Sunday, January 28, 2018

News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week

NEW SCHOOL HOURS: 8:00 a.m. - 3:40 p.m.

MONDAY, 1/29  BLUE

TUESDAY, 1/30  GREEN
ADVO
Girls' & Boys' Soccer vs Pilgrim @POMS, 4:30 p.m.
Swim Meet vs Pershing @ Lamar HS, 5:15 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, 1/31  BLUE
NJHS Meeting, Team Time
Girls' Basketball vs Cullen @POMS, 5:30 p.m.
Boys' Basketball @ Cullen, 5:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, 2/1  GREEN

FRIDAY, 2/2  CHARGER

SATURDAY, 2/3
Dance Company Competition, Turner HS, Pearland
Girls Lacrosse vs Spring Branch Memorial, Spring Woods Middle School, 11:30 a.m.


Save The Date!
Friday, February 9th - Valentine's Dance, 7th & 8th Grade, 6:00-8:00 p.m.


NJHS Looking for Service Opportunities!
Pin Oak’s chapter of the National Junior Honor Society requires each active member to complete 20 hours of community service during the regular school year, and for current 7th grade members, there is an additional 20 hours to complete during the summer before 8th grade.  We are currently soliciting requests/information for any upcoming community service projects you and/or organizations you are involved with that could utilize 7th/8th graders this spring/summer.  Please e-mail any information and website links to Ms. Riegler (sriegler@houstonisd.org) or Ms. Coffman Fujiwara (kcoffma1@houstonisd.org).  We look forward to providing opportunities that benefit you and our students!


Cyber Safety Community Discussion Feb 7th 6:00pm

Get more information and sign up at http://crime-stoppers.org/events/2018/cyber-safety-community-discussion/








Pin Oak Spirit Night at Chili's
Please support Pin Oak and attend the February 1st Spirit night at Chili’s Buffalo Speedway location.  The address is 3215 Southwest Freeway.  The event will take place from 11:00 am -11:00 pm.  With each flyer presented on Thursday, Chili’s will donate 15% of event day sales to Pin Oak.







Sunday, January 21, 2018

News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week

MONDAY, 1/22  BLUE
Softball Practice Begins
Track Practice Begins 
Baseball Try-outs Continue for 2nd Round

TUESDAY, 1/23  GREEN
ADVO
Girls' & Boys' Soccer vs Rice @POMS, 4:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, 1/24  BLUE
Lamar Zoned Students Meet with HS Counselors (students only)
Swim Meet @ TH Rogers, 4:15 p.m.
Girls' Basketball @Gregory Lincoln MS, 5:30 p.m.
Boys' Basketball vs Gregory Lincoln MS @POMS, 5:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, 1/25  GREEN
Faculty & Staff Appreciation Breakfast Hosted by PTO
GeoBee (See Mr. Switzer for more information)

FRIDAY, 1/26  CHARGER


2018-19 District/Campus Budget
This past weekend the HISD Board of Trustees met for their first retreat after newly elected members were sworn in.  During this meeting, HISD Administration presented a proposal for a new funding model.  Several organizations were in attendance at that meeting and shared the information through social media.  Several people have reached out for more information, and it is always my goal to offer you a transparent view of campus level decisions, and our response to District level decisions.

Although principals were made aware they were reviewing options for changing the funding model, we will meet for the first time on Tuesday to see the information that was presented to the Board, and look forward to seeing the plan as it applies to our own school. We have all expected there will be some cuts to our budget as we continue to fall under recapture and are required to send property tax revenue to the State for redistribution.  HISD Administration is proposing that we move away from the decentralized funding system to a more centralized standard staffing model for all schools.  I expect to learn more at our meeting on Tuesday.  I am also happy to share that I have been asked to serve on a Principals' Advisory group to provide feedback as they make adjustments to the proposal.  While I do not have details to share today, know that I will share information along the way, and commit to being transparent with the process.  

Lamar Zoned 8th Graders
This week, on Wednesday, counselors from Lamar HS will be on hand to help zoned students complete schedule requests.  House Principals will be there to assist, and students will bring home a copy.  If you are not comfortable with the schedule request your student brings home, you may reach out to Lamar Counselors for more information.

There will be an open house for Prospective Families on February 27th and March 6th at 6:00 p.m. for zoned families.  Students will receive flyers on Wednesday when they meet with the counselors.
PSAT Scores for 8th Graders
If you were not able to attend our PSAT meeting for parents last week, your student will receive their PSAT scores during their English class on either Monday or Tuesday.  Please ask your child for the score report this week.

Attendance is up!
Student daily attendance is up from last year, currently at 98.12% while last year's average was 97.70%.  Keep it up!  








Wednesday, January 17, 2018

News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week


THURSDAY, 1/18  GREEN
PTO General Meeting, 8:30 a.m.
GeoBee, B129, 10:10 a.m.
SDMC Meeting, 3:45 p.m.
Baseball Tryouts Continue if Field Conditions Allow
Track Practice Cancelled This Week
PSAT Parent Meeting: Understanding the PSAT Score Report, 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, 1/12  BLUE
Breakthrough Houston, DLL, 11:30 a.m.



PSAT Parent Meeting: 
Understanding the PSAT Score Report
As published in the student planner, we will host a parent meeting tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m. to help you better understand your child's PSAT score report.  We will distribute score reports tomorrow evening to those families who attend the meeting.  All remaining score reports will be distributed Monday and Tuesday during English classes.

Weather Make-up Days
We have not been made aware yet of the plans for making up Tuesday and Wednesday.  Once I receive information, I will pass that on to you.  Memorial Day may be utilized as a make-up day, in the event you are deciding whether to make plans to travel for the 3-day weekend.

Sewing Class Needs Your Help
Do you have fabric remnants or even old curtains you are looking to unload?  Our sewing class is accepting donations for any fabric remnants or curtains of 1 yard or more.  You may bring those into the main office and we will get them to the sewing class.

8th grade End of Year Activities
At this time, we expect to follow the schedule listed below for our end-of-year activities for our 8th grade class. Please note that if additional days are added to the school year as make-up days we may change the dates of some of the events, but the Promotion Ceremony will stay put on Thursday, May 31st.

Wednesday, May 30 - 8th gr Dance, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 31 
9:00-10:30 Brunch
10:30-11:30 Yearbook Signing Party
12:00 Load Buses to go to Butler Fieldhouse
1:00 p.m.  8th Grade Promotion Ceremony
Friday, June 1 - Schlitterbahn Trip


UIL Academics
Congratulations to our mighty Charger UIL Academics Team for winning second place overall and first place in Spelling, Mathematics, Maps Graphs & Charts, and Dictionary Skills on tournament #4 this past Saturday!  Our students also racked up 33 individuals medals.  Next tournament is April 21, 2018.  Interested in joining our team?  Subscribe to https://pinoakuil.wordpress.com latest news and signups.  










Sunday, January 7, 2018

News from Mrs. Graves

Upcoming This Week

MONDAY, 1/8  BLUE

TUESDAY, 1/9  GREEN
ADVO
Tennis Practice
Baseball Try-outs for Position Players Begin, 3:45 p.m.
Softball Team Meeting, 3:30-3:45 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, 1/10  BLUE
Girls' Basketball @Lawson MS, 5:30 p.m.
Boys' Basketball vs Lawson MS @POMS, 5:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, 1/11  GREEN
Tennis Practice
Track & Field Interest Meeting for Students/Parents, 4:30 p.m.
Boys' Soccer Parent Meeting, 5:00 p.m.

FRIDAY, 1/12  CHARGER



Happy New Year!
The first semester of this school year has been an incredible challenge for so many of our families.  As we move forward into 2018 I wish your family good health and happiness.  Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can help you with anything at all.  

Spring Semester Schedules
Tomorrow morning students will find their assigned 1st period class on posters along the hallways.  They will report directly to 1st period when the bell rings and will receive a new schedule.  If there are any problems with the schedule, the student should complete a Schedule Change Form in the house office.  

Dress Code Enforcement
Please remind your student that we will be enforcing dress code beginning tomorrow.  Students reviewed the dress code requirements during Advocacy prior to the break.  Please help your child do a quick self-check in the morning for a dress code legal jacket, ID visible and shirt tucked into the khaki, denim or navy bottom. You may review the dress code in the planner.

High School Recommendations
Teachers and administrators worked before the holidays to get all recommendations in the mail.  If you are still in need of a recommendation, please send the form with a stamped, addressed envelope as soon as possible.  Most schools have set a mid-January deadline and teachers need no less than one week to complete them.