Titan News
Update from Sugar Land MS - September 8, 2019
Student Ownership of Learning at SLMS - #TitansOwnIt
Titan Parents,
Last week, my parent message spoke to the very real consequences of vaping. Since sending that out, more news stories have come out regarding people who have been hospitalized, one even on life support, as a result of vaping. I hope that you took the time to read through the stories I linked in my message. If you didn't but still want to read them, you can visit this link to go back and visit last week's newsletter. Be sure to attend the Teen Mock Bedroom event this Wednesday at Kempner HS. Read the article later in this newsletter.
Thank you for a great turnout to our Fall Open House this past Thursday. As I mentioned in my brief remarks before starting the schedule walk-through, the success and effectiveness of our school rests on three "legs"--remove any one of them, and it falls. Those "legs" are students, parents, and school staff. When we are all working in harmony, there is no limit to what we may accomplish together. This year will bring considerably more opportunities for parents to "plug in" at school. Please attend our Parent Coffees with the Principal, Mid-Day Breaks with the Counselors, our "Trunk or Treat" on October 24 (details coming soon), concerts, and athletic events. But even more important than merely attending events, take it a step further and actively engage with our school by volunteering in many ways -- mentoring, Career Day, work on a PTO committee (join at www.slmspto.org), become a VIPS (Volunteer in Public Schools), volunteer to run copies for teachers, and much, much more. As our campus mission statement says, "Working collaboratively, the Sugar Land Middle School Professional Learning Community will..." Parents are vital part of our learning community, and we all must work together as the three different "legs" of support.
On another note, you may have seen our hashtag - #TitansOwnIt. This hashtag underscores the fact that our efforts this year will be to ensure that all Titans (students and adults) are owners of their learning and behavior. One aspect of our Campus Improvement Plan (CIP) is to provide for targeted intervention and enrichment for students. We have selected to do this in a flexible format this year. Rather than schedule students needing additional academic support in a content area into a lab class (which takes away an elective from the student), we have chosen to use our 31-minute Titan Time two days per week, Tuesday and Wednesday, to flexibly group students together by need. With just a little maneuvering of a some students during 3rd period (Titan Time) for two days a week for approximately four weeks, we will be able to meet a great number of students' needs without completely upending their day. Starting this week, we will start a 4-week cycle of our first round of help. As we go throughout the year, we will be learning what will work best for our students, and we should be able to meet a lot of students' needs, not just in the area of intervention, but also in the area of enrichment. Some students not selected for an intervention or an enrichment may move to another teacher on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during this time so that we can accommodate room for those needing the help. But all students not in an intervention or enrichment will receive opportunities to select activities that appeal to them, largely based around social-emotional learning and the FBISD Character Education monthly topics. This month's topic is Trust.
All Titans, adults included, will be learning a lot as we go through the year with this structure. I am sure it will see many revisions as we go throughout the year because we want to make sure we are making the most of every opportunity and every moment we are with your children.
I hope you have a great week. Please be sure to take time to review the items below, and we look forward to your engagement with your school!
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @SLMSTitans, and keep an eye on our campus website, as well.
Keith Fickel, Principal
Calendar for the Week of September 9, 2019
Tuesday and Thursday 5:15 Tutorial Buses
We are pleased to announce the start of our 5:15 Tuesday/Thursday Tutorial Buses. These buses begin on Tuesday, September 10, 2019, and they will continue throughout the year based on the schedule below. Students who participate in an after school tutorial, make-up session, help session, club/organization meeting, rehearsal, etc., may ride the 5:15 bus. Students staying after school for athletic practices or athletic events will not be able to ride the 5:15 tutorial bus.Visit our Tutorial Bus web page for details. You may also download a map of drop-off locations and approximate drop-off times.
Yearbooks on Sale! - $35 through November 4
Yearbooks are currently on sale for $35 until November 4th when the price will go up. Tribute ads for current 8th graders may also be purchased for either $20 (1/8 of a page) or $40 (1/4 of a page). To order, simply visit https://www.balfour.com/student-info?smi=71485. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Childs at Molly.Childs@fortbendisd.com.
Mr. Rodriguez to be Honored at Houston Dynamo Game - September 11
Join us for Fort Bend ISD Family Night with the Houston Dynamo, Wednesday, September 11 at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds from ticket sales will go toward a FBISD student scholarship, teacher award and donation to MD Anderson Cancer Center. Our own Kevin Rodriguez, 7th and 8th grade math teacher, will be recognized at this game as being named as one of last year's Kroger Classroom Champs.
Tickets start at $10. To purchase, please visit www.houstondynamo.com/FBISDfamilynight
Gifted and Talented Referral Window Open thru September 30
Upcoming Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
- Mock Bedroom Event with the Fort Bend Community Prevention Coalition - Wednesday, September 11 at Kempner HS, 6:30 PM (check out their website at http://fortbendcpc.org/ or see the flyer below)
- Mid-Day Break with the Counselors – Wednesday, September 25, at 11:15 AM
- Coffee with the Principal - Thursday, September 26, 6:00 PM
8th Grade Career Day - December 5 - Volunteers and Guest Speakers Needed
FBISD and SLMS Need Mentors
Guide a Promising Student at a Fort Bend ISD school near your home or place of business. Whether you prefer to support a student's academics, their social well-being, or a combination of the two...Fort Bend ISD appreciates your support and partnership.
It's as easy as 1, 2, 3...
1. Register to attend this mandatory orientation, which includes an overview of the GPS program, guidelines for partnering with a student, and tips to ensure your success in the program.
2. Sign a one-year commitment to meet with a student, 30-60 minutes, once a week.
3. Complete the required background check for the safety of our students. Upon receipt of a cleared background check, we will send your application to the campus of your choice.
Parent Volunteers
We love parent volunteers! Please renew your annual Criminal History Authorization (CHA) by visiting the district website. These reset on July 1 each year. Then, please join the PTO by visiting their website at www.slmspto.org.
Online Student Information Verification - Now thru September 18 - HELP!
To avoid having to use a forest of paper to print forms for parents to complete on the first day of school, parents may complete this annual task starting July 30. See below for details.
- Verify your child(ren)'s information in Skyward Family Access
- Download this helpful flyer (in English and Spanish) to guide you through the process
- To start the verification process, click here to go to Skyward Family Access
- NOTE 1: Please allow your children "Full Access" (FA) to district computers and the network. In order to conduct research, create projects, take certain assessments, use Schoology, use their district email account, and more, students must have full access to the district's resources
- NOTE 2: Please provide permission for your child(ren) to take surveys. As we seek to hear and listen to students' voices and opinions to make SLMS a better place to work and learn, we cannot do that if students do not have permission to take surveys. We don't do many of them, but the ones we do are important, and they originate from within the district
Student-Owned Electronic Devices
Please take a moment to review our updated campus procedure for student-owned devices. This procedure was developed during the 2018-19 school year in consultation with our Campus-Based Leadership Team, composed of SLMS staff, parents, and community members. Students were made aware of this new procedure during the first week of school, and is already in effect.
Free and Reduced Meal Information
School Supplies and PE Uniforms for 2019-20
All of the supplies for your child's grade level are found on the SLMS school supply list, which was created by the teachers. The only items not included are things like PE uniforms and specialty items needed for certain elective classes. PE uniforms are now on sale through our online store, RevTrak. A list of items needed for specialty electives classes will be shared by your child's teacher once school starts.
Construction / Traffic Update
UPDATE 8/13/2019
Due to construction along Seventh Street that continues even as the year starts, please take a moment to visit this article on our campus webpage about the traffic pattern on Seventh Street. (You may also click on the image in this article to see a static map with route information).
Additionally, our partners at CW39 produced the video below explaining the detours and key points about arrival and dismissal.
Information about this multi-phase project (DR1801 - Covington Woods Drainage Improvements - Sugar Land MS/Sugar Mill Relief Line) is on the City of Sugar Land’s website (click the "Drainage" tab).
FBISD Launches SchoolCafe
FBISD’s Child Nutrition Department has launched a new software program this school year, SchoolCafe. SchoolCafe will allow parents to create an account, make online payments, view school menus, set account restrictions and more. SchoolCafe can be accessed at https://www.schoolcafe.com/fbisd or through the SchoolCafe app. (Visit the Apple Store or Google Play store to download.)
Please note, you will still be able to view menus through MealViewer.
Parents will be able to make payments through https://www.schoolcafe.com/fbisd or through the SchoolCafe app starting Monday, August 5, 2019.
Should you have any questions, please contact FBISD Child Nutrition at (281) 634-1855.
Student IDs / Check-in Stations - COMING SOON
Early in the school year, FBISD will roll out a new ID badging system for all students and employees. All students and employees throughout FBISD will be required to wear identification badges. The expectation, once rolled out, is that not only will students wear the badge, they will scan their badge at one of two kiosk stations located at building entrances as a "check-in" to help us know they arrived on campus. We don't have all the details to share with you just yet, but we wanted to make sure you were aware that this was going to occur. We have the badging equipment already on campus, but are awaiting training in order to set it up and roll it out. Stay tuned for updates!
Ensuring Lines of Communication Between Home and School Remain Open - Blackboard Connect
Keeping the lines of communication open between home and school is crucial for student success. Therefore, please ensure that your contact information, such as email addresses and phone numbers, are kept up to date in Skyward Family Access and in Blackboard Connect, which was launched in November 2018. Please visit the district's Blackboard Connect information page, and download/view this how-to document related to keeping your Blackboard Account information current. To ensure that all parents and guardians continue to receive timely communications, primary guardians are encouraged to log in to Blackboard Connect to review their contact information, and if they choose, add other contact phone numbers and email addresses for other family members to ensure communications are delivered to them, as well.
Sugar Land Middle School
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.
#TitansOwnIt
Regular Office Hours
- 8:20-4:20 Monday-Friday
Email: keith.fickel@fortbendisd.com
Website: www.fortbendisd.com/slms
Location: 321 7th Street, Sugar Land, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 634-3080
Twitter: @SLMSTitans