Thursday, September 14, 2023

Week of September 18, 2023

We have one more full day of goal setting and then you will see our faces "out and about in the building" 😍.  Please pay attention to tomorrow's morning broadcast.  I am bragging on ALL OF YOU!  You continue to make me SO PROUD to be your principal!  I hope the small gesture of bringing you an unexpected snack is just one tiny way to let you know that your Admin Team sees how hard you work and you deserve to treat yourself!!  CHEERS TO YOU ALL!  



DID YOU KNOW:
  • Dr. Hunt shared that we are going to have a ten day window (starting tomorrow) that formal security audits will happen at Lee Elementary?  What does this mean?  Make sure you wear your badge, close exterior doors at all times, and don't let strangers in our building.  THANK YOU!
  • that if you have parents with concerns or compliments for CISD Transportation that they can send them HERE?
  • the MacBook you will be getting from CISD is the M2 15" Mac Air?  Letting you know in case you want to start shopping for a fun case for your device.  They will be coming soon.
  • you MUST put in help desk tickets for Griffin?  He has to have a log of what needs done and we also need to show that we NEED him full time.
  • you can recognize your peers for jobs well done?  Here is how:

FALL BOOK FAIR IS HERE
Designers, don't forget that you can add items to the "wish list" boards at the Book Fair.  Thanks, Holly for the delicious cakes!




SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY
We invite you to stop by and have lunch with your learner on September 19.  After having lunch, you are welcome to shop at our Scholastic Book Fair in our media center.  Please sign up here to help us prepare for this special day.  We will have name tags prepared for you ahead of time so you can skip checking in and waiting in a long line.  Only our Library and Cafeteria are open to guests during this event.  

(this graphic can go home- link is open to receive responses)


REMINDER TO STAFF ON LUNCH DUTY
It is your responsibility to monitor the "Peanut Free" tables and to ensure that learners are not sitting there with any nut products.  This includes Nutella.  Thank you for helping to keep our learners safe.  This truly is a matter of life or death for some of our learners. 



LEARNER-LED CONFERENCE DAY

As you start to plan your fall conferences, keep in mind that October 5 is an early release day.  The half day afternoon can be used to complete your conferences, update grades and comments for the first nine weeks report cards, and for and any extra planning you need to do for the October 6 Conference Day.  Please send home parent sign ups, NOW, for Fall Conferences.  Please let our Admin Team, Angela, Jessica, or Samira know if you need us to sit in on any of your conferences.  Involve Mary, Amy, and Beulah as case managers of your SPED learners.  Remember that these are LEARNER-led conferences, even for our youngest of friends and you should schedule 25 minutes per learner.  Thank you for supporting CISD's core value of collective engagement.



RAISE THE THINKING

Thank you, Ayesha, for sharing this reminder with us so that we can level up with our kiddos.




SAY HELLO UPDATE FROM ANGELA & JESSICA

Thank you for also completing your Second Step lessons!



LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL ELECTIONS
Please allow candidates to share their campaign videos in class. They can airplay on your Vivitech using their iPads. Older learners can also add to a schoology album. After the campaign videos have been shared, allow all learners in your class to cast their vote. You can create a google form, or use a ballot box option. 
By Friday, September 22nd please complete this google form so I have a final list of class leaders. 



FLEX LEARNING WEDNESDAY
Please remember to submit for flex credit when you participate in Flex Learning.  Here is a great offering provided by our talented DLC, Julie.


Discover the power of ParentSquare, the ultimate tool for connecting with parents and creating a stronger home-school partnership. 📚🏡 
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, September 20
⏰ Time: Afterschool choice PL session!


💡 What ParentSquare Can Do For You:
📢 Send instant announcements and updates
💌 Connect you 1:1 with parents via the app
📰 Create newsletters directly in ParentSquare!
📷 Share private media albums, links, and files
📆 Share calendar invites with an option to collect RSVPs and auto-remind
📋 Easily create and manage conference sign-ups
📊 Track parent engagement and communication
👩‍🏫 Why Attend?
✅ Increase family engagement with the help of automatic translation!
✅ Strengthen strategies for engaging parents.
✅ Streamline communication to save time.
✅ Foster an inclusive and connected classroom community.




FLU CLINIC
On October 6, Albertson's will provide flu shot clinics at Lee from 10:30-11:15. Staff will have the opportunity to sign up for other vaccines as well. Staff may sign up using the QR code on the attached poster. The clinic will accept all insurance plans. Participants should bring the attached informed consent and medical and pharmacy insurance cards to their appointment.



HOUSE FUNDS FOR PTO- FINAL CHANCE
FamiLEEs, our House Fund closes today, September 15, 2023. If you would like to help replenish our annual house funds, please do so today. These funds go directly back to the school in support of our house parties, teacher appreciation week, and designer and staff birthday and holiday gifts throughout the year. Currently we are at 50% of our goal. Donations will be accepted through midnight September 15th. We appreciate your generosity so much! Please consider donating today. bit.ly/HouseFunds


COACH'S CORNER

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


LESSON IN LEEDERSHIP




DATES TO REMEMBER:
  • BOY GOAL SETTING WINDOW CLOSES THIS WEEK
  • BOY MAP AND MCLASS WINDOW
  • NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
  • FALL BOOK FAIR WEEK
  • DEAF AWARENESS WEEK
Sept 17- Sri's Birthday
Sept 18- CK at Cabinet Meeting (AM)
Sept 19- Special Friends Day (Lunch times)
     Reading Academy Day
Sept 20- Flex Learning (3:15-4:15)
     LEEdership Election Day
     Reading Academy Day
Sept 21- Chantel not here
Sept 22- Employee Goals Due in Perform
     Chantel not here
Sept 23- Layne's Birthday
* Y'all behave while CK is away 🤣

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Week of September 11, 2023

What a fabulous week participating in beginning of the year goal setting with most of you.  Angel, Kat, and I are impressed with the thoughtful reflection and goal setting ideas you each have, and we look forward to supporting you on your scientific journey. THANK YOU for having the growth mindsets that you do and for continuing to stretch yourselves as professionals- you deserve it and OUR KIDS DESERVE IT!  To thank you for all you are doing, there will be pizza delivered from Politanos, after school, for those who want something to eat before Curriculum Night.  LOVE YOU!


DID YOU KNOW:
  • you should always wear your badge/ID and close doors and turn off lights when you leave spaces?  CISD Safety Audits will begin, soon.   
  • if a student needs to be in the library during recess, that you need to contact Holly to let her know?  They should check in with her when they arrive.  She is not in the media center between 11:30 and 12:00, so if you have a learner during that time, please send them to the office or clinic for supervision.

PTO MEETING
We have our first VIRTUAL PTO Meeting of the year on Tuesday night at 6:00 pm.  A Zoom link will be emailed to parents, through Parent Square, on Tuesday morning.




DOT DAY IS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Here is a collaborative class book template in Pages to go along with The Dot book for Dot Day. 


LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL

Add to you newsletter:

 

Our class will be electing a LEEdership Council representative Wednesday, September 20th, 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:
    1. Introduce yourself
    2. Share why you would be the best candidate for this position
    3. Share what you will do to make Lee Elementary a better place
  1. 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.



COOKING CLUB OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT

Looking for something for your learner to do after school?  Here is an opportunity on campus for K-5 learners. 



  
BOOK FAIR
Please share the following information in this week's newsletter regarding our upcoming Fall Book Fair.




SAVE THE DATE FOR SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY
We invite you to stop by and have lunch with your learner on September 19.  After having lunch, you are welcome to shop at our Scholastic Book Fair in our media center.  Please sign up here to help us prepare for this special day.  We will have name tags prepared for you ahead of time so you can skip checking in and waiting in a long line.  


 

DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR HOUSE FUND DONATIONS
FamiLEEs, we are still in need of your help to replenish our annual house fund donations. These funds, often referred to as classroom funds, are how we support our house parties, teacher appreciation week, and designer and staff birthday and holiday gifts throughout the year. Currently we are at 25% of our goal. Donations will be accepted through September 15th. We appreciate your generosity so much! Please consider donating today. bit.ly/HouseFunds



WALKTHROUGHS
We will be beginning walkthroughs this week.  During these VERY BRIEF visits the next couple of weeks, we will specifically evaluate Domain 3.1 which is Learning Environment (Routines and Procedures).  We will look for things like the current character trait posted, learning objectives visible, learner work displayed, supplies and materials accessible to all, etc.  We can't wait to find ways to brag on you.  Please take time to review your feedback and feel free to use the communication tools in Talent Ed to follow up, if desired.  Our walkthroughs are not a "GOTCHA," they are about GROWTH. 


PARENT COMMUNICATION
Do you keep a parent communication log?  This is a good idea for both positive and not so positive conversations.  In education: if it is not documented, it didn't happen. Panorama is the PERFECT PLACE to document parent communication.  Also, think about picking up the phone (instead of emailing) when you have an issue that could potentially escalate.  We have a caring staff, and typically if there are issues, it is due to miscommunication.  When a parent has your listening ear and hears your voice on the other end showing concern, most problems will be solved.  Please always inform Admin if you have a "tricky" conversation.


COACH'S CORNER


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



ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK




LESSONS IN LEEDERSHIP



DATES TO REMEMBER:
  • BOY GOAL SETTING WINDOW
  • BOY MAP AND MCLASS WINDOW
  • CELEBRATE FREEDOM WEEK
Sept 11- Susie's Birthday
     TX First Responders Day
Sept 12- Lariettes Greet in the morning
     Progress Report Grades Due (8:00AM)
     PTO Meeting (Virtual- 6:00 PM)
Sept 13- Leadership Meeting (3:15 Yellow House)
Sept 14- CISD College t-shirt Day
     CHS Volleyball players greet Spurs in the AM
Sept 15- Fall Book Fair Arrives at Lee

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Week of Sept 4, 2023

Thank you for your efforts to write meaningful and measurable goals for this school year.  I have enjoyed this first round of Team Time and the chance to engage with many of you as you were working during staff meeting.  I looked around at our group and feel such love because I was reminded what an incredible staff we have.  In the next 24 hours, please give yourself 60 seconds to stop what you are doing, pause, and celebrate what you have accomplished so far this school year.  YOU ARE AMAZING AND LOVED SO VERY MUCH! We could not be more pleased with the first two and a half weeks of school and what you are part of creating at Lee!!!  Have an incredible L-O-N-G weekend!




DID YOU KNOW: 
  • that Keiko is officially a temporary employee of Lee Elementary, again?  We are so excited that she can be PAID for all of the work she does with your classrooms and in our outdoor learning garden.  YAY!  Thank you to those of you that have signed up to work with her in the garden and outdoor spaces.  Her school email is knishino@coppellisd.com.
  • Ms. Parker is all things budget and your sub requests?  Please see her for questions in those areas.  Our front office team is doing a great job learning all of the behind the scene operations, so thank you for your patience and understanding with them.
  • new guidelines for "once in a lifetime" requests were sent out? If you have any questions, come see Chantel.
  • that starting Wednesday, Sept 4, a second line will be open on pizza lunch days?  CHEERS!
  • we WILL be getting a new playground this year?  Stay tuned as more info will be shared as it is available.

COLLEGE SHIRT DAY
The first Wednesday of every month we celebrate higher education.  We encourage our learners and staff to wear college shirts on these days. 





CURRICULUM NIGHT
Thank you for welcoming our FamiLEEs to your spaces and to Specials and Support Staff for directing parents where to go.  This is your second impression with your FamiLEEs, so make sure your space is tidy, learner work is displayed and there is evidence of the great teaching that has occurred these first few weeks.  Grade leaders, please share your FAQ documents with me.  I will look over for approval and make sure there is a quick turnaround.   Don't forget to share your presentation (including speaker notes for those who don't attend) in the next week's newsletter.  We will open front doors at 5:15 on Thursday evening. You can dress casual for the school day, but please wear professional dress for Curriculum Night. Please send this to your parents:  We will open front and back doors at 5:15 so you are in  your seats ready for presentations promptly at 5:30.  This is not a come and go event,  you will want to be on time and attend the entire session to learn more about the upcoming year and campus/classroom procedures. This also gives you the opportunity to meet other parents.  See you there!




PLEASE ADD TO YOUR CURRICULUM NIGHT SLIDES
PTO asked if you would please share this info in  your Curriculum Night Slides.  Could you please add to your deck.  THANKS!  I just got this request.



BUDGET
We are excited that we now have our 2023-2024 budget dollars to order what you need to work with your learners.  Part of my role is to make sure you have the supplies you need to do your job.  Please try to plan ahead so that you do not have to spend personal funds on supplies.  Also, be thinking about items we need to add to house storage closets (like manipulatives, science tools, etc.) and write up a PO and put it in my box.  Remember that it will take a couple of weeks to process, get quotes, and ship.  Please do not turn in a PO unless you have verified that your order is from an approved vendor.  In addition, if you are ordering from Amazon, a copy of the cart should be attached to the PO.  WALMART is NOT an approved vendor.  For those of you that already put POs in my box for this year, they will be processed this week.  


RESPECT AGREEMENTS
Please email a photo of your respect agreement to Kat and Angel so that they can put it in the office Discipline Binder.  We will refer to your respect agreements when learners have behavior reflections.  Remember that there should only be 3-4 bulleted expectations in each quadrant.  


PTO CORNER
We still have a few final slots open for Room Parent in some classes; please consider signing up or encouraging your network to do so if they are in these classes! This role can be tailored to what works for you and your class. The classes that still need at least one parent to volunteer are:
  • Blue: 2, 4A, & 4B
  • Green: 1 & 4
  • Purple: 2 & 4B
  • Red: K, 4, & 5

Find out more, and sign up here!   bit.ly/RJLRoomParent




The Scholastic Book fair is coming to Lee Library soon, and the volunteer sign up is live.  Act fast to get a slot that works best for you!  This is one of the first onsite volunteer opportunities of the year and a great way to get involved and foster young readers!  bit.ly/RJLBookFair


Additionally, Mrs. Stout can always use volunteers to help during the year with reshelving books, covering books, etc.  You can sign up at the following link.  Pro tip; bookmark this page as new slots are added throughout the year!  bit.ly/RJLLibrary  Reminder, if you plan to volunteer for these or any other future events, complete your yearly required CISD Background Check asap here



HOUSE FUND DONATIONS OPEN NOW

FamiLEEs, we are in need of your help to replenish our annual house fund donations. These funds, often referred to as classroom funds, are how we support our house parties, teacher appreciation week, and designer and staff birthday and holiday gifts throughout the year. Currently we are at 16% of our goal. Donations run through September 5th. We are excited to be able to celebrate our FamiLEE in these ways throughout the year and your support allows us to do that. We appreciate your generosity so much! Please consider donating today.

bit.ly/RJLHouseFund




COACH'S CORNER


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



ESL STRATEGY OF THE WEEK

Please share these flyers with your parents.






DATES TO REMEMBER:
  • GOAL SETTING WINDOW OPEN
  • BOY MAP & MCLASS WINDOW OPEN
  • NATIONAL SUBSTITUTE APPRECIATION WEEK
  • SOCIAL SPURS DUES SUBMITTED
Sept 4- NO SCHOOL
Sept 5- Goal Setting Meetings
Sept 6- College Shirt Day
     Goal Setting Meetings
     Onboarding Meeting (3:15 Yellow House)
Sept 7- Goal Setting Meetings
     Curriculum Night (5:30-6:30)
Sept 8- Spirit Shirt Day