Purple House 5 2023-2024

What a fantastic week back after a well-deserved Spring Break! Our learners jumped right in, working hard while still making time for some fun and engaging activities. From collecting and analyzing data to spark our thinking, to lively science debates where students defended their ideas, it’s been a week full of curiosity and collaboration. We even kicked things off with an energizing outdoor spirit rally that set the tone for a great return!

As always, thank you for your continued support of our school and your children—we truly couldn’t do it without you!

With gratitude,
Ms. Voltz

Animal survival structure and function debates have been both exciting and full of learning in Purple 5! Our scientists have been diving deep into research and even creating Keynote presentations to showcase how specific structures help animals survive in their environments. From camouflage to powerful adaptations, students are building strong arguments using evidence and scientific reasoning.

The competition has been fierce, and sometimes a little unfair! Poor little axolotl didn’t stand much of a chance when matched up against the mighty orca. And in another exciting showdown, the lightning-fast cheetah went head-to-head with the tiny but strategic vampire bat. While the bat impressed us with its heat sensors and specialized feeding adaptations, the cheetah ultimately took the win thanks to its incredible speed, strong muscles, and ability to chase down prey in open environments.

We’re having a blast learning about these incredible creatures while strengthening our debate and critical thinking skills. Who will win the next showdown? Stay tuned!

Our mathematicians have been busy collecting and analyzing real-world data as they explored scatterplots! Using Desmos, students measured their own height and head circumference, then plotted their data to look for patterns and relationships. The excitement is growing as we begin to wonder, will the trend hold true for people of all ages? We are now eager to expand our dataset by including measurements from very young children and adults to see how our scatterplot evolves. Stay tuned as we continue thinking like true data scientists!

LEE LIFE PRINCIPLE:

Curiosity- the eager desire to learn, to explore, to investigate

LESSON IN LEADERSHIP:

Learn and inquire about things that interest you.

LEE QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"The future belongs to the curious. The ones who are not afraid to try it, explore it, poke at it,

question it, and turn it inside out." -Anonymous

I've included a few pictures of my Spring Break gardening in my own backyard!

Take a closer look at the plants all around you—both inside your home and outdoors! Plants may seem simple, but each part has an important job that helps the whole plant survive and grow.

🔍 What to Look For

As you explore, encourage your learner to observe and discuss the structure and function of plant parts:

• Roots – How do they anchor the plant? Can you see any in potted plants?
• Stems – How do they help the plant stand tall and transport water?
• Leaves – What shapes and sizes do you notice? How might they help the plant make food?
• Flowers – What colors or patterns do you see? How do they help with reproduction?

🏡 At-Home Exploration Ideas

• Look at houseplants or plants in your yard—sketch or photograph what you see
• Gently pull a weed (with permission!) to examine roots
• Compare two different plants—what’s the same? What’s different?
• Water a plant and observe how it changes over time

🌼 Visit a Local Nursery

Take your learning a step further with a visit to a local nursery like Calloway’s Nursery or Lowe’s Garden Center.

At the nursery, learners can:

• See a wide variety of plants in one place
• Ask questions about how plants grow and what they need
• Notice differences in leaves, stems, and flowers across species

💬 Keep the Conversation Going

Ask questions like:

• Which plant part do you think is the most important? Why?
• How do all the parts work together as a system?
• What would happen if one part didn’t work properly?

Exploring plants in real life helps learners become scientists—observing, questioning, and making connections to how living things survive and thrive! 🌿...

Order your 2025-26 yearbooks today! You must order online before April 7. Type in Richard J Lee Elementary. Yearbook ID: 13015826.

🏆🌈 COLOR RUN- GOAL SMASHED!
We did it, FamiLEEs! Our 2026 Color Run was a vibrant success, and thanks to your overwhelming generosity, we haven't just hit our goal—we’ve sprinted right past it!

We are officially at 129% of our target, raising over $24,500 for our PE Department and Field Day! These extra funds will go even further in supporting our learners with new equipment and school programs.

Relive the fun and browse the Color Run photo gallery.

Join us Saturday, May 2 for the14th Annual CEF Run to Fund<http://coppellisdef.org/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/<http://coppellisdef.org/run-to-fund/>
Early Bird pricing is $35 through March 29 (prices increase March 30).

SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH

NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

NATIONAL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL WEEK

EOY SUMMATIVE WINDOW

April 1 - College Shirt Day

Paraprofessional Appreciation Day- We 💗 our paras!

April 2 - LEEdership Council Mtg. (8:00 Flex space)

April 3- National School Librarian Appreciation Day- We 💗 you, Holly!

NO SCHOOL

April 4 - Easter

April 6 - NO SCHOOL

Today is the day!! Please join us TONIGHT at Ground Control Las Colinas trampoline park on March 27th for glow night! We hope this will be a great time for the kids to hang, but also for the adults to get to know each other!

You can buy tickets for entry from 6-8pm on the hour or half hour onsite or online! If you purchase online, when you arrive, make sure to mention our fundraiser and have them print out your receipt! If you attend, feel free to share any good photos you capture here.

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