Week of February 29

Once again, you have impressed another round of visitors!  When Dr. Turner concluded his visit, he asked guests for feedback.  Here are some quotes of what they said:

• "I heard teaching before I was even in the building. There was a math lesson going on on the outdoor second story."
• "Great student engagement and very impressive teachers"
• "There is evidence of great leadership.  It flows through the teachers and students and you can tell it is intentional. It will serve students well as they grow through K-12"
• "Structured chaos.  It looks like chaos out there, but there is an underlying matrix of structure and order. " 
• I was really impressed with the culture of the building.  You can tell there is a culture of community here.  There is an absence of hierarchy here, and everyone feels a sense of ownership."
• "There isn't a teacher name over the door of each room and you can't tell what grade it is and who it belongs to. Spaces are flexible and every space seems to belong to everybody."

Please know that your hard work is noted, appreciated, and celebrated by not only our visitors, but your Admin Team.  We truly have the BEST DESIGNERS on the planet!

OUR GUIDING PURPOSE: We empower learners to positively impact the world by designing learning experiences that promote relationships, risk taking, and collaboration in a flexible environment.

What YOU are doing to do to LIVE out this VISION at Lee?  

DID YOU KNOW?

• our Destination Imagination kiddos will compete on Saturday?  If you would like to cheer them on, let me know and maybe we can go together.
• on Tuesday night that the math department will host a Twitter chat?  Follow #cisdchat and join in on the digital learning.
• that there is a National UnPlug Day?  If you are interested in participating, here is a website to assist you. Here is a site to post and pledge to unplug. 
• that we only have 2 learners (Haditha-G2 and Payton-Y1) and 3 EC (Taher, Roland, and Aadhav) that do not have disclosure to have their picture taken.  Thank you for being cautious when you post to social media not to include these friends.
• color printing is suspended for a little while.  Please send your projects to the copier.  If you need a color copy, email Shanna or Diana and they can print your project.

We hope you will join us in celebrating Dr. Seuss as we celebrate reading this week!   Have FUN!

DISCOVERY EDUCATION

Our trainer will be her on Monday, during your house conference time, to go over how to use this resource as a learning tool.  This is in place of after school sessions.

GRADE LEVEL SCHEUDLE

Due to the Fun Run Pep Rally at 2:00 on Tuesday, we will follow a grade level schedule.  Please review the tab on our master schedule labelled 2PM Pep Rally Schedule.  There will be no PLC time at the end of the day Tuesday and Wednesday will be Day 3 on our rotation schedule.  

PLC BOOK STUDY

Don't forget to read and post in our Schoology course.  You must also reply to at least one comment and create a T chart where you document one initiative that was implemented poorly and another that was implemented well.   Please share your Tcharts during PLC time on Tuesday. 

FUN RUN

Our kick off Pep Rally will be on Tuesday at 2:00.  Fifth grade, please get there at 1:55.  Learners will go back to class afterwards to get their fundraising packs and backpacks, but it will help to be packed up before the rally. Remember, that classroom lessons will begin on Wednesday.  Please welcome our Apex Team members, when they are on campus, and involve them ANY way you can think of.  Teacher info page and dates, here!  Apex questions can be sent to: jimmyw@apexfunrun.com 

LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL

Please send your LEEder with two risk-taking friends to the cafe after morning broadcast.  They will be helping with a taste test for the district.  Once the taste-test is complete, your LEEders will stay and the others will return. THANK YOU for your understanding as they miss a bit of class time. 

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW: LEARNING

We have completed our five weeks of reviewing ENVIRONMENT, so we will begin Chapter 2 in of the CISD Learning Framework.  Please reread chapter two.  While reading, frame your thinking with some of these questions:

• How am I using the instructional coaches provided to me on campus?
• How often am I going on learning walks in other Designers' spaces, and what feedback to I provide?
• Am I designing or am I lesson planning?
• What brain-based strategies do I use to help build self-regulated learners?

SPRING CARNIVAL

Please mark your calendars now, our Spring Carnival is on Friday, April 22, from 5:30-8:00.  It is an expectation that you attend the carnival. 

PTO has requested that houses or individuals share one auction date with details by Friday, March 11. You can email this information to leeptocoppell@gmail.com or Tanisha Williams. 

BOX TOPS

Please announce an all call for box tops from your famiLEEs.  Box Tops are due March 1.  You can put your Box Tops in the PTO Box in the teachers lounge that is labelled "Box Tops."

TOURS

This Thursday we have a 30 person tour with Apple folks from Canada.  This is part of our Apple Distinguished School visit.

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Initiative- taking action; originating new ideas

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"If an opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." Milton Berle

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

Strong leaders take responsibility for events and believe that they can have an effect on outcomes and conditions.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Feb 17:  Destination Imagination
Feb 29:  Discovery Ed Training 

Mar 1:  Red and Black Attack Shirt w/ Jeans
             5th Grade Parent Meetings @ CMSW (8, 10, 2, 5:30)
             Grade Level Schedule
             Fun Run Pep Rally (Gym 2:00)
             #cisdchat (7:00 pm)

Mar 2:  College T-shirt w/ Jeans
             Walk at School Wednesday
             PLC Chapter 8 Due
             CMSW visits 5th Grade (8:15 Cafe)
             Flipped Staff Mtg. (watch your email)
Mar 3:  Spurs Savings (7:30-7:50 a.m.)
             LEEdership Council (8:00 Cafe)
             Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
Mar 4:  National Unplug Day

Week of January 18

I hope that you have a wonderful THREE day weekend!  Don't forget that there are two very large tours coming through on Thursday.  The morning is a revisit from Eagle Mountain Saginaw and the afternoon is from Wichita Falls ISD.   Nancy Garvey will also tour 4 Apple representatives during our 9:00 tour time.

OUR GUIDING PURPOSE: We empower learners to positively impact the world by designing learning experiences that promote relationships, risk taking, and collaboration in a flexible environment.

What YOU are doing to do to LIVE out this VISION at Lee?  

DID YOU KNOW?

• that we will participate in the HEB Community Challenge again this year?  Check out this site to learn more, to register, and earn our community points.  Coppell WON the mid-size city last year. The challenge lasts from January 1 - March 31.  Join today!
• Stacey sent out Gizmo webinar dates? Here they are again!
• that Kandice got a full time PE job in Duncanville?  Please welcome Alexandra Lucas to our famiLEE as she takes on the role of Enrichment Hour Designer starting Tuesday.  Good luck Kandice, we will miss you!
• you can put your common assessments in AWARE.  Thanks, Stephanie, or inquiring with the district. Here is a link with directions on what you need to do for online testing. 
  https://eduphoria.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/202395634-Administer-a-Test
  Once tests are ready, the learners will log on to:
  http://eduphoria.coppellisd.com/Aware/OnlineTesting
• there are National Health Observance Days that can help with your CBLs?  THANKS, Amy! http://healthfinder.gov/NHO/nho.aspx?year=2016#649

80's DRESS UP DAY

It would be like totally RAD if you channeled your inner 80's by joining us for the Red House Breakfast in your 80's attire on Friday.  If you wear 80's attire on Friday, you can wear jeans and a school shirt on Thursday.

CHUCK E CHEESE NIGHT
We hope you can join our PTO and learners at Chuck E Cheese for a short time between 3:30 and 9:00 this Friday night at the Grapevine Mills location.  Your attendance MATTERS and is APPRECIATED!


FRIDAY SCHEDULE
Please make sure you notified parents of the adjusted lunch schedule for this day.

SPIRIT RALLY
Please follow this map and sit with your learners for Friday's Spirit Rally.  We will call you down to the gym when it is time for your house to head to the gym.  Thank you, Todd, for restructuring for us.

CogAT TESTING
Don't forget if you have a K or 1 learner being tested, Ayesha will be pulling them Tuesday-Thursday.


REPORT CARD GRADES
Since there is no school on Monday, report card grades will be due on Wednesday, instead of Tuesday.  ENJOY Monday off, and THANK YOU, TODD for your flexibility!!


PLC BOOK STUDY
Please make sure that you post to the two discussion questions and complete the action items by Wednesday.  This is a campus expectation.


JRFH PEP RALLY

Please join us in the gym on Thursday to help kick off our Jump Rope For Heart Program in PE. Learners will be reviewing how to stay heart healthy, practice jumping in PE, and watch a jumping demonstration as a school.   If this is during your conference time, please let Specials Designers take care of your learners during this time.

SPIRIT STICKS

LEEdership Council will sell Super Hero spirit sticks during their recess this week.  Grade 1, 3, and 5 council members will sell during Thursday's recess and grade K, 2, and 4 council members will sell during Friday's recess.  Please advertise this in your weekly email to parents. 

DRAMA PERFORMANCE

Please join us in the cafeteria at 8:15 next Friday.  Our Drama Club learners will perform for the school.

MATHURDAY

Please make sure to complete the extra duty pay form on Saturday in order to get paid for working this day.  We also request that you link your presentation (asap) to the catalog so that we may share it with our parents ahead of time.  Here is the flyer to advertise.

MID YEAR GOAL SETTING CONFERENCES

We have enjoyed our meetings so far and look forward to visiting with the rest of you for your middle of the year goal setting!  Please reflect on these questions before your meeting so that we can have a meaningful thirty minutes together.

BEHAVIOR RTI

The Middle of Year Behavior RtI Screening Window is from January 18 – February 12. The folder can be found here:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4mahO8s0BsRfmZpUU5udWRhcU1ackxjd1FsM1ZGVlZGd2JRd3JhWGRKZEtBTmNQaXB5S0U If after meeting as a House, you have learners to bring forward to Tier II Behavior RtI, simply email Todd and Angela to get that meeting scheduled.

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Commitment- keeping a promise or pledge

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Go put your creed into deed." Ralph Waldo Emerson

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

Be committed to your family, friends, and your values.  Follow through with your responsibilities at school and at home. 

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Jan 18:  NO SCHOOL (Flex Day)  ENJOY YOUR DAY!

Jan 19:  Mid Year Goal Setting

Jan 20:  Report Card Grades Due (8:00 a.m.)
             Mid Year Goal Setting
             House T-shirt w/ Jeans
             Walk at School Wednesday
             PLC Chapters 5 & 6 Due in Schoology
             Jump Rope For Heart Pep Rally (8:40 Gym)
             Staff Mtg. (3:30)  
Jan 21:  Spurs Savings (7:30-7:50 a.m.)
             LEEdership Council (8:00 Cafe)
             Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
             Spirit Sticks for Sale During Recess
Jan 22:  Report Cards Go Home
             Drama Performance (8:15 and 7:00 p.m. Cafe)
             ESL Walkthroughs (9:00-10:30)

             Spirit Sticks for Sale During Recess
Jan 23:  MATHurday (9:00-11:00)
             Online Store closes for Yearbook
             Angela's Birthday
Jan 24:  Jess' Birthday

Week of January 11

What a fantastic week back from Winter Break.  I enjoyed being in classrooms, again, and seeing the incredible instruction that you deliver and provide our learners.  It was evident that you all took time to RECHARGE over the break.  THANK YOU!!

Great work was done to prepare for our Saturday MATHurday.  I enjoyed checking out your planning resources online.  Todd will be creating a flyer to send home to spread the word.

I want ask you to reflect about our guiding purpose for a moment.  We are deep enough in our PLC book study to understand the importance of shared commitment and values. We came together as a staff and agreed upon this vision.  You have included the guiding purpose in our email signatures, and now you are posting it in your spaces.  Do you think this is enough?  

Think about: What YOU are going to do to LIVE out this purpose at Lee?  We will revisit this at our next staff meeting.

OUR GUIDING PURPOSE: We empower learners to positively impact the world by designing learning experiences that promote relationships, risk taking, and collaboration in a flexible environment.

DID YOU KNOW?

• that today we have an Apple Executive and the State Board of Education Chairperson coming to check you out during two afternoon tours?  
• that next Thursday we have a 25 person tour in the morning AND another 25 person tour in the afternoon?
• there is such a thing as organizational desktop wallpapers?  You do now!

SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Thank you for your hard work in grade level PLCs to get next year's school supply lists created!   


PLC BOOK STUDY
Todd and I appreciate your efforts to get caught up on our book study over the break.  I enjoyed reading your discussion responses and commenting on them.  If you have time, you might want to check out what your peers have posted.  I know I have a broader perspective after reading how people responded.  I want to complement you on your honesty and transparency in your replies.  It is nice to know that people feel safe to do so at Lee!  New due dates are posted in our Schoology course and on the staff calendar.  By Friday the new discussion questions and action items will be posted. Leadership team, it is a GREAT idea to get our book study on your meeting agendas.


CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT PLAN
I request that in Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday's house PLC that ALL staff members review our Campus Improvement Plan.  This plan clearly states our campus shared goals for this year. Have you ever wondered where these goals originate?  They begin by being based on the District Improvement Plan.  We then add in campus specific growth points and goals established from parent surveys, our leadership team, and campus needs assessments.  

Leadership Team, do you remember how we documented during our first Site-Based Meeting by going through each action step and writing evidence in the last column?  As a house and Specials Team, document what your group has as evidence of achieving our shared goals.  Remember, this is a working document that brings common focus for all of us on campus.  When you review it, you will see HOW MUCH you have already accomplished these first two nine weeks and how we are working together as a school to make a difference.  WAY TO GO!  

WFTBB UPDATE

Remember Brenda from our December training?  She will be here twice next week to lend Writing support. On Monday, she and I will participate in learning walks through your spaces.  We will be looking for integration of Thinking Maps and also be observing writing lessons.  On Thursday, she will participate in your house meetings.  This is an IDEAL time to share with her where you want and need support.  She will be coming back on February 15 for campus-wide professional learning in Expository Writing.

SOCIAL SPURS BREAKFAST

Instead of lunch, Red House will be providing breakfast on Friday.  More information will be coming your way, so mark your calendar.  Thanks Red House!

SPIRIT RALLY

Please be in the gym and ready to go by 8:15 on Friday.  We are going to try something NEW this time...we will sit as HOUSES during Spirit Rally.  A map will come your way before Friday.  The office will start calling down HOUSES at 8:00.  Designers, please sit mixed in the bleachers and on the floor with your learners during the assembly.  

MID YEAR GOAL SETTING CONFERENCES

Please sign up for a middle of the year conference with Todd and I.  During this time, we will review how you are progressing with your goals, review completed walkthroughs and observations, seek input from you, and find out as an administrative team how we can support you. ALL staff needs to sign up for face time with us.

KUDOS

Kudos to those of you that have been posting, daily, on Twitter.  Speaking of KUDOS, don't forget to recognize someone on our Shout Out board for a job well done!

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Honesty- truthfulness in words and actions.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” -Thomas Jefferson

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

No matter what the circumstances always be honest. Even if you have done something wrong, it is best to be honest.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Jan 11:  Learning Walks with Brenda from Thinking Maps (10-12)

             School Board Meeting (7:30) to recognize Wendy
Jan 12:  PTO Mtg. (6:30)

Jan 13:  Convocation T-shirt w/ Jeans
             Walk at School Wednesday
              Leadership Mtg. (3:30)  
Jan 14:  Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
             Brenda from Thinking Maps in your House Meetings

Jan 15:  Social Spurs Breakfast
             Spirit Rally (8:15 Gym)
             PTO Chuck E Cheese Night

Week of January 4

May each of you have a restful and relaxing two weeks off.   Enjoy making memories with your family and friends.  It has been a marvelous ending to 2015 because of YOU, and we cannot wait to see what is in store for 2016!  Last year we had our ONE WORD Challenge.  How did you do with yours?  We will revisit this topic at our first staff meeting after Winter Break.  

OUR GUIDING PURPOSE: We empower learners to positively impact the world by designing learning experiences that promote relationships, risk taking, and collaboration in a flexible environment.

DID YOU KNOW?

• school Supply lists need updated so that we can get the best price for the 2016-2017 school year? Please review lists with your grade level in your first PLC back from Winter Break so that we can submit them to PTO.  THANK YOU!
• that there will be other campuses (CMSW) and, potentially the new school, that will be using CBL?  
• that Dr. Denison was with Apple in Cupertino and they told the focus group that the best example (in the world) of what they want CBL to look like at the elementary level is at Lee Elementary??!!
• that we will pilot a Student Success App next year that is the result of a partnership between Apple and IBM using predictive software?  Samira will be going to Cupertino to learn more and will come back and share.
• that we have Ebooks that you and your learners have access to?  We will be getting you some training in the future regarding these and how to use them.
• that you can check out our Leadership Meeting Agenda and notes here?

LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL

We will have a LEEdership Council meeting on Thursday, January 7.  Please have your learners wear their shirts.  THANK YOU for sharing your learners during recess for Spirit Stick sales.


LOST AND FOUND
Please make sure that your learners clear their items out of lost and found before leaving on Friday. What is left will be donated to charity.

REFRIGERATOR
Please clean out your items by 10:30 on Friday.  We will throw out anything left so we come back to a clean refrigerator after the break.  Also....check cubbies and make sure all lunch boxes go home. You do not want to come back to a science project (and smell) in your space!

HAPPY CALLS
Thank you to those of you that took the time to make your Happy Calls!


SECOND NINE WEEKS GOAL SETTING
We are getting close to the conclusion of the second nine weeks.  Make sure your learners are revisiting their October Goal Setting documents.  The expectation is that these go home at the end of the 9 weeks and the learners have an at-home conference with their parents.  This is in our Campus Improvement Plan.


CAMPUS PLC BOOK STUDY
Don't forget that Chapters 3 and 4 (reading and posting) was extended to the due date of January 3. Thank you for your creations of grade level common assessments during PLCs!


EMAIL PASSWORD
Don't forget to change your email password before you leave.  You can do this by pressing control+alt+delete.  You will get locked out if it expires over the break!


ECONOMICS FAIR
Please remind learners that only those that bring money may shop at the Economic's Fair on Friday from 8:30 to 10:00.


DISMISSAL ON FRIDAY
You are ALL responsible for dismissal on Friday.  Please make sure you send a reminder email to parents that school dismisses at 12:50.  Homeroom teachers will have to stay with any late learners until parents arrive, so make sure you know how each is getting home.  Busses will run regular routes.

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Trustworthiness- keeping your word; doing what is right for yourself and others.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.” -Abraham Lincoln

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

People trust you when your attitudes, words, and motives align with what you actually choose to do. This includes being honest about mistakes, refusing to gossip and shift blame, and doing things the ethical way (even if it’s quicker to do otherwise).

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Jan 4:  WELCOME BACK

Jan 5:  Red and Black Attack shirt w/ Jeans

Jan 6:  Walk at School Wednesday
            CISD Spelling Bee
            Staff Mtg. (3:30)  
Jan 7:  Spur Savings (7:30-7:50 Cafe)   
              LEEdership Council (8:00)
              Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)

Jan 9:  Rikki's Birthday
           Priscilla's Birthday