News From Ms. Graves

Upcoming Events
Tuesday, 10/30  Kids Vote! (see more information below);  Report Cards Go Home
Wednesday, 10/31  Field Day, K-2 8:30-10:30, 3-5 12:45-2:45
Friday, 11/2  PTO Meeting 8:10 a.m.; Last Day to Early Vote
Saturday, 11/3  Magnet Open House, Hattie Mae White 9 a.m. - noon; Fall Community Night, Roberts 5:30 p.m.
November 5-9  Magnet Awareness Week, Tours Daily (contact schools for times)
Tuesday, 11/6  Election Day Bake Sale
Friday, 11/9  Fall Picture Retakes
Saturday, 11/10   Community Yard Sale, 9 a.m. - noon

Houston Schools Bond 2012
I have been providing information related to the Houston Schools Bond through a number of avenues.  Many of you attending our meeting, or other District-wide meetings to learn about the proposition, but wanted to make sure you had the information that you need to make an informed decision when you visit the polls.  Here are a few key points that may be of particular interest to you:

• Roberts Elementary is proposed to receive $400,000+ in technology upgrades to completely replace our wireless and hardwired network.  This new system will increase our reliability, accessibility and usage load. 
• The proposition would provide 20 new high school campuses, many of which Roberts students generally attend including Bellaire HS, Lamar HS, DeBakey HS, and HSPVA.
• The Bond Proposal would fund renovations of all middle school restrooms.
• For 2014 the tax rate would increase by one penny.  In 2015 there would be no tax increase.  In 2016 there would be an increase of one additional penny.  In 2017 the increase would be 2.8 cents.  The total increase would be approximate $70 for the average homeowner.

The Houston Schools Bond Measure will be located at the end of your ballot under "Propositions".  Straight ticket voters will need to go to the end of the ballot to make an informed decision on the Houston Schools Bond.

Kids Vote!
On Tuesday, October 30 (yes tomorrow!) your children will be taking part in one of the most significant rights we have in this country.  They will be participating in an online kids election hosted by Studies Weekly.  You may wish to use the link below for child-friendly information about the candidates. Just as talking about religion or politics at a dinner party can be tricky topics to navigate, they are also difficult to navigate at school.  I would ask that you focus your conversation at home around the electoral process and  and the right to self-govern as an important freedom.  This is more about our rights and responsibilities, and should not focus on politics.  Here is some information from Studies Weekly about the election.

Who will Kids Choose?

If students “vote” every four years as part of their education they’ll be more likely to vote as adults.

In 2004, our first nationwide “election” gave Studies Weekly subscribers a realistic civics experience with nearly 300,000 of their peers across the country. They accurately predicted the next president.

In 2008, more than 6 million students participated. Millions of students delighted parents as they enthusiastically wore their “I VOTED” stickers home from school. Again, students accurately predicted the next president and perhaps more parents voted too in response to their children’s enthusiasm!

Q: Why is Studies Weekly hosting this election for students?
A: The purpose of education is to produce a self-governing citizenry. We thought it would be a fun educational activity for our subscribers to practice informed voting-the most basic and essential act of citizenry. With our nationwide subscriber base we were in a position to pull it off and we thought, "What could be more fun?" So we are inviting all schools nationwide to participate, not only Studies Weekly subscriber schools

Q: How many students are expected to vote in the Studies Weekly election?
A: In 2008, more than 6 million students participated in the Studies Weekly election. We expect and are prepared for an even larger turnout this year! You will be able to see how many students voted per state and per county when the results are updated moment by moment on October 30.

Q: When will the election results be posted?
A: Election results will NOT be displayed during the absentee voting period, but WILL be displayed live on October 30. When the polls close at 3PM local time, the "Electoral Votes" of each state will be awarded to the candidate who wins the most student votes. Our election map will turn red or blue for each state as results come in-moment by moment.

Q: Can parents, teachers or other adults participate and vote in the Studies Weekly election?
A: No, the Studies Weekly election is only for kids!

Q: Why does the mock election include only the candidates from the two major parties?
A: We considered this very carefully, and a number of factors contributed to the decision, including time constraints and limited resources. Another factor was educational research on choices. According to the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, children between the ages of 7 and 12 are "maturing in their abilities to think concretely, symbolically, and abstractly; are beginning to consider perspectives other than their own..." - NBPTS, Middle Childhood Generalist, Second Edition, Standard I, p. 7. Elementary students who are just "beginning" to consider other perspectives benefit from limited choices. Although our mock election is open to all students in grades K-12, the vast majority of our student voters will be elementary students

Learn about the candidates

http://www.studiesweekly.com/vote/candidates.php

News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming Events
Wednesday 10/24  No HISD Transportation
Thursday, 10/25  Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
Friday, 10/26  Box Tops Collection; Rocket Fizz 3:15 p.m.
Tuesday, 10/30  Report Cards go home
Wednesday, 10/31  Field Day
Friday, November 1  PTO Meeting, 8:10 a.m.
Saturday, November 3  Fall Community Night

Welcome, Ms. Ballard!
Our new Assistant Principal, Joyce Ballard starts with us on Monday, 10/24.  Please give her a warm welcome.  She will be visiting classrooms and meeting with teacher teams over the next two weeks to learn about our community as she prepares for Magnet Week.

Choosing the Right Middle School 

You have so many wonderful choices for middle school!  Choosing the right school for your child may seem like a daunting task.  There are a number of online resources to help you with choosing the right school for your child.  I particularly like the checklist found on GreatSchools.net.

Here are a few things they recommend to a prospective parent for consideration:

· Do the classrooms look cheerful?

· Is student work displayed, and is it appropriate for the grade level?

· Do teachers seem enthusiastic and knowledgeable? (Notice whether they are asking questions that stimulate students and keep them engaged.)

· Is the principal confident and interested in interacting with students, teachers and parents?

· Do students act respectfully toward each other in class, during transitions and at lunchtime?

· Are facilities well maintained, the bathrooms clean and well supplied and do the grounds look safe and inviting?

· What is the school’s state rating?

Here is a list of MUST SEE places when you are visiting a campus:

1. Go into the bathrooms to see if they are clean and feel safe.

2. Ask to visit the cafeteria during the lunch period if it is not on the standard tour.

3. Make a stop in the library.

You may also want to talk with any students or parents who might be helping with the tour.  How do the students feel about their school?  What is the best thing, and what is the most challenging?  Ask parents about the PTO.  An active parent group will help you stay connected at a time when it is difficult to stay connected with your child’s life away from home.

You can also do some of your research online before you go.  Visit the school website to learn about special offerings, extracurricular activities and special awards the campus may have received.  Visit the HISD website for the school profile.  It will tell you about academic standing, attendance, behavior, and enrollment.  You may also visit the Texas Education Agency website for a school academic profile. 

Middle School is a dynamic time in the life of your child.  While this decision is definitely a decision for parents, it is important your child is involved in that process.  

I would encourage you to visit schools first without your child.  Apply to many schools then take your child to tour after you receive admission letters.  It may save some heartache if the first choice school really isn’t an option.   

If you want to take your child with you on the first round tours, all area Middle Schools will host tours in the afternoons during Magnet Week.  Removing your child during the afternoon for those tours will not impact your child’s attendance record.  I remind you though that absences to visit schools when official attendance is taken at 9:30 are unexcused.

Name That Book
Book TalksWhat is NTB Book Talk and how does it work?

Book Talks are opportunities for us to talk about the books on the NTB list.  We will discuss characters, plot, significant events, things that make the book unique, and similarities between the books.  Book Talks are not required, but it is highly recommended as preparation for the Competitive Team Selection Test and the official competition.  All Book Talks will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Fridays between November 2^nd and February 1^st.  To participate, students must have parent and teacher permission, and must make up any work missed while at Book Talk.   We will eat lunch during Book Talk, so students should bring a lunch, or get one from the cafeteria.  The Book Talk schedule and permission slip is attached to this blog post email, or can be picked up from the office.

 

 

Much thanks goes to the many families who joined last week for the Roberts International Festival.  The event is such a wonderful opportunity for our students to explore and appreciate a variety of cultures.  The world is a smaller place for our children because of you!

News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming Events
Thurs, 10/18  SDMC, 3:30 p.m.
Fri, 10/19  Rosetta Stone Family Member Subscription Order Due
Fri, 10/19  Early Dismissal, 12:30  - No HISD Bus Service
Fri, 10/19  International Festival, 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Thurs, 10/25  Teacher Appreciation Lunch, Hosted by 5th grade
Tues, 10/30  Report Cards go home
Wed, 10/31  Field Day - Volunteers Needed
Fri, 11/2  PTO Meeting
Tues, 11/6  Election Day Bake Sale

Monday 11/5 - Friday 11/9  Magnet Awareness Week

If you are using our Green folder option, tell us how its working for you with the response box to the right...


Are you a registered volunteer?
HISD is now requiring all volunteers to re-activate each year.  To chaperone a field trip, or assist in the school, you must complete this process.  It takes 1-2 weeks, so please help us by taking care of it as soon as possible.  Here is how:

How can I become a VIPS?All volunteers must register online and pass a criminal background check before they can participate as a volunteer. Please follow the steps below to become a VIPS:

Step 1:	Register online at www.houstonisd.org/vipslogin.
Step 2:	Once you have registered, you must go in person to the school of interest and show proof of identification.
Step 3:	Identification information will go into our database for processing by the Volunteer Coordinator at each campus.
Step 4:	The criminal history background check can take 2-3 weeks to complete.
Step 5:	Once you are CLEARED to volunteer, you are eligible to volunteer throughout HISD.

What type of identification is accepted?
● Texas Driver’s License
● Official Passport
● Texas Identification Card
● Official U. S. Military ID
● Driver’s License (issued by any state in the U.S.)
● Matricula Consular
● Identification Card (issued by any state in the U.S.)
● Resident Alien Card

If you were registered last year, skip step 1.  Bring an acceptable type of identification to the Main Office and we will do the rest.  You can check with Ms. Niksch approximately 2-3 weeks after you bring in identification to make sure you are eligible to volunteer.


Parent/Teacher Conferences
It's that time!  If you have questions about your child's progress, or just want to check in with the teacher, check the classroom blog for information on conferences.


Spotlight on IB
What is a Transdisciplinary Program?

An excerpt from The Primary Years Programme: A basis for practice...

The PYP acknowledges the importance of particular subject areas: language; mathematics; social studies; science; arts; personal, social and physical education.

...However, the PYP also recognizes that educating students in a set of isolated subject areas, while necessary, is not sufficient.  Of equal importance is the need to acquire skills in context, and to explore content that is relevant to students and transcends the boundaries of the traditional subjects. “To be truly educated, a student must also make connections across the disciplines, discover ways to integrate the separate subjects, ultimately relate what they learn to life” (Boyer 1995: 82).  Ernest Boyer proposed that students explore a set of themes representing shared human experiences such as “Response to the Aesthetic” and “Membership in Groups”.  He referred to these as “Core Commonalities”.  In the PYP, this idea of human commonalities shares the transdisciplinary themes.  Each transdisciplinary theme is accompanied by the extended description that explains what students will be inquiring into under this theme. 

An excerpt from Developing a Transdisciplinary Programme of Inquiry…

The programme of inquiry is a matrix made up of the six transdisciplinary themes running vertically, and the age groups running horizontally.  Organizing the curriculum around the six transdisciplinary themes contextualizes the learning for students.  It enables them to experience a balance of subject-specific knowledge, concepts and skills in order to develop an understanding of the transdisciplinary themes.

The Six Transdisciplinary Themes

Who we are—An inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; personal, physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships including families, friends, communities, and cultures; rights and responsibilities; what it means to be human.

 

Where we are in place and time—An inquiry into orientation in place and time; personal histories; homes and journeys; the discoveries, explorations and migrations of humankind; the relationships between and the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and global perspectives.

How the world works—An inquiry into the natural world and its laws; the interaction between the natural world (physical and biological) and human societies; how humans use their understanding of the scientific principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on society and on the environment.

How we express ourselves– An inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values; the ways in which we reflect on, extend and enjoy our creativity; our appreciation of the aesthetic.

How we organize ourselves– An inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities; the structure and function of organizations; societal decision-making; economic activities and their impact on humankind and the environment.

Sharing the planet– An inquiry into rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other people and with other living things; communities and the relationships within and between them; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.

Have you noticed... 

...that we added Google Translate to the Roberts Website?
...that mulch was added under the swings by your PTO?
...that there is parking during a few hours on School Street that you can use when you visit the campus during the school day?
...that if you aren't following us on Twitter you are missing stuff?

News From Mrs. Graves

Upcoming Events
Tues, 10/9 Middle School Information Night, 6:30 pm
Thurs, 10/11 +Talk I: School Connections, 7 pm
Fri, 10/12 PADRES Family Camp Out (ticketed event)
Thurs, 10/18  SDMC, 3:30 p.m.
Fri, 10/19  Early Dismissal, 12:30
Fri, 10/19  International Festival, 3:00-6:00 p.m.


New Assistant Principal
I am pleased to announce that the interview committee unanimously agreed to offer the position of Assistant Principal to Ms. Joyce Ballard.  Ms. Ballard will oversee magnet, fieldtrips, discipline, and G/T, eventually taking on teacher appraisal.

Ms. Ballard comes to us with 11 years teaching and leadership experience, currently serving as grade level chair to her team and lead reading teacher at Lovett Elementary.  Prior to that, Ms. Ballard  taught 6th grade Reading at Pin Oak Middle School, where she also served as cluster leader, and co-chair of Student Opportunities.  Ms. Ballard is Columbia trained in Reader's Workshop and believes in matching students to just right books.  She is a member of the University of Texas Collaborative Urban Leadership Project, and will complete that work in May.

Ms. Ballard will finish the grading period at Lovett Elementary, joining us later this month.  She will be on campus for the International Festival and is eager to meet the community at that time. 

I would like to thank Ms. Webster, Ms. Warner, Ms. Rivers and Ms. Walton for serving on the interview committee.

Free Everyday Math Apps!
October 10-12 you can help your child (for free) get prepared to compete in the first Principal's Challenge!  My favorite is Divisibility dash!  The publisher of Everyday Math is offering free apps at the iTunes App Store, or get them for 99 cents at the Android Marketplace.  The following apps are included in this promotion:

• Addition Top-It
• Monster Squeeze
• Equivalent Fractions
• Beat the Computer
• Divisibility Dash

The Principal's Challenge begins Monday, October 15th!

Exhibition is Underway! 

Our fifth graders have begun their journey toward Exhibition.  As an IBPYP school, all students in their final year are required to complete an independent inquiry about a real life local problem.  After dissecting the organizing theme of Sharing the Planet last week, the 5th grade class created the central idea for this year's Exhibition:  Inequality can be solved through tolerance and conflict resolution. Under this central idea the 5th graders will begin an inquiry and will select the problems that they want to learn more about and on which they want to take action.  Join us as our 5th graders share their work.

Save the Date

Tuesday Evening, 6:30 p.m.

December 18th

+Talk: School Connections

I look forward to seeing you at St. Paul's on Thursday evening for this important event.  Experts will help us learn more about making strong home and school connections.  See you there!

International Mindedness in the PYP

An excerpt from IB PYP Basics for Practice…

There is one compelling component that stands out from the common ground that represents good practice in all IB World Schools offering the PYP.  That is, the kind of student we hope will graduate from a PYP school, the kind of student who, in the struggle to establish a personal set of values, will be laying the foundation upon which international-mindedness will develop and flourish.  The attributes of such a learner are listed in the IB learner profile, which is central to the PYP definition of what it means to be internationally minded.

The IB learner profile is consciously value-laden, for this kind of learning is what the IB supports, and is the embodiment of the IB’s philosophy of international education.  The attributes described in the learner profile are appropriate to, and achievable by, all primary years students.  The teacher needs to interpret these attributes in a manner appropriate to the age and development of the student.  Schools should be aware that part of the adaptability and versatility of the programme lies in what these attributes may look like from one school culture to another.

As well as presenting schools with a philosophical perspective on what international education may be, the PYP prescribes a curriculum framework of essential elements:  knowledge, concepts, skills, attitudes, and action.

Each of these is reflected in the learner profile and is a reference point for the construction of a school’s curriculum.  One of these essential elements, highly congruent with the IB learner profile, is a particular set of attitudes — appreciation, commitment, confidence, cooperation, creativity, curiosity, empathy, enthusiasm, independence, integrity, respect and tolerance.  These attitudes should affect deeply the learning environments and the personal interactions that occur within them.

Through acknowledging and struggling to meet the diverse needs of the student — physical, social, intellectual, aesthetic, cultural— PYP schools ensure that the learning is engaging, relevant, challenging and significant.  What adds significance to student learning in the PYP is its commitment to a transdisciplinary model, whereby themes of global significance that  transcend the confines of the traditional subject areas frame the learning throughout the primary years, including early childhood.  These themes promote an awareness of the human condition and an understanding that there is a commonality of human experience.  The students explore this common ground collaboratively, from the multiple perspectives of their individual experiences and backgrounds.  This sharing of experience increases the students’ awareness of, and sensitivity to, the experiences of others beyond the local or national community.  It is central to the programme and a critical element in developing an international perspective, which must begin with each student’s ability to consider and reflect upon the point of view of someone else in the same class.

Have a great week!