News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming Events
Monday, 4/28
Tuesday, 4/29  4th gr Field Trip; Costume Work Day, 9:00-10:30 a.m., Cafe; IB Art Show, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Twain ES; Progress Reports; Aladdin Early Ticket Sales Begin (5th gr families only)
Wednesday, 4/30
Thursday, 5/1  School Tour, 9:00 a.m.; Student Coalition Meeting; 1st gr Performance, 6:30 p.m., Cafe;
Friday, 5/2  PTO Meeting, 8:10 a.m.; Kindergarten Field Trip (Warner, Punch and Miller)

May 5 - 9  Stanford Testing, gr 1-5; Teacher Appreciation Week
Monday, 5/5
Tuesday, 5/6  Your Voice Survey Sent to Parents in Tuesday Folder
Wednesday, 5/7
Thursday, 5/8  Fine Arts Night, 6:00 p.m.; Aladdin Early Ticket Sales End
Friday, 5/9  Kindergarten Field Trip (Bowman, Waterman, Shum, May)

Monday, 5/12  4th gr Parent Meeting, 8:10 a.m., Cafe; Aladdin General Tickets Sales Open, 8:30 a.m. Reception
Tuesday, 5/13  STAAR Math Retests - 5th gr; 3rd gr Field Trip; 2nd gr Field Trip; Zoe's Kitchen Art Show & Dinner; 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 5/14  STAAR Reading Retests - 5th gr
Thursday, 5/15  SDMC Meeting, 3:30 p.m.; Kindergarten Performance & Promotion Ceremony, 6:00 p.m., Cafe
Friday, 5/16
Saturday, 5/17  Carnival, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.



Stanford Testing, gr 1-5, May 5-May 9
What is Stanford Testing?
Stanford is a national, norm-referenced achievement test, measuring your child's performance relative to the performance of other children across the nation.  Stanford contains subtests on reading, math, science and social studies.  Testing will occur daily next week, from Monday through Thursday.  Most testing will conclude before lunch, but some classes will continue with a subtest after their scheduled lunch period.  Please check with your child's teacher if your child has an appointment scheduled for next week.  We have only one day identified as a make-up day, and will not be able to make-up all subtests. Some subtests are used for grade promotion decisions, and is used as a part of the Gifted and Talented Identification matrix.

Stanford is really not something that can be studied for in advance.  The content on the test is general knowledge and application of information.  Teachers have been working with your children to help them understand the format of testing.

Save the Date for Portfolio Picnic!
Monday, May 19-Wednesday, May 21
30-minutes before and during your child's lunch period
or
Tuesday, May 20, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Spotlight on IB:

What is Portfolio Picnic?

Parent-teacher conferences have been a standard practice, and the primary means of communication between school and home for decades.  Many educators, however, know the benefits of incorporating student-led conferences in that communication loop.  Student-led conferences are one way we can support students in developing ownership over their learning, and support the development of reflection as a learning practice. 

Teachers are preparing students for the student-led conferences that will be held through a Portfolio Picnic during the week of May 19th.  Each person has a role in the student-led conference.  For the student, the job is to lead the review and discussion of the work in their portfolio.  The parent’s role is to listen and review the work, and then participate in the reflection questions.  If your child gets stuck during the conference, here are a few questions that may help:

· Which pieces reflect one of your strengths?

· What challenges do you have in this subject?

· What are you most proud of?

This is also a time for students to set individualized learning goals for next year.  This is a time for parents to listen and coach, but not set goals for the student.

This year parents will have several options to accommodate your work schedule.  We are offering three days during the child’s lunch period, as well as Tuesday evening, May 20th.  

For both daytime and evening Portfolio Picnics, we invite you to bring a blanket and picnic meal to celebrate the conference.  It is a special time for your child, and I hope it will be a special time for you.

  

Intent to Return

Every Spring we begin making plans for enrollment for the following school year.  Part of that process is asking you for information about your plans.  You should have received an Intent to Return through US mail just after Spring Break.  If you did not receive a form, or do not know where your form is, please contact Ms. Sones in the main office.

Please return the form as soon as possible.  If you plan on your child returning to Roberts for the 2014-15 school year, we must receive a new electric bill to verify your place of residence.  The guidelines for residency are included with the Intent to Return.  Please ensure you are providing accurate information.

Your Voice, District-wide Survey

Next week in the Tuesday folder you will receive the district-wide Your Voice survey.  That survey has a unique identifier number to ensure your survey is attributed to Roberts, and to ensure only one survey is completed for each family for each school.  If you have children that attend another HISD campus, you will also receive a survey for that campus. 

You are asked to complete the survey online with your assigned code, or complete the paper survey and return in the postage paid envelope.  Last year only 31% of parents completed the survey.  We are setting the parent participation goal this year at 50% or more.  Please note, we are not allowed to accept your completed survey in the school office.