Week of August 3, 2020

A few more days of resting and preparing ourselves to get ready for the school year. If you have been in education for a while, you know this has been the most bizarre period in our most recent history. If you are new to education this year, I’m sure there were no college courses that prepared you for what you are seeing now. As an educator entering her 25th year of working with kiddos, I can tell you with 100% certainty that I have never faced anything with this level of gravity.  However, I can tell you with absolute confidence, that in all my years of teaching, I have been amazed by the resilience and tenacity of teachers. While I respect all professions, educators are a different breed of people all together.  We may not always be thrilled with the conditions we are given to educate children, but we do it anyway. WHY?  Because we are educators.  We are CALLED.  We know our PURPOSE.  We know our impact is far greater than a challenge that is thrown in our paths.  We see our students and their potential future… and so we WORK!!! We work to change lives, not just impart knowledge, but to form relationships that tell students “YOUR ARE SOMETHING!!! AND YOUR FUTURE IS SOMETHING WORTH FIGHTING FOR!”  We give money out of our pockets, we spend countless hours out of the workday caring for others and giving feedback, creating engaging lessons, and pouring our heart and souls into the profession that we know has an ETERNAL IMPACT.  

Right now, we are presented with new challenges in education.  So, the future is in our hands.  The question to ask now is…”What can we do to make this year, better than ever?”  If I were a betting person, I would put my money on Lee Elementary's staff!  You are the masters of impossible and I believe you will ensure #rjlyear7 is the best one possible.  Together as a team, we will tackle this year and make the most of it… WHY?  BECAUSE WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER AND OUR KIDS DESERVE IT!

#CISDLEARNS
Inside Dr. Applegate's email was an interactive link to what August 3-14 look like.  Please review to see daily expectations.  If you need any clarification, please ask.

You will want to watch Dr. Applegates video and familiarize yourself with the Structures For Face to Face and Remote Instruction document.  Please know, you do not have to fully conceptualize this YET.  You will have questions and wonders.  We will spend time answering your questions and building collective understanding together during next week. 

LEADERSHIP MEETING
We look forward to seeing this year's Leadership Team on Monday.  We will work on decision making for the 2020 school year.  Stay tuned for more information to come your way later this week during a House Meeting.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY

Make sure your CISD website is updated.  Directions on how to do this are on our Faculty Website here.  You are required to follow the district template and must include:

• Name
• Grade/House
• Headshot (professional, not family photos)
• Phone number
• Email address
• Schedule
• Tutoring Schedule 

If you have created your Bulb portfolio, you can link it on your website.  New hires- DON'T WORRY ABOUT THIS!  Please also make sure your Twitter profile picture and name are current so that we can communicate that to parents on our CISD Lee website.  

STAFFING:
We have recommended a hire for our ESL paraprofessional and Special Education paraprofessionals.  As our new staff members are approved through HR, we will share their contact information with you so you can welcome them.  Their names can be found on our staff list.

REQUIRED COMPLIANCE TRAINING

Your 2020-21 CISD Compliance Course is loaded in Schoology.  The content in this course is important as compliance training covers local, state, and federal requirements that must be completed annually.  Dr. Hunt has approved 3 hours of Flex credit and Texas SBEC credit for employees.  Use the code 9J7N-38VS-7WF2S to join the new course and complete required compliance content for the 2020-2021 school year.  You should pay close attention to the due dates located on each folder.  Most of the content folders require you to view a presentation and then complete a task.  UPDATE: COVID TRAINING HAS BEEN ADDED TO THIS COURSE.  You got an email on Tuesday with information for updated information.  Please follow the directions in that email.

COPPELL EDUCATION FOUNDATION GRANTS
CISD grants are open July 1 through September 11.  Educators can fill out this Google form to receive their log-in credentials.  If you submitted an application last year, log-in credentials are still valid.  Attached are the 2020 Grant Submission Guidelines that explain the process and timeline for the CEF Grant Program.  GOOD LUCK!

   

#RJLSUMMERSELFIE

This is your last week to get a BINGO or BLACKOUT.  Keep those summer selfies coming!

MENTORS AND ONBOARDING
All 1st and 2nd year Designers in CISD are assigned a mentor.  At Lee, we give an added layer of support (called Onboarding) to ensure that our new folks are supported in intentional ways.  Our goal is to KEEP all of you in Coppell ISD and at Lee Elementary for a long time!  We appreciate the ladies serving as mentors this year and Layne Dennis for serving as our Lead Mentor on campus.  We look forward to growing together and are here for our new and returning FamiLEE members!

FURNITURE AT LEE
We do our best to ensure that there is equitable distribution of furniture in houses. Please do not "borrow" furniture from the media center, A120, A118, or other places in the building.  Let Leigh Ann know if you have extra, or are short, and she can help you problem solve.   Here is the furniture inventory.  Please cross check it with what is in your house in case it got moved while cleaning this summer.  If you are a special program designer and need additional/different furniture, please fill out a furniture request form in Eduphoria Formspace.


LEE STAFF CALENDAR
All important events are uploaded to a shared Lee Staff Calendar.  New hires will want to add the staff calendar to your phones and MacBooks.  It will help you if you go to this link to bookmark your email on your device.  (NOT THE OUTLOOK ICON ON YOUR MAC BOOK!)  Go to "Add Calendar" above the date range and insert the link.  Here are links to help you:
HTML Link                                         
ICS Link  

TO DO FOR ALL:

• Update your Twitter and Lee Staff Website
• Sign up for your health care with our benefits department
• Complete the Schoology Form for Nancy Garvey
• Read the RJL Campus Handbook
• Complete your CISD Compliance Courses in Schoology.  

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Aug 3- New Hire Training
     Leadership Meeting (10:00-12:00 and 1:00-3:00)
Aug 4- New Hire Training
Aug 5- Professional Learning (8:00-4:00)
Aug 6- Professional Learning (8:00-4:00)
Aug 7- Professional Learning (8:00-4:00)

Week of July 27, 2020

It has been a wonderful first week back for Leigh Ann, Shanna and I.  We have been working behind the scenes to set up the 2020-2021 school year.   We are super excited for the upcoming school year with all of you being part of our FamiLEE!   Thank you to all of you for filling in your faculty favorites.  We are able to order your school shirts for the year and can't wait to gift them to you.

STAFFING:
We have recommended a hire for our ESL paraprofessional and are still looking for the perfect fit for our Special Education paraprofessional.  As our new staff members are approved through HR, we will share their contact information with you so you can welcome them.


BUILDING UPDATES
District painters are done and you have the "go ahead" to work in your spaces if you like.  PLEASE feel NO PRESSURE to come up and work- only if you WANT to at this time.   When you come up to school, it is mandatory that you "check in" by scanning this form at the door.  You are also required to wear a mask around others and socially distance from one another.

Something new I learned yesterday is that family members ARE permitted in the building before school starts, only if they are accompanied by an employee.  They must follow all expected  health and safety guidelines:  self-screening, masks, social distancing with other employees who might be on campus, etc.  Great news for those of you moving in or setting up your space!

SOCIAL MEDIA
In a meeting with Dr. Hunt this week, he was very clear about us reminding staff to be mindful with what we are posting on school affiliated and personal social media accounts.  While you have freedom of speech, during this time of unrest, people are sensitive to posts and have sent screenshots of political and opinionated posts to our Superintendent.  Please be mindful to make sure that your school social media posts remain positive and neutral in nature.  I also caution you to be mindful who you follow or post likes to on your social media if you have former or current parents following you. 


SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
We have a live school board meeting on Monday, at 5:00, and I encourage you to tune in if you are interested in staying informed about the latest decisions being made in CISD. 


SCHOOLOGY NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Since we know we will be using virtual learning, Nancy Garvey has created this form to collect information on what OUR school needs in the area of Schoology for our professional learning days.  This will also help our DLCs with planning.  Please take time to complete this form so we know what you need for support.


CAMPUS HANDBOOK
As you are setting up your rooms, please be specifically mindful of the section of our handbook about care and maintenance of the building. 

• LAMINATE SURFACES (CABINETS, CUBBIES, MOBILE FURNITURE): use sticky tack putty, clear contact paper, or blue painter’s tape.  No labels, velcro, packing tape, or hot glue should be used.  The adhesives and glue pull the finishes off.  Water bottles should never be on counters or in cubbies.  They spill and damage the furniture. 
• GLASS:  use clear scotch tape or blue painter's tape to attach work on the glass.  Please do not use velcro on the glass.  Liquid chalk and dry erase can be used to write on the glass.  Only use paper towels to clean the glass.  Do not use hands, erasers, or microfiber cloths on the glass.  Using paper towels will maintain streak-free glass.  Do not cover collabs and design studio windows with chart paper.  
• WHITEBOARD STANDS and NEW IDEA PAINT WALLS: ONLY use microfiber cloths and Windex to clean them.  If there is a stubborn mark, draw on top of it with dry erase marker and erase.  That should remove it.  DO NOT use command strips, tape, sticky tack, glue, velcro or anything adhesive on these surfaces.  Magnets are the only approved item to attach to the new walls.  Please erase weekly (at a minimum) so that the wall does not ghost or stain.  Use blue painter’s tape for spaces with old idea paint (ex: above new walls)
• CARPET AND RUBBER FLOORS:  Use floor spots provided from the office for marking your floors.  Do not use masking or duct tape.
• WHITE PAINTED SURFACES: You may staple, use thumb tacks, or use blue tape to hang on these.  Do not use rubber cement, hot glue, glue dots, or velcro on painted surfaces.  Consider a background of fabric, laminated paper, or string/ribbon to hang student work from to protect our walls from unnecessary repainting.
• COLORED PAINTED SURFACES:  no staples or thumb tacks, please.

For now...you may want to wait to write on your new boards since we won't be back in class for almost a month and they could ghost with writing left on for a long period of time.

COPPELL EDUCATION FOUNDATION GRANTS
CISD grants are open July 1 through September 11.  Educators can fill out this Google form to receive their log-in credentials.  If you submitted an application last year, log-in credentials are still valid.  Attached are the 2020 Grant Submission Guidelines that explain the process and timeline for the CEF Grant Program.  GOOD LUCK!

   

#RJLSUMMERSELFIE

Keep up the participation.  We have some cool door prizes for those of you that will go into the drawing for securing bingos.  

REQUIRED COMPLIANCE TRAINING

Your 2020-21 CISD Compliance Course is loaded in Schoology.  The content in this course is important as compliance training covers local, state, and federal requirements that must be completed annually.  Dr. Hunt has approved 3 hours of Flex credit and Texas SBEC credit for employees.  Use the code 9J7N-38VS-7WF2S to join the new course and complete required compliance content for the 2020-2021 school year.  You should pay close attention to the due dates located on each folder.  Most of the content folders require you to view a presentation and then complete a task.  

NEW HIRES

As a new hire, I am sure you are thinking about what you can do to start getting ready for your new adventure at Lee.  This blog I would encourage you to:

1. Please send a bitmoji headshot of yourself to Leigh Ann to add to our FamiLEE tree wall.
2. Check out our Faculty Website.  You will want to bookmark this site.  It has all you need to know and MORE!
3. Connect with your House and Grade leads.  You can find them on this staffing list.

TO DO FOR ALL:

• Sign up for your health care with our benefits department.
• Complete the Schoology Form for Nancy Garvey
• Read the RJL Campus Handbook, NOW, so you don't have to worry about it when school is in session.
• Complete your CISD Compliance Courses in Schoology.  There may be some COVID Compliance Courses added, so stay tuned. 

Week of July 14, 2020

Hi folks!  Just a quick check in before I head out to Colorado for the next six days.  I will be celebrating a friend's birthday weekend with a fly fishing retreat.  For those of you that know me well, pray for me- I already got bit by a mosquito on the face this morning- I do NOT do bug bites and being in a cabin by the river, I am suspecting lots of bug bites.  This may translate to puffy lips that are NOT the result of Corona botox injections gone wrong!!!  In all honesty, I am looking forward to making memories with my friend and taking some time off.   I hope each of you will do the same and enjoy these last few weeks of summer.  I promise as info comes in from CISD we are keeping you informed and will continue to do so.  No matter what is ahead... this year is going to be incredible because we are #bettertogether!

STAFFING:
We have the most wonderful news to share.  Rikki Mundhada will be moving into our second Special Education role alongside Shari.  She has jumped through all the hoops to pass her EC-6 and ESL tests this summer and we are SO PROUD to grow another FamiLEE member into a full time teaching position.  Please take time to congratulate her!

We do have SpEd para and ESL para openings that we will work on filling when I get back in town.  I have no doubt we will find the perfect compliment to each program.  If you know anyone looking for an awesome place to work, ask them to apply.


BUILDING UPDATES
Ready for some awesome news?  The installers are wrapping up the white board installs this week.  They have a few more punch list items to complete.  Take a look at them!

We also have a surprise for our grade level classrooms.  We had money in our budget to purchase a rocking chair for each classroom.  We know you will make sure to take care of them.  Here is what they look like.  ENJOY!

The painters have been on campus the last two weeks and are still working on making the building look brand new.  Some of you have been asking when you can work in your spaces.  PLEASE DO NOT FEEL PRESSURE TO COME UP, but if you are wanting to, I kindly request that all of you you wait one more week before heading up.  Leigh Ann will be back on the 20th.  Please give her until the 21st to get keys and badges ready and make sure you wear a mask and socially distance when in the building.  

COPPELL EDUCATION FOUNDATION GRANTS
The fall semester will be here before we know it, so the Coppell Education Foundation wants to give educators some extra time to prepare your applications for the CISD Ed Foundations Grant Program.  The grants will open July 1 and close on September 11.  Educators can fill out this Google form to receive their log-in credentials.  If you submitted an application last year, log-in credentials are still valid.  Attached are the 2020 Grant Submission Guidelines that explain the process and timeline for the CEF Grant Program.  GOOD LUCK!

   

#RJLSUMMERSELFIE

Keep up the participation.  It is nice to see what everyone is up do during the summertime.  

SUMMER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

CISD Virtual Professional Learning took place on June 24 and 25.  The focus was on SEL and Digital Learning.  Webinar and learning experiences will extend through the summer.   Please read the email from Brooke Sims titled #CISDLearns - Summer Virtual Learning for details about access, credit, and reflection.  

REQUIRED COMPLIANCE TRAINING

Your 2020-21 CISD Compliance Course is loaded in Schoology.  The content in this course is important as compliance training covers local, state, and federal requirements that must be completed annually.  Dr. Hunt has approved 3 hours of Flex credit and Texas SBEC credit for employees.  Use the code 9J7N-38VS-7WF2S to join the new course and complete required compliance content for the 2020-2021 school year.  You should pay close attention to the due dates located on each folder.  Most of the content folders require you to view a presentation and then complete a task.  

NEW HIRES

As a new hire, I am sure you are thinking about what you can do to start getting ready for your new adventure at Lee.  This blog I would encourage you to:

1. Check out our Faculty Website.  You will want to bookmark this site.  It has all you need to know and MORE!
2. Connect with your House and Grade leads.  You can find them on this staffing list.

TO DO FOR ALL:

• Fill out this form so we can learn all about your favorites.  It also helps us with ordering your school shirts for the school year.  We still have about 15 of you we need to hear from.
• Read the RJL Campus Handbook, NOW, so you don't have to worry about it when school is in session.
• Complete your CISD Compliance Courses in Schoology

Week of June 15, 2020

Hi folks!  I hope everyone is staying healthy and taking care of yourselves.  I have been tackling some home projects this first week off and am looking forward to two more weeks of break.  Tonight I will participate in a virtual charcuterie board making class.  Fun, RIGHT?!  I hope everyone has a safe fourth of July.  I think about each of you, everyday!

STAFFING:
Here are updates to our campus staffing so you can put faces with the names of our new hires and get to know them better.  Thank you for welcoming them all, whether they are in your house or grade, they are an important part of our FamiLEE.

Hello! My name is Josephine Shin, and I am honored to be joining such a fantastic team and community. I was born and raised in New Jersey and will be relocating to Texas with my husband this month. We are so excited to try Texas BBQ and explore everything the city has to offer. I graduated from Montclair University and have my teaching certification in Elementary Education. I’ve taught fourth grade for the past few years and it is my favorite grade to teach! I also enjoy spending time with friends and family, hiking, yoga, cooking, and traveling. I look forward to getting to know all of you and working with you!

Hi! I am Kelsie Wible, and I am so thankful and excited to get to join the incredible FamiLee this year! I grew up in DFW, and actually went to elementary school in Coppell. I graduated from Baylor University in 2016, and stayed in Waco, TX where I married my husband and began my teaching career. I have taught 2nd grade all three years and look forward to continuing in 2nd grade at Lee in the Fall! When I'm not at school, you can typically catch me watching sports, playing with my two pups, or spending time with family. I look forward to this school year and cannot wait to meet you all!

Hi, my name is Peggy Hamam (I go by Peg) I am so thrilled to be at Lee and getting to be a new famiLee member. I was born in Rockford, Illinois and have lived in Texas since the age of 3. I moved to Dallas in 1979 from Llano, Texas where I grew up.  In 1981, I met my husband and we have been married for 39 years. We have three boys that are all married and we are now empty nesters. I have 4 awesome grandchildren 3 girls and a boy; with another one on the way due in October of this year which we just found out it is another girl.

I started in the education field as an English as a Second Language Pre-Kindergarten teacher in Amman, Jordan then moved up to Kindergarten with a total of 4 teaching years while living abroad. We moved to Amman in 1992 for my children to learn the language, customs, and traditions. We came back to the states in 1998. 

In 1999, I began substituting for the HEB school district and then became the Attendance Secretary in 2001, at Euless Junior High, later becoming the Receptionist. I left for a short while and tried to work from home as a home-based American Airlines Representative.  I then went on to charter schools and worked as the PEIMS Coordinator and Registrar for 9 ½ years.  I left because I started watching my grandchildren which I did for 1½ years, I am so excited to get back to work outside the home. I am excited to meet and make new friends and see the friends that I have worked with before.  My hobbies are cooking and baking, you will all get to try my treats from time to time. I love to craft, as well, which includes making cards and learning new things on my Cricut machine.

I am Alex Pinela and I graduated from New Mexico State University in Communication Sciences and Disorders. I began my speech therapy journey in El Paso TX working with people from infancy up to adolescence. I got married to a band director and soon we found ourselves living in the Dallas area. While I got settled in the area, I became an ESL instructional aide at CMS West and fell in love with the program. For this reason, I made the decision to make a career change and pursued education. My first teaching opportunity was special education in Plano ISD and I taught 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th graders. However, as a former ESL student myself, I was always waiting for the lucky day to become an ESL Facilitator until last year when I had the opportunity to begin at CRE. On a side note, we have two fur babies, we love to travel, and do outdoor activities. I am super excited to be joining you at Lee. I can’t wait to meet you all in person and see all of the great things we can do together! 

Hello everyone! My name is Carley Riggins and I feel so blessed to be joining Lee as a 4th grade teacher! I grew up in Northwest Arkansas and graduated with my Masters in Teaching in 2019 from the University of Arkansas. Throughout college, I made so many friends from the DFW area and visited so much that it became a second home and I knew I had to move here one day. I just finished my first year of teaching in Springdale, Arkansas where I taught 5th grade Science. I love traveling, going to concerts, drinking coffee, and exploring new places. I can already feel the love and support from the Lee family and I am so excited to meet everyone and grow with you this year!  

UPDATES WITH COVID-19
COVID-19 has uprooted your classroom teaching and learning forcing you to step into new roles.  Children's ability to learn is tied to feeling safe, accepted, and empowered before they can learn.  Living in quarantine is stressful for educators, caregivers and especially learners.  Though children may seem relatively fine on the surface, they may be struggling with worries and anxieties they cannot express.  If you are looking for some new learning that will help you in helping your learners through pandemic trauma, I highly encourage you to participate in the FREE TCU Trauma Informed Classrooms training.

Coppell ISD has already made the decision that 2020 Meet the Teacher and Curriculum Night will be done through virtual means.  Our campus leadership team and the district is tasked with designing what this will look like (with consistency among all elementary campuses) and I will keep you informed along the way.  If you have ideas or skills you would like to bring to this task, please feel free to let me know.

Please encourage your families to complete the second parent/guardian survey that will go out next week.  The survey is open until July 20.


COPPELL EDUCATION FOUNDATION GRANTS
The fall semester will be here before we know it, so the Coppell Education Foundation wants to give educators some extra time to prepare your applications for the CISD Ed Foundations Grant Program.  The grants will open July 1 and close on September 11.  Educators can fill out this Google form to receive their log-in credentials.  If you submitted an application last year, log-in credentials are still valid.  Attached are the 2020 Grant Submission Guidelines that explain the process and timeline for the CEF Grant Program.  GOOD LUCK!

   

#RJLSUMMERSELFIE

Keep up the participation.  It is nice to see what everyone is up do during the summertime.  

SUMMER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

CISD Virtual Professional Learning took place on June 24 and 25.  The focus was on SEL and Digital Learning.  Webinar and learning experiences will extend through the summer.   Please read the email from Brooke Sims titled #CISDLearns - Summer Virtual Learning for details about access, credit, and reflection.

REQUIRED COMPLIANCE TRAINING

Your 2020-21 CISD Compliance Course is loaded in Schoology.  The content in this course is important as compliance training covers local, state, and federal requirements that must be completed annually.  Dr. Hunt has approved 3 hours of Flex credit and Texas SBEC credit for employees.  Use the code 9J7N-38VS-7WF2S to join the new course and complete required compliance content for the 2020-2021 school year.  You should pay close attention to the due dates located on each folder.  Most of the content folders require you to view a presentation and then complete a task.  

SUMMER CHOICE BOARDS 

Did you know that CISD is sharing Summer Choice Boards for our K-2 and 3-5 learners?  I encourage you to share these with your parents as they change in July.  Here is a link to the district website with information about these.

PLANS FOR OPENING THE 2020 SCHOOL YEAR

I want you to take comfort in the fact that there is a CISD Task Force that is working through 3 plans for our return to school in August.  We are still planning a return of educators on August 5 and learners on August 12.  We will keep you informed along the way and your health and safety as well as the health and safety of the children are in the forefront.

NEW HIRES

As a new hire, I am sure you are thinking about what you can do to start getting ready for your new adventure at Lee.  This blog I would encourage you to:

1. Check out our Faculty Website.  You will want to bookmark this site.  It has all you need to know and MORE!

TO DO FOR ALL:

• Fill out this form so we can learn all about your favorites.  It also helps us with ordering your school shirts for the school year.
• Read the RJL Campus Handbook, NOW, so you don't have to worry about it when school is in session.

LOOKIE LOOKIE!
Things have been happening on campus since the last day of school.  Check out the progress:

 New dry erase walls are being framed throughout the campus!

They are MAGNETIC, too, and can be cleaned with WINDEX!  No more ghosting!  Room for word walls above, now!

New laser projectors were added to all of the mobile carts!