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?