Week of September 30, 2024

THANK YOU ALL FOR ANOTHER AMAZING WEEK AT LEE!  What a great week of design time.  Digging into Discovery Ed Science and Stemscopes were highlights for me, I hope for you, as well.  You are doing a wonderful job preparing for your learner led conferences.  I loved the idea that came from one grade of adding an attendance goal to their learner goal setting.  Use or lose that idea. Angel is going to share a tracker with you if you want to use it.

DID YOU KNOW:

• meta pens will be delivered to your spaces on Friday?  Please make sure that you tape and number off your pens as they are your class responsibility.  Much like your headphones, please have a system in place where the same learner uses the same pen so that there is responsibility for the tool. These should be stored in your classroom and not sent home. 
• you must turn your Vivatek Boards and televisions off each afternoon?  Please remember to do this to save the life of these learning tools.
• parents can start joining their learners for lunch on Fridays after conferences?  Please share this Friday Lunch sign up in your weekly newsletter for the remainder of the year.  October 18 is our first lunch date.
• you are REQUIRED to call CPS (1-800-252-5400) if a learner shares information that is concerning?  Just a friendly reminder.
• walkthroughs need to be signed?  Please go into Power School Perform to see if you have any that need your attention.  Thank you!

FINAL DAY TO PURCHASE YOUR HOUSE COLOR SHIRTS FOR THE YEAR

Our brand new House Color shirts will only be on sale through next Friday Don’t miss the chance to grab yours TODAY ONLY before it’s too late!  Unlike previous years, these shirts will not be available all year for purchase!  

Order now or miss out!: bit.ly/rjlspirit

OCTOBER SELF CARE BINGO

We put a bingo card in each mailbox.  Fill it out and turn it in by the last day of October to be in a drawing for a prize.  Thanks to Ashley Minton for sharing this with me.

COLLEGE SHIRT DAY

Encourage learners to participate by wearing a college shirt on the first Wednesday of each month.

FAIR DAY TICKETS

Learner fair day tickets are ready for pick up in the office.  Please make sure you send these home with each learner before next Friday.  

REMINDERS FROM OUR COUNSELOR

It is imperative that you share important information with your school counselor as soon as you become aware.  This helps ensure that necessary support can be provided to learners in a timely manner.  If you have specific concerns or questions about learners, please call or Teams Angela immediately.

  

OCTOBER IS DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH

Did you know that 15-20% of the population have some of the symptoms of dyslexia?

WALKTHROUGHS IN OCTOBER

We enjoyed giving you feedback on your learning environment in September.  For this month, we will be giving you feedback on Domain 2.5:  Monitor and Adjust.  We will be looking for:

• How you adjusts instruction and activities to maintain student engagement (movement, music, manipulatives, small groups and individual work, conferences with learners).

• How you address learner engagement/disengagement.

• Questioning and feedback used to check for understanding.

• How you use of a variety of assessment/input from learners to gather data.

• Checks for understanding through purposeful questioning and feedback.

• The pacing of the lesson.

ATTENDNACE MATTERS

Did you know, if your child has an appointment with a healthcare professional and returns to school on the same day, they are not considered absent if you provide a note from the doctor's office. Please ensure make-up work is completed within the teacher's specified timeframe.

Thank you for helping us prioritize attendance and academic success!

According to Education Code Sec. 25.093, unexcused absences on 10 or more days (or part of days) is considered a Class C misdemeanor.

LESSONS IN LEEDERSHIP

DATES TO REMEMBER:

• PURPLE HOUSE TAKES CARE OF THE LOUNGE THIS MONTH (this includes plastic silverware.  Admin will provide coffee.)
• NATIONAL DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH
• STOMP OUT BULLYING MONTH
• NATIONAL PRINCIPAL MONTH
• HINDU HERITAGE MONTH
• GT SCREENING WINDOW GRADES 1, 3, 5

Oct 2- College Shirt Day

     School Custodian Appreciation Day

Oct 5- World Teacher's Day

RED RIBBON WEEK IS THREE WEEKS AWAY! 

Week of September 23, 2024

Cheers to another fabulous week. What fun we have had with our attendance spirit days. Thank you to all of those who participated and for your encouragement for learners to be at school EVERYDAY.  We hope to see you at the Kindergarten Community Helper parade tomorrow afternoon.  

DID YOU KNOW:

• we are going to host a MATCHING MONDAY at Lee?  To join in, are asking all staff to wear black and we will see if the kids notice.  Black joggers are okay with me with your black shirts.  
• PTO is offering our school wide Spurs shirts at a discount for designers and staff?  You can order (without need to login) and get a shirt for $10. Short link is bit.ly/rjlstaff
• you should be contacting subs before putting them in SmartFind? Please make sure you start with our preferred subs FIRST before leaving it open for anyone to pick up. 

DESIGN DAYS

AM sessions are in the large conference room from 8:00-11:00.  AM lunch with your grade will be from 11:00-11:30.  All subs will have lunch from 11:30-12:00.  PM sessions will have grade level lunch at 12:00 and design time from 12:30-3:30.  Please make sure that your agenda is prepared and in your grade level Team Time agenda ahead of time.  Suggestions for work on this day are: review MAP data, create strategy groups, review Discovery Ed Science, review StemScopes.

SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR FIRST SPIRIT NIGHT ON MONDAY AT LAMBERTI'S

Support our school in a delicious way by dining at Lamberti's on Monday, September 23rd, from 11 AM to 9:30 PM. Mention Richard J. Lee Spirit Night when you place your order.  PRO TIP: Check out their takeout family meals; they are a fantastic value! You can order by phone or online, AND they offer free delivery within a 10 mile radius!  Whether dining in, ordering takeout, or even purchasing gift cards, Lamberti's will donate 15% of all sales back to our PTO!

LEARNER- LED CONFERENCE DAY

Here are my expectations for Lee Learner Led Conferences from our Lee Staff Handbook.

CELEBRATE OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM

We have so much great teaching happening at Lee Elementary.  Please take time to nominate a peer for Super Teacher recognition by Sept. 25. Learn more about what makes a teacher a Super Teacher by browsing the "Looks Fors" at visiting www.coppellisd.com/page/super-teachers. 

ATTENDANCE MATTERS

Parents and guardians, please note: Texas law requires students to attend school each day that instruction is provided. According to Education Code Sec. 25.093, unexcused absences on 10 or more days (or part of days) is considered a Class C misdemeanor. Let's work together to ensure all students attend school regularly and comply with state attendance laws.

ONE WEEK LEFT TO PURCHASE YOUR HOUSE COLOR SHIRTS FOR THE YEAR

Our brand new House Color shirts will only be on sale through next Friday September 27th! We've updated the look with fresh designs and new comfort colors, perfect for Spirit Day Fridays, field trips, and showing off your house pride all year long! Adult sizes are also available so parents can join in the fun and showcase their school spirit too! Don’t miss the chance to grab yours before it’s too late! Place your order today: bit.ly/rjlspirit

WALKTHROUGHS THROUGH SEPT

We will be in your spaces to give you feedback regarding Domain 3.1 Learning Environment (Classroom Routines and Procedures) We will be looking for:

• Current character trait posted
• Daily Schedule 
• What is on your magnet wall 
• “I Can” statements posted
• Anchor Charts in all subject areas
• Math and Science manipulatives and supplies accessible to learners
• Each learner has a designated place for their supplies
• Respect Agreement visible
• Digital Citizenship Contract signed and displayed
• Learner Work displayed
• Guiding Purpose hung
• Effective Routines, transitions, and procedures in place
• How you manage learner groups and supplies

ESL UPDATES

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

 

DATES TO REMEMBER:

• NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

Sept 23- MATCHING MONDAY

     SLOs due in PowerSchool

     Layne's Birthday

     3rd Design Day- AM

     4th Design Day- PM

Sept 24- Kinder Design Day- AM

     1st Design Day- PM

Sept 25- Super Teacher Nominations Due

     5th Design Day- AM

     2nd Design Day- PM

     Staff Meeting (3:15-4:45 Cafe)

Sept 26- MTSS Meetings (Conference Time)

Week of September 16, 2024

What a phenomenal Special Friends Day today was.  Thank you to everyone that helped things run so smoothly and to the designers for letting learners return to class a little late.  Holly and our volunteers hosted a great Book Fair and PTO, Ayesha, Officer Thames, and the Office Team really were on their "A game!"  I hope the small gesture of hosting an unexpected breakfast on Friday is just one tiny way to let you know that your Admin Team sees how hard you work and that you deserve to treat yourself!!  CHEERS TO YOU ALL!  

DID YOU KNOW:

• on October 11 and Nov 5, all employees, including hourly employees, need to plan on attending professional development? This is not a day permitted to use comp time.
• CISD is having a VATRE election?  You are required to watch this 9 minute video to stay informed.
• there is a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday at CHS9 Auditorium?  Please feel free to attend to learn more.
• Content Academies for classroom teachers are open?  Please fill out this form by end of day Friday. 

FRIDAY THE 13TH

You are "cereal-ously" the best team!  We will make an announcement when our cereal bar is ready for you tomorrow morning.

SHOW UP FOR GREAT ATTENDANCE

Let's all work for perfect attendance!  Join in our spirit days and SHOW UP and SHOW OUT at school all week!

REMINDER TO STAFF ON LUNCH DUTY

It is your responsibility to monitor the "Peanut Free" tables and to ensure that learners are not sitting there with any nut products.  This includes Nutella.  Thank you for helping to keep our learners safe.  This truly is a matter of life or death for some of our learners.  Please make sure our custodian is helping to sweep and wipe things down.  If this is not happening, I need you to text Chantel.

PARENT UNIVERSITY 

Join Martha Thomas, co-founder of The Defensive Line, for a discussion on suicide prevention and mental health at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 17, at CMS North. Thomas will share components of the Suicide Prevention Workshop that demonstrate how to bridge the gap between people in need and the resources that exist to support their mental health and intervene in a crisis. Learn how to recognize warning signs of a mental health crisis and hold difficult but crucial conversations, and leave with an informed plan of action. CISD employees who attend can receive Flex Time Credit.

CELEBRATE OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM

We have so much great teaching happening at Lee Elementary.  Please take time to nominate a peer for Super Teacher recognition by Sept. 25. Learn more about what makes a teacher a Super Teacher by browsing the "Looks Fors" at visiting www.coppellisd.com/page/super-teachers. 

Has someone gone above and beyond and you want to recognize them?  The CISD Great Employees Matter or GEM program recognizes outstanding employees who serve the mission and core values of CISD in a manner that exceeds job expectations. Nominate a GEM in your school or office by Oct. 25. Learn more about the program at www.coppellisd.com/page/great-employees-matter.  

LEARNER-LED CONFERENCE DAY

Please send home parent sign ups, NOW, for Fall Conferences.  Let our Admin Team, Angela, SPED, or MLI know if you want us to sit in on any of your conferences.  Remember that these are learner-led conferences, even for our youngest of friends and you should schedule 25 minutes per learner.  Thank you for supporting CISD's core value of collective engagement.  Here are my expectations for Lee Learner Led Conferences from our Lee Staff Handbook.

LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Please allow candidates to share their campaign videos in class. They can airplay on your Vivitech using their iPads.  After the campaign videos have been shared, allow all learners in your class to cast their vote. You can create a google form, or use a ballot box option.  Please complete this Google Form with the name of your class representative by Friday, September 20th, 2024.  I would need a count to put in for a tshirt order. Thank you.

FLEX LEARNING WEDNESDAY

I am EXTREMELY excited about this flex learning opportunity. It is designed for 3rd-5th grade educators. My goal is to provide you with tools (kits), resources and experience to execute an Argument Driven Inquiry in class for the physical science unit. Great opportunity to add this PD as an action step to your campus goal along with the experience you have with your learners. 

ATTENDANCE

As you make vacation plans this year, remember that missing school can impact your child's learning and success, and it also affects attendance laws. Please schedule trips following the holidays on the CISD calendar to ensure compliance and support your child's education.

COACH'S CORNER

Do you want to maximize your instructional time and minimize learner off task time?  This is what T-TESS; Dimension 3.1 Classroom Environment, Routines and Procedures is all about!  Check out this list of procedures and reflect on what your learners need more reinforcement with.  

(small sample below)

A learning coach would love to partner with you on this. Just let us know!

ESL UPDATES

Engage Students in Structured Talk. Structuring talk among classmates offers emergent bilinguals the chance to discuss with peers in a routine that focuses on academic language. A Structured conversation (like QSSSA) lightens the cognitive load so students need not worry about who their partner will be, who talks first, or how to begin the conversation. Their energy is placed directly on the content.

When we have learning walks later in October, this is an area I hope to spotlight among our classrooms. Please let me know if you are enjoying and using this strategy with your students.

HOUSE COLOR SHIRTS AVAILABLE FOR LIMITED TIME

Show your school spirit with our brand new house color shirts! This year, we've updated the look with fresh designs and vibrant new colors, perfect for Spirit Day Fridays, field trips, and showing off your house pride all year long. Don’t miss the chance to grab yours—order directly from our vendor: bit.ly/rjlspirit  The deadline to order is September 27, with delivery in mid-October. Adult sizes are also available so parents can join in the fun and showcase their school spirit too! Place your order today!

WALKTHROUGHS THROUGH SEPT

We will be in your spaces to give you feedback regarding Domain 3.1 Learning Environment (Classroom Routines and Procedures) We will be looking for:

• • Current character trait posted

  • Daily Schedule 

  • What is on your magnet wall 

  • “I Can” statements posted

  • Anchor Charts in all subject areas

  • Math and Science manipulatives and supplies accessible to learners

  • Each learner has a designated place for their supplies

  • Respect Agreement visible

  • Digital Citizenship Contract signed and displayed

  • Learner Work displayed

  • Guiding Purpose hung

  • Effective Routines, transitions, and procedures in place

  • How you manage learner groups and supplies

SAVE THE DATE

Support our school in a delicious way by dining at Lamberti's on Monday, September 23rd, from 11 AM to 9:30 PM.  Mention Richard J. Lee Spirit Night when you place your order.  Whether dining in, ordering takeout, or even purchasing gift cards, Lamberti's will donate 15% of all sales back to our PTO!  Mark your calendars, bring your family and friends, and let’s make this a fantastic fundraising event. Every bite counts, and we hope to see everyone there!

LESSON IN LEEDERSHIP

DATES TO REMEMBER:

• BOY GOAL SETTING WINDOW 
• BOY MAP AND MCLASS WINDOW CLOSES THIS WEEK
• NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
• LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL ELECTION WEEK

Sept 17- Progress Report Grades Due (8:00 AM)

     Sri's Birthday

     Reading Academy

     ESL Parent Session (cafe 8:15-9:00)

Sept 18- Jenny's Birthday

     Reading Academy

     Flex Learning (3:15-4:15)  

     Town Hall Meeting (6:30 PM CHS9 Auditorium)

Sept 19- LEEdership Council Elections

Sept 20- Shayla's Birthday

     Kindergarten Career Parade (2:00 - 2:15)  Join in!

Week of September 9, 2024

What a fabulous week it's been, participating in beginning-of-the-year goal setting with so many of you! Angel, Kat, and I are incredibly impressed with the thoughtful reflection and goal-setting ideas you've each brought to the table. We look forward to supporting you on your journey. THANK YOU for embracing a growth mindset and continually pushing yourselves as professionals.  As a token of my appreciation for all your hard work, I am having pizza delivered after school for those who want something to eat before Curriculum Night. Enjoy, and love to you all!

DID YOU KNOW:

• you should always wear your badge/ID and close doors and turn off lights when you leave spaces?  CISD Safety Audits will begin, soon.   
• if a student needs to be in the library during recess, that you need to contact Holly to let her know?  They should check in with her when they arrive.  She is not in the media center between 11:30 and 12:00, so if you have a learner during that time, please send them to the office or clinic for supervision.

BOOK FAIR IS NEXT WEEK

Your child will be previewing the book fair and will be coming home with a “wish list” of books they would like to purchase.  Please consider helping your child participate if you are able and sending money or filling up their Scholastic E-Wallet.  If you’re new to the Book Fair, we created this FAQ document to provide more info! 

PTO MEETING

Our first Virtual PTO Meeting of the year is coming up Tuesday, September 10, at 6pm. A Zoom link will be sent through Parent Square on Tuesday. Please come join us for important updates from your PTO Team and Principal about the year ahead! We are looking forward to seeing you all there!

RESERVE YOUR SPOT AT SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY ON THURSDAY

We invite you to stop by and have lunch with your learner on Thursday, September 12.  After having lunch, you are welcome to shop at our Scholastic Book Fair in our media center.  Please sign up here to help us prepare for this special day.  We will have name tags prepared for you ahead of time so you can quickly check in and avoid waiting in a long line.  

TECHNNOLOGY REMINDERS FOR STAFF AND LEARNERS

• ALL LEARNERS should have their picture as their background on their home screen so we can easily identify the owner of the iPad.  They should not create their own designs or put pictures of anything else as their home screen. 
• Learners should only take pictures and videos as instructed to do so in class.  The iPad is not a personal photo album for them, and we should not see pictures and videos from home on their iPad that do not relate to a school assignment.  
• Learners should be reminded that there is a filter on the iPad and that whatever they do can be re-traced and reported.  School digital citizenship expectations apply, at all times, when learners are using their school iPads.  Learners should not erase their history and we will do random history checks to hold them accountable. 
• If learners damage their iPad, their case, headphones, or charger, they will be financially responsible for the damage.  
• Learners must carry iPads with two hands and "hug them to their chest" when they are walking with them.
• Learners should never leave an iPad on the floor.
• Learners should not be eating their snacks and using sticky or dirty fingers to work on their iPad. (I am seeing a great deal of this)  
• iPads are not permitted to be used on the bus.  They should remain in learner backpacks.
• Learners leaving for extended travel are to leave their iPad and charger at school for when they return. 
• Any parent/guardian that would prefer that their learner iPad and charger remain at school, should communicate with the Designer.  We are happy to keep it safe and charged for your child. (remind this at Curriculum Night)

ATTENDANCE (Share in your newsletters)

Pro Parenting Tip: Schedule dentist and doctor appointments outside of school hours or choose afternoon slots so your child doesn't have to miss school. Every day counts! Thank you for supporting your child's education and helping us maintain strong attendance. Together, we can make a difference!

 

LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL

Campaign week: September 16-20th, 2024 (Depending on how many candidates you have, you could pick one day or multiple days.)

Election Day: September 19th, 2024

Deadline to submit Google Form with the information about Class Leader: September 20th, 2024

Please send the following information to your parents and learners through the weekly newsletter:

Our class will be electing a LEEdership Council representative on Thursday, September 19th, 2024.  This learner will meet with Mrs. Samira Khan throughout the school year during normal hours to develop their leadership skills and voice on campus. 

This person must be a strong communicator, confident about sharing their thoughts and ideas, respected by their peers, and be elected. Please discuss this role with your learner to see if they have an interest in campaigning.  If your child does want to run, we’ll refer to him/her as a candidate.  As they "run" for this position, please abide by these guidelines:

1. Candidates may create a campaign video or prepare a speech to speak in front of the class. Make sure you:

1. Introduce yourself

2. Share why you would be the best candidate for this position

3. Share what you will do to make Lee Elementary a better place

4. Speak for 2 minutes or less. 

2. OPTIONAL: Campaign poster 

3. If your child is in 5th grade and was elected in grades Kinder through 2nd, they may run to be a class representative again this year. 

Good luck! 

May the best candidate win.

SUPPORT HOUSE FUNDS- CONTRIBUTE THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10

Here at Lee we use House Funds, what other schools often call “classroom funds”. However, instead of collecting money in each class, we share the love throughout the entire school allowing celebrations to be experienced equally by everyone. Throughout the year, we use this fund to support our Winter and Valentine parties, and show our appreciation to the Designers and Staff on their birthdays, during the holidays, and for Teacher Appreciation week.  Each year our celebration expenses are about $13,000, and currently we have raised only about 50%. If you have not yet made a contribution, we ask that you please consider donating today. We are beyond grateful for your support of our incredible school FamiLEE. bit.ly/RJLHouseFund

SAVE THE DATE

We will offer CPR class on September 18 during Flex Learning.  Please let Annah know if you plan to attend.

WALKTHROUGHS THROUGH SEPT

We will be in your spaces to give you feedback regarding Domain 3.1 Learning Environment (Classroom Routines and Procedures) We will be looking for:

• • Current character trait posted

  • Daily Schedule 

  • What is on your magnet wall 

  • “I Can” statements posted

  • Anchor Charts in all subject areas

  • Math and Science manipulatives and supplies accessible to learners

  • Each learner has a designated place for their supplies

  • Respect Agreement visible

  • Digital Citizenship Contract signed and displayed

  • Learner Work displayed

  • Guiding Purpose hung

  • Effective Routines, transitions, and procedures in place

  • How you manage learner groups and supplies

 

PARENT COMMUNICATION

Do you keep a parent communication log?  This is a good idea for both positive and not so positive conversations.  In education: if it is not documented, it didn't happen. Panorama is the PERFECT PLACE to document parent communication.  Also, think about picking up the phone (instead of emailing) when you have an issue that could potentially escalate.  We have a caring staff, and typically if there are issues, it is due to miscommunication.  When a parent has your listening ear and hears your voice on the other end showing concern, most problems will be solved.  Please always inform Admin if you have a "tricky" conversation.

COACH'S CORNER

Thank you for allowing us to crash your House Time today. I just wanted to share what we talked about. We were informed of a few changes to the mClass Intervention system on Friday. Here are the changes:

1. When recommending learners for MTSS, we should consider all data points such as: mClass, MAP, DRA or F&P levels, struggles with writing, general academic/behavioral performance in class.

2. You have two options when it come to learners who are showing up as RED OR YELLOW:

• Option 1: Group below or well below students using mCLASS Intervention. Generate the lesson sets. Do the lesson sets with fidelity. Progress Monitor every 8-10 lessons. Generate the next lesson set. 

• Option 2: Group below or well below students using mCLASS Intervention. Note the focus skill(s) of the group. Use the lessons from the Instruction tab aligned with that focus skill(s). Progress monitor every week or every other week.

3. Progress monitoring for learners who are showing up as Red or Yellow MUST BE completed in mClass Amplify. All progress monitoring resources are in our mClass Schoology Course.

Please reach out to your learning coaches if you have further questions.

ESL UPDATES

Did you know that Adult ESL classes for our learner’s families start this week?  Your very own Lee LAS will be co-teaching Adult ESL at Wilson Elementary on Tuesdays from 5:30-7:00 PM.  A second class is offered on Thursday evenings at CMS East from 5:30-7:00PM.  Please share this with any of our families that might be interested and benefit from adult English classes.  Let me know if you would like a brochure to send communication with more details. 

LESSONS IN LEEDERSHIP

DATES TO REMEMBER:

• BOY GOAL SETTING WINDOW
• BOY MAP AND MCLASS WINDOW
• CELEBRATE FREEDOM WEEK
• FALL BOOK FAIR WEEK

Sept 10- Virtual PTO Meeting (6:00)

Sept 11- Susie's Birthday

     TX First Responders Day

     Cub Scouts visit during lunch times

     Leadership Meeting (3:15 Yellow House)

     Cub Scout Recruitment Night (7:00)

Sept 12- Special Friends Day

Sept 13- Digital Citizenship Lessons Due