Elementary Done Different "LEE": 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