Thursday, September 21, 2017

Week of Sept 25, 2017

Happy Friday ya'll!  It has been a BUSY week, but also an INCREDIBLE week.  It has been a joy to visit lots of classrooms and give you feedback, praise, and encouragement.  I look forward to some more of that tomorrow.  Don't forget to fill out your wish list and shop at the Book Fair.  Use your teacher discount and save some cash.  We all know how much this campus loves to read books!!!





DID YOU KNOW:
  • there is a way you can learn more about Dyslexia?   Intervention Services has created a Schoology course for classroom educators. The access code is JBSVB-5D89J.  If your house or grade level team would like to go through the course together, please let Melissa know! She would be happy to join your discussions. If this is completed after school hours, you can receive 1 hour of flex credit. 
  • each month our coaches will have updated information/resources/ ideas you are able to embed into your lesson design and / or team times?  Here is September' Coaching Corner.  PLEASE check it out and schedule them to support you in any way. 
  • not only is Stephanie's Smore a SUPER Science resource for inquiry-based physical science experiences, but that Linda Cook sent over a set of FOSS Curriculum Guides?  They are being bar-coded by Melinda and will be in our professional school library.
  • our PTO is looking for people to chair some board positions? By taking on this task you do have a voting privileges during decision making.  They need someone for Teacher Appreciation Week, Hospitality, and Volunteer Coordinator.  If you (or one of your parents- please email this out this week) are interested, or want to learn more, have them email aparna.rao.v@gmail.com

HELPING HANDS FOR HARVEY
We REALLY need your help with hyping up this fundraiser.  LEEdership council will be making some commercials and share more after our meeting tomorrow.  Feel free to use this campus document for easy totaling of donations by classroom.  Even better, make it an authentic math lesson for your learners!  THANK YOU for your help and ENCOURAGEMENT for learners to participate and experience compassion and empathy for others. Please put a reminder in your newsletters this week.


FAMILEE MOVIE NIGHT

Thank you for making it a priority to stop by tomorrow night's event, if even for just a bit, so that the children and famiLEEs can see you. This is our first PTO event, and it communicates a positive partnership with them when we have staff members present. Not to mention... the event will be FUN! THANK YOU!


GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY

We are super excited to finally have an event where our Grandparents and Special Friends can come to school. In order to disrupt the least amount of learning, we are inviting guests to attend the Book Fair (during the learner's recess) and have lunch (from school or home) during your lunch time. We will also have a photo opportunity for your guests. Please put this invitation in your newsletters inviting guests to Lee on Thursday. We kindly request that they sign up that they are attending, in advance, so that we can prepare accordingly. This form will ensure our cafeteria has enough food and seating, and so that the office can be ready for all of our guests.


(I LOVED FINDING THIS TODAY)


GRADE LEVEL PLANNING
I have requested that your Leadership Team member send me the days that your house and grade will be meeting to plan face-to-face each week. Remember that your house should be meeting twice a week. One day for staffing kiddos and taking care of house business. Another day to plan vertically and work on your CBLs. I also request that grade levels meet a minimum of one time a week face- to-face (outside of Team Time) in order to talk about lesson design. It is important that you have solid relationships with both groups and that cannot happen without time together. I will communicate your days with our coaches so they can support you.  I realize I may have communicated ineffectively in our leadership meeting yesterday. What I should have said was...It is highly possible to agree to meet as a grade on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday after school. Although Tuesday and Thursday are "district days" for things like content specialists and other district trainings, these do not occur every week. If your planning day occurs during a SCL or SIL, couldn't your grade decide that attending that professional learning together could serve as your "face time planning" that week? You are surely going to talk about what you learned. Thank you to those of you that turned in your days, already. If they change, please, just let me know.


SPURS SAVINGS

We have our first Spur Savings bank day open this week. Thank you to our fifth grade designers and learners for their partnership with Las Colinas Federal Credit Union!



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



BOOK STUDY
Please complete this form to reserve a copy of your book that will be purchased by us. You have until 4:00 on Friday, Sept 22, to select your book, otherwise, we will order one for you.   THANKS!  We want to get planning underway.


SUNSHINE SPURS
With great excitement, Kamille and Kristen will be bringing back our Sunshine Spurs program.  Here is the link for sign up for 3rd and 4th graders to share with parents.  PLEASE PUT THIS IN  YOUR NEWSLETTERS! 


SOCIAL SPURS
You received  an email from Michelle, our Chief Officer of Fun, about Social Spurs and dues. Social Spurs are collecting dues through the end of the month.  There is an envelope in the front office.  We already have two gals to take care of through Social Spurs (Charlene and Angela).


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.


ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK
Use body language, gestures, mime, and acting to build meaning.

Don't forget that you got information regarding Culture Grams from Claudia.  I bet you can think of some clever ways to use this resource!




LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:
Patience- the ability to wait calmly

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:
When a designer is assisting another learner, wait calmly until he 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:
Book Fair All Week
Sept 25:  Progress Reports Due Back
     RtI Meetings
     KOI Training for K and 1 (3:15)
     DI Meeting at Lee (6:30 Cafe)
Sept 26- Mentor Meeting (3:35)
Sept 27- House shirt with Jeans
     Lisa Hart's First Day (KRed)
     New Learner Lunches (Lunch time)
     Staff Mtg. (3:35 Yellow House)
Sept 28- Spur Savings (7:20-7:35)
     Lee Learning Walk (8:00-9:00)
     Grandparents/Special Friend's Day (Recess and Lunch times)
Sept 29- CISD Employee Sign off Due in Talent Ed Records
     LEEdership Meeting (8:30 Cafe)
     CISD Community Tailgate
  

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