Titan News
Update from Sugar Land MS - August 18, 2019
Thank You for a Great First Week!
As you are aware, we had a FANTASTIC first week of school! This week will be even better, as we start our regular bell schedule for the first time on Monday (with actual bells ringing, instead of me coming over the PA constantly... :-) In this issue of Titan News, please pay particular attention to these items:
- Online Student Information Verification - only 29% of SLMS families have completed this step. That puts us in 10th place out of 15 middle schools...10% behind the campus in 9th place!...please help us move up the rankings and get this done...we can do this!
- Student-Owned Device Procedure
- Parent Coffee with the Principal (me!) - this Friday, August 23, at 9:30. Please join me in a casual, informal conversation about all things middle school. It's a great time to connect with campus leadership and learn more about our awesome school!
- SPEDTex - New Texas Education Agency website for parents of students in Special Education
Thank you for doing such a great job with regard to our traffic situation, too. Be mindful, though, of not turning left out of the circle drive. We have plenty of room for people to come from the east using the detour (see article below). If you are having challenges with district transportation, please call the Hodges Bend Transportation Terminal at (281) 634-1970.
Your kids are already experiencing a year where #TitansOwnIt!
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @SLMSTitans, and keep an eye on our campus website, as well.
Keith Fickel, Principal
Online Student Information Verification - Now thru September 18 - HELP!
Sugar Land MS is in 10th place among 15 middle schools with regard to the percentage of families completing the online student information verification. As of August 15, only 29% of families have completed this, which means 790 students' parents still must complete this important step. Please help move SLMS higher in the rankings!!! We can do better!!!
To avoid having to use a forest of paper to print forms for parents to complete on the first day of school, parents may complete this annual task starting July 30. See below for details.
- Verify your child(ren)'s information in Skyward Family Access
- Download this helpful flyer (in English and Spanish) to guide you through the process
- To start the verification process, click here to go to Skyward Family Access
- NOTE 1: Please allow your children "Full Access" (FA) to district computers and the network. In order to conduct research, create projects, take certain assessments, use Schoology, use their district email account, and more, students must have full access to the district's resources
- NOTE 2: Please provide permission for your child(ren) to take surveys. As we seek to hear and listen to students' voices and opinions to make SLMS a better place to work and learn, we cannot do that if students do not have permission to take surveys. We don't do many of them, but the ones we do are important, and they originate from within the district
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.
Student-Owned Electronic Devices
Please take a moment to review our updated campus procedure for student-owned devices. This procedure was developed during the 2018-19 school year in consultation with our Campus-Based Leadership Team, composed of SLMS staff, parents, and community members. Students were made aware of this new procedure during the first week of school, and it will go into full effect on Monday, August 19. We will review it with students during our grade level assemblies this week.
- 8th Grade Assembly - Tuesday, August 20
- 7th Grade Assembly - Wednesday, August 21
- 8th Grade Assembly - Thursday, August 22
SPEDTex - New Texas Education Agency Website for Parents of Special Needs Students
Please visit https://www.spedtex.org/, the new Texas Education Agency website dedicated to parents of children with special needs. SpedTex is a TEA funded project run through Education Service Center 10 in Richardson, TX. SpedTex provides special education information to parents, families, and anyone else that contacts them. Individuals can reach out by phone, email, or live chat through the SpedTex.org website. In addition to assisting parents, families, and other stakeholders with questions, SpedTex has several informative resources available to the public. Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year there will be even more resources made available through the SpedTex project.
Upcoming Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
- Parent Coffee with the Principal – Friday, August 23, at 9:30 AM (these will occur monthly, at varying times during the day and evening, in order to accommodate a variety of schedules)
- Fall Open House – Thursday, September 5; more details coming soon
- Mock Bedroom Event with the Fort Bend Community Prevention Coalition - Wednesday, September 11 at Kempner HS, 6:30 PM (check out their website at http://fortbendcpc.org/ or see the flyer below)
- Mid-Day Break with the Counselors – Wednesday, September 25, at 11:15 AM
Free and Reduced Meal Information
Construction / Traffic Update
UPDATE 8/13/2019
Due to construction along Seventh Street that continues even as the year starts, please take a moment to visit this article on our campus webpage about the traffic pattern on Seventh Street. (You may also click on the image in this article to see a static map with route information).
Additionally, our partners at CW39 produced the video below explaining the detours and key points about arrival and dismissal.
Information about this multi-phase project (DR1801 - Covington Woods Drainage Improvements - Sugar Land MS/Sugar Mill Relief Line) is on the City of Sugar Land’s website (click the "Drainage" tab).
School Supplies and PE Uniforms for 2019-20
All of the supplies for your child's grade level are found on the SLMS school supply list, which was created by the teachers. The only items not included are things like PE uniforms and specialty items needed for certain elective classes. PE uniforms are now on sale through our online store, RevTrak. A list of items needed for specialty electives classes will be shared by your child's teacher once school starts.
FBISD Launches SchoolCafe
FBISD’s Child Nutrition Department will be launching a new software program this school year, SchoolCafe. SchoolCafe will allow parents to create an account, make online payments, view school menus, set account restrictions and more. SchoolCafe can be accessed at https://www.schoolcafe.com/fbisd or through the SchoolCafe app. (Visit the Apple Store or Google Play store to download.)
Please note, you will still be able to view menus through MealViewer.
Users will no longer be able to make online meal payments through RevTrak, which will be going offline August 4 at 11:59 p.m. While RevTrak will no longer be available to process any Child Nutrition payments, all funds currently on meal accounts will transfer automatically into SchoolCafe by end of day Monday, August 5, 2019. Parents will be able to make payments through https://www.schoolcafe.com/fbisd or through the SchoolCafe app on Monday, August 5, 2019.
Should you have any questions, please contact FBISD Child Nutrition at (281) 634-1855.
Student IDs / Check-in Stations - COMING SOON
Early in the school year, FBISD will roll out a new ID badging system for all students and employees. All students and employees throughout FBISD will be required to wear identification badges. The expectation, once rolled out, is that not only will students wear the badge, they will scan their badge at one of two kiosk stations located at building entrances as a "check-in" to help us know they arrived on campus. We don't have all the details to share with you just yet, but we wanted to make sure you were aware that this was going to occur. We have the badging equipment already on campus, but are awaiting training in order to set it up and roll it out. Stay tuned for updates!
Ensuring Lines of Communication Between Home and School Remain Open - Blackboard Connect
Keeping the lines of communication open between home and school is crucial for student success. Therefore, please ensure that your contact information, such as email addresses and phone numbers, are kept up to date in Skyward Family Access and in Blackboard Connect, which was launched in November 2018. Please visit the district's Blackboard Connect information page, and download/view this how-to document related to keeping your Blackboard Account information current. To ensure that all parents and guardians continue to receive timely communications, primary guardians are encouraged to log in to Blackboard Connect to review their contact information, and if they choose, add other contact phone numbers and email addresses for other family members to ensure communications are delivered to them, as well.
Dual-Residency/Power of Attorney Renewals
All Dual/Co-Residence or Power of Attorney (POA) are required by the FBISD to be renewed each school year. If your child will need to be on a Dual/Co-Residence and/or Power of Attorney, you will need to bring the following to Mrs. Phillips:
- Completed affidavit that was mailed to you or you may pick one up at SLMS.
- Obtain notarization of the Dual/Co-Residence Affidavit or Power of Attorney PRIOR to coming to the school.
- Bring the following documents with the notarized affidavit:
- Parent’s ID
- Homeowner/Leaseholder or POA’s ID
- Deed or Lease to the residence
- Current Utility Bill (elec, gas or water)
Your child(ren) will not be permitted to attend school on the 1st day (August 14, 2019) if you have not renewed your DUAL or POA along with all supporting documents by the deadline of Friday, August 9 at 4:00 PM. If the child no longer needs a DUAL or POA, the parent will need to come to campus with the above-mentioned supporting documents to prove zoned residency.
For any questions, please contact Mrs. Phillips at (281) 634-3118, or email her at tandi.phillips@fortbendisd.com
Sugar Land Middle School
Inspiring and equipping the young men and women of our community for futures beyond what they can imagine since 1975.
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