Thursday, October 26, 2023

Week of October 30, 2023

Thank you for those of you that participated in our third annual Trunk or Treat!  I know there are going to be lots of memories from this fun event. I also appreciate all of your participation during Red Ribbon Week. You always make this such an amazing week. The pictures on Twitter are WONDERFUL! Have a fabulous fall weekend and enjoy all the things that you LOVE!


DID YOU KNOW: 
  • your Vivatek boards do not turn off on their own and the still image will burn on the screen if left on repeatedly? Please remember to power these off before leaving each day. 
  • the district will be sending out links to complete the fall Panorama Survey?  Info to come from CISD soon.
  • our leaders accepted a trophy for Samira and our LEEdership Council for their service to the community?  Thank you, Samira, for guiding this group of role models.  Our new fifth grade leaders are pictured below and represented us well at their training at Wilson Elementary.


BOOK CHARACTER PARADE
We will start the parade at 8:00AM on Tuesday.  Please exit out the PE doors closest to the 3-5 playground and come in through the cafeteria doors.  We will walk one lap of the track.  Parents, and learners who do not want to participate, are welcome to cheer on the parade inside the track.  Since guests are not coming in the building, they do not need to sign in.



STRESS AWARENESS DAY
Join your counselors on Wednesday.  Dress comfortably.



COLLEGE SHIRT DAY
Can't wait to see everyone sporting their college gear on Wednesday!



SCHOOL PICTURES
Please remind families that Friday is picture day.  

We will start school pictures immediately following morning broadcast on Friday at 8:00 AM.  We will follow the Specials schedule so we will start with Kinder Purple, followed by 1st Purple, 2nd Purple, etc. Once Purple House is done we will go to Yellow-> Red -> Green -> Blue.  Pictures will take place on the stage and teachers can take their pictures with their classes or before school.  Specials and support staff, please get your pictures made between 7:40 AM and 8:00 AM.  Specials Designers, we "might" need you to wait with your classes in the cafe if they are not done by their Specials time.  Please help us by getting kids to the cafeteria, promptly when the volunteer gets you.  Also, please help by passing out the learner ID cards before they get to the photographer.  Thank you for your flexibility on this day and for excusing the interruption to your teaching and lunch routines.  



LAST CHANCE FOR WRITE A CHECK
Today is your LAST opportunity to donate to PTO’s annual fundraising campaign Write-A-Check. This is the main source of funding for our FamiLEE PTO, and is in lieu of sending learners door to door selling fundraising items each year. The recommended donation is $100 per student, however every dollar counts, so please donate how you feel comfortable. Donate TODAY! bit.ly/RJLWAC
Check out this awesome video on how we put your donations to use for our entire FamiLEE!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_hUuXuxUsG8hrR2EQB2nVOkVOOa9jGWl/view?usp=sharing



TEACHER OF THE YEAR

We have SO MUCH TALENT on campus.  Please take time to nominate someone in our building for this incredible honor.  If you need admin to cover your class so you can observe your nominee, to help you better answer the questions, please arrange that with us.  We are happy to help.  Nominations are due by, Friday,  November 3rd.  Here is the TOY Website and Nomination Criteria and Form


CIP
The 2023-2024 Campus Improvement Plan can be found here. Each quarter this document should be reviewed and updated.  Leadership, please download the PDF into Noteability, review it, and annotate it with your house in a Thursday Meeting.  Please forward your annotated copy to Angel and Kat by November 10.


RED AND BLACK SUPERSTARS
The Coppell ISD Education Foundation would like to recognize CISD educators and staff for doing great things! CISD is full of dedicated and hardworking teachers, administrators, and support staff who often go above and beyond. We would like to give you the opportunity to shine a spotlight on these CISD employees by nominating them to be a Super Star. Any parent, middle school student or CISD employee can nominate a CISD employee at their elementary or middle school. Deadline to nominate a staff member is Nov. 19. To nominate a CISD employee visit: www.coppellisdef.org/superstar.

SuperStar Image

WALKTHROUGHS IN NOVEMBER

For this month, we will be giving you feedback on Domain 3.2: Managing Student Behavior.  We will be looking for:

  • Learners know, understand and respect class Respect Agreement.  It was made by the class and is visible.

  • Classroom behavior system is evident.

  • Learners meet expected classroom behavior standards.

  • Encouragement of redirection is subtle.

  • Specific praise is provided related to learning/compliance.

  • Misbehavior is handled swiftly.

COACH'S CORNER

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LESSON IN LEEDERSHIP



DATES TO REMEMBER:
  • NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
  • PANORAMA SURVEY WINDOW OPEN THROUGH NOV 17
Oct 30- Jessica F’s Birthday
Oct 31- Book Character Parade
Nov 1- College Shirt Day
     National Stress Awareness Day (visit the Counselors for their special treat for you)
     Literacy Content Academy
     Onboarding Meeting (3:15 Yellow House)
Nov 2- Blue House Music Performance (2:00 and 6:30 Gym)
     3rd Design Day (PM)
Nov 3- TOY Nominations Due
     School Picture Day
Nov 4- Julie's Birthday

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Week of October 23, 2023

What a week, friends!  THANK YOU Social Spurs for the chips and dips this week.  Also, congratulations to our three Super Teachers: Reagan, Curtis, and Ruby.  Do you know what is a month away?  DECEMBER TO REMEMBER!!!  We are excited thinking about how to celebrate each of you.  Get ready!



DID YOU KNOW?
  • that we will have a 3 day sub starting on Monday?  Former parent and district substitute, Bhavna Singh-Rai will be here on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.  Please welcome her when you see her moving around the building.  Here is her draft schedule she will follow until we have clearer communication about campus wants/needs.  Our beginning focus is on our upper grades that have additional HB requirements on their plates.  There was a small block at the end of the day that she will cycle through and help a new Kinder class each day.  We will massage this schedule, so thank you first and second grade for patience as we onboard her.  Grades 3-5 we will share your thoughts/concerns in next Team Time so add to your agendas.  She should work with a small groups of learners when in your space.  That said...if a sub does not show up on her days, here...she will be pulled to sub.
  • that we have a continued partnership with St. Augustine University and their occupational therapy department?  They have OT students who are designing costumes for some of our learners in wheelchairs. These visitors are approved by the district. 
  • that some staff members and learners have sensitivities to plug in air fresheners and essential oil diffusers?  Please be mindful of this.
  • the window is open to nominate this year's Teacher of the Year?  Here is the TOY Website and Nomination Criteria and FormNominations are due November 3.  Please turn them in to CK.
  • restorative conversations are excellent ways for all of us to demonstrate empathy, teach children how to resolve conflict, and allow learners to have a voice? It’s an opportunity for both sides to express their feelings about what’s going on in the school or classroom while setting high expectations.  Restorative conversations allow us to humanize ourselves with our learners and colleagues. Sometimes, challenging conversations are ignored because they're .... challenging. Hopefully this will help you start those difficult conversations when they come up.  (Thanks, Kat for your contribution.)


JAMES WAND PROGRAM
Friday morning, we have our PTO sponsored program for Lee Learners.  Please come down promptly once you are invited over the intercom.


RED RIBBON WEEK
Red Ribbon week is HERE!  Please join in on the fun and share pictures of learner participation.  Thank you to our school counselors for planning out this week.




WRITE A CHECK
PTOs annual fundraising campaign, Write-A-Check is now underway.  This is the main source of funding for our FamiLEE PTO, and our goal this year is $30,000.  100% of the funds raised go back into our school through enrichment programs like Red Ribbon Week, Author visits, bus transportation for field trips, and so much more! Every dollar counts, please consider donating TODAY! bit.ly/RJLWAC




LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL

Fifth grade LEEders will be off campus on Thursday (with Chantel) at Wilson Elementary.  Please do not require them to make up the work they missed when they are gone.  They will be trained by TEPSA Student Leadership and will receive an award for last year's recognition by the state organization.  KUDOS to Samira and her learners.  



TRUNK OR TREAT IS HERE

Our annual FamiLEE Trunk or Treat event is coming up on Thursday, October 26, starting at 5:30PM in the front RJL parking lot.  Please mark your calendars and join us in the festivities.  This is a family event, so please attend with your child.  Thank you to our parents who have donated candy and supplies for this event.



PTO SPIRIT NIGHT ON THURSDAY
Our first Spirit Night is coming up on Thursday, October 26 from 5-8PM.  Grab a pizza on your way home from Trunk or Treat for an easy dinner that helps support your PTO!  Use code 1399 A when ordering online for pickup OR show this flyer in store to have 20% of your purchase go towards RJL PTO.  



PICTURE DAY ONE WEEK AWAY


GEM NOMINATIONS

GEM - Great Employees Matter, Coppell, ISD 

The internal employee recognition program, GEM (Great Employees Matter), seeks to recognize outstanding employees who serve the mission and core values of the Coppell Independent School District in a manner that exceeds job and salary expectations.  Nominate a GEM in your school by Friday, Oct. 27.



BOOK CHARACTER PARADE NEXT WEEK
Want a reason to wear a costume to school? Pick a costume and find a book to go along with it.  Our entire school will parade at 8:00 on Monday, October 31.  Parents are invited and welcome to surround the track.  There is no need to sign in since they will be outside the school.


COACHES CORNER

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ESL UPDATES



LESSON IN LEADERSHIP



NATIONAL DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH
Apple has several helpful assistive technology tools for your learners with dyslexia to use on their iPad. 
Click here for Apple's guide to Accessibility.  Below is a list of options in accessibility that could be helpful:

  • Speech- speak selections and Speak Screens
  • Highlight content
  • Dictation (Click microphone and enable)
  • Reader view on Safari
  • Color Filter / Invert colors
  • Predictive Text Keyboard

If you need help updating or navigating a learner’s accessibility features, please let us know! 

*Don’t forget learners with dyslexia have access to Learning Ally. This is a great way to build vocabulary and spark an interest in reading!



DATES TO REMEMBER:
  • RJL WRITE A CHECK CAMPAIGN (REMAINDER OF THE MONTH)
  • NATIONAL DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH
  • STOMP OUT BULLYING MONTH
  • BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
  • NATIONAL PRINCIPAL MONTH
  • HINDU HERITAGE MONTH
  • RED RIBBON WEEK

Oct 20- James Wand in Cafe (K-2 8:00)  (3-5 9:00)
     Poonam's Birthday
Oct 23- Zara's Birthday
Oct 24- Reading Academy
     CPR Training (3:15-4:15 Art Room) Please notify Annah if you want to attend.
Oct 25- Reading Academy
     Staff Meeting 
Oct 26- Math Olympiad Testing
     5th Grade LEEders go to training at Wilson with CK
     Trunk or Treat (5:30-7:00)
     PTO Spirit Night at Blaze (5:00-8:00)
Oct 27- GEMS due

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Week of October 16, 2023

Boy this shortened week has sped by!  Great job with your report cards and personalized comments.  Customizing this feedback takes extra effort and is why you are the incredible group you are! Please disconnect from school and enjoy rest and relaxation this weekend.  LOVE YOU ALL!



DID YOU KNOW:
  • if you are taking advantage of Once In A Lifetime requests they should go to Kristine Long?  Her email is klong@coppellisd.com 
  • there is a process for backing up your laptop?  As we prepare to receive new MacBooks, please make sure you have completed the important steps below.  
Don't want to do this on your own?  Join Julie.  THANKS, Julie!



WRITE A CHECK
PTO’s annual fundraising campaign Write-A-Check is now underway. This is the main source of funding for our FamiLEE PTO, and our goal this year is $30,000. 100% of the funds raised go back into our school through enrichment programs like Red Ribbon Week, Author visits, bus transportation for field trips, and so much more! Please consider donating through this link TODAY




DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP WEEK
Did you know that next week is Digital Citizenship week?  Check out these ready to use activities created by Common Sense Media and your DLCs!

Interested in promoting ongoing digital citizenship throughout the year? Reach out to your DLC on how we can support you and your learners!

Additionally, we want to hear from you! Please fill out this quick survey on how we can better support you on the topic of digital citizenship. 🖱️ Click here for survey


SOCIAL SPURS EVENT WEDNESDAY




DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH

October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month. CISD will raise awareness on each campus with a variety of events and activities. On Oct. 18, all CISD students and staff are encouraged to "Light It RED for Dyslexia" by wearing red to school. Learn more about CISD Intervention Services/Dyslexia hereAdditional resources include the Texas Dyslexia Handbook and the International Dyslexia Association Handbook.


JAMES WAND PROGRAM
To kick off next week's Red Ribbon Week, we will be hosting James Wand in the cafeteria on Friday, October 20. K-2 begins at 8:00 and 3-5 begins at 9:00.



WALKTHROUGHS IN OCTOBER

Don't forget to read feedback and sign off on your first walkthrough.  For this month, we will be giving you feedback on Domain 2.4: Differentiation. We will be looking for:

  • Individualized Lessons

  • Monitoring participation and performance

  • Recognizing confusion and disengagement

  • Addressing the SEL needs of learners

  • Varied instructional strategies used to meet the needs of ALL learners (SpEd, EB, GT, etc)

  • Flexible Grouping

  • Product, process, content, environment

If you want any support to achieve these bullets, set up a time with Samira, Julie, Ayesha, Kara, Yanet, or your Admin Team.

RED RIBBON WEEK APPROACHING IN ONE WEEK
We will participate in these Spirit Days the last week in October.  Get your outfits ready! 



TRUNK OR TREAT COMING SOON
Our annual FamiLEE Trunk for Treat event is coming up on Thursday, October 26, starting at 5:30 PM in the front RJL Parking lot.   Please mark your calendars and join us in the festivities. 



SAVE THE DATE FOR PTO SPIRIT NIGHT
Our first Spirit Night is coming up Thursday October 26th from 5-8pm. Grab a pizza on your way home from Trunk or Treat for an easy dinner that helps support your PTO!Use code 1399A when ordering online for pickup or show this flyer in store to have 20% of your purchase go towards RJL PTO!



BOOK CHARACTER PARADE WILL BE HERE
Want a reason to wear a costume to school? Pick a costume and bring a book to go along with it.  Our entire school will parade at 8:00 on Monday, October 31.  Parents are invited and welcome to surround the track. 




GEM NOMINATIONS

GEM - Great Employees Matter, Coppell, ISD 

The internal employee recognition program, GEM (Great Employees Matter), seeks to recognize outstanding employees who serve the mission and core values of the Coppell Independent School District in a manner that exceeds job and salary expectations.  Nominate a GEM in your school by Friday, Oct. 27.



LEVEL UP LEARNING
Thanks, Ayesha, for this quick tip to level up learning for ALL children.



COACHES CORNER


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ESL UPDATES

Science academic vocabulary for Kinder-5th grade with images linked.  Let us know if we can help with any resources.




LEEDERSHIP FOR THE WEEK


DATES TO REMEMBER:
  • RJL WRITE A CHECK CAMPAIGN
  • NATIONAL DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH
  • STOMP OUT BULLYING MONTH
  • BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
  • NATIONAL PRINCIPAL MONTH
  • HINDU HERITAGE MONTH
  • SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK
Oct 16- CISD Campus Tour (8:30)
Oct 17- Hannah J's Birthday 
Oct 18- Wear Red for Dyslexia
     Social Spurs Snacks (Bring your Dips)
     Flex Learning (3:15)
Oct 20- James Wand in Cafe (K-2 8:00)  (3-5 9:00)
     Poonam's Birthday

RED RIBBON WEEK IS ONE WEEK AWAY!