Week of January 2, 2018

We hope you have enjoyed our December to Remember.  How can it already be done??!!!  This year has been going by SO FAST!!   Have a GLORIOUS TWO WEEKS OFF, sweet staff.  We wish you nothing short of the most safe, memorable, and restful break and can't wait to hear about the FUN you have.

Fond farewell goes out to Becky.  She has done an EXCEPTIONAL JOB of taking care of our Music classes.  Becky, we are grateful, beyond words, for the way you have stepped in, had fun, and fit right in.  We hope you will be back!!!  Welcome to Linda who will start on January 2.  You may have seen her moving in over the last two weeks?  We can't wait to see what she has in store for our learners.

Congratulations to our first year teachers and new-to-Lee Designers that made it to Christmas.  We are so proud of you and the journey you are on  with us!  Thank you,  returning staff, for helping along the way!

Have the BEST last day of 2017 with our children.  They deserve it!

DID YOU KNOW:

• all ELLevation documentation is due on Friday.  THANKS for helping do your part!
• you will have some time to plan as a grade level on Tuesday, January 2?  Please join us for the baby shower and we will give you the details of the day, then.  It will involve a webinar on questioning and some time to plan with your grade level.  The afternoon you will be with the district.  An email was sent out with details last week.

SPIRIT RALLY

We will call you down by house.  Please move with purpose and do your best to get seated quickly.  We are going to try putting our parent chairs along the cinderblock walls and push purple and yellow in front of the bleachers.  We will put down cones to create aisles (in front of the bleachers) so please help keep these aisles when getting kids seated on the floor.     


PJS AND POPCORN
We hope you enjoy wearing your PJs to school.  We will have the December to Remember Popcorn Bar ready after Spirit Rally.  On Friday, you DO have permission to watch holiday movies.  Please supervise the learners so that we do not experience discipline issues during this time.  

LUNCHES
We will have Duc get every classroom an extra trash bag to help with lunch waste.  As Charlene emailed, lunches will be ready for pick up from 10:30-10:45 with both lines open.  


GRADES
Report card grades are due on Wednesday, January 3 at 8:00 a.m.  Please make sure all grades are in and are accurate so Ashley can run them on Wednesday.  There is a FAST turnaround for her to print these when we get back.


LOUNGE AND SPACES
Please get any items form the fridge by 9:30.  The office will be tossing anything "suspect."  Please, also visit your mailbox by 11:00.  Empty it of all contents.  There are many thank you notes in there. Please make sure these get in take home folders.  Custodial does a deep cleaning of the campus these next two weeks.  May I suggest a FRESH START and take everything down off your idea paint so that your room gets cleaned as much as possible.  Erase what you can on your glass- you may return to some shiny glass if you do!  PLEASE take down and store any holiday displays and decorations before leaving.  


EARLY RELEASE
Please assist us with any learners that are not picked up on time.  We will make an announcement when all learners are gone so that you may leave and start your holiday break.  Please wait for the announcement before leaving.


STAFF MEETING
As you reflect for the new year, please come to our staff meeting with your one word.  We will practice using your creativity as we focus ourselves for the second semester.

CISD CURRICULUM COURIER

ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK:

Know your ELs.  Before you begin scaffolding lessons for ELs, you have to have an understanding of their backgrounds, needs, and strengths.  It may be helpful to keep an index card or use an online tool through our school to keep track of information on each student that will help you to appropriately scaffold instruction. 

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Trustworthiness- keeping your word; doing what is right for yourself and others

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

People trust you when your attitudes, words, and motives align with what you actually choose to do.  This includes being honest about mistakes, refusing to gossip and shift blame, and doing things the ethical way (even if it's quicker to do otherwise).

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"Stand with anybody that stand right.  Stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong." -Abraham Lincoln

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Dec 18- Jan 1- NO SCHOOL
Dec 19- Ayesha's Birthday
Dec 29- Ashley's Birthday
Jan 1- Red House takes over maintaining the Lounge
     School Board Appreciation Month
Jan 2- 30 Hours of GT Due for New Hires
     Education Foundation Shirt and Jeans
     Oatis Baby Shower (7:30 Lounge)
     Professional Learning
Jan 3- Grades Due
     College Shirt and Jeans
     Extra Duty Pay for December Due to CK
     MOY Assessment Window Opens
     Fed Ex (3:30-4:30)
Jan 4- Spur Savings (7:20-7:40)
Jan 5- Report Cards Go Home
     LEEdership Council Mtg (8:15)
     Spirit Stick Sales (Recess time)

Week of December 11, 2017

We hope you are looking forward to one more week of treats from Ashley, Leigh Ann, and I.  It is SO MUCH FUN planning out ways to show you how much we care for you!  You are the BEST staff on the planet and deserve to be celebrated!

Thank you for the incredible coding opportunities for our kiddos this week.  Your tweets were fantastic!  It was awesome being able to see the opportunities our kids had all the way from Allaso Ranch.

Have the BEST final week of school for 2017.  We know there are so many exciting things happening all over the building.  Have an incredible two weeks off and take time to celebrate the kindness of the giving season as you make memories with those you love.  We will miss you during the break, and be happy to catch up in the new year!  

DID YOU KNOW:

• that we have two staff members being recognized as GEMS (Great Educators that Matter) before the Board Meeting on Monday.  We would love to have staff members in attendance to cheer ASHLEY and STEPHANIE on as they are celebrated.  Their celebration takes place at 5:30.  CONGRATULATIONS GIRLS!
• that there is a new Coach's Corner?  Check it out here!

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 

• 12/11- We will host a Flannels and Flapjack breakfast for you.  
• 3rd grade, don't forget to leave at your Team Time (get your duty covered, if needed)

• 12/12- Bring your cookies to the cookie exchange

(bring a copy of your recipe and we will put together for participants)

• 4th grade, don't forget to leave at your Team Time (get your duty covered, if needed)

• 12/13-  Hot Cocoa Bar  

• Join us at the Staff Holiday Party.  We will draw for the Gnome on the Roam winner.
• 12/14- Luncheon provided by our PTO
• Wear your UGLY SWEATER TODAY.  There will be prizes.  
• 12/15- Wear your favorite holiday pajamas and stop by the lounge for our popcorn bar. You may watch holiday movies in  your houses after Spirit Rally until dismissal

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. 

HOLIDAY MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Help celebrate the holidays by joining us on Monday for the CMSW Choir & Band and on Tuesday for the 4/5 grade Choir.


ECONOMICS FAIR
Please encourage your learners to join in supporting our 3rd graders with their Economic's Fair on Thursday.  There will be a modified schedule for this day.


ANTI-BULLYING PROGRAM AND WINTER PARTIES
Please have learners packed up and down to the gym by 1:15 on Thursday.  While we are in the program, your Room Parents will be setting up for your parties.  We will make an announcement when we are ready for you to come down.

LUNCHES ON DECEMBER 15:

We will have lunches in your spaces on December 15.  



SPIRIT ASSEMBLY
Please invite parents to attend our event on Friday.  We will start at 8:00.  Red and Black Superstars and Yearbook winners will be announced.  We also have some festive games for you to join in- BE READY!

EARLY RELEASE 

Friday is a half day of school.  The elementary school early release time is 12:15.  Please communicate this to your parents.  You may leave once the office is clear of ALL learners.  We will need all hands on deck to make sure learners get home the proper way so EVERYONE can leave early.  

ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK:

Modify testing and homework for ELLs. Content area homework and assessments needs to be differentiated for ELLs. Teachers should allow alternative types of assessment: oral, drawings, physical response (e.g., act-it-out), and manipulatives as well as modification to the test. Homework and assessment should be directly linked to classroom instruction and students should be provided with study guides so that they know what to study. Remember that the ELLs in your class may not be able to take notes.

CISD CURRICULUM COURIER

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Generosity- freely giving of time or resources

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

Surprise others by performing random acts of kindness.  Go out of your way to do something surprisingly kind and generous for someone at least once a month.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"We make a living by what we get and a life by what we give!" -Winston Churchill

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Dec 10- April's Birthday
Dec 11- Julie B's Birthday
     RTI Meetings
     CMSW Choir Performs (1:30 Gym)
Dec 12- Lee 4/5 Choir Performs (8:00 Cafe)
Dec 13- New Learner Luncheons (lunchtimes)
     Frisco Principals at Lee ALL DAY
     Staff Holiday Party
Dec 14- Spurs Savings (7:20-7:40 Cafe)
     Economics Fair
     Anti-Bullying Program (1:15-2:00 Gym)
     Winter Parties (2:00-3:00)
Dec 15- Spirit Assembly (8:00 Gym)
     Early Release (12:15)
Dec 18- Jan 1- NO SCHOOL
Dec 19- Ayesha's Birthday
Dec 29- Ashley's Birthday