AUGUST 12, 2025 | ISSUE 1| PTO | CONTACT

Roberts Elementary welcomes you to the 2025–2026 school year!

Sign by CrossCreations by Tasha.

• Message from Principal Epps
• Welcome from Michelle Wan, PTO president
• Room parents needed
• Request Gifted and Talented testing by Aug. 25
• Campus NWEA testing
• PTO Summer Updates
• Piano at Roberts
• New staff member spotlight: Alexandra Reyes
• Grade-level coffee socials Saturday, Sept. 6
• Save the date: annual Roberts Gala and Auction Feb. 28, 2026
• HISD cell phone policy updates
• RE loves volunteers

Dear Roberts Families,

It is with great joy and anticipation that I welcome you to another amazing year at Roberts Elementary! We are thrilled to kick off the 2025–2026 school year with our inspiring new theme: Be a Thinker! #IBLife. 

At Roberts, we are passionate about nurturing young minds to be curious, reflective, and caring learners. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, we encourage our students to be inquirers, risk-takers, and reflective thinkers—skills that help them grow not just academically, but as thoughtful global citizens.

Roberts has a proud tradition of academic excellence and community spirit. No matter where students begin their journey, we believe in their potential to achieve greatness. I’m proud to share that we closed out the 2024–2025 school year with outstanding growth in all tested areas, including NWEA MAP and STAAR. I look forward to sharing more details about our success at our annual State of the School event later this fall.

One of our greatest strengths is you—our dedicated parents and families. Your involvement makes all the difference, and we deeply value your support, partnership, and trust. Whether you’re volunteering in the classroom, helping at events, or simply encouraging learning at home, your contributions are key to our success.

As I begin my 10th year as principal at Roberts and my 32nd year in the Houston Independent School District, I am honored and grateful to continue leading this incredible school. Thank you for choosing Roberts as your elementary home—we can’t wait to see all the amazing things your children will accomplish this year!

With excitement and gratitude,
Trealla Epps 

Principal, Roberts Elementary

You are part of the most exceptional school in Houston. Our excellence is because of three things in equal measure: dedicated teachers and leadership, diverse families and brilliant students, and an active and supportive Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO). 

This is why I am honored to be your PTO President. 

This is our family’s sixth year at Roberts. We’ve experienced many things—Covid kindergarten, district changes, hurricanes, a snowstorm, and an 89-year-old school building showing her age. Our PTO has met these challenges with fundraising for a new library, computer lab, breakroom, athletic fields, new trees and playground improvements; support of championship student clubs (dance, art, soccer, track, chess); and a dogged determination to support and appreciate our teachers and staff. 

We will continue to do everything we can to support Roberts and grow our community. This is an exciting time at Roberts!  We will kick off the 90th year of the school in January, with celebratory events throughout Spring 2025 and Fall 2026. Many things have changed in 90 years, but the one constant is the support from Roberts families—a small and mighty community with a global reach.

Whether this is your first year or fifteenth year at Roberts, we appreciate you and need your support. My sincere hope is that you find fulfillment and a sense of pride in supporting this special place. 

WE ARE ROBERTS!  

Michelle Wan
Roberts PTO President
Mom of Nicholas (5th) and Frances (3rd)

Thank you to all the parents that have already shown interest in being a room parent this school year!  We will be communicating assignments in the next week or so.  We are still looking for volunteer interest for the following classes:

Kindergarten:

• Bishop (2)

1st Grade: 

• First to fill all spots! Go 1st grade!!!

2nd Grade:

• Calhoun (2)
• Couvillon (2)
• Lynch (1)
• McHugh (2)

3rd Grade:

• All spots filled! Yay!!!

4th Grade:

• Lamont (1)
• Martinez (1)

5th Grade:

• All spots filled! Woot woot!!!

Room parents are generally responsible for sending out class communications, coordinating class parties, collecting funds for teacher gifts and maintaining records of funds collected, organizing volunteers for school events and the International Garden, and supporting the teacher with any needs they may have.  

If you would like to volunteer to be a room parent for one of the classes listed above, please fill out the interest form. If you have any questions, please reach out to roomparents@robertspto.org.

The Gifted and Talented Testing Request Link is now available! Families must submit a request for Gifted and Talented testing using this link by 11:59pm on August 25, 2025. No additional requests for testing will occur after this date. 

2^nd grade students who have not been identified as G/T yet do not need to request testing, as they will participate in universal testing.

The GT request link and Roberts testing dates can be found here.

We will begin our campus NWEA testing starting Tuesday August 19th, please see the schedule below.  Make sure that your student is present and ready to test each day.  We will begin testing promptly at 8:00 am. This testing sets the benchmark for where students are currently performing in each subject area (reading, math, and science) as the school year begins.

August 19th – Math NWEA Beginning of year testing for grades 2nd through 5th; Kindergarten and 1st grade will test the week of August 19th through the 22nd.

August 20th – Reading NWEA Beginning of year testing for grades 2nd through 5th.

August 21st – Science NWEA Beginning of year testing for grades 2nd through 5th.

Please email Ms. Zatzkin at ezatzkin@houstonisd.org if you have any questions about NWEA testing.

The PTO was busy this summer putting your generosity to work. Featured projects include a new teacher break room, new computer lab, and outdoor lights!  A special thank you to RE mom Jennifer Patrick for her design skills and donation of new break room tables from Nevins & Co. New playground equipment and two new PTO sheds are also on the way! Stay tuned!

Out of this world thank yous to all of our generous supporters. Featuring a refreshed staff lounge and new computer lab, with more to come!

The Roberts Piano Program with Mr. Cole is beginning to accept 1^st-5^th grade students. Any students interested in this program must commit to a full year of lessons and practice. They also need to maintain sound conduct and a good academic standard- otherwise, they will not be allowed to continue in the program. 

All lessons are scheduled during the school day, during one of their grade-level recess times. 

1st grade - 4th grade lessons are 20 minutes in length and 5^th grade lessons are 30 mins in length, all once a week. This piano program has limited space and requires an additional commitment from home. We do not want spots taken by students who are only attending the lessons and otherwise not practicing daily. 

• There will be a $400.00 fee per year per student ($200.00 per semester), CASH ONLY.

• We are requesting that any student who signs up for this program have a piano or keyboard for use outside school. 
• 1st – 5th grade continuing piano students will have priority in registration. 
• Kindergarten Piano Lessons will begin in the Spring semester. Registration will open up in December.

Please complete this form and submit payment via Tuesday folder or drop off at reception. Payment for the semester or the entire school year is due at the time of enrollment. The deadline to submit the form and fees is September 6, 2024. Lessons will begin the week of September 9th. Please direct any questions to Ms. Tran at Kristina.tran@houstonisd.org.  

Greetings, Roberts Elementary Family! I'm very honored to be joining Roberts Elementary this year with all of you. This will be my 4^th year teaching, and I am beyond excited! 

Some fun facts about me are that I grew up in Seabrook, TX and spent my early days there up until high school, then I went to the University of Houston and studied Human Resources. When I realized that wasn't for me, I decided to start teaching! I live in Pasadena, TX, today with my dog, Tristan. 

When I'm not teaching, I enjoy traveling, sunny days on the beach, spending time with my dog, Tristan, and I love musical theater! I'm excited to be here for you and with you!

Please join us on Roberts playground on Saturday, September 6th for class coffee socials! PALS, KG & 1st grades from 9am-10am, 2nd & 3rd grades from 10am-11am, and 4th & 5th grades from 11am-12pm. Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee truck will be on site with the caffeine, and we’ll have juice, water and muffins for the students. Come on out to meet new friends and catch up with old ones! Sponsored by the PTO.

RE Families - Save the date for the 2026 Auction Soirée! This year's theme is GLOBAL GLAM!! As we celebrate the 90th anniversary of Roberts Elementary, we'll be globetrotting our way to fun on February 28th! Stay tuned for more details, and if you want the inside scoop, join the committee! Join us here!

The Houston Independent School District (HISD) has implemented a cell phone policy to comply with House Bill 1481, which prohibits K-12 students from using personal communication devices during the school day. This policy applies to all HISD campuses and is effective for the 2025-2026 school year. Please refer to our campus guidelines for further details.

Roberts volunteers are the best! Ready to volunteer but unsure of the tasks, time, and commitment? Browse through PTO committee descriptions and select all those that interest you. Commitment levels range from one-time projects to recurring weekly (yet flexible) roles. Visit https://robertspto.membershiptoolkit.com/volunteering or contact volunteer@robertspto.org for questions and inquiries. VIPS registration required.

Stay updated and connected on Roberts Elementary events and discussions.

Roberts Elementary PTO 

6000 Greenbriar Drive 

Houston TX 77030