Week of November 2

I found this article about The Anatomy of a Great Teacher.  IT SOUNDS LIKE EACH OF YOU!!! Enjoy the extra hour this weekend- YOU DESERVE IT!

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?

• there is a cheat sheet on how to use the CRICUT in the CRICUT manual in the drawer by the CRICUT machine?  Designers can create their own project by using the CRICUT app on a device and logging into our Lee Elementary account. (USERNAME: ckastrounis  PASSWORD:  LeeRocks)  Please only use items with the word SUBSCRIBED next to them.  The office can help to cut out the projects if you SAVE them to the account. 
• the count on the workroom copier says 547,770.  That is over half a million copies which is over 2400 copies a day.  THIS IS NOT OKAY.  When possible...PLEASE have learners create or make their assignment. Please work on this so that we do not have to pass out copy codes and monitor printing.
• that there is a great deal of black/white printing being sent to the color printer?  It  costs more than 6 times as much to print a black/white copy to the printer than it does to print to the copier.  Only color printing or printing on labels should be sent to the printer.  Please fix this before we disable printing to the color printer.

LEADERSHIP MEETING
Our Leadership Meeting is at Buffalo Wild Wings after school today.  Remember...anyone is welcome to join us and share ideas.  


WALKTHROUGHS
Please remember to sign off on your Walkthroughs in Eduphoria after a visit.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE

THANK YOU for attending the school dance for your learners.  It was so fun to see you dancing with them!


OFFICE HELP
Please make sure you inform the office of special events, visitors, projects, etc. This helps us make sure the office is covered adequately, that they know where to send guests, and so that we can answer questions when parents call.  I am more than happy to put house/grade events on the faculty calendar, too. Thank you!


RED RIBBON WEEK

Thank you, Angela, for planning a WONDERFUL Red Ribbon Week for our school.  It was a BLAST to dress up and have fun with our learners!  We can't wait to see you in your book character costumes on Friday!


BEAN BAGS
We delivered five of each color to each house.  Please write the letter of your house on the red Fatboy label so that they stay in the correct house.  Sara, please put PK on your three and Megan, please put MC on yours.  THANK YOU!


ENRICHMENT HOUR AND SPECIALS
There will be times where Kandice and our Specials designers ask learners to bring devices to class.  I support this request and ask that you cooperate with them so that our learners can use technology in their spaces, too.  Specials teachers will be responsible for the devices when they are in their care and will walk learners back to return them in their charging stations or shared carts.  Thanks for your help.

NEED YOUR FEEDBACK
Thank you to those of you that contributed to our needs assessment for writing.  We will be having training, as a campus, on February 15 in addition to some training in upcoming staff meetings.


TECH"KNOW" SATURDAY
Please make sure that you fill out the extra duty pay form so that we can compensate you for your time.  We will have forms ready for you in the office.


BOOK CHARACTER PARADE
Friday, after broadcast, we will have our Book Character Parade.  If the weather cooperates, we will make one pass around the track after morning broadcast.  Those who did not participate can sit along the inside loop of the track and cheer on our participants.  If the weather does not cooperate, we will walk twice through the building and learners can sit along the walls as we pass through the PreK hall, in front of the office, through yellow house, then red house, through the cafe, and past Art.

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK

Perseverance- the ability to persist or continue to the end

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The man who moves mountains begins by carrying away small stones.” -Chinese Proverb

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

Make every effort to be as organized as possible.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Nov 1:  Daylight Savings Time
Nov 3:  Red and Black Shirt with Jeans

             Dad's Club Mtg. (7:00pm)

Nov 4:  College Shirt w/Jeans

              Walk at School Wednesday

              Fall Picture Retakes
              Staff Mtg. (3:30) CANCELLED!

Nov 5:  Spurs Savings (7:30-7:50)
              Leadership Council Mtg. (8:00-9:00)
              Tours (9:00 and 1:00)

Nov 7:  Tech KNOW Saturday (9:00-11:00)

Week of October 26

Thank you SO MUCH for the celebration of Todd and I for Bosses Day.  We truly work with the BEST STAFF ON EARTH!!  We appreciate you following through with expectations for our visitors this week.  Your digital signage looks fantastic, your displays of learning are informative, and your spaces look incredible!!! EXCELLENT JOB OF DISPLAYING CHALLENGE LANGUAGE, TOO!!  Today's guests were in AWE of what you are doing.

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?

• this blog post has great thoughts about work that can be done in a professional learning community?  Collaboration, team designed rubrics, and common assessments are ideas throughout the entry.  Don't forget to finish Chapter 2 in our book study and post in Schoology.
• this is the link to our Lee Gizmo account?  This website shows how accounts are created.  If you would like future training on Gizmos (which we get because we are a Title I school) please let Chantel know.
• that Shanna attached this year's individual photos in your permanent files for you?  Please take time to thank her!
• All, except 5, of our learners were given permission to attend a school-sponsored field trips when they were enrolled using Infosnap?  This means that a “permission” slip is not required but you will still need to communicate specific details about the trip.  A parent could decide that their child should not attend a specific trip.  This permission does not include trips such as Austin or Allaso Ranch, but includes everything else in the DFW area.
• this video about Halloween will make you laugh? Especially 2 minutes in!! (I expect comments on my blog about this one!)

WRITE A CHECK

Thank you ALL for your excitement with our Write a Check fundraising.  We know it is because of YOU that learners are bringing in their acknowledgement sheets and donations.  Thank you for your continued HYPE!

SPIRIT RALLY
We will start our Spirit Rally at 8:05.  3-5 will sit in the bleachers with K in front of 3rd (closest to water fountains), 1st in front of 5th (center of the bleachers), and 2nd in front of 3rd (closest to the gardens).  If you have learners in Instrumental Ensemble, please have them sit in the front row of the fifth grade bleachers so that they can easily get out to perform.  Please follow this grade level schedule and inform your parents of adjusted lunch times for this day.


TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Please use the following link to nominate a colleague for RJL's 2015-2016 Teacher of the Year.  We have special permission to nominate anyone with TWO years or more in CISD.  Nominations are due by Friday, October 30.  Remember to include as much detail as possible because we will score each form submitted with a district rubric and can only score what is written in the responses. PLEASE PUT THE PERSON'S NAME ONLY in the nomination box.  For the other responses DO NOT put their name.  This helps us judge based on what is written and not the person.

LEEDERSHIP COUNCIL

Please give your LEEder a few minutes to come back and talk with your class.  They will inform your learners about our norms and treasurer, secretary, VP and President.  We will share their "big ideas" in our next meeting on November 5.  Please remind them to wear their shirt.  THANK YOU! 


SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
THANK YOU for planning to attend the dance.  Please remind your learners to sign their name (once) on the butcher paper on the wall that matches your house color.  We need your help reminding them to write their REAL name (sadly, issues last year).  The house with the greatest attendance will win a surprise.  Designers, sign up, too!  Dancing with designers will happen at 7:15.  Beware...you are going to need to "shake it" to win!!!  The winning house for Write a Check donations will be announced at the end.


RED RIBBON WEEK

Next week is Red Ribbon Week.  Please encourage your learners to participate in each Spirit Day.

• Monday:  “Love Yourself”- Wear as much RED as you can. 
• Tuesday: “Follow your Dreams” – It’s PJ Day! 
• Wednesday: “Be Strong and Confident!”- Wear your work-out clothes to support a healthy lifestyle. 
• Thursday: “The Heart of the Matter”- Learners will digitally share or bring in a photo of their family.
• Friday: “Show Your Character”- Learners will bring their favorite book and come dressed to school as their book character.

NEED YOUR FEEDBACK
We have the opportunity to bring Write From the Beginning and Beyond to our school for support and training.  It could potentially be during the school day, or after the school day.  If it is after the school day, we will pay you for your time.  Please comment here if you are interested/not interested in WFTBB support as you grow as a designer.


BOOK CHARACTER PARADE
Friday, after broadcast, we will have our Book Character Parade.  If the weather cooperates, we will make two passes around the track.  Those who did not participate can sit along the inside loop of the track and cheer on our participants.  If the weather does not cooperate, we will walk through the building and learners can sit along the walls as we pass through the PreK hall, in front of the office, through yellow house, then red house, through the cafe, and past Art.


RED HOUSE MUSIC PERFORMANCE DRESS REHEARSAL 
Thursday will be our school dress rehearsal for our Red House Music program.  Please bring your classes down to the cafe at 8:30.  We will practice audience etiquette and celebrate the hard work of our Red House learners and Mrs. Benson.


LANYARDS AND NAMETAGS
Please make sure your learners wear these all day, everyday.  THANK YOU!

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK

Problem solving- creating solutions; finding answers

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” -Charles Swindoll

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

You should never complain if the line is too long, the food isn’t good, or there is a wait.  You don’t want to be negative to the point where you spoil the enjoyment of the event for others.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Red Ribbon Week
Oct 26:  RJL receives recognition @ Board Mtg. (7:30)

Oct 27:  Report Card Grades Due (8:30)

Oct 28:  House Shirt w/Jeans

              Walk at School Wednesday

              New Learner Luncheons w/Angela (10:30-1:30)

Oct 29:  Buffalo Wild Wings Night  
              Learning Walks @ Lee (8:15)
              Music Performance Dress Rehearsal (Cafe 8:30)
              Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
              Leadership Mtg.(3:30)

              Red House Music Performance (Cafe 6:30)

Oct 30:  Report Cards Go Home

              Jessica F's Birthday

              TOY Nominations Due
              Book Character Parade (8:05)
Nov 1:  Daylight Savings Time