Sunday, October 25, 2015

News from Mrs. Graves

Daily Schedule
Monday, 10/26  BLUE
8C Holocaust Fieldtrip
NJHS Meeting, 7th & 8th gr, TEAM Time
Volleyball @ Rice School, 5:30/6:30
7th gr Football vs Westbriar @POMS, 5:00 pm
Progress Reports

Tuesday, 10/27  GREEN
8A Holocaust Fieldtrip
UIL One Act Play, Caja Negra, 6:00 pm
8th gr Football vs Pershing @Delmar Stadium, 7:00 pm

Wednesday, 10/28  Funky BLUE
6th gr Outsiders Day
Early Dismissal, 1:00 p.m.
NO AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
UIL One Act Play, Caja Negra, 6:00 pm

Thursday, 10/29  GREEN
8B Holocaust Fieldtrip (CORRECTION)
School Tour, 1:00 pm
UIL One Act Play, Caja Negra, 6:00 pm

Friday, 10/30  CHARGER
8C In-House Field Trip - 1776
Theatre Fieldtrip


POMS Yearbook
The Yearbook staff wants your photos of Pin Oak students at Pin Oak events!  You can send them to us via Balfour ImageShare app. How? It's simple! Download the Balfour ImageShare app on your phone or mobile device. The project number is 615643 and the password is "charger".

Yearbooks are on sale now for $45 at www.balfour.com.  We sell out every year so buy yours today. 

POMS Book
This year we are publishing a books of student art and writing. If you have any art or writing that you want considered for the book, please bring it to Ms. Beckman in Rm A109.

Registering as a Volunteer
We have several field trips just around the corner.  We are looking for volunteers, but you must be VISITS approved.  Have you registered as a volunteer in public schools?  Register online, then stop in the office so that we can make a copy of your license.





Saturday, October 24, 2015

Blog Correction

Progress Reports for 2nd grading cycle will be distributed Monday during 7th period.  Please note, this is a shorter grading cycle.  The last day of the grading cycle is Friday, November 6th.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

News from Mrs. Graves

Daily Schedule
Monday, 10/19  BLUE
Volleyball vs Westbriar @POMS, 5:30/6:30
7th gr Homecoming Football @Lanier, 5:00 pm

Tuesday, 10/20 ASSEMBLY GREEN
Homecoming Pep Rally, 2:30 pm (no early student pick up after 2:15)
8th gr Football vs Pershing @Butler Stadium, 7:00 pm

Wednesday, 10/21  BLUE
Girls Basketball Try-Outs (check the website)
School Choice Fair, 8th grade, MPR
Swim Team Interest Meeting @A-121, 3:45 & 5:00 pm
Fall Orchestra Concert, 6:30 pm

Thursday, 10/22  GREEN
Girls Basketball Try-Outs (check the website)
School Tour, 1:00 pm
Fall Band Concert and Spaghetti Dinner, MPR, 6:00 pm

Friday, 10/23  CHARGER
Girls Basketball Try-Outs (check the website)
Progress Reports
Homecoming Dance, 7th & 8th grade, POMS, 6:00-8:00 pm

Saturday, 10/24
HISD All-City Middle School Band Auditions, Pershing

Red Ribbon Week & Homecoming Festivities
This week we will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week and school pride with Homecoming. The Red Ribbon Campaign is a way for our POMS community to take a visible stand against drugs. This year’s theme is Respect Yourself: Be Drug Free! 

To show our commitment to respecting ourselves with the healthy lifestyle choice to be drug free, we will have a daily theme of dress that will coincide with Homecoming spirit week.

Monday’s theme will be "Wear a Red Ribbon".  Teachers will distribute red ribbon pins, and we ask students and teachers to wear them every day next week.

Tuesday is "Blue Out" for Homecoming Game Day! Students should wear their Pin Oak blue uniform shirt or Charger shirt.


Wednesday is "Go Red" Day. Students are invited to wear a red shirt with their uniform bottom.

Thursday we will buddy up because friends don't let friends do drugs or bully.  Students are invited to buddy up for twin day! Come in your best twin attire. Nothing covering the head or face allowed. 


Friday is Jersey Day to represent our commitment to health lifestyle choices! Students are invited to wear athletic jerseys representing any team: college, high school, pro teams, or a Pin Oak jersey, with their uniform bottom.

2nd 6-Week Grading Cycle
This grading cycle is shorter than the others. Progress will come out on October 23rd and then the grading period will close on November 6th.  It's important that students monitor grades and work completion.

Homecoming Dance
On Friday our 7th and 8th graders are invited to attend our annual Homecoming Dance. Students may dress up, or may choose to come in a more casual attire.  Tickets will be on sale before school in the Gym and MPR, during third lunch, or at the door on Friday.


Just Around the Corner! 
Fall Book Fair
Come to the Pin Oak Book Fair Nov. 10th - Nov. 14th, located in the DLL Room in the back of the library!  Come browse before, during and after school, or during Charger Fest from 12:00-4:00 p.m.

Thursday morning, Nov. 12th, the PTO will be hosting “Books and Breakfast” beginning at 7:30. This is a great opportunity to come and spend some time with your student, enjoy some free breakfast and support the library at the same time.

All proceeds benefit the Pin Oak Library.


Information About Cherrydale
Cherrydale Order Pick-up tomorrow, Monday, October 19th from 2:00 pm - 3:20 pm in the MPR.  All orders MUST be picked up at this time. Some items are perishable. Also, if your child had high sales, they will not be able to carry all items. 

Students will be called by cluster during this period to pick up their orders. If your student is absent, please make arrangements for someone to pick up their order. Contact Jill Hord jthord7@aol.com or Brittney Selldin m3bandp@mac.com with questions.

Note that all online orders shipped directly to customers.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

News from Mrs. Graves

Daily Schedule
Monday, 10/12  BLUE
Volleyball @Lanier, 5:30/6:30
7th gr Football vs Pershing @POMS, 5:00 pm

Tuesday, 10/13 GREEN
8th gr Football vs Pershing @Butler Stadium, 7:00 pm

Wednesday, 10/14  TESTING BLUE
PSAT, 8th grade, 8:30-1:00
Cluster Leader Meeting, 3:50 pm 
NJHS Induction, 6:30 pm

Thursday, 10/15  GREEN
Magnet Tour, 1:00
SDMC Meeting, 3:50
Choir Broadway Show, MPR, 6:00 pm

Friday, 10/16  CHARGER


Magnet Application Process and School Tours
Magnet season is upon us!  This year, instead of having a one week launch, schools will be offering a tour every week on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. from now until December.  If you have a current 8th grader, or have a current 5th grader, you may learn more about HISD magnet schools and apply online at http://www.houstonisd.org/Page/120585.

Our 8th graders will meet representatives from local high schools on Wednesday, October 21 at Pin Oak.  

We understand that you may wish to take your child on tours of schools.  Unfortunately, we cannot excuse absences from class, but your child will only be counted absent if he/she attends less than 60 minutes of the 90-minute class period.  The tour times overlap with our third lunch period and our Team Time.  Many students may be able to attend a tour and return during the early part of our last period.  

Students may be checked out from the main office and will need to sign in when they return. I would encourage you to prioritize school visits.  Students will miss the same class each week, and that may be difficult for your child.    

Questions? Email Mr. Berry at jberry4@houstonisd.org.

Pin Oak Boundary Option Applications
If you have a current 5th grader and wish to apply to Pin Oak for the 2016-17 school year, please complete the Magnet application online.  If you reside within the boundary option area (Pershing, Long or Johnston), your application will automatically be included in our boundary option lottery. Inclusion in the boundary option lottery will not impact your application for our magnet program.

Questions? Email Mr. Berry at jberry4@houstonisd.org.

Golf Clinic for Girls
Former Pin Oak student, Meagan McAuliffe, is working to earn a Gold Award for Girl Scouts.  Partnering with the First Tee of Greater Houston, she will be hosting a golf clinic on October 24 for girls.  At the clinic the girls will learn the basics of golf.  To sign up please go to www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0A4DAFA628A7F85-golf.

ChargerFest News
Pin Oak Middle School PTO invites you to ChargerFest from 12-4 p.m. on Saturday, November 14.  Please join us celebrating the Pin Oak Middle School community and our outstanding students!

Enjoy an afternoon of family fun and entertainment at our carnival:
  • Watch fine arts performances and visit the art show, showcasing the many talents of our students;
  • Explore the International Fest featuring our student diversity and language magnet program; and
  • Shop at the Book Fair supporting our school library in DLL
Purchase tickets online now or during lunchtime starting Monday, 10/19.  For performance schedule, tickets, underwriting, and more information, please visit http://pinoakpto.org/ 



Sunday, October 4, 2015

News from Mrs. Graves

Daily Schedule
Monday, 10/5  BLUE
Volleyball vs Dowling @POMS, 5:30/6:30

Tuesday, 10/6 GREEN

Wednesday, 10/7  BLUE
Choir New York Parent Meeting, 6:00 

Thursday, 10/8  GREEN
Magnet Tour, 1:00
PTO Meeting, 6:30

Friday, 10/9  CHARGER
School Pictures (PE/Dance)
Report Cards Go Home


Yellowstone 2015
I have had the pleasure of attending the Yellowstone field study with some of our 8th graders. The field study blends elements of human and physical geography, geology, and biology.  It has been an absolute pleasure to watch our students make connections between the things they have read about and the things they can actually see and touch in the field. 

Many may believe this is a break from school, but I can assure you it hasn't been a break from learning.  Our students have been out all day experiencing the world around them, and then hitting the books when we return to the hotel each evening.  They are also maintaining field logs to document the things they notice, as well as the data they collect.  In the photo below, students are measuring temperature and pH levels at Orange Spring Mound, a geologic feature that has changed drastically since last year.  

  



This field study is possible because of a strong partnership with Bellaire High School and the generosity of Ann Linsley-Kennedy.  Many of our 7th graders will be attending this field study next week.  


PSAT
On Wednesday, October 14th our 8th graders will take the PSAT.  We will begin testing at 8:30 a.m. and will maintain the testing environment until 1:15 p.m. 

Why is the PSAT a great opportunity for 8th graders?  The PSAT establishes a baseline measurement of college and career readiness just before your child enters high school. It also gives your child a chance to preview the question style for PSAT/SAT.

You and your child can learn more about the PSAT and see sample questions at 
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-8-9/inside-the-test.


First 6-Week Free Dress Reward
On Monday, students will receive a copy of their schedule for the first grading period Free Dress Reward.  Students will take the schedule to each teacher.  If the student has one or fewer late/missing assignments during the grading period, the teacher will sign next to the class.  If the student receives signatures from all teachers, he or she may turn in the schedule to the House Office to receive a Free Dress wristband.  We will have the free dress on 10/16.  See the student planner for information on free dress guidelines.

If your child doesn't earn the free dress for this first grading period, you may want to see if organization is the issue. Your child's cluster leader can assist you with scheduling a meeting with teachers.


PTO Meeting
On Thursday evening, we will host our first evening PTO meeting.  All members of the PTO are invited to attend.  I will provide a "State of the School" update and Mr. Berry will discuss the process for applying to high school magnet programs.