO DAY
Please feel free to wear a super hero shirt on Friday with your jeans.  We will be celebrating School Lunch Hero Day in the cafeteria.  I think we can all agree, Tracey and her team are super heroes!


PTO MOVIE NIGHT
We would love to have you join in the FamiLEE movie night on Friday.  If you attend this is time that you can deduct from working on Friday, June 2.  Please sign in and out in the front office at the event.  I, unfortunately, do not have any details from PTO yet.  As soon as I get something I will share with you.


YEARBOOKS
If you have a learner who paid for a yearbook that did not receive it, please let CK know immediately.  Extra yearbooks will go on sale shortly.


COMPOSTING UPDATE
For Designers/Blog:
We will be trying to build a sustainable compost bin to use in the garden as a school. Please include the information below in your newsletter and discuss with your learners! Please use the compost bin on the left to drop off donations during recess. The compost bin should be covered at all times, except when depositing items. We will be looking for something to cover it, either a tarp or a large lid of some sort. Look for more information coming out from Blue3 about creating compost expert groups in each house as part of their solution. Thank you for helping us build the compost pile! 

For Newsletters/Parents:
Please join us in building a compost pile as a school! We will be attempting to build a sustainable compost pile that we can use in our garden at Lee. We need your help! Please allow your learner to follow this schedule and bring the following items to put in our compost pile.

Monday: Green Leaves
Tuesday: Brown Leaves
Wednesday: Grass Clippings
Thursday: Lunch Compost 
Friday: Brown Leaves


Learners will place their items in the compost bin at recess! Thank you for composting!

(Please share in your newsletters)


APEX FUNDS
Thank you to those of you that have been filling out POs and spending your Fun Run dollars.  In addition to using approved vendors, please remember that you MUST have items shipped to our school address.  THANK YOU!


JEANS ALL OF MAY?
I've been asked by several so we will bring it back....if you would like to wear jeans all days in May, you can contribute $10 (that is about a dollar a day for the non-jean days in May).  We will talk with our Leadership Team about what we will do with funds raised (mystery gift cards for random staff members? charitable donation? other ideas?).  Funds must be paid by Thursday, May 4.  There will be an envelope in CK's mailbox to write your name on if you choose to participate.  


WEEKLY WALKTHROUGH FOCUS



(don't miss the access code to the Curriculum Department's Schoology course)

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:
Resiliency- recovering from or adjusting easily to misfortune or change.

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:
Accept that you are going to make mistakes.  Learn from them and move on.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
"Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit." -Napoleon

DATES TO REMEMBER:
April 29- Amanda's Birthday
Week of May 1: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 1-  Hannah's Birthday
     Summatives (all day)
May 2-  Education Foundation Shirt w/ Jeans
    Nelson Taylor Visits Lee
    State School of Character Visit (11:00-end of day)
May 3-  Amy's Birthday
    College Shirt w/ Jeans
    Nelson Taylor Visits Lee
    Project ACES (email from Julie)
    Leadership Meeting (3:30-5:00)
    Dad's Club Mtg (7:00 Buffalo Wild Wings)
May 4- Nelson Taylor Visits Lee
    Kindergarten Round Up (9:00-10:30 Cafe and Kinder)
    Bluebonnet Party (3:15)
May 5- Last Day to buy Ballpark Tickets
    Summatives (all day)
    School Lunch Hero Day
    Pirate Spirit Stick Sales (Recess Time)
    PTO Movie Night (7:00-9:30)
May 6- Red and Black Fun Run

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Week of April 24

Thank you for a lovely volunteer breakfast for our volunteers.  Ayesha did a loveLEE job heading up this event- THANK YOU!  Also, thank you for your efforts to make our first FamiLEE Science Night a success.  There is an exciting week ahead as we celebrate Courtney's wedding and recognize Layne at the Teacher of the Year banquet on Tuesday Night.  I'm looking forward to checking out our leaners at Coppell's Earthfest at Town Hall on Saturday morning.  Feel free to join me!




DID YOU KNOW:
  • 5th Grade STAAR Scores are in?  We had 93% pass Reading round 1 and 97% pass Math.  WONDERFUL WORK, team!  It takes ALL of us to get our learners ready, so THANK YOU!
  • that we have totals from the Fun Run?  It looks like the percentage we raised for the school is close to $19,000!  This hearty amount could NOT have happened without your help and support!  These funds will help fund TWO shade structures (one over the K-2 playground and one by the cement pad next to the track).
  • we are still missing some some technology from our inventory?  Please check your houses ON FRIDAY to see if you can locate these items.  If you do, PLEASE text or email a picture to me to send on to the district.  I know these items are in the building!  This is TIME SENSITIVE!!
    • iPad Airs:  15160645, 15160646 (both should be in Purple House)
    • iPad Minis:  12131361, 12131585, 1314299813143053, 1314306313143059 (could be in ANY house)
    • iPad 4s:  12132325 (should be in Red House)

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?  



FUN RUN TEACHER TOTALS
YAY!  You each have a good amount of money to spend on items for your classroom before the end of the year.  You must use an approved vendor (Amazon is NOT approved, sorry).  Your totals are here.  Please follow all purchasing guidelines and submit a PO to Chantel ASAP so we can process this school year.  Be sure to include 10% shipping if you do not get a quote from the company you are purchasing from.  Please tweet out your purchases to @FamiLEEPTO when they arrive.


GOAL REFLECTIONS
Please go into Eduphoria and complete your Part II Goal Reflection in your T-TESS Teacher Self-Assessment and Goal Setting form. Please have your reflection completed AT LEAST 72 hours before your EOY Summative conference so that Ashley and I can be prepared for our meeting.  Ashley and I will both be in your end of year conference.  We are excited for this time with each of you!


WEEKLY WALKTHROUGH FOCUS





LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:
Responsibility- making the choice to be reliable and dependable.

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:
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.

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

DATES TO REMEMBER:
April 22- Red House at Coppell Earthfest
April 24:  Courtney's Bridal Shower (3:30)
April 25:  TOY Banquet (7:00 pm)
April 26:   School Shirt and Jeans
      Lee Learner Luncheons
      Staff Meeting (3:30-5:00)
April 27:  Spur Savings (7:30-7:50)
       Lee Learning Walk (8:15-9:00)
       Summatives (all day)
       Talent Show Meeting (3:15-4:00)
April 28:  Tour to see Element/Enlight (12:45-2:00)
        Spirit Stick Sales (Recess time)
        Summatives (afternoon)
April 29:  Amanda's Birthday

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Week of April 17

DID YOU KNOW
  • there are quite a few deadline items on your "to do" list.  Here is a checklist to help you:
    • We Teach Survey for Staff (23 out of 50 so far)
    • We Learn Survey for Learners (249 out of 380 so far)
    • Clarity Survey for Staff
    • Clarity Survey for Learners
    • Apple Survey for Staff
    • T-shirt sizes for Field Day (add your teacher sizes, please)
    • Sign up for an End of Year Summative Time (ALL employees, except office staff)
    • Sign up for Volunteer Breakfast (coming from Ayesha soon)
    • Locate missing technology in your house and notify Jennifer
    • Read the Curriculum Management Plan by Monday
    • Turn in your pink forms from parents to the office
    • Turn in your class picture envelopes to the office
    • Enjoy the Weather Day OFF!

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 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. 

Want to work on questioning during Fed Ex time?  Come join Ashley and Jacque to dig deeper in the importance of quality questioning in instruction.  They will be leading learning about how to form essential questions for our learners and how to create quality questions for your upcoming lessons! 


FAMILEE SCIENCE NIGHT
Thank you for all of your hard work to make this event a success.  Hours worked this night will be documented so that you can deduct them so you do not have to come to work on June 2.  Please sign in and out on the Sign In Sheet in the front office on Friday night. 


WEEKLY WALKTHROUGH FOCUS
We will have a new focus starting this week.  We will be listening to what you and the learners are "saying" during these visits.  It is a great time to put your questioning learning into practice and for us to see how you respond to misconceptions and misunderstandings. 



(updated- important WATSON information)

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:
Optimism- to anticipate the best possible outcome.

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:
Be positive and enjoy life.  Keep everything in perspective and focus on the good.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
"Everyday may not be good, but there is something good in every day." -Anonymous

DATES TO REMEMBER:
April 14- Multiple Surveys DUE
       NO SCHOOL
       Suzanne's Birthday
April 16- Happy Easter
April 17- RtI Meetings
        Yellow House Music Performance (8:15 and 6:30)
        CMP Visitors at Lee (Mary and April)
April 18- Akta's Birthday
April 19- Ed Foundation T-shirt and Jeans
         Melinda's Birthday
         GtI Facilitators at Lee (A120)
         Donuts with Dads (7:15-7:50)
         Progress Report Grades Due (8:15)
         Fed Ex Day (3:30-4:30)
         PTO Spirit Night at Biryani's (6:00-9:00)
April 20- Volunteer Breakfast (7:15-7:50)
April 21- Progress Reports sent home
          5th Grade Scoliosis Screening (8:15)
          5th Grade Growth and Development Video (2:00-3:00)
          Spirit Stick Sales (Recess)
          FamiLEE Science Night (6:00-7:30)
April 22- Earth Day
           Coppell Earth Fest
           Dad's Club Sport Event (Lee Playground)

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Week of April 10

DID YOU KNOW
  • that maintenance will start planting grass in areas of the school starting Monday?  Please be extra watchful of learners when equipment is in the schoolyard.  
  • there is a great ppt from Taylor and Megan's Science Training regarding questioning?  It goes along beautifully with our campus questioning goal.
  • it is time to sign up for your end of year Summatives?  We will send an email SOON for you to sign up.


CITIZENS OF THE YEAR
Please make sure your Citizen of the Year is on this document to turn in to the district. We need to know who is confirmed attending, so this document needs to be updated before you leave on Friday.  This will ensure we meet our district deadline and secure extra tickets we will need for our number of Lee Learners.


FIELD DAY TSHIRTS
Mrs. JanLuven needs t-shirt sizes to order shirts for Field Day.  Most of you already have shirt sizes from previous orders this year.  Please put totals in this document.  If you do not have sizes, please get them by next Friday so Jenny can order shirts.  THANK YOU!


SURVEYS
THANK YOU for helping to complete the three surveys you have received emails about.  


PICTURE DAY
Monday, everyone needs to be in the cafeteria ready for our staff picture by 7:15.  We will start class and individual pictures immediately after morning broadcast.  A "runner" will come get you.  Please come down immediately so that we can stay on schedule.  Class pictures will be in the cafeteria and then your learners will head to the flex space for individual portraits.  When you bring learners down, please come shortest to tallest.  The schedule for photos is Blue House -> Purple House -> Green House -> Red House -> Yellow House.  Please make sure your learners from Wendy and Karen's classes are included in your group picture.  Feel free to use this blurb in your newsletters: Monday is Spring Picture Day.  Learners will be photographed with their class and also individually. DON'T FORGET TO ORDER YOUR CLASS PICTURE for $13.  Order envelopes were sent home in learner folders.  


WEEKLY WALKTHROUGH FOCUS
We will have a new focus starting this week.  We will be listening to what you and the learners are "saying" during these visits.  It is a great time to put your questioning learning into practice and for us to see how you respond to misconceptions and misunderstandings.





LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:
Curiosity- the eager desire to learn, to explore, to investigate

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:
Learn and inquire about things that interest you.

LEE 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

DATES TO REMEMBER:
April 7- Make sure Citizens of the Year are confirmed
April 8- Megan's Birthday
April 10- Spring Pictures (Staff 7:15am)
     Technology Inventory
     Interview Training (3:30 A120)
April 11- Blue House Field Trip (Heritage Village)
     Technology Inventory
     PTO Meeting (6:30 Cafe)
April 12- House shirt and jeans
     Carrollton Elem Visits Lee (Blue House)
     Blue Valley visits with Red House (12:00- Conference Room)
     Campus Tours (1:00-2:00)
     Staff Meeting (3:30-5:00)
April 13- Buffalo Wild Wings Night
     Red House Field Trip (Arboretum, Perot, and Aquarium)
     Spurs Savings (7:30-7:50)
     State School of Character Visit (all day)
     Tour (9:00-10:00)
April 14- NO SCHOOL
      Suzanne's Birthday