Thursday, December 15, 2022

Week of January 2, 2023

We hope you have enjoyed our snowman themed December to Remember.  Have a REMARKABLE TWO WEEKS away from work, sweet staff.  We wish you nothing short of the most safe, memorable, and restful break and can't wait to hear about your time away from school!

Congratulations to  Aparna, Mariam, Chandana, and Reagan!  These first year teachers have done an incredible job with their first classes/roles of their own.  With their drive and determination and the help of their mentors, teams, our coaches, and houses they do not look or behave like beginning educators.  Kudos to this year's new hires: Angel, Sri, Jessica, Brandy, Holly, Curtis, Ed, Amber, Audrey, Emma, Mayra, Andrea, Ellison, Preeti, Brian, Lauren, Mrs. A, Sharon, Gabby, Subha, Poonam.  You have made it to Christmas!  We are so proud of each of you and the journey you are on with us.  Thank you, returning staff, for pouring into our newest FamiLEE members the first two nine weeks and helping them along the way!  I am a proud principal who is blessed to have a staff that I trust and that lives the vision of Lee.  Each of you are a huge part in actualizing our guiding purpose.  THANK YOU for loving our school, loving our children, loving each other, and loving ME! Leadership Team...WOW!  Thank you for being the voice for your grades and houses.  Thank you for the support you have given our Admin Team and campus, this year.  You continue to grow in immeasurable ways.  Please have the BEST last day of 2022 with our children.  
DID YOU KNOW:
  • Panorama surveys should be done with 3-5 learners before leaving on Friday? Please make sure you read through the questions with your learners. 
  • the office will clean out the lounge refrigerators at 11:00? Please get your left over items so they don't get discarded.  
  • you should set up your automatic replies before you leave for Winter Break?  Please make time to go in and set this up before leaving so you can disconnect for the two weeks.  
  • the Board approved a $500 payment for returning staff that will go in your June check? Please read Monday night's email from Kristen Eichel. 
  • you only have a few more weeks to get your Go Red shirt?  To donate for this year’s commemorative Go Red t-shirt, text DHCCOPPELL to 71777 or click here
  • January is School Board Appreciation Month?  If you are interested in designing a banner from Lee Elementary to be hung at the Administration Building, please email Chantel by end of day, Friday.  The theme is "Forward, Together."

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN
It is not often I approve the watching of whole movies with classes.  You have permission to watch Frosty the Snowman with your classroom, or house, on Friday. 


BEFORE LEAVING ON FRIDAY       
  1. Please get any items form the fridge by 11:00.  The office will be tossing anything "suspect."
  2. Please, also visit your mailbox before noon.  Empty it of all contents. There may be many thank you notes in there. Please make sure these get in learner backpacks.  
  3. Custodial does a deep cleaning of the campus these next two weeks.  May I suggest a FRESH START?  I ask that you erase as much as you can on your dry erase boards and clean off your counters of clutter so that your room gets cleaned as much as possible.  PLEASE take down, send home, and store any holiday displays and decorations before leaving.  
  4. If you have pets, you are required to take them home with you.  Pets are not permitted to stay on campus these two weeks. 
  5. Make sure all projectors, computers, digital signage and tv's are turned off before leaving.  This includes your Vivatek boards.
  6. Shared MacBooks should be plugged in and charging in carts. 

EARLY RELEASE ON FRIDAY
Our campus will follow an Early Release Schedule this day (2nd tab).  Don't forget to swing by and pick up lunches during the time the cafeteria scheduled.  Lunches will be in your spaces.  Because you were reminded on morning broadcast to Parent Square your parents about early release, learners who are left after dismissal will be the responsibility of the classroom teacher, not the front office. We are permitted to leave when ALL learners are gone, so please wait for me to make an announcement. Hourly employees may leave if they have comp time to cover leaving early.


JANUARY 2
This day is a scheduled work day for you.  You can choose to work remotely this day.  The building will be open from 8:00-3:00 and dress is casual if you come in.


REMINDERS
Don't forget that grades are due January 3rd.  Please go into e-school, today, to make sure you are able to enter grades, have all of your learners, etc. so that if Leigh Ann or Angel need to correct anything, it can be done before the holiday.  Also, if you enter grades on Tuesday (our work day), please remember that they must be back-dated to a date before December 16th, or they will not save.


COLLEGE SHIRT DAY
Encourage learners to participate the first Wednesday of each month.



REVISITING RESPECT AGREEMENTS
Please create new or revisit respect agreements with your classes for the 3rd 9 weeks.  Remember there should be FOUR quadrants: Learner to Learner, Learner to Designer, Designer to Learner, and Learner to School.  All four quadrants should have 3 to 4 bullets with short phrases (ex: be honest, hands to self, feet off furniture, etc.). Please share updated agreements with Admin so we can update our binder.  We use these when learners come down with behavior reflections. 


DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP LESSONS
It is a new 9 weeks.  Please review the CISD Learner Digital Orientation Lesson in Schoology for the third time this year.  It is imperative we review responsible use for technology and digital footprint.  Learners should NEVER erase their history.  Learners should also not download apps from Manager without your permission.  REMIND THEM OF THIS- Admin and Designers should be checking this periodically to help learners with accountability. After teaching the review lesson, have learners sign a new Digital Citizenship agreement/poster and post it by your respect agreement. This is required and helps Admin when we visit with learners who make poor technology choices.


#ONEWORD2023
Since opening year, we, as a staff, have come back in January and had a word for the year.  Just one word.  My first word was INSPIRE, then LEAD, followed by GRATITUDE, KIND, LISTEN, GRACE etc.  This year my word is still being decided upon. Your word can be something tangible or intangible.  It can be a thought, a feeling, or an action.  The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you.  This word may not make sense to anyone but you, and that is okay.  This is YOUR word!  This little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities.  Sometimes a word will pop into your brain, and it will not make any sense to your right now.  Give it some time.  Let it percolate a bit.  Maybe this is a word you need to hear, but just aren't ready for it yet.  Again, be open to the possibilities.  Between now and our first Wednesday's staff meeting, please determine what your #oneword2023 will be.  We will have an activity to go along with your word, so come prepared with yours. 



504 UPDATE 
Accommodations specified on a 504 services plan must be documented by the educator in some way.  There is no specific rule that requires the accommodation to be documented in a certain way- rather each educator has the flexibility to set up a system that works best for them.  It is reasonable for a parent, OCR and/or TEA to require proof that an accommodation, per the services plan, was in fact provided.  A verbal response that the accommodation was provided will not satisfy OCR or TEA.  If you have a 504 learner, please complete this Google form as a way to document the accommodations are being provided.


COACH'S CORNER



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ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK
Encourage Drawing & L1. When we look at learners from their assets, we recognize that there are many ways to express ideas, share information, demonstrate knowledge, and be creative. English (or any language) does not determine intelligence. Allowing students to draw, sketch, and use their L1 (or first language) helps them recognize that thinking and learning are valued. 
 




DATES TO REMEMBER:
Dec 16- Early Release 12:30
Dec 17- January 1- Winter Break
Dec 19- Ayesha's Birthday
Jan 2- Staff Work Day (Option to work remotely)
Jan 3- Report Card Grades and comments due (8:00AM)
     Nominations for Super Teacher Open
Jan 4- Staff Meeting (3:15-4:45 Cafe)
Jan 6- Report Cards Go Home

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Week of December 12, 2022

Please have the BEST final week of school for 2022.  Remember that you CHOSE this profession for a reason and enjoy making holiday memories with your house and class.  It has been such a treat to celebrate each of you during December to Remember, and we hope that you know how very much you mean to the school community and ME!  Enjoy your well deserved two weeks off!


DID YOU KNOW:
  • we have FUN games planned for you to participate in on Monday?  Be READY!  If you want to participate, join us in the lounge at the beginning of your conference time.  Stay and play as long or as little as you like.
  • December 9 is early release for kids only?  Staff is to finish up grades at the end of semester on December 9. You can leave campus at 3:00 on this day. Remember we will be treating you to Anamias at 1:00.

  • December 16 is early release for students AND staff? Once all learners are safely gone everyone may leave and enjoy the holiday break. Please wait for me to make an announcement and help the front office with left behind learners.

  • January 2 is a WORK DAY for all staff?  Individuals have permission to work REMOTELY on this day.  Buildings need to be open to parents so office staff needs to be at the school from 8:00-3:00.

  • February 17 is a professional learning day? Instructional Paraprofessionals should participate in professional learning on this day, too.  Clerical staff and hourly employees can use comp time on this day, if desired.

  • there are resources for Istation that I learned at our Principal's meeting? If you are interested, check them out here: https://padlet.com/raugustine1/IstationResources with password: Istation2022 

  • the American Heart Association’s District Go Red campaign has officially launched? To get a head start and donate for this year’s commemorative Go Red t-shirt, text DHCCOPPELL to 71777 or click here
  • CISD expects you to set up your automatic replies before you leave for Winter Break?  Please make time to go in and pre-set this up before leaving on Friday. 

DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
This month has been SNOW much fun!  Enjoy the last week.



LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL HOT CHOCOLATE SALE
LEEdership Council will be selling hot chocolate on Wednesday for $1.  Please share with your famiLEEs. 



PTO LUNCHEON
Please join us for lunch in the lounge on Wednesday.  Thank you to our wonderful PTO for providing lunch and dessert.  They also have a present for each of you!



STAFF PARTY
We hope you can join us for the Staff Winter Party sponsored by our wonderful Social Spurs.  Hope to see you there!  PS- Don't forget your White Elephant gift.



HOLIDAY PARTIES
Please enjoy your parties on THURSDAY from 2:00-3:00.  Parents will be coming in to set up from 1:00-2:00 while we are in Spirit Rally in the gym.  Please have all learners packed up before the Spirit Rally so that you can help with clean up.  PTO should be bringing their own paper and supplies.  Here is a sign up to have parents RSVP if they are planning to attend the Winter Party ahead of time


FROSTY THE SNOWMAN
It is not often I approve the watching of whole movies with classes.  You have permission to watch Frosty the Snowman with your classroom, or house, on Thursday or Friday. 


EARLY RELEASE ON FRIDAY
Don't forget to swing by and pick up lunches during the time the cafeteria scheduled.  Lunches will be in spaces.   The schedule for this day is on the Early Release tab.  Friday is an early release day for students.  Please remind parents!  Our campus will follow an Early Release Schedule this day (2nd tab).  We are all permitted to leave when our learners are gone, so let's make sure parents are on time.  Hourly employees may leave if they have comp time to cover leaving early.



LIONS CLUB DONATIONS
The Lions Club will be collecting canned goods and new unwrapped toys for distribution to members of the community.  There is a box in the office for donations.  Donations will be picked up by members of the Coppell Lions Club the morning of December 16th.  Please talk this up to your learners and families.  So far we have only one donation.


Want an authentic writing experience for your learners?  For every letter Santa receives 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 red mailbox in the office by 3:05 Friday, December 16th. You can also have learners send letters digitally by clicking here.  Feel free to use the hashtag #MacysBelieve to promote this event.


DLC UPDATE
'Tis the season to get creative! Not only is creativity great for our emotional well-being, it helps us to apply what we learn in deeper ways! Check out this challenge built for you and your learners to foster creativity this winter!
  • ❄️Click here to learn more about the DLC's Winter Creative Writing Challenge led by @ctinch123 and @marielateaches ❄️


COACH'S CORNER


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ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK

Offer Sentence Stems with Academic Vocabulary. Sentence stems and sentence starters are excellent ways to scaffold academic language in any classroom K-12. If we want students to speak and write using academic language structures and vocabulary, sometimes we have to literally put those structures and vocabulary into their mouths. Sentence stems are scaffolds that can help emergent bilinguals begin to acquire English language structures that differ from the language structures in their primary language.




DATES TO REMEMBER:

PANORAMA WINDOW OPEN

Dec 12- CMSW Holiday Tour (9:00-9:30 Gym)
Dec 13- Picture Retakes
Dec 14- Corinne's Birthday
     PTO Holiday Luncheon for Staff
     Social Spurs Holiday Party (Lambarti's)
     LEEdership Council Hot Cocoa Sale
Dec 15- Spirit Rally (1:00)
     Winter Parties (2:00  
Dec 16- Early Release 12:30
Dec 17- January 1- Winter Break
Jan 2- Staff Work Day (Option to work remotely)
Jan 3- Report Card Grades and comments due (8:00AM)

Thursday, December 1, 2022

Week of December 5, 2022

We hope you are looking forward to another week of snowman activities for December to Remember.  We have SO MUCH FUN planning out ways to show you how much we love you and to bring the fun each December!  We try to be mindful not to take too much of your time, not to always have food, and to keep our crafts on the easy side- note our snowman skill level-ha! If you are absent or for any "projects" or want extras to do with your family at home, we always have plenty of left overs.  Just let us know!!  Your creativity with your ornaments on our tree have our office looking AMAZING on Day 1. Thanks for making this a December to Remember for your learners as well!


DID YOU KNOW:
  • all collabs should be used for flexible learning opportunities? Please look around at your collabs and take care of making sure these are not used as storage so that these spaces can be maximized for learning. Extra chairs and furniture for your house should be stored in your house storage. Thank you for sharing your collabs with our support staff, as well!
  • the cafeteria needs your help to get a count of how many learners will be getting a sack lunch on our Early Release Fridays?  Please fill out this form for both early release days. Also, please let Charlene know when you have field trips scheduled.
  • we will be hosting CPR Training on campus on January 18? Sign up here to join the training.
  • TCEA has some free Lego maker space cards for download? What a great idea for morning arrival.
  • the American Heart Association’s District Go Red campaign has officially launched? To get a head start and donate for this year’s commemorative Go Red t-shirt, text DHCCOPPELL to 71777 or click here
  • that one of our Lee elementary students got 3rd place in the CISD Holiday Card Contest?  Congratulations Audrey, Jessica, and our P5 learner, Akshara!


DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
This month is going to be SNOW much fun!  Please let your learners join in on the spirit days.




CHS MADRIGAL TOUR 
What a wonderful way to welcome the holiday season.  The Madrigal group will be caroling through Lee on Friday.  They will be here from 10:30-10:50.  ENJOY!  Learners upstairs can gather at the glass walls when they hear them.


HOUR OF CODE:
Computer Science Education Week and #HourOfCode are here! This is a great time to use the coding and robotics resources located in your houses and in our Design and Create studios, while celebrating problem solving and deeper thinking. Check out the resources curated by the DLCs on the Hour of Code Website. Please use #HourOfCode #CISDCode2Learn in your Tweets!


PANORAMA SURVEY WINDOW IS OPEN
Please make time the week of December 5 to guide 3-5 grade learners through the Panorama Survey.  They may/may not understand what some of the words mean on the survey, so I request that you schedule time in your lesson design to walk them through the survey, question by question, as a class.  You may have some learners whose parents "opt out" for their learners to participate.  As we learn from the district who these learners are, we will communicate with you. Surveys must be done by learners and staff by December 16.


GARDEN UPDATE
U-Pick Farmer's Market will be in the garden during recess Tuesday, 12/06. The learners can pick the vegetables in the garden. I would appreciate it if they could bring a bag. The Green Smoothie "Ice Cream" sale will be in the cafeteria during lunch Thursday, 12/08. For both sales, the items are $1. The profit will be used to buy an ice cream maker.  Please share with our famiLEEs.



WEDNESDAY IS COLLEGE SHIRT DAY
Add a winter scarf to your warm ups and college shirt on Wednesday. 



CISD HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
Please skip your Thursday House meetings and head over to the CISD Admin Building for some holiday cheer.  This is a great event put on by the district with yummy snacks, prizes, and performances.  You will also want to go and check out the Snoopy Gingerbread Doghouse submissions from the district. 



EARLY RELEASE ON FRIDAY
Friday is an early release day for students.  Please remind parents!  Our campus will follow an Early Release Schedule this day (2nd tab).  We have Anamia's for the staff for a 1:00 luncheon.  The rest of the day is yours to work and get things done.  Enjoy this time from CISD- we want them to continue to give us days like this in the future. 
  • Blue- 10:00
  • Yellow- 10:15
  • Green- 10:30
  • Red- 10:45
  • Purple- 11:05
  • Staff Lunch 1:00



LIONS CLUB HOLIDAY FOOD BASKETS
Every year, the Lions Club of Coppell provides holiday food baskets and toys for Christmas to those in need. If your family can benefit from this assistance, please click here to print and complete this form. Forms should be turned into Nurse Annah, Mrs. Garvin, or Ms. Lightfoot. If you need a printed copy sent home with your student, please email arose@coppellisd.com. By completing this form, you understand that this information will be shared with the Lions Club of Coppell for distribution of your food/toys. Please submit the form no later than December 9, 2022. Thank you!


LIONS CLUB DONATIONS
The Lions Club will be collecting canned goods and new unwrapped toys for distribution to members of the community.  There is a box in the office for donations.  Donations will be picked up by members of the Coppell Lions Club the morning of December 16th.  Please talk this up to your learners and families.


Want an authentic writing experience for your learners?  For every letter Santa receives 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 red mailbox in the office by 3:05 Friday, December 16th. You can also have learners send letters digitally by clicking here.  Feel free to use the hashtag #MacysBelieve to promote this event.


COACH'S CORNER


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ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK
Provide Books & Resources that are Relevant & Compelling. Take a look at the books and resources in front of you. Then take a look at the students. Do they align? Will students be interested? Will they find themselves? Will they connect? Will they see others and others’ experiences? If not, this is your call to action.





DATES TO REMEMBER:
Panorama Window Open

Dec 5- Reading Academy Cohort A
Dec 6- Reading Academy Cohort A
     Choir Winter Performance (2:00 & 6:30)
     Onboarding Meeting (3:15-4:15)
Dec 7- Reading Academy Cohort B
     5th Grade at Allaso Ranch
     College Shirt Day
Dec 8- Reading Academy Cohort B
     5th Grade at Allaso Ranch
     CISD Holiday Open House
     Holly's Birthday
Dec 9- 5th Grade at Allaso Ranch
     Kourtney's Birthday
     Early Release 12:30
Dec 10- April's Birthday
     RJL Cares Volunteer Event at VRBC