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