SLMS Titan News
Week #28 - March 8, 2021
Greetings SLMS Parents and Guardians,
Last week was National School Social Work Week, and our fantastic Social Worker, Mr. Roderick Martin, deserves a moment in the spotlight. Mr. Martin has been a fixture at SLMS for many years, and he is always serving students and families. He is a leader of our ARMS club for boys, and he is a Titan through and through. He adds tremendous value to students, families, and staff, and is always here to help anyone in need. We could not fulfill our mission to create a safe environment with high expectations without Mr. Martin. Thank you, Mr. Martin, for all you do for us!
Midweek last week I sent an update to all Titan parents, which contains many of the same items in this newsletter. However, it also included a piece about prohibited items containing THC and cannabis, which are easily obtained by youth through the mail and other means. If you did not read that update, you may read it here.
We hope you will be able to join us for our Spring Open House, which will be Virtual Fine Arts Showcase. It is scheduled for this Tuesday, March 9, at 6:30 PM. See details below.
Students have until this Wednesday, March 10, to enter their course selections for 2021-22 in Skyward Student Access. Please read the information below, which includes links to important information for you and your children.
Our 8th grade students will experience Career Day this Thursday morning in a different format than what we have done in the past. Students will experience their Career Day in a virtual format through Road Trip Nation, which is a part of Naviance. Our 8th grade counselor, Ms. Brinson, along with several others, has worked hard to bring this special experience to our 8th graders in both learning models.
I also want to remind everyone that Spring Break is March 15-18, and that students have an additional week off as the district finalizes preparations for Term 4, which starts on Monday, March 29.
Topics in this Week's Newsletter:
- Week At-A-Glance
- Upcoming Dates
- National School Breakfast Week is this Week!
- ACTION ITEM for Parents of Online Students Regarding In-Person STAAR Test Administration (Due March 9)
- Virtual Open House/Fine Arts Showcase - Tuesday, March 9
- Mask-Wearing in FBISD in Light of Gov. Abbott's Executive Order
- Naming Two New Schools in FBISD
- Girls' Soccer Information
- Course Selection Information for 2021-22
- Kempner HS Engineer Program Information for 8th Graders
- FBISD Track Meet Ticketing Information
- Immunization Reminders for Current Sixth Graders
We hope to see you at our Virtual Open House / Fine Arts Showcase this Tuesday at 6:30 PM (Zoom link is below), and we are looking forward to Career Day for our 8th graders! We wish everyone a great week, as well as much rest and relaxation during Spring Break! Expect an important message to come to all F2F students for T4 sometime around March 24 or 25.
Sincerely,
Keith Fickel, SLMS Principal
#Resilience
#GracePatienceOptimism
#BetterTogether
#InfinitePossibilities
#TitansOwnIt
Week At-A-Glance
Upcoming Events
- March 15-19 - Spring Break
- March 22, 23, and 24 - Interventions for Select Students
- March 25 and 26 - Professional Development/Teacher Work Days (Student Holidays)
- March 29 - Start of Term 4 (T4)
National School Breakfast Week is March 8-12
From FBISD Child Nutrition: Students who participate in School Breakfast every morning during the week of NSBW (all five days) will win a $3.00 food voucher, and students' curbside will receive a Cool Tropics Slush in place of juice with each breakfast. The voucher can be used for any single à la carte item valued up to $3.00. Students will receive a punch card at the beginning of the week at Breakfast, and the card will be punched each day by a cafeteria cashier when a student gets breakfast.
ACTION ITEM for Parents of Online Students Regarding In-Person STAAR Test Administration (Due March 9)
Parents of students in the online learning model received an important email and a follow-up phone message on Friday, March 5, regarding STAAR testing and the fact that it is an in-person administration. There is a form that the parents of every online student must complete by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, March 9. For more information, including the link to the form (English and Spanish), please visit this STAAR Information Page on our campus website.
Virtual Open House / Fine Arts Showcase - Tuesday, March 9 at 6:30 PM
Please join us via Zoom at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, March 9, for our spring Virtual Open House / Fine Arts Showcase. It will be an informal session with an introduction by Principal Fickel, followed by a series brief videos submitted by our performing and visual arts teachers that highlight the work and successes of their face-to-face and online students.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/93601820793?pwd=MjNYV2p4blNwcTJ6aXpNTmN1UFdidz09
Passcode (if you are asked): 226922
Mask-Wearing in FBISD in Light of Gov. Abbot's Executive Order
This week, Governor Greg Abbott announced lifting the mask mandate in Texas in an Executive Order. As part of our continued efforts to keep our students and staff safe, Fort Bend ISD will continue to require masks and facial coverings in all schools and District facilities.
The District will continue this requirement until it can further review guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Fort Bend County health officials, and the District’s medical advisor, and the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Per the Governor's statement, "public schools may operate as provided by, and under the minimum standard health protocols found in, guidance issued by the Texas Education Agency."
The overall health and safety of the community remains a priority, and District leadership is aware that not all employees have had the opportunity to be vaccinated. Retaining the mask mandate will ensure a safe learning environment for all students, teachers and staff.
Students who arrive on campus without a mask will be given a fresh, new disposable mask to wear. For those who may be interested, our Science Club continues to make customized SLMS masks available for students and staff for $10 as a fundraiser for their club.
Naming of Two New FBISD Schools
Fort Bend ISD is seeking community suggestions for the naming of a new elementary campus, to be located in the Riverstone community, and a new high school, to be located on the southeast side of the District on FM 521. The deadline to submit names is March 10, 2021.
Nominations must be completed using an online form, links are available below and on the FBISD website. Those who wish to make a nomination must submit a written one or two paragraph statement (no longer than 250 words) containing biographical information or historical data, and reasons justifying the suggested name. Names nominated shall generally be names for people or places. If a person, the individual should have attained prominence locally or nationally, and have made a significant contribution to society. If a place, the name should include historical relevance.
New Elementary School Online Form
Once the deadline for nominations has closed, a naming committee will be formed to consider the nominations prior to a recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
Girls' Soccer Information
Sign up now for the Sugar Land Middle School Girls' Soccer Team. The sign up sheet is posted outside of the gym for F2F students, and for online students, all you need to do is email Coach Marchand at the email address below. Students must have a physical on file for this year, and have all forms uploaded to RankOne.
The team is open for all eligible and interested 7th and 8th grade girls who want to learn new skills, improve their fitness, compete for their school, and have fun. No experience is necessary because the game is going to be taught from basics foot skills, all the way to organized team strategies.
Tryouts start March 29th. Practices will be held on campus after school.
Contact Coach Marchand for any questions at adam.marchand@fortbendisd.com
Course Selection Information for 2021-22
NOTE: The rescheduled course selection windows in Skyward, due to the Winter Storm, have been updated below
Course Selection Time is here! Current 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students received selection information from their social studies teachers during the week of February 8. Students and parents also have the opportunity to view informational videos regarding elective options before entering their choices into Skyward. All videos are available on the SLMS website under our Counselor Page. Course selection meetings for parents regarding the 2021-22 school year were held on February 9 and 11.
UPDATED 2.23.21: For current 6th and 7th grade students, course selection opens in Skyward Student Access (not Family Access) on February 23, and will close on March 10. Students should look for the "Schedules" menu item.
UPDATED 2.23.21: For current 8th grade students, course selection opens in Skyward Student Access on February 23 and closes on March 10, but students will be creating their "career plans" (4-year plan). The courses in students' career plans for 2021-22 (the first year of the 4-year plan) will become their course requests for 9th grade. The KHS counselors and SLMS counselors will be working with students and teachers to explain this process.
For all students, Click here to download a PDF of the FBISD course selection guides (descriptions of courses).
Current 8th Grade Parents
- Watch the recording of the February 9 parent meeting for current 8th grade parents
- Watch this video from the KHS Counselors
- SLMS web page for 8th graders transitioning to HS
Current 6th and 7th Grade Parents
- Watch the recording of the February 11 parent meeting for current 6th and 7th grade parents
- SLMS web page for 6th and 7th graders going into the 2021-22 School Year
- Counselors' web page with informational videos about elective choices
You may also wish to visit our campus webpage dedicated to course selection. It will be updated frequently throughout the coming days as the counselors visit with parents and with students. Also, download the document below titled "Parent and Student Communication AAC Designation" to learn about the change in name for advanced courses from Pre-AP to AAC (Advanced Academic Course)
KHS Engineering Program Information for 8th Grade Students
I just wanted to reach out to you all regarding the Engineering Program at Kempner High School. My name is Ashley Duran and I am the lead Engineering teacher at KHS. With some help of the current engineering students we have put together a video about the engineering program as well as the flyer below. Please share this with your 8th graders who might be interested in the Engineering program. If you want to connect with Ms. Duran at KHS, please complete this form.
If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me.
Thank you,
Ashley Duran, M.Ed.
Kempner HS
CTE/Engineering (IED, POE, CEA, EDD)
(281) 327-5925
Immunization Reminders for Current Sixth Graders (Online or F2F)
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 7th grade and providing them as soon as you get them will keep your child compliant! You may email it to julie.cutaia@fortbendisd.com or fax it to (281) 327-3091.
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!
SLMS Titan Masks for Sale - $10
PE Uniforms on Sale
Revised 2020-21 FBISD Calendar
Reporting a Positive Case of COVID-19 or Exposure to a Positive Case
To ensure the safety of all staff and students, it is critical that families report all positive cases of COVID-19, or exposures to a positive case of COVID-19, immediately. If your student tests positive for COVID-19 or is exposed to a positive COVID-19 case, please notify the District by reporting within the Daily Wellness Screener in Skyward Family Access.
Attendance Information for Parents
Parent notes are required for all absences within five days from the absence date. Notes must include full student name as well as the reason for the absence (including technical difficulties). If a student misses a synchronous engagement, they are counted absent.Please email all absence notes to AttendanceSLMS@fortbendisd.com. Contact our attendance clerk, Mrs. LaVergne, at (281) 634-3089 if you have questions.
Important Contact Information
- Assistant Principal - Dr. 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 - Sherri Woodcock (sherri.woodcock@fortbendisd.com)
Attendance - Mary Beth LaVergne (mary.lavergne@fortbendisd.com)
Registrar - Tandi Phillips (tandi.phillips@fortbendisd.com)
Nurse - Angi Lincoln (angela.lincoln@fortbendisd.com)
Executive Assistant to Principal Fickel - Mary Connealy (mary.connealy@fortbendisd.com)
Sugar Land Middle School
45 Years
1975-2020
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
#BetterTogether
#InfinitePossibilities
#GracePatienceOptimism
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