Week of August 15

Can you believe it?  We are one more week away from our sweet kiddos filling the building.  I hope you are as excited as I am!!  We are happy to share that "as of 6:00 Thursday Night" we have a complete FamiLEE of staff members.  We added a whopping 19 staff members this year with transfers, the addition of new positions, and people moving along.  Every corner of our building is impacted with the addition of new people in their house or program, including our front office.  Please take time to welcome our newest hires, Hannah Watts (Blue Kinder- 214-680-8081) and Jayca Bounkhong (Enrichment Designer- 469-744-9906), to our famiLEE.  They are going to fit right in!

#LUCKYATLEE

I want to take time to thank some of you for helping to remind us how LUCKY we are at Lee. (I apologize if I have left some of you off.)  Let's start with our front office... Shanna and Deepa have been working NONSTOP to enroll and verify ALL of the new learners moving to our area.   Both ladies continue to greet visitors and staff members with a smile and helpful spirit, even when they are interrupted.  Can we get a power clap for these ladies?!

Thank you to our Kindergarten Designers, Jacque, and Stacey's children for coming in for two days to assess our incoming Kindergarteners and for class list creation.   This is still their summer break, yet they are working for the good of our entire school in order to put learners in balanced classrooms that will help ALL of us as they grow through Lee.  WOW!  THANK YOU, girls!

Muchos Gracias to Sam, Melinda, and Alli as they hosted our first Broadcast Camp this week.  They brought back learners who will be in middle school so they could mentor and teach others about the TriCaster system.  Even though they make it look easy, this is not an easy task!  Sam arranged for a REAL newsperson and cameraperson to coach our learners.  Melinda jumped right in and we couldn't be any more excited.  Because of these ladies, our morning broadcast will begin DAY ONE of school!  WAY TO GO!  We appreciate you!

Your fearless Leadership Team spent a full day (well...minus an Escape Room visit) working through a great deal of information.  They helped to update our 2016-2017 Campus Improvement Plan and Curriculum Night presentations.  This group's dedication and their efforts to bring ALL of our houses and teams together is massively inspiring.  THANK YOU for bringing UNITY and JOY to each of our journeys!  Thank you for being the communicators you are!  Thank you for leadership!

Shout outs to all of you that have put time in getting systems in place before we come back.  I know even if you weren't up here in person, you were working electronically, meeting for dinners, attending ARDS, orienting teammates, and MORE.  Please know that your efforts do not go unnoticed and are what help make this the BEST SCHOOL ON THE PLANET!

Lastly, can I get an AMEN for the blessing of an INCREDIBLE Admin Team?  Not a minute goes by that I am not reminded about the power of teamwork, collaboration, and servant leadership when I am with Angela and Ashley.  There is NO DOUBT in my mind that we are all #luckyatlee to work together.  I can only imagine how our school and staff will benefit from this fierce trio!  

NEXT WEEK

You probably have a great deal of questions about next week.  Ashley, myself, and staff members have been designing learning experiences for you for next week.  It is our intent to deliver professional learning that mimics how you teach in your spaces.  You should expect to be engaged, moving around, and working on meaningful tasks.  Here is what you need to know about next week.  

1. You can wear shorts and jeans (be comfortable!)
2. Snacks will be provided each day.  Bring your own drinks.
3. We will start at 8:00 and conclude at 4:00.
4. Monday we will be in the cafeteria.  If you do not want to sit in the wooden chairs, feel free to roll down your design studio chairs or bring bean bags down.
5. Lunch will be on your own each day.
6. Agendas will be shared daily.
7. You will have FUN!

CLASS LISTS

The office is working to have up to the minute lists ready for you.  They should be populated in Pentamation, so that you can email your parents on Wednesday.   Please work together, as a house, to comprise a welcoming email to send out right before District Staff Development begins on Wednesday.  We want to be consistent, and send these at the same time, so that the office is not bombarded with phone calls.  In your email, please include a Google form to capture info so that you do not have to have all of your parents complete it at Meet the Designer Night.  PTO has requested you add a yes/no question on your form that asks if parents may be contacted by the PTO.  Also include the Volunteer Background Check link so that ALL parents can get approved to engage at school.   

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

PTO will be delivering school supplies to your spaces on Wednesday.  If there is a specific place you want these stacked in your space, please put up a sign in an easy to see place.  

MEET THE DESIGNER NIGHT

Please plan to be at this event from 5:30-7:00 on Thursday night (except time clock employees).  Your space DOES NOT have to be completely ready for this event!  Stage it the best you can and remember that your space will come to life once the learners arrive and create work.  We will give you our 2016-2017 campus shirts to wear on this day and to our event.  We will take a staff picture on Thursday and these shirts will help parents to identify staff members in the building.  I am fine with you wearing shorts or jeans with your new shirt for MTD.  Designers, if you have a PTO board member's learner in your class...they will come to your space at 5:15, to meet you, so that they can work a table at our front entrance during the event.  Thank you for your flexibility with these volunteer parents.  

KEEP AFLOAT

In an attempt to lighten your load, we have been strategically sprinkling out "to-do's" though the last three blog posts.  I want you to enjoy your journey this school year, so it will help if you get some of these tasks done, now, so you can focus on relationships and lesson design the first couple weeks of school.  Here are some items you can hopefully check off: 

Have you linked your g.coppellisd.com account with our Outlook account yet?  If not, you may be missing some emails.  Check out the faculty website under Technology for HOW TO directions.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Aug. 12:  Stephanie R's Birthday

Aug. 15:  Campus Professional Learning (8:00-4:00)

Aug. 16:  Campus Professional Learning (8:00-4:00)

Aug. 17:  District Professional Learning (info coming from district)

Aug. 18:  Campus Professional Learning (8:00-4:00)

                Meet the Designer Night (5:30-7:00)

Aug. 19:  Campus Professional Learning

Aug. 21:  You will not sleep because tomorrow is...

Aug. 22:  The First Day of School!!!!

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