SLMS Titan News
Week #9 - October 4, 2021
Greetings SLMS Parents, Guardians, Students, and Staff,
This week is a short week; students will be at school only on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week, as teachers have two professional development days on Thursday and Friday. The following week is also a short week; it starts with a Monday Holiday (Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day) on October 11, and school will resume on Tuesday, October 12, which also happens to be the first day of the second nine-week grading period, Term 2. Term 1 ends this Wednesday, Oct. 6.
Please take some time to view my recorded message above. In the message, I share from my heart many things that parents need to know regarding several topics, mostly regarding our school environment and safety. A written transcript of the video message is available just below the video. Click the "download" link.
I hope you have a joy-filled and peaceful week, and please take a moment to thank your child's teachers or send a note of encouragement to them on Tuesday, October 5, which is World Teacher's Day.
This week's news contains information about:
- Upcoming Events
- Titan Shout-Outs!
- Science Club News
- Walk-In COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at SLMS - October 9
- PSAT (Eighth Graders) - October 13
- Wristband Sales for Pink-Out Volleyball Game Oct 12 Go On Sale Oct 4
- Coffee with the Principal - October 15
- Fall Portrait Day - October 18
- Yearbooks On Sale Online Now!!! - Only $40
- Lending Library Devices and Technology
- SLMS Trunk or Treat Family Event - Thursday, October 21
- Birthday Messages on the SLMS Electronic Marquee
- Remote Conferencing
- Important Contact Information
Please take some time to consider the items in our Titan News. Communication and understanding are the two most important pre-requisites from which we may build trust for the best possible school/family relationship.
We hope you have a great week.
Sincerely,
Keith Fickel, Principal
#NewBeginnings
#TitansOwnIt
#ReturnOfTheTitans
The Week At A Glance
Upcoming and Important Dates
- Football v. Fort Settlement (at Hall Stadium) - October 5
- Volleyball v. Dulles (at SLMS) - October 6
- End of Term 1 – Thursday, October 6 (viewable in Skyward Family Access Oct. 5)
- Walk-In COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics at Sugar Land MS – October 9 (see below)
- Student/Staff Holiday - October 11 (School Resumes on Tuesday, October 12
- October "Coffee with the Principal" - October 15
- Fall Portraits – October 18 thru PE/Health/Kickstart classes
- Trunk or Treat – October 21 from 5:30-6:30 PM
Titan Shout-Outs!
I would like to give a big shoutout to our awesome Orchestra students and their directors Ms. de Leeuw and Mr. Lethridge for a fantastic concert this past Thursday evening. It was wonderful to have students performing in concert again and to see them supported by their parents. Great work from everyone! Congratulations, also, to our Cross Country team and their coach, Mr. Eckhardt, for a great showing at last week's meet at Baines MS. In 7th grade, Maximo G. placed 3rd and Sawyer B. placed 6th. In 8th grade boys, Liam L. placed 6th, and in 8th grade girls, Samantha C. placed 6th, and Holly F. placed 1st. What a great showing! Congratulations, as well, to our 7th grade girls' Volleyball team and their coaches on their win last week against First Colony. Teamwork makes the Dream Work!
Science Club News
Science Club will have its first meeting on Tuesday, October 12 from 4:20 to 6 p.m. Pick up a permission slip from your science teacher. Students will need to have transportation home. Talk to your science teacher or see 6th grade science teacher Mrs. Pierce in her classroom, room 607.
Walk-In COVID-19 Vaccinations at SLMS - Saturday, October 9
PSAT October 13 (Eighth Grade)
Current 8th grade students will take the Preliminary SAT (PSAT ®) on October 13, 2021
- Testing is on Oct. 13 – make-ups are not available
- Arrive on time – 8:50 a.m.
- Two (2) - #2 pencils
- Testing will end prior to lunch
- Students may bring personal calculator, even though math questions are answerable without one.
The PSAT™ 8/9 is the first test in the SAT Suite of Assessments. Designed for eighth and ninth-graders and tightly aligned with the SAT® and PSAT/NMSQT®, the PSAT 8/9 establishes a baseline for college and career readiness as students enter high school. The PSAT 8/9 measures the reading, writing and language, and math skills students need for college and a career. Calculators will only be supplied by the campus to 11th grade students who are the only level eligible for the National Merit Scholarship program. While calculators are not essential for success on the PSAT/NMSQT, 8th grade students are encouraged to bring their own device if they wish to use one for the test since one will not be provided. Approved College Board Approved Calculators
The best way students can prepare for the PSAT 8/9 is by doing their best in school. Students may also visit Khan Academy at www.satpractice.org to create a free account to access personalized practice recommendations based on previous years’ test results or the results of a series of diagnostic tests. This online resource is available through a partnership between Khan Academy and the College Board. Students may link their Khan Academy account to their College Board account to receive personalized practice suggestions based on scores of any previous College Board assessment.
Students or parents with questions about the October 13th PSAT are encouraged to contact their school Campus Assessment Coordinator for more details.
Pink-Out Fundraiser for Advisory - October 12 (FB team v. Volleyball team) Wristbands are $5.00
Coffee with the Principal - Friday, October 15
Please join Principal Fickel on Friday, October 15, for our monthly Parent Coffee with the Principal. It will start at 10:00 AM and conclude by 10:30 AM, and it will occur virtually via Microsoft Teams. Please use the link below to join the meeting.
Microsoft Teams Meeting Link - Click here to join the meeting
Friday, October 15
10:00 - 10:30 AM
Lending Library Devices and Technology
To provide technology for students that are quarantined and need to attend classes online, families can check out laptops from the SLMS library for a 2-week period. Currently we do not have hotspots available. This is an optional service for those who need it. Parents must first complete a form in Skyward called, Lending Library Agreement: 2021-22. It is a good idea for all students to have this form on file in case they suddenly need a device in the middle of the year. To request a device, contact Mr. Sinclair at david.sinclair@fortbendisd.com. Checkout is handled via no-contact curbside pickup. Parents may arrange a pickup time with Mr. Sinclair outside of normal arrival and dismissal hours in the front circle drive.
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.
Revised Football Schedule
SLMS "Trunk or Treat" Family Event - Thursday, October 21
The SLMS Counseling Office is hosting TRUNK or TREAT on OCTOBER 21! The Event will be outside on the bus ramp side of the school from 5:30-6:30 PM. All students and families welcome to dress up and come walk the path of trunks to collect treats and say “Hi” to all of our neighboring schools and student organizations. It should be a fun family night! If you would like to donate candy to be passed out during this event, please drop it by the front office.
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!
Remote Conferencing
Please take a moment to visit a brand new FBISD website that explains a new procedure called Remote Conferencing. This TEA (Texas Education Agency) defined measure is used to ensure students who are quarantined due to testing positive for COVID-19 or who are identified as "close contacts" (individuals within 3 feet of a confirmed COVID-positive individual for 15 minutes or more during a 24 hour period) will receive to receive synchronous, live instruction during their stay-at-home period. It also outlines who is eligible for this opportunity, how remote conferencing works, and also the limitations associated with remote conferencing.
FBISD Remote Conferencing information website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/remoteconferencing
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