Week of September 27, 2021

What great news this week as we learned that we will only have face to face options for the second nine weeks!  I know this decision has some learners returning before the end of the nine weeks and this puts a strain on you.  THANK YOU for staying positive and seeing that relief is near!  Attitude is EVERYTHING and you continue to show us what great attitudes you have.  WE'VE GOT THIS!  Thank you for your help as we work through revisiting class lists in your Team Times, this round.  Your input is valued and appreciated.

DID YOU KNOW:

• October 1st is Custodian Appreciation Day and Social Spurs will be presenting Israel, Beatriz and Jose with gift cards and notes of gratitude? Thank you for your Social Spurs donations.  These help us be able to recognize our hard-working custodians!
• October 1 is also #NationalHomemadeCookieDay?  Keep your eyes open for an invite to participate in an optional cookie exchange.
• Pay Day is around the corner and you still have a chance to donate to Socials Spurs and get your name into the upcoming prize drawings?  Venmo or donate your cash to Shanna.
• our October 6 Staff Meeting will be replaced with Report Card work time?  I hope you find this dedicated time helpful and you can plan ahead to use this time accordingly.  Remember to add a closing with your name on K-3 report card comments for those learners who are changing houses.  Also, back up your grades JUST IN CASE!
• you can join the Coppell Gifted Association for FREE through September 30? To join as an educator, visit the web store. If you want to know more about CGA, check out this site
• we got a 10/10 for staff members wearing their badges during the safety audit this month?  THANK YOU!
• Keiko needs empty water bottles for a garden project?  Please share.

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST SPUR

Welcome to our newest Spur, Davis Ray Hardy.  He arrived on Wednesday.  He and mom are doing well.  Look how beautiful he is! 

RED AND BLACK SUPERSTAR NOMINATIONS DUE MONDAY

Each designer (including Specials) should have nominated at least one learner for the first round.  You can also nominate Lee staff members.  The deadline is Monday, September 27.  Here is the Super Star Nomination Form.

PTO SPIRIT DAY/ NIGHT

Lee PTO is hosting their first Spirit Day/Night on Tuesday, September 28, at Torchy's Tacos!  Enjoy Taco Tuesday, your way all day, dine-in or takeout (online orders do not count)!  You must show this flyer for Lee PTO to get credit.  Thank you for your support!  Special Treat:  Staff, you have permission to leave campus to pick up lunch during lunch OR your conference time (if you need the extra time) if you participate in this fundraiser. 

SEL DAY

There will be no meetings after school this Wednesday.  Please use this time to address your individual social emotional needs.  You can leave when an announcement is shared over the intercom.  

CISD DEVICE PROTECTION PLAN

Don't forget the upcoming deadline for the CISD Device Protection Plan for the 2021-2022 school year.  The enrollment deadline is September 30.  This plan will replace an accidentally damaged device or accessory at no additional cost.  Read more, here. 

SUPER TEACHER NOMINATIONS 

Super Teacher nominations are due, Friday, Oct. 1.  Please nominate a dedicated individual by visiting go.coppellisd.com/Recognitions. 

CONFERENCE DAY

Thank you for sending home parent sign ups for Fall Conferences and for allowing time in your schedules for both face to face and virtual options.  I would like to see 3rd-5th graders present in their conferences.  They need to own their data, share goals, and be part of the information you share with parents.  Remember to let our Admin Team know if you need/want us to sit in on any of your conferences.  If a parent asks if they are going to another house or who their learner's teacher will be for the second nine weeks, you can let them know and also inform them they will get communication before the first day of the 2nd 9 weeks. 

Helpful Conference Hints:

Begin the conversation on a personal note instead of starting with the formal progress report.

Create a sense of common purpose.  Avoid the use of "I" or "You."  Try words like "we" and "us."

If we approach families with this mindset, we can begin seeing conferences as opportunities for collaborative inquiry about how we can best support children’s learning.

GTI UPDATE

Fall GT Assessment Window

Dates: November 1st - November 12th

Grades: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th

 

All learners in these grade levels will be universally screened during the window. Kindergarten will be screened next semester. Assessments will take place in homeroom classes.  More information will be coming soon-Please do not publish dates to parents yet!

ANNUAL HOUSE FUND FOR PTO

FINAL PUSH!!!!  Please consider donating directly here.  If you are interested in volunteering as a Room Parent, please contact Sweetha Sammeta at swethasammeta11@gmail.com

COACH'S CORNER

Instructional Strategy | Movement |Pair - SQUARE - Share

Instructions:

1. Organize students into pairs.

2. Student PAIRS work collaboratively to answer a question, analyze an assessment item, or summarize a vocabulary word.

3. Two pairs then form a SQUARE.

4. Student pairs SHARE their response to the question or task.

5. Students may revise their original responses based on their discussions.

6. Teacher sees and hears students’ thinking and clarifies/verifies as appropriate.

 

Helpful Hints:

• Hand sanitize before and after participating.

• Pairs work at their desks, but squares form around the perimeter of the room.

• Pair with a supportive peer and allow them to use thinking stems.

 

Materials:

• Questions or tasks prepared

Let me know how it goes. Please use this link to book a time with me so we can collaborate.

ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK

Offer sentence frames or sentence stems

Some students will need adapted texts. These are texts that differ slightly from the text the native English speakers may be reading. The text is less strenuous on students who are learning English yet provide them with the same content. You can find great, FREE adapted text from websites like NEWSELA.com. What I love about adapted texts is that they look very similar to the regular text so students can’t see that anyone is getting a different form of the text. ELs don’t feel singled out and no one notices that ELs are receiving text that is different.

DLC UPDATE

"Apple Classroom turns iPads into a powerful teaching assistant, helping you guide learners through experiences, see their progress, and keep them on track." Our Technology Engineers were able to batch enroll our learners using data from eSchool Plus/Pentamation. This means that when you open the Classroom app on your CISD educator iPad, you should have classes ready for you from which to select. (Note: Learners do not need to download an app! The app is only for you as an educator to use.) Click here to learn more about the amazing ways Apple Classroom can streamline your classroom management.  Reach out to your DLCs for strategies, ideas and design! 

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Sept 28- Ed Foundation t-shirt and jeans

Sept 29- Jeans and ANY shirt of your choice

     SEL DAY- NO MEETINGS AFTER SCHOOL!

Sept 30- Last day for Device Protection Plan

Oct 1- National Principal's Month

     School Custodian Appreciation Day

Oct 2- ALL CISD Compliance Courses must be completed

Week of September 20, 2021

Thank you for all of the flexibility this week.  I know it was a challenge being short on subs and changing duties.  We could not have done it without the help of so many of your stepping in.  THANK YOU!  Two different times this week, visitors stopped me to say that they were on our campus and the positive vibe they get from you all.  One was a substitute and one was a DLC.  That says a LOT with all that is going on.  Thank you for being the amazing staff that you are and for staying positive through the ongoing changes.  You all continue to make me SO PROUD to be your principal!  CHEERS TO YOU!

DID YOU KNOW:

• if you did not receive an air purifier for your space, I need to know, immediately?  We still have one that should be in a space.  Please say something to CK before leaving on Friday.
• that you can share YouTube videos with your learners and eliminate pop up ads?  All you do is go to the web address, type in _popup right before the question mark in the web address. VOILA!  Thanks for showing us this trick last year, Layne!
• you can help our school garden by brining your kitchen scraps to school?  Keiko will have a container under the growing table that you can put kitchen scraps in.  She will pick up the scraps before 10AM on Friday and add them to the compost pile. 
• our outdoor FamiLEE Movie Night was moved to October 15 and now is moved to the Spring?  PTO has cancelled the Fall Dance for this year that was scheduled for October 22, too.  
• your LEEdership names are due on this Google Form, tomorrow, Friday?

BOOK FAIR

Book Fair opens on Monday. Did you know that when you shop at the Book Fair that 25% is shared back with our RJL Library?  These funds help us buy more books and items for our library.  No need to send your child to school with cash, set up your e-wallet. This video will show you how and this link will take you to the online RJL book fair.

 

REMINDER FOR PARENTS

Please remind parents to let you know if their learner has food allergies or medical concerns.  We have had a few cases of "finding out" and we don't have the information in our clinic.  If you learn of any learners, please share the information with Annah so we can double check that parents have turned in information to the clinic.  THANK YOU!

PTO SPIRIT NIGHT

Lee PTO is hosting their first Spirit Night on Tuesday, September 28, at Torchy's Tacos!  Enjoy Taco Tuesday, your way all day, dine-in or takeout (online orders do not count)!  You must show this flyer for Lee PTO to get credit.  Thank you for your support!  Special Treat:  You have permission to leave campus to pick up lunch on Tuesday if you participate in this fundraiser. 

ANNUAL HOUSE FUND FOR PTO

Please consider donating directly here.  If you are interested in volunteering as a Room Parent, please contact Sweetha Sammeta at swethasammeta11@gmail.com

SUPER TEACHER NOMINATIONS 

Each grading period, CISD recognizes Super Teachers, who design engaging and innovative learning experiences that ignite the interests of learners. Know someone who should be recognized as a Super Teacher?  If so, please nominate these dedicated individuals by visiting go.coppellisd.com/Recognitions. Super Teacher nominations are due Oct. 1. 

GTI CONNECTION

What do you do when your learners already know it? This question is one that is often asked and sometimes overlooked.  I have designed an extension course in Schoology for you to access and use as you see fit. This course is not complete and will be a “living course” with frequent additions.  All classroom teachers have been added to the course and should appear in Schoology. The math extensions align with your scope and sequence and are divided into each of the 4 quarters.  Please reach out if you would like me to roll out an extension to a small group or need any support!

CONFERENCE DAY

As you start to plan your fall conferences, keep in mind that October 7 is an early release day.  The half day afternoon can be used to complete your grades and comments for the first nine weeks report cards and for and any extra planning you need to do for the October 8 Conference Day.  Please send home parent sign ups, now, for Fall Conferences and set up time in your schedules for both face to face and virtual options.  I would keep face to face conferences to 15 minutes and have your air purifier next to you.   Please let our Admin Team, Angela, or Samira know if you need us to sit in on any of your conferences.

FROM THE GARDEN

Please share with parents.  Our garden needs milk jugs (or 1-gallon water jugs) to make a plant guard from animals and tofu containers to make plant labels. If you could bring them to the school, that would be great. Please put them in the box at the front or the back entrance shown in the flyer.  If you have any questions, please email Keiko at rjleegarden@gmail.com.

COACH'S CORNER

Instructional Strategy | Movement |Learning Loops

Instructions:

1. One-half of the class forms a loop facing out; the other half forms a loop facing in.

2. Inside-loop students each have a different question card, important word, or interesting visual for their partner to answer, describe, or explain.

3. Inside-loop presents their card, outside-loop partner responds, then inside praises or prompts.

4. At the teacher’s signal, the outside circle rotates one person to the left.

5. Repeat steps 2-3 for as many rounds as the teacher determines appropriate.

6. Inside-loop gives outside-loop their question cards, and the process repeats with the inside-loop rotating this time.

7. Teacher sees and hears the students’ thinking and clarifies/verifies as appropriate.

 

Helpful Hints:

• Hand sanitize before and after participating.

• Move desks to the perimeter of the room or consider doing the strategy outside.

• Before the activity, students write the correct response on the back of their assigned card, and answers are verified by peer or teacher.

 

Materials:

• terms, questions, or visual cards for the inside-circle students

Let me know how it goes. Please use this link to book a time with me so we can collaborate.

ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK

Use Adapted Text

Some students will need adapted texts. These are texts that differ slightly from the text the native English speakers may be reading. The text is less strenuous on students who are learning English yet provide them with the same content. You can find great, FREE adapted text from websites like NEWSELA.com. What I love about adapted texts is that they look very similar to the regular text so students can’t see that anyone is getting a different form of the text. ELs don’t feel singled out and no one notices that ELs are receiving text that is different.

DLC UPDATE

Want to gamify your vocabulary instruction? Check out Pear Deck Flashcard Factory!  The best part, It's easy and fun! Simply create a list of vocabulary words with definitions. Once you get the set you are ready to play! Students will be paired up; one will create a visual image and the other a description of the word. Once done, the cards will go to Quality Control (you) where you can approve or decline their submission. Once you have enough cards, you can print the cards off for review or play Gimkit with the set. Want to learn more? Click here to watch the video or contact your DLC!

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Sept 21- Ed Foundation Shirt and Jeans

Sept 22- House Shirt and Jeans

     Staff Meeting (3:15-4:45)

Sept 23- Layne's Birthday

     BEAM Meet Up

Week of Sept. 13. 2020

It has been such a fantastic week.  What a blessing it is to have 30 minutes to dedicate to each of you for personalized time!  We are so proud of the way you have handled MAP testing with our virtual learners and for the way each of you continue to be your best self at Lee Elementary.  Our Team Times have been super productive and we thank you for the way you put kids FIRST!

We have 2nd, 3rd, Admin and Sped Reading Academies all next week, so please be aware there will be extra guests in the building.  If you are a virtual designer, remind parents that you will not have live Zooms and work will still be posted in Schoology to complete.

DID YOU KNOW:

• safety audits will begin around the district?  Please always wear your badge/ID and close doors and turn off lights when you leave spaces.  We will have two drills tomorrow, so be prepared for some "practice."  
• only half of our staff have participated in Social Spurs so far?  Some group is going to win SONIC drinks for themselves.  Will it be yours?  Social Spurs would love your participation as this group takes care of spreading sunshine in times of need.  You can share funds with Shanna through Venmo or with cash.  THANKS for your consideration!
• we recognize the "little" rockers are TOO LITTLE.  We will be getting those traded out for "large" rockers.  YAY!  We will keep you posted. 

WELCOME TO THE FAMILEE

Mrs. Porter has completed 31 years in education, 11 in Coppell ISD and 8 at Victory Place @ Coppell. She has 17 years of experience in administration and earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Computer Information Systems as well as a Master’s of Education degree in Educational Administration - both from the University of North Texas. She has served as both a classroom facilitator and administrator for Victory Place. She has also served Coppell ISD as a District 504 Specialist.

 

She has been married for 24 years to her husband Clay who works in the IT industry. She has a daughter Payton who is studying nursing at TWU, a 2yr old grandaughter named Zola and a rescue dog named Annie. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching crime shows such as Law & Order and watching funny TikTok videos.

CISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE

CISD Ed Foundation grants are open through midnight September 13.  If you submitted an application last year, log-in credentials are still valid.  This is a SUPER avenue to get items for your classroom that cannot be purchased through approved vendors.  Thank you, Priscilla, for already submitting for approval. 

• Get Login Credentials for LivingTree (Google Form)

• LivingTree Website

DOT DAY IS SEPTEMBER 15

Natalie put together a choice board for you to use in celebration of Dot Day.  Feel free to use it however you'd like!  This resource is available to students via the library Schoology course, but you may wish to share it directly with them as well.

Here is a collaborative class book template in Pages to go along with the Dot book for Dot Day.  Use or lose.

PTO MEETING

We have our first VIRTUAL PTO Meeting on Tuesday night at 6:00 pm.  A Zoom link will be emailed to staff to share with parents, on Tuesday.

FLEX LEARNING ON WEDNESDAY

Options for Wednesday flex learning will include Math with May or increasing parent engagement through your weekly newsletters with Samira and Hannah.  Please plan to attend one of these and request your flex time at the conclusion of the training.  Thank you, in advance, to our presenters!

  

BOOK FAIR

The Fall Book Fair is coming.  Please share this reminder with parents for the next two weeks. 

GTI REMINDER

Do you have a learner who is pre assessing out of content?  If you do please reach out to me for an extension activity, or small group support! I am happy to pop extensions into Schoology for all teachers. These extensions can be used with ANY learner. 

 

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.

LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL

Please remind your famiLEEs about elections this week.

RED AND BLACK SUPERSTAR NOMINATIONS

Nominations are being accepted until September 27 for the first round of the school year.  As a reminder, at the elementary level, 1 learner per grade and 2 staff members will be recognized. Each winner will receive a Super Star T-shirt, a certificate, and an eraser or stylus.  If a nominee is not chosen, they will receive a certificate with their nomination verbiage included.  Nominations will occur every nine weeks.  The Super Star program is designed to give parents and CISD staff an opportunity to recognize the dedicated and hardworking students, teachers, administrators and support staff within the district.  To submit a nomination please click on this link: Super Star Nomination Form (google.com)

COACH'S CORNER

Instructional Strategy | Movement | Four Corners

Instructions:

1. Assign each corner of the room a preference (4 soft drinks, 4 candy bars, etc.).

2. Students move to their favorite corner.

3. Students then huddle in duos or trios, making sure no student is left out.

4. Teacher poses a question, assessment item, or brief task.

5. Students collaborate with their duo/trio members to answer the question or rehearse the skill, justifying their responses.

6. Teacher sees and hears the students’ thinking and clarifies/verifies as appropriate.

 

Helpful Hints:

• Instruct students to move into their corners, one group at a time, and ensure every student has a partner.

• Allow students to preview the question/task, think through response with a supportive adult, and use thinking stems to frame responses.

 

Materials:

• four corner choices determined

• question, assessment item, or brief task prepared

Let me know how it goes.

Please use this link to book a time with me so we can collaborate.

ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK

Provide visual supports

Visual supports can be sketches that you create yourself on the fly or they can be google images that you pull up on a device when you realize that a student needs to see what you are discussing. Visuals also include real objects (realia) that you or students bring in to support vocabulary and concept development. Not enough can be said about visuals.

DLC UPDATE

Did you know you can embed a Pear Deck lesson into Schoology?  Students will be automatically logged in to the Pear Deck, via Schoology (no more needing to share the code) and it has the same functionality as just using Pear Deck! Click the video here to check out how! Also, September is "Peartember" in the Pear Deck world! They are giving away prizes, have great templates to share, and special edition webinars to attend and learn more about how to increase engagement in your Google Slides lessons! Ready to get started? Check out this Grammar Talk Template: Pear Deck Version.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

September 13- Ed Foundation Grant Submissions Due

September 14- Reading Academy

     Ed Foundation t-shirt and jeans

     Virtual PTO Meeting (6:00)

September 15- Reading Academy

     Grade level t-shirt and jeans

     Flex Learning (3:15-4:15)

September 15- Reading Academy

September 16- Reading Academy

September 17- Reading Academy

     4/5 Progress Reports Sent Home

     Fall Book Fair Opens