Week of October 23, 2017

SUCH AN AWESOME WEEK!  Thank you for your incredible House meetings and for your efforts moving forward with your newest Big Ideas.  It is exciting that we have Design Days coming up in a couple of weeks!  You did a wonderful job of representing our school with our many visitors and continue to impress.  Our guests leave Lee feeling inspired and hopeful with new ideas to take back to their schools.  This is because of each and every one of YOU!  Please remember "You Are ALL Wonders" and that YOU make a difference in education and at Lee.  

DID YOU KNOW:

• there is a special event at the Morton Meyerson Symphony Center sponsored by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy?  If you are interested in attending, here is some information.  The RSVP for 2 free tickets is October 25.  I know I'm excited to go! 
• this website has cool and interactive, live and recorded, activities for all grades and content areas.  Don't forget to filter the provider.  There is more than Bass Hall included! You have to register, but it is FREE and EASY.  Thanks, Cassie, for re-sharing in Purple House meeting and for Taylor and Cassie showing us (on Twitter) how this can be used!
• parents are missing important weekly information in our weekly PTO newsletter?  Designers may be missing this info, too!  Please give directions in your weekly newsletter for them to register to receive it.
•  Coaching Corner is updated?  Check out the blog to see what's new with your #RJLyear4 coaches this month!
• there is a "Wonderous" portrait maker?  How cool is THIS?  What about becoming a Wonder Certified Kind Classroom? 
• that New Tech is inviting Lee Learners to come to a Star Watching Party, on November 1, from 7:00-8:30 at New Tech?  They are bringing fliers to Lee, tomorrow, and hope we will spread the word to our children.  If you choose to go to the event, we will offer you flex credit for learning about constellations with New Tech learners and our kids.  

WRITE A CHECK
Write a Check will begin next week.  The minute I hear something from PTO, I will forward that information on to you.  As of tonight, I am still waiting for information.  There MAY be a last minute request to add a letter to your report card envelopes.  If you have subs in your house, we may need to help them with putting these letters in the envelopes.  Stay tuned....SORRY!


RED RIBBON WEEK
You may wear jeans if you participate in our theme days for Red Ribbon Week.  Here are the details for next week's spirit days.

STORYBOOK CHARACTER PARADE and SCHOOL DANCE
Please encourage learners and plan to participate in Friday's parade.  A book should accompany "costumes" and learners are allowed to wear their costume to the school dance on Friday night.  Entrance into the event is free WITH A CANNED FOOD DONATION per person.  Canned food will be donated to Metrocrest.  (if you would like to graph or have authentic math experiences with the donations- you are welcome to do so!) . Please plan to attend the dance and engage with the learners and their famiLEEs.  We love it when you bring your family, too, so bring them with you!  It is a great opportunity to build relationships and have FUN! 

WEEKLY WALKTHROUGH FOCUS:

This week we will be starting a new focus for our walkthroughs.  We will focus on Domain 2 Dimension 4: Differentiation.  We will look at your lessons to see if they include a wide variety of instructional strategies to meet the diverse needs in your space.  Are all learners completing the same tasks with the same expectations? We will observe you.  Are you monitoring the quality of learner participation and performance?   Are you recognizing and minimizing confusion or disengagement?  We KNOW we will continue to see great learning environments and experiences for our children.  THANK YOU for reviewing each walkthrough form and using them for the praise and growth they are intended to provide.   

Campus administration will be sending out dates to sign up for your formal T-TESS Observations, soon.  Be on the lookout!

ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK:

Make lessons visual.  Use visual representations of new vocabulary and use graphs, maps, photographs, drawings and charts to introduce new vocabulary and concepts.  Tell a story about information in the textbook using visuals. Create semantic and story maps, graphic organizers to teach students how to organize information. 

CISD CURRICULUM COURIER

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Integrity- acting according to a sense of right and wrong

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

Do what you know is right, even if no one is watching.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"The measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he wouldn't be found out." -Thomas Macauley

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Week of Oct. 23-Nov 4- Write a Check Fundraising
Week of Oct. 23-Oct. 27- Red Ribbon Week
Oct. 23- Britt's Birthday
Oct. 24- Mentor Meeting (3:35)
     Stop, Investigate, Listen (4:00-5:00 CCE)
     Japanese Club Author Visit and Dinner (5:00-7:00)
Oct. 25- House Shirt with Jeans
     3rd Grade at ADI Training
     K-2 Math Educator Academy
     Staff Meeting (3:30-5:00)
October 26- 3-5 Math Educator Academy
     Spur Savings (7:20-7:40)
     Lee Learning Walks (8:00-9:00)
     Campus Tour (9:30-10:30)
     MAT Team Drill (3:30 Media Center)
Oct 27- TOY Nominations Due
     Book Character Parade (8:00 Track)
     So You Think You Can Dance (6:30-9:00)