Week of October 24, 2022

What a week, friends!  THANK YOU to all of you who stepped up in BIG ways.  Whether it was being a learner at Reading Academy, helping in a different capacity this week as we had sub shortages, staying late to learn at staff meeting, or being there for a teammate or colleague that needed you.  YOU DID IT!  YOU CRUSHED IT AGAIN THIS WEEK!  Do you know what is a month away?  DECEMBER TO REMEMBER!!!  We are excited thinking about how to celebrate each of you.  Get ready!

DID YOU KNOW?

• Monday is not only wear Red Day, but is is Diwali?  Please invite learners to wear their traditional clothing this day.  They are so proud of their heritage and culture and we want to celebrate that. 
• you are doing a great job getting communication approved by CISD?  Please do not send any links in your newsletter that haven't come from the blog.  
• if you download the Lead4ward app that you can access "quick checks" and "think it up" activities to support formative assessment with your learners?  This is a great next step after Wednesday's training.
• that we have a partnership with St. Augustine University and their occupational therapy department?  You may see cameras or videographers on campus because they have learners who are designing costumes for some of our learners in wheelchairs. These visitors are approved by the district. 
• you still have time to nominate this year's Teacher of the Year?  Here is the TOY Website and Nomination Criteria and Form. Nominations are due November 4.  Please turn them in to CK.
• PTO would like kids to vote on the Nov. 11 movie to be played at FamiLEE Movie Night?  Please let them use this form or QR code.

RED RIBBON WEEK

Red Ribbon week is HERE!  Please join in on the fun and share pictures of learner participation.  You should have your party horns in your boxes from Angela and Jessica to kick off the week.

WRITE A CHECK

Write a Check continues this week.  Please share this message in your weekly newsletter:

President’s Message Dear FamiLEEs, At Richard J. Lee Elementary, our first priority is ensuring we are able to give our learners the tools they need to learn and grow. As an Apple Distinguished School, National School of Character, and Kindness Certified School, as well as the second largest elementary school in CISD, you can see why our campus is consistently ranked among the area’s top schools. This year, we are hoping to meet (if not exceed) our Write-A-Check goal of $25,000.  If we can get all of our FamiLEEs to donate $100 per child (although any amount is greatly appreciated) by October 28, we will be well on our way to meeting our fundraising goal this year. More importantly, 100% participation in Write-A-Check shows our commitment to the school, its designers, and our children. While gifts differ in size, each gift has the same impact on participation and is appreciated. Will you join us in working toward that goal? All donations can be submitted directly at rjleepto.membershiptoolkit.com/wac. Your contribution will make a huge impact in all of the activities the PTO and school has planned that will benefit ALL learners. When parents like you give back to our school, Richard J. Lee Elementary is able to lay the groundwork for future student achievement. Thank you for being such a supporter of student success! With warm regards, Neelu Rajput PTO President

Currently, we are at less than 2% of participation rate.  Please consider donating today - we appreciate your generosity! Note: only electronic donations are accepted (do not send in cash or check to the school). Thank you! https://rjleepto.membershiptoolkit.com/wac

LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL

Thank you designers for hosting elections for our Campus “LEE”dership Council. I am excited to work with your representative this year. Please add their name, house, grade and shirt size on this Google Form. Please fill this form out by Friday, November 4th, 2022. 

Thank you

FLEX LEARNING

Join us for one of two sessions on Wednesday to earn an hour of flex credit.  Please remember to submit your request into Power School at the conclusion of your session.   

• Does implementing digital workflows in the classroom have you feeling like a contestant on the TV show, Nailed it? Never fear, Schoolwork is here! Not only is Schoolwork designed to assist in “cooking up” collaboration using Pages, Keynote and Numbers, but there are features that can put the “icing on the cake” for learners using 1:1 iPads in the classroom.  Are you up to the Schoolwork Nailed it! Challenge?  Join me at flex time for a delicious afternoon learning about digital workflows.  

TRUNK OR TREAT THIS WEEK

This outdoor event will take place in our back parking lot.  PTO will have a voting station for the "BEST" trunk and a prize will be given.

PTO SPIRIT NIGHT ON THURSDAY

Don't worry about cooking dinner on Thursday night.  Call an order in to Papa Johns and tell them you are with Lee Elementary.  Our PTO will get 20% donated back.  

BOOK CHARACTER PARADE IS NEXT WEEK

Want a reason to wear a costume to school? Pick a costume and find a book to go along with it.  Our entire school will parade at 8:00 on Monday, October 31.  Parents are invited and welcome to surround the track. Please have them sign in here.

ESL UPDATES

Have Students Collaborate With Peers. Through peer collaboration, students learn in ways that we, teachers, can’t provide. Learning is social. When multilingual students collaborate with monolingual English-speaking peers the reciprocal learning that happens among them is invaluable. Group work, Jigsaw approach, literature circles, and book clubs are just a few examples of collaborative settings.

COACHES CORNER

DLC UPDATE

Pixel Art is a great way to review concepts with one correct answer. You can use pixel art to review spelling, math, vocabulary terms and more.  As students answer the question correctly, a picture will begin to appear. This is a great self-checking activity for students.  Click here to see how you create your own pixel art activity with the concept you teach!  Want to try it out? Check out this CVC Example or book Alli to learn more!

DATES TO REMEMBER:

• RJL WRITE A CHECK CAMPAIGN (REMAINDER OF THE MONTH)
• NATIONAL DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH
• STOMP OUT BULLYING MONTH
• BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
• NATIONAL PRINCIPAL MONTH
• HINDU HERITAGE MONTH
• RED RIBBON WEEK

Oct 24- Diwali

Oct 26- Flex Learning (3:15-4:15)

     LEEdership Council Elections

Oct 27- Trunk or Treat (5:30-7:00)

     PTO Spirit Night at Papa Johns

Oct 28- GEMS due

     Super Spurs Cookie Exchange

Week of October 17, 2022

Boy this shortened week has sped by!  Great job with your report cards and personalized comments.  Customizing this feedback takes extra effort and is why you are the incredible group you are! Please disconnect from school and enjoy rest and relaxation this weekend.  LOVE YOU ALL!

DID YOU KNOW:

• it is Digital Citizenship Week?  Please check out this Bulb resource from our DLCs.  Also, don't forget the incredible resources available on commonsensemedia.org/education. There are ready-to-teach lessons to address the needs in your classroom.  Please showcase your learning using #DigCitWeek.  

WRITE A CHECK
Write a Check continues this week.  This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, so it is imperative that you talk up this fundraising event with our learners so their parents will participate. We will update you on morning broadcast with teacher and house leaders as they are shared with me.  Our goal is $25,000. 

LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL

It is time to elect a representative from each class. Please send the following information to your parents and learners through the weekly newsletter. 

 

Our class will be electing a LEEdership Council representative Wednesday, October 26th, 2022.  This learner will meet with Mrs. Samira Khan throughout the school year during normal hours to develop their leadership skills and voice on campus. 

 

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

1. Candidates will create a Clips video as a campaign video. Make sure you address:

a.    Who are you?

b.    Why are you the best candidate for this position?

c.    What is your campaign promise? What will you do to make Lee Elementary a better place?

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

 

Good luck! 

May the best candidate win.

DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH

 

Apple has several helpful assistive technology tools for your learners with dyslexia to use on their iPad. Click here for Apple's guide to Accessibility.  Below is a list of options in accessibility that could be helpful:

• Speech- speak selections and Speak Screens
• Highlight content
• Dictation (Click microphone and enable)
• Reader view on Safari
• Color Filter / Invert colors
• Predictive Text Keyboard

 

If you need help updating or navigating a learner’s accessibility features, please let us know! 

 

*Don’t forget learners with dyslexia have access to Learning Ally. This is a great way to build vocabulary and spark an interest in reading!

WALKTHROUGHS IN OCTOBER

Don't forget to read feedback and sign off on your first walkthrough.  For this month, we will be giving you feedback on Domain 2.4: Differentiation.  These observations go so well with our campus goal of formative assessment and small group instruction.  We will be looking for:

• Individualized Lessons
• Monitoring participation and performance
• Recognizing confusion and disengagement
• Addressing the SEL needs of learners
• Strategies used to meet the needs of special education and EB learners

If you want any support to achieve these bullets, set up a time with Samira, Alli, Ayesha, Corinne, or Alex.

RED AND BLACK SUPERSTAR NOMINATIONS OPEN

The nomination period for CEF Superstars is currently open! The deadline for the 1st round of the Super Star program is Friday, December 2, 2022.  The program is designed to give parents and CISD staff an opportunity to recognize the dedicated and hardworking students, teachers, administrators, and support staff within the district. Parent can nominate any CISD staff member at their campus that they would like to be considered for the award.  Student nominations will be submitted by CISD staff.  Awards will be given out twice per year, and the winner names will be ready for announcement starting Friday, December 9.  Link to Nomination Form

RED RIBBON WEEK APPROACHING IN ONE WEEK

We will participate in these Spirit Days the last week in October.   

TRUNK OR TREAT COMING SOON

This outdoor event will take place in our back parking lot.  PTO will have a voting station for the "BEST" trunk and a prize will be given.

SAVE THE DATE FOR PTO SPIRIT NIGHT

Don't worry about dinner on the night of Trunk or Treat.  Pick up or order a pizza and support Lee Elementary PTO.

BOOK CHARACTER PARADE WILL BE HERE

Want a reason to wear a costume to school? Pick a costume and find a book to go along with it.  Our entire school will parade at 8:00 on Monday, October 31.  Parents are invited and welcome to surround the track. 

COACHES CORNER

Let’s collaborate! Sign up so we can work together.

DLC UPDATE

Creating a culture of reflection in your classroom is so important as learners develop their metacognition skills. Why not use your digital portfolios as a regular reflection spot? 

📝 Check out this weekly reflection template that can be adjusted to your needs and copied for learners! This and other useful templates can be found in the learner reflection template collection of the DLC bulb site.

ESL UPDATES

Provide High-Quality 1st Teach. This is a big one. EBs who receive initial instruction that is insufficient will often fall further behind academically and linguistically. When this happens over an extended period of time, many EBs have difficulty exiting state ESL programs and are often labeled LTEBs (or long-term English bilinguals). On the other hand, those that receive high-quality, first teach that amplifies language and is comprehensible, thrive academically and develop language simultaneously.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

• RJL WRITE A CHECK CAMPAIGN (REMAINDER OF THE MONTH)
• NATIONAL DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH
• STOMP OUT BULLYING MONTH
• BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
• NATIONAL PRINCIPAL MONTH
• HINDU HERITAGE MONTH
• SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK

Oct 16- Alex's Birthday

Oct 17- Hannah J's Birthday

     Reading Academy

Oct 18- Reading Academy

Oct 19- L'Oreal's Birthday

     Reading Academy

     Staff Meeting (3:15-4:45 Cafe)

Oct 20- Reading Academy

RED RIBBON WEEK IS ONE WEEK AWAY!