Thursday, August 28, 2025

Week of September 1, 2025

I have truly enjoyed this first round of Team Time with you all. Thank you for the heart and thought you’ve poured into writing meaningful, measurable goals for this school year and for the norms and collective commitments you established. Walking through classrooms this week has been such a gift. It reminds me again just how incredible this staff is. The environments you create for our learners each day is truly "next level" In the next couple of days, I hope you’ll give yourself permission to pause, just 60 seconds, to look around and celebrate all you’ve already accomplished. YOU are amazing, and you are cared for so deeply. I could not be more proud of what’s happening at Lee in these first two and a half weeks and the community you are helping to support. Wishing you a wonderful, well-deserved L-O-N-G weekend

DID YOU KNOW: 
  • that next Tuesday, Bretford Techs will be at Lee, and they are going to be swapping out ALL charging units in each cart?  They believe CISD got a bad batch, and they want to swap all of them out and make sure each unit is working and charging before they leave.  
  • calendar invites were sent out for your beginning of the year goal setting meetings?  Please be on time and join us in the conference room with your Macbook.  We will connect to the television and review what you have added to PowerSchool.  Your Bulb DOES NOT need to be complete, but you should have a template created so that the link(s) can be attached in our required documentation.  Here is our agenda.
  • learners should not put stickers on their iPad cases?  Also, please set up the home screen with your house color as the background and a learner selfie for the image.  This is a campus standard. Want to go the extra mile? Add text with their House and Grade to their selfie.
  • we hope for our Garden Guru, Ms. Keiko, to start next week?  For those new to Lee, Ms. Keiko is our resident outdoor learning expert.  She is an incredible resource and support for our school and she LOVES to partner with classroom teachers and special programs. Be on the lookout for communication from her, soon.
  • our newest employee Laura Calle will start on Tuesday?  We are excited to have her support us on our Special Education team. 


NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY
Just a reminder, Lee Elementary will be closed on Monday, September 1st in observance of Labor Day. We hope you enjoy a safe and relaxing long weekend with your FamiLEE! 💙💚💛❤️💜 We’ll see our Spurs back at school on Tuesday, September 2nd.

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.  We hope to see you in your college gear on Wednesday.

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. Pay close attention to the speaker notes and use them during your presentation to make sure a consistent message is delivered to our parents.  Please send this message 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 time is for parents, only, and is not a come and go event.  You will want to arrive on time and attend the entire session to learn about the upcoming year and campus/classroom procedures. Curriculum Night also gives you the opportunity to meet other parents.  See you there!



ATTENDANCE
September is Attendance Awareness Month and every day counts! This month, let’s make it a priority to stay healthy, present, and ready to learn. Consistent attendance builds strong habits, supports academic growth, and helps our learners feel connected to their FamiLEE. Let’s work together to be at school as much as possible this September—because when we show up, we grow up! 


LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL
It is time to elect a representative from each class. I am excited to begin working with the new LEEdership Council. Here’s a timeline of events:

  • Introduce elections in newsletters: August 29
  • Campaign week: September 15-19th, 2025 (Depending on how many candidates you have, you could pick one day or multiple days.)
  • Election Day: September 19th, 2025
  • Deadline to submit Google Form with the information about Class Leader: September 19th, 2025

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

Our class will be electing a LEEdership Council representative on Friday, September 20th, 2025. This learner will meet with Mrs. Kastrounis throughout the school year during normal hours to develop their leadership skills and share their 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. 



BUDGET
We are excited that we now have our 2025-2026 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, approve, 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 links should be emailed to Amy.  For those of you that already put POs in my box for this year, they will be processed this week.  Reminder from our Lee Staff Handbook:   
When ordering from approved vendors like Amazon, Office Depot, Barnes and Noble, Really Good Stuff, Dick Blick, Staples, Michaels, School Specialty, and Lakeshore, copy the link of each item and email links to the Principal’s secretary along with submitting a paper copy of the Purchase Order form to the Principal. This will speed up the ordering process.

If you are ordering from another vendor (not online) a quote is required, so please request one before you complete a paper copy of the Purchase Order form and place it in the principal’s mailbox.



LAST CALL TO GRAB VOLUNTEER SLOTS FOR THE SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR
This is one of the first onsite volunteer opportunities of the year and a great way to get involved and foster young readers! rjlpto.org/bookfair


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



BE YOUR CLASS'S MVP: BECOME A ROOM PARENT
Please consider signing up to be the Room Parent for your class! This role is an easy way to get involved and can be tailored to what works for you! Find out more and sign up at rjlpto.org/roomparent



HOUSE FUND DONATIONS OPEN
Our annual house fund donations are open now through September 14th. These funds are how we support all the celebrations we host throughout the year. Please visit rjlpto.org/housefunds to learn more and donate! Your support is greatly appreciated!




SPUR STORE
Our Spur Store is now open and accepting online orders. We have limited inventory of school supplies, spirit wear and more! You can even find some of our vintage spirit wear at a discounted price! Check it out today by visiting rjlpto.org/spurstore!




WALKTHROUGHS THROUGH SEPT

We will be in your spaces to give you feedback regarding Domain 3.1 Learning Environment (Classroom Routines and Procedures) and 3.2 Managing Student Behavior. Please view feedback and sign walkthrough forms. 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


COACH'S CORNER
Don’t know your learners’ passwords? Reset them in SSO!
  1. Open SSO
  2. Tap the red menu and select People
  3. Select Manage Users
  4. Sort by grade level and select your learners (Your class does not appear in SSO anymore)
  5. Tap Change Password on the bottom toolbar and enter new password
  6. Make sure to uncheck the box that would require learners to reset their passwords at next login.

Feel free to edit these basic login card templates to keep track of learner usernames and passwords. 

Please reach out if you need any help!



Book time to collaborate by clicking here! (also found in Lee’s Schoology Course and on Lee Links)



DATES TO REMEMBER:
  • GOAL SETTING WINDOW OPEN
  • BOY MAP & MCLASS WINDOW OPEN
  • NATIONAL SUBSTITUTE APPRECIATION WEEK
  • SOCIAL SPURS DUES SUBMITTED
  • GREEN HOUSE TAKES OVER LOUNGE RESPONSIBILITIES
  • ATTENDANCE AWARENESS M0NTH
August 30- Jamie's Birthday
Sept 1- NO SCHOOL
Sept 2- Charlene's Birthday
     Boy Scouts visit Lee during Broadcast
     Lariettes Visit Lee in the morning
Sept 3- College Shirt Day
     Onboarding (3:15-4:15 Conference Room)
     Boy Scout Event (6:00-8:00 PM)
Sept 4- Curriculum Night (5:30-6:30)
     Sky Ranch Parent Meeting (6:30-7:00 Cafe)
Sept 5- Mary W's Birthday

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