Updated Learning Framework and MORE

It has been LOVELY spending this week on campus, enjoying time with our new hires, and catching up with those of you who have stopped by to visit.  I hope you are each enjoying the last week of your summer vacation as you prepare for #rjlyear3.  It is going to be a REMARKABLE year together.  Please take a moment to put some faces with the names of our new hires. (Thanks, Ashley for making this!)

Ashley and I will be interviewing candidates for our added Kindergarten and Instructional Aide positions this week.  As soon as we find the perfect fits, we will add our new hires to the faculty list shared with you earlier this summer.  THANK YOU, Blue House for taking on the additional Kindergarten section in your space.

KEYS, KEYS, KEYS
We would like to get a clear picture of who does/does not or needs keys in the building.  If ALL of you would please take time to fill out this form, we will make sure that you have everything you need to start the year.  THANK YOU!

FINAL CALL FOR FACULTY FAVORITES
We are missing quite a few of you on our faculty favorites list.  Please take time to tell us more about yourself.

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK
New folks reviewed the latest version of the CISD Learning Framework last week.  For those of you returning, there is information that is updated that I emailed to you earlier today.  PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU REVEIW IT.  We will continue to revisit this document throughout the year.

LITERATURE RESOURCES
Cassie Knight (P4) will be serving as our ELAR Content Specialist this year.  We are so lucky- Cassie is a resident bookworm!!  While at Lit Camp this summer, Cassie created a Google doc with picture books and lesson ideas.   If you have a picture book and lesson ideas you would like to add to the list, please fill out this form.  THANKS CASSIE!!

LEADERSHIP MEETING
Looking forward to seeing our Leadership Team and Instructional Coach at our meeting tomorrow.  We will start in room 120 at 8:00 and will conclude at 4:00.  We can't wait to continue on our "unity" journey as we grow together.  We will have bagels for you in the morning.  Please plan on going out to lunch, on your own, followed by and an off-campus activity in the middle of the day.  Dress is casual, and expect pictures!


CAMPUS WEBSITES
Please take time to update your teacher website on our Lee homepage.  This is the first impression our parents have of you before Meet the Designer Night.  Please check out other webpages in the district or on campus to see how you can use your site as a communication tool this year.  Please include a photograph of yourself, information about your certification, our guiding purpose, and some fun personal information.  This needs to be completed by Wednesday, August 17.  Please use your house/grade team or the faculty website to help you complete this task.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Aug. 9:  Leadership Meeting (8:00-4:00)

Aug. 10: Broadcast Camp (THANKS Sam and Melinda!)

Aug. 10-11:  Kindergarten Assessment Days

Aug. 15-19:  Back to School Professional Learning

Aug. 22:  First Day of School

Week of March 28

ENJOY the three day weekend!  I can't think of a better way to prepare for our next week of school than three days off!

Please take two minutes to listen to this voice recording (you will have to turn up your volume).  This is what Cathy Bryce (former Highland Park Superintendent) had to say about YOU, OUR SCHOOL, AND OUR LEARNERS at our Principal's Institute.  Cathy was part of a group of visionary Superintendents that wrote Creating a New Vision for Public Education in Texas.  This document has guided much transformation and many visionary changes in public education.  She continued after my phone died to say that "what the staff does at Lee Elementary is transformational and aligns with everything the document stands for and dreams of for learners and that OUR SCHOOL, Lee Elementary, is the ONLY school she has EVER seen this kind of work being done with children on all levels."  I hope you feel proud of yourselves for the continued recognition you receive. Your ears should be burning from your exemplary work being shared with leaders in education.  Each of you is transforming learning on a daily basis.  It is HARD work, but you are on this journey because YOU are special! YOU are the BEST school famiLEE!!  Thank you for being at Lee.

OUR GUIDING PURPOSE: We empower learners to positively impact the world by designing learning experiences that promote relationships, risk taking, and collaboration in a flexible environment.

What YOU are doing to do to LIVE out this VISION at Lee?  

DID YOU KNOW?

• that you can Tweet without using your data plan?  If you authenticate before attempting to access Twitter by going to www.777.com and entering your network username and password, you can Tweet. YAY!
• that Alex will be a permanent addition to our staff for the 2016-2017 school year?  She will be in a full time educator role.  Please take time to congratulate her and stay tuned to learn where that will be later this Spring as staffing issues help determine her placement.  I know you will ALL be gunning to have her in your grades and houses!

SCHEDULES

Don't forget that we have adjusted schedules on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday due to Spirit Rally and STAAR Testing.  Brenda Baker, from Thinking Maps, will be with your during your grade level conference time on Monday.  Please bring writing samples with you so that she can help you with calibrating your scoring and help answer any questions you may have with our WFTBB implementation.  Please be ready to start Spirit Rally at 2:00 on Monday.  We have a packed agenda. It will help if your learners are already packed up in your spaces before coming down.  Please invite parents to attend in your weekly email.  Here is the agenda, to if you have a learner being recognized or performing.

Monday Schedule

Tuesday Schedule

Wednesday Schedule

STAAR

If you are a STAAR administrator, please wear jeans and sneakers with a school shirt, if you like. We know that you will be doing a great deal of walking while actively monitoring and want you comfortable.  Thank you for everyone's efforts to get furniture moved and set up, for getting all items covered up, and for lifting up one another.  We will have a Jason's Deli menu for anyone who wants to order in lunch on testing days.  The office will call the orders in for you once you have sent your money down.

SURVEY HELP

Coppell ISD is requesting you participate in an innovative on-line survey developed by the Center for the Built Environment (CBE) at the University of California, Berkeley to evaluate your satisfaction with our building and identify how to improve our facility services.  Your participation is very important.  Please visit this web address before Friday April 04, 2016: https://berkeley.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2t3xCC03wU2Oit7

This survey will give you an opportunity to comment on your satisfaction with spatial layout, office furnishings, office temperature, air quality, lighting, acoustic quality, building maintenance, and the building overall. The survey will take less than 15 minutes to complete and is confidential and anonymous. The results will greatly assist us in making this facility work for you.  Thank you in advance for your participation.

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW: LEARNING

This week we will spend our third week reviewing learning design.  Educators utilize standards and future ready outcomes to to design constructivist experiences that facilitate the learners' conceptional development and deepen understanding as they construct meaning of the world.  Let's review AUTHENTICITY.  

According to our CISD Educator Evaluation System: the educator approaches learning design in a way that encompasses real-world connections which promote sustainable, transferrable knowledge and skills as well as learner engagement.  Standards and experiences within the unit are inked to content concepts that create a holistic approach to learning the discipline, problems are complex within the discipline, more than one perspective for addressing and providing solutions that reflect the skills and thinking in the real world, and opportunities for learners to see how content is used in the real world.

• standards and experiences within the unit transcend many disciplines and create a holistic approach to solving global problems within the context of multiple disciplines 
• opportunities for learners to address global issues, collaborate with mentors, and interact with authentic audiences

This area of the learning framework is easily visible with your Challenge Based Learning units.  CBL gives learners the chance to connect multiple disciplines, provide solutions, address global issues, research and connect with experts, and share for feedback.  You are rocking it!

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Compassion- the ability to share another's feelings or ideas.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"It is the weak who are cruel.  Gentleness can only be expected from the strong." Leo Roskin

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

When a designer is having a serious conversation with a learner, don't look at that learner. You wouldn't want your classmates looking at you in a similar situation.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
March 28:  Brenda meets with Grade levels during PLC time
                   Spirit Rally (2:00 Gym)

March 29:  Report Card Grades Due (8:00)
                   2nd Grade Field Trip
                   4th Grade STAAR Writing
                   5th Grade STAAR Math

March 30:  Convocation T-shirt w/ Jeans
                   Walk at School Wednesday
                   5th Grade STAAR Reading
                   Leadership Mtg. (3:30)  
March 31: Learning Walks (8:15)
                 Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
                 Youth Art Month Reception (6:00)
April 1: Report Cards Go Home
             Dad's Club Camp In (7:00 pm - 8:00 am)
April 2: Meghan H's Birthday

Week of March 21

I hope that you had a relaxing and refreshing Spring Break filled with memories and FUN.  Welcome back- it is the first day of Spring, already, and there is greatness in store for the next two months of school!

OUR GUIDING PURPOSE: We empower learners to positively impact the world by designing learning experiences that promote relationships, risk taking, and collaboration in a flexible environment.

What YOU are doing to do to LIVE out this VISION at Lee?  

DID YOU KNOW?

• there is a new Kid President Video?  Check it out here. 
• that our campus raised $10,170.00 for Jumprope for Heart? THANK YOU for your support of this wonderful association!
• that we will have our Spirit Rally at 2:00, next Monday, since there is no school on Friday?
• that if learners collect the amounts pledged that we could raise almost $14,000 for our Fun Run?  THANK YOU for hyping this up and sacrificing class time for this!  

SPRING CARNIVAL
Our Spring Carnival is approaching and I hope that your house has come up with a great auction date for our PTO to raffle off.  Please make sure you email your ideas to leeptocoppell@gmail.com.  These were due on March 11.

PTO NEWSLETTER

In next week's Friday email, please remind parents to sign up for our weekly school newsletter through PTO.  We learned that only half of our parents are signed up.  They can sign up at www.leepto.com

HUMAN RESOURCES

Lots of information was emailed to you from Kristen Streeter this week.  Please fill out paperwork NOW if you want to bring your learner to Lee next year.  Also, if you are planning on applying for an in district transfer, please visit with Chantel at your earliest convenience so that we can plan accordingly for next year.  NOT THAT WE WANT ANYONE LEAVING OUR FAMILEE!!! 

SUICIDE PREVENTION

Please read this memo regarding required suicide prevention for all CISD employees.  Online training must be completed by May 31 and documentation will need to be provided to Angela before then.

ACTION NEEDED

Don't forget to sign up for you Spring Observation with Chantel and your EOY Summative.  This task was due on March 11,  and there are many of you who still have not signed up.  ALL STAFF must sign up for an end of year Summative conference.

FED EX

Enjoy your one hour on Wednesday where you learn about a topic of YOUR choice related to YOUR goals, and earn flex credit for it.  This is a time for learning.  Please post to this Today's Meet after 4:30, but before 5:00, on Wednesday.  Please share what you learned during your time to get credit for your hour.  Those who post will automatically be enrolled through Eduphoria.

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW: LEARNING

This week we will spend our second week reviewing learning design.  Educators utilize standards and future ready outcomes to to design constructivist experiences that facilitate the learners' conceptional development and deepen understanding as they construct meaning of the world.  Let's review responsive learning.  According to our CISD Educator Evaluation System: the educator approaches learning design in a way that reflects the diversity of each learner's prior experiences and skills and takes into account his/her learning style, multiple intelligences, and interests while incorporating the learner's voice in both process and product. 

• consistently organizes flexible grouping based on learners interested, multiple intelligences, socioeconomic/cultural background, gender, other assessment data

Think about where you are with your PLCs and the creation of your common formative assessments.  Are you using these to flexibly group learners?  Outside of CBL, are you giving learners choice in product and process as well as organizing them by their interests or other areas? 

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Fortitude- strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened." Lau Tzu

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

If someone in the class wins a game or does something well, we will congratulate that person.  If you win or do well at something, do not brag.  When you lose, do not show anger. 

DATES TO REMEMBER:
March 18:  Sanela's Birthday  

March 21:  2/3 TELPAS
                  LEEdership Council (8:00)
March 22:  4/5 TELPAS

                  Spirit Stick Sales (Recess Time)
March 23: House T-shirt w/ Jeans
             Walk at School Wednesday
             Spirit Stick Sales (Recess Time)
             Fed Ex Day (3:30-4:30)  
March 24:  Spurs Savings (7:30-7:50 a.m.)
                 Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
                 Spirit Stick Sales (Recess Time)
                 Buffalo Wild Wings Night
March 25: Bad Weather Day (NO SCHOOL)
March 27: Happy Easter

Week of March 7

Thank you for taking the time to tell your learners WHY you come to school each day.  Your videos captured your kindness, compassion, and love for our children.  I appreciate that you found your perfect someone and brightened their day.  I am sure you know that I come to school for our learners, but I also come to school because of each of YOU!  You challenge me to be a better version of myself and push me to learn and grow each day. Your belief in me as your leader and in our school is remarkable and I feel lucky to be part of our famiLEE!

OUR GUIDING PURPOSE: We empower learners to positively impact the world by designing learning experiences that promote relationships, risk taking, and collaboration in a flexible environment.

What YOU are doing to do to LIVE out this VISION at Lee?  

DID YOU KNOW?

• Chantel will not be at school on Friday or Monday?  She will be in Florida visiting her family.
• that administrators in CISD had Religion in Pubic Education Training this week? Here are my notes if you are interested in what we learned.
• Spring conference time is just around the corner?  Don't stress about them before the break, but start talking with your house and grade about when these will start.
• our Canadian visitors and Apple were impressed ONCE AGAIN with the work you are doing.  They left some key chains and stylus' for you.  They are in the teacher's lounge if you would like one.
• not everyone has taken the Lee Staff Self Analysis and it is due tomorrow.  Please go to our February 22 blog for the link.

TELPAS WRITING SAMPLES

These are due to Claudia on Friday.  Please make sure they are dated and the legal first and last name are on them. THANK YOU for getting these completed.

FUN RUN

Please feel free to wear your warm ups and t-shirts to school if you are going to participate in the Fun Run on Thursday.   It is possible that we will do sack lunches from the cafeteria that day (stay tuned) if weather is inclement and we have to move the run indoors. 

OPEN HOUSE

I have no doubt (from PLC sessions) you are going to pull out all the stops to make sure that our building is alive with work all over the place for Open House.  I cannot wait to walk the building and see how you creatively showcase learning.  Please be dressed to impress that night.  You may also encourage famiLEEs to download QR code readers and bring ear buds to hear the technology projects you are showcasing. Don't forget to have them tweet to #rjlyear2

STAFF MEETING

The entire staff (office, paraprofessionals, specialists) MUST be in attendance at Wednesday's staff meeting.  This is our STAAR Security training and everyone must be trained.  We are doing our best to use staff time for this, so please be on time and prepared to learn.  Angela will be sending more details. 

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW: LEARNING

This week we will spend our second week reviewing learning design.  Educators utilize standards and future ready outcomes to to design constructivist experiences that facilitate the learners' conceptional development and deepen understanding as they construct meaning of the world.  Let's review scaffolding.  According to our CISD Educator Evaluation System: the educator designs learning experiences to promote deeper understanding allowing them to experience new knowledge, activate prior knowledge, and internalize new concepts.

• makes connections to community stakeholders and real world/global concerns 
• connects and leverages various experiences, interests, and contexts in which learners participate in and out of school
• engages diverse learners by using brain-based strategies to help learners represent their thinking

What are ALL the things you consider when you design learning experiences for your learners? How do you know what you will teach learners? Do you decide what learners will study or do they?  Are YOU directing the learning for individuals or are THE LEARNERS? 

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Courage- strength to act even when afraid or uncertain

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak;  Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." Winston Churchill

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

Make eye contact.  When someone is speaking, keep your eyes on him or her at all times.  If someone makes a comment, turn and face that person.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Week of March 7: National School Breakfast Week
Week of March 7: TX Public Schools Week
Week of March 7: 4th Grade Writing Camp
Mar 8:  PTO Mtg. (6:30 Cafe)

Mar 9:  Convocation T-shirt w/ Jeans
             Walk at School Wednesday
             Staff Mtg. (3:30) ALL Staff must attend!
Mar 10: Fun Run (During Specials Time)
             Campus Tour (9:00)
             Open House (6:00-7:30)
Mar 11: Brenda Visits 4th Grade Team
Week of March 14:  Spring Break

Week of February 29

Once again, you have impressed another round of visitors!  When Dr. Turner concluded his visit, he asked guests for feedback.  Here are some quotes of what they said:

• "I heard teaching before I was even in the building. There was a math lesson going on on the outdoor second story."
• "Great student engagement and very impressive teachers"
• "There is evidence of great leadership.  It flows through the teachers and students and you can tell it is intentional. It will serve students well as they grow through K-12"
• "Structured chaos.  It looks like chaos out there, but there is an underlying matrix of structure and order. " 
• I was really impressed with the culture of the building.  You can tell there is a culture of community here.  There is an absence of hierarchy here, and everyone feels a sense of ownership."
• "There isn't a teacher name over the door of each room and you can't tell what grade it is and who it belongs to. Spaces are flexible and every space seems to belong to everybody."

Please know that your hard work is noted, appreciated, and celebrated by not only our visitors, but your Admin Team.  We truly have the BEST DESIGNERS on the planet!

OUR GUIDING PURPOSE: We empower learners to positively impact the world by designing learning experiences that promote relationships, risk taking, and collaboration in a flexible environment.

What YOU are doing to do to LIVE out this VISION at Lee?  

DID YOU KNOW?

• our Destination Imagination kiddos will compete on Saturday?  If you would like to cheer them on, let me know and maybe we can go together.
• on Tuesday night that the math department will host a Twitter chat?  Follow #cisdchat and join in on the digital learning.
• that there is a National UnPlug Day?  If you are interested in participating, here is a website to assist you. Here is a site to post and pledge to unplug. 
• that we only have 2 learners (Haditha-G2 and Payton-Y1) and 3 EC (Taher, Roland, and Aadhav) that do not have disclosure to have their picture taken.  Thank you for being cautious when you post to social media not to include these friends.
• color printing is suspended for a little while.  Please send your projects to the copier.  If you need a color copy, email Shanna or Diana and they can print your project.

We hope you will join us in celebrating Dr. Seuss as we celebrate reading this week!   Have FUN!

DISCOVERY EDUCATION

Our trainer will be her on Monday, during your house conference time, to go over how to use this resource as a learning tool.  This is in place of after school sessions.

GRADE LEVEL SCHEUDLE

Due to the Fun Run Pep Rally at 2:00 on Tuesday, we will follow a grade level schedule.  Please review the tab on our master schedule labelled 2PM Pep Rally Schedule.  There will be no PLC time at the end of the day Tuesday and Wednesday will be Day 3 on our rotation schedule.  

PLC BOOK STUDY

Don't forget to read and post in our Schoology course.  You must also reply to at least one comment and create a T chart where you document one initiative that was implemented poorly and another that was implemented well.   Please share your Tcharts during PLC time on Tuesday. 

FUN RUN

Our kick off Pep Rally will be on Tuesday at 2:00.  Fifth grade, please get there at 1:55.  Learners will go back to class afterwards to get their fundraising packs and backpacks, but it will help to be packed up before the rally. Remember, that classroom lessons will begin on Wednesday.  Please welcome our Apex Team members, when they are on campus, and involve them ANY way you can think of.  Teacher info page and dates, here!  Apex questions can be sent to: jimmyw@apexfunrun.com 

LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL

Please send your LEEder with two risk-taking friends to the cafe after morning broadcast.  They will be helping with a taste test for the district.  Once the taste-test is complete, your LEEders will stay and the others will return. THANK YOU for your understanding as they miss a bit of class time. 

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW: LEARNING

We have completed our five weeks of reviewing ENVIRONMENT, so we will begin Chapter 2 in of the CISD Learning Framework.  Please reread chapter two.  While reading, frame your thinking with some of these questions:

• How am I using the instructional coaches provided to me on campus?
• How often am I going on learning walks in other Designers' spaces, and what feedback to I provide?
• Am I designing or am I lesson planning?
• What brain-based strategies do I use to help build self-regulated learners?

SPRING CARNIVAL

Please mark your calendars now, our Spring Carnival is on Friday, April 22, from 5:30-8:00.  It is an expectation that you attend the carnival. 

PTO has requested that houses or individuals share one auction date with details by Friday, March 11. You can email this information to leeptocoppell@gmail.com or Tanisha Williams. 

BOX TOPS

Please announce an all call for box tops from your famiLEEs.  Box Tops are due March 1.  You can put your Box Tops in the PTO Box in the teachers lounge that is labelled "Box Tops."

TOURS

This Thursday we have a 30 person tour with Apple folks from Canada.  This is part of our Apple Distinguished School visit.

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Initiative- taking action; originating new ideas

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"If an opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." Milton Berle

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

Strong leaders take responsibility for events and believe that they can have an effect on outcomes and conditions.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Feb 17:  Destination Imagination
Feb 29:  Discovery Ed Training 

Mar 1:  Red and Black Attack Shirt w/ Jeans
             5th Grade Parent Meetings @ CMSW (8, 10, 2, 5:30)
             Grade Level Schedule
             Fun Run Pep Rally (Gym 2:00)
             #cisdchat (7:00 pm)

Mar 2:  College T-shirt w/ Jeans
             Walk at School Wednesday
             PLC Chapter 8 Due
             CMSW visits 5th Grade (8:15 Cafe)
             Flipped Staff Mtg. (watch your email)
Mar 3:  Spurs Savings (7:30-7:50 a.m.)
             LEEdership Council (8:00 Cafe)
             Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
Mar 4:  National Unplug Day

Week of February 1

What OUTSTANDING learning experiences you provided our learners this week!  Twitter alone was overflowing with evidence of your talented design!  THANK YOU!  We are so proud of the work that is happening with each house's CBL and are even more excited to see the actionable solutions the children come up with.  Keep it up!!  This next week will be productive as we host our second CBL Planning days.  We are looking forward to supporting you.

OUR GUIDING PURPOSE: We empower learners to positively impact the world by designing learning experiences that promote relationships, risk taking, and collaboration in a flexible environment.

Thank you to the Red House designers for posting this purpose in their spaces!

DID YOU KNOW?

• that you are doing an AWESOME job of taking care of technology issues?  You are so good that some of you are not putting in tickets through Zen Desk.  I met with technology on Friday and they shared that Zen Desk will validate the need for campus help, so it is imperative that you put questions and requests in through the system. They will filter out to our CTA (Layne), Alli, or Jennifer and show that we NEED these personnel units.
• when you signed your CISD Employee handbook that you are agreed to be responsible for the iPad and MacBook if damages occur?  I strongly urge you sign up for insurance to protect you from costly repairs if you drop, spill, or cause other damage to your devices.  Here is the company that provides insurance at a reasonable price to us.
• Friday is the last day to submit Super Teacher Nominations for this semester.  Turn someone in!
• that the 9.2.1 ioS update is ready?  If you haven't already, please have your learners install the update ASAP as well as do this on your teacher devices.
• Lindsay Ayers will be here from 10:00 10:30 each design day to help with community and business outreach and connections?  YAY!

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW: ENVIRONMENT

This week we will review the academic learning environment.  According to our CISD Educator Evaluation System: the educator creates a nurturing, learner-centered environment in which learners gradually construct their own meaning through rigor, prior knowledge, learner interest, and relevance.  

• an environment that considers learner emotions, interests, previous experiences, and learning styles 
• designs learning experiences that encourage learners to reflect and construct their own meaning
• encourages and respects differences of opinions
• capitalizes on making learning relevant
• collaborates with learners to determine how learning is demonstrated and assessed

Let's think about YOUR academic learning environment this week. Are your learners reflecting THROUGHOUT the day? Do they have voice in HOW they show what they know?  Is EVERY activity that learners participate in relevant to the real world?  Push yourself to reflect about these questions this week as you grow as a Designer.

SPIRIT STICK SALES
Groundhog Spirit Sticks will be on sale on Monday and Tuesday.  Please send learners to recess with their dollar. 1, 3, 5 LEEders will sell on Monday and K, 2, 4 on Tuesday.  Thanks for encouraging the sale of these.  We ordered 400, so we need half of our school to support our sale.  Please remind LEEders to wear their shirts on Thursday. We have a meeting at 1:00.

TELPAS CALIBRATION

There have been several changes to TELPAS Calibration this year. One of the changes that will directly affect all of us is that TEA is now requiring calibration sessions to be monitored. Please save the date for our K-5 Designer Calibration Session on February 16th beginning at 3:30pm.  Please BYOM (Bring Your Own Mac) and HEADPHONES (required) to complete the calibration activities. In addition to the monitored calibration, you will have two chances to pass this year instead of three- Have no fear!! There is good news: In addition to earning 2 professional development hours for the calibration and 5 hours awarded for the K-1 and 2-12 basic training courses (for all of our NEW Designers) you will have SNACKS!


LEE NIGHT AT CHS
Friday is our Lee Spirit Night at the CHS Basketball game.  Designers get in free with a guest with their ID. Learners get in free by wearing a Lee spirit shirt.  We will have 4 of our fifth grade boys serving as "Ball Boys" so, please come out and support the Cowboys! 


SPRING BOOK FAIR
Our Book Fair will be delivered on Thursday and previews will start on Friday.  Please share this website with your parents for online previewing, ordering, and downloading of the Scholastic app. Supporting Book Fair means more books for our school library and YOU!  


CURRICULUM AUDIT REQUIREMENTS
Please get your items turned in to Todd by Tuesday.  The Curriculum Audit team will be here on Wednesday and will walk the building and talk to some of you.  We ask for you to be open and honest with them while they visit Lee.  Thank you for your fast turn around on these requested items!

NOTES FROM THE OFFICE
Please be sure to have learners check the ‘forgotten lunch’ table in the café before purchasing a lunch or going without.  Parents drop off lunches at all times during the day and it is frustrating for them to find out that their child never received it.

When a learner calls home…..please be sure that they leave a message and not just hang up. We get a multitude of calls from parents returning a call from our number and the office has no way to determine who called or why.    

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Loyalty- faithfulness to another

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I will speak ill of no man and speak all the good I know of everybody." Benjamin Franklin

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

If you hear something negative about one of your friends, don't repeat it. If necessary, let an Designer know what was said.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Counselor Appreciation Week
Feb 1:  Groundhog Spirit Stick Sale

Feb 2:  Groundhog Spirit Stick Sale
            Red and Black Attack Shirt & Jeans
            Dad's Club Mtg. (7:00)

Feb 3:  College T-shirt w/ Jeans
             Walk at School Wednesday
             Geo Bee in 4th and 5th Grade Classes
             Curriculum Audit at Lee (8:00-10:30)
             Staff Mtg. (3:30)  
Feb 4:  Spur Savings (7:30-7:50 Cafe)
             Green House Music Performance (8:15 and 6:30)

             Geo Bee Semi-Finals

             Campus Tour (9:15)
             LEEdership Council (1:00)
             Campus Tour (4:00)
Feb 5:   Geo Bee Final
             Book Fair Preview
             Lee Night at CHS Basketball (8:00)

Week of January 25

What a fast and furious four day week it was!  MOY meetings were a WONDERFUL time to meet with each of you to check in on your goals.  Todd and I are constantly impressed with the growth we see in each and every one of you.  

I'm sorry I missed out on Staff Meeting, but our friend who went via ambulance for an allergic reaction needed me more.  I appreciate your understanding!  I am reminded that we have alert staff, an incredible nurse, and a dedicated front office staff.  Because of each of you our little guy is safe and we have accurate information at school regarding his allergies.

I want to brag on your effort with our book study and PLC journey.  Your honest discussion posts show the passion you have for teaching and learning.  I sometimes have to remind myself that we are only in year two.  Our systems and procedures are not set in stone yet because our work does not look like any other campus on the planet.  It will get there as we work together to live out our vision at Lee.  EACH OF YOU are an important and valuable part of our team.

OUR GUIDING PURPOSE: We empower learners to positively impact the world by designing learning experiences that promote relationships, risk taking, and collaboration in a flexible environment.

What YOU are doing to do to LIVE out this VISION at Lee?  

DID YOU KNOW?

• Chantel will be in Austin on Wednesday and Thursday this week?  I will be at my Principal's Institute and attending TASA Midwinter while there.
• that Megan WANTS copied on your weekly communication to parents?  Please include her AND ME on your distribution list.  I know I still only get weekly communication from 5 of you.
• when you call 911 that you need to ask for Dallas Medical or Dallas Fire? If you just dial 911 it connects you to IRVING Medical and IRVING Fire.  This will help with a timely response and we will post it on the phones.
• you have a chance to give input regarding Science training?  Stacey shared this in email, so please take time to share your thoughts: https://docs.google.com/a/g.coppellisd.com/forms/d/1PoASn7Y0DsNOWZOiAG7sNV2YtXrcrLTeUgd8KbY9DiQ/viewform?usp=send_form 

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK

Part of our District and Campus Improvement Plans has an action step stating we will provide professional learning options that focus on the different chapters of the Learning Framework.  We had one day of training this summer on the Assessment chapter.  Instead of having more meetings I would like to "chunk" some of this learning through my weekly blog.  We will begin with Chapter 1: Environment.  Please reread chapter one.  While reading, frame your thinking with some of these questions:

1. What am I doing to create a learner-centered academic environment?

      2.  Is my physical and virtual environment enhancing learning?

     3.  Are the relationships with my learners and with each other mutually respectful?

      4.  What are things I can do to engage families in our space?

MATHURDAY

Thank you for your hard work preparing for Saturday.  Please arrive by 8:30 and plan to stay until 11:15.  You will need to drop by my office before leaving to sign documentation to get paid.  This will be on your February paycheck.  If you choose flex hours, please submit through Eduphoria and I will approve. 

CURRICULUM COURIER

Please make sure you take the survey in this week's Curriculum Courier.

FED EX

Enjoy your one hour on Wednesday where you learn about a topic of YOUR choice related to YOUR goals, and earn flex credit for it.  This is a time for learning.  Please post to this Today's Meet after 4:30, but before 5:00, on Wednesday.  Please share what you learned during your time to get credit for your hour.  Those who post will automatically be enrolled through Eduphoria.

Alli will be hosting a session during FedEx and all are welcome!

What’s Cooking, Lee? The iPad Test Kitchen

What's cooking in your classroom kitchen? Spice up your classroom and find your inner digital chef by collaborating with others to explore exciting apps and design learning experiences through the art of app smashing.  Bring your “A” game for a friendly competition in the style of the Food Network’s show, Chopped!

If you are interested in joining us, please sign up here!

BUFFALO WILD WINGS
Thursday is Buffalo Wild Wings Night.  Please make an effort to head over after school or for dinner to support this business that is giving back to our campus.  Please also remind parents to share

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART

Please share this flyer with your parents. 

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Integrity- acting according to a sense of right and wrong.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"The measure of a man's character is what he knew he wouldn't be found out." Thomas Macauley

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

Do what you know is right even if no one is watching.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Jan 23:  Angela's Birthday
Jan 24:  Jess' Birthday
Jan 25:  Kick off of Jump Rope For Heart

Jan 27:  House T-shirt w/ Jeans
             Walk at School Wednesday
             New Learner Luncheon (Red, Blue, Green)
             Fed Ex (3:30)  
Jan 28:  Honor Choir (all day)
             Learning Walks @ Lee (8:00-9:00)
             Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
             Buffalo Wild Wings Night 
Jan 29: Super Teacher Nominations Due
            Drama Performance (8:15 and 7:00)
            New Learner Luncheon (Purple, Yellow)
            Social Spurs Happy Hour @ Chilis