SLMS Titan News
Week of November 7, 2023
SLMS Parents and Guardians,
A 3-day weekend is upon us in honor of Veterans Day. Please encourage your students to be in attendance every day next week as Progress Report 4 ends on Friday, November 17th.
New Items this Week:
- History of Veterans Day (taken from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Renaissance 360 Information
- Textile Recycling
- November Gifted & Talented Newsletter
Sincerely,
Dr. Latoya Garrett
Principal
#weareTITANS
At SLMS WE model the TITAN WAY
History of Veterans Day
World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” – officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
Renaissance 360 Reports
The Renaissance 360 beginning of the year (BOY) Parent Score Reports are now available in Skyward. The attached job aid explains how to access the report in Skyward. The Ren 360 Screener is administered three times a year to identify areas where students need support. As with any assessment, many factors can affect a student's scores. It is important to understand that these assessment scores provide only one picture of how your child is doing in school. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have additional questions.
Order online at https://web.treering.com/1016905758343838 (account creating required)
Pre-order to ensure your student receives their copy on distribution day in May!
VAPING & WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW
Click the Zoom link below to join the webinar.
On December 7, 2023, Sugar Land Middle School will host Career Day for our 8th grade students. Exposure to a wide variety of careers prior to high school will be a tremendous asset as the students explore their options and plan for their future.
On Career Day, 8th grade students will spend portions of the day participating in each of the following activities:
- Speaker Presentations – Professionals from different career paths will be on hand to share key information relating to their specific job with students.
- Career Fair/Junior Achievement Activities – Thinking about your Future? Activity and Time is Money and Soft Skills Game.
- High School Welcome – Principal Dr. Danielle Jackson from KHS along with KHS clubs and organizations.
We need YOU! Consider participating as a class Speaker or Career Fair Participant. A great opportunity to share your profession with middle schoolers!
Upcoming Events
- Nov. 13th: Boys Basketball vs RTMS @RTMS
- Nov. 14th: Cross Country MEet @SLMS
- Nov. 20th-24th: Thanksgiving Holiday Break
SLMS Counselors
Left to Right
Nafecia Brinson-8th Grade Counselor
Eleni Smith-6th Grade Counselor
Kimberly Seright-7th Grade Counselor
A Message from the SLMS PTO
Greetings Titan Families!
It’s never too late to get involved with PTO! Whether you want to be in the know on school happenings, lend a hand at the school or simply donate to an event - we accept membership involvement of all shapes and sizes. We’ve provided all the LINKS below to get you going! The PTO Newsletter has begun so please make sure to check your spam/promotions folder! As a reminder, our goals this year are to bridge the gap in funding, increase parent involvement (#1 ask of educators) and continue our campus beautification efforts (SLMS turns 50 in 2025). We couldn’t make it all possible without the support of our membership!
How can you help?
- Become a PTO Member - membership is free and includes access to our monthly newsletter
- Become an approved Volunteer - all volunteers must complete an annual district background check
- Make a one time donation via Cheddar Up or a recurring donation via PayPal.
- Upcoming Spirit Nights
- Papa John’s Pizza - Dec. 14th
- Lopez Mexican Restaurant - Jan. 15th
- Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities - click the link to sign-up
- The PTO Hospitality Committee has planned a Walking Tacos luncheon with mini pies! Please help make this event a success by donating a food item or your time!
- Career Day Speaker (12/7)
- Must complete Volunteer Background Check and select SLMS as Campus
- Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities:
- Mentor a student at SLMS - complete form and return to kimberly.seright@fortbendisd.com
- Help in the library
- Purchase Spirit Items through our Cheddar Up Store - starting October
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and bookmark our website: www.slmspto.weebly.com
Questions? Contact us at slmsmembership@gmail.com. Volunteer questions? Contact us at slmstitansvips@gmail.com
Together we are TITANS!
SLMS PTO
Absence Notes
Absence notes are required for all absences within five days of the absence. Please send all absence notes to:
FBISD Health and Safety Protocols & How to Report Testing Positive for COVID-19
The health & safety of students, teachers, and staff is the District’s foremost priority. Students and staff should stay home when sick and if they do test positive for COVID-19 self-report using the FBISD Wellness Screener. Individuals can return to school/work once they meet the following requirements: five days have passed since the start of symptoms (if no symptoms, five days after testing positive), improvement of symptoms, and the individual has been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Links: FBISD Health & Safety Protocols Webpage; FBISD Wellness Screener
Club Shirt Monday
College Shirt Wednesdays
Titan Spirit Day on Fridays
Student Dress Code
All students must adhere to the student dress code. Highlights include:
- Clothes may not show the midriff, undergarments, chest, or posterior
- Unsafe footwear is not permitted (house shoes, slippers)
- No depiction of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, weapons, and more
Please see the attached information regarding dress code.
Cell Phones Policy
Students may bring a cell phone for communication before/after school. During the school day, cell phone access is restricted and cell phones must be off and placed in backpacks. Cell phones not adhering to the school policy will be confiscated and students can pick them up at the end of the school day (for the first and second confiscation).
On the third confiscation, a parent will be required to pick up the cell phone and pay a $15 fee to SLMS. The district cell phone policy can be found in The Student Code of Conduct. Click here to access the FBISD Student Code of Conduct
If a student needs to make a phone call, we have office phones that can be accessed with permission.
Lunch Deliveries and Parent Visits During Lunch
Make sure you communicate to your student if you are going to deliver a sack style lunch.
Parents are welcome to come and eat lunch with their student. We have seperate seating available. Parents will need to check in at the front office and only bring lunch for their child.
Class Schedule
Our class schedule/bell schedule for the school year features the following:
- 7 class periods daily, with an additional Advisory period on Tuesday and Wednesday
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday will have a 7-period day (50-55 minute class periods)
- Tuesday and Wednesday will have a 7-period day (45 to 50-minute class periods) with an Advisory period between period 2 and 3. Advisory will be used as a flexible time to conduct interventions, enrichments, and campus focused lessons.
- Students will have every class every day
- Students will have the same lunch period every day
- Transitions between class periods will be 4-5 minutes in length which is enough time as the majority of student do not use a locker
Important Contact Information
- Assistant Principal - Dawn Rogers (dawn.rogers@fortbendisd.com)
- Counselor - Eleni Smith (eleni.smith@fortbendisd.com)
Seventh Grade
- Assistant Principal - Luster Goodwin (luster.goodwin@fortbendisd.com)
- Counselor - Kim Seright (kimberly.seright@fortbendisd.com)
Eighth Grade
- Associate Principal - Monika Martin (monika.martin@fortbendisd.com)
- Counselor - Nafecia Brinson (nafecia.brinson@fortbendisd.com)
Counselor Clerk - Carmen Brantley (carmen.brantley@fortbendisd.com)
Assistant Principal Secretaries
- 6th and 7th Grade - Tina Garcia (diamantina.ibarragar@fortbendisd.com)
- 8th Grade - Mayra Morales (mayra.morales@fortbendisd.com)
Attendance - Mary Beth LaVergne (mary.lavergne@fortbendisd.com)
Registrar - Tandi Phillips (tandi.phillips@fortbendisd.com)
Nurse - Gwendolyn Davis (gwendolyn.davis@fortbendisd.com)
Clinic Aide - Cathy Tekrouri (cathy.tekrouri@fortbendisd.com)
Executive Assistant to Principal - Mary Connealy (mary.connealy@fortbendisd.com)
Principal - Dr. Latoya Garrett (latoya.garrett@fortbendisd.com)
Sugar Land Middle School
48 Years
1975-2023
Inspiring and equipping the young men and women of our community for futures beyond what they can imagine since 1975.
SLMS Campus Mission Statement
Working collaboratively, the Sugar Land Middle School Professional Learning Community will commit to creating a safe environment with high expectations leading to physical, social, emotional, and academic success for all Titans.
#weareTITANS
Office Hours
8:20-4:20
Email: latoya.garrett@fortbendisd.com
Website: www.fortbendisd.com/slms
Location: 321 7th Street, Sugar Land, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 634-3080
Twitter: @SLMSTitans