Purple House 5 2023-2024

Dear Purple Families,

This week we had so much to celebrate and explore! 🎉 We recognized our learners’ attendance achievements and worked diligently on crafting engaging narrative writing pieces. In science, groups designed, demonstrated, and presented their own magnet investigations, showing creativity and teamwork. Our math journey took us deeper into decimals as we modeled with manipulatives, explored number lines, and even discovered decimals connected to the density of elements on the periodic table. Inspired by Constitution Day last week, our young historians collaborated to create and write our very own classroom constitution—a true reflection of teamwork, respect, and leadership!

As a reminder, Sky Ranch is right around the corner, and the sign-up deadline of October 2nd is approaching quickly. We don’t want anyone to miss out on this exciting learning adventure, so please be sure to complete your forms and secure your spot. In addition, don’t forget to sign up for our Fall learner-led conferences—a wonderful opportunity for your child to share their progress and goals and accomplishments with you.

Warmly,
Ms. May Voltz
Purple Fifth Grade Teacher

🌱 Strawberry Garden Soil Scientists at Work!

Last Friday, Miss Keiko, our gardening guru, guided our young soil scientists as we explored how earthworms help enrich soil. Learners collected worms and created a brand-new home for them using vermicomposting bins. Through this process, the worms produce castings—a natural fertilizer packed with nutrients that will strengthen our future strawberry beds.

We also added springtails, tiny helpers that encourage healthy bacteria to grow in the soil, making it even more fertile. Together, these living systems build a rich, balanced environment for our strawberries to thrive.

Check out more images of our work in the Schoology Strawberry Course! 🍓

Parents, you can start joining your learner for lunch on Fridays. Please use this Friday Lunch sign up to let the school plan for your visit. October 17 is our first lunch date.

Please wear your favorite college shirt this coming Wednesday!

Missed the preorder window? Don’t worry—you’ve got one FINAL chance! The PTO ordered a few extra shirts just in case. Supply is LIMITED, so when they’re gone, they’re gone. Grab yours while you still can and show off your house spirit in style!

Delivery for all orders: Week of October 20.Order now at rjlpto.org/spurstore before it’s too late.

The countdown is on, and we don’t want anyone to miss this wonderful learning experience. Please remember that all forms must be completed by October 2.

We are still in need of chaperones to make this trip possible—thank you for considering joining us!

Your learner is able to take a small compass home this weekend or next! Have fun exploring. Please remember to bring them back to school. (Your lovely child AND the compass!)

A compass is a tool that helps you find directions by using Earth’s magnetic field. The little needle inside is magnetic, and it always points toward Earth’s magnetic north pole.

Steps to Use a Compass:

1. Hold it flat in your hand so the needle can move freely.

2. Find north – the red end of the needle usually points north.

3. Turn yourself (not the compass!) until the “N” on the compass lines up with the needle.

4. Now you can figure out the other directions:

• East (E) is to the right of north.
• South (S) is opposite north.
• West (W) is to the left of north

Try It at Home:

• Take your compass outside. Face north, then turn right—where are you now facing? (East!)

• Use the compass to give a friend or family member directions, like: “Walk 10 steps south, then turn west.”

Fun Fact: Explorers and sailors used compasses for hundreds of years to travel across oceans and lands—long before GPS was invented!

Parents and guardians, please note: Texas law requires students to attend school each day that instruction is provided. According to Education Code Sec. 25.093, unexcused absences on 10 or more days (or part of days) is considered a Class C misdemeanor. Let's work together to ensure all students attend school regularly and comply with state attendance laws.

Thanks for showing your school spirit this week!

Revising and editing with our Critical Friends means working together to improve our writing in a kind, helpful, and specific way. The writer shares their draft while the Critical Friend listens carefully and gives feedback using sentence starters like “I like the way you…” or “Have you thought about adding….” We focus first on revising—making our ideas, details, and word choice stronger—then move to editing by checking spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Critical Friends give two compliments and one suggestion, and the writer decides what changes to make. This process helps us grow as writers and support each other as a learning community.

CHS Volleyball is excited to invite Lee students to Elementary School Night at the Coppell High School vs Flower Mound Volleyball game! This is a great opportunity for students to experience the excitement of high school volleyball, cheer on the Cowgirls, and feel inspired by the next level of play. All elementary school students will receive free admission. There will be a T-shirt giveaway and prizes! This will be a fun evening celebrating volleyball in our community.

Date: Friday, September 26th
Time: Varsity/9B: 5:30pm / JV/9A: 6:30pm
Location: Coppell High School Arena

Our young scientists took the lead this week, guiding their peers step by step through the scientific method. They carefully explained their independent, dependent, and controlled variables—showing just how much they’ve grown as investigators. With magnetism as our focus, I loved the wide variety of guiding questions they chose to explore. Their curiosity and collaboration truly shined as they designed and carried out their investigations.

Class Spelling Bee ~ Week of November 3 - 7 (To determine learners who will advance to fifth-grade Spelling Bee)

Fifth Grade Spelling Bee ~ Thursday, November 20 (Determines winner who will advance to District Spelling Bee)

• NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
• STOMP OUT BULLYING MONTH
• NATIONAL PRINCIPALS' MONTH
• DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH
• HINDU HERITAGE MONTH

Oct 1- 1st Grade Conference Day

College Shirt Day

Oct 2- 2nd Grade Conference Day

School Custodian Appreciation Day

Oct 3- 3rd Grade Conference Day

We will wear RED on Oct 8 in recognition.

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