News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming Events
Monday, 2/10  Peace Rally, 2:30 pm
Tuesday, 2/11  5th Grade Leaves for Camp; Progress Reports go Home
Wednesday, 2/12  
Thursday, 2/13  
Friday, 2/14  Valentine Parties

Monday, 2/17
Tuesday, 2/18  4th/5th Grade Field Trip (Lamar)
Wednesday, 2/19  Early Dismissal, 12:30 pm
Thursday, 2/20  SDMC Meeting, 3:30 pm
Friday, 2/21  3rd gr Field Trip


NTB Qualifier Test
Students began reading books for Name That Book last spring when the list of 34 titles was announced. More than 50 students began spending their lunch on Tuesdays reading in my office.  And over the last three months, more than 35 students have been joining together on Fridays during lunch to talk about those books.  The time has come to select the 6 most prepared Name That Book team members to represent us in the District competition. 

On Monday, beginning at 7:25, we will administer the NTB Competitive Team Qualifier test.  Students who have been reading the books from the NTB list should be at school no later than 7:20. The test will contain a quote from each of the 34 books. Participants will match the book title to the quote.  Students with the six highest scores will serve on the team.  The student with the seventh highest score will serve as the alternate.  I will also be selecting the next 10 highest scoring students to attend the competition to cheer on our team.


5th grade Goes to Camp
The weather forecast is showing temperatures as low as 32degrees with rain on Tuesday with it possibly rising to 72 degrees by Friday. Students need to come prepared for this weather. Please pack appropriate clothing for this weather.

Also, we had originally asked for parents to pack clothing in a large black (Olympia) or white (Forest Glen) garbage bag, depending on which camp your child is attending. If you are having difficulty finding the specific color requested, please pack the items in a garbage bag of any color. We will take care of this Tuesday morning and will ensure bags are labeled correctly and sent to the right camp.


Peace Week
Students are invited to wear a tie-dye tshirt or a shirt with a peace sign, or something that represents peace tomorrow for our Stand Up For Peace Rally.

We are collecting used men's button down dress shirts for our upcoming production of Annie. Can you help us out?

News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming Events
Monday, 2/3
Tuesday, 2/4  District Spelling Bee; NTB Reading Day
Wednesday, 2/5  School Tour, 9:00 am
Thursday, 2/6  Student Coalition Meeting, 11:15 am
Friday, 2/7  PTO Meeting, 8:10 am

February 10-14  Peace Week
February 11-14  5th Grade Camp

Monday, 2/10  NTB Competetive Team Qualifier Test, 7:25 am; Peace Rally, 2:30 pm
Tuesday, 2/11  Progress Reports Go Home
Wednesday, 2/12
Thursday, 2/13
Friday, 2/14  Class Valentine Parties

Wednesday, 2/19  Early Dismissal Day (Professional Development), 12:30 pm

Kinder Stanford (SAT-10) Scores
Kindergarten parents will be receiving score reports from the December administration.  This administration is considered a baseline score for your child, and is not used for promotion decisions at the end of the year. The SAT-10 gives us a comparative look at your child’s academic performance level and that of other children across the nation in the same grade level.  The SAT-10 is designed with stretch, meaning the test includes prerequisite skills for Kindergarten, as well as items that test skills more traditionally taught in the grade level above.  The letter included with your score report will give you information on how to read the report, but a good place to start is by looking at the column labeled PR-S.  This column will tell you your child’s percentile rank and stanine.  A percentile rank of 50 is considered average, or typical for this test.  You may use the stanine to help you determine performance in broader bands.  Stanines 1, 2 and 3 represent performance that is below average.  Stanines 4, 5 and 6 are in the average range.  Stanines 7, 8 and 9 are above average performance.  Be cautious about using the GE (grade equivalence).  This information is often misunderstood.  A kindergarten student with a grade equivalence of 3.2 on the reading subtest, does not suggest the student is performing at the 3^rd grade 2^nd month level, but instead suggests the student made the same score as a 3^rd grader would on the kindergarten reading test. 


Magnet Enrichment
5th Grade Musical: Aladdin
Session III: March 4-May 22
5th graders will receive information this week about participating in our 5th grade musical this spring. Students will be able to choose their level of participation.  Students interested and able to stay after school will be able to choose from being part of dance, cast or stage crew.  Those who are not able to stay after school will be part of the chorus and will learn the music during their music ancillary class.

There is no fee for participating in the Magnet Enrichment after school, but students must be committed to the work.  Students who chose to take on a role as cast, dancer or stage crew are expected to attend all after school enrichment classes, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5:30.


Inclement Weather Make-Up Days
from www.houstonisd.org

HISD schools will now be open April 18 and May 26 for students, faculty and support staff to make up the days lost to wintry weather last Friday and this Tuesday.  The decision, made Thursday, adheres to the district’s 2013-2014 calendar adopted by the HISD Board of Education, which designated the Spring Holiday and Memorial Day as makeup days.

The Texas Education Agency mandates procedures for setting calendars and for designating and publicizing makeup days, and the public has an extended opportunity in advance of adoption of the calendar to comment on those days.  The calendar, as well as the 2014-2015 calendar, are posted on this website, as well.

For FAQs on makeup days, go to http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2014/01/27/your-make-up-day-questions-answered/.

Science Night
UT Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Saturday, February 15th, 3:00-6:00 pm
Roberts families have been invited to Science Night, hosted by UT GSBS and MD Anderson Cancer Center.  Find more information in your Tuesday folder.


Pershing MS Accelerated Math and Science Placement Test
Many of our 5th graders will be attending Pershing in the Fall.  You can ensure your child is placed in the appropriate level math and science class by taking the placement tests scheduled for Saturday, 2/22 or Saturday, 3/1.  You will receive more information in this week's Tuesday folder.

News From Mrs. Graves

Upcoming Events
National School Choice Week
Monday, 1/27
Tuesday, 1/28  NTB Reading Day
Wednesday, 1/29  Early Dismissal, 12:30 - Parent Conferences
Thursday, 1/30  Student Coalition Meeting, 11:15
Friday, 1/31  Kindergarten Snow Day; NTB Book Talk, 11:30-12:30

Monday, 2/3
Tuesday, 2/4  District Spelling Bee; NTB Reading Day
Wednesday, 2/5  School Tour, 9:00
Thursday, 2/6  Student Coalition Meeting, 11:15
Friday, 2/7  PTO Meeting, 8:10

February 10-14  Peace Week
February 11-14  5th Grade Camp


Peace Week
During the week of February 10th we will be led by our Bullydozer Student Coalition in activities and events designed to help us focus on peaceful classrooms, peaceful playgrounds and a peaceful school community.  This week is being developed entirely by our student coalition.  We will renew our commitment to a creating bullyfree community with our Bullydozer Pledge. You will be invited to make a family pledge for home and school.  Watch for details!


Congratulations 5th Grader, Jimmy Xin!
Jimmy will be representing Roberts Elementary in the District Spelling Bee on February 4th.  He was well-prepared for our campus Bee and I have no doubt he will represent our community well!


News on Musicals!
3rd grade
Our 3rd graders are working so hard on our upcoming production of Annie!  We are finalizing costuming and need the support of 3rd grade parents.  You will receive a letter with details about your child's costume needs.  For all principal roles, costumes are bring provided and should be returned, with the exception of a few minor items and shoes.  For students participating in the chorus (those 3rd graders not staying after school for Magnet Enrichment), you will receive a note detailing what your child should wear.  The show is Thursday, February 27, 6:30 p.m.

We may also need a few additional adult hands to help with preparing costumes for the 40+ students who have taken on principal roles as cast or dancers. If you are willing to help iron and/or organize and have some flexibility in your schedule, please send me an email.  I will chose one morning after drop off closer to the show and send a call for volunteers to those who expressed interest.

5th grade
We have selected Aladdin for our final production this year.  Representatives from all four 5th grade classes met with me to make the final decision last week.  We will be performing at Hamman Hall, a 466 seat theatre, home of the Rice Theatre Department, on the Rice University Campus on Thursday, May 22nd.
  

News From Mrs. Graves

Monday, 1/20  No School, MLK Holiday
Tuesday, 1/21 
Wednesday, 1/22
Thursday, 1/23  Staff Appreciation Luncheon; Student Coalition Mtg, 11:15 am
Friday, 1/24  3rd Gr Traditions Feast, Covered Area 12:00-1:00

Saturday, 1/25  National School Choice Week Kick-Off

Monday, 1/27
Tuesday, 1/28
Wednesday, 1/29  Early Dismissal, 12:30; Parent Conferences
Thursday, 1/30
Friday, 1/31  Kinder Snow Day

What is National School Choice Week?
excerpt from http://schoolchoiceweek.com/about

National School Choice Week provides an unprecedented opportunity, every January, to shine a positive spotlight on the need for effective education options for all children.
Independently planned by a diverse and growing coalition of individuals, schools, and organizations, National School Choice Week features thousands of unique events and activities across the country. The Week allows participants to advance their own messages of educational opportunity, while uniting with like-minded groups and individuals across the country.

Participants in National School Choice believe that parents should be empowered to choose the best educational environments for their children. Supporters plan events that highlight a variety of school choice options — from traditional public schools to public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online learning, and homeschooling.

National School Choice Week is a nonpartisan, nonpolitical public awareness effort. We welcome all Americans to get involved and have their voices heard!

You Can Show Your Support for School Choice...
Join us on Saturday, January 25 at Minute Maid Park for the kick-off celebration beginning at 5:00 p.m.  Check twitter for our location at the event.  There will be music, dancing and speakers, along with a District Roll Call.  Schools are encouraged to wear school gear and show District or School pride with posters.  Arrive no later than 4:30.  Parents, students, community members and teachers are invited.


School Attendance Took a Big Dip

As you may know from our annual School Improvement Goals, we are expected to maintain an annual average daily attendance rate greater than 98.00%.  You will see from the chart above that over the last three year we have actually dropped rather than increased to the 98% goal set by the District.  You will also notice that our attendance rate in December is often lower than in other months, but this past December was unusually low.  That, along with the usual dip in March due to travel, puts us on course to come in well below our 98% goal.

We will be offering incentives to encourage individual, grade-level and campus-wide attendance rates of 98% or greater.  Please make every effort to ensure your child is at school each day, unless they are ill. Scheduling appointments for after school hours is encouraged. Please also be advised, no travel related absences will be excused.  

Remember, attendance impacts school funding.  This school year we only received 97.31% of the funding allocation, resulting in a loss of $69,940.  We need your support to improve our attendance and ensure our school receives every available funding dollar.

Spotlight on IB:

What are Key Concepts?

excerpt from Making the PYP Happen

Central to the philosophy of the PYP is the principle that purposeful, structured inquiry is a powerful vehicle for learning that promotes meaning and understanding, and challenges students to engage with significant ideas.  Hence in the PYP there is also a commitment to a concept-driven curriculum as a means of supporting that inquiry. 

Which concepts were chosen and why?

A set of eight concepts was drawn up, each of which, it is felt, is of major importance in the design of a transdisciplinary curriculum.  These concepts are:

• form - the understanding that everything has a form with recognizable features that can be observed, identified, described and categorized.
• function - the understanding that everything has a purpose, a role or a way of behaving that can be investigated.
• causation - the understanding that things do not just happen, that there are causal relationships at work, and that actions have consequences.
• change - the understanding that change is the process of movement from one state to another.  It is universal and inevitable.
• connection - the understanding that we live in a world of interacting systems in which actions of any individual element affect others.
• perspective - the understanding that knowledge is moderated by perspectives; different perspectives lead to different interpretations, understandings and findings; perspectives may be individual, group, cultural or disciplinary.
• responsibility - the understanding that people make choices based on their understandings, and the actions they take as a result do make a difference.
• reflection - the understanding that there are different ways of knowing, and that it is important to reflect on our conclusions, to consider our methods of reasoning, and the quality and the reliability of the evidence we have considered.

At Roberts, students are encouraged to consider all concept levels when developing questions to help guide their learning.  Often times, when we are asking questions about new ideas or information we are focused on questions of form or function. It is important we encourage learners to consider other concepts such as change, connections, perspective and responsibility.  

Ask your child about some of their questions from their classroom Wonder Wall for the current Unit of Inquiry.  Are they developing questions other than those falling in form or function?

  

News From Mrs. Graves

Upcoming Events

Monday, 1/13 
Tuesday, 1/14  Report Cards go home; NTB Reading Day
Wednesday, 1/15
Thursday, 1/16  Spelling Bee, Cafe at 8:15; Kinder Field Trip, 8:45 am; SDMC Meeting, 3:30 pm
Friday, 1/17

Monday, 1/20  No School, MLK Holiday
Tuesday, 1/21 
Wednesday, 1/22
Thursday, 1/23  Staff Appreciation Luncheon
Friday, 1/24  3rd Gr Traditions Feast, Covered Area 12:00-1:00

Monday, 1/27
Tuesday, 1/28
Wednesday, 1/29  Early Dismissal, 12:30; Parent Conferences
Thursday, 1/30
Friday, 1/31  Kinder Snow Day



Parent Conferences
Later this month you will have the opportunity to meet with your child's teacher to learn more about your child's progress.  If you have not already met with your child's teacher this year, please contact your child's teacher to schedule a conference.  This is a great opportunity to learn more about how your and the classroom teacher can work together to help your child succeed.

Attendance
During the month of December we took a big hit to our attendance rate, under 97%.  It is critical that your child attend school every day.  The District expects elementary schools to have a 98% attendance rate. Attendance directly impacts school funding, with an increase or decrease of 1% equal to approximately $26,000, annually.  This is a tough goal to meet, and it will take everyone's diligence to make it happen.  

Remember, if your child is sick, and has a fever of 100 degrees or more, home is the best place to be.  

What it means if your student’s report card has an ‘NG’   from www.houstonisd.org

When HISD parents from grades K-12 receive report cards on Jan. 10, they may be finding a new notation – “NG” – that blocks the grade from being seen because of poor attendance.

NG isn’t a reflection of failure – in fact the grade may be passing – but under expanded state requirements for school attendance, the student didn’t put in enough time in class to receive a grade in it.

“Excessive, unexcused absences,” is the official explanation parents will see – meaning the student was missing 10 percent or more of the time the class met. A grade will actually be assigned and recorded by HISD, but it will, in effect, be masked on the report card.


That’s the bad news. The good news, says Mark White, HISD’s director of School Support Services, is that the situation can be remedied – but only if the student has a passing grade for the period. “It’s up to parents to find out from the school right away what corrective steps they and their student might be able to take as they enter the second half of the school year to recover credit or move toward promotion,” White says.

Depending on the student’s circumstances, that could include repeating the course, credit recovery, or credit by exam for grades of at least 70 percent.

Another option is one that has been available for several years to students who missed class between 11 and 25 percent of the time. They can work with the principal to create a plan to remediate the situation, which allows credit to be awarded upon completion.

A final option, for students with extenuating circumstances, is to file an appeal with the campus attendance committee.

The “NG” is part of new regulations – known as HB 5 — passed by the Texas Legislature in its last session to create uniform, rigorous standards for promotion and graduation. It’s one one of several changes students and parents are seeing due to HB 5.

The number of required STAAR end-of-course exams required to graduate from high school has been reduced from 15 to five. Starting with the 2014-2015 school year, entering ninth-graders will have to select from two graduation paths of varying rigor and will have to choose “endorsements” – areas of academic and career focus – to pursue as part of their graduation plan.

For more on STAAR and HB 5, go to www.houstonisd.org/STAAR.

News From Mrs. Graves

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, 1/7  NTB Reading Day
Wednesday, 1/8  School Tour, 9:00
Thursday, 1/9  +Talk: Survive Parenting Your T(w)eens, St.Vincent dePaul, 7:00 pm (See Tuesday Folder)
Friday, 1/10  PTO Meeting, 8:10 am; NTB Book Talk, 11:30-12:30

Monday, 1/13
Tuesday, 1/14  Report Cards go home; NTB Reading Day
Wednesday, 1/15
Thursday, 1/16  Spelling Bee, Cafe at 8:15; Kinder Field Trip, 8:45 am; SDMC Meeting, 3:30 pm
Friday, 1/17

Monday, 1/20  No School, MLK Holiday
Tuesday, 1/21
Wednesday, 1/22
Thursday, 1/23  Staff Appreciation Luncheon
Friday, 1/24  3rd Gr Traditions Feast, Covered Area 12:00-1:00

Happy New Year!
As our first graders are learning, the Babylonians celebrated New Years Day over four thousand years ago. They celebrated the new year in March, rather than in January, coinciding with the planting of crops.  This long standing celebration of a new year allows us to look back, but more importantly encourages us to look forward to the coming year.  I invite you to help your child look forward to this new semester and set personal goals for showing strong achievement at school, at home, or even on the soccer field.  Children who can image success are more likely to achieve it with a commitment to the daily work needed to forge the pathway to their goal.

Principal's Challenge
Tomorrow I will post a new challenge for our students.  Coaching from the sideline may be helpful, but do it with questions rather than answers.  Good questions can help guide your students to thinking through the process on their own, rather than waiting for someone else to solve the problem.

This challenge is most appropriate for grades 3-5, but I am confident we have some 2nd graders with the tenacity to tackle it.  The problem will require a little research, and students may benefit from the use of a calculator.  And, while the mathematics of the problem is important, translating their findings into the written word is the key to making the connection between numbers of a page and the real world around them.

The Challenge will be posted until next Friday, January 17th.  I will post the names of everyone who turned in an accurately solved problem on Tuesday, January 21st.

Magnet Update
The deadline for applying to Magnet Schools was December 20th.  Just over 900 applications were received before the deadline for students wishing to attend Roberts.  Over the last 4 years, our applications have steadily increased, with nearly 600 applications last year, ranking Roberts as one of the most applied to elementary schools in the District.  We are thrilled to see such an increase in interest in Roberts.

Safety Drills
As you know, to ensure the safety of students and staff, we participate is emergency drills to ensure everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency.  The most common, and most frequent of those drills is the monthly fire drill.  We also participate in drills to prepare us in the event of inclement weather, need for evacuation, or need for locking down the campus.  This month we will take part in some of those less common drills.  I cannot give you information regarding the date, time or type of drill in advance.  I will notify you after the drill has taken place, should your child have questions or wishes to talk about the drill. None of the drills are done in a way that would be frightening to students.  When the drill begins we will make an announcement stating that it is a safety drill and not a real emergency.  If you are on campus during one of the emergency drills it is imperative that you follow the directions of the administration, faculty or staff. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Have a great week!

News From Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week

Monday, 12/16  

Tuesday, 12/17  NTB Reading Day

Wednesday, 12/18  Community Exhibition, 6:30 pm

Thursday, 12/19  School Exhibition; Last day of Afterschool

Friday, 12/20  PJ Day; Class Holiday Parties, after 1:00 pm; No Afterschool Childcare; Lost and Found Clean Out

Monday, 1/6  Teacher Work Day

Tuesday, 1/7  Students Return

Magnet Application Deadline:  Friday, 12/20

If you have moved out of the Roberts attendance zone, or expect to move during the Spring semester, and wish to stay at Roberts next school year, you may wish to apply for a magnet transfer.  Students are not guaranteed a spot, but can be considered if space is available.  Students who move out of the attendance zone will only be allowed to continue at Roberts with a Magnet transfer.

Spotlight on IB:
Roles in the Exhibition
Role of Parent/Guardian and Community Members

Parents/Guardians and Community members will:

• have an understanding of the purpose and requirements of the exhibition
• support and encourage students and teachers throughout the process of inquiry
• help students to access resources--people, places, media and information
• provide expert subject knowledge where applicable
• encourage independent inquiry and respect ownership of the process
• support students' action efforts
• have an opportunity to reflect on and give feedback on the exhibition
• celebrate with the students by attending the staging of the exhibition

You are cordially invited to join us Wednesday evening, 6:30-7:30 to learn more about the global issues our 5th graders have been learning about and working to effect change locally.  We will begin with a short video and discussion in the Cafe, then all projects will be on display in the hallways.

Early Pickup

Please remember to plan accordingly if you are picking your child up early for an appointment.  It may take 10-15 minutes to get your child from class.  Please do not call ahead and ask the ladies in the office to call your students before you arrive.  We will not call students from class until you arrive.  

School Safety

Each year HISD tests the safety of campuses with what is called an intruder drill.  During this unannounced drill, an adult in plain clothes attempts to gain entry to a campus without being questioned. I received great praise for the level of safety on the campus and the diligence of our receptionist during our recent intruder drill.  On your next visit to the school, you may want to say thank you to Ms. Brown and Ms. vanRavenswaay at our Reception Office for their vigilance in ensuring a safe campus for your children.

News From Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week

Monday, 12/9  Kinder Stanford 

Tuesday, 12/10  Kinder Stanford

Wednesday, 12/11  Kinder Stanford

Thursday, 12/12  Kinder Stanford; Student Coalition Mtg, 11:15 am; Piano Recital, 6:00 pm; 2nd gr Winter Show & Art Exhibit, 6:30 pm

Friday, 12/13  Kinder Stanford; Spelling Pre-Bee, 7:15 am; Book Talk, 11:30-12:30; Faculty Caroling, 6:00 pm;

Wednesday, 12/18  Community Exhibition, 6:30 pm

Thursday, 12/19  School Exhibition (watch for schedule)

Friday, 12/20  Book Talk, 11:30-12:30; Class Holiday Parties (after 1:00); Lost and Found Clean Out

What is Spelling Pre-Bee?

All students in grades 3-5 who are interested in competing in this year's spelling bee must qualify through the Pre-Bee.  This will be a written qualifier test using words from the Scripts National Spelling Bee list.  Teachers have copies of the student list.  The Pre-Bee will begin promptly at 7:15 am. on Friday, December 13th.  There will be no late admittance.

Algebraic Principles in Action

Everyday Math, the campus' primary math curriculum, is designed to develop algebraic principles in children as young as kindergarten.  You will find that students are often exploring properties of mathematics that serve as a foundation for the algebra they will learn later.

You may hear us often discuss the complex, multi-step problems children are expected to solve under the newer state assessment system, STAAR (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness). A couple of weeks ago we discussed a particular 3rd grade homework problem, that as adults we would solve with simple algebra.  The problem is similar to the problems we may find on STAAR for 3rd graders.  I thought it would be enlightening, and may even be helpful, to share this problem with you, and share the various ways it can be solved.  

Since I don't have the actual problem with me, it goes a little something like this...

Someone is growing vegetables in a garden.  She harvests 26 vegetables altogether.  There are 8 tomatoes. She also harvested peas and beans.  She harvested 10 more beans than peas.  

In this problem you have a total and one addend, with two unknown variables.  Since the value of one variable is dependent on the value of the other variable, we can set up equivalent expressions.   Since 3rd graders don't know how to apply many of the computations required in early algebra, we need to give them strategies for solving the problem in other ways.  As hardworking and devoted homework helpers (yes, you!), you may want to see a couple of grade-appropriate methods for solving problems such as this.

In any method for solving the problem, we want to first identify what we know and what we don't know. For this problem, here is what we know...

Total vegetables = 26

tomatoes = 8

peas = ?

beans = peas + 10

Next, we want to write a number model to explain the problem...

26 = t + p + b

So if we first subtract what we know from the total (26-8=18), it will leave us with a total for peas plus beans.  So if the total for peas plus beans is 18 we can apply a guess and check strategy now...

We can also solve this problem with a unit bar method.  By first subtracting the 8 units for tomatoes, and then subtracting the 10 units we know are beans, we are left with 8 units that are equally divided between peas and beans.  A unit bar method would look like this...

You can find helpful information online in the Student Reference Book at www.everydaymathonline.com. Each child has an ID and password, that can be found on the online password sheet sent home at the beginning of the year. 

Magnet Application Window

The deadline for submitting magnet applications for the 2014-15 school year is December 20, 2013.  For those interested in submitting applications for middle school, please be mindful of the deadline.  You may apply from the main HISD website at www.houstonisd.org 

Have a great week!

News From Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week
Monday, 12/2
Tuesday, 12/3  NTB Reading Day; 3rd gr Rehearsal Begins - Annie, 3:30-5:30 T&Th
Wednesday, 12/4  Haidian District of China Educator Visit, 8:00 am - 11:00 am); Magnet Tour, 9:00 am
Thursday, 12/5  Student Coalition Meeting, 11:15 am
Friday, 12/6  PTO Meeting, 8:10 am; NTB Book Talk, 11:30-12:30 am; Kinder SAT10 Begins

Just Around the Corner
Monday, 12/9
Tuesday, 12/10
Wednesday, 12/11
Thursday, 12/12  2nd grade Holiday Show and Art Exhibit, 6:30 pm
Friday, 12/13  Faculty Caroling, 6:30-7:30 pm

Much to be Thankful for...
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!  We have much to be thankful for at Roberts. As a community we have accomplished a great many things during this first semester of the 2013-14 school year that brought us together as a community to improve our lives, the education of our young people and to strengthen our sense of belonging.

63 HOURS OF STAFF DEVELOPMENT. 1 NEW IPAD CART. 1 NEW LAPTOP CART. 18 NEW CLASSROOM COMPUTERS. PADRES AUGUST WORK DAY. MEET THE TEACHER & ICE CREAM SOCIAL.  KINDER PLAY DATE.  FIRST DAY PARENT COFFEE. ANNUAL SCOUT FLAG RAISING CEREMONY. NEW KINDER CLASS.  PTO MEMBERSHIP DRIVE. EXPANSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL GARDEN. CERTIFICATION BY THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FOUNDATION AS A CERTIFIED WILDLIFE HABITAT. DAY OF SERVICE AT HOUSTON FOOD BANK.  3 TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCHEONS. PADRES PHYSIC GARDEN. FAMILY CAMPOUT. INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL. MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION NIGHT. 9 MAGNET TOURS.  1 CHINESE DELEGATION VISIT. UPGRADED SOUND SYSTEM. ELECTION DAY BAKE SALE. 3-YR IB PYP EVALUATION VISIT. FALL COMMUNITY NIGHT. 4TH GR SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!  BOOK FAIR. NEW A/C CHILLER. NEW NETWORK WITH WIRELESS ACCESS POINTS IN EVERY CLASSROOM. NEW FRISBEE GOLF COURSE. AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE... A NEW GAGA BALL PIT.

Kinder Stanford Testing
On Friday, our Kinder students will begin taking the Stanford Achievement Test. Classroom teachers have given students the experiences they need to minimize frustration. This test is used as a baseline, and is not used for any purpose related to course grades or future class placement.

It is not necessary to prepare your child for this assessment, outside of anything your child's teacher may provide.  We do not want the children to worry about this test.

You can help your child by ensuring they are in bed on time, have a good breakfast, and are at school on time.  Students who arrive late will not be able to enter the classroom, and may not be able to make up the section(s) he or she misses.

All other grade levels will take the Stanford Achievement Test in May.

News From Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week

Monday, 11/25  Lost and Found Clean Out

Tuesday, 11/26  Lost and Found Clean Out - Anything left at end of day will be donated

Wednesday-Friday  THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Just Around The Corner

Monday, 12/2  

Tuesday, 12/3  NTB Reading Day; 3rd Gr Musical Rehearsal Begins, 3:30-5:30

Wednesday, 12/4  Magnet Tour, 9:00 am

Thursday, 12/5  

Friday, 12/6  PTO Meeting, 8:10 am; Book Talk, 11:30-12:30

Wednesday, 12/11  

Thursday, 12/12  2nd grade Winter Show & Art Exhibit, 6:30 pm

Friday, 12/14  Faculty Caroling, 6:00 pm; 

Wednesday, 12/18  Community IB Exhibition, 6:30 pm

Friday, 12/19  Class Holiday Parties (PM, Check with teacher for time); Lost and Found Clean Out - Anything left at end of day will be donated

January, 2014 

Monday, 1/6  Teacher Work Day

Tuesday, 1/7 Students report to school for Spring Semester

Wednesday, 1/29  Early Dismissal for Mid-Year Parent Conferences

Field Day - Canceled

We will need to reschedule Field Day again because of the weather.  We will look for a day in the Spring and let you know as soon as we choose a date.  

Spotlight on IB:

Exhibition and Action

Over the last few weeks, our 5th graders have been busy learning about global issues that impact us locally. They have asked really hard questions, and are diving into the complex answers.  As they have learned, they have designed ways to impact locally through action. 

Students have learned that there are three primary ways to act:

• Direct Service - giving your time/talent to someone in need
• Indirect Experience - channeling resources rather than working directly with an individual in need, such as clothing drives or working with organizations that support a community need
• Advocacy - making the public aware of a problem or need, through presentations or letter writing

Over the next two weeks, you are going to be asked to give your support.  Some of the requests will be about matters that you are passionate about, and some will be for things you may not have even known were issues that needed support.   You will find that these issues are deeply important to our 5th graders. They have strong beliefs about fairness and justice, and about wrong and right.  "Effective action can be a demonstration of a sense of responsibility and respect for self, others and the environment," (Making the PYP Happen). 

Student actions/events will be listed on the bulletin board on the hallway to the Cafe outside of my office. You will also receive information through the Tuesday Folder about the many requests for support.  Please review the many requests and consider supporting them in their efforts.  No one can support everything, but when we come together, each doing a little, a lot can get done.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!

News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week
Monday, 11/18  1st Day of Session II Specialties
Tuesday, 11/19  Book Fair, NNAT Testing, Kinder & Grade 5
Wednesday, 11/20  Early Dismissal, 12:30 pm
Thursday, 11/21 2nd grade Field Trip, Student Coalition Meeting, SDMC, 3:30 pm; Family Night at the Book Fair, 5:30-7:30 pm
Friday, 11/22  NTB Book Talk, 11:30-12:30

Just Around the Corner
Monday, 11/25
Tuesday, 11/26  Field Day
Wednesday, 11/27  THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Thursday, 11/28 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Friday, 11/29  THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Tuesday, 12/3  3rd Gr Musical Rehearsal Begins, 3:30-5:30
Wednesday, 12/4  School Tour, 9:00 am
Friday, 12/6  PTO Meeting, 8:10 am


Numeracy or Automaticity?
Educators often have strong views about approaches to teaching mathematics (well, strong views about how to teach most things I suppose).  Many educators believe, and there is research to support, that developing strong number sense is critical.  Everyday Math does a really good job of giving students opportunities to understand the base ten system, and gives them exposure to basic principles of numbers that make moving into algebra a little easier.  You will see that your children have many strategies for mental mathematics and can easily use variables when solving problems.  They may also have learned some nontraditional methods for double digit multiplication and division.  All of this work is designed to help students understand the components of large numbers.

Other mathematics programs focus on rote mathematics, with memorization of facts (addition or multiplication) at the core.  They encourage the use of traditional algorithms to solve problems and design the work to develop automaticity.  I am sure you remember the continued practice of your multiplication facts and the structured way you learned to multiply big numbers, or work through long division.

Everyday Math is designed so that after students develop understanding of the number sense they learn the traditional models for multiplying and dividing.  It encourages the use of the commutative property of addition and multiplication (a+b=b+a or a*b=b*a) for flexibly solving problems, and encourages the use of fact families for finding the answer to division problems.  Fact Triangles help students learn the reciprical nature of multiplication and division.

We find though that if we wait until students develop number sense, we often don't spend enough time on automaticity.  If we want children to understand how numbers work, and also work efficiently, we need to develop both numeracy and automaticity.

Automaticity takes time.  It requires regular practice, as does any skill we want to improve.  If you haven't built in time each day to practice addition flashcards, or multiplication flashcards, it is something that can greatly improve your child's mathematics skills.  Use the fact triangles provided by your child's teacher, or make a set of flashcards at home.  Capture a little extra time by practicing in the car.  It will make the ride home a little more fun, and may make errands go a little faster!

What is NNAT?
NNAT (Naglieri Non-verbal Ability Test) measures nonverbal reasoning and general problem solving abilities.  Directions are simplistic and the test assesses without regard to language ability.  There is no published review for this assessment.  This assessment is used by HISD as one component of the G/T identification matrix.  

Kindergarten and 5th grade students will be administered the NNAT on Tuesday morning.  It is essential students are at school on time, and are well rested with a good breakfast.

News From Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week
Monday, 11/11 
Tuesday, 11/12  District MS School Choice Fair @Roberts, 6:00-7:30 pm
Wednesday, 11/13  1st gr Fieldtrip
Thursday, 11/14  Staff Appreciation Luncheon; Student Coalition Meeting, 11:15-11:45; Schoolhouse Rock Live, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, 11/15  NTB Book Talk, 11:30-12:30

Just Around the Corner
Monday, 11/18 
Tuesday, 11/19  Book Fair; NNAT, K & 5
Wednesday, 11/20  Early Dismissal, 12:30 pm
Thursday, 11/21  SDMC, 3:30; Book Fair Family Night, 5:30-7:30 pm
Friday, 11/22

Tuesday, 11/26  Field Day
11/27-12/1  Thanksgiving Holiday

Evaluation Visit

As you may know, last week we welcomed a team of evaluators from IB.  The team was so impressed with the work they saw happening in the classrooms and the overall enthusiastic attitude of the entire faculty and parents.  It was truly a team effort. We will receive a much more complete report in a few months, but let me share a few of the things they said during our debrief.  

• The culturally diverse student body is considered a positive and important component of the school community by students, parents and faculty and lends itself to increased international-mindedness.
• The facility is aesthetically appealing and has a number of features that enhance learning such as the murals and artwork throughout the school, the International Garden, and Physics Garden.
• The classrooms are well-organized and well-designed to provide varying learning spaces that allow for flexible grouping. 
• District representatives are knowledgeable and supportive of the PYP.  They allow flexibility in spending and instructional philosophy.
• Commend commitment to weekly collaboration at all grade levels.
• Commend commitment to training.  Training record is consistent and ongoing.
• Evidence that inquiry is used throughout all aspects of the curriculum at all grade levels.
• Principal's Blog allows accessibility for parents and keeps District Office informed.
• Teachers' blogs keep parents informed about learning and the PYP.
• ICT has been well-developed and is apparent in a very short time.  The co-teaching model and troubleshooting is appreciate by staff, and there is evidence of a high comfort level with the work.
• Faculty demonstrates a positive commitment to the PYP and is eager to do the right thing, open to suggestions.

In the coming months we will receive the official report with detailed areas of commendation and recommendations for improvement.  Congratulations and thank you!

Schoolhouse Rock Live

Thursday evening, November 14th, our 4th graders will perform Schoolhouse Rock Live.  You will rock in your seats to some of your favorites, Conjunction Junction, Just a Bill, and many more. An email went out last week to 4th grade parents with call-times and costuming.  A reminder will be in this week's Tuesday folder.

The 4th graders have worked so hard, during school and after school.  I can't wait for them to perform for their parents Thursday evening.

3rd Grade Musical Just Around the Corner
Last week 3rd grade families received information for those students who are interested in learning stage craft, or are interested in principal roles or dance roles.  Please note that while there is no charge for this afterschool experience, it is not childcare.  Students will be expected to be engaged in the work.  This is a fantastic experience for students who show an interest.

And in case you didn't know, we have contracted with expert artists for instruction for our after school musicals.  In fact, Psophonia, who works with our dancers, is listed #4 as one of the Top 10 Contemporary Dance Companies in Houston by Houston Press magazine! http://blogs.houstonpress.com/artattack/2013/11/the_rest_of_the_best_houstons_21.php

Have a great week!

News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week
Monday, 11/4  Magnet Tours, 9:00 & 1:00;
Tuesday, 11/5  Magnet Tours, 9:00 & 1:00, Election Day; Flu Shots (Students and Parents), Report Cards
Wednesday, 11/6  Magnet Tours, 9:00 & 1:00
Thursday, 11/7  IB Evaluation Visit
Friday, 11/8  IB Evaluation Visit
Saturday, 11/9  Fall Community Night, 5:00

Just Around the Corner
Monday, 11/11
Tuesday, 11/12   District Middle School Choice Fair, 6:00 pm at Roberts
Wednesday, 11/13
Thursday, 11/14   Staff Appreciation Luncheon; 4th Grade Schoolhouse Rock Live, Showtime, 6:30 pm
Friday, 11/15


Free Everyday Math Apps
The publisher of Everyday Mathematics, McGraw-Hill is once again offering five of its ten EM game Apps for free on the following dates:

November 4-8, 2013 
The following apps will be free and available via the iTunes App Store:
Addition Top-It
Monster Squeeze
Equivalent Fractions
Beat the Computer
Divisibility Dash

To learn more about the game apps go to: MHEonline.com/apps


Principal's Challenge
Can your child outscore me on Divisibility Dash?  Download the app and then let your child take a screenshot of the final score and add it to my door.

Election Day Bake Sale
Help us welcome our community on Tuesday with our Election Day Bake Sale.  Many voters come before work, during lunch, or on the way home, and love the option of picking up a little something at our Bake Sale.  Please consider baking or buying something for the sale.  Your donations can be dropped off at reception on Monday or Tuesday morning.  Proceeds go to the 5th grade End of Year fund.


Magnet Application Time
If you have a child in 5th grade, you may want to apply for admission to a Middle School Magnet Program. If you have a child currently attending Roberts on a Magnet transfer and have a younger child who will be entering kindergarten in the fall, you will need to apply within the first phase.

On Monday, the online application system will open.  Tomorrow I will send an email with directions for applying online, as well as the website.  Watch for that email tomorrow.  The deadline to apply for a magnet program in Phase I is December 20, 2013.  Most schools will not have space available after Phase I.


Enrollment and ResidencyMany times families move during a school year and are interested in staying at Roberts. The only way to stay at Roberts if you have moved out of the school attendance zone is to apply for a magnet transfer.  Magnet Transfers are granted by lottery, when space is available in the specific grade level.  The deadline to do that is December 20th.  No applications received after December 20th will be reviewed.

The question that often arises during enrollment relates to residency.  Residency is what qualifies you as an “in-zone” student.  So, what is residency?  Generally it is referred to as where you live and sleep every night, but there are more detailed and specific criteria.  

1. Does the parent/guardian who establishes residency own, rent or lease a home, condominium, apartment or living quarters within the attendance zone?

2. Does the family have furniture and personal effects in the attendance zone with no furniture or personal effects at a previous residence?

3. Does the parent/guardian receive personal mail in the attendance zone?

4. Are the parents/guardians registered to vote in the attendance zone?

5. Does the parent/guardian regularly live in the attendance zone and plan to live there indefinitely?  Have all licensed drivers in the household complied with DPS regulations for changing address?