Week of January 19

Enjoy your THREE DAY WEEKEND!

DID YOU KNOW?

• we have a new network engineer.  Her name is Jennifer Rezinecek.  She will be James' replacement.  Jennifer is a Coppell resident and has a daughter in 4th grade at CCE and another daughter in 8th grade at CMSW.  Please continue to send in your help desk tickets so that she can process them quickly.  She is awesome, a hard worker, and you probably already noticed all that she is getting done when she is here.  Welcome, Jennifer!
• that we are designing a form for PTO Grants? Look for more information to come!
• that Kid President has a MLK video?  Check it out!

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

DATA DASHBOARD CONSISTENTLY RUNNING NOW

Please feel free to start using the data dashboard for some of your authentic math experiences for learners. The pen is velcroed to the wall and if you want a live demo or tutorial, please ask Alli for a five minute demonstration.

LIVING WELL IN COPPELL
Coppell ISD will be participating in the HEB Community Challenge.  More information will be coming soon.

CAMPUS FUNDRAISING
I need to be aware of all campus fundraising.  If you will be collecting any funds, you must complete the Authorization to Conduct a Fundraiser Form from Diana.  All fundraising MUST be approved by me beforehand.  This is not negotiable.  Thank you for your help.

"LEE"DERSHIP COUNCIL
We will have a LEEdership Council meeting on Friday at 9:00.  We will be learn more about Spirit Sticks and how we will advertise selling these for Valentine's Day.


BROADCAST STUDIO
We will be recruiting 4th and 5th grade learners for leadership opportunities in our broadcast studio.  If you have learners interested, please share this Google form with them.  Deadline for applicants is Friday, January 23.  Learners must ask permission from a designer to recommend them.


VALENTINES AND VALENTINE'S DAY PARTIES
Our PTO Room Parent Coordinator is aware that we will have house Valentine parties.  Parties will be the last hour of the day.  Please talk with your grades/houses about how you will handle valentines in your classroom.  Will you have decorated boxes?  Will you have decorated bags? Remember our conversation about consistency.  Please provide a list of first names to each learner so that they can participate in exchanging valentines.


GOAL SETTING MEETINGS
Todd and I will be scheduling mid year conferences soon.  This will give us time to touch base with each of you in regards to your goals.


SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Please be working as grades and houses to finalize your lists by Friday.   Thank you for your efforts to streamline these!


"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK:  “Courage doesn’t always roar, sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” ~Mary Anne Radmacher

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  No matter what the circumstances, always be honest. Even if you have done something wrong, it is best to be honest.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

January 19- NO SCHOOL/ MLK Day

                    Lauren's Birthday (wear black)

January 20- Report Card Grades Due (8:00 am)

January 21- College Shirt Day

                    Walk at School Wednesday (7:30-7:45)

                    Staff Meeting- Balanced Literacy (3:30) 

January 22- Purple CBL Planning Day

January 23- Angela's Birthday

                    Report Card Day

January 26- Club 21 Meeting with VRE @Lee

January 28- Red and Black Attack Shirt Day

                   Walk at School Wednesday (7:30-7:45)

                   Birthday Luncheon (Social Spurs)

                   Fed Ex Day (3:30-4:30)

January 29- Honor Choir out all day
                    Learn About Lee (9:00)
                    Honor Choir Performance (CHS- 7:00)

Week of January 12

YOU DID IT!  You survived the first week back from Winter Break.  It was a weird week with cold weather and earthquakes.  How do I deal with the puzzling earthquakes we have been experiencing?  I joke about them.  Please enjoy:

DID YOU KNOW?

• that our enrollment (as of Wednesday) is 551 learners?  We have been told by the district that they are trying to keep K and 1st at 22, 2nd and 3rd at 23, 4th at 24, and 5th at 26.  I will continue to keep you updated.  I have been advocating for NO MORE after this for you.
• that we may have a new paraprofessional in our Active Learning class?  So that you are informed, Talat Khan resigned on Friday, before Winter Break.  Starting Wednesday, of this week, Viana Martinez will be at Lee.  When you see her, please introduce yourself and welcome her.  She is going to let us know on Friday if RJL is the place for her.  Wendy, Suzanne and I believe it IS!!!  
• Janell's email is now active in CISD.  Please include her in school wide communication since she is not on the Lee Distribution list.  Her email is jbunt@coppellisd.com  She has done a wonderful job this first week at Lee.  Thank you yellow house and third grade for your welcoming spirit!

CBL PLANNING DAYS (REPEATED TO EMPHASIZE IMPORTANCE)
Todd and I are excited to see the CBL units you created put into action in the new year.  Please post on Twitter and take lots of pictures so that your efforts can be documented! 

You will have ONE MORE CBL Planning Day before the 4th 9 weeks.  Please look at your house calendar and get these scheduled.  Wednesdays and Thursdays are days that I will approve for these design days.

BOARD MEETING MONDAY NIGHT
If your schedule permits, please feel free to join us at the Board Meeting as they recognize Stacey as our Teacher of the Year.  

SUPER TEACHERS
You have, without question, witnessed incredible lessons at RJL.  Please take time to nominate a person or team for Super Teacher.  This link will give you a place to acknowledge your peers.  Dr. Waldrip will personally award Super Teachers and provide them with lunch.  Let's get Lee designers recognized.  The next round of Super Teacher nominations ends January 12, 2015.   


LEADERSHIP TEAM
All other Leadership Meetings for the year will be on Wednesdays, but we need to have one this month on a Tuesday.  I apologize in advance for causing you to have two meetings after school in a row, but it is important we meet.  Please email Todd your Sonic drink order so that we can have a little something to show you how grateful we are you can be there.  Please bring any concerns/questions from your houses and grade levels to this meeting.


WALK AT SCHOOL WEDNESDAYS
Walk AT School Wednesdays will continue every Wednesday morning.  If you choose to participate by walking in the gym, before school, on these Wednesdays, you may wear sweatpants and sneakers with the Spirit Shirt of that day.  Learners will be sent straight to your spaces on Wednesdays.


REPORT CARDS
We are getting information from Kathy Creek regarding report cards for all of the new enrollees.  As soon as we hear back what the district wants us to do, we will communicate that with you.

"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.” ~John F. Kennedy

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  Never cut line. If someone cuts in front of you, do not say or do anything about it. Let it happen, but let a teacher know about it. They will handle the situation.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

January 12- Board Meeting Recognizing Stacey (6:00 pm)
January 13- Leadership Meeting (3:30 pm)
                    PTO Meeting (6:30 pm)
January 14- iCreate Shirt Day with Jeans

                    Walk at School Wednesday (7:30-7:45)
                    Curriculum Meetings (3:30 Content Specialists' Spaces)
January 15- 3/4 Dress Rehearsal (8:30 Cafe)
                    3/4 Music Performance (7:00 pm)
                    Jean's Birthday
January 16- End of 2nd 9 Weeks
                    Spirit Assembly (8:00 Gym)
January 19- NO SCHOOL/ MLK Day
                    Lauren's Birthday
January 20- Report Card Grades Due (8:00 am)
January 21- College Shirt Day
                    Walk at School Wednesday (7:30-7:45)
                    Staff Meeting (3:30) 
January 22- Purple CBL Planning Day
January 23- Angela's Birthday
                    Report Card Day

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope that you have enjoyed your two weeks off of school.  I am excited to return to school to see everyone and hear about the two weeks we have been apart.

Here is one of my first thoughts:

I spent way too many days in my pj pants and LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.  I ate WAY TOO MUCH, stayed up WAY TOO LATE, and slept in EACH MORNING.  I hope you did the same!

We celebrate Elisa (now Genco) as she was married on December 27.  She was a stunning bride and she will be back to school on Tuesday.

I am happy to share these pictures of Jamye's beautiful baby, Finley, that was born via c-section on December 28.  We will have Jamye back either right before or after Spring Break.  In the meantime, I cannot wait until she brings him up to see his famiLEE!

I hope you have been thinking about your ONE WORD to bring to our Staff Meeting on Wednesday. If you have forgotten what this is, please look at our last post. 

Our school is growing as the houses in our neighborhoods are beginning to finish construction.  We have 8, YES EIGHT, new learners enrolling on our first day back.  This will only continue.  Please know that we recognize how tough this is.  I have appealed to the district that we not go over the state mandated 22 in K-4 and 25 in 5th.  They are doing their best to reroute learners to other campuses that have room in the district.  Unfortunately, we will soon be out of options to do that.  Our second grade will already be at 23 in each room after Monday's registration.  I have instructed Diana to try and place siblings in the same houses if there is room and to try and start with classes with lower numbers.  Please know, that it is likely that all of our classrooms will get new learners in the near future.  If there are supplies that you need for your learners, please ask the parents to assist you.  If they are not able to help, please get with Diana or Chantel so that we can get you the necessary supplies for your learners. 

I was invited by our Asst. Superintendent to go listen to John Hattie in Westlake.  I'm excited to learn more from him since I heard a small dose of him at Learning Forward.  The unfortunate timing of his visit is January 5-6.  That is right- TOMORROW and Tuesday.  I will be at school in the mornings and back in the afternoons, but wanted you to know that this was not planned on my part.  I recognize that I have been gone quite a bit for professional learning lately.  I am eager to share what I learn at Wednesday's staff meeting.  If you need ANYthing, Todd is here and I am a text away.  I find comfort in being gone, when I read this on my Daily Impact Journal:    

“Set your expectations high; find men and women whose integrity and values you respect; get their agreement on a course of action; and give them your ultimate trust.”– John Akers

Get a good night's rest...tomorrow is only a day away (thank you Kylie!)  Click Here

Week of December 22

WINTER BREAK IS HERE!  Only 1/2 more day!!!  

THANK  YOU, each and every one of you, for being a part of our famiLEE.  The beginning of this year has not been easy, but you remain positive, steadfast, and ambitious!  There is not a better bunch to be on this journey with and I cannot wait to begin 2015 with YOU!

DID YOU KNOW?

• that you may leave on Friday once all of your learners are safely dismissed?  IT'S TRUE!  Please make sure that all pets are taken care of and that your Thanksgiving and Holiday displays are taken down so that we can start the new year showcasing new work.
• that we will have a long term sub joining us when Jamye has the baby?  Her name is Janell Bunt.  She is a former Coppell ISD educator, and she will take good care of Yellow 3 while Jamye is home with sweet Finley Gray.
• that most people do not stick to their New Year's Resolution?  Why not focus on One Word for 2015 instead?  Please take time over the break to reflect on your "One Word."  We will complete an activity with it at our first Staff Meeting when we return.  

“Do what others won’t today, so that you can do what others can’t tomorrow.” – Unknown

CBL PLANNING DAYS
Thank you to all of our houses for tackling your first CBL planning sessions.  We are so thankful for the support from Central Office and support staff on campus.  You all put in some HARD WORK and EFFORT.  Todd and I are excited to see the units you created put into action in the new year.  You will have ONE MORE CBL Planning Day before the 4th 9 weeks.  Please look at your house calendar and get these scheduled.  Wednesdays and Thursdays are days that I will approve for these design days.


FRIDAY
Todd sent our daily schedule out this week.  Please wait to bring your learners down until we call them on the PA system.  Once called down, please strategically sit where you can help monitor them.  We will have morning announcements in the cafeteria.  Please watch Polar Express in the most manageable way for your group (house vs. individually).  If you have Amazon Prime, Netflix, or iTunes, you can stream it through your Apple TV or use the dongle in your house.  We have a site license purchased so that you can legally watch the entire movie at school.  

Please make sure to have your learners promptly ready for dismissal by 12:50.  There is no dismissal bell, so we will need your help.  Once your learners are safely dismissed, please GO HOME.  Start enjoying the break that you have certainly earned!

GOING BONKERS

Our Dad's Club will be hosting a Going Bonkers Night on Monday, December 22, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Please send this information out to your parents looking for something to entertain their learners over the break.  50% of admission goes back to our school!

SUPER TEACHERS
You have, without question, witnessed incredible lessons at RJL.  Please take time to nominate a person or team for Super Teacher.  This link will give you a place to acknowledge your peers.  Dr. Waldrip will personally award Super Teachers and provide them with lunch.  Let's get Lee designers recognized!!


CLUB 21
When we return from break, we will have a session with Cottonwood Creek educators who are in year 2 of implementation of 1:1 iPads.  Please come prepared with something to contribute to our App Smackdown.  If you are interested in learning more about iPad integration and you are not in 4th or 5th grade, you are more than welcome to join us in the PreK classroom after school on Monday, January 5.  THANK YOU: Cassie, Nicole, Taylor, Katie, Nick, Samira, and Rachel for the FANTASTIC work you are doing on a daily basis with using these devices and for attending extra meetings after school.  


WALK AT SCHOOL WEDNESDAYS
Walk AT School Wednesdays will start the Wednesday we return.  If you choose to participate by walking in the gym, before school, on these Wednesdays, you may wear sweatpants and sneakers with the Spirit Shirt of that day.  For example, on January 7, you can wear your house color shirt with sweatpants (instead of jeans).  We hope to model a healthy lifestyle for our learners!  Thank you, Alicia, for creating our indoor "walking path" during the colder months.  We look forward to warmer weather and utilizing the track later in the year.

"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” -George Bernard Shaw

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  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:

December 21- Jamye's Birthday

December 26- Alicia's Birthday
December 27- Elisa's Wedding
December 22-January 4- Winter Break
January- School Board Appreciation Month
January 5- 4/5 Club 21 Collaboration with CCE (3:30 RJL)
January 7- House Shirt Day with Jeans
                  Walk at School Wednesday (7:30-7:45)
                  District Spelling Bee (9:00 CMSW) 
                  Staff Meeting (3:30)
January 9- Nick and Priscilla's Birthdays
January 10- iCreate Shirt Day with Jeans

             Walk at School Wednesday (7:30-7:45)
                    Curriculum Meetings (3:30 Content Specialists' Spaces)
January 15- 3/4 Music Performance (7:00 pm)
                    Jean's Birthday
January 16- End of 2nd 9 Weeks
                    Spirit Assembly (8:00 Gym)

Week of December 15

It is SO GOOD to be "home" and back at school.  I am looking forward to our last week together before the Winter Break.  Hang in there- YOU'VE GOT THIS!  It has been so fun seeing you in your jeans and holiday attire.  One more week of Frozen treats coming your way!

DID YOU KNOW?

• that Peter Reynolds created a new video that is his gift to educators to remind you to follow your instincts and remember why you got into teaching in the first place.  See the potential in every child, nurture those emerging gifts and talents, and change their lives!!!  ENJOY!
• that an alternate schedule will be used on Friday?  Todd will send that out to you.  
• that the Madrigal Choir is going to perform so that your room parents can set up for the party on Thursday.  Join us in the gym at 1:00 for their singing.
• that we have a formative assessment resource, compliments of Debbie Youngs and Diana Saylak?  Diana suggested printing off on card stock and putting on a ring.

 

“A leader succeeds only when they find a way to make people excited and confident in what comes next.”
– Marcus Buckingham

HOUR OF CODE
Please invite me in for your learners to showcase what they learned during their coding time this week.  I would love to see what they have been working on!


MOY MAP TESTING
Please only assess learners on middle of year MAP assessments if they are on RtI or you have a concern about their progress.  THANK YOU!

DISTRICT HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Thank you for going to the Holiday Open House today!  Ashley did and incredible job leading our choir and instrumental ensemble.  Todd was a magnificent impromptu sound mixer!  It is nice to LEAVE SCHOOL and remember the reason for the season! 

YEARBOOK CONTEST
Please send out information this weekend to your families regarding our yearbook contest.  I am sorry this is such short notice, but...I just got word from our PTO about the deadline.  Entries are due in the front office by the END OF THE DAY, Wednesday, December 17.  Misspellings will disqualify entries.  The cover selected will depict the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.  Other entries that showcase our school, the building, our logo, etc. will be used for the back cover and title page.  Please make sure learners write their name, grade, and house in pencil on the back.  We will announce the winners at our second Spirit Rally in January. 


THURSDAY
We have more guests coming to perform for learners.  On Thursday, from 1-2, the CHS Madigrals will be coming to perform in the gym so that your parents can set up in your rooms for the party.  (Did I just hear a sigh of relief?)  Yellow learners will be supervised by Specials so you still have your conference time.  What are your thoughts on asking learners to dress to impress for this day?  I will be sporting another sequenced sweater.  :)


FRIDAY
We will start with morning broadcast from the stage, followed by a performance by the Drama Club.  How would you feel about our choir singing after a little brain break?  Then we can send you back to watch Polar Express in each house, complete Polar Express activities, eat lunch, go to recess, and GO HOME!!!  You can leave as soon as your learners are safely dismissed!  


"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” -Dr. Suess

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  Use your utensils for eating.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

December 15- West Winter Band/Choir performs for Lee (1:30-2:00)
                        TOY Recognized at Board Mtg. (6:00)
                        Taylor's Half Birthday

December 16- Lee Night at CHS Basketball (8:00 p.m.)

December 17- College Shirt Day

                        Yearbook Cover Submissions Due

                        Spur Savings (7:30)

                        Red CBL Planning Day

                        Staff Christmas Party @ Anamias (3:45)

December 18- Latest at Lee Parent Meeting (9:00)

                        Madigrals Play for Lee (1:00)                       

                        Winter Parties (2:00)
                        Rob's Boot Camp (3:30-Gym)

December 19- Ayesha's Birthday
                        Polar Express Day
                        Drama Performance (8:15- Cafe)

                        Early Release Day (12:50)
December 21- Jamye's Birthday
December 26- Alicia's Birthday
December 27- Elisa's Wedding
December 22-January 4- Winter Break
January 5- 4/5 Club 21 Collaboration with CCE (3:30 RJL)
January 7- House Shirt Day with Jeans
                  Walk at School Wednesday (7:30-7:45) Info coming soon!
                  District Spelling Bee (9:00 CMSW) 
                  Staff Meeting (3:30)
January 9- Nick and Priscilla's Birthdays
January 10- Potential Lee Parent University (Info coming soon!)

Week of December 8

I know NONE of you are feeling this way, especially after today's Best Christmas Pageant Ever snaffoo:

It sounds as if you handled everything in the best way possible.  I'm disappointed that our learners missed the performance, but the optimist in me is touched by the way everyone pulled together and made lemonade out of lemons. 

DID YOU KNOW?

• that there are yummy snacks at the CISD Open House?  Make sure you drop in at Admin during your conference time.  
• that Dr. Waldrip does not want you to stop what you are doing when he comes to visit?  He just likes to take a look at what is going on in our school.  Now, if a learner wants to invite him to "join in," well....so be it! :)  If you DO NOT want him to drop by your room, please let Diana know so that she can inform him.
• that you can register your class for Hour of Code by going to this website? Please tweet out using @codeorg  #HourOfCode  #RJLHourOfCode
• that we may be saying farewell to district MAP testing?  Dr. Waldrip, Curriculum Directors, and Principals have been looking at the number of assessments that our learners are taking. We have proposed eliminating this and replacing with iStation.  More information about this will be coming soon. 

TASA VISIT BEFORE BREAK

I cannot express how proud of our school I was when the Superintendents visited RJL.  They were BLOWN AWAY by YOU and YOUR LEARNERS. You did an incredible job of utilizing all of the places in the building and seamlessly integrating technology.  The hugest compliment came from Dr. Turner when he turned to me and said, "Wow!  I am so impressed with how far you all are since my visit in September. You are much further along than I thought you would be."  This may not mean much to you, but he is a man who does not throw out compliments so, to me, this was a HUGE ONE.  Please know that your hard work does not go unnoticed by me or ANY of the visitors that come to our school.  Jaws are dropping and ideas are generated by watching and seeing YOU in action!

LUNCHROOM EXPECTATIONS
You are doing a FANTASTIC job of holding our learners to the cafeteria expectations we discussed.  THANK YOU!  Thank you to Mrs. Shannon for numbering our tables.


WEDNESDAY FED EX DAY

Please remember that Fed Ex hour is for professional growth.  This hour is not to complete a task that is on your designer plate, I'm sorry.  Please do not disturb others who are working on individual goals.  ​

• ​Fed Ex IS:  technology training with Alli, a book study, learning about something new like the Comprehension Toolkit from KK

• ​Fed Ex IS NOT: grading, lesson designing, completing Information Literacy, watching Bloodborne Pathogen video, writing your professional goals

Please ask me if you are unsure.  Your post on Today's Meet is your accountability to each other and administration.  I will go through Wednesday night and grant credit to those who posted after 4:30 but before 5:00.  

TOY DRIVE AT LEE
4th graders will be hosting a CBL toy drive from December 8 - December 19 at our school.  This is to go along with their Global Read Aloud book study of One for the Murphys.  Please post in your newsletters that they will be asking for new, unwrapped toys during these days.

FROZEN DAYS OF GIVING
Just a reminder how about much we love you!!  Don't forget to wear your jeans and holiday attire the next two weeks.  Clever Frozen themed treats will be in the lounge daily.  Please thank Diana and Veronica for helping me with the organization and set up of these!  

CBL PLANNING DAYS
Hours for you on these days are from 7:30 - 3:30 in the Pre K room.  Dress is casual.  Please bring your resources and be in there on time so that Curriculum Directors, support staff, Todd, and I can support you.   Plan to order in lunch that day for your group.

HOUSE DIGITAL SIGNAGE
Please work as a group to update these a minimum of once a month.  When you have new projects, learning, etc. to display on these, please send them to James and tell him which TV to run it on. (until we are trained otherwise).   These should be turned on every morning and turned off every afternoon. I appreciate your help.

"LEE" QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Growth only occurs when you successfully adapt to change.”
-Summer Jeirles (timely for all of us this year and TODAY)

"LEE"DERSHIP TIP OF THE WEEK:  Surprise others by performing random acts of kindness. Go out of your way to do something surprisingly kind and generous for someone. (perfect timing for our 4th grade CBL)

DATES TO REMEMBER:

December 8-14- Hour of Code Week 

December 8- Frozen Days of Giving Begin 

                      Signed Progress Reports Due back to School

                      CK at Learning Forward Conference
December 9- Lee Campus Spelling Bee (3:15 Library Flex Space)
                      NO PTO Mtg.

                      CK at Learning Forward Conference
December 10- Red and Black Attack shirt with Jeans
                        Fed Ex Day

                        CK at Learning Forward Conference

                        Dr. Waldrip visits Lee @ 10:30
December 11- Todd's Birthday
                        Yellow CBL Planning Day
                        PTO Holiday Luncheon for staff
                        Channel 11 News films 2nd Grade (10:00)
                        Elisa's Bridal Shower (3:30)

                        Instrumental Ensemble Performance (6:30)
December 12- CISD Holiday Open House (Conference Time)
                        Possible Drama Club Performance (8:15)
                        Lee Performs at Holiday Open House (10:15)

December 15- West Winter Band/Choir performs for Lee (1:30-2:00)

December 16- Lee Night at CHS Basketball (8:00 p.m.)

December 17- College Shirt Day

                        Spur Savings (7:30)

                        Red CBL Planning Day

                        Staff Christmas Party @ Anamias (3:45)

December 18- Latest at Lee Parent Meeting (9:00)

                        Winter Parties (2:00)

December 19- Polar Express Day

                        Early Release Day (12:50)

Hallelujah! Let it Go!

Thank you for letting Todd and I interrupt your learning this afternoon to share that the office will celebrate YOU the next two weeks.

Our hope is that the gift of time allowed you to "let something go."  We know it evoked a "Hallelujah" from quite a few of you.

Please take a moment to enjoy this beautiful song and video!