Week of December 1, 2025

YOU MADE IT!  Thank you for an incredible AND BUSY last week before the Fall Break.  I appreciate all you have done to work on parent engagement these first three months.  So many of you have also been engaged in out of school activities to support our learners, too: tennis matches, Vivace performances, Honor Choir, Spelling Bee, learner birthday parties and soccer games, Sky Ranch, and MORE!  What an amazing bunch you are!  Enjoy the week off and time to rest.  December is here and I am HERE FOR IT! Let's go!

DID YOU KNOW:

• since CK will not be here at dismissal on Friday, we will sing this song after broadcast, tomorrow.  It is our "newest Thanksgiving tradition."
• we clean the fridge out at 1:00 on Friday? Please take your items after you finish lunch.
• you should set your emails to auto reply that Richard J. Lee Elementary will be closed for Thanksgiving Break from November 24–28? ENJOY the break and don't check your email!
• your CISD Bullying compliance course is due November 30?  Please make sure you have this completed.
• joggers are allowed the month of December at Lee Elementary?  Please make sure if you are wearing leggings that your shirt is long enough to cover your pockets.  Please don't ruin it for everyone! 
• on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, all staff are required to work in person from 8 a.m. to noon, after which CISD will close for winter break? Hourly employees will need to use comp time to account for the remaining hours of the workday.  January 5th is a staff work day.  This means you may work from home or at school. If paraprofessionals work from home, they must have tasks to work on from the classroom teacher.

NO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK

DECEMBER TO REMEMBER

We hope you are looking forward to our first week of December to Remember.  We have SO MUCH FUN planning out ways to show you how much we love you and to bring the fun throughout December!  As we plan, we try to be mindful not to take too much of your time, not to always have food, to remember food sensitivities, and to keep our crafts on the easy side! If you are absent or for any "projects" or want extras to do some with your family at home, we always have plenty.  Just email us or let us know by the end of the day and we can share our extras!!   Thanks for making this a December to Remember for your learners as well!  

We might’ve pulled a little holiday switcheroo with those Christmas Vacation hints… call it our own version of “You serious, Clark?”  Updated calendar images will be added after we deliver your calendars in the morning.  

Here is a spirit day calendar for you to share with your families.

TEAM TIME IN DECEMBER

While we will still have Team Time in December, we will not formally meet in the conference room during December. That said, you are welcome to meet and lesson plan during this time if it is not an early release day for you.  Please check out the DTR calendar to see what day our groups have the "gift of time."  Make sure your house knows how to cover for your early leave days.  Specials and Special Education, please work together to cover duties and for one another, too.  Rikki, let me know when the Sped staff members are planning to head out early this month.  I do apologize to our hourly employees that we cannot offer this gift to you.  

WEDNESDAY IS COLLEGE SHIRT DAY

Wednesday is College Shirt Day.  Encourage learners to participate by wearing a college shirt on the first Wednesday of each month.  

CMSW BAND AND CHOIR VISIT AND PURPLE HOUSE MUSIC PERFORMANCE AND ART SHOW

Please plan that there will be interruptions to your teaching on Thursday.  We have the CMSW Band and Choir coming at 8:45.  We will call you down by houses in alphabetical order.  Please wait to be called down.  We also have the Purple House Music dress rehearsal at 2:00.  Same thing, we will call you down in alpha order and appreciate you waiting until we call for you. 

DECEMBER SPIRIT NIGHT

Join us for a delicious fundraiser at Raising Cane's as we get back into the swing of things after the break! Raising Cane's will generously donate 15% sales to our PTO for this event.

 📍 WHERE: Raising Cane’s:  7955 N. MacArthur Blvd. Irving TX

  🗓️ WHEN: Date: Thursday, December 4, 2025 Time: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM

  ✅ HOW TO ORDER: (Applicable for Dine-in, Online, and App Orders)

Dine-In Orders: Please mention the fundraiser to the cashier when placing your order.

Online / App Orders: You MUST use the following code at checkout RCFUND96

CHS MADRIGALS VISIT LEE

On Friday, the Madrigals will come to carol in the media center at 2:00 for about 10-15 minutes.  If you want to bring your kids to the glass walls to look into the media center or walk up into the media center, you are welcome to do so. 

STAFF HOLIDAY PARTY COMING SOON

This event is in place of our staff meeting on December 10.  Thank you for RSVP'ing to Linda.  Can't wait to see everyone there!  

CISD HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Please head over to the CISD Admin Building for some holiday cheer on the 11th.  This is a great event put on by the district with yummy snacks, prizes, and performances.  Please follow our special schedule designed for this day so that you have time to head over during lunch/rescess/conference time.  SpEd team, drop by so we can plan how you can go in two groups.

SEASON FOR GIVING

Looking for a way to serve our community?  The Lions Club of Coppell helps CISD learners throughout the school year.  They have helped Lee learners with glasses, weekend food and daily snacks, school supplies. and gift cards for families in need.   Please consider giving to their cause this holiday season.  We will have a wrapped box in front of the elevator for learners to donate to.

COPPELL EDUCATION FOUNDATION GRANTS 

We have four Coppell ISD Ed Foundation grants live?  Best wishes to Cathy, Preeti, Rachael, and Priscilla!  Here are links to their grants.  Let's get these funded!

• Shaner - $5,488.33
• Curran - $1,764.21
• Malhotra - $2,672.25
• Bennett - $782.15

ATTENDANCE MATTERS

Good attendance is crucial for your child's academic success! When they attend school regularly, they thrive academically and develop positive daily routines for learning. Here are some tips to keep your child healthy and happy in the classroom:

🥦 Ensure your child eats a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains for essential nutrients.

🏃‍♂️ Encourage physical activity they enjoy, like walks or bike rides, to stay active and focused.

😴 Make sure your child gets enough quality sleep for concentration and mood stability.

🧼 Teach proper hygiene, including frequent handwashing with soap and water.

💧 Encourage hydration with plenty of water and regular restroom breaks.

💉 Keep vaccinations and medical checkups up to date for overall health.

Lead by example with healthy habits yourself to inspire your child's well-being!

JOIN US FOR A RETIREMENT RECEPTION

We invite all to celebrate Charlene Parnell in her retirement as we host a retirement party in Charlene's honor on Tuesday, December 16, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Media Center.

COACH'S CORNER

Hour of AI is Here! (December 8-14th)

Computer Science Education Week has received an exciting refresh — Hour of Code is now Hour of AI! This year’s focus invites learners to explore creativity, problem-solving, and computational thinking through age-appropriate AI activities.

🔗 Explore Hour of AI Activities

Here are a couple of quick recommendations:

• K-2: What is AI? For Early Childhood Students Teacher Notes | Resource Folder
• 3-5: Two Truths and an AI Teacher Notes | Game Link (I LOVE the station idea for this one - ask me if you’d like to plan it out together!)
• Family engagement: AI Literacy Toolkit for Families

💻 Prefer classic coding tasks? Hour of Code options are still available!

If you want to try an activity with your class, brainstorm ideas, or have an extra set of hands during your lesson, I’d love to join you. Just let me know, or book time with me here!

Thinking Maps Continue!

This week’s spotlight is the Multi-Flow Map — a tool for showing cause and effect relationships.

• Helps learners analyze what led to an event and what resulted from it
• Strengthens reasoning and supports comprehension across subjects
• Great for science experiments, historical events, and story analysis

📂 Learn About Multi-Flow Maps: Presentation | Educator Guide 

LESSONS IN "LEE"DERSHIP

DATES TO REMEMBER:

DECEMBER TO REMEMBER

WINDOW FOR SLO STUDENT GROWTH TRACKER/BODY OF EVIDENCE

Nov 30- CISD Bullying Compliance Due

Dec 1- Specials Leaves Early

Dec 2- Amy's Birthday

    First Grade Leaves Early at 2:00

Dec 3- College Shirt Day

    Blue House and Purple House at Kid Zania

Dec 4- CMSW Band Tour in gym (8:45)

     LEEdership Council Meeting (1:00)

     Purple House Music Performance (2:00 and 6:30)

     Purple House Art Show (6:00 Cafe)

     Raising Cane's Spirit Night (4:00-10:00)

Dec 5- CK Off

     CHS Madrigal Visit (2:00)

     4th and 5th Grade Growth and Development (2:00)

     Fourth Grade Leaves Early at 2:00

Dec 6- Choir performs at New Tech (10:00)