Week of May 29, 2023

As the school year comes to an end, I just wanted to take a moment to wish you all an amazing summer break ahead. You've worked tirelessly throughout the year to shape the minds of our future, and now it's time for a well-deserved break. Whether you plan to relax at the beach, explore new places, or spend quality time with loved ones, I hope your summer is filled with joy, laughter, and good memories. Don't forget to take some time for yourself and recharge your batteries before we head back to school in August. Cheers to a fantastic summer break!  I'm on contract through June 15 if you need anything.  I will miss you, but I am feeling blessed to have served as your Principal this year and can't wait to see what #rjlyear10 brings us.  YEAR 10 YA'LL!!!!!  You are going to LOVE our theme!  Thanks, Angel for already designing our shirts.

A BURRITO LUNCH TO "WRAP UP THE YEAR"

Sponsored by your remaining Social Spurs funds, your Admin team has prepared a festive brunch/lunch for everyone tomorrow from 10:00- 11:30 in the teacher's lounge.  Thanks Linda for sharing that we had extra funds, thanks Leigh Ann for the idea, thanks Leigh Ann and Angel for being personal shoppers (multiple times), thanks to chef Leigh Ann for ALL of the cooking, and to for Angela for cleaning and decorating.  It takes a village.  We will have corn tortillas for gluten free folks and meatless meat for our vegetarians. 

TO DO

• get rid of items taking up large amounts of space in your Google Drive such as Zoom videos.
• "drop off" and "shop for" furniture in the media flex space to balance your furniture inventory.
• email CK, LAH, and AB your EOY checklists
• get any personal items out of the lounge refrigerators
• empty your teacher mailboxes

LAST DAY SPIRIT RALLY

During this event we will recognize staff, PTO, and learners for Red and Black Super Stars and MORE.  We will also hear some songs from our incredible Choir.  Wear your sneakers, staff!

LAST DAY SCHEDULE

Please plan to be here until at least 12:45 on Friday.  At 12:45, please get in your cars, drive BYE the cafeteria loop so that Leigh Ann, Angel, Angela, and Chantel can send each of you off with a treat for summer break!

• 8:00 Spirit Rally
• 9:00 Yearbook Signing
• Pick Up Lunches (Please eat in your spaces) Come to the lounge to get your lunch snack during your learner lunch pick-up time.  We will have plenty, so don't worry!
• Blue 10:00
• Yellow 10:15
• Green 10:30
• Red 10:45
• Purple 11:00
• 12:00 K-4 Pack up and sit around the downstairs circle with backpacks
• 12:15 5th Grade Parade through school one time
• 12:30 Dismissal (all hands on deck!)
• 12:45 Good bye Drive by

#RJLSUMMERSELFIE CHALLENGE

Thank you for the "Friend"LEE summer selfie board, Samira.  Please feel free to check in this summer by participating in sharing your Bingo activities.  Tweet them out to #rjlsummerselfie .  See you in August.

MEMORIAL DAY

Join our LEEdership Council members as we place cards at the markers on Monday, May 29th. Samira can send you details on time and location at the cemetery. THANK YOU to those of you that made cards for this event.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Parents can pre order next year's school supplies NOW.  They will be delivered straight to your home.  Click here to order and use School code: LEE008 (three letters and 3 numbers).   Looking to save shipping fees?  Order with your neighbors and share the cost.

UIL OPPORTUNITY FOR RJL PARENTS

COACHES CORNER

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILEE 

Hi everyone! My name is Renee Kazebee and I am so excited to be joining the famiLEE in 2^nd Grade! I am originally from Huntington Beach, CA. I graduated from San Diego State University and taught for 7 years in Southern California. In 2012 my life journey took me to Beijing China where I taught at 2 incredible international schools for 8 years. I relocated to Texas in 2020, where I have been teaching Kindergarten for the last 3 years in Denton ISD.  

 

My son, Cameron, is 21 and has just finished his Junior year at UNT. He’s studying Logistics and is currently working in Supply Chain Management.  

I am an animal lover and dog mom to 2 German Shepherds, Hallie and Reese. Hallie was adopted in Beijing and Reese was adopted after I saw her debut on the Ellen Show.

 

Looking forward to meeting you all and I cannot wait to be part of the famiLEE! 

DATES TO REMEMBER

May 12- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL    

     Spirit Rally (8:00 Gym)

     Yearbook Signing (9:00)

     Early Release 12:30

     Summer "Break" begins (Back loop @ 12:45) 

May 27- Preeti's Birthday

     Jessica L's Birthday

May 28- Lauren's Birthday

May 31- Christina's Birthday

June 1- Cindy's Birthday

June 10- Taylor's Birthday

June 17- Alli's Birthday

June 18- Tabitha's Birthday

June 21- Chandana's Birthday

June 27- Mary's Birthday

July 2- Suzi's Birthday

July 3- Kristi's Birthday

July 12- Melissa's Birthday

July 13- Cassie's Birthday

July 19- Kim's Birthday

July 20- Ed's Birthday

Week of May 22, 2023

We thank you for the outstanding job you all are doing with ALL that comes at you during the end of the year.  THANK YOU for being thorough with your furniture and supply inventories.  We know you are READY to start your first week of summer vacation next Friday, but we need you each to do your part.  YOU ARE ALMOST THERE!  There is SO MUCH going on this week.  Enjoy these last few days with each other and the learners.  Feeling nostalgic?  Rewatch our beginning of the year video from August. 

We hope you enjoy your summer break.  Relax.  Make memories.  Learn something new.  I will miss you, but I am feeling blessed to have served as your Principal this year and can't wait to see what #rjlyear10 brings us.  YEAR 10 YA'LL!!!!!  You are going to LOVE our theme!

TO DO

• EOY Checklist- we are trusting you to execute what is expected to be completed on the lists.  Please read them carefully and complete ALL tasks before school, after school, during your conference time, or during Team Time.  Please do not work on this while you should be teaching.  Learning should happen until the last day at Lee.  
• Furniture Inventory- remember extra furniture in your house may be from a neighboring house.  Before you take extras to the flex space, check with your neighbors.  It is wise to complete the furniture inventory on the LAST day of school.  Please stack like furniture together in your spaces.
• when you are ready to "check out" your space before Friday, please let Admin know.

EOY TECHNOLOGY RESPONSIBILITIES

Please review the email I forwarded you from Coppell ISD.  We just got this today.

• EOY Digital Checklist

SCHEDULES FOR LAST WEEK

Please review the RJL Master Schedule Document for schedules for the last week of school.  There is a Graduation tab and Last Day tab.  Breakfast will be in spaces on Wednesday so we can set up for graduation (THANK YOU FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY) and Lunches will be in spaces on Wednesday and Friday.  Please communicate any schedule adjustments to your parents so that they are not frustrated when they come to pick up their learner from the office. 

LEMONADE SALE

This will be LEEdership Council’s last fundraiser. Thank you for supporting them on Monday!

KEYCHAIN SALE BY SUNSHINE GARDENS

Some Yellow House learners started a club, Sunshine Gardens, to support our school and garden, and they plan to have a keychain sale on May 23rd, Tuesday, during lunch in the cafeteria. They will sell hand-made crystal clear flower keychains for $1 each. The profit will be used to make our front entrance beautiful.

GARDEN ICE CREAM SALE
We will also sell two kinds of ice cream, Garden Greens & Chocolate Chip and Carrot & Orange Juice with Grapes on Top, on May 23rd, Tuesday, during lunch in the cafeteria. The price is $1 each. We used our garden harvest to make them. The profit will go to our garden education.

RJL SENIOR RECEPTION

Please help us spread the word as we welcome back former Spurs to Lee Elementary.  We can't wait to see our learners from #rjlyear2.  Staff, you are welcome to attend, as well.  Anyone wanting to help decorate, let Admin know.

5TH GRADE GRADUATION

Fifth graders will be dressed in their best when they receive their graduation certificates on Wednesday.  We will need each house to have their large grey chairs ready to come down to the cafe on Wednesday.  We will bring them back upstairs Thursday morning.  

STAFF MEETING

Please join us in the media center flex space for Wednesday's staff meeting. We will start with Social Spurs showering some of our special people.  This is the final staff meeting for the year and we will recognize staff members for their years of service, so please plan to attend. 

CONGRATULATIONS

Congrats to these gals for their service to Coppell ISD.

FARMERS MARKET
We will sell our garden harvest, such as Garlic, Carrots, Kale, Onions, Potatoes, Kohlrabi, Herbs, etc., on May 25th, Thursday, during lunch at the cafeteria. The price is $1-5 depending on the vegetables and sizes. Ms. Dennis, Ms. Mohite, and Ms. Shaner's classes will help the market. The profit will go to our garden education.

YEARBOOKS FOR $30

Yearbooks are for sale at the front office.  Our Yearbook Signing will take place on the last day of school after our Spirit Rally.

 

LAST DAY SPIRIT RALLY

Parents are invited to attend our last day Spirit Rally.  They can sign up to attend, here. During this event we will recognize staff, PTO, and learners for Red and Black SuperStars and MORE.   We will also hear some songs from our incredible Choir.

LAST DAY SCHEDULE

Please plan to be here until at least 12:45 on Friday.  At 12:45, please get in your cars, drive BYE the cafeteria loop so that Leigh Ann, Angel and Chantel can send each of you off for summer break!

• 8:00 Spirit Rally
• 9:00 Yearbook Signing
• Pick Up Lunches (Please eat in your spaces)
• Blue 10:00
• Yellow 10:15
• Green 10:30
• Red 10:45
• Purple 11:00
• 12:00 K-4 Pack up and sit around the downstairs circle with backpacks
• 12:15 5th Grade Parade through one time
• 12:30 Dismissal (all hands on deck!)
• 12:45 Good bye Drive by

#RJLSUMMERSELFIE CHALLENGE

You will learn more about this year's challenge on the last day drive away at 12:45.  Stay tuned!

MEMORIAL DAY

The LEEdership Council will be collecting Memorial Day letters to take to the DFW National Cemetery on Monday 29th, 2023 at 8am. We are requesting learners to create cards that we can take with us. We would like to also request that each learner bring a clean rock, if at all possible. Each card will be placed in a ziplock bag with a rock so it doesn't fly away. The LEEdership Council members will place them at the markers on Monday, May 29th. I plan to be there, let me know if you are interested in joining us. Here are some ideas for what to write. Please check that the learners have used appropriate and respectful language. I would be more than happy to work with your learners. Use my spreadsheet to sign up.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Parents can pre order next year's school supplies NOW.  They will be delivered straight to your home.  Click here to order and use School code: LEE008 (three letters and 3 numbers).   Looking to save shipping fees?  Order with your neighbors and share the cost.

UIL OPPORTUNITY FOR RJL PARENTS

COACHES CORNER

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILEE

My name is Cathy Bennett, and I am so excited to be joining the 4th grade team at Lee next year! I am currently wrapping up my 15th year of teaching. I have taught 4th grade for 10 years and art/music the last five. I have taught in Lewisville ISD, where I grew up, and Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD. I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and received my master’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. I am so excited to move to Coppell and join your awesome staff!

In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, singing anything and everything, and being with my friends and family. I have one dog, Pixie, who is a crazy Border Collie mix. She and I are excited about our new life here!

Hi! My name is Zara Zimmerschied and I am so excited for the upcoming school year! I graduated from TCU this year with my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. I student taught in 2nd & 3rd grade in Aledo ISD and am so grateful to be joining the 2nd grade team at Lee Elementary! I grew up in New Braunfels, TX but decided to stay in the DFW area after graduating. During my free time, you can find me doing anything creative, enjoying the outdoors, and spending quality time with my family! I look forward to meeting you all!

Hello! My name is Morgan Booth, I am originally from Amarillo, Texas. I graduated from West Texas A&M University before moving to Austin, Texas in 2020. I have taught 3rd grade Math/Science, 3rd grade ELA/Social Studies, and second grade. I have a cockapoo named Reece, who I think is the cutest pup ever! On the weekends I love to be outside whether that is taking Reece on a walk or playing sand volleyball with friends! I will be moving to Dallas at the beginning of August with my boyfriend and pup, and I am so excited to be teaching second grade at Lee this next school year! 

My name is Kara Scifres and I am just finishing my 13^th year in education. I am originally from Oklahoma and moved to Texas in 2019.  I'm a graduate of Oklahoma State University,  and my brother and his family, as well as my mom, now live near that campus in Stillwater. After a 9-year teaching career in Oklahoma, I taught in Plano ISD for 3 years and I am coming to you from Pinkerton in Coppell, where I was the past year.  I absolutely love this district and community!  I have spent the majority of my teaching career in third and fourth grade as a classroom teacher,  but I am so excited to be able to serve the students and families at Lee in this LAS role, as well as collaborate with some amazing educators.  

For fun, I love to explore museums and have found ways to enjoy working out and exercise.  I love to go for an evening walk or run around Lake Carolyn. Starting a book club this past January was finally how I have forced myself to start and finish a book in a month amid my busy schedules! I do enjoy reading AND socializing!  Last, if there's gelato involved- the answer is yes!

I look forward to meeting you all! 

DATES TO REMEMBER:

May 21- Shentia's Birthday

May 22- Blue House Learner Led Conferences (2:15)

    Purple House Learner Led Conferences (2:00)

     Laura Recognized at Board Meeting (6:00)

May 23- Grades Due (8:00 AM)

     5th Grade Graduation Dress Rehearsal (2:00)

     NO TEAM TIME

     RJL Senior Reception (4:30 Media Center)

May 24- 5th Grade Graduation (1:00 Cafe)

     Staff Meeting (3:15 Cafe)

May 25- MAP reports due to parents

May 26- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

     Spirit Rally (8:00 Gym)

     Yearbook Signing (9:00)

     Early Release ()12:30

     Summer "Break" begins (Back loop @ 12:45) 

May 27- Preeti's Birthday

     Jessica L's Birthday

Week of May 15, 2023

I hope you felt the LOVE from our PTO and families this week.   Happy Mother's Day to all of you.  Whether you have children of your own, or not, you mother the children in our school.  (Brian, Curtis, and Ed- I got you next month!!)  Thank you for all you do for our children and the love you provide them each and every day they are at school.  Please take care of yourself.  This time of the year is stressful with deadlines and tasks.  YOU GOT THIS!  Please ask for help if you need it. 

DID YOU KNOW:

• that only positive comments are expected on report cards?  Please ensure this happens for the last nine weeks.  
• we will do our best to check you out the last week of school (not the last half day of school?)  We will set a time up the last week to go through Inventory Lists and End of Year Checklists.  Our hope is you can leave after all learners are safely dismissed.  UNLESS.....you want to come during your summer :)  We are here!  

TO DO

• 3-5 Learner Panorama Surveys
• EOY Checklist- we are trusting you to execute what is expected to be completed on the lists.  Please read them carefully and complete ALL tasks before school, after school, during your conference time, or during Team Time.  Please do not work on this while you should be teaching.  Learning should happen until the last day at Lee.
• Furniture Inventory- remember extra furniture in your house may have taken a field trip to a neighboring house.  Before you take extras to the flex space, check with your neighbors.  It is wise to complete the furniture inventory on the LAST day of school.  Please stack like furniture together in your spaces.

 

EOY ASSESSMENTS

Please ensure that all End of the Year Assessments are completed by Friday, May 19^th. EOY assessments include both MAP (K-5) and mClass (K-2). Please let Samira know if you need support with small group testing. She would be more than happy to test learners for you.

RJL BOOK SALE

The Sustainability Club has their book sale next week, before school. Please share with your famiLEEs.

 

LEMONADE SALE

This will be LEEdership Council’s last fundraiser. Thank you for supporting us!

MEMORIAL DAY

The LEEdership Council will be collecting Memorial Day letters to take to the DFW National Cemetery on Monday 29th, 2023 at 8am. We are requesting learners to create cards that we can take with us. We would like to also request that each learner bring a clean rock, if at all possible. Each card will be placed in a ziplock bag with a rock so it doesn't fly away. The LEEdership Council members will place them at the markers on Monday, May 29th. I plan to be there, let me know if you are interested in joining us. Here are some ideas for what to write. Please check that the learners have used appropriate and respectful language. I would be more than happy to work with your learners. Use my spreadsheet to sign up.

YEARBOOKS FOR $30

 Yearbooks are for sale at the front office.  Our Yearbook Signing will take place on the last day of school after our Spirit Rally.

 

SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2023-2024

Parents can pre order next year's school supplies NOW.  They will be delivered straight to your home.  Click here to order and use School code: LEE008 (three letters and 3 numbers).   Looking to save shipping fees?  Order with your neighbors and share the cost.

REMINDER FROM THE LIBRARY

5TH GRADE GRADUATION

RJL SENIOR RECEPTION

Please help us spread the word as we welcome back former Spurs to Lee Elementary.  We can't wait to see our learners from #rjlyear2.  Staff, you are welcome to attend, as well.

LAST DAY SPIRIT RALLY

Parents are invited to attend our last day Spirit Rally.  They can sign up to attend, here. During this event we will recognize staff, PTO, and learners for Red and Black SuperStars and MORE. 

DLC UPDATE

End the Year Strong with Canva Templates!

Check out this list of pre-made Canva templates for EOY! Whether you are looking to capture class memories, provide opportunities to celebrate growth with your learners or just want to focus creative reflection before school is out, there is something for you!

But Wait…There’s MORE! The Ultimate Canva Template Teacher Cheat Sheet! 

Click here to access this Canva page with direct links to thousands of premade templates. Bookmark this page and enjoy exploring all that Canva has to offer for educators.

COACHES CORNER

Let’s collaborate! Sign up so we can work together.

ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK

Discussing plans for summer break is an easy, authentic way for EBs to practice their speaking. Provide sentence stems, and allow time for them to write what they want to say before they start. If there are some who don't know what their plans are yet, provide visuals of different summer activities for them to choose from. Have learners rotate who they’re speaking with to get multiple opportunities to practice.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

May 14-  Emily's Birthday

     Mother's Day

May 15- "at risk" Dyslexia Google Sheet Due for CISD

May 16- Green House CBL Showcase (2:00)

     Red House Learner Led Conferences (2:00)

May 17- Yellow House Learner Led Conferences (8:30)

     Green House CBL Showcase (2:00)

May 18- Speech Pathologist's Day

     2nd Grade Shark Tank (2:15)

     Choir Spring Performance (6:30)

May 19-  NRH20 Choir Trip

     Kindergarten Zoo Exhibit (2:00)