SLMS Titan News
Week #37 - May 24, 2021
Greetings SLMS Parents and Guardians,
So now there are just 8 days left in the school year (but who is counting, right?)! Of the remaining 8 days, students will be eating lunch in their classrooms for four of them (May 24, 25, 26, and June 3) and in the cafeteria for the other four (May 27 & 28, and June 1 & 2). This is due to us finishing up the STAAR testing this week Monday through Wednesday. What a year this has been for everyone, but we are almost there!
There is a "vibe" on campus that summer is coming--you can feel it in the students' energy. Please help your child stay on track by only bringing to school the things that are relevant to school, and leaving toys, etc. at home. Additionally, please ensure they arrive to school fully in dress code, and with their school-issued student photo ID, their lanyard, and a water bottle. We want the year to end smoothly and calmly for everyone, without distractions that sometimes arise because of being eager to start summer. Later this week we will share a separate message with you about what to bring to school from June 1-3 and what to leave at home.
If your child is taking a HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT COURSE this year, it is imperative that they sit for their semester exam on the day that it is scheduled (see the schedule further down in this newsletter). If they miss the exam, it is in their best interest to work with the instructor to schedule a time to complete it before the end of the school year. This is because any student taking a high school credit class who misses his/her exam and does not get it made up by June 3 MUST come to take a paper-based version in-person and on campus sometime between June 7 and June 24. This is also true for students in the online learning model. Until the missed exam is made up, students will have a zero ("0") entered for their semester exam grade which counts 15% of the Semester 2 grade. Thank you in advance for your understanding regarding high school credit course semester exams.
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 140 or so 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. Note that if this is not taken care of by June 4, it is possible your child may not be able to start school on the first day of the 2021-22 school year!
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 Celebration Parade - Friday, May 28 at 6:00 PM
- NEW! Panoramic/Composite Picture of 8th Grade Class of 2021
- Collection of FBISD Laptops & Wi-Fi Hotspots Checked Out to Students
- Summer Learning Opportunities
- NEW! Online School Supply Ordering for 2021-22 - Through June 4
- Yearbooks -- Get Them While They Last! (Distribution of Yearbooks is coming soon)
- NEW! Summer Reading Information/Inspiration
- NEW! Project SUCCEED (STEM-Based Summer Learning Opportunities)
- 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 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. Visit our campus website to download or view a map of the parade route.
Panoramic/Composite Picture of 8th Grade Class of 2021 - AVAILABLE NOW!
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. 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 article in this newsletter).
Ordering Information for the Composite/Panoramic Picture
Picture is $30.00 plus tax ($2.10), but has free shipping, and may only be ordered online.
Visit https://vando.imagequix.com/g1000857438 to get started
Then, follow these steps:
- enter your email address, then click "Submit"
- select "Buy Now" in the lower right corner of the screen
- Select "Large Prints" from the menu on the left
- Select the first choice, "10x30 print"
- Select "Final" in the top right corner
- Select "Add to Cart" in lower right corner
- Select "Check Out" in the lower right corner, and follow instructions to complete your transaction
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.
Online students and F2F students who did not get them collected on the last day of school
- Monday, June 7, from 9:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:00
- Tuesday, June 8 and Wednesday, June 9, from 1:00-6:00 PM
- Thursday, June 10, from 9:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:00
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.
Online School Supply Ordering for 2021-22 -- Available through June 4
The SLMS PTO wants to make it easy for you to get your child's school supplies for the 2021-22 school year, and they have partnered with Teacher Tailored / SchoolKidz to provide a convenient, cost-effective way to purchase supplies for next year. All of the supplies for your child's grade level are included, based off of 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 uniform sales will begin in late July in a separate process. A list of items needed for specialty electives classes will be shared by your child's teacher once school starts.
Here are some of the reasons to consider ordering your supplies through this program:
- No hassle, no lines to get in
- Check one more thing off of your back-to-school to-do list
- You get everything on the school supply list in the correct quantities
- Supplies are delivered directly to school in a box labeled with your child's name (one less thing to have to bring to school)
- Most items are guaranteed by the company to last the entire school year and will be replaced if that doesn't happen
- Cost-effective (kits range from $55-60), and you won't even be charged sales tax!)
- You help the PTO, which in turn helps the students and teachers!
Here is how to order:
Online
- Visit http://www.shopttkits.com, and enter our school's program code, which is 93458
- Orders are taken online through June 4, 2021
Paper Order Form
- If you need to order via a paper order form, please contact Lisa Vogel, PTO president, at the email address below.
Orders will be delivered to the school and distributed to students at a date to be determined.
If you have questions, please contact Lisa Vogel at vogelville2@yahoo.com.
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.
NOTE: Yearbook Distribution will occur before school is out. A separate communication about that process will be forthcoming.
Summer Reading Information
The purpose of summer reading in FBISD is to engage students in an enjoyable reading experience that maintains and fosters literacy. Unlike in years past, there is not "summer reading list" of specific titles for specific grade levels.
During the summer, we encourage parents and families to commit to 30 minutes a day of reading texts of their choice while school is not in session. Research suggests that this simple commitment provides growth in vocabulary, fluency, background knowledge, and overall comprehension. If you need a little inspiration or ideas to get you started, download the "25 Book Summer Challenge" one-pager below! Consider visiting the FBISD webpage devoted to summer reading, as well.
Readers are Leaders!
Project SUCCEED (STEM-Based Summer Learning Opportunities)
Project SUCCEED is a student-run organization that is dedicated to spreading STEM in the community. We host STEM-based classes for anyone in the community, and we utilize a low-price system for our classes. Course fees are only $30.00, and all course fees and money donated to our cause go towards spreading STEM to disadvantaged children’s hospitals.
This summer, we are hosting various programming courses virtually via Google Classroom in multiple coding languages and for any experience level. The courses include Beginner Java (6th – 8th grade), Intermediate Java (7th – 9th grade), Game Development (6th – 8th grade), and Anatomy (5th-8th grade) and each will be a series of five 2-hour sessions. Beginner Java is recommended for students with no prior background coding knowledge who wish to build a solid programming foundation for future STEM activities. Intermediate Java is for students who already know the basics of the Java programming language. Game Development will be for students that would like to be introduced to the STEM world by designing and creating their own playable games. Anatomy and Physiology will be for students that would like to learn about the different body systems and for students that have a passion in the medical field. Each course will be over one week from the summer, with the course-specific dates and times listed on our website. The sign-up link can be found on our website as well, on the Summer Camps page under the Events tab.
For more information, you can visit our website at www.projectsucceed.org or contact us at info@projectsucceed.org. You can also visit our social media pages: Facebook and Twitter, or download the flyer linked below.
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.
- Monday, May 24 - STAAR Social Studies 8 (online students who "opted in" and F2F students who need to make it up)
- Tuesday, May 25 - STAAR Math 8 (online students who "opted in" and F2F students who need to make it up)
- Wednesday, May 26 - STAAR Reading 8 (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
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!
Note that if this is not taken care of by June 4, it is possible your child may not be able to start school on the first day of the 2021-22 school year!
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