SLMS Titan News
Week #12 - October 25, 2021
Greetings SLMS Parents, Guardians, Students, and Staff,
Welcome to week #12 of the school year. This coming Friday, October 29, is Progress Report 3 (PR3), where students and parents will be able to check their progress through the first three weeks of the current grading period, Term 2 (T2). PR3 will be viewable in Skyward after lunchtime on Tuesday, November 2. If you have not already done so, please take a moment to review our revised Campus Visitor Guidelines, which were emailed to parents, students, and staff this past Friday. Representatives from the district's various high school academies will be on campus this Wednesday, October 27, to visit with our 8th graders about the opportunities available to them. These visits will occur in students' PE/Athletics/Kickstart classes.
Congratulations to our 7th and 8th grade boys' football teams for making the playoffs! 7th grade plays Fort Settlement MS this Monday, October 25 at Clements HS at 6:00 PM. The 8th grade team plays Dulles MS on Tuesday, October 26 at Dulles HS at 6:00 PM. Play well, boys! Congratulations to Mrs. Tracy Anderson and the boys of the SLMS choir program. This past Thursday evening they rehearsed and performed with boys from other middle school and high school choir programs in a wonderful experience at Bush HS.
Our Second Annual Trunk or Treat event was a tremendous success this past Thursday evening. Thank you to everyone who came out to experience the event, and a great-big thank you goes to our counseling office and staff who organized the event. Thank you to our friends at Sugar Mill ES, Lakeview ES, Barrington Place ES, Kempner HS, and the SLMS PTO for hosting a trunk. Our community truly loved this event, and it was so wonderful to see such a great turnout!
Our PALs students and their teacher, Mr. Harris, have put together a fun, yet focused effort on Red Ribbon Week, which starts this week. There will be daily themes, all of which are fun but meant to be part of a broader message of not taking drugs. There will be some aspects that involve fun dress opportunities, but they will still require students to be in dress code. See the article below.
Please take some time this week to talk to your child(ren) about what is and is not appropriate to bring to school. Remember that if your child has medication they need to take, even if it is simply aspirin or an over-the-counter medication, it must be administered in the clinic. This means that medication may only be brought to school by a parent and delivered directly to the clinic. Please also talk with your child(ren) about the expectations surrounding our "Titan Bucks" program. The "Titan Bucks" they earn through our PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention/Support) efforts are intended only for them and are not to be pooled together for any kind of rewards. Additionally, students are not to sell any items to other students while at school for any reason--not with legal tender/currency and not with Titan Bucks. Students in violation of this will face disciplinary action.
This week's news contains information about:
- Upcoming Events
- COVID-19 Vaccination/Booster Event at SLMS - Saturday, October 30
- Red Ribbon Week - October 29-30
- WINGS Club (Girls) - Information
- Basketball Tryout Information
- Yearbooks On Sale Online Now!!! - Only $40
- Everyone Can Help With Yearbook Pictures!
- Lending Library Devices and Technology
- Birthday Messages on the SLMS Electronic Marquee
- Important Contact Information
I hope you have a peaceful and enjoyable week!
Sincerely,
Keith Fickel, Principal
#NewBeginnings
#TitansOwnIt
#ReturnOfTheTitans
The Week At A Glance
Upcoming and Important Dates
- Red Ribbon Week - October 23-30 (see details below regarding expectations)
- Football Playoff Games: 7th grade, October 25 (v. FSMS @ Clements HS, 6:00 PM); 8th grade October 26 (v. Dulles MS @ Dulles HS, 6:00 PM)
- High School Academies Visiting 8th Graders - October 27 through PE classes
- Girls' Basketball v. Crockett MS @ DCMS - November 3
- Fall Choir Concert - November 4
- Fall Teacher Appreciation Week - Week of November 8
- End of Daylight Savings Time - November 7
- Parent Coffee with the Principal - November 12
- Picture Retakes/Make-Ups - November 18
Walk-In COVID-19 Vaccinations & Pfizer Booster at SLMS - Saturday, October 30
Doors open at 9:00 AM (east side, bus ramp doors by the gyms). Note that individuals currently qualified for a booster may receive one at this event, provided that their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or their dose of Johnson & Johnson has been received 6 or more months ago. Please bring your COVID-19 vaccination card to this event. There will be Pfizer booster available, and the county has requested Moderna, as well. Current guidelines allow for qualified individuals to receive a booster of a different type than their original round.
Red Ribbon Week is October 25 thru 29
Since its beginning in 1985, the Red Ribbon has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction cause by drugs in America.
Enrique (Kiki) Camarena was a Drug Enforcement Administration Agent who was tortured and killed in Mexico in 1985. When he decided to join the US Drug Enforcement Administration, his mother tried to talk him out of it. "I'm only one person", he told her, "but I want to make a difference." On Feb. 7, 1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch. Five men appeared at the agent's side and shoved him in a car. One month later, Camarena's body was found. He had been tortured to death.
In honor of Camarena's memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin. Parents, sick of the destruction of alcohol and other drugs, had begun forming coalitions. Some of these new coalitions took Camarena as their model and embraced his belief that one person can make a difference. These coalitions also adopted the symbol of Camarena's memory, the red ribbon.
In 1988, NFP sponsored the first National Red Ribbon Celebration. Today, the Red Ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities. Since that time, the campaign has reached millions of U.S. children and families. The National Family Partnership (NFP) and its network of individuals and organizations continue to deliver his message of hope to millions of people every year, through the National Red Ribbon Campaign™
Red Ribbon Week Daily Themes
See image below for each daily theme at SLMS. Note that the dress code is still in full effect. If you have any questions about what the dress code expectations area, you may view them here. There will be no costumes or cosplay involved in Red Ribbon Week.
Basketball Tryout Information
- Basketball tryouts are for 7th and 8th grade students
- All athletes will need an up to date athletic physical on file with the coaches and all RankOne Sport electronic forms completed to be eligible for tryouts; forms will not be accepted on the day the tryouts begin; they must be turned in ahead of time
- Please wear basketball shorts, a t-shirt, and sneakers to the tryouts
- Athletes need to attend all tryout days and times
Girls' Tryout Information
- Tryouts occur on October 20, 21, and 22 (must attend all three days)
- Tryouts begin at 6:45 AM each day (must be on time)
- Sign up on the clipboard by the girls' locker room entrance
- Questions? See Coach Karen Efron or Coach Toni Woods
Boys' Tryout Information
- Tryouts occur on November 3, 4, and 5 (must attend all three days)
- Tryouts begin at 4:20 PM on November 3 and 4, and at 6:15 AM on November 5 (must be on time)
- Questions? See Coach Pete Esposito
WINGS - We Inspire New possibilities; we are Girls Soaring!
Attention all SLMS girls!!!! IT is time to think about what you are going to do for the school year. Study hard, get great grades, make new friends, and become involved are all wonderful choices you can make. One of those choices is joining the WINGS club, which is open to girls in ALL grades! Applications are available in the counseling office, or you may download and print an application below. Applications are due October 22, and the first meeting is October 27. See Mrs. Seright or any counselor with any questions you may have.
Yearbooks On Sale Online NOW! Only $40.00
Our yearbook staff is hard at work creating the yearbook for this year. You do not want to miss out. Yearbooks are $40.00, which is the same price as last year, and they may be purchased online by visiting this page on the Balfour website.
We still have copies of last year's yearbook available for sale, as well. They are $40.00, and may be purchased only with exact cash, money order, or check, and they are not available online. Please contact our Yearbook Sponsor, Ms. Simpson at alison.simpson@fortbendisd.com if you have any questions regarding this year's yearbook (or last year's yearbook).
Everyone Can Help with Pictures for the Yearbook
The yearbook staff cannot be everywhere to take pictures for the yearbook, but you can help them out! Download the Balfour ImageShare app to your device, and follow the instructions in the flyer below to be able to share pictures you have taken for possible inclusion in the yearbook. Pictures submitted must be school-relevant and appropriate. The yearbook staff and sponsor will determine which photos to include. Note that any inappropriate photos submitted will be referred to campus administration, and possibly to law enforcement, if warranted.
Lending Library Devices and Technology
To provide technology for students that are quarantined and need to attend classes online, families can check out laptops from the SLMS library for a 2-week period. Currently we do not have hotspots available. This is an optional service for those who need it. Parents must first complete a form in Skyward called, Lending Library Agreement: 2021-22. It is a good idea for all students to have this form on file in case they suddenly need a device in the middle of the year. To request a device, contact Mr. Sinclair at david.sinclair@fortbendisd.com. Checkout is handled via no-contact curbside pickup. Parents may arrange a pickup time with Mr. Sinclair outside of normal arrival and dismissal hours in the front circle drive.
Birthday Messages on SLMS Marquee
Does your SLMS child have an upcoming birthday? Would you like to wish them a happy birthday on our new digital campus marquee? The PTO is coordinating birthday messages to go on our marquee as a means of raising funds to help meet needs of students and teachers. Publicizing your child's birthday is only $15.00. Please follow these simple steps to get your child's birthday announced on the marquee:
- Visit https://my.cheddarup.com/c/slmspto
- Scroll down to the "Happy Birthday Marquee" item
- Click "Add to Cart"; you are redirected to another screen where you will
- Enter information about your child and select the style of announcement you wish to see on the marquee
- Click "Add to Cart ($15.00)"
- Review your order
- Click "Continue to Forms"
- Enter your child's name and grade level
- Click "Continue to Payment" and finish your purchase
Note that submissions must be received at least two weeks ahead of the desired date to be posted on our campus marquee. Please contact Heather Martin of the SLMS PTO at heathermartincpa@gmail.com with questions. And feel free to order SLMS swag like hoodies, t-shirts, and more while you are ordering your child's birthday message!
Important Contact Information
- Associate Principal - Monika Martin (monika.martin@fortbendisd.com)
- Counselor - Nafecia Brinson (nafecia.brinson@fortbendisd.com)
- Assistant Principal - Dr. Dawn Rogers (dawn.rogers@fortbendisd.com)
- Counselor - Eleni Smith (eleni.smith@fortbendisd.com)
Eighth Grade
- Assistant Principal - Luster Goodwin (luster.goodwin@fortbendisd.com)
- Counselor - Kim Seright (kimberly.seright@fortbendisd.com)
Counselor Clerk - Carmen Brantley (carmen.brantley@fortbendisd.com)
Assistant Principal Secretaries
- 7th and 8th Grade - Tina Garcia (diamantina.ibarragar@fortbendisd.com)
- 6th Grade - Sherri Woodcock (sherri.woodcock@fortbendisd.com)
Attendance - Mary Beth LaVergne (mary.lavergne@fortbendisd.com)
Registrar - Tandi Phillips (tandi.phillips@fortbendisd.com)
Nurse - Shetal Patel (shetal.patel@fortbendisd.com)
Clinic Aide - Cassandra Rodarte (cassandra.rodarte@fortbendisd.com)
Executive Assistant to Principal Fickel - Mary Connealy (mary.connealy@fortbendisd.com)
Sugar Land Middle School
46 Years
1975-2021
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
#NewBeginnings
#Resilience
Office Hours
8:20-4:20 PM
Email: keith.fickel@fortbendisd.com
Website: www.fortbendisd.com/slms
Location: 321 7th Street, Sugar Land, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 634-3080
Twitter: @SLMSTitans