Week of December 3, 2018

I have ALL the feels tonight as I reflect about our week.  WHAT A WEEK OF LEARNING!  Thank you to Nelson, Kasey, Jacque, and ALL OF YOU for being the learners you are!  The conversations, lessons, collaboration and sharing that have taken place this week remind me of WHY I enjoy leading OUR SCHOOL and each of you.  One profound moment for me was listening in team time to someone lead their group in some new nano challenges.  This learner/leader was inspired by conversations from house and grade members that shared their learning experiences with her.  To me, THIS is what makes Lee special...the way you share learning with one another and stretch yourselves to live the guiding purpose of our school.  Another "principal proud" moment was having a learner as Principal of the Day today.  If you do not know Sandhya, you need to spend thirty seconds with her.  She has the most beautiful heart!  She lead our tour today with confidence- AND THIS IS HER FIRST YEAR AT LEE!  Then she visited classrooms and wrote the most authentic and true feedback to our designers.  Sorry we didn't make it to all classrooms, but WOW this child is amazing!   I was super excited to hear Leigh Ann brag about a teacher observation with one of our designers that implemented learning from Wednesday's staff meeting THE VERY NEXT DAY.  If that isn't awesome, I don't know what is.  Lastly, there are the digital projects that you all practiced, tried, and learned more about this week.  I don't think I have retweeted so much in three days as I have this week.  Ladies, I mean this to the core of my heart, I am so impressed by you!  THANK YOU for your hard work, THANK YOU for trying new things, THANK YOU for doing this all for the children!

DID YOU KNOW:

• there is a name for the new elementary school? Canyon Ranch Elementary will open 2019-2020 and the Board is hoping to recommend and name the Principal at the December 17 Board Meeting.
• that early dismissal time for December 21 is 12:15?  Start telling your parents, NOW!
• the district will Go Red for staff wellness the month of February?  T-shirt ordering information is here and purchasing one will earn you jeans with the shirt every Monday in February, if you participate.
• the district is having photographs taken of every classroom and space in our building in the next couple of weeks so that they can be used in a safety and security app that we will implement soon?  There may be a day in the next couple of weeks that you are asked to step outside your space, with your learners, for them to take a picture of your room.  Please know I TRY to protect you from interruptions, but this is one that is out of my control.  Thanks in advance for your flexibility!
• Monday is Brooklyn's last day to student teach at Lee? What an exceptional student teacher she has been! She is out Friday taking her teacher certification test, so please get those positive vibes flowing. The office has a book circulating the building for you to write a sweet message in tomorrow, or Monday. We will present it to her before she leaves. Monday will not be the last time we see her, though- I would like to invite her back in Yellow House as Akta's long term sub during her maternity leave. Stay tuned!
• this is the LAST day to submit GEMS? Have you nominated someone?
• our staff Christmas party will be held at Lamberti’s Ristorante in Irving on Wednesday, Dec. 19 from 4-6 pm? Stay tuned for more information.
• Courtney will be our guest administrator next Wednesday-Friday while Chantel is at Allaso Ranch with the fifth graders?

APPLE SITE VISIT
The head of Apple Distinguished Schools will be on campus, tomorrow, with two other representatives.  They will be here from start of the day until 11:00ish to walk our building.  They will be looking at integration of Apple products, how we use them to "create," and evidence of learning that is showcased in our campus iBook.  You always do a wonderful job,  but please be intentional with what you are doing during this time!  


CISD BOARD WALK
On Monday afternoon, we will have Mr. Hunt and other Board members (Bentley, Hill and Caviness) doing a learning walk on campus from 1:00 until dismissal.  Again, you do wonderful things all the time, but this is another important time frame that you may need to restructure your schedule to ensure you are showcasing learning at Lee.


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.  Check out some of the resources curated by the DLCs on the Hour of Code Website. Each grade range has a learn, do, and reflect portion learners can complete. The reflection piece will be done district-wide through FlipGrid! Not sure where to start? Let Kasey or Priscilla know if you need help!


YOU'RE A MEAN ONE
We have exciting news! We will be taking the ENTIRE school on a field trip to see the new Grinch movie on Thursday, December 20 (our class Winter Party day). Please share this information with your parents and begin collecting $6 per learner. Here is the form to document who has paid. We will either eat lunch on campus, or at a park, depending on our movie time and the weather. Please find out who will need a school sack lunch this day, as well.

DECEMBER TO REMEMBER:
IT IS HERE!  We request that you join us in the media flex space on Monday afternoon at 3:15 so we can deliver your December calendars to you before you head home.  We hope you tweet out what you enjoy with #decembertoremember and #rjlyear5.  It brings your Admin Team great joy to plan ways to celebrate you the entire month.  What is acknowledged gets repeated and we want to know what you enjoy.

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.  Unfortunately, this is not time for reading your Book Study book, because you get additional flex hours for that learning.  Please complete this form at the conclusion of your learning session today.  The form will open at 4:30.  Need an idea of something to learn about?  Have you checked out the Everyone Can Create iBook Collection?  There are four separate books focusing on drawing, video, photos, and music that are sure to show you something new.  Maybe you heard about or didn't get to complete the Apple Challenges Kasey created.  Whatever you choose during this time, ENJOY!


STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
We will have a campus visit by State Board of Education Representative, Donna Bahorich, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Grant, and Tracey Fisher on Thursday.  She visited our campus the first year we were open, so it should be cool for her to see how we have grown.  They will be here from 8:30-10:00.  Bahorich is now a member of the board's Committee on Instruction, which oversees issues such as curriculum standards, instructional materials, innovative courses and career and technical education

MACY'S BELIEVE LETTERS TO SANTA

Want an authentic writing experience for your learners?  For every letter to Santa received through Christmas Eve, Macy's will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million. Need inspiration for your letter to Santa? Let Violet's video explain how your letters make a difference.  If you'd like to participate, please have your kids bring their finished letters in the mailbox in the office by 3:05 Friday, December 14th. Layne will take all letters to Macy's after school. You can also have learners send letters digitally and/or you can print letterhead here.  Feel free to use the hashtag #MacysBelieve to promote this event. 

LUNCHES ON DECEMBER 21:

We will have lunches in your spaces on December 21.  Please take time to find out what your learners plan to eat so that our cafeteria can place an order that meets our needs and not have left over food for the break.  Please complete this form by December 14.  THANKS for your help on this!

CHESS CLUB
We have a free Chess Club open to the first 20 interested K-5 learners at Lee.  Please share this flyer that is also on PeachJar and this link for sign up with your parents.   The club will begin on Wednesday, December 12.

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 leat 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 3-7- Hour of Code Week
     Maintenance and Grounds Appreciation Week
     National Inclusive Schools Week
     National Handwashing Awareness Week
Dec 3- Brooklyn's last day of Student Teaching
     School Board Walk at Lee (1:00-3:00)
Dec 4- Education Foundation t-shirt and jeans
     NO PTO Meeting (enjoy the gift of time- next meeting in January!)
Dec 5- College Shirt Day
     Allaso Ranch Trip
     Fed Ex Day (3:30-4:30)
     Dad's Club Mtg (7:00)
Dec 6- Allaso Ranch Trip
     SBOE Site Visit (8:30-10:00)
Dec 7- Allaso Ranch Trip
Dec 8- Mariah's Birthday