SLMS Titan News
Week #36 - May 17, 2021
Greetings SLMS Parents and Guardians,
Learning continues at SLMS, as does STAAR testing. Please ensure your child is in attendance every day, as well as actively engaged in their learning, whether online or face to face. I hope that you have taken time over the last few days to have a candid discussion with your child(ren) regarding social media and the concerns I brought to your attention this past Thursday evening (you may view Thursday's message here). We want to bring this school year to a peaceful, calm ending over the course of the next three weeks, and we must partner together to make that be a reality.
As I mentioned, STAAR testing continues this week with the schedule you may find further down in the newsletter. REGARDING TRAFFIC IN THE MORNINGS THIS WEEK -- it is vital for our parents to know THIS WEEK, when online students come up to school to take their STAAR tests, traffic will increase significantly in the car rider line in the mornings. Therefore, please plan ahead and plan to arrive earlier than you typically do so that your children are on time to school. Remember, also, that students are only to be dropped off in the car rider circle, not along Seventh Street or in the parking lots. When everyone is ready with their wellness screener completed and ready to be shown to staff, the line moves very quickly. Thank you in advance for your understanding and your readiness.
We still have 165 of our current sixth grade students whose immunization records have yet to be updated in our clinic. Please get this taken care of ASAP. See the article below about immunizations for sixth graders. It includes contact information and instructions. If you received a separate email from Mr. Fickel, along with a voice message within the last week regarding this topic, your prompt attention is greatly appreciated.
Our annual 8th grade awards ceremony was held virtually this past Thursday evening, and it was a wonderful celebration of our outstanding 8th grade students. It was recorded, and we have an item below that contains a link to the recording.
We will also be coming to within the week with information related to school supplies for the 2021-22 school year, new student orientation sessions prior to the start of school, a preview of our bell schedule for next year, and a few other updates to help you get a sense of what 2021-22 will look like at SLMS.
Please take a moment to get caught up to all the goings-on at SLMS this week by reading the news items below. This edition of Titan News includes information about:
- Upcoming Events
- 8th Grade Virtual Awards Ceremony Recording
- 8th Grade Celebration Parade - Friday, May 28 at 6:00 PM
- Collection of FBISD Laptops & Wi-Fi Hotspots Checked Out to Students
- Panoramic/Composite Picture of 8th Grade Class of 2021
- Summer Learning Opportunities
- Yearbooks -- Get Them While They Last!
- STAAR Testing Schedule for This Week (Online Students & F2F Make-Ups)
- STAAR Schedule for the Month of May (Downloadable)
- End of Year Schedule (May 28 through June 3)
- SLMS Boys' Athletics for 2021-22 -- Calling All Current Sixth and Seventh Graders!
- Immunizations for Current Sixth Grade Students -- How to be Ready for Seventh Grade
Thank you for taking some time to consider the items in this week's Titan News. I hope each of you has a great week this week!
Sincerely,
Keith Fickel, Principal
#Resilience
#GracePatienceOptimism
#BetterTogether
#InfinitePossibilities
#TitansOwnIt
Week At-A-Glance
Upcoming Events
- May 28 - Beginning of the Final Week Schedule (see below)
- May 31 - Memorial Day Holiday
- June 3 - Early Release Day (1:20 PM)
8th Grade Virtual Awards Ceremony Recap
On Thursday, May 13, we conducted our annual 8th grade awards ceremony virtually through Zoom. If you or a loved one were unable to attend, we recorded the ceremony, and have placed it on our campus webpage. The link to the video is below. We celebrated all of our 8th grade students who had Perfect Attendance (3 years); Perfect Attendance (8th grade); All-A Honor Roll (3 years); All-A Honor Roll (8th Grade); A/B Honor Roll (3 Years); A/B Honor Roll (8th Grade); Presidential Award of Achievement; and, Presidential Award of Excellence. We also honored the following students with special recognition:
- Outstanding 8th Grade Boy / Principal's Award - Joshua Tran
- Outstanding 8th Grade Girl / Principal's Award - Ashlyn Adams
- Outstanding Citizen Award from Sugar Land Lions Club - Presley Bailey
- 8th Grade Student Speaker - Hallel Chery
We wish to thank all of the faculty and staff at SLMS, as well as all of the students' parents for doing such a great job supporting our 8th graders over the years. Special shout-outs go to Ms. Trish Thompson for creating the awards video, Mrs. Carmen Brantley for all the logistics put into the awards ceremony, and to Ms. Nafecia Brinson and Mrs. Monika Martin, 8th grade counselor and administrator, respectively, for their teamwork in bringing our 8th graders through middle school from start to finish. Congratulations again, 8th graders! We look forward to seeing you shine in high school, as well as to seeing you at our 8th Grade Celebration Parade this Friday, May 21 (see next item).
8th Grade Awards Ceremony Recording
8th Grade Celebration Parade - MOVED to Friday, May 28
Attention all 8th graders, whether online or F2F... Please come out between 6:00 and 7:00 PM this Friday, May 28, to school and participate in our 8th Grade Celebration Parade, which is designed to honor you for your perseverance and hard work throughout middle school, but most particularly for what you have endured during the 14 months of the pandemic. We have swag to give you, and we want very much to see you and celebrate you and your family as the middle school chapter of your life comes to a close.
Panoramic/Composite Picture of 8th Grade Class of 2021 - COMING SOON!
Each year since the early 1980s, the 8th grade class has had a panoramic picture taken and made available to students to purchase. We also have them on display in our main hallway (see image). This year, with the help of our yearbook company representative, Ryan Almon, we have created a composite version of this picture, using students' school portraits from this year. We only included those students whose parents did not withhold permission for the school to use their child's image for publication back at the beginning of the school year. We hope to bring you an online ordering process soon to be able to purchase one of these one-of-a-kind pictures. Though our yearbook representative helped us to get this made, this is not in any way connected to the yearbook itself (which, by the way, is still for sale...see yearbook item below). Ordering Information for the Composite/Panoramic Picture Coming Soon!
Collection of FBISD-Owned Laptops and Hotspots
The district has checked out over 40,000 laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots to students this year. At SLMS, that number is just under 700 devices. We will begin our collection of them with the following schedule. We will send a more thorough communication soon with more specifics. Our plan accounts for the need for devices until the last day of school. Students will need to turn in everything they were issued - charging cables, bags, etc.
- F2F students - Last Day of School (throughout the day) - Thursday, June 3
- Online students and F2F students who did not get them collected on the last day of school - Monday, June 7 through Thursday, June 10, from 8:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:30
- Students in either learning model (OL or F2F) with FBISD devices (either laptops or Wi-Fi hotspots) WHO ARE CURRENTLY NOT USING THEM may contact Mrs. Tina Garcia at (281) 634-3117 or at diamantina.ibarragar@fortbendisd.com to schedule a time NOW to turn the device(s) in.
Two Important Notes:
- We will NOT be collecting devices for students who need to attend Summer School or Summer Bridge; they will be collected at a later date. These students already know who they are because they have been contacted by our counseling staff, or will be contacted this week if they haven't been already
- Aside from students attending Summer School (#1 above), ALL FBISD DEVICES are due to be collected and turned in by Thursday, June 10
Summer Learning Opportunities
Please download the flyer below to learn more about summer learning opportunities for all students. Note: this is not about summer school, but rather learning opportunities and extensions that may be conducted at home during the summer.
Yearbooks -- Get Them While They Last! Only $40.00
The end of the year is quickly approaching, and we plan to distribute our 2020-21 yearbooks to students who purchased them at end of May. It is not too late to get one of the few remaining books we have available. Therefore, we have extended the sales window until supplies run out. If you have not ordered yet, please take advantage of this opportunity. You may place your order for this year's book by visiting our SLMS Balfour Online Storefront today. This year's book is only $40.00, and it may only be purchased online.
Additionally, we have a limited number of last year's books (2019-20) that we will be selling in the front office for a discounted price of $30.00 (cash or check; not available online). This is a special sale that will not be offered again. If you missed the opportunity to purchase one, we encourage you to stop by and pick one up. You can always ask about previous years as well, as we have a small number of other books still available. Yearbooks from the 2018-19 school year and prior will only be $20.00, if they are available.
STAAR Testing Schedule for This Week
STAAR Testing This Week is ONLINE students who "opted in", as well as F2F students who need to make up a previously administered STAAR due to absence(s) (see blue and white chart below). Any student who has missed any portion of STAAR may do so this week. All assessments will be administered on campus using the online STAAR platform. Please contact Becky White at becky.white@fortbendisd.com with any questions you may have.
- Tuesday, May 18 - 6th & 7th Grade STAAR Math (online students who "opted in" and F2F students who need to make it up)
- Thursday, May 20 - 6th & 7th Grade STAAR Reading (online students who "opted in" and F2F students who need to make it up)
- Friday, May 21 - 8th Grade STAAR Science (online students who "opted in" and F2F students who need to make it up)
All Students Taking STAAR, Please Note the Following:
- District laptops will be furnished for students who do not already have a district device issued to them. Students who have a district device issued to them need to bring it with them to school that day, FULLY CHARGED, and also bring the charging cable, just in case
- The assessment will be administered at Sugar Land MS via the STAAR online platform (i.e. via district laptops).
- Students will need a set of wired earbuds (not air pods or wireless ear buds)
- Students will need to bring a sack lunch from home, or be prepared to receive a sack lunch from the cafeteria
- NOTE: see the chart below if your child is an online student who "opted in" to take the STAAR Assessments. They will go about their usual online class schedule except when they will come up to campus to take the STAAR tests, as shown in the blue and white chart below.
If you have questions about STAAR, please email becky.white@fortbendisd.com
STAAR Testing Schedule for May 2021
Below, please find a chart showing how SLMS is administering the STAAR assessments this year. There is a link to download it as a PDF, as well, found below the chart. Please take note of a few general items related to STAAR assessments at SLMS in May:
- All testing will be done IN PERSON at SLMS, even for students in the online learning model who "opted in" to take the STAAR assessments this year
- With the exception of F2F 6th grade students on May 11 and 12, all assessments will be administered using the STAAR online platform that is loaded on FBISD-owned laptops. F2F 6th grade students will take their assessments on May 11 and 12 using the traditional paper-based assessment method
- Related to #2 above, if you have been issued a FBISD-owned laptop, please bring it, FULLY CHARGED, along with the charging cable to school on your STAAR day(s)
- All students, including those in the online learning model who "opted in" to take the STAAR assessments, must continue to complete the wellness screener in Skyward prior to arrival at SLMS
- When students who are in the online learning model complete their STAAR assessment, they will contact a parent who will then come to campus to pick them up and take them home, where they are expected to engage with their regular classes online for the balance of the day
Questions about STAAR assessments may be directed to becky.white@fortbendisd.com
End of Year Schedule - May 28 through June 3
Please download the document linked below, which is the End of Year Schedule, covering the dates of Friday, May 28 through Thursday, June 3. This document explains what will be happening on these four days.
You may recall that the district adjusted Wednesday, June 2, by making it a full day (8:50-4:05), rather than an early release day, because of minutes needed to comply with state law. Therefore, our only early release day is the last day of school, Thursday, June 3. School will be over at 1:20 that day.
More details about expectations for the final days of school will be sent at a later date. Download the document below, Middle School Semester 2 End Schedule 2021. It is the same at all district middle schools.
Face to Face Student Schedule
Online Student Schedule
Interested in Boys' Athletics at SLMS Next Year? Please Complete This Form!
In an effort to gain more participation and streamline communication for athletics next year, the boys' athletics department has created a form for prospective student athletes (current 6th and 7th graders) to complete. Those students who select a sport will be contacted to let them know prior to the start of school what will be required of them to be able to participate in their choice of sport. Students will be able to enter a response using the link below, which will take them to 1Link, where they will be logged into their student Microsoft account.
The link is: https://forms.office.com/r/RrRfR2FhRM
Important Information For Face-to-Face Students in Term 4
Please take a moment to open the two documents below related to expectations and safety for in-person (face to face) learners and their parents (regarding car rider line safety)
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!
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
#Resilience
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