Week of August 14, 2023

Thank you for a wonderful week supporting one another and working so well together.  Seeing your houses and your grades work and learn together while bonding fills this school momma's heart.  It has been such a wonderful time of togetherness, fun, laughter and nervousness. I am so super proud of the work you have accomplished this week and hope that time on Monday eases some of the worries or stress you have as you prepare for #rjlyear10. You are all loved more than you will ever know!

Day 1 is NOT about RULES!

DID YOU KNOW:

• the new Sonic Ice Machine is supposed to be ready for the first day of school?
• a mobile air conditioner will be in the lounge by the first day of school until our new unit arrives?  Yay for community lunch with air conditioning!!!
• there is a link to responses to our Faculty Favorites in case you want to know your famiLEE members better or surprise them with a treat?  Home addresses are hidden for your privacy.
• while weather is extreme, you can check here to see how it impacts Recess and PE?
• a Back to School Guide for parents was sent out to parents from Chantel?  Feel free to share as you communicate with parents next week.  You will want to read it, too.
• we had a former nurse whose pet project was these orange Home Depot buckets with supplies in them for emergency purposes?  She is no longer with us and Chantel would like the orange buckets to be collected and given to Music. You can keep any flashlights or supplies inside or discard them. Please have these gone before MTD Night.  Thank you!
• it is expensive to set up a classroom?  If you need help, CISD allows solicitation only through Donor’s Choose through your school email.  If you create an Amazon wishlist to help with your classroom, please use only your personal email account and and only share with your friends and family.
• we will use the hashtags #rjlyear10 and #rj10ve this year? Please make it a priority to tell our story. If you don't tell it, who will?

MEET THE DESIGNER NIGHT

I KNOW you will make Meet the Designer Night memorable for our FamiLEEs.  You only get one chance to make a first impression, and I am certain you all are planning ways to make this memorable for ALL.  I can't wait for the children and their families to see you!  You can stay in your Convocation t-shirt for Meet the Designer Night.  Specialists and Specials, please get with Admin so we know where you will be helping tonight.

FRIDAY

Please wear your dark grey, year 10 t-shirt from your table on Monday. We will take a staff picture at 8:00 on the front steps. We will follow that with house time. Be ready with charged devices so you can be engaged with Special Education, support staff, and Admin during our hour with you. The other time is for you to work as a house to go over the Leadership Notes and to prepare for house procedures. Please be ready to join us in the cafeteria for required campus updates from 2:00-3:30.

MONDAY

Monday is an optional telecommute day.  That means you can work electronically, from home, if you choose. The building is accessible, too, for those of you that want to work here.  ENJOY flexibility from CISD on this day.  

TUESDAY- FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

The first week is about building SOLID and TRUSTING relationships with the children and their famiLEEs.  My expectation for you, this first week, is to ensure that time spent together is SO FUN and EXCITING, that the learners do not want to leave our school. 

All learners will be permitted to be walked to class by their parents on the first day.  We open the school doors at 7:20.

Parents are welcome to come to the cafeteria to meet with PTO and Campus Administration before they leave.

Please, by September 1, pick up the phone and call EVERY family. Tell them/leave a message sharing something special about their child.  It will pay huge dividends to take the time to do this!  Parents are used to only getting phone calls when there is something wrong.  Let's change their perception!  It is also a TTESS Domain 4 descriptor.  Specials, please call 25 learners. 

KINDER CONNECT

Here is important information for kindergarten parents regarding the first week of Kindergarten.

 

THANK YOU PTO

Please make time to share a thank you on social media to @FamiLEEPTO for their generous start up funds for you.  We want to make sure these continue each year by sharing our gratitude.  PTO will be providing Kona Ice to staff after dismissal duty on our first day of school.

WHAT IS PTO?

Please share with your parents.

CISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION

You can order your 2023-2024 CISD Ed Foundation T-shirt here.  We will wear them every Tuesday.  They will be delivered the end of September.

ADMIN  VISITS
Your Admin Team likes to visit with each and every learner/class in the first couple weeks of school. Please sign up for an office visit with each of us here (tabs for each of us).  We can't wait to have you visit us.


FIND YOUR MARIGOLDS
Our work is HARD work, but we are surrounded by such AWESOME people here at Lee.  Take a minute to read (or reread for some of you) this passage adapted form Cult of Pedagogy.  Find your "marigolds" at Lee, better yet...be someone's "marigold!"

COACH'S CORNER

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

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Excellence- to stand out with valuable quality

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

Quickly learn the names of other designers and learners in the school and greet them by name.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"Excellence is never an accident.  It is always the result of High Intention, Sincere Effort, and Skillful Execution" -Aristotle

DATES TO REMEMBER:

August 10- Convocation (be seated on the floor by 8:30)  GO LAURA!!!

August 11- Campus Day (don't forget to be here at 8:00 in your school shirt)

August 14- Campus Work Day with remote option

     CISD Compliance Courses Due

August 15- First Day of School

    Yahoo/BooHoo Breakfast from PTO (Cafe AM)

    Kona Ice for staff from PTO @ 3:25 (front of school)

August 16- NO WEDNESDAY AFTERSCHOOL MEETING

August 17- First Day of School

    Kona Ice for staff from PTO @ 3:25 (front of school)

August 18- Announce Kinder Connect Changes

Week of August 7, 2023

Being the Principal of this school is a dream come true.  If you ever wonder what my story is and why Richard J. Lee Elementary is so special to me, read the first blog post on Elementary Done DifferentLEE. (sorry to those of you that have heard about this for the TENTH time)  It is the story of me finding out when I got "THE JOB," the BEST JOB in the world at the most incredible school on the planet.  I have no children of my own, so birthing this school is one of my hugest accomplishments. WHY am I here?  I'm here because of our beautiful children, I'm here because I want to make a difference, I'm here because of each and every one of  YOU.  You are FamiLEE to me, and I would have it no other way.  Cheers to #rjlyear10, team.  We are here to LOVE on each other because each of you and our Spurs deserve it.  There is nowhere else I would rather be!

DID YOU KNOW:

• CISD communications is looking for team Tik Tok videos for Convocation Roll Call?  Wanna participate?  If you do, send your video to me before end of day on Monday, and I will make sure it gets to the right person. 
• our hashtags this year are #rjlyear10 and rj10ve?
• our AMAZING PTO will be gifting you a $50 Amazon Gift Card on Monday as a Back to School Gift to purchase items for your classroom?  Fill up your cart, now!
• on Monday, communication from CK was sent out to parents about "all things beginning of the year?"  Here is the link if you want to include in your introduction email to parents.  Content is continually added.
• these are the CISD Grading Practices for 2023-2024?  They are also posted in our RJL Schoology Course under assessments and in our Lee Staff Handbook.
• the district would like you to know about their Strategic Plan and CBAS Overview?

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILEE

Kat Yegge comes to Lee with five years of assistant principal experience in both Coppell and Lewisville ISDs. In her 18 years in education, she has also served as a bilingual teacher, an instructional coach, and a literacy specialist. She has a 19 year old daughter, Savannah, and enjoys spending time outdoors with her two dogs or traveling across the globe.  

My name is Kirthika Banu Saravanakumar. I have been living with my family in Texas for the past 5+ years. I have 2 children, my son, who is a sophomore at CHS and my daughter, who is a 4th grader. This will be my first year teaching in Active Learning in Coppell and I am very excited to meet you all. Thank u.

WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR NEXT WEEK?

You got an email from Nancy Garvey with all the details for next week. The district shared this schedule document to help you understand where to go.  There are tabs at the bottom and we can help you with understanding the document if you have ANY questions.  We are here to support you! 

We also have a campus day by day glance to help our visual learners (like me).  We are going to LOVE for us all to be together on Monday!  If you are not sure where to be, and when, please ask.  Bring your charged technology each day.  Please know this is subject to change as more information comes in from CISD.  We also were SUPER INTENTIONAL to give you as much time as we could in your grades and houses to be able to be ready for the first day.  We got this!

CLASS LISTS

Next week class lists will start to be populated in eSchool Plus. Remember these are constantly changing, so please do not make class labels or send emails, until Friday or Monday.  All grade level designers will email a welcome to their learners and parents through Parent Square to be scheduled to send out at 1:00 PM on Thursday, August 10.  Time will be provided, on Monday, to work together, as a grade, so you can comprise your welcome email.  

CONVOCATION

On Thursday, you can get into CHS arena starting 7:30, but must be seated ON THE FLOOR (thanks, Laura for being the district Teacher of the Year and earning us the BEST seats in the arena) by 8:30.  Wear your CISD convocation t-shirt that we deliver to you next week.  It is advised to carpool because traffic is a BEAST when you depart.  

MEET THE DESIGNER NIGHT

Please share on your social media.  We will wear our CONVOCATION shirts on this night.  Remember that your room does not have to be PERFECT for Meet the Designer, just tidy.  First impressions are first impressions.  Think about how your famiLEEs can capture a memory in your space/house.

SYNCING YOUR GMAIL TO OUTLOOK (thank you Julie, our fabulous Digital Learning Coach!)

This is new information that was JUST added to the Lee Handbook.  You will want to sync your CISD Gmail account with your Outlook account so that you only have one email account to monitor.  Here are the steps to accomplish this task:

1. On your computer, open Gmail using the account you want to forward messages from. You can only forward messages for a single Gmail address, and not an email group or alias.
2. In the top right, click Settings   See all settings. 
3. Click the Forwarding and POP/IMAPtab.
4. In the "Forwarding" section, click Add a forwarding address.
5. Enter the email address you want to forward messages to.
6. Click Next  Proceed  OK.
7. A verification message will be sent to that address. Click the verification link in that message.
8. Go back to the settings page for the Gmail account you want to forward messages from, and refresh your browser.
9. Click the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
10. In the "Forwarding" section, select Forward a copy of incoming mail to.
11. Choose what you want to happen with the Gmail copy of your emails. We recommend Keep Gmail's copy in the Inbox.
12. At the bottom of the page, click Save Changes.

TO DO FOR ALL:

1. Finish reviewing the RJL Campus Handbook. This gives you ALL the ins and outs of Lee Elementary.  You will want to be logged into your CISD google account to access linked documents.  We request you read the handbook by August 14.  New/changed items are highlighted in yellow.  Any new district policies that are in the 2023-2024 CISD Employee Handbook supersede our campus handbook.  We do not have access to the new handbook yet, so they are not reflected in our campus one. All staff should submit for flex credit after they complete reading the handbook. 
2. Add the Lee Staff Calendar to your Outlook Calendar

• Go to your Calendar in Outlook
• On the left hand side, click Add Calendar
• Select your account with your email.
• Type in "Lee Calendar" and select the email with leecalendar@coppellisd.com
• Click Adder, open Gmail using the account you want to forward messages from. You can only forward messages for a single Gmail address, and not an email group or alias.

CISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION

You can order your 2023-2024 CISD Ed Foundation T-shirt here.  We will wear them every Tuesday.  They will be delivered the end of September.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Aug 7- CAMPUS DAY 

Aug 8- District Day- Curriculum Updates and Digital Portfolios

Aug 9- District Day- Unit Previews and mClass Training

Aug 10- Convocation and Campus Day

     Meet the Designer (5:30-6:30)

Aug 11- Campus Day

Aug 14- Option to work at school or from home today

     CISD Compliance Courses Due

Week of July 31, 2023

It has been a wonderful first week back for your Admin Team.  We have been working behind the scenes to set up the 2023-2024 school year.  We are super excited for the upcoming school year with all of you being part of our FamiLEE!  We had our Administrator's Academy last week, so I am sharing information as I get it from CISD.  

DID YOU KNOW:

• that iStation will not be used in CISD next year?  There will be some training for mClass for all elementary grades at the beginning of the year.
• there is a preliminary schedule for all staff for the welcome back week from CISD?  We are working on our detailed schedule after this week's Academy and will communicate it out to you as soon as it is completed.  (Most likely Tuesday)

LEADERSHIP RETREAT

We are looking forward to working with our campus leaders on Tuesday.  If you have ANY items you want your house or grade leader to address, please take this opportunity to do so.  

RJL ROADSHOW

We can't wait to see you if you can make it on Wednesday.  This is an optional event, and flex will be provided for those who attend.  Dress is casual as we will be hopping on and off of the charted bus driving through our neighborhoods.  Please bring signs, balloons, and your school spirit- it will be loads of fun!  Please be here by 8:00 so we can leave on time.

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILEE

Hello! My name is Julie Bowles. This will be my 12th year in education. I have taught 4th and 5th grade in Dallas ISD, Valley Ranch Elementary, and Canyon Ranch Elementary. I'm excited to support you this year at Lee as your DLC! At home, I've been married to my childhood sweetheart since 2011. We have two boys- 9 year old Xander and 16 month old Oliver (I know, big age gap!). I love to read, play video games, and take our dogs in walks when we aren't all melting from the Texas heat. At school, I'm passionate implementing transformative technology usage in the classroom and I love to help in whatever way I can. I can't wait to get to know you all and learn alongside you this year!

My name is Amber Winsor. I’m looking forward to joining the Lee Elementary this year! 

I was born and raised here in Texas. I graduated college in Virginia where I met my husband. I played 4 years of college soccer. We lived in Virginia for several years working for the university before moving across the country to Washington State. We moved back to my hometown  2 years ago. My husband and I have a 4 year old son. We enjoy riding bikes together, traveling, attending sporting events, and spending time with our family here in Texas. I’ve worked in childcare since graduating college in 2014. I have always had a passion for helping kids become the best they can be. I’m excited for this new opportunity as an active learning paraprofessional and look forward to meeting all of you.

Hello! My name is Farhada Faizy, but I prefer to be called by my middle name Farrah. I have three beautiful children (a 21-year-old daughter studying biochemistry, a 17-year-old son, and an 8-year-old son). I have lived in New York State my entire life but decided to move to Texas for a new chapter in my life. It will be a huge adjustment, but I am looking forward to being a part of Lee Elementary Family! 

TO DO FOR ALL STAFF:

• Please fill out this form so we can learn all about your favorites.  It also helps us with ordering the proper size for your school shirt for the school year.  Our order is due SOON.  THANK YOU-WE ONLY HAVE A DOZEN OF YOU LEFT TO CAPTURE.
• Start reviewing the RJL Campus Handbook so you don't have to worry about it when school is in session. This gives you ALL the ins and outs of Lee Elementary.  You will want to be logged into your CISD google account to access linked documents.  We request you read the handbook by August 14.  New/changed items are highlighted in yellow.  Any new district policies that are in the 2023-2024 CISD Employee Handbook supersede our campus handbook.  We do not have access to the new handbook yet, so they are not reflected in our campus one. All staff should submit for flex credit after they complete reading the handbook.   
• Add the Lee Staff Calendar to your Outlook Calendar.  Thanks for new directions, Kat!
• Go to your Calendar in Outlook
• On the left hand side, click Add Calendar
• Select your account with your email.
• Type in "Lee Calendar" and select the email with leecalendar@coppellisd.com
• Click Add

It is OKAY if you are taking this time for YOU- please do not feel guilt if you decide to wait until you are on contract or back in town to do these tasks. 

KEYS AND BADGES

Each staff member will have keys to your Design Studio and Storage Room for your House. If you are in a classroom, you should also have a key to the classroom door. If you are in need of these keys (or any others), please indicate that on this form or reach out to Angel.

#RJLSUMMERSELFIECHALLENGE

Don't forget to participate and share what you are doing this summer!  New hires...join in!

BACK TO SCHOOL SAVE THE DATE

DATES TO REMEMBER

July 31- Kindergarten Pre Assessment Day

Aug 1- Leadership Retreat 

Aug 2- RJL Bus Tour (8:00-11:00)

Aug 3- New Hires visit Lee (2:15-4:00)

Week of July 10, 2023

What a great couple of weeks off.  I spent some time in Washington DC, Arkansas, and Waco this summer.  I'm super excited for #rjlyear10 and that YOU are part of our FamiLEE.  Our Leadership Team will be meeting on August 1, so if there is anything you want to them to address, please reach out. These gals are super committed to bringing our guiding purpose to life, and we value this group of leaders!  We are in the process of adding all of you to your Microsoft TEAMS teams, now that our final hire took place on Monday.  That means it is time to share our color coded list- YEEHAW!  The district has deep cleaned and painted our building.  For those of you wanting to come up for any reason, you are welcome and there is air M-Th from 8:00-3:00.  Keep in mind that our building is not completely re-cleaned from a month ago, but Aramark will be getting on it.  I hope you will drop by the office to say HI when you are here.  It's nice to have a minute with each of you to catch up and hear about your time off.

Our theme this year is "LOVE What You Do, Do What You LOVE" and we are excited to weave this theme through our guiding purpose.  Did you see what Angel did here with the design for our 10th birthday??  She is SO CREATIVE!

DID YOU KNOW:

• NFM has free rugs for teachers on Saturday, July 15 from 9:00AM- 11:00 AM?  If you want to get one for your classroom guidelines are here. 
• Coppell ISD sent out an email regarding compliance training for this year? These courses are due on August 14.  
• since all learners will have keyboards for their iPads, that the district will be adjusting the shared MacBooks on campus for 2023-2024?  Lee Elementary will have approximately 36 shared MacBooks designated for student use.  If you have concerns you want me to share with CISD during my Principal Meeting, please share them with me. 
• CISD has planned, that between November and December, we will get new iPads, cases, keyboards, and styluses for elementary students and all staff?  They will also replace our 1:1 computers. More information will be shared as the date approaches. Thank you to our CISD community for approving the Bond that will help pay for these. I know I am READY for a new laptop!
• TPT is blocked from your CISD devices?  An email came from Dr. Applegate this Tuesday stating: "while we want our educators to be able to be creative and innovative in their approach to teaching, we also need to make sure that we are using resources that are approved by the state/curriculum team in order to follow state guidelines about having a viable and equitable curriculum.  I ask that you make sure all of educators have joined the CISD Curriculum and Instruction Group in Schoology where approved resources are housed:  T6SM-FCKV-CDMVT".
• there is a preliminary schedule for all staff for the welcome back week from CISD?  I will get you more detailed information after our Principal's Academy the last week in July.

COLOR CODED STAFF LIST

Here are the long awaited assignments for this year.  We are excited with the houses and grades we have built.  Thank you for your patience.  The * indicates your house and grade leadership representative. 

COFFEE WITH YOUR COACH

New hires to Lee are invited to Coffee with Samira, our talented Instructional Coach, next Thursday.  What a fun way to meet up ahead of time.  We are here to answer questions and to start building relationships with you.  Hope we can see you there!

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILEE

We found some amazing additions for our FamiLEE this Spring and Summer.  We are also getting some talent from other Coppell ISD campuses.  We are going to LOVE having these folks on our campus.

Hi! My name is Beulah Mathews, and I am so excited to be a part of the FamiLee for the 2023-24 school year!  A little bit about me! This will be my 8^th year in Education, I was a 4^th grade teacher for 5 years and this will be my 3^rd year as a Dyslexia Therapist. I have a twin brother and we were born and raised here in Texas.  I love spending time with my family and making memories with my cousins, nieces and nephews! My hobbies are making desserts, watching movies and traveling as much as I can with the cousins. I attend Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton and love to serve anyway that I can. I love teaching and believe that it is the greatest profession in the world. I'm excited about this upcoming school year and I know that it is going to be amazing! 

Hello!  My name is Joy Om, and I am so excited that I get to join Lee Elementary as a 5th grade teacher! I was born and raised in the DFW area, and I recently graduated from UNT in May with a Bachelor's in Education. In my free time, I volunteer as a Sunday School teacher and children's praise team leader at the Dallas Central Methodist Church. Some of my hobbies include ice skating, singing, and painting.  The more I teach and spend time with younger ones, the more I realize my passion for this field. I believe my joyful energy will be a good addition to this community and I'm looking forward to meeting everyone :)

Hello! My name is Jenny Park. I am so excited to join Lee Elementary this upcoming school year as a third-grade teacher. I have taught first and second grade for seven years and worked as an ESL Specialist in Plano for the past two years.  I love traveling, reading, hiking, and trying new restaurants. I can’t wait to be part of the Fami"LEE".

My name is Julie Sherman. I have been an elementary school teacher for 25 years. I am from North Carolina and moved here in 2007. I have two teenage daughters. Samantha is 16 and Sydney is 13. A spoiled miniature dachshund dwells in the home and has us trained well. In the middle of all the teenage angst, and my rock, is my husband, Roger.  He is the lucky guy that gets to keep me sane. I love being a teacher and the unintentional comedy that students bring into my life. I am excited to get to know everyone at Lee Elementary and look forward to working with each of you.

My name is Tara Porter.  My husband and I have three kids (two in high school and one in elementary school).  Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, I worked in real estate and in the business office of a university.  When I am not at my kids’ sporting events, I enjoy crafting and cooking. I have been involved in CISD as a substitute, volunteer, and room mom, but I am now looking forward to working with the faculty, staff, learners, and parents in the front office at Lee Elementary!!

Dedra Renaé Parker grew up in Louisiana and became a resident of Texas in 2008, where she

continued working in the private sector of preschool. She was a teacher until 2013. She took on her first position as a secretary to a principle in 2013 and fell in love with her responsibilities. Compared to her previous role as an administrator and armour bearer that she carried out for five years.

Dedra is also a business owner as an independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay. Her motto

is “If just one more woman, today discovers how great she really is, it will be a great day!”

Outside of her purpose she loves to travel, shop, relax by water, and take rides around her city

to see the night sky and lights. She stands on her belief…. God first, family second, career third.

Hi, My name is Josna Joseph. I am very passionate and friendly person. I am a master graduate in computer science and engineering, though having two kids of my own hearten me to change my profession and work for kids' development. There is no better path than paraprofessional to bring my career. Being around kids always makes me curious how wonderful each kid develops especially during their younger age, and being a promoter for that is always a right way for me. I have more than 3 years experience in teaching and system administration, and believe this experience will help me to encourage students at a younger age for their development and social learning.  I am always committed to provide positive environment for my colleagues and warm and welcoming for anyone in need. Being a paraprofessional will help me to focus in my career and move forward towards achieving my future goals. 

TO DO FOR NEW HIRES

As a new hire, I am sure you are thinking about what you can do to start getting ready for your new adventure at Lee.  Each blog I pepper out some suggestions so that you are not too overwhelmed during Back to School time.  This blog I would encourage you to:

1. Connect with your House and Grade leads.  You can find their names on this staffing list and email them. 

It is OKAY if you are taking this time for YOU- please do not feel guilt if you decide to wait until you are on contract or back in town to do these tasks. 

TO DO FOR ALL STAFF:

• Please fill out this form so we can learn all about your favorites.  It also helps us with ordering the proper size for your school shirt for the school year.  Our order is due SOON.  
• Start reviewing the RJL Campus Handbook so you don't have to worry about it when school is in session. This gives you ALL the ins and outs of Lee Elementary.  You will want to be logged into your CISD google account to access linked documents.  We request you read the handbook by August 14.  New/changed items are highlighted in yellow.  Any new district policies that are in the 2023-2024 CISD Employee Handbook supersede our campus handbook.  We do not have access to the new handbook yet, so they are not reflected in our campus one. All staff should submit for flex credit after they complete reading the handbook.   

It is OKAY if you are taking this time for YOU- please do not feel guilt if you decide to wait until you are on contract or back in town to do these tasks. 

SAVE THE DATE

What a great way to hang out with your FamiLEE and earn 3 hours of flex time on Wednesday, August 2.  This is an optional event, and flex will be granted for those who attend.  Dress is casual as we will be hopping on and off of the charted bus driving through our neighborhoods.  Please bring signs, balloons, and your school spirit- it will be loads of fun!  Communication will continue to be sent to our school community and through our social media.

#RJLSUMMERSELFIECHALLENGE

Don't forget to participate and share what you are doing this summer!  New hires...join in!

DATES TO REMEMBER

July 13- Cassie's Birthday

July 19- Kim's Birthday

July 20- Ed's Birthday