Titan News
Update from Sugar Land MS - August 5, 2019
Almost-Back-To-School Update
It is almost here! The start of the 2019-20 school year is Wednesday, August 14, and we are excited to have your children join us for a wonderful year of growth in academics and social/emotional learning. Seventh Street continues to undergo some serious construction, and will for some time. Thank you for your patience and understanding with this. We will communicate frequently with you about the road construction progress. For now, planning ahead and being patient will be the two best things you can do. Expect to have a MAJOR communication delivered to your inbox sometime on or around August 10 regarding traffic flow along Seventh Street. Please take a moment to review the first-day reminders below, along with all of the other important pieces of information, so that you and your children have a smooth launch to the school year.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @SLMSTitans, and keep an eye on our campus website, as well.
Keith Fickel, Principal
Documentation/Paperwork Deadline – August 9 at 4:00 PM
If you have documentation that must be turned in (including but not limited to outstanding immunizations, renewals of dual-residency, change of address, and/or power of attorney, etc.), please bring it to SLMS by 4:00 PM on Friday, August 9. This is our cut-off time so that staff may complete their readiness tasks for the first day of school. Students who have outstanding items as of 4:00 PM on Friday, August 9, will be unable to attend classes on the first day of school. Unfortunately, we will not be able to make any exceptions to this, so please be sure to meet the deadline.
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.
Construction Along Seventh Street
UPDATE 8/5/2019
If you have been by SLMS at all recently, you've noticed that access to SLMS off of Seventh Street will not be possible if you are traveling westbound from Eldridge. Instead, please access our campus from the eastbound lane of Seventh Street (coming from Main/Burney). We will have a MAJOR communication on or about August 10, regarding traffic flow changes that will affect the first several weeks of school, as construction continues on Seventh Street. This will affect all of our students in some way or another, whether they are a car rider, bus rider, walker, or bike rider. This message will come separately, and it will also be posted on our campus web page.
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).
Online Student Information Verification - July 30 through September 18
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
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.
Families who ordered supplies online prior to the June 14 deadline should have their supplies available by our new orientation date (next item). If they do not arrive to campus in time for orientation, they will be available from your child's first period teacher on the first day of school. Thank you for your flexibility on this new opportunity.
Titan Camp - Incoming 6th Grade and New 7th/8th Grade Students - Change in Dates
UPDATE 7/19/19 -- CHANGE IN DATES
This is an event for all of our incoming 6th grade students, as well as any 7th or 8th grade students who are new to Sugar Land MS for the 2019-20 school year. Due to ongoing construction along Seventh Street and the challenge of accessing the parking lot on the east side of the campus, we have broken this event into two sessions on different days. Please come at the date and time listed below for your part of the alphabet. We anticipate that Seventh Street will still be a one-way street on these two dates, so please be patient. Note that there is no Titan Camp for our returning 7th and 8th grade students.
- Last Names A thru L - Thursday, August 8, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM
- Last Names M thru Z - Monday, August 12, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Opportunities for attendees:
- Get locker assignment/combination
- Add funds to your cafeteria account
- Receive your list of classes
- Purchase PE uniform
- Purchase Titan swag from our PTO store
- Make some new friends!
If you cannot attend this event, it's okay! We'll catch you up on the first day of school, which is Wednesday, August 14.
You may also find information on our campus webpage about our Sixth Grade Titan Camp / New Student Orientation.
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!
Free and Reduced Meal Information
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.
Volleyball and Football Information (Grades 7 and 8 only)
All students need a valid and up to date athletic physical on file before they can participate in extracurricular activities. Students can download an athletic physical form off the FBISD athletics page and bring it with them to submit to their coaches on the first day of school (or before school starts, which is better). All students need to visit www.rankonesport.com and fill out all of the electronic forms. All forms need to be submitted electronically, AND the physical form must be turned in before a student athlete is eligible to tryout/participate.
Football
- The football equipment pickup schedule will be as follows after school:
- Wednesday, August 14 (8th Grade only)
- Thursday, August 15 (7th Grade only)
- Friday, August 16- 7/8th grade students who have not picked up equipment on their scheduled day
- Equipment pickup will be in the boys’ locker room and will begin immediately after students are called for over the PA. If you do not have a physical please do not come to pick up equipment, as you will not be eligible
- The first day of football practice will be after school Monday, August 19
- Students will only need to purchase football cleats. All other equipment will be provided by FBISD
- If you have questions, please contact Coach Esposito at Pete.Esposito@fortbendisd.com
Volleyball
- Tryouts are August 14, 15, and 16, after school until 5:45, as well as before school from 6:45-8:15 AM on August 15 and 16. Students must attend ALL tryout dates and time (both before and after school)
- Physicals and online electronic forms must be completed and submitted prior to trying out. See information above
- Contact Coach Woods at toni.woods@fortbendisd.com if you have any questions
First Day of School - What do I need to know?
Where Do I Go, and What Do I Do?
- Building opens at 8:20 AM (outside supervision is not provided until 8:15 AM)
- 6th Grade – report to Commons (Cafeteria)
- 7th Grade – report to Boys’ Gym
- 8th Grade – report to Girls’ Gym
- All Students: In each area, there will be an alphabetical list of names on the wall. Students will find their name on their grade level list, and then find the name of their first period teacher. Then, the student will go sit at that teacher’s table or in that teacher's line
Limited supplies needed for the first day of school
- Pen or pencil
- Lunch or lunch money
- String bag (roughly 15” x 15”)
- Please DO NOT bring all of your school supplies on the first day
First Day of School Reminders
- Sugar Land MS strives to maintain a welcoming, yet safe environment and to give superior customer service to our community. On the first day of school, please support our transition process, and allow your middle-schooler to enter the building independently, unless you are dropping off medication at the clinic or have a pre-arranged meeting. Parents will have the opportunity to visit their child’s classes at Open House on Sept. 5
- School Hours: 8:55 (tardy bell) to 4:10 (dismissal)
- Building Hours for Students: 8:20 to 4:20. Students should not arrive to campus before 8:15 AM, as we do not provide supervision until 8:15 AM
- Parents should observe all traffic signage along Seventh Street, as well as remain patient – especially due to the road construction. SLPD and FBISD Police will be monitoring
- Bike riders should utilize the bike rack near the main entrance off of Seventh Street; please walk bikes once arriving on campus property
- Car riders should only use the front circle drive by the main entrance off Seventh Street; there are no left turns permitted from the front circle drive onto Seventh Street. No student drop-off/pick-up in any parking lot. Look for the MAJOR communication from us sometime around August 10, regarding traffic flow for student drop-off and pick-up
- Bus route information may be found on this district webpage (if your child is eligible for bus service). Make sure your child knows his/her bus route information
Student-Owned Electronic Devices
Please take a moment to review our updated campus procedure for student-owned devices, which will be implemented when school starts in August. 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. We will go over this procedure with students in detail when school begins.
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/
- Mid-Day Break with the Counselors – Wednesday, September 25, at 11:15 AM
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 (Until the start of School on August 14)
- 8:00-4:00 Monday-Friday
- Closed 12:00-1:00 for lunch
Website: www.fortbendisd.com/slms
Location: 321 7th Street, Sugar Land, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 634-3080
Twitter: @SLMSTitans