News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week

MONDAY, 9/25  BLUE

TUESDAY, 9/26  GREEN

ADVO
Boys' Lacrosse Parent Information Meeting, Cafeteria, 6:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, 9/27 BLUE

Odyssey of the Mind Student/Parent Information Meeting, DLL, 3:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, 9/28  GREEN

SDMC Meeting, 3:50 p.m.

FRIDAY, 9/29 CHARGER
NJHS Applications Due
Staff & Teacher Appreciation Breakfast hosted by PTO

SATURDAY, 9/30
Cross Country Meet, Willow Waterhole
District School Choice Fair, Milby High School

Reminder - 
Have you completed the first day packet and has your child turned it in?  If not, we need that information as soon as possible.  Please contact the office if you need a new packet.

Student Assistance Questionnaire
The first day packet contained a questionnaire that asked about your family's housing status.  It is important if you have been displaced from your home that it is indicated on the form, even if you do not need assistance at this time.  If you are not sure you indicated displacement due to a natural disaster, please contact me by email so that we can update your form.

Join the PTO

Join the POMS PTO and help the students, teachers, academic, fine arts and athletic programs at our school. Memberships start at just $5.  Parents who join the PTO at the Gold, Platinum and Diamond levels will be invited to join Ms. Graves and her admin team at our “Breakfast with the Principal” event on November 3.  

Charger Chatter

POMS PTO provides information to families through our website, www.pinoakpto.org, and our weekly e-newsletter, Charger Chatter.  Stay informed by signing up to receive the weekly Charger Chatter. 

House Sociables

Mingle with new and old friends.  Meet Principal Graves and your house principal at House Sociables.  Don't miss the fun and sign up for House Sociables. https://cwsclients.wufoo.com/forms/moaqzw51gjdg1r/

VIPS

All volunteers at HISD are required to complete the background check before they can volunteer in the school each year.  If you are new to HISD, you need to first register online at  http://www.houstonisd.org/Page/126421 then stop by the front office to have a copy of your driver's license made for background check.  Returning volunteers also need to stop by the front office to have a copy of your driver's license made for your VIPS re-registration and background check.

Boys' Lacrosse 

Is your son interested in playing Lacrosse? There will be a parent meeting for Pin Oak Boys Lacrosse on Tuesday, September 26 at  6:30 in the Cafeteria.  Please attend and find out all about it.  

News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week

MONDAY, 9/18  BLUE

NJHS Applications Available

TUESDAY, 9/19  GREEN

ADVO
PTO General Meeting, 8:30 a.m.
Open House, 6:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, 9/20 BLUE

Volleyball & Cross Country Pictures, 7:00 a.m.

THURSDAY, 9/21  GREEN

FULL DAY OF SCHOOL **REVISED CALENDAR

FRIDAY, 9/22 FALL HOLIDAY

Open House - Tuesday, 9/19, 6:00 p.m.
We welcome parents on Tuesday evening to meet the teachers and learn about the curriculum for the upcoming school year.  Parents will follow the Charger Day schedule and will visit all eight classes, with five minute passing periods. Don't be late to class!

On Monday, your child will bring home a copy of their schedule.  Please bring that with you on Tuesday night to avoid the check-in line. 

Please feel free to park in the front or back lot, or along Glenmont.  We will work with HCC on Monday to discuss the potential of using the side lot at HCC. Please do not park along Avenue B.

6:00 - 6:20 A1 - 1st Period
6:25 - 6:32 B2 - 2nd Period
6:37 - 6:44 A3 - 3rd Period
6:49 - 6:56 B4 - 4th Period
7:01 - 7:08 A5 - 5th Period
7:13 - 7:20 B6 - 6th Period
7:25 - 7:32 A7 - 7th Period
7:37 - 7:44 B8 - 8th Period

District Revised Calendar
On Thursday evening the HISD Board of Trustees adopted a revised calendar to replace some of the instructional time missed due to Harvey.  The most critical change for you to know about is the removal of all early dismissal days this year, beginning with this week on September 21st.  We will have a regular full school day and will dismiss as usual at 3:30 p.m.  

Thanksgiving holidays have not changed.

Please review the new calendar at http://www.houstonisd.org/AcademicCalendar

Religious Observance
We often receive questions about absences due to the observance of a religious holy day. Our school guidelines provide the following to help parents and schools: 

• The student is observing religious holy days when it is required of their faith that they be absent from school. A written request for the absence, in advance, is not required but is encouraged. A school district must excuse an absence to observe a religious holy day.

We use the Interfaith Calendar of World Religions to guide us.  If your child plans to be out in observance of a religious holy day, it is best to notify the teacher in advance so that your child may get the work he or she will miss in advance.  If that isn't possible, students may request missed work when they return to school.  Please refer to the Student Planner for information on the length of time students have to make-up work after an absence.

National Jr Honor Society 

Applications for National Jr. Honor Society are now available from Ms. Riegler in Rm B103 or Ms. Coffman Fujiwara in Rm C112.  Eligibility is based on last years' report card. Students need to look at their final year-end averages for Math, Science, ELA and History. To qualify for NJHS students must have a minimum 93% year-end average for those core content courses only.  Electives are not counted for NJHS eligibility.  Conduct grades are also included in the application review.

Current NJHS members do not have to re-apply, however grade averages are being reviewed for continued membership.  Summer service records will be collected at the first meeting in October for current members.

The application deadline for new members is Friday, September 29.  

Pin Oak Boys' Lacrosse

Is your son interested in playing Lacrosse? There will be a parent meeting for Pin Oak Boys Lacrosse on Tuesday, September 26 at  6:30 in the DLL.  Please attend and find out all about it.  

News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week

MONDAY, 9/11  BLUE

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
PTO Sponsored 1st Day Parent Coffee, Cafeteria, 8:15 a.m.
Athletic Physicals, Dance Room, 3:30 p.m.
Football Begins - Paperwork, Equipment Distribution, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, 9/12  GREEN

ADVO - Book Talk, Stand Tall
PTO Executive Board Meeting, 8:15 a.m.
Volleyball Interest Meeting, Main Library, 7:30 a.m. OR 3:45 p.m.
Yellowstone Meeting, Library, 6:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, 9/13 BLUE

Cross Country Parent/Student Information Meeting, Cafeteria, 4:30 p.m.
Tennis Parent/Student Information Meeting, Cafeteria, 6:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, 9/14  GREEN

Beginning Band Parent Meeting, Band Hall, 6:00 p.m.
Intermediate and Advanced Band Parent Meeting, Band Hall, 7:00 p.m.

FRIDAY, 9/15 CHARGER

6th Grade Mixer, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Uniform Policy
We have had several students call the office or email me to ask about our uniform policy. If you were not impacted by Harvey, your student should be in dress code beginning the first day of school. If you need to purchase additional uniforms, the school store will be open on Friday afternoon from 1:00-4:00 p.m. or before school and during lunch next week.

For families who were impacted by Harvey, we have several options to help you clothe your child for school:

• The PTO has organized a uniform drive and has uniforms to distribute on Friday, September 8th at Pin Oak between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.  They will also offer distribution during the first week of school as long as supplies last.

• HISD is distributing free uniforms at several locations around town on Friday, 9/8 and Saturday, 9/9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students must be present to be fitted in order to receive clothing.

The distribution locations are:

Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center
6402 Market Street
Houston Texas 77020
832-395-0895
Hardy Senior Center
11901 West Hardy Road
Houston, Texas 77076
281-260-6772
Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center
3810 West Fuqua
Houston, Texas 77045
832-393-4200
Northeast Multi-Service Center
9720 Spaulding
Houston, Texas 77016
832-395-0470
Southwest Multi-Service Center
6400 High Star
Houston, Texas 77074
832-395-9900
Third Ward Multi-Service Center
3611 Ennis Street
Houston, Texas 77004
832-393-4051
YET Center
4900 Providence
Houston, Texas 77020
713-676-0519

We will absolutely be sensitive to student need regarding dress code enforcement and will contact you if we have questions about how we can help your family during these difficult times. 

Athletic Physicals
A physician will be on campus Monday after school to offer athletic physicals to Pin Oak students.  If your child is interested in participating in athletics during the 2017-18 school year this is an inexpensive and convenient way to check this off your list.  Students should bring the 2017-18 Athletic Physical paperwork, with the parent side completed and signed, along with $15 in cash.  Please note, this does not take the place of your child's annual Well Child exam.

Resources for Displaced Families
If your family was impacted by Harvey and you have not notified us, please do so now at http://pinoakpto.org/2017/08/29/families-affected-by-hurricane-harvey/.  This will allow us to offer any resources that may be available to make this time easier for you and your child. The information you provide is only visible to our school counselor, our magnet coordinator who is reaching out to offer support with transportation, our PTO President who has been organizing volunteers, and to me. Please know that we are maintaining confidentiality.

Additionally, if you were impacted by Harvey and need to get an athletic physical on Monday, we will be able to help families with the cost.  Please include that information on the link above so that we can waive the fee for you.


Drop-Off Procedures

Please adhere to our two identified drop off areas in the morning.  Families coming from 610 on Glenmont should use the circle drive, identified as drop off area 1 in green.  Families coming west on Glenmont from Newcastle should use the HCC drop off area, identified as 2 in yellow.  When you exit the drop off area you will be able to turn left or right.  Please refrain from making a u-turn along Glenmont.

Please expect traffic to be heavier than usual.

Please DO NOT use Avenue B as a drop off location. This angers our neighbors.

What is a 6th Grade Mixer?
The 6th grade Mixer is a great opportunity for our 6th graders to come together to blow off steam and celebrate the first week of middle school.  We have a DJ to play music, and one of our student organizations will sell pizza, drinks and candy.  The dance is free, but students may want to bring a few dollars for food.

Parents should drop off students at 6:00 p.m. and return at 8:00 p.m. to pick up their 6th grader.  And of course, the dress is casual.  


Notice Regarding Early Dismissal
We are waiting on a final decision from the District, but it is likely 9/21, originally scheduled to be an early dismissal will be a full day of school.  Please watch for more information.

Save the Dates!
Open House - Tuesday, September 19, 6:00 p.m.
PTO General Meeting, Thursday, September 21, 8:30 a.m.