News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming Events
Monday, March 9  
Tuesday, March 10    Kindergarten Round-up Information Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 11  School Tour, 9:00 a.m.
Thursday, March 12  1st gr Program, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, March 13  Hat Day-5th gr Fundraiser

March 16-20  Spring Break

Monday, March 23  Return to School
Tuesday, March 24
Wednesday, March 25
Thursday, March 26  Kinder Registration, 8:30-10:30 a.m.; SDMC Meeting, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, March 27  Kinder Registration, 8:30-10:30 a.m.; Rice Baseball Bash
Saturday, March 28  Spring Community Night


Big Thanks, PADRES!
Our PADRES (Dad's club) worked all day Saturday to replace the existing covered dismissal area, in preparation for the expansion that will occur over Spring Break.  This took a lot of heavy lifting, but saved us a tremendous amount of money.  Thanks!


Intent to Return/Proof of Residency
In the coming weeks you will receive a letter from Roberts asking about your plans for next year.  This will help us plan as we complete our preliminary budget for the upcoming school year.  We do this every spring, and appreciate your quick response. 

You will be asked to provide several documents to serve as proof of residency in the zone, or in HISD if you are attending on a Magnet Transfer.  No student will be placed in a class for next year without new proof of residency.  All families are asked to provide the following documents:

• Current utility bills including Electricity, Gas, Water and Telephone/Cell phone bill showing residential service with name and address of residents; and
• Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) statement showing Homestead Exemption for current year; or 
• Lease Agreement (if applicable) If you are currently leasing a home or apartment please bring the entire typed lease agreement. All lease agreements are subject to verification. Also required is a receipt showing your current month's paid rent or the back and front copy of your cancelled check from your financial institution.  You will be expected to provide a new lease agreement when the current lease expires.

If you enrolled as a zoned student and have moved, no longer living in the Roberts attendance zone, your child will be allowed to finish the school year at Roberts.  We will help you arrange enrollment in your new zoned school for the 2015-16 school year.  Any student currently enrolled who now lives outside of the Houston Independent School District (i.e. Fort Bend, Humble, Alief, Pearland) will be withdraw per HISD Board Policy.

Residency is defined as the one and only place a student lives and sleeps every night. Renting an apartment in the zone while continuing to carry a homestead exemption and live in a home outside of the attendance zone is not an established residence in the zone.  If you find yourself in this position, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your situation. Families who provide false information are in violation of Texas law as noted:

(h)  In addition to the penalty provided by Section 37.10, Penal Code, a person who knowingly falsifies information on a form required for enrollment of a student in a school district is liable to the district if the student is not eligible for enrollment in the district but is enrolled on the basis of the false information.  The person is liable, for the period during which the ineligible student is enrolled, for the greater of:

(1)  the maximum tuition fee the district may charge under Section 25.038;  or

(2)  the amount the district has budgeted for each student as maintenance and operating expenses.

Our recent increase in zoned enrollment does not allow us to offer new transfers.  To ensure space availability for students who live in the Roberts attendance zone an HISD Police Officer will be making home visits to verify residency when the provided documents are not sufficient to prove residency.

Traffic Safety

I have been contacted almost daily by neighbors, parents and teachers who are witnessing very dangerous situations around campus.  

• It is extremely dangerous to stop your car in moving traffic and let passengers exit the vehicle in the street.  This is happening almost daily on Swift Blvd and Greenbriar.
• It is extremely dangerous to allow your child to cross in the middle of the block. Children should cross only at crosswalks, and preferably with the help of our crossing guards.
• Honking, exceeding the school speed limit and cutting in front of other cars because you are late is unacceptable.  Please make every effort to leave your home early enough to get your child to Roberts before the 7:55 bell.  You should expect that traffic is ALWAYS heavy in our area.
• Please do not park in or block driveways.  Our neighbors will call the Constable and you will be ticketed or towed.

If you are not familiar with our traffic recommendations or drop-off and pick-up procedures, please refer to the Family Handbook posted on our website.