Week of March 28

ENJOY the three day weekend!  I can't think of a better way to prepare for our next week of school than three days off!

Please take two minutes to listen to this voice recording (you will have to turn up your volume).  This is what Cathy Bryce (former Highland Park Superintendent) had to say about YOU, OUR SCHOOL, AND OUR LEARNERS at our Principal's Institute.  Cathy was part of a group of visionary Superintendents that wrote Creating a New Vision for Public Education in Texas.  This document has guided much transformation and many visionary changes in public education.  She continued after my phone died to say that "what the staff does at Lee Elementary is transformational and aligns with everything the document stands for and dreams of for learners and that OUR SCHOOL, Lee Elementary, is the ONLY school she has EVER seen this kind of work being done with children on all levels."  I hope you feel proud of yourselves for the continued recognition you receive. Your ears should be burning from your exemplary work being shared with leaders in education.  Each of you is transforming learning on a daily basis.  It is HARD work, but you are on this journey because YOU are special! YOU are the BEST school famiLEE!!  Thank you for being at Lee.

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 you can Tweet without using your data plan?  If you authenticate before attempting to access Twitter by going to www.777.com and entering your network username and password, you can Tweet. YAY!
• that Alex will be a permanent addition to our staff for the 2016-2017 school year?  She will be in a full time educator role.  Please take time to congratulate her and stay tuned to learn where that will be later this Spring as staffing issues help determine her placement.  I know you will ALL be gunning to have her in your grades and houses!

SCHEDULES

Don't forget that we have adjusted schedules on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday due to Spirit Rally and STAAR Testing.  Brenda Baker, from Thinking Maps, will be with your during your grade level conference time on Monday.  Please bring writing samples with you so that she can help you with calibrating your scoring and help answer any questions you may have with our WFTBB implementation.  Please be ready to start Spirit Rally at 2:00 on Monday.  We have a packed agenda. It will help if your learners are already packed up in your spaces before coming down.  Please invite parents to attend in your weekly email.  Here is the agenda, to if you have a learner being recognized or performing.

Monday Schedule

Tuesday Schedule

Wednesday Schedule

STAAR

If you are a STAAR administrator, please wear jeans and sneakers with a school shirt, if you like. We know that you will be doing a great deal of walking while actively monitoring and want you comfortable.  Thank you for everyone's efforts to get furniture moved and set up, for getting all items covered up, and for lifting up one another.  We will have a Jason's Deli menu for anyone who wants to order in lunch on testing days.  The office will call the orders in for you once you have sent your money down.

SURVEY HELP

Coppell ISD is requesting you participate in an innovative on-line survey developed by the Center for the Built Environment (CBE) at the University of California, Berkeley to evaluate your satisfaction with our building and identify how to improve our facility services.  Your participation is very important.  Please visit this web address before Friday April 04, 2016: https://berkeley.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2t3xCC03wU2Oit7

This survey will give you an opportunity to comment on your satisfaction with spatial layout, office furnishings, office temperature, air quality, lighting, acoustic quality, building maintenance, and the building overall. The survey will take less than 15 minutes to complete and is confidential and anonymous. The results will greatly assist us in making this facility work for you.  Thank you in advance for your participation.

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW: LEARNING

This week we will spend our third week reviewing learning design.  Educators utilize standards and future ready outcomes to to design constructivist experiences that facilitate the learners' conceptional development and deepen understanding as they construct meaning of the world.  Let's review AUTHENTICITY.  

According to our CISD Educator Evaluation System: the educator approaches learning design in a way that encompasses real-world connections which promote sustainable, transferrable knowledge and skills as well as learner engagement.  Standards and experiences within the unit are inked to content concepts that create a holistic approach to learning the discipline, problems are complex within the discipline, more than one perspective for addressing and providing solutions that reflect the skills and thinking in the real world, and opportunities for learners to see how content is used in the real world.

• standards and experiences within the unit transcend many disciplines and create a holistic approach to solving global problems within the context of multiple disciplines 
• opportunities for learners to address global issues, collaborate with mentors, and interact with authentic audiences

This area of the learning framework is easily visible with your Challenge Based Learning units.  CBL gives learners the chance to connect multiple disciplines, provide solutions, address global issues, research and connect with experts, and share for feedback.  You are rocking it!

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Compassion- the ability to share another's feelings or ideas.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"It is the weak who are cruel.  Gentleness can only be expected from the strong." Leo Roskin

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

When a designer is having a serious conversation with a learner, don't look at that learner. You wouldn't want your classmates looking at you in a similar situation.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
March 28:  Brenda meets with Grade levels during PLC time
                   Spirit Rally (2:00 Gym)

March 29:  Report Card Grades Due (8:00)
                   2nd Grade Field Trip
                   4th Grade STAAR Writing
                   5th Grade STAAR Math

March 30:  Convocation T-shirt w/ Jeans
                   Walk at School Wednesday
                   5th Grade STAAR Reading
                   Leadership Mtg. (3:30)  
March 31: Learning Walks (8:15)
                 Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
                 Youth Art Month Reception (6:00)
April 1: Report Cards Go Home
             Dad's Club Camp In (7:00 pm - 8:00 am)
April 2: Meghan H's Birthday

Week of March 21

I hope that you had a relaxing and refreshing Spring Break filled with memories and FUN.  Welcome back- it is the first day of Spring, already, and there is greatness in store for the next two months of school!

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?

• there is a new Kid President Video?  Check it out here. 
• that our campus raised $10,170.00 for Jumprope for Heart? THANK YOU for your support of this wonderful association!
• that we will have our Spirit Rally at 2:00, next Monday, since there is no school on Friday?
• that if learners collect the amounts pledged that we could raise almost $14,000 for our Fun Run?  THANK YOU for hyping this up and sacrificing class time for this!  

SPRING CARNIVAL
Our Spring Carnival is approaching and I hope that your house has come up with a great auction date for our PTO to raffle off.  Please make sure you email your ideas to leeptocoppell@gmail.com.  These were due on March 11.

PTO NEWSLETTER

In next week's Friday email, please remind parents to sign up for our weekly school newsletter through PTO.  We learned that only half of our parents are signed up.  They can sign up at www.leepto.com

HUMAN RESOURCES

Lots of information was emailed to you from Kristen Streeter this week.  Please fill out paperwork NOW if you want to bring your learner to Lee next year.  Also, if you are planning on applying for an in district transfer, please visit with Chantel at your earliest convenience so that we can plan accordingly for next year.  NOT THAT WE WANT ANYONE LEAVING OUR FAMILEE!!! 

SUICIDE PREVENTION

Please read this memo regarding required suicide prevention for all CISD employees.  Online training must be completed by May 31 and documentation will need to be provided to Angela before then.

ACTION NEEDED

Don't forget to sign up for you Spring Observation with Chantel and your EOY Summative.  This task was due on March 11,  and there are many of you who still have not signed up.  ALL STAFF must sign up for an end of year Summative conference.

FED EX

Enjoy your one hour on Wednesday where you learn about a topic of YOUR choice related to YOUR goals, and earn flex credit for it.  This is a time for learning.  Please post to this Today's Meet after 4:30, but before 5:00, on Wednesday.  Please share what you learned during your time to get credit for your hour.  Those who post will automatically be enrolled through Eduphoria.

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW: LEARNING

This week we will spend our second week reviewing learning design.  Educators utilize standards and future ready outcomes to to design constructivist experiences that facilitate the learners' conceptional development and deepen understanding as they construct meaning of the world.  Let's review responsive learning.  According to our CISD Educator Evaluation System: the educator approaches learning design in a way that reflects the diversity of each learner's prior experiences and skills and takes into account his/her learning style, multiple intelligences, and interests while incorporating the learner's voice in both process and product. 

• consistently organizes flexible grouping based on learners interested, multiple intelligences, socioeconomic/cultural background, gender, other assessment data

Think about where you are with your PLCs and the creation of your common formative assessments.  Are you using these to flexibly group learners?  Outside of CBL, are you giving learners choice in product and process as well as organizing them by their interests or other areas? 

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Fortitude- strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened." Lau Tzu

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

If someone in the class wins a game or does something well, we will congratulate that person.  If you win or do well at something, do not brag.  When you lose, do not show anger. 

DATES TO REMEMBER:
March 18:  Sanela's Birthday  

March 21:  2/3 TELPAS
                  LEEdership Council (8:00)
March 22:  4/5 TELPAS

                  Spirit Stick Sales (Recess Time)
March 23: House T-shirt w/ Jeans
             Walk at School Wednesday
             Spirit Stick Sales (Recess Time)
             Fed Ex Day (3:30-4:30)  
March 24:  Spurs Savings (7:30-7:50 a.m.)
                 Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
                 Spirit Stick Sales (Recess Time)
                 Buffalo Wild Wings Night
March 25: Bad Weather Day (NO SCHOOL)
March 27: Happy Easter

Week of March 7

Thank you for taking the time to tell your learners WHY you come to school each day.  Your videos captured your kindness, compassion, and love for our children.  I appreciate that you found your perfect someone and brightened their day.  I am sure you know that I come to school for our learners, but I also come to school because of each of YOU!  You challenge me to be a better version of myself and push me to learn and grow each day. Your belief in me as your leader and in our school is remarkable and I feel lucky to be part of our famiLEE!

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?

• Chantel will not be at school on Friday or Monday?  She will be in Florida visiting her family.
• that administrators in CISD had Religion in Pubic Education Training this week? Here are my notes if you are interested in what we learned.
• Spring conference time is just around the corner?  Don't stress about them before the break, but start talking with your house and grade about when these will start.
• our Canadian visitors and Apple were impressed ONCE AGAIN with the work you are doing.  They left some key chains and stylus' for you.  They are in the teacher's lounge if you would like one.
• not everyone has taken the Lee Staff Self Analysis and it is due tomorrow.  Please go to our February 22 blog for the link.

TELPAS WRITING SAMPLES

These are due to Claudia on Friday.  Please make sure they are dated and the legal first and last name are on them. THANK YOU for getting these completed.

FUN RUN

Please feel free to wear your warm ups and t-shirts to school if you are going to participate in the Fun Run on Thursday.   It is possible that we will do sack lunches from the cafeteria that day (stay tuned) if weather is inclement and we have to move the run indoors. 

OPEN HOUSE

I have no doubt (from PLC sessions) you are going to pull out all the stops to make sure that our building is alive with work all over the place for Open House.  I cannot wait to walk the building and see how you creatively showcase learning.  Please be dressed to impress that night.  You may also encourage famiLEEs to download QR code readers and bring ear buds to hear the technology projects you are showcasing. Don't forget to have them tweet to #rjlyear2

STAFF MEETING

The entire staff (office, paraprofessionals, specialists) MUST be in attendance at Wednesday's staff meeting.  This is our STAAR Security training and everyone must be trained.  We are doing our best to use staff time for this, so please be on time and prepared to learn.  Angela will be sending more details. 

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW: LEARNING

This week we will spend our second week reviewing learning design.  Educators utilize standards and future ready outcomes to to design constructivist experiences that facilitate the learners' conceptional development and deepen understanding as they construct meaning of the world.  Let's review scaffolding.  According to our CISD Educator Evaluation System: the educator designs learning experiences to promote deeper understanding allowing them to experience new knowledge, activate prior knowledge, and internalize new concepts.

• makes connections to community stakeholders and real world/global concerns 
• connects and leverages various experiences, interests, and contexts in which learners participate in and out of school
• engages diverse learners by using brain-based strategies to help learners represent their thinking

What are ALL the things you consider when you design learning experiences for your learners? How do you know what you will teach learners? Do you decide what learners will study or do they?  Are YOU directing the learning for individuals or are THE LEARNERS? 

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Courage- strength to act even when afraid or uncertain

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak;  Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." Winston Churchill

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

Make eye contact.  When someone is speaking, keep your eyes on him or her at all times.  If someone makes a comment, turn and face that person.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Week of March 7: National School Breakfast Week
Week of March 7: TX Public Schools Week
Week of March 7: 4th Grade Writing Camp
Mar 8:  PTO Mtg. (6:30 Cafe)

Mar 9:  Convocation T-shirt w/ Jeans
             Walk at School Wednesday
             Staff Mtg. (3:30) ALL Staff must attend!
Mar 10: Fun Run (During Specials Time)
             Campus Tour (9:00)
             Open House (6:00-7:30)
Mar 11: Brenda Visits 4th Grade Team
Week of March 14:  Spring Break

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 February 22

Thank you for a busy week of learning!  Thank you for posting your team SMART goals in the conference room, your house goals in your studios, and your personal goals on Today's Meet or Twitter.  Thank you for being prepared for our visitors today and next week.

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 ordered $16,500 in robotics and coding materials this week with extra Title I Funds we were given?
• that digital probes to measure temperature and pH in the Ecopond and garden are ordered too?
• five triple beam balances are on their way to Lee?  

SHOE DRIVE
Monday is the last day for Red House Shoe and Sock Drive.  Please send a note home in your weekly email about this event.


FED EX

Enjoy your one hour on Wednesday where you learn about a topic of YOUR choice related to YOUR goals, and earn flex credit for it.  This is a time for learning.  Please post to this Today's Meet after 4:30, but before 5:00, on Wednesday.  Please share what you learned during your time to get credit for your hour.  Those who post will automatically be enrolled through Eduphoria.

Gizmo will be hosting a session where participants will leave with knowing how to manage an account, add students, locate resources, and identify Gizmos related to your TEKS.  The simulations are for 3rd through 5th grades.

FUN RUN

Make sure you saw both attachments regarding the Fun Run that was in Monday's email from me.  We are one week out from starting our Fun Run, so we will have a "Teacher Huddle" in the media flex space on Wednesday (right before Fed Ex).  This is a GREAT time to ask questions!

MUSIC DRESS REHEARSAL

Please join us Thursday morning for our Blue House performance of The Day the Crayons Quit.   

SCIENCE LEARNING WALKS

I will be walking the building with Linda Cook on Friday.  We will be looking at Science experiences our learners are getting at Lee.  

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW: ENVIRONMENT

This week we will spend our final week reviewing environment.  Let's review community learning environment.  According to our CISD Educator Evaluation System: the educator establishes positive relationships with ALL stakeholders through a variety of ways of communication within and beyond the school day while respecting and embracing the cultural differences.

• initiates actions that embrace diversity (think about our multicultural goal in our CIP)
• maintains virtual communication tools to establish positive reciprocal relationships with parents (think about your weekly email communication, timely response to parents, and engagement with parents every time they are in our building)
• the educator provides a variety of ways for families and/or community members to participate in the learning environment (think about the opportunities that you have for parents to be involved in your classroom and our school)

How could you increase parent involvement in your spaces?  This is an area for school-wide improvement.  Could parents help during math/reading stations?  Could they conference with learners on their writing?  Could you send work home (laminating to cut, etc.)  for parents to help with? 

FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH
Please share this link with your parents.  A family can qualify ANY TIME they have fallen on hard times during the school year.  This is how we are identified for Title I Funds and is private and confidential.


SELF ANALYSIS
Please complete this survey for the district by next Friday.


"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Risk taking- exposure to possible loss or injury

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"If you shoot for the moon and miss, at least you'll be one of the stars." Les Brown

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

Live so that you will never have regrets.  If there is something you want to do, DO IT!

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Feb 23:  Red House Field Trip

              Green House Field Trip

Feb 24:  House T-shirt w/ Jeans
              Walk at School Wednesday
              K-2 Literacy Academy
              New Learner Luncheon w/ Angela
              IBM Visits 5th Grade
              Fun Run Teacher Huddle (3:15-3:30 Media Center)
              Fed Ex (3:30-4:30)
Feb 25:  3-5 Literacy Academy
              Blue Music Performance (8:15 and 6:30)
              Learning Walks @ Lee (8:15)
              Dr. Turner Tour (9:00-12:00)
              Garland Tours (9:15 and 2:15)
Feb 26:  Sammy the Shark w/ Kinder
              Science Walkthroughs w/ Linda Cook (10:30-1:00)

Week of February 15

Happy Valentine's Day at Lee.  It is going to be a wonderful day of love, candy, and parties.  Please enjoy your lunch from ChickFila.  Filling your tummies is one way for us to show you how much you mean to us and the children!

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?

• we will be participating in the APEX Fun Run in March?  Be looking for info to be coming your way on Monday.
• we will be moving to the state evaluation system next year?  Don't panic, it is very similar to what we have used the last two years in CISD.  Training will occur during Back to School.
• that PTO read every thank you card you submitted to them last month?  THANK YOU for taking the time to show your appreciation for all they do!
• some folks are entering the school from the kitchen over the weekend and in the mornings?  Please do not do this.  If it is dark, or the back doors are locked, please park up front.  THANK YOU!
• we need someone to design next year's staff shirt ALREADY?!  If you have a passion for taking this on, please email Chantel. 

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

We will start Monday at CHS with Michael Wesch.  Todd and I had the privilege of hearing him speak at the Visioning Conference last summer, where he shared about the authentic learning experiences he and his learners experienced.  You are expected to be at the CHS auditorium by 8:00 and his lecture begins at 8:15.  Please wear jeans and your RJL shirt that we gave you at the beginning of this year.  Wesch will conclude at 9:15 and we will continue the rest of our learning day at 10:00 in our cafeteria.  We will have lunch on your own and wrap-up by 4:00.

SHOE DRIVE

Red House learners will be starting their shoe drive on Tuesday.  Please communicate to parents that learners will be asking for new or gently used shoes.  Red House will collect them, graph them, and bring them on their CBL field trip to the Mission Arlington the following Tuesday.  Please help them with this SERVICE to the community.   

ESL COURSE DUE

Don't forget to complete your ESL Schoology Course by Tuesday.  The course access code is: MCCFC-ZSGCC. You will receive 1 hour of flex credit if you post a question or feedback on the course.

DIGITAL LEARNING DAY

Wednesday is Digital Learning Day.  Check out this website for information and ideas.  If you participate, please tweet out with the hashtag #DLDay and #rjlyear2.

SCIENCE IS MESSY

If you choose to attend one of the sessions at Town Center, after school on Thursday, please feel free to wear jeans.  

BWW

Join us at Buffalo Wild Wings Night.  Maybe Todd will buy someone's meal again?! Remember to show your card for your discount and to send money back to our school.

VISITORS THIS WEEK

Apple will be on campus on Thursday.  On Friday, we will have two sets of visitors.  First, we will have a LARGE group of Superintendents on campus all day.  They will be in the Book Fair room and large conference room.  In addition, I will have two of my accountability partners from my Principal's Institute here.  I have no doubt you are putting into practice this month's ENVIRONMENT exemplars so that our campus is represented well.  

SOCIAL SPURS LUNCHEON

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW: ENVIRONMENT

This week we will review the social/emotional learning environment.  According to our CISD Educator Evaluation System: the educator collaborates with learners to create a safe, non-threatening environment building positive relationships through respect and high expectations. 

• the educator fosters academic and social growth
• collaboration is the norm in various learning environments
• the educator interacts in a positive way with learners and all members of the school community across all environments
• learners reflect on misbehavior and plan for what to do differently in the future
• the educator models how to build appropriate positive relationships

DLC CHALLENGE

Each module will focus on a different chapter of the Learning Framework; Environment, Design, and Assessment.  You can earn up to 3 Schoology badges, each resulting in one hour of flex credit. This is a virtual challenge starting on Feb. 1, 2016 and ending on Mar. 25, 2016.  You are free to join the challenge at any time.  If you have already joined the DLC PL course, simply complete the modules in the DIY Designer’s Challenge folder.  If you have not yet joined the DLC PL course (72Q87-RDGM5), use the course code to join the course and complete the DIY Designer’s Challenge!  If you have any questions, reach out to Alli!

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
If you are seeking learning opportunities for accommodations.  Check out this website.

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Generosity- freely giving of time or resources

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"We make a living by what we get and a live by what we give!" Winston Churchill

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

Surprise others by performing random acts of kindness. Go out of your way to do something surprisingly kind and generous for someone at least once a month.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Feb 15:  NO SCHOOL (for learners)
              Bethany's Birthday
Feb 16:  Red House Shoe Drive Begins 
              ESL Schoology Course Deadline

Feb 17:  Progress Report Grades Due
              FOSS Kits Due on Stage
              Chpt. 7 in Learning By Doing Due  
              Digital Learning Day
              House T-shirt w/ Jeans
              Walk at School Wednesday
              Staff Mtg. (3:30-5:00)  
Feb 18:  Spurs Savings (7:30-7:50 a.m.)
              LEEdership Council (8:00 Media Center)
              Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
              Science is Messy (4:00-5:00 TCE)
              Buffalo Wild Wings Night
Feb 19:  Progress Reports sent home
              NTRC Superintendents at Lee all day
              Kamille's Birthday
              Social Spurs Luncheon
              MOY Assessment Data due in AWARE
              Six Flags Read to Succeed Due

Week of February 8

Thank you for incredibly productive design days this week, so far!  You are doing fantastic work and designing amazing experiences for our learners.  We could not be prouder of you!!

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?

• you can give feedback on custodial services.  Just click here.
• you got high praise from Penny Tramel: I just wanted to send a brief email to say thank you to you and your educators for the excellent job you all did in gathering and sending in artifacts.  The lead auditor was highly impressed with the quality of work.  She does audits all over the country, so I believe this is high praise for you all. 

YEARBOOKS

Thank you for getting proofs back to Mrs. Giddings.  On Friday, please allow her to take a class photo and to photograph your new learners (since October) so that they may be included in our yearbook.  I recognize this is a class disruption, but we are doing our best to make sure that all learners are included in the yearbook!  She will be here in the morning.

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART

Want to wear jeans all week?  Turn in $20 for the American Heart Association and you can wear jeans with a shirt of your choice.  If you jump with your kiddos in PE you can wear warm ups on that day.  ENJOY!!  Parents are invited to attend during your regularly scheduled PE times on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

KINDNESS MATTERS WEEK

This event is the result of three of our 5^th grade Blue House learners answering the question: How does AFFECT change the world?  We will begin our themed week with a PTO sponsored Anti-Bullying program by James Wand for grades PK-5 on Monday.  Please join us in the cafe.  Themes for the week are:

• Monday (wear yellow) Your attitude is positive and your goal is to spread joy and warmth just like the
• Tuesday (wear super hero shirts) Save the day and so do learners who stand up to bullying to help others
• Wednesday (wear sunglasses) Use your special vision to spot kind behavior and stop bullying
• Thursday (bring a stuffed animal or bear) Give someone a bear hug or high five
• Friday (wear red or pink) Show some LOVE at Lee

WE LOVE OUR STAFF AT LEE

In order to show you how much we LOVE YOU, please join us, in the lounge on Friday, for a lunch sponsored by ChickFila!

VALENTINE PARTIES

We will NOT have a modified schedule for Friday.  Please follow our regular house schedule and plan for parties to take place (as a house) from 2:00-3:00 in your open spaces.  If you are not in specials at 1:30, and you house in an open space, please plan to work elsewhere from 1:30 to 2:00 so that Room Moms can set up.  (Ideas: media center, ecopond, pavillion, atrium, side spaces in open spaces, central collabs)  1:30 -2:00 might be the PERFECT time to exchange Valentines.  Please let me know if any learners need help getting valentines, and I will buy them some this weekend.  

Since we tend to get an overabundance of chocolate on this day, I will have a bag outside my office if you want to donate to one of the assisted living center in Coppell.  Mike and I will be happy to drop donations off.  If you remember correctly, last year, the ladies LOVED Mike being there and could care less that I was with him- ha!

CISD LEARNING FRAMEWORK REVIEW: ENVIRONMENT

Thank you for your work during staff meeting to reflect on what an exemplar learning environment looks like at Lee.  I think hanging these in your design studios is a great reminder of what we should aim for.  This week we will review the physical/virtual learning environment.  According to our CISD Educator Evaluation System: the educator will design a flexible, consistent learning environment where learners are able to collaborate in and beyond the classroom

• the educator utilizes digital tools to extend learning beyond the classroom
• learners and educators clearly take pride in maintaining an attractive and inviting learning space
• work displayed reflect the learning standards and is purposefully displayed
• learning environment design responds to instructional and learner needs

FEBRUARY 15 STAFF DEVELOPMENT

I want to remind you that on February 15th, we have a guest speaker that morning.  The speaker is Michael Wesch, and his topic is:  "Teaching Upside Down:  What Handstands Have Taught Me About Learning."  Once we conclude at the high school, we will head back to Lee for our Expository training from WFTBB.  More details next week.

"LEE"DERSHIP QUALITY OF THE WEEK
Love- unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for others; warm attachment

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love." Mother Teresa

LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

Love your neighbor as yourself.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Week of Feb 8-12:  Kindness Matters Week @Lee & Book Fair Week
Feb 8:  David's Birthday
            PreK-2 Bullying Program (8:30-9:15 Cafe)
            3-5 Bullying Program (9:30-10:15 Cafe)
            TELPAS Training (Grades 2-5 3:30)

Feb 9:  Kylie's Birthday
            PTO Mtg. (6:30 Cafe)

Feb 10: Rachel's Birthday
             Convocation T-shirt w/ Jeans
             Walk at School Wednesday
             Parents in PE for JRFH
             Leadership Mtg. (3:30)  
Feb 11:  Campus Tours (9:00 and 1:00)
              Parents in PE for JRFH
Feb 12:  Chick Fil A Lunch for Staff
              Parents in PE for JRFH
              JRFH Envelopes Due
              Valentine Parties (2:00-3:00)