Week of October 9, 2023

What an incredible staff you are.  Thank you for preparing and hosting your learner-led conferences.  I know you have all spent a great deal of time preparing with your children.  What a great time to build connections with our famiLEEs.  I want you to know I appreciate all of your hard work to communicate the strengths and areas for growth on each child.  If a parent did not attend the conference on the designated days, please do your best to set up an alternative time/method to review data with them.  Also, remember to document the conference in Panorama!  Enjoy the three day weekend- YOU DESERVE IT!  

DID YOU KNOW:

• doors will be keyed down and parents should come straight to your spaces for conferences on Friday?  We are having the office team use comp hours on Friday.
• there is a WONDERFUL resource for parents through the DLC Bulb?  Please share this website with Family Resources to help support parents with their learner's at-home technology.
• parents can sign up to attend lunches on Fridays?  Lunch with Your Lee Learner Google Form is open.  Please post in your weekly newsletters.
• we have a PTO parent that wants to help you when you need volunteers for an event or class?  Please reach out to Julie McConnell for assistance.  Her email is: juliescottmcconnell@gmail.com  
• Kindergarten will have their Community Helper parade at 8:00 on Friday morning?  Please have a seat around the downstairs loop to show support of your kinder friends. 

THANK YOU TO OUR CUSTODIANS

Thank you Social Spurs for helping to celebrate our fantastic custodial team. 

THANK YOU SAMIRA

Tomorrow, October 6, is National Instructional Coaches Day.  Join me in thanking Samira, for leading us all so well.  She answers ALL the questions, runs ALL the reports, and is patient with ALL of us as we ask questions.  We appreciate you loads, Samira!

NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK

The week of October 9-13 is National School Lunch Week.  This year's theme is "Level Up with School Lunch!"  We will highlight all the important aspects of a healthy school lunch each day on morning broadcast.

VIRTUAL PTO MEETING

We have our second VIRTUAL PTO Meeting on Tuesday night at 6:00 pm.  A Zoom link will be emailed to parents through Parent Square on Tuesday morning. Plan to learn about important and exciting updates from your PTO Team and Principal.

REVISITING RESPECT AGREEMENTS

Please revisit and update respect agreements with your classes for the 2nd 9 weeks.  Remember there should be FOUR quadrants: Learner to Learner, Learner to Designer, Designer to Learner, and Learner to School.  All four quadrants should have 3 to 4 bullets with short phrases (ex: be honest, hands to self, feet off furniture, etc.) replacing negative words like don't and never.

MORNING MEETINGS

Class circles are going to help learners (and you) as we maintain relationships.  THEY ARE A REQUIREMENT IN CISD.  They provide social/emotional support in your space.  You should have a structure within the class meeting to foster authentic relationships, provide safety for everyone's voice to be heard and allow vulnerability to occur.  Class meetings build secure relationships in a safe and structured setting.  If you need "talking pieces" please see Angela or Jessica. Ask your learners what they want to use. We are happy to purchase talking pieces for you, if you submit a PO.  Remember to be completing your Second Step lessons once a week.  

REPORT CARD COMMENTS

As you work on adding comments to K-3 report cards, remember that comments can extend beyond the classroom and influence a child's self-esteem, motivation, and future learning experiences.  Meaningful comments can inspire life long love of learning and personal growth.  Need some ideas or a place to start?  Here are some.

WALKTHROUGHS IN OCTOBER

Don't forget to read feedback and sign off on your first walkthrough.  For this month, we will be giving you feedback on Domain 2.4: Differentiation. We will be looking for:

• Individualized Lessons

• Monitoring participation and performance

• Recognizing confusion and disengagement

• Addressing the SEL needs of learners

• Varied instructional strategies used to meet the needs of ALL learners (SpEd, EB, GT, etc)

• Flexible Grouping

• Product, process, content, environment

If you want any support to achieve these bullets, set up a time with Samira, Julie, Ayesha, Kara, Yanet, or your Admin Team.

RED RIBBON WEEK APPROACHING IN TWO WEEKS

We will participate in these Spirit Days the last week in October in celebration of Red Ribbon Week.

TRUNK OR TREAT COMING SOON

Our annual FamiLEE Trunk for Treat event is coming up on Thursday, October 26, starting at 5:30 PM in the front RJL Parking lot.   Please mark your calendars and join us in the festivities. 

HAVE YOU LOGGED INTO MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT YET THIS YEAR?

Teachers...this applies to YOU, TOO!  If not, we highly recommend you do this ASAP.  Our PTO website Membership Toolkit allows us, your PTO, to share important information with you throughout the year.  This is PTO's primary source of communication with you.  Please log in today to create your account or update your information for this year.  Volunteering and PTO membership are not required when you create an account, though we are always happy to have you join us!  https://rjleepto.membershiptoolkit.com/

COACHES CORNER

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ESL UPDATES

Sentence stems are scaffolds that all learners (not just EBs) can use as they learn language, content, and academic vocabulary.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

• GLOBAL MATH WEEK
• PURPLE HOUSE TAKES CARE OF THE LOUNGE THIS MONTH
• NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
• NATIONAL DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH
• STOMP OUT BULLYING MONTH
• BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
• HINDU HERITAGE MONTH

Oct 9- NO SCHOOL

Oct 10- Curtis' Birthday

     Virtual PTO Meeting (6:00 PM)

     Grades Due (8:00 AM)

Oct 11- Leadership Meeting (3:15 PM- Laura's Space)

     Math Content Academy

Oct 12- MTSS Meetings

     Science Content Academy

Oct 13- Kinder Community Helper Parade (8:00)

     Report Card Day

     Librarian Meeting today

RED RIBBON WEEK IS TWO WEEKS AWAY!

Week of October 2, 2023

THANK YOU ALL FOR ANOTHER AMAZING WEEK AT LEE!  Thank you to Social Spurs for the gift cards for our custodians. Please make time to thank our custodians when you see them.  WHAT A HARD JOB!  You are doing a wonderful job preparing for your learner led conferences.  Check out this document with conference tips and tricks. 

DID YOU KNOW:

• you must turn your Vivatek Boards and televisions off each afternoon?  Please remember to do this to save the life of these learning tools.
• parents can start joining their learners for lunch on Fridays in October?  Please share this Friday Lunch sign up in your weekly newsletter for the remainder of the year.  October 13 is our first lunch date.
• you are REQUIRED to call CPS (1-800-252-5400) if a learner shares information that is concerning?  Just a friendly reminder.
• walkthroughs need to be signed?  Please go into Power School Perform to see if you have any that need your attention.  Thank you!
• we have a new elementary paraprofessional starting on Monday in the office?  Her name is Margie Fralick and you are going to LOVE her energy.  Please stop by and say HI and introduce yourself.
• we have a new security officer starting today?  His name is Stefan Adkins.

WORLD DAY OF BULLYING PREVENTION

October is National Bullying Prevention Month and the first Monday of every October is World Day of Bullying Prevention.  On this day students, schools, and communities all over the world go BLUE together against bullying.  We want you and your learners to join us to stop bullying and cyberbullying by wearing a blue shirt on Monday.

COLLEGE SHIRT DAY

Encourage learners to participate by wearing a college shirt on the first Wednesday of each month.

 

SPIRIT RALLY

We will host our Fall Spirit Rally on Wednesday from 2:00-3:00.  Please have learners packed up in your spaces before we call you down over the intercom.  This is a Day 7.

 

EARLY RELEASE ON THURSDAY

Thursday is an early release for students.  This means it is a Day 0 and all learners will go to the gym for Specials.  Please remind parents and follow the schedule below!  Your duty free lunch and remainder of your conference time are whatever time you need after 12:30, so you may need a snack when your children eat lunch (if you are like me and 12:30 is late for lunch).  Thursday afternoon you can prepare for conferences, host conferences, or use as work time for report cards or other work you need to get done.  Remember 1st 9 week's grades are due October 10.

Please send learners to pick up their lunches at these times.  There will be Mac and Cheese for lunch and two lines will be open.  On Early Release days, learners eat in your houses. 

• Blue- 10:00
• Yellow- 10:15
• Green- 10:30
• Red- 10:45
• Purple- 11:00

FALL CONFERENCES

Please make sure you are at work during normal contract hours on Friday (7:15-3:35). Document when you personally reach out to parents and they do not attend their Fall Conference.  Panorama is a great place to document.  If you don't document it, it didn't happen and our goal is to have 100% participation in learner-led conferences.  Remember...your space is a reflection of you and the learning that happens there.  While learning can get messy, Conference Day isn't the best day to showcase that!  Please make sure all spaces are on point.  

FAIR DAY TICKETS

Learner fair day tickets are being placed in your mailboxes today.  Please make sure you send these home with each learner before next Friday.  A sub will walk around and have you sign off for your staff fair ticket, today.  If she missed you, please come by the office to get yours.

REMINDERS TO PARENTS

Please add these three reminders to your newsletters. This information comes directly from our Arrival and Dismissal communication from Back to School.  

• To ensure that all students are dismissed safely and correctly, we ask that same-day dismissal changes are made in emergencies only.
• If you find that a same-day change is necessary, please email the child’s teacher and call our front office at 214-496-7900 by 1:30 pm to ensure that the change is communicated clearly.
• Learners being picked up early for an appointment need to be signed out of the office before 2:45. 

The front office will Teams your HOUSE that a learner is being picked up or if they get a call/email a learner is going home a different way. 

ST ANN THANKGIVING BASKETS

St. Ann’s Catholic Parish is once again sponsoring Thanksgiving basket deliveries (or a pickup option at St Ann’s Church if you prefer). This program provides families in need with a complete Thanksgiving dinner for the entire family. The baskets will be delivered to your home the weekend before Thanksgiving, so it is critically important that an adult representing the family be at the home between the hours of Noon and 4PM on Sunday November 19th, 2023. The deadline to sign up for a basket is October 20th, 2023. Please completely fill out this form with all information requested. You may call your school’s nurse, Annah Rose, at arose@coppellisd.com if you have questions.

REMINDERS FROM COUNSELORS

It is imperative that you share important information with your school counselors as soon as you become aware.  This helps ensure that necessary support can be provided to learners in a timely manner.  If you have specific concerns or questions about learners, please call or Teams Jessica or Angela immediately.

PTO MEETING REMINDER

Our next virtual PTO meeting is coming up on October 10th.  Please plan to join us for important and exciting updated from your PTO Team and Principal.

SAVE THE DATE- TRUNK OR TREAT

Make sure to mark your calendars for our upcoming Trunk or Treat on Thursday, October 26.  Be on the lookout for more details coming soon!

RESPECT AGREEMENTS

Next week starts the 2nd 9 weeks.  Please build time in your lesson design, for the week of October 9, to include time to revisit and update your respect agreements with your classes.  New copies should be sent to Kat and Angel for our discipline binder.

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

Speaking of a new 9 weeks, remember to review digital citizenship with your class.  Revisiting digital citizenship conversations throughout the year helps to keep a healthy digital classroom environment.  Common Sense Media is a fabulous resource for supporting children as they navigate the waters of digital learning.  Here are class pledges your learners can sign and you can hang in your space (if you haven't already done so). K-2 and 3-5

  

OCTOBER IS DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH

 

You can follow the hashtag #coppellMLI to learn more about dyslexia across the district. Do you know what MLI stands for? 

 

M- Multisensory 

L- Language 

I- Instruction 

 

To learn more about dyslexia, watch this short video to see how dyslexia affects a learner’s ability to read. 

WALKTHROUGHS IN OCTOBER

We enjoyed giving you feedback on your learning environment in September.  For this month, we will be giving you feedback on Domain 2.4: Differentiation.  We will be looking for:

• Individualized Lessons

• do learners have individualized learning goals or objectives that align with needs/abilities

• are their accommodations or modifications for learners with diverse learning needs

• Monitoring participation and performance

• are their enrichment or extension activities for those that master content

• Recognizing confusion and disengagement

• Addressing the SEL needs of learners

• is the environment inclusive and respectful where all students feel valued and supported

• Varied instructional strategies used to meet the needs of ALL learners (SpEd, EB, GT, etc)

• whole group

• small group

• one-on-one support

• independent work

• menus/choice boards

• Flexible Grouping

• based on readiness, interests, learning styles

• targeted instruction

• collaborative learning among peers

• Product, process, content, environment

DLC UPDATES

Are you interested in having learners track their growth and data? Check out these brand new resources for learner Google spreadsheet templates and digital portfolio pages! Also included are templates for MLI and SPED goal growth. There is a lot to dig through; if you are wanting something specific for your learners, reach out and I can help you get to the right page without having to search!  If you see something you like but would like it changed to fit your needs, I'd love to collaborate with you. Also, please reach out if you would like support implementing any of these with your learners!

COACH'S CORNER

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LEVEL UP LEARNING

Thanks, Ayesha, for this quick tip to level up learning for ALL children.

ESL UPDATES

LESSONS IN LEEDERSHIP

DATES TO REMEMBER:

• PURPLE HOUSE TAKES CARE OF THE LOUNGE THIS MONTH
• NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
• NATIONAL DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH
• STOMP OUT BULLYING MONTH
• NATIONAL PRINCIPAL MONTH
• HINDU HERITAGE MONTH
• GT SCREENING WINDOW GRADES 1, 3, 5

Oct 2- Wear blue for Stomping Out Bullying

     School Custodian Appreciation Day

Oct 4- College Shirt Day

     Day 7

     Spirit Rally (2:00 Gym)

     Onboarding Mtg (3:15 Yellow House)

Oct 5- Day 0

    Early Release (12:30)

    World Teacher's Day

Oct 6- Audrey's Birthday

     Fall Conference Day

     National Instructional Coaches Day

Oct 9- NO SCHOOL

Oct 10- Grades Due 8:00 AM

RED RIBBON WEEK IS THREE WEEKS AWAY!

Week of September 25, 2023

What an amazing turn out for our Special Friends Day.  The office and PTO did a wonderful job of greeting everyone and making them feel right at home!  The lunch teachers helped manage learner guests, our custodial and cafeteria staff handled our large number of visitors.  Holly and our volunteers rocked the Book Fair.  It takes us all on days like this.  Did you know we had almost 400 guests attend?  WOW!   I think of the CISD core values, and having events like this aligns with "valuing collective engagement that positively impacts the lives our our children and our world" and  "we value authentic relationships."  The children were so excited and proud to have their guests at our school.  We recognize it is stressful on you when we have these events, so thank you for your positivity!  

Being in some classes for walkthroughs this week was super affirming.  You all have created such remarkable learning environments this first half of the nine weeks.  What a privilege to be in your spaces to brag on you.  I will miss you the next three days.  I am modeling "taking care of myself" as Mike and I head to Vegas to take in the Steeler/Raider game.  Go Steelers!  Angel will be holding down the fort and Kat will be here with her on Friday.  If you need a sub (last minute) please contact Angel and Parker.

DID YOU KNOW:

• Gabby's last day is Thursday?  We are looking for a replacement and will let you know when they make it through HR. Please send all attendance concerns to Angel and Kat for the time being.
• 14752 is Abeer's sub number?  If you need a sub, after contacting Admin, please reach out to her to see if she is available.  Since this blog is public, her contact info it is in Teams for you.  
• we had 11 former Spurs recognized at National Merit Semi-Finalists?  WOW!  You all make such a difference in the lives of our kids.  

• October 2nd is Custodian Appreciation Day and Social Spurs will be presenting our custodial team with gift cards and notes of gratitude? Thank you for your Social Spurs donations.  These help us be able to recognize our hard-working custodians!
• speaking of Social Spurs, pay day is around the corner and you still have a chance to donate to Social Spurs and get your house into the upcoming prize drawing?  Venmo or donate your cash to Linda.

LUNCHROOM REMINDERS

I want to thank you for getting such great routines set in the cafeteria.  I am sure there are other houses doing this, but I caught Blue house reminding kids to recycle only their cartons right now.  EVEN ON SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY!  Thank you, all houses, for focusing on this one area of recycling for now.  Also, thank you for giving learners choice to where they sit at lunch.  That said, please be extra watchful when we have fifth and fourth graders sitting with Kindergarteners. We have had a few interactions brought to our attention in the office lately, so just hoping we can work together to avoid these.  We always want to keep our vertical system in a good light.

DESIGN DAYS

Thank you for making sure to start/end on time.  AM is 8:00-11:30 and PM is 12:00-3:30.  We will reserve the large conference room for you to meet in.  Please bring your devices and materials so you can have productive time together.  Leadership, please share notes and links from the day in your grade level Team Time Agendas.

CONFERENCE DAY

Please make sure that every parent gets a copy of this to accompany their MAP results in your learner led conferences.

I expect to see K-5th graders present in their conferences.  They need to own their data, share goals, and be part of the information you share with parents.  Remember to let our Admin Team know if you need/want us to sit in on any of your conferences.  

Helpful Conference Hints:

If we approach families with this mindset, we can begin seeing conferences as opportunities for collaborative inquiry about how we can best support children’s learning.

• Begin the conversation on a personal note instead of starting with the formal progress report.
• Create a sense of common purpose.  Avoid the use of "I" or "You."  Try words like "we" and "us."

FLU CLINIC

On October 6, Albertson's will provide flu shot clinics at Lee from 10:30-11:15. Staff will have the opportunity to sign up for other vaccines as well. Staff may sign up using the QR code on the attached poster. The clinic will accept all insurance plans. Participants should bring the attached informed consent and medical and pharmacy insurance cards to their appointment.

COACH'S CORNER

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LESSON IN "LEE"DERSHIP

 

DATES TO REMEMBER:

• NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
• FALL BOOK FAIR WEEK
• DEAF AWARENESS WEEK

Sept 25- Chantel Off

Sept 26- SS Content Academy

     Kinder Design Day (AM)

     2nd Design Day (PM)

Sept 27-  Super Teacher Nominations Due

     1st Design Day (AM)

     3rd Design Day (PM)

     Staff Meeting (3:15-4:45 Cafe)

Sept 28- 5th Design Day (AM)

     4th Design Day (PM)

Sept 30- American Indian Heritage Day

Oct 1- Dyslexia Awareness Month

     Hindu Heritage Month

     Stomp Out Bullying Month

     National Principal Month