Unique Features of ROE Curriculum

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program
ROE is one of three elementary schools in HISD's Central District accredited as an International Baccalaureate (IB) school. The accreditation process is usually a three year journey.
The  IB Primary Years Program (IB PYP) is designed for students between 3 and 12 years of age. The program identifies a body of significant knowledge for all students in all cultures in six principal subject areas: language; social studies; math; science & technology; the arts; personal, social and physical education. An authorized PYP school is expected to provide for the teaching of an additional language other than the school's language of instruction in order to support the international perspective of the curriculum. Subject knowledge is also integrated using interdisciplinary themes.
The PYP program depends on committed teaching in the spirit of the inquiry-based curriculum.  This in turn requires thorough institutional support. All participating teachers need to engage in an ongoing process of professional development. Opportunities to do so include attendance at regional events and participation in school -based training. Curriculum is compacted so that more can be taught faster. An inquiry approach is also used, resulting in higher-order thinking skills.

Nature Center
The Nature Center is a wonderful hands-on ecological study area that supports a wide variety of habitats.  It was conceived and built by the Class of 1992 following their study of ecosystems in the fall of 1990.  With the help of the community and the school, these 3rd graders started digging a pond, which grew quickly to a nearly ¾-acre wildlife habitat.   The garden was certified as a "Texas Wildscape" by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Nongame and Urban Program in 1994, a contrast with other “manicured” areas.
Special areas in the Nature Center include a pond with a wetland bog, hummingbird garden, butterfly garden, wildflower meadow, fruit trees, tropical area, herb garden, among others.  Using mostly native vegetation, these habitats were created to attract birds, animals, fish, reptiles and insects for children at ROE to observe, study, draw and write about.   
There have been many exciting projects that classes and students have done within the Nature Center since it was dedicated in 1992.  This unique environment for learning is truly an asset to the school.  It will continue to develop and change as the ROE community comes up with new ideas. 

Spelling Bee
Students from third to fifth grade can participate in the Spelling Bee. Two students from each class compete at school level. Three winners go forward to represent ROE at the Central District Spelling Bee.

Suzuki Violin
Families at ROE can sign up to participate in the Suzuki violin program. The children, accompanied by his/her parent, attend a private and group lesson once a week during the school day. The Suzuki violinists perform throughout the year at community and civic events around the city. There is currently a waiting list to enroll in the program.

Name That Book
This is a team competition sponsored by HISD. The participants are given a reading list at the beginning of the year and are expected to read as many of the books as possible. Students will keep a journal of their reading and will work as a group to create an anthology of book reviews in order to fulfill the research requirement. Each student on the team will be responsible for 4-6 book reviews. Students must be one of the ten-team candidates in order to complete this project. At the competition, the host reads a statement describing an incident, character or setting from one of the books and team members have to figure out the name of the book.

For the list of books for the 2007-2008 Name That Book competition click here. You will be able to link to other information about this year's  competition from here when it is available. 
For more information, contact Ms. Eastman.

Odyssey of the Mind Grades 2-5
Click here for updated information about Odyssey of the Mind on our PTO website.
For more information, contact Vanguard Coordinator and/or check out www.odysseyofthemind.com