Titan News
Update from Sugar Land MS - November 11, 2019
Great Week at SLMS
We have had a great week at SLMS, including the first-ever FBISD Middle School Cross Country Meet. SLMS had 32 students participate, and three of them placed in their respective races, and two more almost placed! We had some exciting basketball games this week, a great Mens' Choir performance at Dulles HS with 700 other students, 13 students earned chairs in the All-Region Band, a AVID field trip for team-building, and our Theatre students performed at Ren Fest. One Act Play students competed again Saturday at Willowridge HS, earning several individual awards, and they earned a spot at the first-ever Bi-District Competition. Last, students in our No Place for Hate Coalition attended a city-wide Youth Summit on Friday. All of this while students are keeping up with and excelling in their academic endeavors. #TitansOwnIt
This week we observe Veterans Day. Thank you to everyone who submitted information about their family's veterans that we will be able to share on Monday with the students in honor and recognition of the service rendered to our country by members of our local community and their families. We are also having a friendly grade-level competition to see which grade level can have the highest daily attendance for this week--a prize is attached! See item further down in this newsletter for details.
In this newsletter is information about the final week of the semester, which will be much different than in the past. It will include general information about semester exams (a very big change from previous years), as well as the schedule for the week.
Have a great week!
Keith Fickel, Principal
Week of November 11, 2019
Upcoming Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
- Progress Report 4 (PR4) - November 22
- Thanksgiving Holidays - November 25-29
- Buffalo Wild Wings Spirit Night - November 25
SLMS Teacher of the Year Finalists
Congratulations go to Amy Wright, SAILS teacher, Julie Pierce, 6th Grade Science teacher, and Blair Bedner, 7th Grade Science/Robotics teacher, for being named as finalists for the 2019-20 SLMS Teacher of the Year!
New Items for This Week
End of Semester Information
Due to board-approved changes to district grading policy, semester exams look much different this year for middle school students. Essentially, it looks like this:
Students taking courses at SLMS for high school credit or who are enrolled in a single-semester course will have a cumulative semester exam administered over a two-day period on Monday, December 16 and Tuesday, December 17. Part 1 will be given on Monday, and Part 2 will be given on Tuesday. Though the exam is given over a two-day period, it is a single grade. For high school credit courses, this grade (called SE1 in Skyward) will count for 15% of your child’s overall semester average, and for middle school single-semester courses, the grade will be a fourth major grade for T2 (Term 2). Students need to be present for both days.
The courses where students will have a semester exam include the following.
Single Semester Courses (exams in December and May)
- PE 7, Kickstart 7, and Health 7
High School Credit Courses (exam in December and another in May)
- Algebra I
- Principles of Human Services
- Touch Data Systems (Coding and Keyboarding)
- Spanish I
- Spanish for Spanish Speakers
Important Note: While all other classes will not have a cumulative exam in December, they will have one in May that will count for a fourth major grade for T4. For December, though, instruction will continue through the four-day week that ends the semester. Teachers will also be looking ahead to the second semester, and in many cases pre-assessing what students already know about upcoming units so they may plan their instruction more effectively when the second semester begins. Therefore, attendance is crucial.
The semester end schedule may be found on our campus webpage and further down in this newsletter. Please note that for students who are taking exams this semester, no exams may be taken early.
Spirit Night at BWW - Nov. 25
Tamale Sales - Through Nov. 22
REN360 Parent Reports - How To
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.
Grade Level Attendance Competition - November 11-15
Our Attendance Review Committee has created a grade level competition for the week of November 11-15. The grade level that has the highest percentage of attendance that week will receive a donut block party, courtesy of Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union (BVSCU) on Monday, November 18. The details:
- District attendance target is 97.5%
- SLMS is currently at 97.59% (above the district target)
- Winning Grade Level must have an attendance percentage that is at or above 97.5% in order to earn the donut block party
PTO Needs Assistance With Basketball Concessions
With the start of basketball season, our PTO needs assistance running concessions at our home games. Please use this Sign Up Genius to sign up to help. Thank you in advance! You'll also need to complete the Criminal History Authorization online (see next item), if you haven't done so already for this school year.
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.
FBISD Fine Arts Survey
The district is collecting information from students about their fine arts experiences while in middle school. Current 7th and 8th graders who have been in, or who used to be in a fine arts course such as art, band, theater, choir, or orchestra, are requested to complete the survey that is appropriate for them based on the description below. Students will log in using their student ID number (may need to include a leading zero at the beginning, but maybe not). This has been sent to them in their FBISD email accounts (Office 365), as well. Current sixth grade students are not included in this survey.
Select the appropriate link below, based on your child's current fine arts enrollment:
- Students Currently Enrolled in a Fine Arts Course
- Students Who Used to be in a Fine Arts Course, but are NOT Enrolled This Year
The survey closes November 14. If you have any questions about this process, please email FBISDResearch@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