Week of Sept 4, 2023

Thank you for your efforts to write meaningful and measurable goals for this school year.  I have enjoyed this first round of Team Time and the chance to engage with many of you as you were working during staff meeting.  I looked around at our group and feel such love because I was reminded what an incredible staff we have.  In the next 24 hours, please give yourself 60 seconds to stop what you are doing, pause, and celebrate what you have accomplished so far this school year.  YOU ARE AMAZING AND LOVED SO VERY MUCH! We could not be more pleased with the first two and a half weeks of school and what you are part of creating at Lee!!!  Have an incredible L-O-N-G weekend!

DID YOU KNOW: 

• that Keiko is officially a temporary employee of Lee Elementary, again?  We are so excited that she can be PAID for all of the work she does with your classrooms and in our outdoor learning garden.  YAY!  Thank you to those of you that have signed up to work with her in the garden and outdoor spaces.  Her school email is knishino@coppellisd.com.
• Ms. Parker is all things budget and your sub requests?  Please see her for questions in those areas.  Our front office team is doing a great job learning all of the behind the scene operations, so thank you for your patience and understanding with them.
• new guidelines for "once in a lifetime" requests were sent out? If you have any questions, come see Chantel.
• that starting Wednesday, Sept 4, a second line will be open on pizza lunch days?  CHEERS!
• we WILL be getting a new playground this year?  Stay tuned as more info will be shared as it is available.

COLLEGE SHIRT DAY

The first Wednesday of every month we celebrate higher education.  We encourage our learners and staff to wear college shirts on these days. 

CURRICULUM NIGHT

Thank you for welcoming our FamiLEEs to your spaces and to Specials and Support Staff for directing parents where to go.  This is your second impression with your FamiLEEs, so make sure your space is tidy, learner work is displayed and there is evidence of the great teaching that has occurred these first few weeks.  Grade leaders, please share your FAQ documents with me.  I will look over for approval and make sure there is a quick turnaround.   Don't forget to share your presentation (including speaker notes for those who don't attend) in the next week's newsletter.  We will open front doors at 5:15 on Thursday evening. You can dress casual for the school day, but please wear professional dress for Curriculum Night. Please send this to your parents:  We will open front and back doors at 5:15 so you are in  your seats ready for presentations promptly at 5:30.  This is not a come and go event,  you will want to be on time and attend the entire session to learn more about the upcoming year and campus/classroom procedures. This also gives you the opportunity to meet other parents.  See you there!

PLEASE ADD TO YOUR CURRICULUM NIGHT SLIDES

PTO asked if you would please share this info in  your Curriculum Night Slides.  Could you please add to your deck.  THANKS!  I just got this request.

BUDGET

We are excited that we now have our 2023-2024 budget dollars to order what you need to work with your learners.  Part of my role is to make sure you have the supplies you need to do your job.  Please try to plan ahead so that you do not have to spend personal funds on supplies.  Also, be thinking about items we need to add to house storage closets (like manipulatives, science tools, etc.) and write up a PO and put it in my box.  Remember that it will take a couple of weeks to process, get quotes, and ship.  Please do not turn in a PO unless you have verified that your order is from an approved vendor.  In addition, if you are ordering from Amazon, a copy of the cart should be attached to the PO.  WALMART is NOT an approved vendor.  For those of you that already put POs in my box for this year, they will be processed this week.  

RESPECT AGREEMENTS
Please email a photo of your respect agreement to Kat and Angel so that they can put it in the office Discipline Binder.  We will refer to your respect agreements when learners have behavior reflections.  Remember that there should only be 3-4 bulleted expectations in each quadrant.  

PTO CORNER

We still have a few final slots open for Room Parent in some classes; please consider signing up or encouraging your network to do so if they are in these classes! This role can be tailored to what works for you and your class. The classes that still need at least one parent to volunteer are:

• Blue: 2, 4A, & 4B
• Green: 1 & 4
• Purple: 2 & 4B
• Red: K, 4, & 5

Find out more, and sign up here!   bit.ly/RJLRoomParent

The Scholastic Book fair is coming to Lee Library soon, and the volunteer sign up is live.  Act fast to get a slot that works best for you!  This is one of the first onsite volunteer opportunities of the year and a great way to get involved and foster young readers!  bit.ly/RJLBookFair

Additionally, Mrs. Stout can always use volunteers to help during the year with reshelving books, covering books, etc.  You can sign up at the following link.  Pro tip; bookmark this page as new slots are added throughout the year!  bit.ly/RJLLibrary  Reminder, if you plan to volunteer for these or any other future events, complete your yearly required CISD Background Check asap here. 

HOUSE FUND DONATIONS OPEN NOW

FamiLEEs, we are in need of your help to replenish our annual house fund donations. These funds, often referred to as classroom funds, are how we support our house parties, teacher appreciation week, and designer and staff birthday and holiday gifts throughout the year. Currently we are at 16% of our goal. Donations run through September 5th. We are excited to be able to celebrate our FamiLEE in these ways throughout the year and your support allows us to do that. We appreciate your generosity so much! Please consider donating today.

bit.ly/RJLHouseFund

COACH'S CORNER

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

ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK

Please share these flyers with your parents.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

• GOAL SETTING WINDOW OPEN
• BOY MAP & MCLASS WINDOW OPEN
• NATIONAL SUBSTITUTE APPRECIATION WEEK
• SOCIAL SPURS DUES SUBMITTED

Sept 4- NO SCHOOL

Sept 5- Goal Setting Meetings

Sept 6- College Shirt Day

     Goal Setting Meetings

     Onboarding Meeting (3:15 Yellow House)

Sept 7- Goal Setting Meetings

     Curriculum Night (5:30-6:30)

Sept 8- Spirit Shirt Day

Week of August 28, 2023

WOW!  You made it through the second week of school and I could not be more pleased with the stellar job you have all done.  We are so super proud of you for your creativity, collaboration and heart.  You have done an incredible job of supporting your learners, their parents, and each other.  Thank you for your weekly communication.  I am so impressed with the way some of you are using Bulb, S'more, Twitter, and Parent Square to keep our FamiLEEs engaged. YOU make our school look SO GOOD in the community, and I thank you so much for that.  We have loved having class visits through the office and it is an awesome way to see each class and your individual needs.  We are here for YOU!  Have a fabulous Friday and weekend.  Please REST.  You deserve it!

DID YOU KNOW:

• Social Spurs is collecting beginning of the year funds?  Linda sent an email last week. Please send any questions you have her way. 
• parents are calling and leaving messages without their student name or ID number?  Their phone number does not always show up in caller ID, as well.  Please remind parents in your weekly newsletter that when they call or email the campus that we need their learner name and their phone number.  Their learner ID would be even better!  This will help us be able to contact them back.  Thank you!
• campus number days can be found on the Lee Faculty Calendar and on the CISD Lee Website ? Thursday is Day 1 and first grade's Team Time day.

ATTENDANCE

Gabby will be covering attendance in the front office.  Please forward Gabby, Kat, and Angel any emails from parents regarding absences that will be longer than 3 days.  Parents who opt for an emailed excuse in place of a written one (within 3 days) can email them to gmartins@coppellisd.com.  Please make sure you share this information at Curriculum Night and in your newsletters.

BOY GOAL SETTING MEETINGS

Please sign up here for your BOY meeting- they start IN TWO WEEKS.  We will work on your grade level personal goals during your first Team Time.   We are excited to support you and your growth.  If Kat is your evaluator, PLEASE try to sign up on a day she is here and please leave 8:00 and 8:20 blocks for Specials teachers. Bring your laptop to the large conference room for your meeting, and please make sure you add your goals to your Bulb and Power School before we meet.  ALL campus employees must sign up for a meeting.  PLEASE KNOW THERE WILL BE TIME AT WEDNESDAY'S STAFF MEETING TO FINALIZE GOALS WITH YOUR GRADES/DEPARTMENTS.

PARENT CONTACT
Did you get a chance to reach out and make your happy calls?  If you didn't, remember it is an expectation to pick up the phone and call EVERY family.  Special Education, LAS, and Specials Team, please make some calls, too.  Thank you for depositing in their emotional bank accounts!  You may be surprised how much sunshine it brings YOU when you make these calls.  Remember to document positive calls in Panorama.  If it isn't documented, it didn't happen. 

CURRICULUM NIGHT- SAVE THE DATE

Thank you for working as a grade on your Curriculum Night presentations.  Please make sure you share your presentation with Admin and have the FAQ questions and answers approved by Chantel BEFORE sending home to parents after the event.  It is SUPER IMPORTANT these answers are consistent.  

ROOM PARENTS NEEDED

Please consider signing up to be the Room Parent for our class!  This role can be tailored to what works for you and our class; I’m hoping to have at least one parent or more to partner with throughout the year.  Find out more, and sign up here!   bit.ly/RJLRoomParent

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR COMING SOON

The Scholastic Book fair is coming to Lee Library soon, and the volunteer sign up is live.  Act fast to get a slot that works best for you!  This is one of the first onsite volunteer opportunities of the year and a great way to get involved and foster young readers!  bit.ly/RJLBookFair

Additionally, Mrs. Stout can always use volunteers to help during the year with reshelving books, covering books, etc.  You can sign up at the following link.  Pro tip; bookmark this page as new slots are added throughout the year!  bit.ly/RJLLibrary

Reminder, if you plan to volunteer for these or any other future events, complete your yearly required CISD Background Check asap here. 

HOUSE FUND DONATIONS NOW OPEN

Our annual house fund donations are open now through September 5th. See below for details on what house funds help support throughout the year, as well as how to contribute. Your support is greatly appreciated!

bit.ly/RJLHouseFund

SPIRIT WEAR

New designs for 2023-2024 spirit wear are being rolled out now .House color shirts are available to order now and school color shirts are coming soon on our website. Click here to preview the designs and submit your orders! https://tshirtsfromtexas.com/leespiritwear/

CISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION 

The 2023 Coppell ISD Education Foundation grant application process is now open and will close on Sept. 17 at midnight. Educators can fill out the Grant Login Request Form to receive their login credentials. *Please note those who submitted an application last year, will still need to fill out this form to have their account activated. For more information and directions on how to apply, click here to watch a short video on how to submit a grant request.
 
The detailed process and timeline for the CEF Grant Program can also be found on the Grant Submission Guideline Document on our website under the Give for Grants page. 

 

Superintendent Dr. Brad Hunt has designated EVERY Tuesday as jeans day for CISD educators and staff wearing their 2023-2024 Coppell ISD Education Foundation t-shirt.  To purchase your shirt, click the link below or visit the CEF website at www.coppellisdef.org and click shop.

 

Click here to purchase

COACH'S CORNER

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

DATES TO REMEMBER:

BOY GOAL SETTING WINDOW

MOY MAP/MCLASS WINDOW

August 27- Sam's Birthday

August 28- LEEders and Samira recognized at CISD Board Meeting (6:00)

August 30- Staff Meeting (3:15-4:45 Cafe)

Sept 1- Digital Citizenship Lessons Completed

     Happy Calls Due

Sept 2- Charlene's Birthday

Week of August 21, 2023

WOW!  You did it!  You made it through the first week of school.  We have enjoyed getting to drive through your classes.  Office visits start tomorrow for some of us and we can't wait to spend more time with your classes.  Time in the cafe this week has helped me get to know some of our new friends and I want to compliment the practices you all are putting in place.  WELL DONE!  We have such INCREDIBLE learners and designers!! Thank you for the grace with our front office as they continue enrollment and all the beginning of the year craziness that comes with it.  They are doing SO GOOD and with HUGE SMILES.  Start your weekend adventure as soon as you can on Friday, after dismissal.  You've earned it!  ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!

DID YOU KNOW:

• IF a learner must be checked out from school, it should occur before 2:45?  After 2:45, we will request parents wait in the car loop to ensure learners get dismissed safely.  Learners should only leave early if there is a doctor's appointment.  (PLEASE ADD TO YOUR NEWSLETTERS) 
• we do not accept drop offs at school?  Please let parents know that they should not bring leaner's iPad, lunch, jacket, water bottle, or school project to school after they have dropped their child off at school. This is a disruption to the school day and the efficiency of our office staff. We also only want people at our door who have an appointment or a need to be on campus. Safety is a PRIORITY here!
• weekly communication should be sent to your parents through Parent Square every Friday?  Parent Square translates what you send home.  Include pictures of the learning/learners each week so parents see what learning looks like at Lee.  A future Flex Learning opportunity will be coming your way related to Parent Square.  Stay tuned!  Need a S'more license?  See Chantel.
• Social Spurs will start collecting money after pay day?  $30 for professional staff and $20 for paraprofessionals.  Donations can be venmoed to @Linda-Hoffmann-9.

ATTENDANCE

Please make sure you are turning in your attendance by 10:00 AM.  Thank you to those who are getting attendance in and have alarms set so you don't forget. 

ID BADGES
You are required, by the district, to wear your ID Badge at school. If you see visitors or adults in our building without a badge, you must ask to see their badge.  If they do not have one, then please escort them to the office.  

DIGITAL LITERACY
As part of a district initiative regarding digital citizenship and safety, all learners in grades PreK-12 are expected to take part in an overview of digital citizenship.

Here you will find the resources for the Elementary (PK-5) Learner Digital Orientation, located in the District Support and Alignment folder of the Curriculum and Instruction group. Included in the lesson resources is a page that will get educators started and explain the workflow of the folder. Educators can copy these resources into their Schoology courses as needed.

 

All learners need to participate in this learning experience by September 8th, 2023.

PHONE CALL HOME

Please, by Sept 1, pick up the phone and call EVERY family. Tell them/leave a message sharing something special about their child.  It will pay huge dividends to take the time to do this!  Parents are used to only getting phone calls when there is something wrong.  Let's change their perception!  It is also a TTESS Domain 4 descriptor.  Specials Designers and and Specialists, please pick 25 learners to call.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
We will practice emergency drills soon.  Be READY!  If you do not know where to go ASK a housemate, or Admin, so we can give you directions.  All spaces should have a map posted at your door and a Standard Response Protocol poster posted near the door.  Please make sure you have downloaded the Raptor app to your iPad or mobile device. 

FROM YOUR DLC

Welcome back! As you begin using your iPads with your learners, check out this menu for some helpful resources to get your class back in action! It includes links for:

• iPad Refresh tips

• Resetting learner passwords 

• Early Childhood Technology Support Resources

• Schoology gradebook and course settings

• Enabling Primary View for Schoology

Should you and/or your team wish to book some time with me to plan or unpack the resources, send me Teams message or email with a few days and times you are available!

BACK TO SCHOOL PTO CHECKLIST (PLEASE SHARE WITH PARENTS)

Now that you are getting back in the swing of things and made it through a fantastic first week of school be sure to check out our Back to School PTO Checklist. Stay connected and in the know all year long!  bit.ly/PTOBTS

HOUSE FUND DONATIONS NOW OPEN (PLEASE SHARE WITH PARENTS)

Our annual house fund donations are open now through September 5th. See below for details on what house funds help support throughout the year, as well as how to contribute. Your support is greatly appreciated!  bit.ly/RJLHouseFund

CISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION 

The 2023 Coppell ISD Education Foundation grant application process is now open and will close on Sept. 17 at midnight. Educators can fill out the Grant Login Request Form to receive their login credentials. *Please note those who submitted an application last year, will still need to fill out this form to have their account activated. For more information and directions on how to apply, click here to watch a short video on how to submit a grant request.
 
The detailed process and timeline for the CEF Grant Program can also be found on the Grant Submission Guideline Document on our website under the Give for Grants page. 

 

Superintendent Dr. Brad Hunt has designated EVERY Tuesday as jeans day for CISD educators and staff wearing their 2023-2024 Coppell ISD Education Foundation t-shirt.  To purchase your shirt, click the link below or visit the CEF website at www.coppellisdef.org and click shop.

 

Click here to purchase

COACH'S CORNER

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

ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK

Many of our emergent bilingual students come with unique and sometimes difficult to pronounce names.  Here are some great books to celebrate names and identities as we start learning our learners’ names (and learning to say them correctly- check out this helpful tip resource linked to My Name, My Identity.)    

We have the books checked out and would love to share them with you in these next couple of weeks. Send us an email and we can leave it in your mailbox, or we can schedule a time to drop in for a read aloud with your class, as we continue getting to know our Lee designers and learners.

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Respect- showing consideration for others

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

We will often have visitors in our school. When a visitor arrives, look them in the eyes, shake hands, tell them who you are, and welcome the person to our school.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“Consideration for others is the basis of a good life, a good society” -Confucius

DATES TO REMEMBER:

BOY GOAL SETTING WINDOW

MOY MAP/MCLASS WINDOW

August 21-  Amber's Birthday

August 22- CHS Lariettes greet learners

August 24- DAY 1 TEAM TIME STARTS in large conference room