Roadrunner Rundown | 11/13
Table of Contents
Welcome
We hope you'll join us this weekend for Roadie Workday on Saturday from 12 pm - 4 pm. The Austin Parks Foundation is supplying us with mulch and tools to put our trees to bed for the season, so it’s time to rally! Bring your gloves, waterbottles and kiddos.
We're still looking for lots of volunteers to help support the Turkey Trot next Friday. Sign up here if you're able to make it and support!
And finally, this year's PTA funded student t-shirts made it home this week - check your student's backpacks. These shirts are used throughout the year for field trips and more, so be sure to hang on the them! Thanks to Ms. Wilborn for leading this project - check out the lasted Art Picayune for details on the student led design!
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Drop off donations today!
Lee is partnering with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to collect food for Feed the Family Thanksgiving dinners. You can drop off the following items in the collection box inside the school, next to the round table by Thursday, Nov 19.
Cranberry sauce
canned corn
canned green beans
stuffing mix
Jiffy corn muffin mix
You can also donate online here or give with CashApp here. A donation of $25 provides holiday sides and $35 provides a turkey.
If your family would like to register to receive a dinner, head here and fill out the form.
Library Lines
by our amazing Librarian, Ms. Jenny Day
Library is getting in the Thanksgiving spirit with some fun stuff happening this next week.
Kinder library homework is to create a Picasso Turkey.
The papers were attached to the yellow paper about books coming home. These are due on Monday. You can see more info here.
2nd grade library homework is to make a Book Float for our parade on Thursday, Nov. 19th at 8am. The Book Float is due on Monday - find more details here.
5th grade library homework is to save a turkey by disguising your turkey as a book character. Turkey in Disguise is due on Monday - find more details here.
Be on the lookout for our Thanksgiving Break Reading Challenge to keep kids reading over the break! You can find that doc here.
I am wishing you and your whole family a Happy Thanksgiving and a restful week.
Advocacy Update
by our PTA Advocacy Chair, Amanda Rohlich
BIG PICTURE
At a recent Austin Council of PTAs (ACPTA) meeting, we discussed the current moment in public education in Texas as one of being able to dream big! What an exciting time to be advocating for our children. While we don’t know what governor-elect’s priorities will be exactly, we reflected on what she campaigned on that might point to her next moves.
Five themes that came up from the governor-elect’s Gina Hinajosa’s campaign promises:
Replace Commissioner Mike Morath with an educator to lead the Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Pause STAAR testing and build a better accountability system
Stop district takeovers
Wipe clean no-bid vendor contracts and find more money for teachers within the existing budget
Stop voucher programs
ACPTA’s advocacy priorities
Match school funding to the true cost of educating students (increase basic allotment)
Reform recapture so it reflects the makeup of a district, not just property taxes
No public money for private education without more oversight
No grading schools on a single test
More options than closure or takeover for struggling schools
Higher teacher pay
A certified librarian in every school, with freedom to buy books
A commission to study AI safety for students
Austin ISD has outlined its legislative priorities for the upcoming 90th session as well. You can find those here. They are focusing on comprehensive improvements to school finance, the accountability system and fully funding state mandates.
CALL TO ACTION
Mark your calendars for Texas PTA Rally Day 2027 at the Texas State Capitol on February 22. Let’s try to get some 5th graders there if possible, and at least 20 adults from Lee.
Take this time to continue to build bridges. Talk with friends and family in other parts of the state about what their communities need, so the advocacy is about all of Texas, not just Austin.
🏛️90th TEXAS LEGESLATIVE SESSION
November 9, 2026: Lawmakers began filing bills for consideration.
January 12, 2027: The Texas Legislature convenes for its 140-day regular session. This is when education, school funding, and other policy proposals officially begin moving through committees and floor debates.
February, 22, 2027: Texas PTA Rally Day 2027 at the Texas State Capitol. Mark your calendar now!
February-March 2027: Committee hearings ramp up. This is often when advocacy from parents, educators, and community members has the greatest impact.
March 12, 2027: Deadline for legislators to file most bills. After this date, the focus shifts from introducing ideas to advancing or stopping legislation.
April-May 2027: Budget negotiations and key votes on school funding, accountability, testing, and education policy are expected to intensify. The Legislature must also pass a state budget for the next two years.
May 31, 2027: Sine Die! Any bills not passed by this date generally do not move forward.
June 20, 2027: Deadline for the governor to sign or veto bills passed during the regular session.
🗓️UPCOMING EVENTS & NEWS
Wednesday, Nov. 19 - The Long Game Screening at Violet Crown City Church - A community screening of The Long Game: Texas Public Schools Documentary is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2026, hosted in partnership with Keep Austin Schools Independent at Violet Crown City Church
Worth a listen: The Daily on school closings and enrollment. Districts across the country are closing campuses as enrollment falls, and the conversation is reaching Texas too. A recent episode of The Daily from The New York Times looks at the enrollment crisis facing public schools and what it means for the communities that depend on them. Listen here.
Yearbook Orders
Head over to https://account.treering.com/validate and type in code 1015066231443557 to order today.
Lost and Found
Lost and Found is located inside the school so students can access it easily; parents must check in at the front office. Items may be donated within 2 weeks if Lost and Found is full.
Email lostandfound@russellleepta.org if you have any questions.
Shop + Support Lee All Year Round
*New* Recess - All Year
Recess helps you find camps and classes for your family needs, all in one place.
Head over to https://hello-recess.com/ and use code LEEFAM and a portion of Recess profits goes back to Lee PTA.
Shop with Pride Socks - All Year
Shop this Lee family-owned lifestyle brand that empowers individuals to take pride in who they. Use promo code lee20 for 20% off and Pride Socks will donate 20% of sales back to Lee PTA! Visit https://pridesocks.com/ to shop.
Name Bubbles - All Year
Use this link to order personalized name labels—they're a simple way to keep track of your child's supplies all year long and avoid a trip to lost and found. When you use our purchase link, a portion of every order goes back to support our school!
Minted - All Year
Visit Minted.com and receive 20% off your purchase and Minted will donate 10% of your purchase to the school! Use code: FUNDRAISERUSSELLLEE
This is a great opportunity to get holiday cards and gifts for the upcoming holiday season.
Questions about Shop with Lee events and or interested in partnering with us on Shop with Lee initiatives at your business? Email fundraising@russellleepta.org.
Join the PTA Today!
It's never too late to join the PTA - parents, students, grandparents - anyone can join. Head here and sign up - it only takes a minute and makes a huge impact!
Thank you to our Corporate Sponsors!
Interested in becoming a corporate sponsor? You can get your logo on this weekly rundown, on our printed calendar, and more! Check out our Sponsorship packages and reach out here!
Lee Calendar
11/15 Roadie Workday, 12 - 4 pm
11/12 3rd Grade Program, 6 pm
11/17 CAC Meeting, 3:30 pm
11/19 Thanksgiving Lunch
11/20 Turkey Trot
12/3 Math Night
12/4 Principals Coffee, 8 am
12/5 Trail of Lights Fun Run
12/11 PTA Membership Meeting, 8 am
12/11 Campus Tour, 9 am
12/15 CAC Meeting, 3:30 pm
12/17 Multicultural Potluck
12/21-1/4 Winter Break
Download a PDF of this month's Calendar below.
Thanks for reading this week's Roadrunner Rundown! Have something to add?
Share your comments or feature suggestions at communications@russellleepta.org or online here.
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