SLMS Titan News
Week #23 - January 31, 2022
Greetings SLMS Parents, Guardians, Students, and Staff,
Thank you to everyone who came out to Torchy's Tacos last Tuesday at our Spirit Night. Our PTO greatly appreciates your support! Though the final scores did not reflect the outcome we were hoping for, a huge congratulations goes out to our Boys 7B and 8A Basketball teams for their gritty play in the end of season tournaments this weekend at Wheeler Field House. You guys left it all on the court, and we are all so proud of you and your coaches! This brings our basketball season to an end, and we congratulate all of our boys and girls basketball team members and their coaches on a great season. Now it's on to Tennis and Track!
You may have noticed temporary fencing going up around the field on the north (rear) side of the campus. That is because work has begun on a new field, including a 4-lane track, as part of the FBISD 2018 Bond. Work will continue through the end of the school year and the early part of the summer.
If your child was identified as needing an academic intervention due to not meeting the passing standard on STAAR Math, Reading, and/or Science last school year, the interventions are scheduled to begin this Tuesday, February 1. Two weeks ago, we mailed an important, personalized letter to the family of each student needing these interventions. This letter explains when your child would receive these interventions and which staff member they are with. These interventions will occur at a variety of times--some during Advisory on Tuesday or Wednesday, and some after school on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. For students needing transportation home after the after school intervention tutorials on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, we will be providing bus service with stops at roughly 10 locations throughout our attendance zone. Please read the article below about the 5:00 buses, which includes a link to our campus website with additional details, bus route map, and approximate drop-off times.
Please take some time to review this week's newsletter, which contains information about:
- Upcoming Important Dates and Events
- Academic Interventions Begin Tuesday, February 1
- 5:00 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Tutorial Bus Information
- 7th Grade Field Trip to James Reese CTE Center - March 2
- Course Selection Information for 2022-23 (Updated from Last Week's Titan News)
- Immunizations for Current Sixth Graders and Readiness for Seventh Grade
- Information Regarding Pork Products Served in FBISD Cafeterias
- Safety Reminders for Vehicle Traffic at Arrival and Dismissal
- Birthday Messages on the SLMS Electronic Marquee
- Important Contact Information
Enjoy your week!
Sincerely,
Keith Fickel, Principal
#NewBeginnings
#TitansOwnIt
#ReturnOfTheTitans
The Week At A Glance
Upcoming and Important Dates
- Academic Interventions (Advisory Tue/Wed, & after school Tue, Wed, Thu) – Start February 1
- 5:00 Tutorial Buses Begin - February 1
- Black History Month – Month of February
- Kempner HS Electives Fair and Course Selection Night - February 2
- Fifth Grade Parent Night - February 24
- Fifth Grade Visits to SLMS - February 28 and March 3
- Seventh Grade Field Trip to James Reese CTE Center - March 2
- Spring Open House / iFest (International Festival) - March 8
Academic Interventions Begin Tuesday, February 1
If your child was identified as needing an academic intervention due to not meeting the passing standard on STAAR Math, Reading, and/or Science last school year, the interventions are scheduled to begin Tuesday, February 1. Late last week, we mailed an important, personalized letter to the family of each student needing these interventions. This letter explains when your child would receive these interventions and which staff member they are with. These interventions will occur at a variety of times--some during Advisory on Tuesday or Wednesday, and some after school on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. For students needing transportation home after the after school intervention tutorials on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, we will be providing bus service with stops at roughly 10 locations throughout our attendance zone. Please read the article below about the 5:00 buses, which includes a link to our campus website with additional details, bus route map, and approximate drop-off times.
Students attending interventions who do not need bus transportation home should be picked up in the front circle drive, starting at 5:00 PM.
5:00 Tutorial Buses (Tues/Wed/Thur)
We are pleased to announce the start of our 5:00 Tutorial Bus on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. These buses begin on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, and they will continue throughout the year. Students who participate in an after-school intervention, tutorial, make-up session, help session, club/organization meeting, rehearsal, etc., may ride the 5:00 bus. Students staying after school for athletic practices or athletic events will not be able to ride the 5:00 tutorial bus.
Students who remain after school for tutorials, etc., must report to their teacher, sponsor, etc., when we call for the release of second run buses (usually around 4:17-4:18 PM), where they will sign in upon arrival. Students who need to ride the tutorial bus will be given a Tutorial Bus Pass by their teacher/sponsor that is signed by the teacher and dated for that date. This pass is the only means by which students will be permitted to board the 5:00 tutorial bus.
Tutorial buses will only stop to drop students off at the locations listed on this page of our campus website (and also below) and which will be emailed separately to SLMS families. Drop-off times are approximate and may take some time to get the ‘kinks’ worked out. Buses will load at 5:00 and should depart at 5:10 or shortly thereafter. It would be most helpful if you could assist your child to determine which intersection listed is closest to your home, so they know where to get off and have the shortest walk home or to be picked up by you at the intersection/drop-off location. Check with your child’s teachers, club sponsors, etc., to know their specific intervention/tutorial/meeting schedule.
5:00 Tutorial Bus Stop Times and Locations
These buses run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
These times are approximate and could be earlier than posted if we run more than one bus. Depending upon rider levels, additional buses may be added, and the times below may change (earlier). Click the image to view the bus stop location map. The red numbers on the map correspond to the stops in the list below. Make sure your child knows which stop is best for him/her. You may also download the parent letter posted on our campus website that contains this same information, including the map and the list of stops. This service begins Tuesday, February 1. Times listed below are approximate (and will likely be earlier than advertised)
Bus #1
Stop 1 - 5:18 – E. Park St & Harman St & W. Park St
Stop 2 - 5:20 – Bramblebury Dr & Woodchester Dr
Stop 3 - 5:21 – Cottonwood Ct & Greenway Dr
Stop 4 - 5:25 – Rita Drabek Elementary School
Bus #2
Stop 5 - 5:27 – Blue Vista Dr & Imperial Canyon Ln
Stop 6 - 5:29 – Bay Gardens Dr & Spanish Grant Dr
Stop 7 - 5:30 – Old Village Ln & Spanish Grant Dr
Stop 8 - 5:32 – Townewest Elementary School
Stop 9 - 5:37 – Eldridge Park Way & Eldridge Villa
Stop 10 - 5:42 - Sugarbridge Trail & West Bellfort
7th Grade Field Trip to James Reese Career and Technical Education Center (CTE) - March 2
On March 2, 2022, your 7th grade child will travel to James Reese Career and Technical Center as part of a district-sponsored filed trip. They will explore 16 different stations that showcase all the programs and experiences that are available to them at the center as they prepare to start making educational choices for their future. Students may apply for and attend the James Reese Center as they are completing their high school career pathway for graduation. This field trip will give them an early glance at all that CTE in FBISD has to offer.
Field trip permission forms will come home the week of January 31 and will be due to 1st period teachers by February 11, 2022. Any questions can be directed to Eleni Smith at eleni.smith@fortbendisd.com or (281) 634-3086.
Course Selection Information for 2022-23
The course selection process for next year is underway. Visit the SLMS Counselors' webpage for updates. When you visit the counselors' website, look for the menu on the left that has links to separate grade level information. The counselors will keep their respective grade level pages updated with necessary course selection information, and our weekly Titan News will also contain these updates. In the meanwhile, you may wish download the 2022-23 FBISD Middle School Course Selection Guide. See the next two articles related to grade level specific information concerning course selection.
Counselors
6th Grade - Ms. Brinson
7th Grade - Mrs. Smith
8th Grade - Mrs. Seright
6th and 7th Grade Course Selection Information
The Skyward window for 6th and 7th graders to complete their course selection online is January 24-February 11. During this window requests and alternates can be entered and adjustments made. All course selection documents can be found on the SLMS counseling website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/domain/2207.
AVID Application (current 6th and 7th graders): https://forms.office.com/r/K1KSWCkujf
PALS Application (current 7th graders only): https://forms.office.com/r/AANEVJJQca
KHS Incoming 9th Grade Fair - February 2 @ 6:00 PM
2022-23 FBISD High School Course Selection Guide
Info from FBISD Child Nutrition Regarding Pork Products
The diversity of our school community makes it particularly important that we communicate clearly about everything we do at SLMS. Please take note of the information below regarding which products prepared and served in our cafeteria contain pork. The supply chain issues brought about by the global pandemic makes it challenging to ensure consistency in the products served to our students, but currently, the only item served in FBISD cafeterias that contains pork is the Pulled Pork Sandwich. All other meat items are derived from either beef or turkey. The cafeteria staff will post notifications in the serving lines if anything changes regarding this. Students and staff who cannot eat pork can rest easy in the knowledge that only one item has pork at this time--the pulled pork sandwich.
Immunizations for Current Sixth Graders and Readiness for Seventh Grade
Your sixth-grade child did or will receive the TDAP and the Meningitis vaccines at their 11-year-old check-up. If they have had these vaccines, please provide proof of this to the clinic when your child gets them. These are the required shots for seventh grade and providing them as soon as you get them will keep your child compliant. and be one less thing for you to do in preparation for seventh grade. You may email it to Nurse Patel at Shetal.Patel@fortbendisd.com or fax it to (281) 327-8745.
Our experience has been that some parents wait until the last possible minute to be in compliance with these immunization requirements. Please help us help your child be ready for next year, as it will approach faster than you think!
Safety Reminders for Vehicle Traffic During Arrival and Dismissal
Safety is important during arrival and dismissal each day. Some things we continue to notice that we want to bring to your attention include:
- Drivers on cell phones/devices while in the car rider line
- Students entering/exiting vehicles along Seventh Street instead of in the circle drive
- Students entering/exiting vehicles in parking lots on either side of the building instead of in the circle drive
- Students entering/exiting vehicles on the drivers' side rather than the passenger side
- Drivers turning left out of the circle drive (it's a posted no left turn during school zone hours)
- Speeding in the school zone and driving too fast in the car rider line
- Parents and students crossing Seventh Street in places other than the crosswalk monitored by our crossing guard
Please help us help you and your children (and our staff) to remain safe by being mindful of these concerns during arrival and dismissal.
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