Week of December 4, 2017

Welcome December!  It is a busy but exciting month to be an educator at Lee.  Such FUN and MAGICAL experiences take place this time of year.  Though there is much on all of our "to do" lists, please ENJOY this time with our kiddos.  You only get them so many days, and their wonder this time of year is priceless!  My hope is that our Mad Plaid December to Remember helps keep you happy these last two weeks of the year.  You can't even imagine how loved each and every one of you are!!

DID YOU KNOW:

• that CISD came up with a name for the new 9th grade center?  It will be called Coppell High School Ninth Grade Campus.  The Board will revisit the name of the new middle school at their next board meeting.
• strategic design summits are happening in order to plan the next five years in CISD?  If you are interested in giving input there will be a questionnaire that goes live in early December.
• that early dismissal time for December 15 is 12:15?  Start telling your parents NOW!
• that plans are being put in motion for our Jan 2 Staff Development Day?  I will keep you posted with an email on this.
• it is time to nominate some more Red and Black Superstars?  Please take time to recognize a colleague or learner that go above and beyond, here.
• if you did not order a Red and Black t-shirt that they will be reopening orders the beginning of January (for two weeks).  Get yours so you can wear jeans two Tuesdays a month.  Last year's shirt and other spirit shirts cannot be worn on these days, sorry!
• we have tours on Wednesday and Thursday next week?  They are looking to see personalized learning and learning environments.  Please do your best to showcase this during their visit.

DECEMBER TO REMEMBER:

Don't forget you can wear jeans the entire month of December!  Please tweet out what you enjoy with #decembertoremember and #rjlyear4 

• 12/1- We will come by and deliver a scratch off to you.  EVERYONE is a winner!
• 12/4- Wear your favorite plaids!  We have a Mad about Plaid sign if you want to take a group picture.  You can get the sign from the front office.   
• 5th grade, don't forget to leave at your Team Time (get your duty covered, if needed)

• 12/5-  Breakfast will be in the lounge (announced on intercom when ready) and we have festive craft supplies for you.  Have fun being creative!  
• Kindergarten, don't forget to leave at your Team Time (get your duty covered, if needed)
• 12/6- Chex Trail Mix will either be delivered to you or in your mailbox.
• Specials, don't forget to leave at your Team Time (get your duty covered, if needed)
• 12/7- It's a cheese and cracker snack for you.  We will have this out at your lunch time.  Please take your fair share so there is plenty for the late lunches.
• 1st grade, don't forget to leave at your Team Time (get your duty covered, if needed)
• 12/8- Enjoy a special gift from us.  It will be delivered to your mailbox by the end of the day.
• 2nd grade, don't forget to leave at your Team Time (get your duty covered, if needed)

Our Gnome is hidden and ready to be found.  

It could be up high...or down on the ground. 

Don't touch him or move him, he must stay in place. 

Capture a picture with him and your face.

Don't tell others you found him, or where he has been.

You want the most entries, so you can win!

He will be in a new location each day.

Take a picture of yourself with the Gnome and email the picture to: LeeGnomeOnTheRoam@gmail.com Each picture submitted will enter you into the drawing for a full day sub in January.  Our drawing will take place at the staff party next week. 

MAINTENANCE AND GROUNDS APPRECIATION WEEK

If you have your learners make thank you cards for these hard workers, please send them to the office by Thursday morning.  We will be putting together a basket of treats, from Lee, for them and sending it over to the Service Center.  Feel free to contribute to our treat basket however your house likes.

MADRIGAL VISIT
We will have a performance on Wednesday from 10:15-10:45.  Please join us in the gym bleachers so we can enjoy their festive performance.

CISD HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE:
Don't forget to head over for the festive FUN on Friday.  There are AWESOME door prizes and DELICIOUS snacks for all!  You are welcome to dress in "Grinchy" and festive attire.

LUNCHES ON DECEMBER 15:

We will have lunches in your spaces on December 15.  Please take time to find out what your learners plan to eat so that our cafeteria can place an order that meets our needs.  Please complete this by December 5.  THANKS for your help on this!

(please share with your FamiLEEs)

STAFF HOLIDAY PARTY:
Are you coming to our Staff Holiday Party?  Don't forget to RSVP here.  THANKS, Michelle, for organizing the event!

HOUR OF CODE:

Computer Science Education Week and #HourOfCode are next week! This is a great time to use the coding and robotics resources located in your houses while celebrating problem solving and deeper thinking. Please tweet out your participation in #HourOfCode during coding activities this week.  You all use coding in such creative ways, and the world should get to see your talents! Check out some of the resources curated by the DLCs in the Hour of Code Folder inside the Curriculum & Instruction Schoology group. In the folder, you will find how to get started guides, activities, and a list of curated resources. Also available this year are self-directed Hour of Code K-12 Learner Choice Boards. On these choice boards, learners will select one of the four topics. Each topic has a learn, do, and reflect portion to complete. The reflection piece will be done district-wide through FlipGrid! Learners may dive deep into one topic or explore all four. Not sure where to start? Let Alli know if you need help!

ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK:

Use cooperative learning strategies.  Lecture style teaching excludes ELLs from the learning in a classroom.  We don't want to relegate ELLs to the fringes of the classroom doing a separate lesson with a classroom aide or ESL teacher.  Working in small groups is especially beneficial to ELLs who have an authentic reason to use academic vocabulary and real reasons to discuss key concepts.  ELLs benefit from cooperative learning structures.  Give students a job in a group.  Monitor that they are participating. 

This is a SMORE created by one of the CISD ESL Facilitators. It has great ELPS information to utilize when lesson planning. 

CISD CURRICULUM COURIER

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Justice- being fair, right and upholding what is right

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

Never cut in line.  If someone cuts in front of you, do not say or do anything about it.  Let it happen, but let a teacher know about it.  They will handle the situation.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"In matters of style, swim with the current.  In matters of principle, stand like a rock." -Thomas Jefferson

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Week of Dec 4-8: Hour of Code Week

Maintenance and Grounds Appreciation Week

National Handwashing Awareness Week
Dec 4- CK serving lunch to kids in the cafe
Dec 5- Education Foundation Shirt with Jeans
Stop, Collaborate and Listen (3:45-5:35)
Dad's Club Mtg. (7:00 BWW)
Dec 6- Allaso Ranch (5th Grade)
College Shirt with Jeans
Buffalo Wild Wings Night (Office)
  Madrigal Visit (10:15-10:45 Gym)
Campus Tour (12:45-2:00)
Fed Ex Day (3:30-4:30)- we will send an email with course offerings- this blog is LONG ENOUGH!

Dec 7- Allaso Ranch (5th Grade)

NO Spur Savings

Campus Tour (11:20-12:35)

Stop, Collaborate and Listen (3:45-5:35)

Dec 8- Allaso Ranch (5th Grade)

CISD Holiday Open House (Conference times)

Red & Black Superstar Nominations Due

Spirit Stick Sales (Recess Times)
Mariah's Birthday

Dec 9- Drama Club Performance (12:00 pm)