Titan News
Update from Sugar Land MS - November 4, 2019
Greetings!
I hope you enjoyed your extra hour of sleep this weekend, as well as the wonderful, crisp weather! Note that Progress Report 3 (PR3) will be viewable in Skyward Family Access some time after 12:00 PM on Tuesday of this week. Please take some time to consider the many new items in this newsletter, including:
- Veterans Day Plans
- Grade Level Attendance Competition
- Library Newsletter (NEW!)
- Parent Volunteer Needs for Basketball Season
- Immunization Update for Sixth Grade Students/Parents
- Yearbook Prices Going Up November 5
- FBISD Fine Arts Survey for Current and Former Fine Arts Students
Later this week I will also provide you with a separate, detailed message 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 4, 2019
Upcoming Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
- Veterans Day - November 11
- Grade Level Attendance Competition/Incentive - November 11-15
- Mid-Day Break with the Counselors - November 13
- One-Act Play Performances - November 14, 15
- Powder Puff Football Game - November 15
- Coffee with the Principal - November 15
New Items for This Week
Veterans Day - November 11
We want to honor our nation's veterans this year in a special way. While we won't have a formal program, we do want to recognize students' family members, as well as staff and their family members who may have served in our nation's armed forces. We would like to put together a brief video montage listing the names, relationships, branches of service, and even photos of students' family members who served in the military. In order to collect this information, we have created this Veterans Day submission form (which will require a free Google login to submit information; we are not collecting your login info or email addresses, but just the info related to Veterans Day). Submitting a picture is optional, but encouraged if that is something you would like to do. We will collect this information through Thursday, November 7, and then show the video montage to the students during lunches on Monday, November 11 (Veterans Day).
Also, we will request students and staff to wear red, white, and blue or camo on Veterans Day, and if they have one, a photo of their veteran family member that they can pin on their shirt and wear during the day. This will be a special way to recognize our school community's veterans.
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! - $35 through November 4
Yearbooks are currently on sale for $35 until November 4th when the price will go up. 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
FBISD Launches SchoolCafe
FBISD’s Child Nutrition Department has launched 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.
Parents will be able to make payments through https://www.schoolcafe.com/fbisd or through the SchoolCafe app starting Monday, August 5, 2019.
Should you have any questions, please contact FBISD Child Nutrition at (281) 634-1855.
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