Week of June 8, 2020

Hi folks!  Keeping you in the loop as we jump into summer.  Remember I will not be sending blogs out weekly, just as new information comes in that is important for you to know.  So...if you were wondering about next year's theme...here you go!

This is the perfect theme to follow our year of "Attitude of Gratitude."  I've been reminded how much better we are together and what a great Big Idea to share with our kiddos and each other this next school year.

The next week and a half I will spend wrapping up 2019, digging into data, and visioning for 2020-2021.  Please know we value your thoughts and ideas.  Send them my way if you want things added to next year's campus improvement plan.  With everything going on, you can be certain there will be goals in the area of virtual learning and cultural sensitivity.  I am working with custodial and maintenance to get your spaces touched up and repaired so you come in to a sparkling space in August.  You will be coming back to new dry-erase walls installed (that starts on Monday) and we have some other surprises that you will have to wait for.  (You know how I love dangling a carrot!) It is EXCITING!  Please enjoy your summer break.  Relax. Make memories.  Learn something new.  I already miss you!  KNOW I am feeling blessed to have served as your Principal for #rjlyear6 and can't wait to see what #rjlyear7 brings us as we are BETTER TOGETHER!

STAFFING:
Thank you to our Admin Team and our Interview Team (Hannah B, Samira, Sam, Layne) for their time and help.  We have found some talented, kind, and loving individuals to add to our FamiLEE.  Please join us in welcoming:

ESL Facilitator:  Alex Pinela-  apinela@coppellisd.com (from CRE)
Office Aide:  Peg Hamam-  phamam@coppellisd.com - she is Shari's sister-in-law!
Purple 1 Designer: Kourtney Waggoner-  kwaggoner@coppellisd.com
Yellow 2 Designer:  Kelsie Wible- (CISD email coming soon) kelsie.murph@gmail.com
Red 4:  Josephine Shin- jshin@coppellisd.com 
Green 4:  Carley Riggins- (CISD email coming soon)  rigginscarely@gmail.com
Blue 5 Designer: Hannah Ferrell- hferrell@coppellisd.com 

I know you will be eager to reach out and welcome each of them to the greatest school on the planet!  If you want their cell number, check with your house lead, I don't want to post their private numbers on a public blog.  House leads- these are in our 19-20 Leadership Team teams group.
   

HOUSE ASSIGNMENTS

You all have been SO PATIENT and I thank you for that.  Our goal is always to put the children first, move as few children and staff to different houses as possible, and to place people in a grade they will be happy in.  Here are the assignments for the 2020-2021 school year.  Remember that they are always subject to change based on enrollment and staffing needs.  An "*" designates our Leadership Team members in house/grade.  A "__" indicates a new staff member.   Much effort was made to create balanced houses and grades.  You can see we are going to start with a full building, and I can't wait to see how each house creatively uses the spaces and flexible furniture we have at Lee.  It is going to be a fabulous year!

#RJLYEAR7 SELFIE CHALLENGE

Last year, we had our third summer selfie challenge and we are back for a fourth round.  This challenge is our way to see what you are doing this summer and to stay connected.  It is also a great way for our school community to see our new hires and for us all to get to know each other outside of school.  We hope everyone will be interested in joining the FUN.  Below is this year's board. Please tweet it out to your followers and encourage your learners and their famiLEEs to join in, too. Use the hashtags #rjlyear7  and #rjlsummerselfie. We will try to coordinate some outings this summer that can help you fill in a square or two.  If you plan something...spread the word!  

SUMMER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

CISD Virtual Professional Learning will take place on June 24 and 25.  The focus will be on SEL and Digital Learning.  Webinar and learning experiences will extend through the summer.  You will be getting information about this from the district, soon!

In addition, it is time to release the CISD Compliance Course in Schoology.  The content in this course is very important as compliance training covers local, state, and federal requirements that must be completed annually.  Dr. Hunt has approved 3 hours of Flex credit and Texas SBEC credit for employees.  Use the code 9J7N-38VS-7WF2S to join the new course and complete required compliance content for the 2020-2021 school year.  You should pay close attention to the due dates located on each folder.  Most of the content folders require you to view a presentation and then complete a task.  

SUMMER CHOICE BOARDS 

Did you know that CISD is sharing Summer Choice Boards for our K-2 and 3-5 learners?  I encourage you to share these with your parents as they change throughout the summer.  

PLANS FOR OPENING THE 2020 SCHOOL YEAR

I want you to take comfort in the fact that there is a CISD Task Force that is working through 3 plans for our return to school in August.  We are still planning a return of educators on August 5 and learners on August 12.  We will keep you informed along the way and your health and safety as well as the health and safety of the children are in the forefront.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Blue 5 Designer, Hannah, who got married on Saturday.  She will be MRS. JONES when we return to school.  We are so excited for her to start her married life.

NEW HIRES

As a new hire, I am sure you are thinking about what you can do to start getting ready for your new adventure at Lee.  This blog I would encourage you to:

1. Update or create a Twitter account.  Follow @NetZeroLee and other staff members.  Post to the #rjlsummerselfie challenge.

TO DO FOR ALL:

• Fill out this form so we can learn all about your favorites.  The first one to complete it will be getting a surprise in the mail!

HAPPY  BIRTHDAY!
June 1- Cindy
June 10- Taylor
June 18- Tabitha

Week of May 25, 2020

We hope you are ready to enjoy your first week of summer vacation.  YOU MADE IT AND YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO MISS US!!! Thank you for an incredible year and all of the fantastic memories as we had a...

You tackled teaching in this history making time.  We could not be more proud of how our FamiLEE has handled distance learning.  You are such a remarkable group and have learned so very much.  

You all made this week FABULOUS for our learners and FamiLEEs!  THANK YOU SO MUCH for that!  We can't wait to see everyone at Andy's for our staff social at 1:30.  Let me know if you see that Maddie girl.  I think she will be in black pants.  Remember to maintain social distancing and if you post any pictures, we have to be wearing masks.

DID YOU KNOW

• we need you to check posts on social media this week? Any pictures posted with you not wearing a mask, please take down.  I received a text from the director of staff and student services last night and they do not want any pictures out there without us wearing masks associated with our school.  PLEASE help with this request.  Here is the staff parade video for any of you that want it.  I took it down since there were some areas where staff was not six feet apart.

STAFFING:
For those fo you unaware, we are bidding a fond farewell to Deepa.  She has been an incredible part of our school for the last three years.  We are going to miss her welcoming nature and her helpful spirit as her family adventures to Hershey, Pennsylvania.  Yes- home of Milton Hershey.  Deepa, the only reason we are okay with you leaving us is that you will be sending us a surprise chocolate delivery! Love you, Deepa!

It is also bittersweet to share that Corissa has found a new school home just miles from her new house in Denton.  We are doing to feel the weight of her departure, but how exciting that her new school has some of the same school tools as RJL does.  We love you and will miss you, Corissa!  We will be in touch!

UPDATE FRIDAY 9:50 AM:  Congratulations to Stormy.  She accepted a job in her neighborhood school where Auburn will get to go.  She will be their STEM teacher- how exciting is that?  We wish her well in her new role and school. 

Our interview team has been visiting with potential candidates.  We are ready to extend an offer to a candidate to replace Corissa once we get her letter of resignation. Her name is Josephine and she impressed our interview team.  Grade placements are still under consideration as our hiring and enrollment shake out.  We thank you for your patience.  I promise to communicate with you over the summer.

SUMMER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Below are some links for summer professional development webinars that can be attended for flex hours for next year. 

• Accelerating EL Literacy Skills
• Supporting ELs
• Region X Title 3 Symposium
• Seidlitz Remote Learning

#CISDLearns professional learning opportunities are going VIRTUAL this summer as we dive deeper into Digital and Social Emotional Learning.

Summer Professional Learning will kick-off on June 24th and 25th in the form of live webinars. The webinars made available to you will be a combination of new and repeated content from our time in #CISD Distance Learning. 

On June 25th, you will gain access to content to self-paced virtual learning in Schoology. You can look forward to learning more about Apple, Bulb, Schoology, strategies for ELs and gifted learners, and more! Complete as much or as little as you’d like before August 6th to get a head start on earning your Flex credit for 2020-2021. 

#RJLYEAR7 SELFIE CHALLENGE

Last year, we had our fourth summer selfie challenge and we will be back for a fifth round.  This challenge is our way to see what you are doing this summer and to stay connected.  It is also a great way for our school community to see our new hires and for us all to get to know each other outside of school.  We hope everyone will be interested in joining the FUN.  Below is this year's board. Please tweet it out to your followers and encourage your learners and their famiLEEs to join in, too. Use the hashtags #rjlyear7  and #rjlsummerselfie. We will coordinate some outings this summer that can help you fill in a square or two.  If you plan something...spread the word!

I WILL EMAIL YOU THE NEW BOARD.  IT IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

We thank you for the outstanding job you all did with ALL of your end of year tasks.  THANK YOU for being thorough with your furniture and supply inventories.  The idea wall install is delayed another week due to COVID-19, but THEY ARE COMING!  Can you imagine how cool it will be to use the walls the way they were intended?  So exciting!  Please enjoy your summer break.  Relax.  Make memories.  Learn something new.  I will miss you.  Please know I am feeling blessed to have served as your Principal this year and can't wait to see what #rjlyear7 brings us.  YEAR 7!!!!!  We are better together!

DATES TO REMEMBER:

May 25- NO SCHOOL

May 29- Sasha's Birthday

May 31- Christina's Birthday

Week of May 18, 2020

THANK YOU for another incredible year at our school.  #rjlyear6 was filled with GRATITUDE because of each and every one of you.  Your hard work, dedication, perseverance, and genuine love of children goes unmatched and you are applauded for all that you have contributed to making our school the incredible place that it is!  I hope you will always remember that you are were hand picked to be at Lee because of the gifts and talents that you possess. Sometimes you already knew them, other times we brought them out of you.  The special and unique blessing is that we are each on our own journey, yet we can all reflect back over the last year and see that we are better because of each other.  It is exciting looking forward and dreaming about #rjlyear7!

It will be sad to see one of our famiLEE members move along, however, I feel confident that the bonds and lessons made at Lee will have lasting positive effects on your new adventure. We are super excited to watch you, Shelby, as you make a difference at your new school in Rockwall. We wish you nothing less than the best.  You will forever be Lee Spur famiLEE member.  Please keep in touch!  

Enjoy the last couple of days of school.  Make some lasting memories with your kiddos.  We know Lee is the BEST school, with the AWESOMEST staff and learners.  We only get these kiddos 187 days, so make the most of these last 5 1/2 with them! THEY ADORE YOU-  AS DO I!

MEET OUR NEWEST FAMILEE MEMBER:

I am Hannah Ferrell soon to be Hannah Jones! I am beyond excited to start my first year of teaching at Lee. I have been preparing to be a teacher since I can remember- from asking for an overhead projector for Christmas, to holding summer school in my game room for my younger sister and her friends. I graduated in December from the University of North Texas with a Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies. My certifications are in 4-8th grade Social Studies, EC-6th, and ESL. My aunt, Meredith Wilson, is already part of the Lee Family, so I am excited to join as well. Although this summer has been filled with wedding planning, I enjoy crafting, calligraphy, and creating! I can’t wait to meet everyone and begin to collaborate with the faculty, students, and parents at Lee Elementary. I am counting down the days until the first day of school! 

DID YOU KNOW?

• Taylor was nominated and will be recognized as a GEM this quarter?  CONGRATULATIONS, Taylor for being a Great Educator that Matters!  I know we all agree you go above and beyond for our school and learners.
• we secured some S'more licenses for next year?  We wanted to tell you now, so that if you are planning to renew your personal S'more subscription, that you hold off. 
• next year's spirit wear will look like this in house colors?  Thanks PTO for sharing.

• you can attend summer professional learning on June 24 and 25?  Attendance this summer counts towards your flex hours for 2020-2021.
• that I will continue to blog important info over the summer?  I will email you when I do, so you stay informed.

REDEFINING SUCCESS PANEL ZOOM
 Can I just say THANK YOU SO MUCH to those of you that attended the Principal Panel Zoom meeting today.  I know each of you are so busy finishing out the year.  I never have a problem bragging about the work you all do and it energized me to reflect about our journey as we redefine success during these times.  I felt so much love and support seeing some Spurs in the chat and thank you for your texts and comments afterwards.  You REALLY know how to make a girl feel good!


FIELD DAY
THANKS, again, to Julie, Aparna, and the PE team for the virtual Field Day choice board for kids to engage with tomorrow.  I can't wait to see pictures on social media of our kids getting active!

TALENT SHOW

Thank you to our Talent Show Committee for all of their hard work.  Boy some of our kids and their families really have some talent!  Remind your famiLEEs that tomorrow is the last day to like their favorites on FlipGrid.  We can't wait to see how our broadcast team showcases them next week!

REMINDER FROM THE NURSE
Please send to parents: Please pick up any medication or medical supplies your student has in the clinic on Monday or Tuesday during your scheduled house time.  Medication must be picked up in the loop during your assigned house time and all medication not picked up will be discarded.  

STAFF CELEBRATION

We have some very special recognition for our staff.  Check out those that are being acknowledged for their years of service in Coppell ISD.  YOU ARE A BIG DEAL!

FIFTH GRADE FAREWELL PARADE

We host a FINAL WALK for 5th graders on Wednesday.  Please wear your Attitude of Gratitude shirts and get here by 9:30 because the "walk" will begin at 10:00.  We will line the front loop (and back if needed) on both sides of the drive.  Please stand at least 6 feet apart. 

5TH GRADE GRADUATION

We know each and every one of you have poured into these incredible graduates and will want to share in their special day.  If you miss their fifth grade graduation on Wednesday afternoon, fifth grade designers will be recording their Zoom Sessions and place them in this folder for you to watch.  

STORAGE ROOMS
Thank you for organizing and getting done with your inventory of your storage spaces.  Remember, you have as much time and grace needed to get this done.  Please create a digital copy that you can record your totals on and send to Admin when you are ready to check out.  Leadership Team, don't forget to make an appointment with Chantel and Leigh Ann when you are ready.  We will do our best to accommodate your schedules.

YEARBOOKS

Yearbooks will be delivered to PTO this summer.  We will plan a special event based on what is acceptable when they come in. 

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Humor- comical or amusing quality; ability to see or show the funny or amusing side of things.
LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

Your ability to make people laugh can help others feel comfortable and relieve tense situations.
LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people." - Victor Borge


TO DO

• Panorama Survey.  thank you to the 87% of our staff that have done this and the 70% of our learners in 3-5. Please help get us to 100% on these!  
• Furniture Inventory- remember extra furniture in your house goes to the flex space!
• EOY Technology Checklist we are TRUSTing you to make sure your projector carts are cleaned off and all other procedures followed.  Fingers crossed we will have our new projectors on the carts for the start of the 2020 school year!
• EOY Checklist- we are TRUSTing you to execute what is expected on the lists.  Email them to LAH when you have completed everything.  If you have done that, you are checked out.

#RJLYEAR7 SUMMER SELFIE CHALLENGE

Last year, we had our fourth summer selfie challenge and we will be back for a fifth round this year.  Stay tuned to next week's blog to see what this year's Bingo board looks like!

DATES TO REMEMBER:
May 18- Grades Due (8:00)
     Blue Pick Up/Drop Off (8:00-10:00)
     Green Pick Up/Drop Off (10:00-12:00)
     Purple Pick Up/Drop Off (1:00-3:00)
May 19- Red Pick Up/Drop Off (10:00-12:00)
     Yellow Pick Up/Drop Off (1:00-3:00)
May 20- 5th Grade Walk (10:00)
     5th Grade Graduations (12:00-4:00)

May 21- Spirit Rally (AM)
     EOY Staff Celebration (1:30)