SLMS Titan News
Week #18 - December 13, 2021
Greetings SLMS Parents, Guardians, Students, and Staff,
Well, this is it! The final week of the semester! We have come a long way since the start of the school year, and we hope that is a great week for everyone. It is a busy week for sure. Please look through this issue of Titan News to see the schedule and expectations for the week. A separate communication about the final week was sent separately, but it is available for download here. The daily schedule for this week is below in the At a Glance section and even more detailed article below related to the end of the week schedule.
We had a fabulous 8th grade Career Day this past Thursday, and we thank our students for their active engagement and participation. We thank our counseling staff for their outstanding work in preparing for this event, and we thank our PTO for helping, as well. Thank you to Kempner HS student leaders and programs for playing a central role in our day, as well. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the panoramic picture that was taken, please visit the Herndon Panoramics website.
It is also not too late for families to provide a $10.00 gift card to a restaurant or a food establishment that can be shared with teachers and school staff during their holiday luncheon as a token of parent appreciation for their efforts this fall. Please consider dropping off at least one $10.00 gift card to the front office by Tuesday, December 14. Thank you for considering this opportunity to help show your appreciation for teachers and school staff!
Please see the item below regarding the opportunity to screen the independent film Angst, regarding managing anxiety. The film is free to stream online through December 17, 2021. A link to the video is included below.
Please take some time to review this week's newsletter, which contains information about:
- Upcoming Events
- Spelling Bee!!!
- HAABSE Teacher of the Year and Paraprofessionals of the Year
- 12 Days of Holiday Cheer - December 2 through 17
- Note about Pajama Day December 17
- Screening of Independent Film "Angst" - Helping to Manage Anxiety
- Student ID's and Lanyards - Updated Protocols and Expectations
- End of Semester Schedule - December 14 thru 17
- Yearbooks On Sale Online Now!!! - Only $40
- Everyone Can Help With Yearbook Pictures!
- Birthday Messages on the SLMS Electronic Marquee
- Important Contact Information
I hope you have a peaceful and enjoyable end to the semester, and we want all of our Titans to return to us safely on Wednesday, January 5, when we start the second semester!
Sincerely,
Keith Fickel, Principal
#NewBeginnings
#TitansOwnIt
#ReturnOfTheTitans
The Week At A Glance
Upcoming and Important Dates
- Early Release Days (release at 1:25) - December 16 and 17
- Winter Break - December 20 through January 4
- School Resumes - January 5
Spelling Bee!!!
Our campus Spelling Bee was held this past week, and we offer our congratulations to SLMS Spelling Bee winner Kelsey W. and to alternate Shankara A., and our 3rd place ties Liam L., Tim N., and Elektra A.! We are proud of you & all who competed! Thank you, also, to our judging panel & Mr. Sinclair for hosting!
Recognizing Some Outstanding SLMS Titan Staff
Mr. Jonathan Smith - HAABSE Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Mr. Jonathan Smith upon being named as the SLMS HAABSE Teacher of the Year. HAABSE, or Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators, recognizes the incredible work of educators that impact the lives of minority students in the greater Houston area, and we are pleased to honor Mr. Smith with this recognition!
Mrs. Sherri Woodcock - Non-Instructional Paraprofessional of the Year
Mrs. Woodcock is one of our outstanding Administrative Assistants. She handles all of our substitute teacher and class coverage needs, our campus calendar, work orders to keep the building in tip top shape, and much more. Congratulations to you, Mrs. Woodcock!
Mr. Ezzard Sam - Instructional Paraprofessional of the Year
Mr. Sam works with our Behavior Support Services team, supporting students. He provides academic and behavioral support to our students, and he pitches in before and after school in many different ways, and he is the consummate team player. Congratulations, Mr. Sam!
12 Days of Holiday Cheer - December 2 thru 17
Please see the daily schedule for 12 Days of Holiday Cheer. All staff and students are encouraged to participate. The school dress code is still in effect each day.
A Little Note about Friday's Pajama Day...
Please note that this Friday's Pajama Day is not a deviation from the district's dress code; the dress code allows for special days, like pajama days. Please note that the district dress code is still in full effect, meaning that students need to treat their pajamas, should they want to wear them, just as they would any other kinds of clothing. See graphic below for our Pajama Day Guidelines.
Anxiety Awareness - Screening of Video "Angst"
Fort Bend ISD’s students, parents, staff and community are encouraged to view Angst, an IndieFlix Original documentary designed to raise awareness about anxiety, with an emphasis on youth and families. Angst is available for streaming now through December 17, 2021. Please visit this link to stream the video.
The screenings are part of the District’s Whole Child Health Initiative and are in collaboration with the District’s School Health Advisory Council and are proudly sponsored by UnitedHealthcare.
Student ID's and Lanyards - Revised Guidelines and Expectations
At the beginning of the school year, each student was issued a color-coded lanyard (coded by grade level), a photo ID, and a plastic sleeve to keep the ID in and to attach to the lanyard. The expectation is that students wear their ID visible at all times over their outermost layer of clothing, except when doing physical exercise in Kickstart or PE/Athletics class. As we have progressed throughout the fall semester, a growing number of students have lost their ID (some students multiple times), and we have created new ones for them, without charge. Also, an increasing number of students continue to forget bringing their ID's to school, and we issue a temporary sticker ID badge to them. Both of these processes are massively time-consuming for our staff and result in lost instructional time for students, and in the case of the replacement ID badges themselves, it has become an expense that we cannot continue to subsidize. Therefore, starting Wednesday, December 1, students who lose their ID badge and need a replacement will be charged $5.00 to offset the cost of the supplies. Also, once students have forgotten their ID for the 4th time and have been given a temporary sticker ID badge, they will begin to be issued consequences. These consequences may progress from lunch detention, to after school detention, and if needed, Saturday detention, and possibly exclusion from the ability to attend school functions after hours. Our office staff have lost a great deal of their productivity and support time to address these growing issues with ID badges, and we hope that these new procedures will help them to regain their lost time, but also to instill a level of responsibility in students to keep up with this expectation. Students are expected to have and wear their ID badge every day, just as they are expected to be in dress code each day and to bring their school supplies to/from school each day. Please help your child keep track of his/her ID badge so that it does not get lost and that it is remembered every day.
Please note that we will collect the ID badges from 6th and 7th graders at the end of the year for re-distribution at the start of 2022-23 school year, and we will create new badges for students during the 2022-23 school year once our fall portraits have been uploaded into Skyward. Thank you in advance for your understanding and support of these revised guidelines and expectations.
End of Semester Schedule - December 14 - 17
Yearbooks On Sale Online NOW! Only $40.00
Our yearbook staff is hard at work creating the yearbook for this year. You do not want to miss out. Yearbooks are $40.00, which is the same price as last year, and they may be purchased online by visiting this page on the Balfour website.
We still have copies of last year's yearbook available for sale, as well. They are $40.00, and may be purchased only with exact cash, money order, or check, and they are not available online. Please contact our Yearbook Sponsor, Ms. Simpson at alison.simpson@fortbendisd.com if you have any questions regarding this year's yearbook (or last year's yearbook).
Everyone Can Help with Pictures for the Yearbook
The yearbook staff cannot be everywhere to take pictures for the yearbook, but you can help them out! Download the Balfour ImageShare app to your device, and follow the instructions in the flyer below to be able to share pictures you have taken for possible inclusion in the yearbook. Pictures submitted must be school-relevant and appropriate. The yearbook staff and sponsor will determine which photos to include. Note that any inappropriate photos submitted will be referred to campus administration, and possibly to law enforcement, if warranted.
Birthday Messages on SLMS Marquee
Does your SLMS child have an upcoming birthday? Would you like to wish them a happy birthday on our new digital campus marquee? The PTO is coordinating birthday messages to go on our marquee as a means of raising funds to help meet needs of students and teachers. Publicizing your child's birthday is only $15.00. Please follow these simple steps to get your child's birthday announced on the marquee:
- Visit https://my.cheddarup.com/c/slmspto
- Scroll down to the "Happy Birthday Marquee" item
- Click "Add to Cart"; you are redirected to another screen where you will
- Enter information about your child and select the style of announcement you wish to see on the marquee
- Click "Add to Cart ($15.00)"
- Review your order
- Click "Continue to Forms"
- Enter your child's name and grade level
- Click "Continue to Payment" and finish your purchase
Note that submissions must be received at least two weeks ahead of the desired date to be posted on our campus marquee. Please contact Heather Martin of the SLMS PTO at heathermartincpa@gmail.com with questions. And feel free to order SLMS swag like hoodies, t-shirts, and more while you are ordering your child's birthday message!
Important Contact Information
- Associate Principal - Monika Martin (monika.martin@fortbendisd.com)
- Counselor - Nafecia Brinson (nafecia.brinson@fortbendisd.com)
- Assistant Principal - Dr. Dawn Rogers (dawn.rogers@fortbendisd.com)
- Counselor - Eleni Smith (eleni.smith@fortbendisd.com)
Eighth Grade
- Assistant Principal - Luster Goodwin (luster.goodwin@fortbendisd.com)
- Counselor - Kim Seright (kimberly.seright@fortbendisd.com)
Counselor Clerk - Carmen Brantley (carmen.brantley@fortbendisd.com)
Assistant Principal Secretaries
- 7th and 8th Grade - Tina Garcia (diamantina.ibarragar@fortbendisd.com)
- 6th Grade - Sherri Woodcock (sherri.woodcock@fortbendisd.com)
Attendance - Mary Beth LaVergne (mary.lavergne@fortbendisd.com)
Registrar - Tandi Phillips (tandi.phillips@fortbendisd.com)
Nurse - Shetal Patel (shetal.patel@fortbendisd.com)
Clinic Aide - Cassandra Rodarte (cassandra.rodarte@fortbendisd.com)
Executive Assistant to Principal Fickel - Mary Connealy (mary.connealy@fortbendisd.com)
Sugar Land Middle School
46 Years
1975-2021
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
#NewBeginnings
#Resilience
Office Hours
8:20-4:20 PM
Email: keith.fickel@fortbendisd.com
Website: www.fortbendisd.com/slms
Location: 321 7th Street, Sugar Land, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 634-3080
Twitter: @SLMSTitans