Week of October 1, 2018

What an amazing turn out for our Special Friend Event today.  The office did a wonderful job of greeting everyone and making them feel right at home!  The recess teachers helped manage learner guests, our cafeteria staff handled our large number of visitors, our lunch duty teachers did their very best keeping lunch on schedule with guests.  It takes us all on days like this.  THANK YOU!   I think of the core values Mr. Hunt discussed yesterday and having events like this align with "valuing collective engagement that positively impacts the lives our our children and our world" and  "we value authentic relationships."  The children are so excited and proud to have their guests at our school.  We recognize it is stressful on you when we have these events, so thank you for your positivity!

DID YOU KNOW:

• you can get to your H-drive on your MacBook without going through VMWare?  Check out this video from Leigh Ann. 
• there is a blog post that talks about some cool features of Schoology as well as using it in your classroom?  Thanks, Kasey!
• some of our FamiLEEs may be in need of supplies to cook a turkey dinner this holiday season? Please share this Google Form with them to fill out if they have a need.
• you and your learners can still shop the Book Fair VIRTUALLY? Click here until 10/6 and books will ship to Lee for FREE.
• compliance training is due on Sunday?  Leigh Ann will go in and credit 1.5 flex hours to those who have completed their training. 
• there is training available for Reflex Math?  Dates and times can be found here and we will host at Lee on October 2.
• your document cameras are in?  They will be put in your teacher mailbox and are part of your cart inventory.

BOOK FAIR
We have had a hugely successful Fall Book Fair this week- that means more books for our library! Thank you to Melinda, Julie, and our PTO moms for organizing it.  Thank you to all of the open space designers for handling the extra volume and for everyone being flexible with learners going down to shop.


FAIR TICKETS
The State Fair of Texas opens tomorrow?  You will get your Designer and Learner State Fair tickets in your box on Friday.  PLEASE send these home with learners, on Friday, in a secure way so that they do not get lost.  Not using your staff ticket? Return it to Deepa.  She will add it to the extras.  If you want an extra adult ticket, email her and she can get you one on a first come, first serve basis.  Check out State Fair of Texas foods to see what they have in store for you this year!  You all know I like bacon, but...I'm not so sure about "Sweet Bakin' Bacon!!!"

PICTURE DAY

Monday is class picture day.  Photographs will take place in the flex space of the media center.  We request that you come down promptly when you are scheduled. We did our best to work around the aptitude test, specials, and recess.  Please allow learners to change clothes if parents request they do so. 

BULLYING AWARENESS
October is National Bullying Prevention Month.  CISD is asking that all staff and students wear a blue shirt on Monday, Oct. 1st in observance of National Bullying Awareness Day. Thanks for your participation!  (Since it is picture day, learners and staff can change into their blue shirt if they don't want to wear it for pictures)


FED EX DAY
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. Watch your email for how we will be be accountable for the day's learning.

CONFERENCES
We only have 15 days to respond to a parent's request for testing of their child.  If a parent requests testing during your fall conferences, we have a form coming from CISD to collect that parent request on.  We are told we will have it on October 1.


CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Our Campus Improvement Plan was approved by the Board on Monday night.  It is reflective of the District Improvement Plan and represents ideas you shared with us at the end of last year.  This is a fluid document that we can change/update throughout the year.


BOUNDARY REALIGNMENT
Please let your parents know that the district wants their input for the upcoming boundary realignment.  Decisions regarding realignment WILL affect our famiLEEs.  They can fill out this survey and find out more about the process and timeline here.

SOCIAL SPURS

The mission of the Social Spurs is to provide celebration and comfort to the wonderful staff of Lee Elementary.  Social Spurs are a staff maintained fund.  This is a voluntary financial commitment by staff members, controlled by staff members.  Dues are $20 for salaried employees and $10 for hourly employees.  You may pay cash or check (made out to: Lee Elementary) to the front office or Venmo Micha Patel (@micha-patel).  Please pay by October 5.

WALKTHROUGH FOCUS

Our focused walkthroughs for ONE MORE WEEK is in Domain 3 Dimension 1: Learning Environment.  Our goal is for everyone to have at least two pieces of feedback in this area.

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Courtesy- consideration, cooperation and generosity

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

If you can approach a door and someone is following you, hold the door and allow the other person to pass through it first, then you can walk through.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"Manners are like the zero in arithmetic; they may not be much in themselves, but they are capable of adding a great deal of value to everything else' -Freya Stark

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Sept 28- FamiLEE Movie Night- Cancelled due to wet field.  Rescheduled for Oct. 12
Oct 1 - Oct 3- Aptitude Testing
Oct 1- Fall Picture Day
Oct 2- Ed Foundation Shirt and Jeans
     National Custodial Appreciation Day
     PTO Meeting (7:00 pm Cafe)
Oct 3- College Shirt Day
     Fed Ex (3:30-4:30)
     Dad's Club Meeting (7:00 pm)
Oct 4- LEEdership Meeting (8:15 Cafe)
     Campus Tour (1:00)
     Kindergarten Career Parade (2:00)
Oct 5- Social Spurs Dues Due
     Fall Conference Day
Oct 8- NO SCHOOL

Week of September 24, 2018

There are LOTS of blessings to celebrate this week.  Congratulations, Ashley and Kristina as you became new aunts!!

AND...
Congratulations to Cassie on her Hawaiian engagement!

We are SO VERY LUCKY AT LEE to celebrate these events with you!

DID YOU KNOW:

• Global Action Day is on Tuesday?  Sustainable Development Goals are one way that you can help lead learners toward actions and solutions to CBL problems.  Actions both big and small MATTER and we can't wait to see what you design for your learners. 
• that only 9 people responded to Kasey's Lee technology needs assessment?  We have 72 staff members!  This short survey helps us give you voice so we can personalize your digital learning, so please complete it before you leave on Friday.
• Kasey created her first blog post on her Bulb portfolio.  Check it out here to learn more about the "Power of a May Do."  Don't forget that Jacque updated her blog, too!
• that we failed to collect the keys to the mobile locking carts from specialists and staff members?  If you have a cart that looks like this, please see Ashley with all of your cart keys so we can sort through them and log them in.

FALL BOOK FAIR AND LIBRARY NEWS

Please share this library S'more on district databases, that our famiLEEs have access to, with your parents.  The Scholastic Book Fair will be here all next week.  There are multiple family engagement events like: Donuts with Dads on Wednesday and Special Friends Day on Thursday.  Please send your learners down, one at a time, during the day so that the volunteers are not overwhelmed with shoppers.

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

SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY
We are super excited to have an event where our Special Friends can come to our school on September 27. 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.  We already have 53 responses. YAY!


FAMILEE MOVIE NIGHT
Thank you for making it a priority to stop by Friday 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! Doors open at 6:30 and the movie starts at 7:15.


STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Thank you for your work on your SLOs.  We can't wait to see how these goals affect learner achievement and also educator growth!  Please make sure you complete the following in Strive by September 28th.  

• On the form in Strive, make sure you input number of learners for each level of your rubric on the Initial Skills Profile
• Make sure your form is complete, and Submit to Appraiser
• Create your student growth tracker with each learner's name.  This means you will have the first three columns complete. 
• Save the student growth tracker as a PDF and upload it to Strive.  When you are on your evaluations tab, you should see a plus sign in the right hand corner to upload a document. 
  

SOCIAL SPURS
The mission of the Social Spurs is to provide celebration and comfort to the wonderful staff of Lee Elementary.  Social Spurs are a staff maintained fund.  This is a voluntary financial commitment by staff members, controlled by staff members.  Dues are $20 for salaried employees and $10 for hourly employees.  You may pay cash or check (made out to: Lee Elementary) to the front office or Venmo Micha Patel (@micha-patel).  Please pay by October 5.


LEE LIVE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Do you have something you want to share on the morning broadcast?  You can find the form to request an announcement here or by going to the "Morning Broadcast" section of our faculty website.  If you want something to be announced, please submit the form at least 48 hours in advance to ensure that your announcement is made.  There are 4 ways you can share information on Lee Live:  submitting a picture or short movie, making a guest appearance, submitting an announcement for our anchors to share, and by having kids make a guest appearance.  When submitting an announcement-please make sure that....

• Graphics and Videos should be in LANDSCAPE mode and not longer than 90 seconds (less than a minute is preferred)
• If you would like learners to come in and speak, they must be in the design studio by 7:35 the morning of with their scripts ALREADY practiced and ready to go.  These should be approved by you BEFORE submitting the announcement request.

Thanks from Sam and Taylor!

WALKTHROUGH FOCUS
Our focused walkthroughs for ONE MORE WEEK is in Domain 3 Dimension 1: Learning Environment.  We are looking for evidence of effective routines, transitions, and procedures that are implemented effortlessly.  We are looking for learners to be in charge of managing materials and that your room is safe, inviting, and orderly.  We are enjoying watching evidence of learning as it is showing up on the walls in your spaces.


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:
Sept 23- Layne's Birthday
Sept 24-Sept 28- Fall Book Fair
Sept 24- RtI Meetings
     Board Meeting (6:00 Admin)
Sept 25- Leadership Training for 5th Grade (All Day- MKB)
     Global Action Day
Sept 26- House Shirt with Jeans
     Donuts with Dads (7:15 Media Center)
     New Learner Lunches (10:30-1:00 Cafe)
     Staff Meeting (3:30 Micah's space)
Sept 27- Spurs Savings (7:20-7:40 Cafe)
     Lee Learning Walk (8:00-9:00)
     Special Friends Day (10:00-1:00)
Sept 28- Flu Shots at Lee (1:00-1:45)
     SLOs due in Strive
     FamiLEE Movie Night (6:30 Doors Open, 7:15 Movie Starts)

Week of September 17, 2018

BOY, I have missed you all this week, but I learned a great deal reading the submissions of ADS books with Priscilla and a group from across the U.S.  While we were inspired by the books, we were both reminded of how incredible Lee Elementary is and the wonderful work we are doing here.  THANK YOU for continuing to grow your knowledge in the area of technology and for your creative uses of our devices. You make us so proud!

DID YOU KNOW:

• you have access to the ADS Bookshelf in your iTunes library?  Looking for inspiration or want to get a glimpse into how schools are using technology... check this bookshelf out.
• you have access to the Substitute Teacher Handbook that we share with our substitutes? You might choose to add this to the front of your substitute binder as well as a copy of our master schedule.  
• Chantel hosts a "Shoe Tying Club" at Lee?  If you have young learners that need an incentive to learn to tie their shoelaces, all they have to do is watch this video, come down and demonstrate they can tie their laces, and they get a SURPRISE from her!
• the atrium floor was left dirty with food, silverware, and melted ice cream today?  PLEASE make sure learners are leaving all spaces better than they find them.
• Kasey is performing a needs assessment so you can let her and Admin know how we can support your digital learning this year.  Please take a few minutes to fill out this Google Form so we can get to know your digital needs a little better.
• SHORT NOTICE, but Chantel is HAPPY to read Happy Dreamer by Peter Reynolds, tomorrow.  It will only take 10-15 mins. Sign up if interested.

Check out sweet Harper, our newest Spur, who got to go home from NICU last week.  

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


SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY

We are super excited to have an event where our Special Friends can come to our school on September 27. 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.  We already have 53 responses. YAY!


SOCIAL SPURS
The mission of the Social Spurs is to provide celebration and comfort to the wonderful staff of Lee Elementary.  Social Spurs are a staff maintained fund.  This is a voluntary financial commitment by staff members, controlled by staff members.  Dues are $20 for salaried employees and $10 for hourly employees.  You may pay cash or check (made out to: Lee Elementary) to the front office or Venmo Micha Patel (@micha-patel).  Please pay by October 5.


RTI LETTERS:

We are required to notify parents of learners who are receiving supplemental instructions or support through RtI both in behavior and academics.  This had to be done annually.  If you have already met with Ashley or Leigh Ann, and we are continuing RtI from last year, we have created the letters and they will be in your boxes.  The letters need to be scanned and uploaded into AWARE before you send them home!  Though the parents should be aware fo this assistance from last year, please also make sure that you have had a phone conversation about this with the parents before sending home.

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.  Please always inform Admin if you have a "tricky" conversation.


GEM NOMINATIONS

The internal Employee Recognition Program (GEM: Great Educators Matter) seeks to recognize outstanding employees who serve the mission of the district in a manner that exceeds job/salary expectations...those who go "above and beyond the call of duty" will be recognized on a semi-annual basis by the CISD Board of Trustees at 5pm before meetings. CISD employees are nominated by their peers, and two times per school year, as many as 30 are recognized before the Board of Trustees. Their names are also added to the Superintendent’s District Highlights at the applicable School Board Meeting.  We have so many incredibly talented folks and people that go above and beyond at our school. Please take time to nominate someone:

How do I submit a GEM nomination? – It’s easy…

• Open “Eduphoria,” select “Formspace”
• Then, at the lower lefthand corner, click on “Submit New Form”
• Click on the “Student & Staff Services” link
• Select “GEM”
• The GEM Nomination Form will “pop-up” and must be filled out completely.  (Please check spelling of nominee’s name, position, and campus.)
• Date your nomination/submission (use calendar icon)
• Once complete, hit the “Submit Form” button in the lower lefthand corner. (Repeat process for additional nominations; teams should be submitted as a group, with each individual name, etc. listed all on the same form

DESTINATION IMAGINATION

Please send this DI info home to your parents:

DESTINATION IMAGINATION CHALLENGE ENROLLMENT  Does your child love to paint?  Crazy about puzzles?  Loves to build stuff? Makes up amazing stories?  Thinks up whimsical words? Loves to experiment?  If your child answered yes to any of these, then you have a Destination Imagination Child!   Each year Destination Imagination offers STEAM challenges that teams from schools across the globe participate in.   What happens in the program?  Learners form a team of 2-7 members, work on their challenges for 2-4 months and showcase their Challenge solutions at the tournament. Each team appoints a Team Manager and Appraiser (usually parents and family members volunteer). Team Manager and Appraiser attend a fun 4 hour training. Each Team spends 1-2 hours per week to work together on the challenge.  The team decides the time and place to meet.  At DI, every solution is a good solution! Goal is to foster creativity, collaboration and help the team discover hidden ideas and talent.  What is the cost?  Registration Fee for a team - $95 Regional Tournament Fee for a team - $60 Project Budget- up to $150 max Approx. cost per person varies ($30 - $50) depending on the project budget and size of the team.    When is the tournament?  Regional Tournament:   Feb 23rd @ Flower Mound Global Finals:  May 22-23 @ Kansas City Whom can I contact for questions?   RJL DI Coordinator -  Neeti Nautiyal    Phone : 972 467 4117   Email:   neeti.nautiyal@gmail.com  /  coppelldi@gmail.com Links:  sign up:  http://signup.com/go/zJRyWNJ

https://www.destinationimagination.org/ 

https://sites.google.com/view/coppelldi/ 

COPPELL GIFTED ASSOCIATION

The Coppell Gifted Association is committed to supporting Coppell ISD and its educators in their efforts to meet the needs of gifted students. Please register for your FREE CGA educator membership, here, by Sept 23rd.

WALKTHROUGH FOCUS
Our focused walkthroughs for the next week is in Domain 3 Dimension 1: Learning Environment.  We are looking for evidence of effective routines, transitions, and procedures that are implemented effortlessly.  We are looking for learners to be in charge of managing materials and that your room is safe, inviting, and orderly.  We are enjoying watching evidence of learning as it is showing up on the walls in your spaces.


LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Encourage: to inspire with courage and hope

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

If someone in the class wins a game or does something well, congratulate that person.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"When someone does something good, applaud.  You make two people happy."

DATES TO REMEMBER:
September 15- International Dot Day
September 17- Progress Report Grades Due
September 18- Ed Foundation Shirt w/ Jeans
September 19- School Shirt w/ Jeans
     Leadership Meeting (3:35-5:00 Megan's Space)
     CMSW Grand Opening (5:30-6:30)
September 20- GT Curriculum Night (Lee 6:30pm)
September 21- Send 4/5 Progress Reports Home
September 22- Carla's Birthday
     Shari's Birthday

Week of September 10, 2018

What a delightful week participating in beginning of the year goal setting with ALL of our staff this year.  Ashley, Leigh Ann, Jacque, and I are impressed with the thoughtful reflection and goal setting ideas you each have, and we look forward to supporting you on your journey.  THANK YOU for having the growth mindsets that you do and for continuing to stretch yourselves as professionals and designers.  This week was a reminder that our school famiLEE is so talented and that you are so supportive of one another.  So many of you included visiting one another in your action steps!  Please give yourself 60 seconds on Friday to STOP what you are doing, look around your space, and celebrate what you are doing.  We could not be more pleased with the first three weeks of school and what you are part of creating at Lee!!!  Have an incredible weekend- you deserve it!

DID YOU KNOW:

• Kasey has a message for you?  Please take a look. 
• you can use the ClassLink app on learner iPads to be able to make signing in to different platforms one step easier?
• iStation and CISD passwords are connected.  If you try to change a learner's iStation password to something different than their CISD password, it will automatically overnight change back to their CISD password.
• SeeSaw offers free online professional development?  Here are ways to register for September PD in your PJs:  
• PreK-2nd grades, register here.  
• 3rd-5th grades, register here. 

LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL

Please complete this Google Form to communicate who your members are before you leave tomorrow.

RTI MEETINGS

RtI meetings will begin on Monday, September 10th.  Please use this spreadsheet to sign up for a meeting if you have a learner who was on RtI last year, if a learner did not pass STAAR, or if you have a learner who is not performing on BOY screeners.      


CHOIR
4th and 5th Grades, please share this communication with your parents in this week's newsletter.  THANK YOU!


SUNSHINE CREW
Please talk up this leadership opportunity to your learners and share with their parents if your learners are in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade.

SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY

We are super excited to have an event where our Special Friends can come to our school on September 27. 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.  Please include information about this event in your next two newsletters.


BUDGET
We are excited that we now have our 2018-2019 budget dollars to order what you need to work with your learners.  Part of my role is to make sure you have the supplies you need to do your job.  Please try to plan ahead so that you do not have to spend personal funds on supplies.  Also, be thinking about items we need to add to house storage closets (like manipulatives, science tools, etc.) and write up a PO and put it in my box.  Remember that it will take a couple of weeks to process, get quotes, and ship.  You also must use approved vendors ONLY.

COPPELL GIFTED ASSOCIATION
The Coppell Gifted Association is committed to supporting Coppell ISD and its educators in their efforts to meet the needs of gifted students. Please register for your FREE CGA educator membership, here, by Sept 23rd.


DISCIPLINE
As stated in our Lee Staff Handbook: Only after all efforts by the designer have been exhausted should a learner be sent to the office with a referral.  Repeated or serious misbehavior should be communicated to the learner’s parents as soon as possible. Here is the district discipline referral form.  Please send your referral to the office and an administrator will support you as quickly as possible.  Please watch this short video created by Courtney to review our discipline practices at Lee.  After we have a coaching session with your learner, we will bring them back and give you a copy of the discipline referral for your records.


WALKTHROUGH FOCUS
Our focused walkthroughs for the next two weeks are in Domain 3 Dimension 1: Learning Environment.  We are looking for evidence of effective routines, transitions, and procedures that are implemented effortlessly.  We are looking for learners to be in charge of managing materials and that your room is safe, inviting, and orderly.  We are enjoying watching evidence of learning as it is showing up on the walls in your spaces.  WHAT A BEAUTY TO WITNESS!

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:
Patriotism- Love for or devotion to one’s country

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:
Stand up for what you believe in.  You shouldn’t take no for an answer if your heart and mind are leading you in a direction that you feel strongly about.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“I only regret that I have one life to lose for my country”- Nathan Hale

DATES TO REMEMBER:
September 9:  RtI Meetings
September 11:  Susie's Birthday
September 12:  Convocation tshirt with Jeans
     Scout Night at Lee (7:00 pm Café)
September 13:  Lucy Calkins Cohort (3:30 Blue House)
     Sonnamaker Curriculum Night (5:30)
September 14:  CISD Staff Handbook Signature Due in Talent Ed
     LEEdership Council Meeting (8:15 Café)
     Pet Partner Visit (1:00-3:00)
     CISD Tailgate Event