Titan News
Update from Sugar Land MS - September 1, 2019
"Vaping" Has Consequences for Health
Titan Parents,
This weekend is Labor Day weekend, so this is an opportunity for everyone to recharge their batteries and have an extra day to do it! School will resume on Tuesday, September 3.
Before we get to reminders for the week, I wanted to direct your attention to something that has, at times over the past year or two, become an issue we have had to address at SLMS -- Vaping. You may have heard/read recent news reports about a new class of pulmonary diseases related to vaping, which is affecting adolescents and young adults. This is a link to a collection of articles in The New York Times, one written just today. Vaping devices are easily obtainable and are often disguised as everyday objects, like USB drives. ABC13.com ran this story last week about how devices can be "hiding in plain sight". Additionally, it is clear that sellers of vaping liquid are targeting a young audience, labeling their "flavors" as "Unicorn", "Strawberry," etc. Who knows what's really inside that liquid...(?). A part of our campus mission statement is to "create a safe environment". This includes an environment where students do not bring things to school, such as vaping devices, let alone use them while at school. Due to our commitment to creating and maintaining this safe environment, students who bring vaping devices to school and/or who engage in vaping on campus will face disciplinary action. Related to this, on Wednesday, September 11, the Fort Bend Prevention Council is hosting a "Mock Teen Bedroom" event at Kempner HS. We encourage you to attend. There is a link to the Fort Bend Prevention Council's website, as well as an invitation to this "mock bedroom" event, later in this newsletter.
Some reminders for the upcoming week include:
- Our cut-off time to honor requests to take a student out of school is 3:45 PM. Requests that come after 3:45 will not be able to be honored; parents will have to wait until the dismissal bell at 4:10
- Open House is this Thursday, September 5 - Please join us! Visit our Open House webpage
- Yearbooks are now on sale! Instructions for online ordering are on our campus webpage. There is also an article in this newsletter. Yearbooks will be $35 through November 4. After that, the price will increase
- Gifted and Talented Referral Window is open through September 30. See article below
- Please complete your online student information verification (see story below)
- 8th Grade Career Day is December 5 - we need parent volunteers and guest speakers. See article below
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @SLMSTitans, and keep an eye on our campus website, as well.
Keith Fickel, Principal
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.
Mr. Rodriguez to be Honored at Houston Dynamo Game - September 11
Join us for Fort Bend ISD Family Night with the Houston Dynamo, Wednesday, September 11 at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds from ticket sales will go toward a FBISD student scholarship, teacher award and donation to MD Anderson Cancer Center. Our own Kevin Rodriguez, 7th and 8th grade math teacher, will be recognized at this game as being named as one of last year's Kroger Classroom Champs.
Tickets start at $10. To purchase, please visit www.houstondynamo.com/FBISDfamilynight
Gifted and Talented Referral Window Open thru September 30
8th Grade Career Day - December 5 - Volunteers and Guest Speakers Needed
FBISD and SLMS Need Mentors
Guide a Promising Student at a Fort Bend ISD school near your home or place of business. Whether you prefer to support a student's academics, their social well-being, or a combination of the two...Fort Bend ISD appreciates your support and partnership.
It's as easy as 1, 2, 3...
1. Register to attend this mandatory orientation, which includes an overview of the GPS program, guidelines for partnering with a student, and tips to ensure your success in the program.
2. Sign a one-year commitment to meet with a student, 30-60 minutes, once a week.
3. Complete the required background check for the safety of our students. Upon receipt of a cleared background check, we will send your application to the campus of your choice.
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.
Online Student Information Verification - Now thru September 18 - HELP!
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
Student-Owned Electronic Devices
Please take a moment to review our updated campus procedure for student-owned devices. 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. Students were made aware of this new procedure during the first week of school, and is already in effect.
Upcoming Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
- Fall Open House – Thursday, September 5 at 6:15. Download the informational flyer
- 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/ or see the flyer below)
- Mid-Day Break with the Counselors – Wednesday, September 25, at 11:15 AM
Free and Reduced Meal Information
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.
Construction / Traffic Update
UPDATE 8/13/2019
Due to construction along Seventh Street that continues even as the year starts, please take a moment to visit this article on our campus webpage about the traffic pattern on Seventh Street. (You may also click on the image in this article to see a static map with route information).
Additionally, our partners at CW39 produced the video below explaining the detours and key points about arrival and dismissal.
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).
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.
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!
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.
Sugar Land Middle School
Inspiring and equipping the young men and women of our community for futures beyond what they can imagine since 1975.
#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