Titan News Thanksgiving Edition
Update from Sugar Land MS - December 2, 2019
Thankful
Happy Thanksgiving to our Titan Community!
I hope that you have taken time to relax and recharge so far during our much-needed break. This newsletter was pre-programmed to be sent today to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving, as we are taking time to recharge, as well, so that we are fresh for when students return on Monday. As usual, the information below is meant to help you and your family be ready for the upcoming week.
Our big event this week is 8th grade Career Day, which our counseling office, PTO, and various partners have helped to organize. Specific information about Career Day has been sent by the counselors to 8th grade parents through Naviance (what to wear, expectations, scheduling, etc.). Career Day is Thursday. Thank you to everyone who has played a role in getting our experience organized!
Have a peaceful and restful remainder of your Thanksgiving break. Return to us safely on Monday, December 2.
Thankfully yours,
Keith Fickel, Principal
Week of December 2, 2019
Upcoming Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
- Career Day (8th Grade) - Thursday, December 5
- Standards-Based Grading Parent Focus Group - Friday, December 6
- Spelling Bee - Tuesday, December 10
- Choir Concert - Tuesday, December 10
- Varsity Orchestra Concert - Wednesday, December 11
- Student/Staff Basketball Game (during 3rd period) - Friday, December 13
- Orchestra Concert - Friday, December 13
- Band Concert (evening) and Beginning Band Recitals (day) - Friday, December 13
- Early Release Days (1:25 PM) - December 18 & 19 (see semester end info below)
Holiday Spirit - Schoolwide!
Starting Tuesday, December 3, there will be 12 days of holiday spirit at SLMS for all students, staff, and guests to participate in. Dress code still applies. Even though Thursday, December 5, is Career Day for 8th grade, we encourage all students to dress professionally. See the calendar below with daily themes!
Standards-Based Grading Pilot Focus Groups - December 6
Sugar Land Middle School is participating in the FBISD Grading Pilot in beginning band, choir, orchestra, and art. The grading pilot has changed the way that we give feedback related to student progress. Instead of using percentage grades, we have provided students feedback on competencies that reflect grade-level standards and are defined using learning progressions.
Please take a few minutes to complete this survey, and let us know how we are doing this year. This survey will close on Friday, December 13th. FBISD Grading Pilot Parent Survey Link.
Also, we encourage you to attend a brief parent focus group meeting to be held on Friday, December 6th, at 5:30, to provide feedback to the district regarding standards-based grading and your experience, as well as your child’s experience, with it this year. Please reply to your child’s art, band, choir, or orchestra teacher indicating you would be able to attend. The meeting will take place in the library.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (281) 634-3080.
Sincerely,
Keith Fickel, Principal
Safety
Safety is our primary responsibility at SLMS. This includes the safety of all who work, learn, or visit our school. Each semester we are required to conduct a variety of emergency drills to prepare for any possible situation. One of these includes conducting a lockdown drill during a time when students are not in class, such as during a lunch period or during a passing period. We will be conducting this kind of drill before the end of this semester, and we have begun preparing students with our expectations and plan.
Additionally, safety is important during arrival and dismissal each day. Some things we have noticed recently that we want to bring to your attention include:
- Parents 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 on the drivers' side rather than the passenger side
- Parents turning left out of the circle drive (it's a posted no left turn)
- 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 to remain safe by following procedures related to arrival and dismissal in the areas listed above.
Fort Bend Education Foundation
Please take advantage of this opportunity, as well the others listed in the Community Discount program linked below.
November 22 through January 5
Please join us at Sugar Land Holiday Lights at Constellation Field November 22 to January 5! Use the promo code FBEF for discounted tickets.
Parent Volunteers
We love parent volunteers! Please renew your annual Criminal History Authorization (CHA) by visiting the district website. These reset on July 1 each year. Then, please join the PTO by visiting their website at www.slmspto.org.
Immunization Update from Nurse Lincoln - Sixth Graders
Your child did or will receive the Tdap and the Meningitis vaccines at their 11 year-old check-up. Please provide proof of these immunizations 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 angela.lincoln@fortbendisd.com, fax it to (281) 327-6679 or drop it off in the clinic. For any other medical concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact the clinic at (281) 634-8745.
Yearbooks on Sale! - $40
Yearbooks are on sale for $40. Tribute ads for current 8th graders may also be purchased for either $20 (1/8 of a page) or $40 (1/4 of a page). To order, simply visit https://www.balfour.com/student-info?smi=71485. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Childs at Molly.Childs@fortbendisd.com.
Older, But Important Items
Laptop Lending Library
We are pleased to announce the re-launch of our Laptop Lending Library. Students will have the opportunity to check out a touch-screen laptop, with carrying case and charging cable, for two weeks, just they would check out a book. Some paperwork is required to be completed by parents, first, however. Please visit our Laptop Lending Library page or contact Mr. Sinclair, our Librarian or Mrs. Smith, our Library Aide, for more details.
Tuesday and Thursday 5:15 Tutorial Buses
We are pleased to announce the start of our 5:15 Tuesday/Thursday Tutorial Buses. Students who participate in an after school tutorial, make-up session, help session, club/organization meeting, rehearsal, etc., may ride the 5:15 bus. Students staying after school for athletic practices or athletic events will not be able to ride the 5:15 tutorial bus.Visit our Tutorial Bus web page for details. You may also download a map of drop-off locations and approximate drop-off times. Students must know ahead of time which stop they will get off the bus at (there are 10 stops total). Select the one that is closest to their home.
Free and Reduced Meal Information
Sugar Land Middle School
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
Regular 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
Ms. Bedner - SLMS 2019-20 Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Ms. Blair Bedner, 7th grade science and robotics teacher, for being named as the our Teacher of the Year. Her family was on hand to celebrate, along with her students, when we made the announcement on Friday morning.