Week of March 4, 2019

Boy, I MISS YOU ALL, but I am so excited to be sitting with 9 of the most incredible and passionate educational leaders in Apple Distinguished Schools.  It has been my absolute pleasure to brag about the AMAZING work you are doing with our Lee learners and how you are using your 1:1 iPads to design conditions for learning that deepen the learning experiences for our children.  Please remember to use the #AppleDistinguishedSchools hashtag to tell your Lee story.  Thank you for "holding down the fort" in my absence.  I am tuning in the best I can virtually, but you are in great hands with Leigh Ann!

DID YOU KNOW:

• there are letters that must go home on FRIDAY to Kinders and First graders who are being assessed for the GTI program.  The office will put these in your teacher mailboxes on Thursday.  Please ensure they go home with the children.
• we have a tour coming through Lee on Friday morning? Please make sure you spaces are picked up.  We know you will make sure they leave inspired by you!

READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY
Enjoy participating!


MICOCINA NIGHT
Please share with parents that we have MiCocina Night for all FamiLEEs on Monday Night.  If they tell their server they are from Lee Elementary or show them this flyer proceeds come back to Lee Elementary.  Thank you, Green House designers, for representing our staff.

FUN RUN UPDATE
Get ready for orange, blue, and excitement to start working its way through the building.  This group does a great job of teaching citizenship and being present on campus.  Monday's pep rally in the gym will get the kids excited and they will go home with their pledge packs.  We will have a modified schedule so PLEASE communicate this to your parents (see 2019 Fun Run Pep Rally Schedule tab).  We will have Team Time, and it is Day 3.  Thanks Julie and Carla for letting the company set up early in your gym! Specials, you do not have to stay for the Pep Rally, so you get a full conference time.


FED EX
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.  Please complete this form at the conclusion of your learning session on Wednesday.  The form will open at 4:30.

OPEN HOUSE
THANK YOU for the work that is already being put up for next week.  We can't wait to walk the building before Open House to take it all in!  If any windows or carpets need extra attention, please let custodial know NOW!  You may wear your green RJL "This is Our Happy Place" shirt with jeans this night. Also, encourage parents to stop by the cafeteria to view/purchase their child's artwork. We hope they will tweet out what they like to #rjlyear5.  Lastly, have a system in place for how you will manage the check in of technology before heading home at the conclusion of Open House.  All devices must be back in the iPad carts before you leave.

SPIRIT RALLY
Friday morning we will recognize this 9 week's accomplishments.  We will also recognize all DI participants.  Please let parents know that we would love them to attend Friday's event!

WARM UPS?
Thank you for posting your @ITSTIME Teacher Pledge pictures so you could wear jeans today.  If you would like a warm up pass to use on a day of your choice, please download the teach app, upload, and post to Twitter and we will put a pass in your box.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

It is important that we revisit our school supply lists for PTO for next year so that PTO can secure the best pricing from EPI.  Please review, as a grade level, and make any adjustments.  Once your adjustments are made, change the date on your tab to "Your Grade 2019-2020" so we know you are done.  PLEASE do not increase items without taking other items off and also visit lists that are already completed to make sure you are not duplicating house supplies.  The total should be as close to $50 as you can get it.  Please have this done by March 29.

FAMILY ENGINEERING NIGHT

Please share this information with your families in this week's newsletters: 

Who: All Richard J Lee learners and families 

What: A time to work and learn together as a family to solve different engineering challenges

When: April 11, 2019 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Why: To learn about and explore different types of engineering fields

How: Throughout the night you will have the chance to participate in several mini challenges called openers, engineering challenges, learn about digital citizenship, see items printed by our new 3D printer, and learn about iCode Coppell 

Where: House Open Spaces (see specifics in course catalog below), downstairs outdoor atrium, Media flex space, and iCode will be in Media Center

FamiLEEs, please let us know ASAP whether or not you plan on attending Family Engineering Night w/ this quick Google Form. This will help us make sure we have adequate supplies.

Check out the course catalog to see what we’re offering!

CISD FOCUSED WALKTHROUGH

We will give feedback on Domain 2 Dimension 1:  Achieving Expectations.  We will be looking for evidence that your learners have mastered content and are held to high levels of accountability for their learning.  This looks like self-assessing, reflecting on menu work or assignments, posting to Schoology or SeeSaw, etc. 

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Courage- strength to act even when afraid or uncertain.

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

Make eye contact.  When someone is speaking, keep your eyes on him or her at all times.  If someone makes a comment, turn and face that person.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." -Winston Churchill

DATES TO REMEMBER:
TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTICIANS WEEK
March 4- Fun Run Pep Rally (8:00-8:30 Gym)
     MiCocina Night
March 5- Education Foundation t-shirt and jeans
     PTO Meeting (7:00 pm Cafe)
March 6- College Shirt and jeans
     First Grade Field Trip (Arboretum)
     Fed Ex (3:30-4:30)
     Dad's Club Mtg. (7:00)
March 7- Spurs Savings (7:20-7:40)
     Tour (9:00 and 1:00)
     Open House and Art Show (5:30-7:00)
March 8- NO TTESS
     Spirit Rally (8:00-9:00 Gym)
     Tour (10:30-11:30)
     Flood Control Meeting
March 9- Hillary's Birthday
March 10-16- SPRING BREAK!!!
March 15- Linda's Birthday

Week of February 25, 2019

Happy Friday! Have an incredible weekend and STAY HEALTHY!  We need ALL staff to attend Wednesday's Staff Meeting, so please adjust your calendars.  We have STAAR Security Training embedded in this meeting so that we do not have to host it on another day after school.

DID YOU KNOW:

• it wasn't on the calendar until today, but we will have a LEEdership Council Mtg. at 8:30 tomorrow?  THANKS for sharing your kiddos!
• you can wear jeans on Thursday if you take the Teacher Pledge on www.ittcommunitychallenge.com and post it to Twitter @ITSTIME #CommunityChallenge?  No tweet, no jeans, please!
• Schoology now has the feature for learners to to sign in using QR Code.  This link will take you to directions for getting access tot he QR codes and having your learners use them to sign in. 
• have you seen this recent article about STAAR?  Definitely an interesting read.

Free Time Friday Schedule

READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY
Please share with your families so they can participate next Friday.  

FAMILY ENGINEERING NIGHT

Please share this information with your families in this week's newsletters: 

Who: All Richard J Lee learners and families 

What: A time to work and learn together as a family to solve different engineering challenges

When: April 11, 2019 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Why: To learn about and explore different types of engineering fields

How: Throughout the night you will have the chance to participate in several mini challenges called openers, engineering challenges, learn about digital citizenship, see items printed by our new 3D printer, and learn about iCode Coppell 

Where: House Open Spaces (see specifics in course catalog below), downstairs outdoor atrium, Media flex space, and iCode will be in Media Center

FamiLEEs, please let us know ASAP whether or not you plan on attending Family Engineering Night w/ this quick Google Form. This will help us make sure we have adequate supplies.

Check out the course catalog to see what we’re offering!

POSITIVE PHONE CALLS
Part of Domain 4.4 in TTESS is "contacting parents regarding students' academic and social/emotional growth through various methods."  The difference between Proficient and Accomplished is Proficient = "regularly contacts," Accomplished = "systemically contacts."  It is a great time to consider documenting and making a positive call home to each learner in your class.   It will pay HUGE dividends with your parents AND learners!

DISSERTATION HELP

CISD Educators, 

You are invited to participate in a research study of a school district engaged in transformation, continuous improvement, and coherence.  The primary investigator for this study is Deana Dynis, Doctoral Candidate in The University of Texas at Austin’s Doctor of Education in Public School Leadership program. 

The purpose of this study is to describe the how your district has created and supported coherence across the district and how coherence supports the district’s efforts to transform learning.  The study is intended to describe the successes and barriers the district has encountered and what actions were a result of those successes and barriers.   

Any information you provide during this research study, including any personal information, will not be linked to you or the district in any way.  It will not be possible to identify you as the person who provided any specific information for the study.  

If you are willing to provide your perspective to the study, please complete the survey linked here.  It should take less than 10 minutes of your time.

CISD FOCUSED WALKTHROUGH

We will give feedback on Domain 2 Dimension 1:  Achieving Expectations.  We will be looking for evidence that your learners have mastered content and are held to high levels of accountability for their learning.  This looks like self-assessing, reflecting on menu work or assignments, posting to Schoology or SeeSaw, etc. 

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Initiative- taking action; originating new ideas

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

Strong leaders take responsibility for events and believe that they can have an effect on outcomes and conditions.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"If an opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." -Milton Berle

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Feb 27-Mar 1- Chantel in California for ADS
Feb 25- TELPAS Window Opens
     Online TELPAS Testing
Feb 25- Go Red Shirt and Jeans
Feb 26- TELPAS Calibration Set 2
Feb 27- House Shirt and Jeans
     TELPAS Calibration Set 2
     New Learner Lunches
     APEX Teacher Huddle (3:30-3:45 Green House)
     Staff Mtg. (3:45-5:00 Green House- All Staff must attend until 5:00)
Feb 28- PTO Grants Due to CK
     SLO evidence due in Strive
     Spurs Savings
     Lee Learning Walk (8:00)
     Nikki's Bridal Shower
Mar 1- Dr. Seuss' Birthday (Spirit Dress)
     Green House Lounge Responsibilities
     Tour (9:30-11:00)

Week of February 18, 2019

Thank you for a loveLEE Valentine's Day. We hope you enjoyed your professional learning on Friday and LOOOONG weekend.  THANK YOU to the group of you that helped to present on Friday.  I'm so proud of the number of learner leaders that we have at Lee Elementary!  Thank you for sharing your learners with all of CISD so that high levels of learning occur for all learners in our district

DID YOU KNOW:

• if you are interested in serving on our campus interview team that you need to go through CISD district interview training.  Dates are already in Eduphoria for those interested. 
• we will get new Apple TVs to help with our connectivity to our projector stations?  Stay tuned.
• we are seeking additions, revisions, edits or suggestions to the student handbook and student code of conduct.  If you have any input, please email those to Leigh Ann by Feb 25.
• that you can earn flex time to be off on May 24, now?  This is new information that was shared at this week's Principal's Meeting.  We will have you log time at Family Movie Night, STEAM Night, and Spring Conferences to earn your six hours for May 24.  YAY!  Also, we will be posting book study hours in your flex portfolio so you can make sure you have enough hours.  Flex time for 2018-2019 must be earned by April 30.

ESL SMORE
Please review information in Claudia's Smore.  There are ELPS resources, a way to book her, and TELPAS information.

TELPAS
Here are a few reminders for TELPAS;

• check the schedule and know when your learners will be pulled for online tutorials and TELPAS
• we will use the Yellow and Red house MacBooks
• we will use the Science Enrichment and STEAM rooms
• Calibration will be on Feb 20
• must be completed by March 1(Module 1)
• Claudia's S'more has TELPAS reminders, training links and tips
• Thank you for attending the Tapas and TELPAS training.  Claudia and Leigh Ann appreciate all of your hard work

RTI UPDATE

First, thank you for the first six weeks of RTI meetings!  They have been great and we appreciate all the hard work and input you bring to each RTI meeting and the dedication you have for each of your learners.  Next scheduled RTI Meetings will be on March 18th.  If you need to meet before then, please reach to Leigh Ann and she will get a meeting scheduled.  Please make sure to check the RTI meeting sign up document.  Everyone's RTI Time is already scheduled to the end of the school year.  To help keep our RTI meeting efficient and effective, please have the following things ready:

1. Please have all progress monitoring documents updated and uploaded into Aware
2. Please have a new goal or an updated goal ready for the meeting
3. Please have your notes ready for the RTI meeting
4. Make sure to bring your device and be ready to share about your learner
5. Remember, that if you want to move a learner to a different tier, please have all documents to support that move including updated assessments and they are uploaded into Aware

BOOK FAIR
Don't forget to remind your parents that the Lee Spring Book Fair is still open online until 2/20.  There are no charges for shipping.


DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP
It is the time of the year when learners are needing to be reminded about digital citizenship.  Feel free to get set up in the CISD Empowered Citizens Schoology course.  The course has mini lessons and resources for you that can be used in your classroom and implemented into lesson design as you create lessons.  The course code is: ZMRFK-SQ3P3 and you can find the lessons in the Discovery Library under the "Let's Get Started" folder.

CISD FOCUSED WALKTHROUGH

We will give feedback on Domain 2 Dimension 1:  Achieving Expectations.  We will be looking for evidence that your learners have mastered content and are held to high levels of accountability for their learning.  This looks like self-assessing, reflecting on menu work or assignments, posting to Schoology or SeeSaw, etc. 

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Risk-taking- exposure to possible loss or injury

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

Live so that you will never have regrets.  If there is something you want to do, DO IT!

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"If you shoot for the moon and miss, at least you'll be one of the stars." -Les Brown

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Feb 18- Bad Weather Day
Feb 19- Go Red Shirt with Jeans
     Kamille's Birthday
     Online Basic Training and CAlibration Certificates Due
     Purple Field Trip
Feb 20- School Shirt and Jeans
     TELPAS Tutorials
     Staff Meeting
Feb 21- Spurs Savings
     TELPAS Tutorials
     Tour (9:00 and 1:00)
     Sammy the Shark w/ Kinder (1:45)
Feb 22- TELPAS Tutorials
     LEEdership Popcorn Sale

Week of February 11, 2019

Happy Friday!  It has been a busy week on campus.  I was scheduled to be at training at Region 10 on Friday, but will be staying on campus, now, to support you and the learners in the building.  As mentioned in our meeting with Ashley and CISD Administration, the transfer process for Canyon Ranch Elementary will open on Monday (you will get a district email).  If you are interested in a new opportunity, I am here to support you.  While I don't want any of you to leave, there will be no hurt feelings, only chances to support the new elementary and our Lee learners heading to CRE.  Classroom teachers and paraprofessionals, please schedule a time to talk with me before submitting your request.  In addition, if you are planning on resigning or retiring, please consider letting me know now.  This information may help decrease the number that could be required to transfer.  Change is ahead for our FamiLEE, but as always, our school will be taken care of.  During this time, I ask that you do your best to continue to make Lee Our Happy Place and seek to understand before being understood.

Welcome back, Jean Guidry, to our famiLEE.  We are pleased to have her in the role of long term sub for Ayesha.  Speaking of Ayesha, her sweet baby girl, Asiya, arrived today.  She is 7 pounds 15 ounces and 20 inches long.  Please continue to lift the Khans in positivity and prayer as they navigate having this beautiful new baby in their lives.

We will be permanently welcoming back our wonderful student teacher, Brooklyn Windham, on Tuesday, as Akta prepares for the arrival of her little one.  By the end of next week, there will be two new Lee Spur famiLEE members!  Our famiLEE keeps growing!

DID YOU KNOW:

• we have open appointments for those interested in saving for retirement, on campus, on Thursday?  Click here to schedule an appointment.
• we need names of 2 boys and 2 girls from each grade level to invite to CISD Night at the Ballpark on April 3?  Leaders, please select the names at your next Team Time so that we can turn the names in and inform parents.  Thank you!
• Melissa's MLI Newsletter is packed full of great resources for you and your learners (even if they aren't dyslexic)?  Check it out here. 
• we have a parent that is feeding us pizza for lunch on Friday 2/8?  Thank you to the parents of Eshaan (P4) and Aditi (B4)!
• we have new recess equipment on the carts? Please stay tuned to info from learners who have worked towards a solution to help with our equipment.  

BOOK FAIR

Thank you Melinda, Aparna, and volunteers for setting up and running our Spring Book Fair.  Did you know that all profits earned through the Book Fair go back to our campus library fund?  Please talk up this event to learners and parents so we can have the most successful fair YET!  I am requesting that you do not send more than two learners at a time (from each classroom) to shop.  We want to make sure it is manageable for our volunteers.  Sending all of your shoppers at the beginning/end of the day or all house shoppers at recess is not recommended.  Please create a sign up in your space and send them throughout the day.  I appreciate your help with this!  

AUTHOR VISIT

Welcome, author Aisha Saeed, to Lee Elementary on Monday.  We will have an adjusted schedule to permit for workshops, focused lessons, and a full day visit at our school.  Thank you to Blue 5 learners, and Samira, for creating a schedule for her day.  I know the visit will be fantastic!  Thank you to our wonderful PTO for helping to fund part of her visit. 

TAPAS AND TELPAS

Thank you for brining your online basic certificate to this required security training during your conference time on Tuesday.  Thank you Leigh Ann and Claudia for hosting this DURING the school day and for bringing snacks!

MI COCINA NIGHT

ALL famiLEEs are invited to join us at MiCocina on Tuesday, so spread the word.  Please remind them to say they are from Lee Elementary or show the graphic below from your weekly newsletter.  Thank you Red House designers for representing our campus this night!

LUNCH AND LEARN

Thank you to those of you that signed up for Wednesday's Lunch and Learn with Jacque.  It is going to be wonderful having the time to dig in to some pizza and new math intervention tools we purchased.  Thank you for all of your preparations, Jacque!

VALENTINES DAY

Please look at the Winter/Valentine Party tab for the day's schedule and communicate any changes to your lunch time to your parents. Purple House- THANK YOU for eating lunch in your house so that the floor can be swept and ready for the campus to view the PTO program, at 1:00, in the cafe.   Also, please communicate to your parents that our busses and cars need to be able to pick up learners safely at dismissal, therefore, they should only park in parking spaces and along Chaparral Waters Way and Stampede.  

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY

Please feel free to wear jeans on Friday.  Remember that you represent our campus in your words and actions.  THANK YOU to so many of you that are presenting on this day.  We are so proud of you for stepping up and sharing your learning with others. 

MORNING ARRIVAL

Please be mindful to be at school by 7:10 each morning and posted for morning duty at 7:15.  You are doing a great job of texting if you are stuck in traffic, but we all could use a friendly reminder to be here on time.  Thank you for your cooperation.

CISD FOCUSED WALKTHROUGH

This week we start a new focus for our walkthroughs.  We will give feedback on Domain 2 Dimension 1:  Achieving Expectations.  We will be looking for evidence that your learners have mastered content and are held to high levels of accountability for their learning.  This looks like self-assessing, reflecting on menu work or assignments, posting to Schoology or SeeSaw, etc. 

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Love-unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for others; warm attachment

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

Love your neighbor as yourself

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love" - Mother Teresa

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Feb 11-  GO RED Shirt and Jeans
     RtI Meetings
     Spring Book Fair
     Progress Report Grades Due
     Aisha Saeed Author Visit (all day)
Feb 12-  Red House Music Performance (8:10 and 6:30 Cafe)
     Tappas and TELPAS (Conference Time)
     Mi Cocina Night
     Book Fair Open Late today
Feb 13- Convocation Shirt and Jeans
     Lunch and Learn (10:00-1:00)
     Leadership Meeting (3:30-Kristina's Space)
Feb 14- Send home Progress Reports
     Spurs Savings (7:20-7:40 Cafe)
     PTO Performance (1:00 Cafe)
     Valentine Parties (2:00 Spaces)
Feb 15- Ameira's Birthday
     Bethany's Birthday
     CISD Professional Learning Day