Week of August 3

What a great week of learning in Coppell ISD at our Principal's Academy.  We learned a great deal about Professional Learning Communities, Learning Walks, and our updated Learning Framework. We found our media specialist, Meghan Hunt (mehunt@irvingisd.net), and look forward to watching her grow as a media specialist.  We also found our PE Designer, Julie Behr (jus_1021@hotmail.com).  She will be joined with a....wait for it....FULL TIME PE AIDE.  We have recommended Kandice Benson (kbenson@coppellisd.com).  Please take time to welcome these new folks to our famiLEE!

New hires have been in training this week and at the Chamber breakfast yesterday Ashley and Alan were winners of door prizes.  If you want some coffee, see Ashley, and if you want to visit the Container Store with Alan, he has money to spend.

SACK OUT HUNGER
We are looking forward to seeing our volunteers this Saturday.  If you participate(d) in this event and have photographs, please add them to this location for our iBook.


COMPLIANCE TRAINING

I am doing my very best to push things out to you throughout the summer so that you do not have a massive "to do" list when we get back to school.  We have required training related to allergies and bloodborne pathogens.  The required trainings can be accessed in one course in Schoology.  You will need to log into Schoology and join the course.  Please use the following directions to access the required training documents and resources.

1. Go to: http://cisd.schoology.com 
2. To log on to Schoology
   1.  Go to: http://cisd.schoology.com
   2.  Log in using your school email address as your username
          ex. ngarvey@coppellisd.com
   3.  A temporary password was sent to you this summer, if you can’t find the email with the temporary password, there is an option to use “forgot my password”.  This will send a new temporary password to your email account.
   4.  Once you have logged in, click on COURSES at the top of the webpage
   5.  Click on JOIN
   6.  Type in the following code: 4VVC5-4HVN5
   
   
   

   

   
   

UPDATED CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK

New hires were updated on our CISD Learning Framework during training this week.  Returning staff, please review this updated version.  This dynamic document is one that frames all of the work that we do in Coppell ISD. 

iBOOKS CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE WEEK
This week our final focus will be on collecting evidence in relation to COMPELLING EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS.  Below is the part of the rubric that relates to this task in order for you to see  what kind of information we are looking for. 

Please drop your written contributions (we need examples of how you have demonstrated this in your spaces), photos and videos in relation to Visionary Leadership in this location by Monday, August 10. Now it is time to construct our book!  

CAMPUS HANDBOOK

Here is our updated campus handbook.  Please sign and turn in the handbook receipt form to Diana before the end of the first week of school. 

CAMPUS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

Because you have flex time earned for Apple and Tiles training in June, our campus Back to School Training will be August 18-21.  We will send out more specific details about location and dress next week, but plan on beginning at 8:00 a.m. and concluding at 4:00 p.m.   Here is the district plan.  

DATES TO REMEMBER

August 3-4- Balanced Literacy Training 

August 3-7- New Teacher Orientation
August 13- Shelley S's Birthday

                   Residency Verification Day (7:30-10:30a.m. & 5:30-7:00p.m.)

August 14- Leadership Retreat (info coming soon)

August 18-21- RJL Back to School Training

August 20- Meet the Designer Night (5:30-7:00)

August 21- Jillian's Birthday

August 23- Kristen's Birthday

August 25- Roxann's Birthday

August 27- Sam's Birthday
August 28- Stephanie's Birthday

Week of July 27

Thank you to those of you that we able to help on Saturday to Sack out Hunger.  It was a wonderful way to give back to our community and help Crossroads Church that partners with our school.  If you are interested in signing up to help on August 8, here is the signup.  There are still 5 openings. 

UPDATED CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK

Here is a copy of the newest version of the CISD Learning Framework.  Remember, this dynamic document is one that frames all of the work that we do in Coppell ISD.  New teachers will become familiar with this document at New Hire Training and we will reference this document throughout the year.


PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR 2015-2016
Please complete the following survey to inform campus administration of your professional learning wants/needs for the upcoming year.  The survey will close this Friday, July 31.

iBOOKS CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Thank you for those of you that contributed to last week's Ongoing Professional Learning and teaching portion for our iBook.  

This week our focus will be on collecting evidence in relation to VISIONARY LEADERSHIP.  Below is the part of the rubric that relates to this task in order for you to see what kind of information we are looking for.  

Please drop your written contributions (we need examples of how you have demonstrated this in your spaces), photos and videos in relation to Visionary Leadership in this location by Monday, August 3. Next week, you will receive an updated blog with our next focus.  THANK YOU for your help with this!!

CAMPUS HANDBOOK

Here is our updated campus handbook.  Please sign and turn in the handbook receipt form to Diana before the end of the first week of school. 

NEW TO CISD TRAINING

Here is information that the district has shared regarding new teacher training.  If you have already checked out your MacBook or iPad, please bring these, charged, to all trainings.  

DATES TO REMEMBER

July 31- Wendy's Birthday

August 2- Katie's Birthday

August 3-4- Balanced Literacy Training 

August 3-7- New Teacher Orientation

August 13- Shelley S's Birthday

August 18-21- RJL Back to School Training

August 20- Meet the Designer Night (5:30-7:00)

August 25- Roxann's Birthday

August 27- Sam's Birthday

Week of July 21

Thank you to those of you that made it out to Main Event on Monday.  It was nice to have family members there, too!  Todd did a great job organizing the event and it was fun to see that we have some skilled (and not so skilled) bowlers on staff.  Stay tuned for another get together!

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR 2015-2016
Please complete the following survey to inform campus administration of your professional learning wants/needs for the upcoming year.

iBOOKS CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Thank you for those of you that contributed to last week's Innovative Learning and teaching portion for our iBook.  We have over 90 images and some narratives submitted.  Thank you to those who have taken the time to contribute.  

This week our focus will be on collecting evidence in relation to  ONGOING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.  Below is the part of the rubric that relates to this task in order for you to see what kind of information we are looking for.  

Please drop your written contributions (we need examples of how you have demonstrated this in your spaces), photos and videos in relation to Innovative Learning and Teaching folder in this location by Monday, July 27. Next week, you will receive an updated blog with our next focus.  THANK YOU for your help with this!!

CAMPUS HANDBOOK

Here is our updated campus handbook.  Please sign and turn in the handbook receipt form to Diana before the end of the first week of school. 

NEW TO CISD TRAINING

Here is information that the district has shared regarding new teacher training.  If you have already checked out your MacBook or iPad, please bring these, charged, to all trainings.  

DATES TO REMEMBER

July 26- Nicole's Birthday

July 31- Wendy's Birthday

August 2- Katie's Birthday

August 3-4- Balanced Literacy Training 

August 3-7- New Teacher Orientation

August 13- Shelley S's Birthday

August 18-21- RJL Back to School Training

August 20- Meet the Designer Night (5:30-7:00)

August 25- Roxann's Birthday

August 27- Sam's Birthday

Week of July 14

Happy Tuesday, Friends!  I hope you are enjoying the time off.  I have been making the most of my friends and family time before returning to work next week.  Mike has enjoyed quite a few home cooked meals (applause) and Hannah and Sophie have had daily walks.  LIFE IS GOOD!  

We found out yesterday that we are LEED Gold Certified (WAHOO!) and there is a new article in Texas Architect about our school.   Let me remind each of you, YOU were hand picked to be part of our famiLEE!  It is because of YOU and YOUR EFFORTS that we are transforming education and blazing new trails.  


HOW TO SYNC GMAIL TO CISD EMAIL
If you have been approved by the board, then you have a Coppell ISD Outlook account.  You will also have a Coppell ISD Gmail account.  To access your Outlook account from home, go here.  Your Outlook user name is your first initial, last name.  For example: ckastrounis.  

To access your Outlook account from home, go here. Your Gmail username is first initial, last name, @g.coppellisd.com.  For example: ckastrounis@g.coppellisd.com.  Both of these accounts have the same password.  

Since your Google invites will go to your gmail account AND so that you don't have to check BOTH, here are digital and listed directions to sync the two of them together (thank you Coppell ISD iTeam):

1. Log into your Google Apps Account (Google Apps 2011-12, if it is your first time, use the password CISD)
2. Click Email on your Google Apps Dashboard
3. Click on the gear in the top right corner.
4. Click on Mail Settings.
5. Click on "Forwarding POP/IMAP" in the settings tabs.
6. Click "Add a Forwarding Address"
7. Type in your regular @coppellisd.com email address.
8. Open Outlook or Webmail
9. Find the email from "CISD Administrators Team"
10. Find the confirmation code in the email.
11. Highlight and copy the code.
12. Go back to Google Apps.
13. Paste the code in the confirmation code box.
14. Click the verify button.
15. Click the dot next to "forward a copy…"
16. Choose what you want to do with the gmail (I prefer to have it marked as read).
17. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
18. Click "Save Changes"

iBOOKS CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Thank you for those of you that contributed to last week's Flexible Learning Environment portion for our iBook.  We have over 90 images and some narratives submitted.  Thank you Stacey, Alli, Roxann, Elizabeth, and Amanda for your work on this.  Thank you Britt for learning some funky new widgets for us to use.

Again, we cannot start our work without your help!  This week our focus will be on collecting evidence in relation to  INNOVATIVE LEARNING AND TEACHING.  Below is the part of the rubric that relates to this task in order for you to see what kind of information we are looking for.  

Please drop your written contributions (we need examples of how you have demonstrated this in your spaces), photos and videos in relation to Innovative Learning and Teaching folder in this location by Monday, July 20. Next week, you will receive an updated blog with our next focus.  

CAMPUS HANDBOOK

If you want to get a jump start on some of the Back to School tasks that need completed, you can read our campus handbook NOW.  It has been updated from last year.  It is compelling reading and tells you EVERYTHING you need to know about RJL (and then some).  There is a form for you to sign and turn in to Diana before the end of the first week of school. 

DATES TO REMEMBER

June 27- Viana's Birthday

July 13- Cassie's Birthday
July 14- Shelley L's Birthday
July 15- Lunch at Mattitos (email Lauren)

July 26- Nicole's Birthday

July 31- Wendy's Birthday

August 3-4- Balanced Literacy Training

August 3-7- New Teacher Orientation

August 18-21- RJL Back to School Training
August 20- Meet the Designer Night (5:30-7:00)

Week of July 7

Hi friends!  We will continue to update you though the summer and email you when the blog is updated.  Please take time to read and comment. 

2015-2016 STAFFING
Jess (3rd grade Purple House) and Jacque (1st grade Green House) were approved by the school board last night.  This means they are now on our school-wide email distribution list.  YAY!  Please take time to welcome them, if you have not done so already.

Courntey will be going to teach 3rd grade in her sons' school, so if you have connections to anyone interested in our  media specialist position, the job posting will go up this week.  Spread the word!! 

iBOOKS UPDATE:

We are busy starting to compile information to tell "our story," but we need your help.  Each week we will have a focus and reach out to you to send us documentation (narratives, pictures, and video).  This will ensure our whole building is part of the storytelling and represented AND we will do this virtually so that you can participate from your swimming pool, couch, or beach chair.

This week we are requesting any evidence in relation to FLEXIBLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.  Below is the part of the rubric that relates to this task in order for you to see what kind of information we are looking for.  

  

Please drop your written contributions, photos and videos in relation to Flexible Learning Enviornments in this location by Monday, July 13.  On Monday, you will receive an updated blog with our new focus.  

If you are curious what we are compiling, you can look at Belton New Tech High School's iBook or any other school iBook on iTunes.  Download it to your iBooks and the sky is the limit.

If you are interested in going through our Twitter Feed and adding photos to the five categories, please email Chantel and Todd and we will grant you access to the folders.

If you are interested in heading up one of the 5 areas of this project they are:

• Visionary Leadership
• Innovative Learning and Teaching
• Ongoing Professional Learning
• Compelling Evidence of Success
• Flexible Learning Environment

Thank you, Britt, for meeting with Todd and Chantel today to start the legwork on this.  

Week of June 22

Happy last Friday in June.  It is hard to believe we are already this far into summer "break."  For some of you...you haven't had a break yet with trainings and professional learning.  Today is the first day I am OFF from coming into school, yet here I blog.  I believe it is safe to say...we all have a LOVE of this RJL place.  I head out of town on Sunday to Cabo and if you have tried to email me....well.....you will be proud of me- my auto replies are set.  I will be doing my best to disconnect until I see some of you on July 7.

Until then... let me update you on what has happened since school has been out.

Chantel and Todd were trained on new RTI district procedures that we will go over during back to school training.  We hosted Tapping Out with Tiles phonics training with K-2 designers.  We also hosted a full day of Apple Training that reviewed Challenge Based Learning and oriented us to iBooks.  Many of you have attended Balanced Literacy training in the district.  Our very own, Lauren, was a showstopper presenter.   Thank you to those that attended.  Jillian and Kylie attended training with Lucy Calkins.  They will share their learning during district and campus training this year.  Sam has attended Formative Assessment and Global Classrooms training, and Jessica is at an Art Workshop today.  Samira, Todd, Priscilla, and Courtney M. attending Lead4ward Training that we will share about at our first Leadership Meeting.  Not to forget...we have many of you (Samira, Layne, and Taylor) curating math curriculum and doing other work for our district.  THANK YOU!!  I'm sure there are more of you!!  Please let me know if you are left off.   We have an amazing building full of learners and we cannot wait to learn from each of you as you grow this summer.

With the help of Courtney, we got all of our new hires that have Coppell ISD email their MacBooks and most of them their iPads.  (Shelley- I have your MacBook ready when you get in town).  We all remember what it was like being thrown into the Mac world- they are blessed- they have the summer to get oriented.   Here are some resources for ANY of us to use as we grow in our Apple knowledge.   Scroll down to page 11 to find Apple Learning Series Offerings and that live link will take you to the iTunes store.  There are self-paced courses to help you gain skills you are interested in.  If you participate in any of these, or any other summer training.  Please submit your hours in Euphoria for flex credit.

We received word that we have been nominated as an Apple Distinguished Campus.  What does this mean?  Well check this out to learn more.  This is an amazing honor considering they are making an exception for our nomination year one of operation.  Typically schools must be open 2-3 years before they can be recognized.  This nomination is the result of a hugely successful visit from Apple on May 13.  Apple reps were HIGHLY IMPRESSED with the practices they witness with CBL, technology integration and leadership.  Thank you, designers, for BEING YOURSELVES, but also showcasing your greatness!  The result of this visit is our design meeting on July 7.  EVERYONE is invited to attend and learn more, as well as contribute to the creation of our story through iBooks.  Jodi Dienhamer will join us and share her expertise, as well.  Our book is due August 31.

We also found out that the board has approved a pilot that RJL, CMSN, and NewTech@Coppell High will be participating in.  Apple and IBM are partnering in an educational innovation that will easily bring resources for learners to our designers.  As I learn more, I will keep you informed.  

As I will frequently remind you...each of you has been hand picked for our school.  Much work has gone into finding just the right people and in placing you in just the right spot.  We have spent the last few weeks finding additional famiLEE members as we added another first and fourth grade section.  We also found and ESL facilitator that will, most likely, be at Lee full time.  This is great news as our ESL population grows.  Please welcome the following through email or text so that they can begin making connections and feel at home.  

ESL Facilitator:  Claudia Rios cjriosmundo@gmail.com (214) 476-5990

Third Grade: Jess Smith jess_smith2@hotmail.com (817) 874-2398

First Grade: Jacque Johnson jacquejohnson152@gmail.com (469) 438-4697

Our houses will look like this:

So you can see... it has been a busy couple of weeks.  Before we know it July will be here.  Todd and I are back to work on July 21. We will spend July 21 and 22 at the North Texas Regional Consortium Conference.  We are looking forward to attending Roxann's Digital Books Workshop while there.  

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO COMPLETE THESE THREE SURVEYS:

Returning and new staff,  tell us all about yourself.  We will use this information to help with surprises throughout the new school year. 

 Complete this brief survey so that Chantel, Todd, and Angela can better serve you this next school year.  We are already addressing concerns brought to our attention.

Click here for the Googleform, to share insight for new Lee staff members.  

NEW HIRES:

DATES TO REMEMBER

June 27- Viana's Birthday

July 13- Cassie's Birthday

July 26- Nicole's Birthday

July 31- Wendy's Birthday

August 3-4- Balanced Literacy Training  (Sanela and )

August 3-7- New Teacher Orientation

August 18-21- RJL Back to School Training
August 20- Meet the Designer Night (5:30-7:00)

Week of June 8

Happy Summer Break!  We are looking forward to seeing everyone during our Tapping with Tiles and Apple Training this week.  We will also plan some fun school outings so that our new staff can start feeling like part of our famiLEE!

SUMMER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Tapping Out With Tiles Training will be on Tuesday, June 9.  First and Second grade designers will attend from 8:00-12:00 and Kindergarten designers will attend from 1:00-4:00.  Our session will take place in the yellow house flex space closest to the library.  You will receive flex hours for your time.  To learn more about Tapping Out with Tiles, click here.  

Apple training is on Wednesday and Thursday, June 10 and 11.  Please be here at 8:00 so that we can get everyone set up with technology.  We will start promptly at 8:30.  Light snacks will be provided and lunch is on your own.  See you in the yellow house flex space for this training, too.

As an employee of Coppell ISD you are entitled to attend professional development during the summer.  Our district is providing Balanced Literacy Training from June 15-June 17.  While I cannot require you to attend, I would highly recommend it if you are in town.  Some of our designers from Lee will be presenting during this time.  Since sign up was online, I had our director enroll all new hires, in case you wanted to attend.  Here is information about where and when the training will be held. 

Monday, June 15 - Wed., June 17

CISD Summer Literacy Conference K-2; 3-5; K-5 2.0; 6-8 New Tech @ Coppell

CISD Professional Staff

Staff earn 6 flex hours for each day attended Parking @ St. Ann’s Church

Employees new to Coppell ISD will attend New Hire Orientation.  Below is the information for you for your August calendars.  We will have campus training the week of August 17-21. 

TECHNOLOGY
New hires, we are going to do our best to get you technology when you are at training this week.  We have MacBooks and iPads that will be issued to you, and you may want to start becoming familiar with over the summer.  If you are interested in doing so, our technology checkout form is here.  Please bring a paper copy to training, this week, in order for us to sign out your technology.  Also, Alli has shared this great Mac Learning Track if anyone wants to play over the summer.


SUMMER SCHOOL SUBBING
Want to substitute at summer school?  Click here to sign up.


COPPELL EDUCATION FOUNDATION GRANTS
If you are interested in working on a grant during the summer, here is the application to use for planning purposes.  Actual applications are due from September 14 through October 14 through a Google Form that will be open when we return from summer break.


2015-2016 FACULTY FAVORITES
Please take time to tell us all about yourself (even if you are returning).  We will use this information to help with surprises throughout the new school year. 


END OF YEAR ADMIN SURVEY
Please take time to complete this brief survey so that Chantel, Todd, and Angela can better serve you this next school year.  

DATES TO REMEMBER

June 7- Elisa's Birthday

June 9- Tapping Out with Tiles Training 

            1st-2nd Grade Designers (8:00-12:00) 

            Pre K-Kinder Designers (1:00-4:00)

June 10- Apple Training (1/2 of All Staff)

June 11- Apple Training (1/2 of All Staff)

June 12- Courtney G's Birthday

June 13- Caroline's Wedding

June 15-17- CISD Literacy Academy 

June 15- Taylor's Birthday

June 17- Alli's Birthday

June 17-18- Dr. Knezek Professional Learning (Priscilla, Samira, Courtney, CK, TH)

June 20- Sara's Wedding

June 27- Viana's Birthday

July 13- Cassie's Birthday

July 26- Nicole's Birthday

July 31- Wendy's Birthday

August 3-4- Balanced Literacy Training  (Sanela and )

August 10-14- New Teacher Orientation

August 17-21- RJL Back to School Training
August 20- Meet the Designer Night (5:30-7:00)