Elementary Done Different "LEE"

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Week of September 21, 2026

Special Friends Day has been phenomenal! Thank you to everyone who offered their time and help to keep things running smoothly and to all designers for graciously allowing learners to return a little late from lunch if they went to the Book Fair. Holly and our volunteers hosted a fantastic Book Fair, and PTO, Officer Thames, support staff, and our Office Team were truly on their A-game.

DID YOU KNOW:

CK will be at an out of town wedding this weekend, so she will not be here on Friday or Monday?
you can wear shorts and comfy clothes on Friday? Hours are 8:00-3:30, but "Pest Control" is arriving at 3:00. Here is the agenda I turned in to CISD. Please use the afternoon as it best fits your needs.

HOMECOMING WEEK SPIRIT DAYS

It is CHS Homecoming week and Spurs are welcome to participate in the following dress up days. Staff, moving forward...if it is a spirit day and you are participating...jeans are permitted.

We invite all famiLEEs to join us at the Homecoming Parade on Wednesday, September 23. Our LEEders will be walking in the parade representing Lee Elementary. If you want to watch the parade, the route will start on N. Coppell Road and W. Parkway Blvd. and go all the way to CHS. The parade starts at 6:00 PM and ends at 7:00 PM.

FROM OUR NURSE

REMINDERS FROM OUR AP

Need help with either task? Please reach out to Angel or Julie with any questions. We’re happy to help!

MTSS Quick Glance Reminders:

Keep all previous notes - please do not delete prior documentation
Date all new notes and updates as you add them
Any learner can be added. There are no strict cutoffs or grade levels that are excluded. If you’re unsure whether a learner should be added, add them & we'll discuss in MTSS.
Please move learners to their current house as needed
Learners who have withdrawn can be moved to the Withdrawn tab

Please include Angel on your communication to parents about the 1416 letters.

Thank you for helping us keep our MTSS information current and useful!

PARENT LEARNING WALKS

As part of our campus Parent Engagement goal and a strategy in our Campus Improvement Plan, the last Thursday of every month, Mrs. Kastrounis will host a community learning walk at Lee. This month the walk will be from 8:00-9:00 on Thursday, September 24 and parents planning to attend should arrive with their ID to check in at 7:50.

I know this should go unsaid, but please make sure that during this time your learners are engaged in meaningful learning experiences. What do I mean by "meaningful learning experiences?" This means small group instruction, hands on experiences, your class engaged in varied activities (not all doing the same exact thing and all on an iPad). These learning walks are a fabulous way to showcase the incredible learning in our building and also to erase misconceptions about Lee and public education.

CELEBRATE OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM

We have so much great teaching happening at Lee Elementary. Please take time to nominate a peer for Super Teacher recognition by Sept. 25. Learn more about what makes a teacher a Super Teacher by browsing the "Looks Fors" at visiting www.coppellisd.com/page/super-teachers.

Has someone gone above and beyond and you want to recognize them? The CISD Great Employees Matter or GEM program recognizes outstanding employees who serve the mission and core values of CISD in a manner that exceeds job expectations. Nominate a GEM in your school or office by Oct. 23. Learn more about the program at www.coppellisd.com/page/great-employees-matter.

HOUSE COLOR SHIRTS AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME!
Show your school spirit with our brand new house color shirts! This year, we've updated the look with a fresh Team Lee jersey design and vibrant new colors, perfect for Spirit Day Fridays, field trips, and showing off your house pride all year long. Don’t miss the chance to grab yours at rjlpto.org/spurstore. The order deadline is September 27, with delivery the week of October 19. Adult sizes are also available so parents can join in the fun and showcase their school spirit! Place your order today!

COACHING CORNER

BOY Assessment Reports

Beginning -of-Year MAP reports will be digitally sent to families via ParentSquare on Wednesday, September 23, by your Learning Coach. No action is needed from designers for BOY MAP reports unless you would also like to send home a paper copy!

For mCLASS, print and send home the mCLASS cover letter and student reports. Please ensure that these are sent home prior to October 9th. mCLASS Report Printing Instructions If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!

Friday

I can't wait to see every grade level for a quick HMH + Reading Workshop dive on Friday! We will have 30 minutes together in the morning, and then I will circle back with every grade in the afternoon to answer any questions and provide additional support.

Please bring (however you prefer to access them!):

~Teacher's Guides

~Your Teaching Pal

CISD ED FOUNDATION GRANT WINDOW OPEN

Grant applications open September 14 and will remain open through October 2. The Give for Grants program exists to make your innovative ideas come to life in the classroom. Grants are available to teachers at all levels. Strong grant applications involve innovative ideas that transform classroom learning and have an immediate, long-lasting impact. Read more about the program on our website. Please run your idea by CK before you start.

WALKTHROUGHS THROUGH SEPT

Throughout September, Angel and I will be in your spaces to give you feedback regarding Domain 3.1 Learning Environment (Classroom Routines and Procedures) and 3.2 Managing Student Behavior. We will be looking for:

Current character trait posted
Daily Schedule
What is on your magnet wall
“I Can” statements posted
Anchor Charts in all subject areas
Math and Science manipulatives and supplies accessible to learners
Each learner has a designated place for their supplies
Respect Agreement visible
Digital Citizenship Contract signed and displayed
Learner Work displayed
Guiding Purpose hung
Effective Routines, transitions, and procedures in place
How you manage learner groups and supplies

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

DATES TO REMEMBER:

NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

Sept 22- LEEdership Council Mtg (9:35 Laura's space)

Literacy Content Academy today

Sept 23- Tracy's Birthday

Staff Mtg- Would you like the gift of time? YOU GOT IT!

Homecoming Parade (6:00-7:00 PM)

Sept 24- Parent Learning Walk (8:00-9:00)

Sept 25- SLO Goals in Power School DUE

Super Teacher Nominations DUE

CEF Grant Log-In requests DUE

Thursday, September 10, 2026

Week of September 14, 2026

Thank you for taking the time to review our leadership meeting notes as a house. Your collaboration and commitment to keeping everyone in the loop is what makes our campus strong and united! This upcoming week is full of energy and excitement with Special Friends Day and the Book Fair. These events are such wonderful opportunities to showcase the heart of our school, and I know our students (and their famiLEEs) will feel the love, joy, and dedication YOU bring to every detail. Let’s keep lifting each other up, celebrating the small wins, and leaning into the power of teamwork. I’m so proud of all the ways you continue to champion our students and create memorable experiences for them. You’ve got this... and I’ve got you!

DID YOU KNOW:

they will not finish installing furniture today? They will move it all into the cafeteria and finish delivery tomorrow.
if you host a club, you have to have permission slips for learners who participate in school clubs? If you are a club sponsor, please keep your permission slips for your participants. At this time these do not need to be turned in to anyone, but they should be available if someone asks for them. Sample permission slip is here.
we are going to recognize a "Lee Volunteer of the Month?" The front office will make sure to have volunteers drop their names in a collection box when they volunteer. Each month PTO will draw for a gift card for our volunteers. Just thought you would want to know in case you want to share with your volunteers!

THE SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR IS NEXT WEEK
Your child will be previewing the book fair and will be coming home with a “wish list” of books they would like to purchase. Please consider helping your child participate if you are able and sending money or filling up their Scholastic E-Wallet. If you’re new to the Book Fair, we created this FAQ document to provide more info!

DOT DAY

FLEX LEARNING WEDNESDAY

Use this hour to learn about a topic of your choice. Please submit to Power School for 1 hour of flex and describe your learning. Leadership, if you want to discuss chapter 2 we will be in the conference room.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT AT SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY ON THURSDAY

We invite you to stop by and have lunch with your learner on Thursday, September 17. 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. School lunch is priced at $5.00 and will be charged to your learner's account. If you pre-register, we will have name tags prepared for you ahead of time so you can quickly check in and avoid waiting in a long line.

LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL ELECTIONS

After the campaign speeches/videos have been shared, allow all learners in your class to cast their vote. Please complete this Google Form with the name of your class representative before leaving on Thursday. Thank you. Please read leadership notes regarding the Leedership Council representative.

NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY FOR LEARNERS

REMINDER TO STAFF ON LUNCH DUTY

It is your responsibility to monitor the "Peanut Free" table (there is only one now) 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.

ATTENDANCE

As you make vacation plans this year, remember that missing school can impact your child's learning and success, and it also affects attendance laws. Please schedule trips following the holidays on the CISD calendar to ensure compliance and support your child's education.

HOUSE COLOR SHIRTS AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME!
Show your school spirit with our brand new house color shirts! This year, we've updated the look with a fresh Team Lee jersey design and vibrant new colors, perfect for Spirit Day Fridays, field trips, and showing off your house pride all year long. Don’t miss the chance to grab yours at rjlpto.org/spurstore. The order deadline is September 27, with delivery the week of October 19. Adult sizes are also available so parents can join in the fun and showcase their school spirit! Place your order today!

PTO MEETING MINUTES

We loved seeing so many of you at our first PTO meeting of the year on Tuesday! You can review the meeting minutes at www.rjlpto.org/pto_meetings. We’re also proud to share highlights from the PTO’s accomplishments during the 2025–2026 school year—take a look at https://www.rjlpto.org/whypto

LAST CALL FOR HOUSE FUNDS
This is your FINAL opportunity to donate to our Annual House Fund before it closes on September 13th. We are currently $2,000 behind where we were last year at this time. These contributions make ALL of our student celebrations possible throughout the year. Don’t miss your chance to make an impact—visit rjlpto.org/housefunds today to donate. Every dollar counts!

WALKTHROUGHS THROUGH SEPT

COACHES CORNER

After School Professional Development Opportunity

Sarah Leishman, Lynlie Brown, and Samira are offering after-school professional development for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade educators. Participants will unpack the TEKS for Unit 3 of STEMscopes and internalize the first scope of the unit. Educators will also receive the corresponding Skill Builders and Explores documents. Registration required, click here.

LESSON IN LEEDERSHIP

DATES TO REMEMBER:

BOY GOAL SETTING WINDOW
BOY MAP AND MCLASS WINDOW CLOSES THIS WEEK
NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL ELECTION WEEK
CELEBRATE FREEDOM WEEK
FALL BOOK FAIR WEEK

Sept 14- Boy Scouts @ Lunch (need microphone) They will speak during your lunchtime.

Sept 15- Progress Report Grades DUE (8:00)

Dot Day (wear your dots)

Scouting Event (7:00 PM Cafe)

Sept 16- Progress Reports Generated

Flex Learning (3:15-4:15)

Sept 17- Special Friend's Day

LEEdership Council Representatives submitted

Sept 18- Campus Professional Learning Day

Thursday, September 3, 2026

Week of September 7, 2026

What an incredible week it has been. Getting into so many classrooms has been a joy. Have a fabulous Curriculum Night tonight. We appreciate the purposeful ways that you interact with our parents. This is a great opportunity to make them feel welcome at school. We will unlock the front doors at 5:15 so that parents can get to your spaces and get seated. We will close the front doors at 5:45. I hope that this will get parents here on time so that your presentations are not interrupted with late guests. Please begin presenting at 5:35.

DID YOU KNOW:

calendar invites were sent out for your beginning of the year goal setting meetings? Please be on time and join us in the conference room with your Macbook. Your Canva DOES NOT need to be complete, but you should have a template created so that the link can be attached in our required documentation. Here is our agenda.
you should always wear your badge/ID and close doors and turn off lights when you leave spaces? CISD Safety Audits will begin soon. (see below)
campus clubs like STEAM, Choir, Art, and Chess are beginning to fill up? Learners will have envelopes with their fees for club enrollment. Please send them to the club sponsor with these.
the district is going to have a Vulnerability Assessment (a safety audit) on October 6 and maybe October 7? You could be stopped at any time by a TEA representative on this day and asked how you would respond in an emergency situation. This Campus Staff Presentation will help make sure you are ready. Make sure you have the updated SRP sticker on your badge.
Chantel will be at district training on Tuesday and Wednesday at Pinkerton? Text if you need anything. I will be here in the mornings and back for our Leadership Meeting.

NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY

Just a reminder, Lee Elementary will be closed on Monday, September 7th, in observance of Labor Day. We hope you enjoy a safe and relaxing long weekend with your FamiLEE! We’ll see our Spurs back at school on Tuesday, September 8th.

PTO MEETING REMINDER

Save the date and please join us for our first Virtual PTO meeting of the school year on Tuesday, September 8th, at 6pm. Tune in for key updates from the Lee administration and your PTO team. A link to join will be emailed prior to the meeting. We can’t wait to see you there! Visit rjlpto.org/rjlspeaks to submit anonymous questions for the PTO or the RJL Admin team prior to the meeting

CURRICULUM SAVE THE DATES

Here are the dates for curriculum previews from the Khans. I'm super grateful for Zoom links for Lee Staff. These videos would be appropriate for Team Time, if your grade is interested.

BOOK FAIR IS COMING

Book Fair time is approaching. This is a time where there is an assortment of books, posters, and more for purchase while at school. Any funds raised at Book Fair go back to our school library to buy more books and supplies for all learners to use in our media center. Your child will be previewing the book fair this week and will be coming home with a “wish list” of books they would like to purchase. Please consider helping your child participate and make it easy by filling up their Scholastic E-Wallet.

FALL BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEER SIGN UP IS LIVE

The Scholastic Book fair 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! rjlpto.org/bookfair

PATRIOT DAY and TEXAS FIRST RESPONDERS DAY

Thank you, Deputy Thames, for all you do as both a first responder and our School Resource Deputy at Lee! We are incredibly grateful for the way you serve, protect, and care for our learners, staff, and FamiLEEs each day.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT AT SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY ON SEPTEMBER 17

LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL
It is time to elect a representative from each class. Laura and I are excited to begin working with the new LEEdership Council. Here’s a timeline of events:

Introduce elections in newsletters: August 28
Campaign week: September 14-17th, 2026 (Depending on how many candidates you have, you could pick one day or multiple days.)
Election Day: September 17th, 2026
Deadline to submit Google Form with the information about Class Leader: September 17th, 2026

Please send the following information to your parents and learners through your weekly newsletter:

Our class will be electing a LEEdership Council representative on Thursday, September 17th, 2026. This learner will meet with Mrs. Kastrounis and Mrs. Jennings (Y5A) throughout the school year during normal school hours to develop their leadership skills and share their 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:

Candidates may create a campaign video or prepare a speech to speak in front of the class. Make sure candidates:

Introduce yourself
Share why you would be the best candidate for this position
Share what you will do to make Lee Elementary a better place
Speak for 2 minutes or less.

OPTIONAL: Campaign poster
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.

TECHNOLOGY REMINDERS FOR STAFF AND LEARNERS

ALL LEARNERS should have their picture as their background on their home screen so we can easily identify the owner of the iPad. They should not create their own designs or put pictures of anything else as their home screen.
Learners should only take pictures and videos as instructed to do so in class. The iPad is not a personal photo album for them, and we should not see pictures and videos from home on 5th grade iPads that do not relate to a school assignment.
Learners should be reminded that there is a filter on their school iPad and that whatever they do can be re-traced and reported. School digital citizenship expectations apply, at all times, when learners are using their school iPads. Learners should not erase their history and we must do random history checks to hold them accountable.
If learners damage their iPad, their case, headphones, or charger, or pen, they will be financially responsible for the damage.
Learners must carry iPads with two hands and "hug them to their chest" when they are walking with them.
Learners should never leave an iPad on the floor.
Learners should not be eating their snacks and using sticky or dirty fingers to work on their iPad.
iPads are not permitted to be used on the bus. They should remain in learner backpacks.
5th graders leaving for extended travel are to leave their iPad at school for when they return.
Staff should use Apple Classroom when learners are on devices.

ATTENDANCE

Pro Parenting Tip: Schedule dentist and doctor appointments outside of school hours or choose afternoon slots so your child doesn't have to miss school. Every day counts! Thank you for supporting your child's education and helping us maintain strong attendance. Together, we can make a difference!

ROOM PARENTS FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS CLASS FAMILIES AND STAFF

We still have a few final slots open for Room Parent in the following classes: Green 1, Purple 1, Purple 3B, Purple 5, Yellow 1. 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. Find out more, and sign up at rjlpto.org/roomparent

HOUSE FUND DONATIONS OPEN

Our annual house fund contribution window closes September 14th. These funds are how we support all the celebrations we host throughout the year. Please visit rjlpto.org/housefunds to learn more and donate! Your support is greatly appreciated!

WALKTHROUGHS THROUGH SEPT

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

🏠 Make HMH Family Letters More Family-Friendly

HMH provides a Family Letter for each module with vocabulary, questions, and ideas for practicing at home. The information is helpful — but it can also be a lot of text for families to navigate, especially when English is not their first language. Rachael shared this really great idea during first great CTT today, and we wanted to share it with others- give the HMH Family Letter a quick visual makeover with AI!

1. Download the Module Family Letter from HMH.

2. Upload it to ChatGPT.

3. Copy + paste the provided prompt.

4. Review the finished product to make sure the learning matches the original HMH letter before sharing it with families.

For example, the Grade 2 Module 2 Family Letter focuses on exploring and making discoveries, practicing the words examine, identify, and record, and gives families simple ways to reinforce learning through conversation, reading, and word play. Using the Copy + Paste Prompt (also linked below!), here is what was generated:

📋 View the Copy + Paste Prompt Here! This prompt is LONG - you do not have to read it! Copy, paste, and go. 🙂

✨ One last step: AI-generated materials always need a quick human check! Compare the finished one-pager to the original HMH Family Letter for accuracy before sending it home.

LESSONS IN LEEDERSHIP

DATES TO REMEMBER:

BOY GOAL SETTING WINDOW
BOY MAP AND MCLASS WINDOW
CELEBRATE FREEDOM WEEK
FALL BOOK FAIR WEEK BEGINS

Sept 7- NO SCHOOL

Sept 8- Virtual PTO Meeting (6:00)

Sept 9- Leadership Meeting (3:15 Yellow House)

Sept 10- Monica's Birthday

5th Grade TX Wildlife Visit

Goal Setting Meetings

Book Fair Previews

Sept 11- Goal Setting Meetings

Susie's Birthday

Book Fair Previews

TX First Responders Day

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Week of September 21, 2026

Thursday, September 10, 2026

Week of September 14, 2026

Thursday, September 3, 2026

Week of September 7, 2026

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