SLMS Titan News
Week of August 11, 2023
Welcome SLMS Parents and Guardians,
Our first week of school is officially completed. I hope your students are enjoying the 2023-2024 school year so far!
NEW information included this week:
- KHOU 11 Interview with Dr. Whitbeck
- One Way Hallways
- College Shirt Wednesdays
- Titan Spirit Shirt Fridays
Have a fantastic weekend!
Sincerely,
Dr. Latoya Garrett
Principal
#weareTITANS
At SLMS WE model the TITAN WAY
KHOU INTERVIEW WITH DR. WHITBECK
One Way Hallways
You will be able to experience our one way hallways during Open House on August 31st.
College Shirt Wednesdays
Titan Spirit Day on Fridays
TEXAS HOUSE BILL 114 - VAPES
VAPING
It is imperative that you speak with students regarding the seriousness of vaping in general, being in possession, and/or using a vape on campus.
Cell Phones Policy
Students may bring a cell phone for communication before/after school. During the school day, cell phone access is restricted and cell phones must be off and placed in backpacks. Cell phones not adhering to the school policy will be confiscated and students can pick them up at the end of the school day (for the first and second confiscation).
On the third confiscation, a parent will be required to pick up the cell phone and pay a $15 fee to SLMS. The district cell phone policy can be found in The Student Code of Conduct. Click here to access the FBISD Student Code of Conduct
If a student needs to make a phone call, we have office phones that can be accessed with permission.
Transportation To/From School
Students are responsible for knowing their transportation after school. We dismiss students at the end of the day by their transportation arrangement. Keep in mind that students do not have access to cell phones during the day so frequent changes are not recommended. Make sure you discuss any changes to transportation before your student leaves in the morning.
Car Rider students must be dropped off and picked up in the circle drive. They should not cross the street unless at the designated cross walk. All cars should move up in the circle drive as far as possible as this facilitates getting cars off the street. Remind your student to watch for your arrival to assist with a quick dismissal. Students should get in and out of cars quickly. Reminder: NO CELL PHONES in the school zone.
Bus Route Locator:
The bus route locator is now available for viewing. Please Click Here to access the Bus Route locator.
Refillable Water Bottles
Meet the SLMS Counselors!
Kimberly Seright-7th Grade Counselor
Kimberly Seright has been in the field of education for over 23 years. Mrs. Seright taught math at middle and high school levels. She has an undergraduate degree from The University of Central Florida and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from The University of Houston-Victoria. She taught math for five years in Florida before moving to Texas with her husband. One of Mrs. Seright’s favorite quotes is by Maya Angelou, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Mrs. Seright loves being a counselor and looks forward to new possibilities each and every year!
Nafecia Brinson-8th Grade Counselor
Ms. Brinson is currently serving as the 8th Grade Counselor. She has been in education for the past 18 years, serving the last 16 here in Fort Bend ISD. Prior to teaching, Ms. Brinson worked as a Forensic Scientist testing biological specimens. Although it was fun and interesting there was still something missing. She started her teaching career, teaching high school science. She has served on the campuses of Marshall HS and Kempner HS before joining the Titan Family. Ms. Brinson received her undergraduate degree from University of South Florida and her master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas. She is the mother of a daughter in high school. You can find Ms. Brinson watching a good horror movie or baking something (anything) sweet! Ms. Brinson stated, “It is truly a pleasure and honor to serve this community! I love to see the students grow into the great people they are destined to be!”
Eleni Smith-6th Grade Counselor
Mrs. Smith has spent over 23 years in education...20 here at SLMS as a counselor! Prior to being at SLMS, she taught 3rd grade at Oyster Creek Elementary. Mrs. Smith grew up in FBISD and is happy to raise her own children here in FBISD. She is a graduate of The University of Texas in Austin, and received her master’s degree from The University of Houston-Victoria. During football season, you can find her family fussing over Longhorn and Aggie football, as her husband is an Aggie! Her 3 girls are always out and about in Sugar Land bouncing around from activity to activity. Please say, “Hi” if you see them! She truly loves being a school counselor and getting to know all of the SLMS families. One of Mrs. Smith’s favorite quotes is by author, J.K. Rowling, “We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”
Student Dress Code
All students must adhere to the student dress code. Highlights include:
- Clothes may not show the midriff, undergarments, chest, or posterior
- Unsafe footwear is not permitted (house shoes, slippers)
- No depiction of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, weapons, and more
Please see the attached information regarding dress code.
A Message from the SLMS PTO
Greetings Titan Families,
As the start of the school year approaches, it's that time of the year to renew your PTO membership and FBISD Volunteer Background Check, purchase spirit wear, and support our annual Titan Cash Drive! The PTO is also treating the teachers to back to school breakfast tacos on Wednesday, August 2nd, and are in need of additional breakfast item donations and helping hands. I've included links for everything below.
Complete FBISD Volunteer Background Check
Purchase Spirit Wear (new designs and garment options)
Support the Titan Cash Drive - our main fundraiser!
Donate or Volunteer for the B2S Teacher Breakfast on 8/2
If you no longer have a Titan, we wish you the best and thank you for supporting our efforts! If you are a returning Titan, we look forward to seeing you around the school - we'll be at Titan Camp all day today! Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Jennifer McBride
SLMS PTO President 23-24
Information Regarding Academic/Hallway Lockers
SLMS, along with nearly all district middle schools, does not utilize the hallway lockers as students do not have to carry textbooks and much of the curriculum is online. Students may request a locker if they need one.
Items students may need to carry:
- Backpack itself -please note that rolling backpacks will not be permitted
- Pen/Pencil Bag
- Water Bottle with Screw-on Cap/Lid (to be filled at our bottle fillers throughout the building)
- Lunch from home (if not getting a lunch from the serving line)
- Personal Laptop from Home and charging cable (optional as school-owned devices are available in all classrooms if you do not want to BYOD)
- Students may also bring their cell phone and store it OFF and AWAY in their backpack
Band/orchestra instruments will be be brought to their respective rehearsal spaces at the beginning of the day and then picked up and taken home at the end of the day.
Students will continue to be issued a PE locker for their PE uniform (or an Athletic locker, if involved in they are a 7th or 8th grade student involved in a school-sponsored sport). Students will bring their washed, clean PE uniform to class on Monday and place it in their PE locker; they will take it home on Friday for it to be washed (or sooner if needed), and bring it back on Monday (or the next day).
Class Schedule
Our class schedule/bell schedule for the school year features the following:
- 7 class periods daily, with an additional Advisory period on Tuesday and Wednesday
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday will have a 7-period day (50-55 minute class periods)
- Tuesday and Wednesday will have a 7-period day (45 to 50-minute class periods) with an Advisory period between period 2 and 3. Advisory will be used as a flexible time to conduct interventions, enrichments, and campus focused lessons.
- Students will have every class every day
- Students will have the same lunch period every day
- Transitions between class periods will be 4-5 minutes in length which is enough time as the majority of student do not use a locker
Important Contact Information
- Assistant Principal - 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)
- 7th Grade - Perla Solis (perla.solisarredondo@fortbendisd.com)
Attendance - Mary Beth LaVergne (mary.lavergne@fortbendisd.com)
Registrar - Tandi Phillips (tandi.phillips@fortbendisd.com)
Nurse - Marium Khan (marium.khan@fortbendisd.com)
Clinic Aide - Cathy Tekrouri (cathy.tekrouri@fortbendisd.com)
Executive Assistant to Principal - Mary Connealy (mary.connealy@fortbendisd.com)
Principal - Dr. Latoya Garrett (latoya.garrett@fortbendisd.com)
Sugar Land Middle School
48 Years
1975-2023
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.
#weareTITANS
Office Hours
8:20-4:20
Email: latoya.garrett@fortbendisd.com
Website: www.fortbendisd.com/slms
Location: 321 7th Street, Sugar Land, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 634-3080
Twitter: @SLMSTitans