Sugar Land MS Titan News
August 24, 2020
Greetings Titan Families,
We had a terrific start to our school year, though it did have a few bumps here and there. I am proud of our teachers, staff, and students, as well as our parents for the grace, patience, and optimism displayed during the first week. This week's newsletter has information regarding the following topics:
- Updated Laptop Distribution Information
- REN360 Screener Information
- LockDown Browser Information
- Fall "Virtual" Open House - Thursday, September 3
- Attendance Information from Mrs. LaVergne
- Cheerleader Tryout Information
- SLMS PTO Spirit Night at Willie's - September 16
- 1Link
We are putting together our At-Home Learning Kits, and expect to have those ready for distribution during the week of August 31. Please stay tuned for details. We will also distribute pre-purchased school supply kits at this same time.
Like last week's newsletter, one thing I hope that we will all learn from the launch of this new experience of synchronous online learning is that it may take a while for all the newly-built digital systems to stabilize and for us to grow accustomed to using them, but that if we all take the long view, not the narrow, right-here/right-now view, we have the greatest chance of success. But until that time comes to pass, please do not lose patience or hope with us (or with yourself) as we navigate these potential bumps in the road together. #BetterTogether #InfinitePossibilities #TitansOwnIt
Thank you for your time and attention, and on behalf of the entire SLMS staff, welcome to the beginning of this historic 2020-21 school year.
Sincerely,
Keith Fickel, SLMS Principal
Grace. Patience. Optimism.
Laptop/Device Distribution Information
Starting Monday, August 24, we will distribute laptops between 1:30 and 3:30 PM daily. No appointment is necessary. However, to make the process go more quickly, please arrive having already completed the Back to School Readiness Form and the two Lending Library Forms found in Skyward Family Access. Look in the "online forms" section of Skyward.
REN360 Screener Information - Testing Window is August 25-28
Fort Bend ISD uses Renaissance Star 360 Assessments to help teachers understand what students know and what they are ready to learn next. Typically, these assessments are given throughout the school year to monitor student progress and are administered in the school setting. Part of our normal testing plan includes a fall, beginning of the year assessment. After careful consideration, knowing the value of this data to make informed instructional decisions for your child, we will be administering the assessment remotely. Our fall testing window is this week, August 25-28. Please download the informational flyer below to get detailed information about these important screeners.
LockDown Browser by Respondus
Please visit https://www.fortbendisd.com/lockdownbrowser for information on installing a special browser called Respondus which will be used when students take online tests and exams. District-owned devices will need it to be installed using the following steps:
- Click on the "Start" button (four-pane Windows icon in the lower left corner of the screen, along the taskbar)
- Scroll through the list of programs for "Software Catalog", and click to open
- Look for Lockdown Browser or Respondus Lockdown Browser. Select and it will install
Fall "Virtual" Open House - Thursday, September 3
Our Fall "Virtual" Open House is Thursday, September 3. It will have asynchronous and synchronous components. Your child's teachers will record brief videos (5-7 minutes in length), which will be uploaded to their respective Schoology courses and placed at the top of the list of items for easy, consistent access across all teachers' courses. You may watch these at your leisure, starting Tuesday, September 1st. The live, synchronous event on Thursday, September 3, is a 20-minute session with your child's grade level administrator and counselor, according to the schedule below. These will be conducted on Zoom, and you will be placed in a waiting room prior to the start of your grade level session.
- 6th Grade (with Dr. Rogers and Mrs. Smith) 6:00-6:20 PM (join using this Zoom Link)
- 7th Grade (with Mr. Goodwin and Mrs. Seright) 6:20-6:40 PM (join using this Zoom Link)
- 8th Grade (with Mrs. Martin and Ms. Brinson) 6:40-7:00 PM (join using this Zoom Link)
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.
Cheerleader Tryout Information
We are excited to announce that SLMS will conduct tryouts for cheerleader virtually for the 2020-21 school year! Please note that this year’s cheer season may look vastly different than seasons past, but with our TITAN GRIT, we will make the best of it! The SLMS Cheerleaders spread school cheer, spirit and keep our teams ready for VICTORY! If you are interested, please complete the required handouts located in the virtual cheer tryout Schoology course (course code: R5RW-SQRG-N2R8P). Download the SLMS Cheerleader Tryout Information - Fall 2020 document below.
SLMS PTO Spirit Night at Willie's - September 16
1Link is Here! Single Sign-On Tool
1Link is a single sign-on platform that allows students, teachers and staff to utilize one username and password to access their digital resources and tools including Schoology, Clever and Microsoft Teams. Single sign-on is an essential tool for productive remote learning. 1Link is web-based and available from the classroom or at home and can be accessed from a computer or mobile device.
All actively enrolled FBISD students can access 1Link using their district email (Ex. john.d1@student.fortbendisd.com) and network password. New student enrollees will be granted access upon completion of the enrollment process. Parents must log in to Skyward Family Access to retrieve password credentials for their student(s), which can be found in the Online Forms section of Skyward Family Access. Instructions for the retrieval of student password information can be found on the Fort Bend ISD website.
For more information about 1Link, please visit www.fortbendisd.com/1link. Access 1Link at 1link.fortbendisd.com. Feel free to download the helpful one-page how-to document below.
School Supplies -- Slight Revision
School supplies - Although we will start the year 100% online, students will still need school supplies at some point. Over the last few years, our school supply list has been pared down to only truly essential items and to be reasonable in cost. These items will be needed when we return to face-to-face instruction, but your child will also find them helpful during online learning. If you ordered pre-packaged school supplies from the PTO, they will be delivered to the campus in early August. We will devise a pick-up plan for them and communicate it with you when the time comes. Here is a link to our school supply list.
Note: while not on our school supply list linked above, you may wish to consider these optional technology items suggested by the district:
- Universal Stylus Touch Screen Pen (Passive) (For use with touch screen devices)
- BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Refer to “Guide to Student BYOD Devices” on Fort Bend ISD webpage: https://www.fortbendisd.com/Page/105736
- Headset/Headphone with mic (must be compatible with iPad 6th generation or greater & Windows 10 computers)
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)
Attendance - Mary Beth LaVergne (mary.lavergne@fortbendisd.com)
Registrar - Tandi Phillips (tandi.phillips@fortbendisd.com)
Nurse - Angi Lincoln (angela.lincoln@fortbendisd.com)
Campus Secretary - Mary Connealy (mary.connealy@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)
Immunizations Must Be Up to Date -- Even When School is 100% Online
This is a reminder from our nurse that all students must have their shots up-to-date or have a valid exemption on file when school starts. This is regardless of whether instruction is online or in person. To find out more information regarding immunizations, visit the Texas Department of State Health Services web page.
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
- 8:00-4:00 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