Purple House 5 2023-2024

Our learners continued exploring exciting ideas across subjects, asking thoughtful questions, collaborating with classmates, and growing their understanding in so many ways. It has been wonderful to see their curiosity and perseverance shining through each day.

We are looking forward to some exciting events coming up! The Color Run is just around the corner, and students are working hard toward the fun incentives that come with their fundraising efforts. Thank you to our Purple FamiLEEs for supporting this school-wide event—it’s always a highlight for our learners!

Believe it or not, we are just one more week away from Spring Break, which also marks the end of the third nine weeks. Let’s encourage our learners to stay focused, complete any remaining work, and finish this grading period strong. I’m so proud of the effort and growth our class continues to show!

A reminder from the office. There will not be lunch with learners this upcoming Friday due to Color Run.

Thank you and have a wonderful weekend.

With gratitude,
Ms. Voltz

Our mathematicians rolled up their sleeves for a collaborative investigation into units of measurement! Working in teams, learners brainstormed as many units as they could think of and then worked together to sort and organize them into categories such as length, mass, capacity, and time. Using cards and floor grids, students discussed where each unit belonged and debated their thinking with classmates. This hands-on activity helped strengthen their understanding of how measurement systems are organized and why choosing the correct unit matters when solving real-world problems. It was wonderful to see learners communicating their ideas, revising their thinking, and building their measurement knowledge together!

FamiLEE! Only one week left before our Color Run, with all proceeds going to the PE Department, and one of our learners' favorite events of the year, FIELD DAY!! Visit rjlpto.org/colorrun for more details, to donate, and to register to run or throw color at your learner's race. Ask your learner about the awesome prizes their specific classes are working towards!

This week our scientists took their learning outdoors to observe the world around us through the lens of ecosystems. Using our surroundings as a real-world classroom, learners practiced identifying biotic and abiotic factors in the environment. They noticed the many living components around us—trees, plants, shrubs, and even people—as examples of biotic factors, while recognizing abiotic factors such as sunlight, water, rocks, soil, and air that help shape the conditions of an ecosystem. By carefully observing how these living and nonliving parts interact, students are beginning to think like systems scientists, asking questions about how energy flows and how organisms depend on both living and nonliving parts of their environment to survive. It was wonderful to see learners slowing down, observing closely, and making meaningful connections between our science learning and the natural world around us. 🌱🌞

Our learners are strengthening their understanding of the many factors that affect the health and productivity of our strawberry plants by exploring the Gizmos STEM Case: Fruit Production and the Environment. In this interactive investigation, students stepped into the role of agricultural scientists helping a strawberry farmer solve the problem of low fruit production. As they worked through the case, learners examined how plant nutrients, pollination, bee activity, and environmental conditions all work together to influence how well strawberry plants grow and produce fruit. Through this experience, students discovered that growing healthy crops requires careful observation, scientific thinking, and an understanding of how different parts of an ecosystem interact. This learning connects beautifully to our own strawberry garden as we continue observing how real-world environmental factors impact the berries growing right here at school. 🍓

One of our most fascinating science lessons explores the Wolves of Yellowstone, a powerful example of how a single species can influence an entire ecosystem. As we study the incredible landscape of Yellowstone National Park, students review important land formations and discover the park’s unique geothermal features that make it such a natural treasure. From bubbling hot springs to dramatic valleys carved by rivers, Yellowstone provides the perfect setting to understand how nature’s systems are connected.

Our scientists then investigate the remarkable story of what happened when 41 wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone. This event shows how the presence of one organism can create a ripple effect throughout an ecosystem. With the wolves back, elk populations and grazing patterns changed, vegetation began to recover, habitats improved for many other species, and even the movement of rivers shifted over time. It is a powerful reminder that ecosystems are deeply interconnected. Lessons like this help our learners grow as systems thinkers and environmental stewards, recognizing how every organism plays an important role in maintaining the balance of our natural world.

This week our scientists are learning about the important interactions between biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) factors in an ecosystem. Take a walk around your home, neighborhood, or a local park and encourage your child to look closely at the environment around them. Ask them to take a few photos of examples they notice, such as plants, animals, insects, sunlight, soil, water, rocks, or even the wind moving leaves. Then talk together about how the living and nonliving parts work together. How does sunlight help plants grow? Why do animals need water or shelter? How does soil support plant life? These simple observations help learners begin to think like scientists as they recognize that everything in an ecosystem is connected and interacting. 📸🌱

We are excited to host Open House next week. Front and rear doors will be unlocked for entrance at 5:30 PM. This is a "come and go" event, so parents can stay as long as they need to during this hour.

Join us Thursday, March 12th, at Rodeo Goat in Cypress Waters from 11am-9 pm for a fun day of food and fundraising! With our RJL Open House happening the same evening, it’s the perfect chance to grab dinner before or after the event. Mention our fundraiser when dining in or ordering by phone, and 20% of sales go to Lee PTO! Don’t miss out!

As part of our writing workshop, learners are strengthening their argumentative essays through peer editing and revision. Each student selected a topic connected to an important moment in American history—such as space travel, the Civil Rights Movement, the Patriot Act, and Indian reservations. Working with partners, students are carefully reviewing one another’s essays to provide thoughtful feedback on clear claims, strong evidence, counterclaims, and convincing conclusions. This collaborative process helps writers refine their ideas, strengthen their reasoning, and polish their writing so their arguments are clear, well supported, and powerful. It has been exciting to see our young historians and writers thoughtfully engage with meaningful topics while helping one another grow as communicators!

Mark your calendar! Our March Virtual PTO Meeting is Tuesday, March 10th at 6 PM. Join us for exciting updates from your PTO and RJL Admin Team. Submit questions for Principal or PTO anonymously before the meeting by visiting rjlpto.org/rjlspeaks.

This month, our CMS West Principal and PTO team will be visiting our meeting to welcome 5th grade parents!

TEXAS HISTORY MONTH

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

COLOR RUN FUNDRAISING WINDOW

TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

March 8 - Daylight Savings Time

March 10 - Kinder Dentist Visit (2:00 Cafe)

Virtual PTO Mtg. (6:00 PM)

March 12 - Rodeo Goat Spirit Day (11:00 AM- 10:00 PM)

Open House (5:30-6:30)

March 13 - Color Run (Day 0 Schedule)

3rd Grading Period Ends

March 16 - 20 - NO SCHOOL

Fifth-grade designer of learning experiences at RJ Lee Elementary a Net Zero school in Coppell, Texas.

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 learning environment.

Apple Teacher

HEB Excellence in Education State Finalist 2018

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