Week of November 17, 2025

As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve been reflecting on the many gifts we share at our school. Each of you is such a blessing, and I’m truly grateful for the heart and dedication you bring to Lee every day. You create an incredible learning environment filled with enthusiasm, flexibility, and compassion and it shows in everything you do. Over the years, I’ve learned so much about leading with grace and patience, and I see those same qualities shining in so many of you. Please use the break to rest and recharge. Set work aside and give yourself permission to slow down. You’ve earned it! We can’t wait to celebrate you during our “December to Remember” when you return. 💗

DID YOU KNOW:

• the CEF Chili Cook Off Fall Festival is on Sunday? If you make it, please stop by to vote for the "Best ChiLEE in Town." Thanks again, Liliana for making our school chili.
• we have two new student teachers from St. Augustine University joining us at Lee on Monday? We have Kendall Keeton joining Rikki's class and Alyssa Marshall in Reagan's class. Please make them feel at home.
• that we have an after hours visit from UNT Superintendent students on Tuesday? Please make sure your space and collabs are picked up.  Thank you!
• you can wear warm ups on Friday and "trot the track" during your conference time? Please share pics of your group taking some self-care time!
• Friday, November 21, is Substitute Appreciation Day? Please be intentional in thanking any subs in our building!
• the office will clean the lounge fridge out at 2:00, on Friday? Please take your personal items and food home so we don't discard them.
• REMINDER: that staff must use official district systems such as: email, campus phones, TEAMS, Parent Square, for communication with parents and students?
• we will sing this song at the end of the day before Thanksgiving Break @3:00?  Please have your kids practice.  It is our "newest tradition."

LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL AND POPCORN SALES

We will host a LEEdership meeting on Friday at 8:00 and our LEEdership Council will deliver popcorn on Friday.  Thank you for collecting their dollars this past week. I apologize, in advance, for any mess this creates in your spaces!

PARENTS NIGHT OUT THIS SATURDAY

We’re excited to host a Parents’ Night Out at Texas Dreams Gymnastics on Saturday, November 15th! Enjoy a well-deserved evening off while your kids have a blast with gymnastics, games, pizza, and fun activities in a safe, supervised environment. 20% back from the event comes back to PTO! Register today! rjlpto.org/PNO

HELP WITH MORNING CAR DROP OFF ON 11/18

We need adult volunteers to step up and help manage the morning drop-off on Tuesday, November 18th! We are giving our amazing RJL staff a special Thankful Breakfast, hosted by the PTO. Your help with car doors, sidewalk traffic, and getting students inside will allow our staff to enjoy their well-deserved appreciation.

Please sign up to give them a great start to their day! rjlpto.org/volunteer/cardropoff
🗓️ Date: 11/18/2025 (Tue.)
🕖 Time: 7:00AM - 7:40AM

PROGRESS REPORT GRADES

4-5 grades, please have your grades in by 8:00 on Tuesday morning.  THANK YOU!

COMMUNITY LEARNING WALK

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, November 20 and parents planning to attend should arrive with their ID to check in at 7:45.  

FAMILEE FEAST IS HERE

FamiLEEs are invited to have lat Thanksgiving Feast Lunch on Thursday.  This lunch will be in place of FamiLEE Friday lunch this week. Parents can Sign up here.  Child Nutrition has requested guests PREPAY ($8) for their meal to expedite their lunch line.  Please send payment to your child's lunch account before the event. 

SPELLING BEE

Best wishes to our fifth graders as they compete to represent Lee in the district spelling bee.  You are welcome to watch after school, on Thursday, if you have an interest.  Thank you to the 5th grade designers for staying late for this event.

SUBS IN RED ROVER FROM AMY

Please make sure to pre-arrange your substitute if you know in advance that you’ll be out. We completely understand that if you are sick, you may not be able to do this ahead of time. When absences are entered into Red Rover, substitute jobs are filled almost immediately. Because of this, it isn’t fair to switch subs after an absence has already been created. You can find a list of substitutes under Lee Links → MISC → Substitute Contacts. If you have a sub you’ve worked well with, please share their contact information with me so I can add them to the list. Also, feel free to share sub contacts with your house team so everyone has access to reliable substitutes. Thank you for helping keep everything running smoothly!

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: 

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

LEEDERSHIP TIP AND QUOTE OF THE WEEK

DATES TO REMEMBER:

• NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
• OFFICE ON LOUNGE DUTY

November 17- Chantel's Birthday

November 18- Thankful Breakfast from PTO

     4-5 Progress Report Grades Due (8:00)

     UNT Tours Lee Elementary (5:30-8:00 PM)

November 19- DAY 7 TODAY

     Honor Choir Out Today (Performance 7:00 PM)

     Progress Reports Generated

     Staff Mtg. training from Dr. DeLaIsla (3:15 Cafe)

November 20- Community learning Walk (8:00-9:00)

     FamiLEE Feast (Lunch times)

     Campus Spelling Bee (Library Flex 3:30)

November 21- Joy's Birthday

     3rd Grade Field Trip to Dallas Zoo

     December to Remember Calendars delivered

November 24-28- NO SCHOOL