Roberts Elementary is the lowest-funded elementary school in HISD, receiving only 59% of the HISD average per-student expenditure, and less than half of the national average. How do we make up the difference between what we receive and what we need, and give every child in our school an education we take pride in? Our amazing community supports our students, teachers, staff, and school with time, effort, skill, and monetary donations. When you give to the Roberts PTO, you’re contributing to everything from securing our IB certification to repairing broken drawers. And with Roberts turning 90 this year, there’s a lot to pay for! 

This year’s auction Big Ask is a RE-juvenation for our beautiful, beat-up building, including 

• a bright new look for our dim Greenbriar main entrance, 

• new mosaic art incorporating our kids’ work, 

• showcases for our hard-earned awards, 

• refreshing dated pieces in the Roberts Café, and 

• fixes for as many of the thousand little indignities of age as we can tackle. 

There’s a lot to do, but a successful auction gives us the means to do it together. Come glam it up with your community, and show Roberts your love! 

WHY COME TO THE AUCTION?
- Help fund Roberts! 
- Hobnob with parents, teachers, staff, and community members.
- Score school perks, gift certificates, slots at family-hosted parties, special student privileges, and all kinds of goodies you can’t get anywhere else.
- Get dressed up and party—or humor someone else who wants to.We can’t do it without you!

HOW MUCH ARE TICKETS? 
Packages vary, but $175–$350 buys an individual ticket. $5,550 secures a VIP table for 10. Buy your tickets by Dec. 31 to get the early bird discount with code earlybird2026. 

SHOULD I CHOOSE VIP OR GENERAL ADMISSION?
General admission gets you: 

• Entry to the best school-supporting party in town;

• Hot food and cold beverages, including open bars with beer, wine, and nonalcoholic options;

• Dancing, chatting, peoplewatching, and casino access.

A VIP ticket includes all that, plus: 

• Early entry at 6:30 p.m., giving you an hour head start bidding for items that are first come, first served. 
  Some of the most popular school parties have limited spots at a fixed price 
  (pro tip—ask someone who's been to Auction before or email auction@robertspto.org).

• A seat at a 10-person round dinner table (if you’re a VIP Table Sponsor, you pick your seatmates);  

• Casino money; 

• Recognition in the printed Auction Catalog.

WHAT THE HECK DO YOU WEAR?
The dress code is black tie optional. For our Global Glam theme, we’re especially celebrating formal or festive cultural attire, but any cocktail dress or suit and tie is fine. Represent your roots, be creative, or wear what makes you feel glam! Check out outfit inspo on our Pinterest board.  

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE AUCTION?
Fun for every extrovert and introvert—casino games, dancing, party games, people watching, sitting quietly at the dinner table and eating, silently bidding on items and school perks, talking to your favorite teacher, getting to know other Roberts parents better!

WHAT IF I CAN’T COME BUT STILL WANT TO BID?
You can purchase a Wanderlust Mobile Bidder ticket! Mobile bidding lets you compete for our most desirable auction items from wherever you are.

I'M NEW TO ROBERTS—I DON'T KNOW ANYONE, SHOULD I COME?
YES! The Auction and Soirée is a great place to befriend RE parents. And grabbing tickets for family-hosted auction parties means opportunities to mingle in smaller groups with Roberts families who share your interests, all year long. We were all new at one point and didn't know anyone. Reach out to auction@robertspto.org with any questions—we want to make you feel welcome!

I'M OLD TO ROBERTS—CAN ALUMNI COME?
Yes! Buy a table together and hang out with other alumni parents! Or just reach out to auction@robertspto.org and we can try and seat you with other families old to Roberts. Spread the word at your kids' middle schools!

WHAT ABOUT GRANDPARENTS? GODPARENTS? FAMILY FRIENDS? PEOPLE WHO LIKE INVESTING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
Yes to all of the above! The more people who can support our school, teachers, staff, and students, the better! If they’re cool with you, they’re cool with us.

WHAT'S THE FOOD/DRINK LIKE? VEGGIE OPTION?
There will be a variety of buffet items including meat, seafood, and vegetarian/vegan options. Beer and wine will flow from the open bars. We have vegetarian tickets (select it at the guest info section) AND special pricing for alcohol-free tickets. We promise NO DRY CHICKEN BREASTS. 

WHAT'S IN THE SILENT AUCTION? HOW DO I BID?
The silent auction offers donated items and services from local businesses, perks redeemable at school, tickets to parties thrown by teachers, tickets to family-hosted parties, and more. Check out our auction preview on this site for details. 

Bidding is done on your mobile device through the auction website or app. To bid on the night of the auction, you must either attend the auction in person or purchase a Wanderlust Mobile Bidder ticket. 

WHAT'S A FAMILY-HOSTED AUCTION PARTY?
Auction parties are a fantastic Roberts tradition, providing significant fundraising for the school and strengthening the community by bringing people together for fun social events throughout the year. 

Here’s how it works: 
- A host plans a future party or event, including place, time, and theme, and it’s added to the auction bidding catalogue.
- At the auction Feb. 28, attendees buy tickets to the party. 
- The school receives the ticket money. 
- The hosts throw the party–and everyone has a great time while supporting the school!

Some parties are for children, some are for parents/adults only, some are for everyone! Past events have included: 

fancy family tea party; Hawaiian luau and pig roast; gingerbread house decorating; whisky tasting; Persian dinner party; yoga and champagne brunch; poker tournament; wine tasting; tacos and tequila; RE moms’ kickball game; Bollywood brunch; art gallery visit and artist talk; nature hike with a Rice biology professor; Russian dinner party; Barbies and bounce houses; pizza party with a real pizzaiolo; parent-child dances; grade-level pool parties… the list goes on!

(Want to host one? Sign up here or contact auctionparties@robertspto.org.)

CAN I DONATE ITEMS, SERVICES, OR EXPERIENCES TO THE AUCTION?
Yes, please! We've had parents teach classes on everything from cooking to tennis and lead students and parents on learning adventures. Business owners and professionals often give in-kind services, and sometimes we can offer ticket discounts in gratitude. If you have a donation, service, or skill to offer, please reach out to auction@robertspto.org or fill out this form. 

WHAT ABOUT CORPORATE MATCHING?
Yes! We will provide a receipt that conforms to your company's corporate matching policies.  Just email auction@robertspto.org after the auction to request it.

BUT I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS!

No worries! Just email Maryam and Lis at auction@robertspto.org!