Sunday, March 26, 2017

News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week

MONDAY, 3/27  CHARGER
POMS Spirit Night at Reginelli's - all day
Disney Trip Chaperone Meeting, Cafe, 6:00 p.m.
Disney Trip Parent Meeting, Cafe, 7:00 p.m.

TUESDAY, 3/28  TESTING
STAAR Testing, 8th gr Math
STAAR Testing, 7th gr Writing

WEDNESDAY, 3/29 TESTING
STAAR Testing, 8th gr Reading
Baseball vs. Hamilton, POMS, 4:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, 3/30  GREEN
Author Visit: Kimberly Willis Holt, MPR
Tennis Practice
Baseball vs Meyerland, POMS, 4:15 p.m.
Boys' Lacrosse vs Katy, POMS, 6:00 p.m.
Community Events: SCREENAGERS, Hosted by Pin Oak, Pershing and Bellaire HS PTO, Pershing Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, 3/31  BLUE
Girls' 6th gr Lacrosse @ Pershing, 6:30 p.m.
Girls' 7th/8th gr Lacrosse @ Pershing, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, 4/1
Jr. VASE Competition, Wilchester ES
Boys' 6th gr Lacrosse vs Richmond, George Ranch HS 1:00 p.m.
Boys' 7th/8th gr Lacrosse vs. Richmond, George Ranch HS, 2:30 p.m.
Girls' 6th gr Lacrosse vs. Kingwood, 2:00 p.m.
Girls' 7th/8th gr Lacrosse vs. Kingwood, 3:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, 4/2
Boys' 7th/8th gr Lacrosse vs Ft. Bend Panthers, Camp Sienna Sports Facility, 1:00 p.m.
Boys' 6th gr Lacrosse vs. Ft. Bend Panthers, Camp Sienna Sports Facility, 3:00 p.m.


Attendance Notes
If your child has been out during this grading cycle, even if you have already sent a note, please forward excuse notes to pomschargers@gmail.com.  This new email address will now be used for all absence excuse notes.  We are having a problem with the other email address and would like to make sure all excuse notes are processed before report cards go out at the end of this grading cycle.


SCREENAGERS
I hope you will be able to join us on Thursday evening at Pershing MS, as the PTOs for Pin Oak, Pershing and Bellaire HS present SCREENAGERS.  

Award-winning SCREENAGERS probes into the vulnerable corners of family life, including the director's own, and depicts messy struggles, over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction. Through surprising insights from authors and brain scientists solutions emerge on how we can empower kids to best navigate the digital world.




The evening with begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include the one-hour movie along with a short panel discussion.  Students are welcome to attend with their parents. Pin Oak students in attendance will receive a free dress pass. NJHS members will receive service hours credit for attendance.

You can learn more about SCREENAGERS at http://www.screenagersmovie.com/  


Pin Oak Idol!
Coming soon! April 21st 
Auditions will be held April 3rd and 4th immediately after school until 6:30 (must be available during that entire time but may leave when your audition is over). Please pick up your permission slip from the front office, sign up on the sign up sheet outside of Mr. Huezo's room/D102 and bring back the signed permission slip to Mr. Huezo. Please contact Mr. Huezo or Mr. Dabbs with questions regarding auditions.

Parent volunteers needed! Please contact Debbie Robbins at debrobbins@att.net if you are able to help with the coordinating, planning, or working this event. This is an easy, super fun, cool way to get involved! 


POMS Spirit Night at Reginelli's
Please support Pin Oak by attending the March 27tth Spirit Night at Reginelli’s.  Reginelli’s is located at 5303B Bissonnet Street, Bellaire, Texas 77401. They are opened from 11am until 10pm and are willing to help our school all day! Please mention Pin Oak when you place your order so they can give a portion of the proceeds back to the school.


Morning Drop Off and Avenue B
Pin Oak offers two supervised drop off locations in the morning.  Please utilize the HCC drop off location if you are approaching the school from the east on Glenmont.  Please utilize the circle drive if you are approaching the school from the west on Glenmont.  See below.

You may notice new signage along Avenue B.  After numerous complaints from neighbors, the Bellaire Police Department has added new signage and will be issuing citations for drivers who attempt to drop off on Avenue B.  If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact Bellaire Police Department.

Please help Pin Oak be a good neighbor by adhering to traffic laws and being a courteous driver.








Sunday, March 19, 2017

News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week

MONDAY, 3/20  BLUE
HISD 7th Grade Zone Track Meet, Barnett Stadium, 4:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, 3/21  GREEN
ADVO
Cheerleader & Mascot Applications Available
Tennis Practice
HISD 7th Grade Zone Track Meet, Barnett Stadium, 4:30 p.m.
Softball vs. Hamilton @Oaks Dads' Club Fields, 4:30 p.m.
Girls' 7/8th gr Lacrosse @ROBS, 5:30 p.m.
Boys' 6th gr Lacrosse vs. Memorial @Grob Stadium, 6:00 p.m.
Boys' 7th/8th gr Lacrosse vs. Memorial @Grob Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, 3/22 BLUE 
HISD 8th Grade Zone Track Meet, Barnett Stadium, 4:30 p.m.
Baseball vs. Lanier @ POMS, 4:30 p.m.
Softball vs. Clifton @ POMS, 4:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, 3/23  GREEN
Tennis Practice
Waltrip Pre-UIL Band Concert and Sight Reading Contest
HISD 8th Grade Zone Track Meet, Barnett Stadium, 4:30 p.m.
SDMC Meeting, 3:45 p.m.
Baseball @ Pershing, 4:30 p.m.
Soccer vs. Pershing @POMS, 4:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, 3/24  CHARGER
Boys' 6th gr Lacrosse vs. Katy, @POMS, 6:30 p.m. 
Boys' 7th/8th gr Lacrosse vs. Katy, @POMS 8:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, 3/25
Girls' 6th gr Lacrosse vs. Woodlands, Alden Bridge Sports Park, 10:00 a.m.
Girls' 7th/8th gr Lacrosse vs. Woodlands, Alden Bridge Sports Park, 12:00 p.m.
Boys' 7th/8th gr Lacrosse vs Kingwood, Episcopal HS, 3:00 p.m.
Boys' 6th gr Lacrosse vs. Kingwood, Episcopal HS, 5:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, 3/26
Cheer Competition, Galveston


Update on School Funding and Recapture
HISD voters will be asked on May 6 how the district should pay its Recapture obligation to the state of Texas: by Purchasing Attendance Credits or through Detachment of Commercial Property.  Her's the language that will appear on the ballot:
Authorizing the board of trustees of Houston Independent School District to purchase attendance credits from the state with local tax revenues.
For
A vote FOR means Purchasing Attendance Credits by writing a check to the state comprised of local property taxes. It also means:
  • The district will continue to make annual recapture payments as long as property wealth grows.
  • Our total tax collections will continue to grow to offset these payments as property values rise.
  • The district will have more capacity in the future to fund schools.
Against
A vote AGAINST Purchasing Attendance Credits means Detachment of the most valuable non-residential, commercial properties from the district's tax roll. The properties will be reassigned to other school districts for taxing purposes. It also means:
  • Under current law, those commercial properties will be permanently detached, and the district will permanently lose those tax collections for district operations.
  • The district will lose debt service tax collections used to pay back bonds, which is debt used to build schools.
  • The district will face budget cuts and have less capacity to fund schools.

Didn't we already vote on this?
Yes, in November 2016, HISD voters rejected Proposition 1 and purchasing attendance credits, making HISD subject to Detachment to pay its Recapture obligation.  Since then, action by the Texas Education Agency and other factors have reduced HISD's Recapture obligation from about $162 million to about $77 million.  Future payments have been reduced as well.

The vote has also started a conversation among legislators in Austin about changing the state's outdated school finance system. In response, the HISD Board of Education called a new election for May 6, 2017, giving voters another opportunity to decide how HISD will pay its Recapture obligation.

The majority of HISD's students are economically disadvantaged.   Why is the district subject to Recapture?
Due to rising property values, HISD's wealth level per student exceeded the level set by the Legislature in the 1993 "Robin Hood" school finance law.  Under the current law, even a school district like HISD with almost 80% economically disadvantages students and over 30% English language learners is considered wealthy and therefore subject to recapture.  As long as property wealth grows in Houston, and the state's school finance system remains the same, HISD will continue to remain in Recapture.

How will the May 6 vote affect HISD financially in the long term?
A vote FOR purchasing attendance credits will allow HISD to make recapture payments to the State, but the district's local tax collections will continue to grow to offset these payments as property values rise. A vote AGAINST purchasing attendance credits will allow commercial properties to be detached from HISD, and the district will lose those tax collections from district operations. As more and more commercial properties are detached, a larger percentage of the responsibility to fund public education would shift to homeowners and remaining business owners.  In Addition, the district will lose future tax collections on the detached property used to pay back the district's debt for building schools. These tax collections are not lost under the Purchase of Attendance Credits.



recapture chart


STAAR Testing Dates 
Tuesday, March 28 - 7th Grade Writing, 8th Grade Math
Wednesday, March 29 - 8th Grade Reading

Screenagers
On Thursday, March 30th, Pin Oak PTO will be partnering with Pershing MS PTO and Bellaire HS PTO to bring the critical documentary, Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age.  We look forward to opening the dialogue in our community about the increasing impacts of social media and screen time to the lives of adolescents. Students who attend with their parents will receive a free dress pass, and NJHS members will receive service credits for attending with parents. Please consider joining us!




Learn more about Screenagers at http://www.screenagersmovie.com/

Cheerleader and Mascot Applications Available
Learn more about trying out for the Pin Oak Cheer team!  Application packets available on Tuesday in the Main Office, Rm C107 or outside the girls' locker room. All interested in trying out must have the proper athletic physical and additional paperwork on file.  

Congratulations to Pin Oak Faculty!
Who just got engaged? Join me in congratulating Ms. Riegler from 8B!

And who just got married? Join me in congratulating Ms. Saldivar from 6B, married on Saturday, March 11th, and to Mr. Berry, Magnet Coordinator, married Saturday, March 18th!









Sunday, March 5, 2017

News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week

MONDAY, 3/6  BLUE
8th gr Panoramic Photo on Sale at Lunch
Baseball vs. Black MS @POMS, 4:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, 3/7  GREEN
CLUBS
8th gr Panoramic Photo on Sale at Lunch
Name That Book Competition
Tennis Practice
Team Photos - Track, Baseball and Tennis, 3:45 p.m.
Softball vs. Pershing @POMS, 4:30 p.m.
Spring Musical - Xanadu, 6:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, 3/8 BLUE 
8th gr Activities Fees Due
Flower Show, Library
Charger Softball vs. Stevenson, @POMS 4:30 p.m.
Spring Musical - Xanadu, 6:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, 3/9  GREEN
Tennis Practice
Soccer vs. Tanglewood @POMS, 4:30 p.m.
Softball @ Westbriar, 4:30 p.m.
Spring Musical - Xanadu, 6:00 p.m.
6th gr Boys' Lacrosse vs. Memorial @Grob Stadium, 6:00 p.m.
7/8th gr Boys' Lacrosse vs. Memorial @ Grob Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, 3/10  CHARGER
NO AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Girls' 6th gr Lacrosse vs. Klein, Farm League Park, 6:30 p.m.
Girls' 7/8th gr Lacrosse vs. Klein, Farm League Park, 7:45 p.m.

MARCH 10 - MARCH 19 SPRING BREAK

MONDAY, 3/20
Students Return

Tremendous Thanks!
Good work was done Friday evening!  So many families enjoyed being together and working toward the common goal of raising money to enrich learning for Pin Oak students. This doesn't happen by chance.  There are so many people to thank!  

Thank you to those who helped us plan the evening!
Thank you to those who helped us acquire unique items for the auction!
Thank you to those who sponsored the evening!
Thank you to those who helped with set-up and clean-up!
Thank you to those who purchased tickets to the Flip Flop Fiesta!
Thank you to those who attended Flip Flop Fiesta and for those generous donations!

A big shout out goes to our volunteers!
Becky Tackett, PTO President
Linette Courtney and Cara Michael, Fundraising Chairs 
Meredith Beebe and Erika Park, Auction Chairs
Kerri Coffman-Fujiwara and Nelson Fujiwara, Auctioneers
Helen Belgrove, Judy Cheng, Austin Kimbrough, Nicole Choi, Cris Dickinson, Shelly Eversole, Julie Malin, Cynthia Ruiz-Mansfield, Laura Sloan, Courtney Tardy, Jennifer Tiras, Michelle Taylor, Laura Torgerson, Guadalupe Harper, Annie Marshall, Esther Pastore, Jenny Hanks, Monica Weber, Heather Barrow, Felicia Broadwell, Ami Bradley, Lori Fisher, Christine Lott, Melisa Richardson, Michelle Nickerson, Adrienne Vanderbloemen, Christi Young, Emanuela Corradino, Rena Wang, Stephanie Nguyen, Kristen Flores, Angela Yarbrough, John Pastore, Julie Davidson, Dan Cricks, Summer Shaw, Gabriela Casal, Urvashi Sharma, Michelle Leppard, Amy Allen, Januet Neumann, Jodie Rephlo, Paola Cairo, Susan Santos, Dianne Lawter, Maria Gomez, Thu Hang Dao-Jeanjean, Monica Hampton, Sally Reid, Courtney Tardy, Angela Roth, Irma Aguilar Schnitzer, Miriam Smith, Wallis Hampton, Roberta Konicki, Susan Walker and George Walker (I hope I didn't miss anyone!)

8th Gr Panoramic Pictures
Forgot to purchase the picture on Friday?  No worries!  The photographer will be on campus Monday and Tuesday to sell pictures. 

Text Alerts
Are you signed up for text alerts?  You can opt-in for text messages from Pin Oak and HISD by texting YES to 68453. This is the fastest way to get emergency notices such as school closures or delayed starts during inclement weather.  We also use this feature for occasional reminders and updates.

Save the Date!