Week of February 25, 2019

Happy Friday! Have an incredible weekend and STAY HEALTHY!  We need ALL staff to attend Wednesday's Staff Meeting, so please adjust your calendars.  We have STAAR Security Training embedded in this meeting so that we do not have to host it on another day after school.

DID YOU KNOW:

• it wasn't on the calendar until today, but we will have a LEEdership Council Mtg. at 8:30 tomorrow?  THANKS for sharing your kiddos!
• you can wear jeans on Thursday if you take the Teacher Pledge on www.ittcommunitychallenge.com and post it to Twitter @ITSTIME #CommunityChallenge?  No tweet, no jeans, please!
• Schoology now has the feature for learners to to sign in using QR Code.  This link will take you to directions for getting access tot he QR codes and having your learners use them to sign in. 
• have you seen this recent article about STAAR?  Definitely an interesting read.

Free Time Friday Schedule

READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY
Please share with your families so they can participate next Friday.  

FAMILY ENGINEERING NIGHT

Please share this information with your families in this week's newsletters: 

Who: All Richard J Lee learners and families 

What: A time to work and learn together as a family to solve different engineering challenges

When: April 11, 2019 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Why: To learn about and explore different types of engineering fields

How: Throughout the night you will have the chance to participate in several mini challenges called openers, engineering challenges, learn about digital citizenship, see items printed by our new 3D printer, and learn about iCode Coppell 

Where: House Open Spaces (see specifics in course catalog below), downstairs outdoor atrium, Media flex space, and iCode will be in Media Center

FamiLEEs, please let us know ASAP whether or not you plan on attending Family Engineering Night w/ this quick Google Form. This will help us make sure we have adequate supplies.

Check out the course catalog to see what we’re offering!

POSITIVE PHONE CALLS
Part of Domain 4.4 in TTESS is "contacting parents regarding students' academic and social/emotional growth through various methods."  The difference between Proficient and Accomplished is Proficient = "regularly contacts," Accomplished = "systemically contacts."  It is a great time to consider documenting and making a positive call home to each learner in your class.   It will pay HUGE dividends with your parents AND learners!

DISSERTATION HELP

CISD Educators, 

You are invited to participate in a research study of a school district engaged in transformation, continuous improvement, and coherence.  The primary investigator for this study is Deana Dynis, Doctoral Candidate in The University of Texas at Austin’s Doctor of Education in Public School Leadership program. 

The purpose of this study is to describe the how your district has created and supported coherence across the district and how coherence supports the district’s efforts to transform learning.  The study is intended to describe the successes and barriers the district has encountered and what actions were a result of those successes and barriers.   

Any information you provide during this research study, including any personal information, will not be linked to you or the district in any way.  It will not be possible to identify you as the person who provided any specific information for the study.  

If you are willing to provide your perspective to the study, please complete the survey linked here.  It should take less than 10 minutes of your time.

CISD FOCUSED WALKTHROUGH

We will give feedback on Domain 2 Dimension 1:  Achieving Expectations.  We will be looking for evidence that your learners have mastered content and are held to high levels of accountability for their learning.  This looks like self-assessing, reflecting on menu work or assignments, posting to Schoology or SeeSaw, etc. 

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Initiative- taking action; originating new ideas

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

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

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

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

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Feb 27-Mar 1- Chantel in California for ADS
Feb 25- TELPAS Window Opens
     Online TELPAS Testing
Feb 25- Go Red Shirt and Jeans
Feb 26- TELPAS Calibration Set 2
Feb 27- House Shirt and Jeans
     TELPAS Calibration Set 2
     New Learner Lunches
     APEX Teacher Huddle (3:30-3:45 Green House)
     Staff Mtg. (3:45-5:00 Green House- All Staff must attend until 5:00)
Feb 28- PTO Grants Due to CK
     SLO evidence due in Strive
     Spurs Savings
     Lee Learning Walk (8:00)
     Nikki's Bridal Shower
Mar 1- Dr. Seuss' Birthday (Spirit Dress)
     Green House Lounge Responsibilities
     Tour (9:30-11:00)

Week of February 18, 2019

Thank you for a loveLEE Valentine's Day. We hope you enjoyed your professional learning on Friday and LOOOONG weekend.  THANK YOU to the group of you that helped to present on Friday.  I'm so proud of the number of learner leaders that we have at Lee Elementary!  Thank you for sharing your learners with all of CISD so that high levels of learning occur for all learners in our district

DID YOU KNOW:

• if you are interested in serving on our campus interview team that you need to go through CISD district interview training.  Dates are already in Eduphoria for those interested. 
• we will get new Apple TVs to help with our connectivity to our projector stations?  Stay tuned.
• we are seeking additions, revisions, edits or suggestions to the student handbook and student code of conduct.  If you have any input, please email those to Leigh Ann by Feb 25.
• that you can earn flex time to be off on May 24, now?  This is new information that was shared at this week's Principal's Meeting.  We will have you log time at Family Movie Night, STEAM Night, and Spring Conferences to earn your six hours for May 24.  YAY!  Also, we will be posting book study hours in your flex portfolio so you can make sure you have enough hours.  Flex time for 2018-2019 must be earned by April 30.

ESL SMORE
Please review information in Claudia's Smore.  There are ELPS resources, a way to book her, and TELPAS information.

TELPAS
Here are a few reminders for TELPAS;

• check the schedule and know when your learners will be pulled for online tutorials and TELPAS
• we will use the Yellow and Red house MacBooks
• we will use the Science Enrichment and STEAM rooms
• Calibration will be on Feb 20
• must be completed by March 1(Module 1)
• Claudia's S'more has TELPAS reminders, training links and tips
• Thank you for attending the Tapas and TELPAS training.  Claudia and Leigh Ann appreciate all of your hard work

RTI UPDATE

First, thank you for the first six weeks of RTI meetings!  They have been great and we appreciate all the hard work and input you bring to each RTI meeting and the dedication you have for each of your learners.  Next scheduled RTI Meetings will be on March 18th.  If you need to meet before then, please reach to Leigh Ann and she will get a meeting scheduled.  Please make sure to check the RTI meeting sign up document.  Everyone's RTI Time is already scheduled to the end of the school year.  To help keep our RTI meeting efficient and effective, please have the following things ready:

1. Please have all progress monitoring documents updated and uploaded into Aware
2. Please have a new goal or an updated goal ready for the meeting
3. Please have your notes ready for the RTI meeting
4. Make sure to bring your device and be ready to share about your learner
5. Remember, that if you want to move a learner to a different tier, please have all documents to support that move including updated assessments and they are uploaded into Aware

BOOK FAIR
Don't forget to remind your parents that the Lee Spring Book Fair is still open online until 2/20.  There are no charges for shipping.


DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP
It is the time of the year when learners are needing to be reminded about digital citizenship.  Feel free to get set up in the CISD Empowered Citizens Schoology course.  The course has mini lessons and resources for you that can be used in your classroom and implemented into lesson design as you create lessons.  The course code is: ZMRFK-SQ3P3 and you can find the lessons in the Discovery Library under the "Let's Get Started" folder.

CISD FOCUSED WALKTHROUGH

We will give feedback on Domain 2 Dimension 1:  Achieving Expectations.  We will be looking for evidence that your learners have mastered content and are held to high levels of accountability for their learning.  This looks like self-assessing, reflecting on menu work or assignments, posting to Schoology or SeeSaw, etc. 

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Risk-taking- exposure to possible loss or injury

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

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

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

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

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Feb 18- Bad Weather Day
Feb 19- Go Red Shirt with Jeans
     Kamille's Birthday
     Online Basic Training and CAlibration Certificates Due
     Purple Field Trip
Feb 20- School Shirt and Jeans
     TELPAS Tutorials
     Staff Meeting
Feb 21- Spurs Savings
     TELPAS Tutorials
     Tour (9:00 and 1:00)
     Sammy the Shark w/ Kinder (1:45)
Feb 22- TELPAS Tutorials
     LEEdership Popcorn Sale

Week of February 11, 2019

Happy Friday!  It has been a busy week on campus.  I was scheduled to be at training at Region 10 on Friday, but will be staying on campus, now, to support you and the learners in the building.  As mentioned in our meeting with Ashley and CISD Administration, the transfer process for Canyon Ranch Elementary will open on Monday (you will get a district email).  If you are interested in a new opportunity, I am here to support you.  While I don't want any of you to leave, there will be no hurt feelings, only chances to support the new elementary and our Lee learners heading to CRE.  Classroom teachers and paraprofessionals, please schedule a time to talk with me before submitting your request.  In addition, if you are planning on resigning or retiring, please consider letting me know now.  This information may help decrease the number that could be required to transfer.  Change is ahead for our FamiLEE, but as always, our school will be taken care of.  During this time, I ask that you do your best to continue to make Lee Our Happy Place and seek to understand before being understood.

Welcome back, Jean Guidry, to our famiLEE.  We are pleased to have her in the role of long term sub for Ayesha.  Speaking of Ayesha, her sweet baby girl, Asiya, arrived today.  She is 7 pounds 15 ounces and 20 inches long.  Please continue to lift the Khans in positivity and prayer as they navigate having this beautiful new baby in their lives.

We will be permanently welcoming back our wonderful student teacher, Brooklyn Windham, on Tuesday, as Akta prepares for the arrival of her little one.  By the end of next week, there will be two new Lee Spur famiLEE members!  Our famiLEE keeps growing!

DID YOU KNOW:

• we have open appointments for those interested in saving for retirement, on campus, on Thursday?  Click here to schedule an appointment.
• we need names of 2 boys and 2 girls from each grade level to invite to CISD Night at the Ballpark on April 3?  Leaders, please select the names at your next Team Time so that we can turn the names in and inform parents.  Thank you!
• Melissa's MLI Newsletter is packed full of great resources for you and your learners (even if they aren't dyslexic)?  Check it out here. 
• we have a parent that is feeding us pizza for lunch on Friday 2/8?  Thank you to the parents of Eshaan (P4) and Aditi (B4)!
• we have new recess equipment on the carts? Please stay tuned to info from learners who have worked towards a solution to help with our equipment.  

BOOK FAIR

Thank you Melinda, Aparna, and volunteers for setting up and running our Spring Book Fair.  Did you know that all profits earned through the Book Fair go back to our campus library fund?  Please talk up this event to learners and parents so we can have the most successful fair YET!  I am requesting that you do not send more than two learners at a time (from each classroom) to shop.  We want to make sure it is manageable for our volunteers.  Sending all of your shoppers at the beginning/end of the day or all house shoppers at recess is not recommended.  Please create a sign up in your space and send them throughout the day.  I appreciate your help with this!  

AUTHOR VISIT

Welcome, author Aisha Saeed, to Lee Elementary on Monday.  We will have an adjusted schedule to permit for workshops, focused lessons, and a full day visit at our school.  Thank you to Blue 5 learners, and Samira, for creating a schedule for her day.  I know the visit will be fantastic!  Thank you to our wonderful PTO for helping to fund part of her visit. 

TAPAS AND TELPAS

Thank you for brining your online basic certificate to this required security training during your conference time on Tuesday.  Thank you Leigh Ann and Claudia for hosting this DURING the school day and for bringing snacks!

MI COCINA NIGHT

ALL famiLEEs are invited to join us at MiCocina on Tuesday, so spread the word.  Please remind them to say they are from Lee Elementary or show the graphic below from your weekly newsletter.  Thank you Red House designers for representing our campus this night!

LUNCH AND LEARN

Thank you to those of you that signed up for Wednesday's Lunch and Learn with Jacque.  It is going to be wonderful having the time to dig in to some pizza and new math intervention tools we purchased.  Thank you for all of your preparations, Jacque!

VALENTINES DAY

Please look at the Winter/Valentine Party tab for the day's schedule and communicate any changes to your lunch time to your parents. Purple House- THANK YOU for eating lunch in your house so that the floor can be swept and ready for the campus to view the PTO program, at 1:00, in the cafe.   Also, please communicate to your parents that our busses and cars need to be able to pick up learners safely at dismissal, therefore, they should only park in parking spaces and along Chaparral Waters Way and Stampede.  

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY

Please feel free to wear jeans on Friday.  Remember that you represent our campus in your words and actions.  THANK YOU to so many of you that are presenting on this day.  We are so proud of you for stepping up and sharing your learning with others. 

MORNING ARRIVAL

Please be mindful to be at school by 7:10 each morning and posted for morning duty at 7:15.  You are doing a great job of texting if you are stuck in traffic, but we all could use a friendly reminder to be here on time.  Thank you for your cooperation.

CISD FOCUSED WALKTHROUGH

This week we start a new focus for our walkthroughs.  We will give feedback on Domain 2 Dimension 1:  Achieving Expectations.  We will be looking for evidence that your learners have mastered content and are held to high levels of accountability for their learning.  This looks like self-assessing, reflecting on menu work or assignments, posting to Schoology or SeeSaw, etc. 

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Love-unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for others; warm attachment

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

Love your neighbor as yourself

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

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

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Feb 11-  GO RED Shirt and Jeans
     RtI Meetings
     Spring Book Fair
     Progress Report Grades Due
     Aisha Saeed Author Visit (all day)
Feb 12-  Red House Music Performance (8:10 and 6:30 Cafe)
     Tappas and TELPAS (Conference Time)
     Mi Cocina Night
     Book Fair Open Late today
Feb 13- Convocation Shirt and Jeans
     Lunch and Learn (10:00-1:00)
     Leadership Meeting (3:30-Kristina's Space)
Feb 14- Send home Progress Reports
     Spurs Savings (7:20-7:40 Cafe)
     PTO Performance (1:00 Cafe)
     Valentine Parties (2:00 Spaces)
Feb 15- Ameira's Birthday
     Bethany's Birthday
     CISD Professional Learning Day

Week of February 5, 2019

What a wonderful week of technology learning for our campus!  Starting in Austin on Monday showcasing the STEM opportunities our learners have at Lee and finishing the week with Apple Academy have been inspiring and invigorating.  We are super excited to bring back our learning and enthusiasm for new ideas.  I want to extend a happy THANK YOU to Samira, Priscilla, Kasey, and Stephanie for their leadership and growth mindset.  I also want to thank our entire campus for the incredible experience you gave today's guests.  Please ask any of the girls for their take-aways, but the overwhelming response was how engaged your learners were, how articulate they are with guests, and the beauty of learning created for and by learners on our walls and windows.  As your Principal, I appreciate your intentional lesson design that showcased creativity on our devices.  THANK YOU!  Please leave when learners are safely dismissed, tomorrow, and enjoy your weekend.

DID YOU KNOW:

• there is a sign up for Free Time Friday where your Admin Team will read to your class for 20 minutes?  Sign up now so you get a time that works for you.  THANK YOU for signing up for World Read Aloud Day (tomorrow) with Melinda. 
• most of your district generated email signatures need to be changed? Email yourself and check out your descriptor.  Please follow the district email to customize yours to say Designer instead of Teacher/Educator.  
• CISD will have a dedicated location for a comfort room for our nursing mommas. They will have the 6 offices in Student Services North reserved for use. The easiest way to access these offices is to enter the office at the back of the Cafeteria/Commons area. Once you enter Student Services North, take a right in the first hallway and look for the rooms marked with signs.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

TELPAS security training will be on Tuesday, February 12th during your conference time.  There we will share all the details for the TELPAS timeline and complete your security training.  Tapas/snacks will be provided. 

STAFF MEETING BEFORE FED EX

Please plan on ALL staff attending brief meeting on Wednesday, in the Media Center Flex Space, at 3:15.  We have mandatory HR meeting from the district regarding staffing for 2019-2020.

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 complete this form at the conclusion of your learning session on Wednesday.  The form will open at 4:30. 

WEEKLY WALKTHROUGH FOCUS
For our focused walkthroughs we will be focusing on Domain 2 Dimension 2 Content Knowledge and Expertise.  We will be looking for things like cross curricular connections, strategies to avoid learning pitfalls, learners analyzing, creating and evaluating, and learner-directed learning.

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Cooperation- working together

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

Staying positive, being approachable, and expressing positive thoughts and feelings through both verbal and nonverbal communication help you build rapport with those around you.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"We must all live together as brothers or perish alone as fools." -Martin Luther King Jr.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Feb 5- Education Foundation Shirt and Jeans
     PTO Mtg. (7:00 Cafe)
Feb 6- Book Fair Preview
     College Shirt and Jeans
     HR Meeting (3:15 Flex Space)
     Fed Ex Day (3:30 -4:30)
Feb 7- Book Fair Preview
Feb 8- Book Fair Shopping Begins
     Fresh Fruit Friday
     MOY Data must be in AWARE
Feb 9- Kylie's Birthday

Week of January 28, 2019

Happy Thursday!  I hope you had a lovely four day week with the children.  THANK YOU for showing off the great learning in our building to Mr. Gollner and Ms. De La Isla.  They have such kind words to say about you and our learners.  Enjoy your weekend!

DID YOU KNOW:

• we are collecting Box Tops?  A flyer and the box top sheet are posted on our electronic site called PeachJar.  Thanks, Stormy for the flyer!
• we have issues with learners using sharpies inappropriately?  Please take these out of your supply bins and keep these in areas where learners do not have access to them.  For now, Art is the only room where learners need to be using sharpies.  
• there is an order form for Amal Unbound available for 3-5 learners and their families?  Please share this with them.  PreOrders are due by Friday, February 1.
• you can click here for some ideas on ways your learners can organize their Bulb portfolios if your learners are having trouble organizing the content in their digital portfolios?  
• a CFA can consist of 2-3 questions on only one TEK?  The purpose of a CFA is not only to provide data about your learners, but also a way to share instructional strategies and ensure high levels of learning for all.  This is one little "ditty" from our PLC Academy training and something to think about. 

KINDNESS QUOTES
We will review these each day on morning broadcast:

• Mon:  "No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted." (Aesop)
• Tues:  "Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you...not because they are nice, but because YOU are."  (Unknown)
• Wed:  "Choose to be kind over being right and you'll be right every time."  (Richard Carlson)
• Thurs:  "Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."  (Mother Teresa)
• Fri:  "Go into the world and do well.  But more importantly, go into the world and do good."  (Minor Myers, Jr.)

GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE

We will start the parade at 8:10 at the cafeteria by lost and found.  We will begin by having guests line up in the cafe in parallel lines and along the walls by Enrichment and STEAM ending toward the front office doors (not passing into yellow house).  Guests will cheer our kids on as they parade one lap and return to your houses.  

The order of the parade will be:  Green House -> Purple House -> Blue House -> Red House -> Yellow House.  Go right after the house in front of you with a couple of learners carrying the class banner. (Talk to learners about how to participate in a parade.)  Downstairs will stay in spaces and watch until it is their turn to go.  Make a full loop back to your space, then line the railings of your house to cheer the others on.  Don't forget to pass out your Kindness checklists and encourage your famiLEEs to sign up for The Great Kindness Challenge App to be able to participate at home.  Bookmarks need to be completed by Friday and put in Chantel's mailbox.

CAMPUS TOURS
We know AWESOME learning experiences happen at Lee all the time, but be aware we have two tours on Thursday this week.  We have 40+ guests coming from arrival, through 10:30.  Guests are from Apple Distinguished schools across the globe and are looking for how we use 1:1 technology in our classrooms.  There is a 12 person tour at 1:00 from Blue Valley Schools in Kansas.

SOUPER BOWL
We hope you will participate in our first Friday event during Fabulous Fridays in February.  We will host a SOUPer bowl in the lounge.  We ask that you bring a crock pot of your favorite soup.  The office will provide bowls and spoons. There will be sampling, voting, and a "prize" for the top three favorites. 

NATIONAL GO RED DAY

Wear something RED with your jeans on Friday.  Please tweet out pictures of you, your learners, and teammates to #lifeiswhy and #coppellgored /xczb

WEEKLY WALKTHROUGH FOCUS
For our focused walkthroughs the next four weeks we will be focusing on Domain 2 Dimension 2 Content Knowledge and Expertise.  We will be looking for things like cross curricular connections, strategies to avoid learning pitfalls, learners analyzing, creating and evaluating, and learner-directed learning.

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Loyalty- faithfulness to another

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

If you hear something negative about one of your friends, don't repeat it.  If necessary, let a designer know what was said.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"I will speak ill of no man and speak all the good I know of everybody." -Benjamin Franklin

DATES TO REMEMBER:
MOY Assessment Window
Kids Heart Challenge
Great Kindness Challenge
Jan 28- Kindness KickOff Parade (8:10 am)
     RtI Mtgs. (Conference Time)
Jan 29- Animal Shelter Delivery (Coppell Animal Shelter)
Jan 30- House Shirt with Jeans
     New Learner Lunches (Cafe)
     Staff Mtg.  (3:30 - 5:00) Flex Space
Jan 31- TEAM SPIRIT FOR KINDNESS DAY
     Apple Tour (7:50 - 10:30)
     Red House Field Trip
     Tour (1:00)
Feb 1- Black American History Month
     Blue House Lounge Duties
     National Go Red Day
     "SOUP"er Bowl (Lounge)

Week of January 21, 2019

I want to thank you for continuing to lift Sophie, Mike and I as we heal from losing our sweet Hannah.  The kindness and compassion that people have shown has truly touched our hearts.  Our tour from Frisco was, once again, blown away by the incredible learning experiences you provide our children.  Great job in our first round of Team Time and working on your grade level SLOs.  

DID YOU KNOW:

• that hashtags help connect you on Twitter? Don't forget to use #AppleDistinguishedSchools #75019Science #75019Math and more to connect, learn, and teach others.
• that you should already have evidence in Strive for your annual goals?  Don't forget to start adding links and images so that you are prepared for your post conferences in April.
• the purpose of flex hours is for employees to meet the expectation for professional learning by attending workshops, conferences, seminars, and courses?  Designers, make sure you are on your way to earning your 18 hours of flex time and submitting requests for approval of hours for outside learning opportunities.  You can check your flex time in Eduphoria Strive.
• PTO is offering Grants?  If there is something you would like to apply for, please fill out this form.  I must approve the form, first, before it is shared with PTO.  After their grant committee reviews, you will find out if you are a recipient. 
• the links from Kristen's email with the National Educators for Restorative Practices and Sample Green/Yellow Circle ?s are in the DTR resource folder in Schoology?  This way all of our Disciple That Restores resources are in one place.

PLC ACADEMY

On Thursday and Friday, Anita De La Isla and Chris Golliner will be guest principaling at Lee while Leigh Ann, Jacque, Claudia, Ayesha and I are at PLC Academy.  I KNOW that you will make sure they see great things happening at Lee!

THE GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE

We will be celebrating the entire last week of January.  You should be creating your class kindness banner this week so that it is ready for next Monday.  Put it somewhere SAFE so that custodians do not accidentally throw them away.  We have the CHS Band, School Board Members, Community Members, and parents invited to attend the event.  Bookmarks have been cut and placed in your teacher mailboxes (thanks Gwen).  Please commit to decorating all bookmarks in your box so we have enough for all elementary learners in Coppell ISD.  Please set the expectation that learners do their BEST work and that they spread kindness through their message, phrase, and work.  These bookmarks represent our entire school, not just one class.  Here is the schedule of events:

• Monday 1/28 - Kickoff Parade (8:10) / 100th Day of School
• Tuesday 1/29 - Make bookmarks / Kind Bars 
• Wednesday 1/30 - Make bookmarks / Lunch snacks provided by campus
• Thursday 1/31- Make bookmarks / Spirit Day (Team Kindness)
• Friday 2/1-  Finish bookmarks / World Read Aloud Day

Don't forget to remind famiLEEs to sign up for The Great Kindness Challenge App so they can participate at home.

100TH DAY OF SCHOOL

Start letting parents know, now, that the 100th Day of School is approaching on 1/28.  Feel free to use this flier (thanks Layne).  This is the same day as our Kindness KickOff Parade.

WEEKLY WALKTHROUGH FOCUS

Our focused walkthroughs for the next four weeks, will be focusing on Domain 2 Dimension 2:  Content Knowledge and Expertise.  We will be looking for things like cross curricular connections, strategies to help your learners avoid learning pitfalls, learners analyzing, creating and evaluating, and learner-directed learning.

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Problem Solving- creating solutions; finding answers

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

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.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

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

DATES TO REMEMBER:
MOY Assessment Window
Kids Heart Challenge
Jan 21- NO SCHOOL
Jan 22- CISD Education Foundation t-shirt and Jeans
     DLC iPad Challenge
     Ayesha's Shower during lunch
     Geo Bee (3:15 Media Center Flex)
Jan 23- Angela's Birthday
     RJL Shirt and Jeans
     Leadership Meeting (3:30 Kylie's Room)
Jan 24- National Compliment Day
     Must be signed up for CISD Professional Learning for Feb 15
     Spurs Savings (7:20 Cafe)
     PLC Academy (all day @ CMSW)
     Honor Choir Concert (7:00 CHS)
Jan 25- Meredith's Birthday
     PLC Academy (all day @ CMSW)

Week of January 14, 2019

WOW, did this week go by FAST!!! We are so excited to have everyone back.  This has been a super first week of the year at Lee!  I hope you can see and feel how excited I am to be your leader.  What an honor it is to be a part of the journey you are on.  THANK YOU for the experiences you designed for our children this week.  It has been awesome seeing learners set goals, review resolutions, and vision for the new year.  THANK YOU for being inspiration to them!  We also THANK YOU for the flexibility you have demonstrated with our new learners enrolling.  YOU ARE APPRECIATED!

DID YOU KNOW:

• that Kasey has a blog post with ideas on what your learners can put in your Bulb Math Collections?  Check it out here.
• the Bulb app is now in Self-Service?  Bulb is still working out some of the glitches within the app, so it doesn't work perfectly yet, but is available if you want to give it a try.
• Jacque shared a presentation with details on how to assess a running record on Raz-Plus?  Check it out here.
• the application period for becoming and ADE (Apple Distinguished Educator) is open?  With all that you gals do with technology, I think we have quite a few great candidates.  Here is a link to the ADE online application. 
• we need images of some respect/trust agreements completed by classes for Wednesday's staff meeting?  If you have one you would like to share, please text or email and image of yours by Tuesday morning.  THANK YOU!

PLEASE HELP ADVERTISE THIS LEARNER SOLUTION THAT NEEDS HELP!!!

#ONEWORD2019
Since opening year, we, as a staff, have come back in January and had a word for the year.  Just one word.  My first word was INSPIRE, then LEAD, followed by GRATITUDE, and then KIND.  This year my word is LISTEN.  Your word can be something tangible or intangible.  It can be a thought, a feeling, or an action.  The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you.  This word may not make sense to anyone but you, and that is okay.  This is YOUR word!  This little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities.  Sometimes a word will pop into your brain, and it will not make any sense to your right now.  Give it some time.  Let it percolate a bit.  Maybe this is a word you need to hear, but just aren't ready for it yet.  Again, be open to the possibilities.  Between now and Wednesday's staff meeting, please determine what your #oneword2019 will be.  We will have an activity to go along with your word, so come prepared with yours.  For those of you that have already done this activity with your learners, here are some bookmarks you are welcome to use to reinforce their commitment.

CLOTHES BIN
Please share this graphic with parents in this week's newsletter.  Our school earns money for every pound donated.

GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE
Did you know that we will be participating in the Great Kindness Challenge again this year?  We will talk more about this with LEEdership Council in the morning.  You can download the toolkit here. Be thinking about how you can incorporate KINDNESS into your lesson plans the last week of January.  You will need a banner for your class for our Kindness Kickoff Parade, first thing Monday morning, January 28.  New staff, please ask your house to tell you more about this wonderful event.  

KIDS HEART CHALLENGE
(Please remind your parents)

• Online donations accepted now 
• Collection envelopes accepted starting Jan 21
• Checks made payable to American Heart Association
• Last day accepting donations is Feb 1
• Participate in 20 minutes of jump rope with your class between Jan 28 and Feb 1 and you can wear warm ups on that day

MOY SCREENER and RtI:
As you start your MOY assessments, please remember that this information is an additional data point to use for RtI.  ALL DESIGNERS, please make sure you sign up for an RtI time with Leigh Ann.  I have asked Leigh Ann to meet with each designer and go over the specific needs of your class.  Please make sure you come to your meeting prepared with your notes and data.


MOY GOAL SETTING
If you are a paraprofessional, instructional aide, or office support staff,  I am willing to set up a middle of the year goal setting appointment with you.  This is a time for us to check in and see how we can support you and your professional goals in Strive.  For all others that are evaluated under TTESS, Ashley, Leigh Ann, and I hosted your formal TTESS Observation Post Conferences.  This conference serves as your middle of the year check-in.  If you would like an additional meeting, please email your evaluator.  Don't forget to be adding your evidence in Strive for your goals, now!

WEEKLY WALKTHROUGH FOCUS
It is time for our walkthroughs to start back up now that most of our formal observations are completed.  For our focused walkthroughs the next four weeks,  Leigh Ann and I will be focusing on Domain 2 Dimension 2:  Content Knowledge and Expertise.  We will be looking for things like cross curricular connections, strategies to help your learners avoid learning pitfalls, learners analyzing, creating and evaluating, and learner-directed learning.

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Honesty- truthfulness in words and actions

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

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

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

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

DATES TO REMEMBER:
Jan 7-Feb 1- Kids Heart Challenge
Jan 14- RtI Meetings
     School Board President visits Lee
     School Board Meeting (7:00 pm- Recognize TOY)
Jan 15- Complete reading and responding to DTR Chapter s 6-8
     Akta's Shower (3:30 Lounge)
Jan 16- Convocation t-shirt and Jeans
     Staff Meeting (3:30 Meghan Wood's Space)
Jan 17- 4/5 Class Geo Bee must be completed
     Spur Savings (7:20 Cafe)
     Tours (9:00 and 1:00)