Week of April 13, 2026

WOW!  Our first STAAR Test is here and thank you to the entire staff for all you to do prepare all learners for this day.  It doesn't just happen in the testing grades. Reminder that I am out all next week, so please reach out to Angel if you need anything.

DID YOU KNOW?

• we have our Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on April 22?  Please sign up to bring something as a way to say THANKS to all of our volunteers.  We expect about 100 people.  Thank you to Hanna for heading up this special event.
• Human Resources is opening the window for Employee Transfer Requests beginning April 14, 2026 -May 22, 2026?  Not that we want ANY of you to go anywhere!
• we have some replacements if your classroom grey cart is getting wonky or is broken?  Please let CK know if you need one.
• items from your Shared Curriculum List should have been delivered this week?  Your house inventory should be back to standard now.

VIRTUAL PTO MEETING

Mark your calendar! Our next virtual PTO Meeting is coming up on Tuesday April 14th, at 6:00 PM. Join us for exciting updates from your PTO and RJL Admin Team.

Link to post Questions : Submit questions for Principal or PTO anonymously before the meeting by visiting rjlpto.org/rjlspeaks

Meeting Link : Will be emailed home Tuesday morning.

CMSW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NIGHT

West Soccer will be hosting an Elementary School Night at Coppell Middle School West next Thursday from 5:00-6:30pm, and YOU'RE INVITED! This will be a great opportunity for everybody to come have a fun night and get excited about middle school/sports at the next level. All CRE, Lee, and VRE school students will get in FREE, and it'll be fun for the whole family— Here are a few of the fun things you can look forward to! 😊

• Cheering on our awesome soccer team in their first game of the season!
• Getting your face painted by one of our amazing athletes!
• Playing some fun games led by our awesome athletes!
• Scoring some goals on the middle school field during halftime!
• Ordering some delicious snacks and drinks from our concession stand!

COPPELL EARTHFEST

Want something fun to do on Saturday, April 18?  Join us at Andy Brown Park East for our stations showcasing outdoor learning from our Lee learners.

STEAM NIGHT COMING SOON

Check out our STEAM Night Course Catalog HERE so you can plan ahead for the activities you would like to do with your families. Mrs. Shaner will be discussing the activities during our April PTO meeting.

This will be an event you WON'T want to miss!

• The FamiLEE Feud game will be back with ALL NEW content.
• Come build a FamiLEE Future City with Ms. Keiko in the Media Center! Decorate a cup, plant seeds, and add it to the "city" model to bring more greenery.
• We will have a STEAM Night photo opportunity with props created by STEAM Club.
• Cardboard Craft activity. Come give the ChompSaw a try! 
• Coding challenges
• Math & Art activities 
• Engineering Design, Collaboration and Communication Challenges
• Opportunities for free build with Rigamajig and blocks/planks

FAMILEE BACKYARD BASH COMING SOON

We are so excited to invite you to our Spring FamiLEE STEAM NIGHT and Outdoor FamiLEE Picnic on April 23rd. We will have a DJ, food trucks, games, a raffle contest and more! It is sure to be an evening to remember. Please mark your calendars today and plan to join us! 

STEAM NIGHT 5:00-7:00pm                              Backyard Bash 6-8:00pm

EVERY KID HEALTHY WEEK IS HERE NEXT WEEK

FROM THE LIBRARY- AUTHOR VISIT NEXT WEEK

KINDERGARTEN ROUND UP ON APRIL 30

COPPELL ED FOUNDATION RUN TO FUND MAY 3

Join us Saturday, May 2 for the 14th Annual CEF Run to Fund at Andy Brown East! Choose your way to participate:

• 🏅 5K Run

• 👟 1-Mile Family Fun Run

• 😴 Sleep-In & Support

Proceeds will allow CEF to bring innovative teacher support and learning opportunities to all students in CISD. Bonus: $2 from every entry goes directly to the PE department at the CISD school of your choice!

Sign up today and support CISD classrooms! coppellisdef.org/run-to-fund/

RJL PTO BOARD 2026-2027 APPLICATIONS DUE

Join the fun and serve your community on the PTO Board for the upcoming 2025-26 school year! We have roles that will be a great fit for you, no matter how much or how little time you have to give. Click here for all the details on what to expect, the open positions, and the application form. We’d love you to join us! Applications close May 1st. Please feel free to email PTO, or join us at the virtual PTO meeting on April 14th to learn more and ask any questions!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

As part of giving back to our staff during Teacher Appreciation Week this year, we’d like to cover lunch duty on May 4th and drop off car line duty on May 6th to allow our teachers and staff to enjoy their special meals together. Please sign up here to show your appreciation and volunteer!

COACH'S CORNER

Rethinking Test Prep, Week 4: High Impact, Low Prep

Last one in the series — and I saved the most practical for last. These take minimal setup and deliver a lot of thinking.

• 🃏 Quiz-Quiz-Trade — Students each hold a question card, pair up, quiz each other, trade cards, and find a new partner. Self-paced, social, and keeps everyone moving and thinking.
• 🪑 Seat Swap — Students work on a problem or response, then rotate to a new seat and pick up where the previous person left off. Each student builds on someone else's thinking — and gets a window into how their classmates approach the same content.
• 🤔 Would You Rather? (Content Version) — "Would you rather explain the water cycle or the rock cycle — and why?" Students justify their choice with actual content knowledge and you get a window into their reasoning.

This wraps up the series! If you want to keep building out your review toolkit before testing season is over, I'd love to come in and plan or co-teach alongside you. Just let me know! 🙂

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Friendship- Caring for; trusting one another

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

“Do not save seats in the lunchroom.  If someone wants to sit down, let him or her.  Do not try to exclude anyone. We are a family, and we must treat one another with respect and kindness.”

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“The reason dogs have so many friends is because they wag their tails and not their tongues”- Anonymous

DATES TO REMEMBER:

SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH

NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

EOY MAP & MCLASS TESTING WINDOW

EOY SUMMATIVE WINDOW

EOY PANORAMA WINDOW OPENS

April 14- Virtual PTO Mtg. (6:00)

April 15- Flex Learning (3:15)

April 16- CMSW Feeder Night