Week of January 29, 2024

Happy Thursday, sweet folks.  What a GREAT week spreading and celebrating kindness.  Your beautiful banners look glorious hanging through our school!  I am reminded, daily, what a blessing it is to be at Lee Elementary with each of YOU!  THANK YOU for being YOU! 

DID YOU KNOW:

• we are ready to announce who our new Office Aide will be?  Welcome to the front office Charlene Parnell.  We are super excited to have her positivity and work ethic in our front office starting Monday, January 29.  Stay tuned as we fine tune responsibilities, once more.  As soon as they are firmed up, communication will be shared with you all.  Please welcome Ms. Suzi as the new cafeteria manager. She will be in our cafeteria shadowing Charlene on Friday.  Suzi will be sorely missed from Lakeside, but I have the utmost confidence she will thrive in our Lee cafeteria.  Please find time to introduce yourself to her.
• LEEders should tie up your house recycling on Friday.  Rikki's class will come and pick them up.  Thank you for your participation. 
• we need ALL staff to staff after school on Wednesday for security training.  We will meet in the cafeteria.  THANK YOU in advance for your attendance and attention.

100th DAY OF SCHOOL

Can you believe we have already been in school 100 days?  We are more than halfway through the year!  Feel free to participate on Tuesday.

PTO SPIRIT DAY AT NICK THE GREEK

Please support our PTO by ordering online or in store on Thursday, February 1.  Since it is all day, maybe someone from your team can be your dasher?  Just a thought!

FABULOUS FRIDAYS IN FEBRARY

Your Admin Team wants you to love what you do and do what you love.  We have planned Fabulous Fridays in February as a way to communicate how loved you are  We can't wait for everyone to join in. 

WORLD READ ALOUD DAY

WRAD is Wednesday February 6th, and we can’t wait to celebrate at Lee! May Libby, from CMSW, is partnering her classes with our school next week. Thank you to all those who signed up.  If you haven't signed up, you can still do so, here.

ATTENDANCE REMINDERS PLEASE SHARE THIS NEW INFORMATION WITH PARENTS

When your learner is absent, please email your learner’s designer and include our front office by using the address: leeattendance@coppellisd.com.  Please include your learner’s name, their ID number, the dates and the reason for the absence. Notes must be received within 3 days or the absence will be marked as unexcused. 

Families have the option to send an email or a paper copy of an attendance note, such as a note from a doctor or a written parent note. Both forms can be accepted as documentation of absences. 

If you have any questions about attendance or extended leave then please email: 

leeattendance@coppellisd.com.  

You can find information about the CISD Attendance Policy at the link below:  https://www.coppellisd.com/page/attendance-policy

SAVE THE DATE- BOOK FAIR COMING SOON- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Our Scholastic Spring Book fair will be here in 2 weeks! We are still in need of volunteers to help! Act fast to get a volunteer slot that works best for you!  This is a great way to get involved and foster young readers!  bit.ly/RJLSpringFair

WALKTHROUGHS

We will be increasing our walkthroughs now that formal TTESS and mid year goal setting is concluding.  Through February 16, we will focus on Domain 2.1:  Achieving Expectations.  Here is what we will be giving you feedback on:

COACH'S CORNER

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

ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP 

DATES TO REMEMBER:

BLACK HISTORY MONTH
NATIONAL DENTAL HEALTH MONTH

CTE APPRECIATION MONTH

MAP/MCLASS WINDOW -> FEB 23

January 29- TELPAS Testing (see calendar)

January 30- 100th Day of School

     TELPAS Testing (see calendar)

January 31- Math Content Academy

     Staff Meeting (3:15-4:45)  All staff attends for security training

February 1- PTO Spirit Day (Nick the Greek- all day)

     Sammy the Shark w/ Kinder (1:30 PM)

     Red House Music Performance (2:00 and 6:30 Gym)

February 2- Groundhog Day

     National World Read Aloud Day

Week of January 22, 2024

Thank you for an awesome week.  I'm so proud of your hard work during Design Time as houses.  I appreciate you opening up your spaces to the educators in Science and SS Learning Walks.  What a compliment to all of you that the directors want their participants to visit YOUR spaces.  WOW!  We can't wait to kick off The Great Kindness Challenge on Monday.  It is the perfect time to recognize and celebrate the kindness all around us because at Lee Elementary kindness is PLENTIFUL!  

DID YOU KNOW:

• we need you to review the Lee Master Class List document for accuracy?  Please email Chantel and Tara by end of day tomorrow if you have anyone added or missing from your class.  This should match what you see in eSchool.  Why do we need you to do this?  This is the front office team's BIBLE of who is in which class.  This document determines when learners enroll what class they will go into based on factors such as number of total learners, boys, girls, etc.  
• it is already time to start thinking about school supplies for next year?  Here is last year's list. Please review, as a grade level, and make any adjustments.  Once your adjustments are made, change the date on your tab to "Your Grade 2024-2025" so we know you are done.  The total should be as close to $55 - $57 as you can get it.  Please have this done by Friday, Feb 23, so I can get it to PTO.  I'm sorry, but this task should be done outside of Team Time since it does not align with our 4 questions.
• playground renderings were shared at the last CISD Board Meeting?  Here is a link to the graphics shared.  I have not had direction from the civil engineers WHERE the playgrounds are going (possibly where the fenced area is), but I do know the playgrounds will be next to each other (preparing you now).  There is a possibility that we may leave the current K-2 playground up as a secondary play structure due to our large numbers.  I will keep you informed as more information is shared by CISD.

GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE
Don't forget to create a banner for your classes for our Kindness Kickoff Parade on Monday. Here is the link from our Counselors with details.  We will begin the parade at 8:00 with upstairs classes coming down the stairs from the cafeteria and then followed by Red and Yellow houses.  We will walk the building one time.  Please hang your banners after the event.

FLEX LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

Managing Challenging Behaviors in the Classroom: Whether you need a refresher or want to expand your behavior knowledge, this training opportunity will provide you with a step-by-step of the intervention process, research-based strategies and supports, and tips to diffuse and de-escalate tense situations with learners.  This will be taught by district Behavior Intervention Specialists.

BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Scholastic Spring Book fair is coming to Lee Library in early February, and the volunteer sign up is live.  Act fast to get a volunteer slot that works best for you!  This is a great way to get involved and foster young readers!  bit.ly/RJLSpringFair

RESTORATIVE PRACTICE TIPS (thanks Kat)

SAVE THE DATE FOR 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL

SAVE THE DATE

COACH'S CORNER

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

ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP

DATES TO REMEMBER:

MOY MAP and MCLASS WINDOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 28

SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH

GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE WEEK

Jan 22- Kindness Parade (8:00 AM)

Jan 23- Reading Academy

     Angela's Birthday

Jan 24-  Reading Academy

     Flex Learning (3:15-4:15 Ellison's Room)

Jan 25- MTSS Meetings (during conference time)

Week of January 15, 2024

I have taken Friday off to spend time with my husband.  Kat and Angel will take great care of you.  PLEASE take care of yourself this long weekend. STAY WARM, rest, and do things you love.  Live out your ONE WORD!

DID YOU KNOW:

• we need ALL staff members (including office and paraprofessionals) to attend staff meeting after school on January 31? Please make sure you move appointments, NOW, so that Samira does not have to have one-off trainings for STAAR and TELPAS security training.  
• 5th Grade will be Field Testing in Reading on Wednesday, February 7?  We will continue to give you information as we work through the details, but want you to be aware now.  We have avoided field testing for 10 years- I guess this is a birthday "gift" to Lee from the state. 

FARMERS MARKET TOMORROW

Please let your famiLEEs know that this is happening tomorrow- EEK!  What a fun opportunity for our learners to have food they have grown fresh from our own garden.  ENJOY!  Thank you to Keiko, Priscilla, the growers, the harvesters, and the market workers.

PTO GRANTS OPEN

We are excited to announce that our PTO grant application cycle for this year is now officially open? If you are interested in applying for a PTO grant this year, please submit this form. PTO will be accepting applications through Sunday, January 21, 2024. They are looking forward to partnering with you! 

NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY

GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE
THANK YOU, Angela and Jessica, for leading the charge with our Great Kindness Challenge planning for 2024!  Be thinking about how you can incorporate KINDNESS into your lesson design next week.  You will want to create a banner for your classes for our Kindness Kickoff Parade.  This will take place first thing Monday morning, January 22. Here is the link from our Counselors with details.

MOY GOAL SETTING
If you are a paraprofessional, instructional aide, or office support staff,  I would like to set up a middle of the year goal setting appointment with you.  Please have Tara schedule you on my calendar for 15 minutes.  This is time for us to check in and see how I can support you and your professional goals this year.  For all others that are evaluated under TTESS, Angel, Kat, and I should have scheduled your formal TTESS Observation by now. If any of you under TTESS want a middle of the year check-in, please email your evaluator.  We are happy to have one on one time with you.  

RJL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

The Scholastic Spring Book fair is coming to Lee Library in early February, and the volunteer sign up is live. Act fast to get a volunteer slot that works best for you! This is a great way to get involved and foster young readers! bit.ly/RJLSpringFair

Additionally, Mrs. Stout can always use volunteers to help during the afternoons 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 required CISD Background Check asap here. This must be completed once each school year, so if you’ve already completed for the 2023-24 school year, you won’t need to complete another one until August 2024.

QUICK TIP FROM GT

SAVE THE DATE FOR WEDNESDAY FLEX LEARNING IN TWO WEEKS

Managing Challenging Behaviors in the Classroom: Whether you need a refresher or want to expand your behavior knowledge, this training opportunity will provide you with a step-by-step of the intervention process, research-based strategies and supports, and tips to diffuse and de-escalate tense situations with learners.  This will be taught by district Behavior Intervention Specialists.

SAVE THE DATE FOR 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL (thanks Layne)

COACH'S CORNER

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

LESSON IN LEEDERSHIP

DATES TO REMEMBER:

MOY MAP and MCLASS WINDOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 28

SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH

January 14- Kaitlin's Birthday

January 15- NO SCHOOL

January 16- Science Content Academy

     Green Design Day (AM)

     Purple Design Day (PM)

     Bluebonnet Trivia Night (6:30 PM Cosby Library)

January 17- SS Content Academy

     Blue Design Day (AM)

     Yellow Design Day (PM)

     CISD SS Learning Walks (2:00-3:00)

     Leadership Meeting (3:15 Yellow House)

January 18- Red Design Day (PM)

Week of January 8, 2024

WOW!  This has been a fast and furious first short week back!  THANK YOU for the experiences you designed for our children.  It has been wonderful hearing and seeing your learners set goals, review resolutions, and vision for the new year.  THANK YOU for being a true inspiration to them and me!  Your one word bracelets are incredible.  If you didn't get to make yours on Wednesday, come see us, we have leftovers!  

DID YOU KNOW:

• all learners are not wearing their badges to lunch?  Please make sure they have them to ease with checkout and accuracy in the cafeteria. 
• we are putting in subs for your upcoming design days? DO NOT PANIC if you see full day for you or no day for you.  We have it in the system the way we need to to secure subs and all of you are taken care of. 
• we are excited to announce that our PTO grant application cycle for this year is now officially open? If you are interested in applying for a PTO grant this year, please submit this form. PTO will be accepting applications through Sunday, January 21, 2024. They are looking forward to partnering with you! 

PTO MEETING

Our next Virtual PTO meeting is coming up on January 9th! Please plan to join us for important and exciting updates from your PTO Team and Principal.

PTO SPIRIT NIGHT AT CHIPOTLE

Our next PTO Spirit Night is coming up on Wednesday, January 10, at Chipotle at 8445 N Beltline Rd Ste 130.  Join your Spur FamiLEE for dinner- dine in or take out- between 4PM and 8PM.  Show the flyer or use coed WBF7JTC online and 33% of your order goes towards supporting our Lee PTO. 

PARENT ENGAGEMENT EVENT AT LEE

Please share this information from our counselors with your parents.  

GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE
We will be participating in the Great Kindness Challenge again this year.  This is our seventh year to take part in this wonderful event. Be thinking about how you can incorporate KINDNESS into your lesson design the last third week of January.  You will want to create a banner for your classes for our Kindness Kickoff Parade.  This will take place first thing Monday morning, January 22.

Here is the link from our Counselors with details.

SAVE THE DATE

COACH'S CORNER

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

ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK

LESSON IN LEEDERSHIP

 

DATES TO REMEMBER:

MOY MAP AND MCLASS WINDOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 28

SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH

January 7-  May's Birthday

January 9- National Clean Off Your Desk Day

     Rikki's Birthday  

     Priscilla's Birthday

     PTO Meeting (6:00 PM Virtual)

January 10- Margie's Birthday

     Onboarding Meeting (3:15 Yellow House)

     Chipotle Spirit Night (4:00-8:00 PM)     

January 11- Ruby's Birthday

     Counselor Engagement Night (6:00 PM)

January 12- Aparna's Birthday

      CISD Spelling Bee

January 14- Kaitlin's Birthday

January 15- NO SCHOOL