Purple House 5 2023-2024

Dear Purple Families,

Our young scientists and mathematicians had a fantastic week! From getting our hands dirty in the garden to diving deep into our ADI science investigations, curiosity was blooming everywhere. In math, learners worked through meaningful investigations that stretched their reasoning and collaboration skills. We also wrapped up some amazing Keynote presentations on nonfiction text features—such creativity and effort! And to top it off, our class powered through CogAT testing like true champs. I’m so proud of their focus, and perseverance, throughout it all!

Next week we’ll be celebrating Red Ribbon Week, a special time to promote making safe and healthy choices! Each day brings a fun theme and dress-up opportunity — from “Piecing Together a Bright Future” to showing off your unique personality with a favorite costume, and of course, ending the week cozy in your pajamas! Learners are encouraged to participate, show their school spirit, and take pride in leading healthy, positive lives.

Warmly,
Ms. May Voltz
Purple Fifth Grade Teacher

Our learners persevered through some spooky math challenges — and they did boo-tifully! From showing strong mathematical reasoning to using variables and thinking algebraically, their work was truly impressive. You can’t scare us — we’re fearless problem solvers! 👻

In our ADI gallery walks, learners rotated, read, and responded to peers’ investigations—then revised to sharpen their claims, evidence, and justifications. Collaboration + critique = clearer science thinking!

This week’s gardening time with Ms. Keiko included painting garden markers, planting new strawberry starts, and sharing garden-themed stories. Our young gardeners are nurturing both their plants and their curiosity—one leaf, one root, and one page at a time!

The Coppell Ed Foundation is having a Chili Cook Off on November 16. If you want to join in and submit a chili for judging, we would love your participation. If you go, please vote for our entry- "The Best ChiLEE in Town." Thanks Liliana for your culinary skills.

October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month. CISD will raise awareness on each campus with a variety of events and activities. On Wednesday, Oct. 8, all CISD students and staff are encouraged to "Light It RED for Dyslexia" by wearing red to school. Learn more about CISD Intervention Services/Dyslexia HERE. Additional resources include the Texas Dyslexia Handbook, and the International Dyslexia Association Handbook.

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This week, challenge your family to a little spooky math fun!

Try these Halloween-themed problems that mix logic, reasoning, and a dash of frightful fun: Try writing algebraic expressions to tell the story!

1. Candy Corn Count-Up 🍬
   You have 3 bowls of candy corn. One holds 24 pieces, another holds twice that, and the third has half of the first bowl. How many candy corns do you have altogether?

2. Pumpkin Patch Patterns 🎃
   Farmer Jack plants his pumpkins in rows of 6. If he plants 7 rows and each pumpkin vine grows 4 pumpkins, how many pumpkins will he harvest? What if each vine grew 5 instead?

3. Monster Mix-Up 👹
   At the Monster Mash, there are 8 vampires, 5 witches, and 3 mummies dancing. Each vampire has 2 fangs, each witch has 1 broom, and each mummy is wrapped in 12 bandages.
   ➤ How many total fangs, brooms, and bandages are in the room?

4. Haunted House Fractions 🏚️
   A haunted house has 8 spooky rooms. You explore 3 of them.
   ➤ What fraction of the house did you explore?
   ➤ If you visit one more, what fraction will you have explored now?

   
   

💡 Extension Challenge:
Create your own “Frightfully Fun Math Problem” using Halloween characters, treats, or costumes. Post it in Schoology to challenge your classmates!

🌟 Thank you, CISD families, for your commitment to student attendance! 🏫💙. Regular attendance is key to student success—it keeps them engaged in lessons, fosters peer relationships, and maximizes their educational opportunities. Plus, it helps teachers assess each student's progress and plan effectively. Your dedication to attendance makes a significant difference. Attendance Matters...You Matter!

Our RJL PTO annual Write-A-Check fundraising campaign is officially underway! This is our main source of funding for the FamiLEE PTO, and this year’s goal is $31,000.

Every dollar raised goes right back into our school—supporting programs like Red Ribbon Week, Author Visits, enrichment programs, field trip transportation, and much more.Please consider making your donation today at rjlpto.org/wac

Mrs. Stout would love library helpers to help shelve books and with other small projects. Please sign up and consider becoming a regular volunteer for the library! rjlpto.org/library

New this year, for anyone shelving books, we’ve worked with Mrs. Stout to create a quick training video you can watch before your volunteer slot!

Red Ribbon Week is HERE! On Monday, we’ll celebrate this year’s theme — “Life Is a Puzzle, Solve It Drug Free!” Please feel free to join in on the fun and dress up days. Thank you in advance, coaches and specials, for your flexibility! We’ll kick off the week with an exciting assembly from Team Big Air in the gym:

• K–2 Assembly: 8:00 a.m.
• 3–5 Assembly: 9:00 a.m.

On Wednesday, Ms. Garvin will stop by classrooms to deliver a special “puzzle” surprise to our learners. It’s going to be a fantastic week of fun and learning!

It’s almost time for our favorite fall tradition — RJL’s Annual Trunk or Treat! Join us on Tuesday, October 28th, at 5:30pm for candy, costumes, and community fun! This year we’re excited to add two food trucks to the event, Indian Express and La Bandida Mexican Street Food, so come hungry and support these amazing local businesses!

As part of our campus parent engagement goal and a strategy in our Campus Improvement Plan, the last Thursday of every month, Mrs. Kastrounis will host a community learning walk at Lee. This month the walk will be from 9:30-10:30 on Thursday, October 30 and parents planning to attend should arrive with their ID to check in at 9:15.

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)

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  • WRITE A CHECK WINDOW
  • NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
  • RED RIBBON WEEK

  Oct 28 - Trunk or Treat (5:30-7:00)

  Oct 30 - MTSS Meetings

  Community Learning Walk (9:30-10:30)

  Oct 31 - Fall Holiday Celebration (Purple House 10:30-12:00)

  Evidence of Student Progress #2 should be completed for SLO

  Therapy Dog Day

  Nov 1- 3rd and 5th GT Make Up Testing

  
  

  SAVE THE DATE!!! Nov 20 - FamiLEE Feast Luncheon @ Lee

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