Purple House 5 2023-2024

As we gear up for testing on Monday, we’ve been making our science review as engaging and interactive as possible! Learners are diving into key concepts through games, collaboration, and hands-on activities to keep their thinking sharp and confidence high. I’m also excited to hear their growing enthusiasm for their upcoming Social Studies projects—there’s a lot of creativity and curiosity building!

Please make sure your learner gets plenty of rest this weekend so they come in refreshed and ready to shine. We’ve got this!

Parents there will be no visitors on campus on Monday, April 20. We also ask that students avoid scheduling doctor appointments, avoid late arrivals, and do not have early pick-ups on this day. Thank you for keeping the building quiet and secure.

With gratitude,
Ms. Voltz

Reviewing science vocabulary and concepts came alive as we used a fun round of “I Have… Who Has?” cards! Learners stayed highly engaged as they listened closely, made connections, and quickly responded with the correct terms and definitions. This interactive game strengthened their understanding of key concepts while building confidence with academic vocabulary. It was exciting to see their teamwork, quick thinking, and growing mastery of science language in action!

Learners used the Mystery Science Eat or Be Eaten cards to build food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids while strengthening their understanding of how energy moves through an ecosystem. Using strong academic vocabulary, we reviewed carnivores, omnivores, herbivores, producers, and consumers, and discussed how energy is transferred from one organism to another.

Our learner groups were each given a secret landform and challenged to create clues, visuals, and models to help their classmates guess which landform they had chosen. Classmates had to rely only on the clues at first before the visuals and models were revealed. As they shared, learners explained the agents of change that formed their landform, where it can be found, and the physical characteristics that make it unique. This was a fun and engaging way to strengthen both science understanding and presentation skills.

Join the fun and make a difference by serving on the PTO Board for the 2026–27 school year! We have a variety of roles available to fit any schedule, whether you have a little time or a lot to give.

Click here to explore open positions, see what to expect, and submit your application. We’d love for you to be part of the team! Applications close May 1st.

As part of giving back to our staff during Teacher Appreciation Week this year, we’d like to cover lunch duty on May 4th and drop off car line duty on May 6th to allow our teachers and staff to enjoy their special meals together. Please sign up here to show your appreciation and volunteer!

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Resiliency- recovering from or adjusting easily to misfortune or change

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

Accept that you are going to make mistakes. Learn from them and move on.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.” -Napoleon

Take a look around your home—you might be surprised how many simple machines you use every single day! Simple machines help make work easier by changing the direction or amount of force needed to do something.

🛠️ The 6 Simple Machines to Discover

• Lever – helps lift or move things (example: a spoon, bottle opener)
• Pulley – uses a wheel and rope to lift (example: window blinds)
• Inclined Plane – a ramp that makes lifting easier (example: stairs)
• Wedge – splits or cuts (example: knife, doorstop)
• Screw – holds things together (example: jar lids, bolts)
• Wheel & Axle – helps things roll (example: rolling chair, doorknob)

🏠 Your Mission at Home

Go on a Simple Machine Scavenger Hunt!

1. Find at least 5 examples of simple machines around your house.
2. For each one, write or talk about:
• What is the object?
• Which simple machine is it?
• How does it make work easier?

💡 Think About It

• Which simple machine did you find the most?
• How would life be different without simple machines?
• Can one object be made of more than one simple machine?

✏️ Optional Challenge

Draw or build your own invention that uses at least two simple machines. Be ready to explain how it works!

Have fun exploring—your house is full of engineering wonders!

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Teacher Appreciation Week will be here before we know it!! We will be celebrating our amazing Designers and Staff at Lee all week long May 4-8! Be on the lookout for more details coming soon. In the meantime, check out the staff Favorites list to get a jumpstart on ideas for spreading the love!

The coaches have asked for our help this year for field day, and we need all our parents’ helping hands to make it a success! Please sign up to contribute through volunteering or donating! Whether you can spare some time to supervise the little ones at the event on May 8th or to provide snacks to keep our staff energized, every bit counts! NOTE: This signup will go out to other volunteer organizations soon, so if you plan to volunteer, grab your slot asap!

Reminder, all volunteers will need a completed background check for this school year.

COPPELL ED FOUNDATION RUN TO FUND MAY 3

Join us Saturday, May 2 for the 14th Annual CEF Run to Fund at Andy Brown East! Choose your way to participate:

• 🏅 5K Run

• 👟 1-Mile Family Fun Run

• 😴 Sleep-In & Support

Proceeds will allow CEF to bring innovative teacher support and learning opportunities to all students in CISD. Bonus: $2 from every entry goes directly to the PE department at the CISD school of your choice!

Sign up today and support CISD classrooms! coppellisdef.org/run-to-fund/

Join the fun and serve your community on the PTO Board for the upcoming 2025-26 school year! We have roles that will be a great fit for you, no matter how much or how little time you have to give. Click here for all the details on what to expect, the open positions, and the application form. We’d love you to join us! Applications close May 1st. Please feel free to email PTO, or join us at the virtual PTO meeting on April 14th to learn more and ask any questions!

We are so excited to invite you to our Spring FamiLEE Picnic & Backyard Bash on Thursday April 23rd, following STEAM night! Enjoy a DJ, food trucks, games, a raffle contest, and more. It’s sure to be an evening to remember—so grab your lawn chairs and picnic blankets and mark your calendars today!

Raffle prizes include spa experiences, family fun, reserved parking, and more! Be sure to check out the Spur Store to purchase your raffle tickets in advance!

We are so excited to invite you to our Spring FamiLEE STEAM NIGHT and Outdoor FamiLEE Picnic on April 23rd. We will have a DJ, food trucks, games, a raffle contest and more! It is sure to be an evening to remember. Please mark your calendars today and plan to join us!

STEAM NIGHT 5:00-7:00pm Backyard Bash 6-8:00pm

Want something fun to do on Saturday, April 18? Join us at Andy Brown Park East for our stations showcasing outdoor learning from our Lee learners.

Save the Dates!

Monday, May 4, Reading MAP TEST

Tuesday, May 5 Science MAP TEST

Wednesday, May 6 Math MAP TEST

SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH

NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

EOY MAP & MCLASS TESTING WINDOW

EOY PANORAMA WINDOW

April 20- Day 0

STAAR Science

April 21- 4/5 Progress Report Grades Due (8:00)

April 22- Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

April 23- Lee Author Visit

FamiLEE Event and STEAM Night (5:00-7:00)

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

Twitter X: @MayV1