SMS Jag E-News
Week 9: October 4-October 9
A Message from Mrs. Oglesby
We are wrapping up our first 9 weeks with a short week as teachers engage in more professional learning this Thursday and Friday, followed by Monday's school holiday. As the first term concludes, we encourage you to chat with your child(ren) and reflect on the goals they set and the progress they have made. All students engaged in goal setting activities at the beginning of the year and will continue to review their goals in advisory classes each 9 weeks as we promote student ownership of learning.
I also want to take this time to address some ongoing safety concerns we have on our campus. As a result of the recent TikTok challenges, we have had numerous incidents of vandalism to our bathrooms and campus. These acts carried out by a small group of students on our campus have caused serious disruptions to the school and have resulted in repeatedly unsafe and unsanitary conditions for students and staff that our custodial staff is unable to keep up with.
As a result, we will be reviewing bathroom and hallway procedures with all students as we put in place new protocols to limit the time and places that these acts of vandalism can occur. We want our school to continue to be a place that is positive and productive for all students to engage in learning and we appreciate your support in reinforcing these concerns and expectations with your students at home.
Sincerely,
Cholly Oglesby
Principal
Sartartia Middle School
Week At A Glance
Monday, October 4th
Mental Health Awareness Week
Tuesday, October 5th
Green Out: Wear Green to Promote Mental Health Awareness
7th & 8th Grade Football vs. Dulles MS @ Dulles HS 6:00pm
Choir Concert @ Christ Church Sugar Land 6:30pm
Wednesday, October 6th
End of Term 1 Grading Period
Spirit Day @ Carmelo's Mexican Grill
National Walk to School Day
Thursday, October 7th
Student Holiday/Staff Professional Learning
Friday, October 8th
Student Holiday/Staff Professional Learning
SAVE THE DATE
October 11th: School Holiday
October 13th: PSAT Testing (8th Grade Only)
October 13th: Virtual PTO Meeting @ 6:00pm
October 20th: Last Day for Level-Change Request
Celebrations & Spotlights
Cross Country
Staff Members of the Month
Health & Wellness
Mental Health Awareness Week
Mindful Monday: What does it mean to be mindful? Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Today, try to practice being in the moment.
Talk About it Tuesday & Green Out: Students and parents are encouraged to write a thank you email or card to an SMS staff member, family member or friend. Green Out! Wear green Tuesday to show your support for Mental Health. The grade level with the most student participants wearing green will win a reward!
Write it out Wednesday: Why journal? Journaling for mental health can help you identify what is causing the stress. Once you know what emotions, feelings, or individuals are causing the stress, you’ll be able to avoid or appropriately confront them.
Think about ME Thursday: You are encouraged to do a little something extra for yourself.
Feel Good Friday: Make a list all the things that make you a unique individual.
October Wellness Challenge
Wellness Screener Reminder
News from the Counselors
Mentors Needed
Sartartia is looking for a Few Good Mentors! We would love any parent or community member to volunteer to be a mentor to one of our students this school year. We ask that adults commit to visiting the student once a week for 30-50 minutes for at least 6 months. If you are interested, please contact Ms. Friedel at katherine.friedel@fortbendisd.com by October 15, 2021. Volunteers can start the process by filling out the interest form (there is a space to type in ‘Sartartia Middle School’ on the interest form) and the background check. Both links are on this webpage: https://www.fortbendisd.com/Page/131861 Thank you!
Level-Change Requests
Students can now begin to request a level change (change from an AAC class to an on-level class or change from an on-level class to an AAC class). Level change forms are now available for students to pick up in the Student Center, as well as the SMS counselor webpage under the "schedule changes" tab. The only schedule changes that will be processed are those on a completed level change form. Any forms that are missing a signature, will be given back to the student to ensure the missing signatures are obtained. The level change form is only utilized for students to move up to an AAC class or to an on-level class. Any forms requesting an elective change, teacher change, or rearranging of a student's schedule will not be processed and the students schedule will remain the same. For any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child's grade level counselor. The deadline to turn in a completed level change form to the Student Center is the end of the school day October 20, 2021.
SMS Campus Updates & Reminders
PSAT Testing (8th Grade ONLY)
- Testing is on Oct. 13 (make-ups are not available)
- Students should arrive to school on time – 8:50 a.m.
- All Testing will end prior to lunch
- Students may bring personal calculator, even though math questions are answerable without one and two (2) - #2 pencils
Basketball Tryouts
BOYS BASKETBALL tryouts will begin on Wednesday, November 3rd through Friday, November 5th from 4:30 pm- 6 pm. If anyone is interested in trying out for basketball, please make sure that you have a UIL physical form and have completed the online paperwork. Once you have your physical, please turn it in to Coach Lee.
GIRLS BASKETBALL tryouts will take place October 20th, 21st, and 22nd before school. Any girls interested in trying out for basketball need to add their name to the list in the coaches office. All interested athletes need to have a current physical dated April 1st 2021 or later turned into the coaches and all RankOne online electronic forms completed PRIOR to October 20th. See Coach Martinez with any questions.
FBISD's Bookapalooza
Bookapalooza, Fort Bend ISD’s first book festival/ comic convention is taking place on April 9, 2022 at Dulles High School. We are hosting a logo design competition. The winning logo will be featured on all promotional materials. Entries must be submitted to the Logo Contest Assignment in the Bookapalooza Schoology course by 11:59 pm on October 8th, 2021. Contest rules and the rubric are posted in the course below. More details will follow about the schedule, activities, and special guests.
Schoology Course Join Code: VPBZ-JWRS-QF76Q
FBEF Sugar Shindig 2021
Shake and shimmy at the Education Foundation’s 7th Anniversary Sugar Shindig on Friday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m. at Safari Texas. Tickets (adults only) are $27/person and on sale now at https://bit.ly/2021shindig. Enjoy a casual evening—jeans and costumes welcome—including a fajita dinner, a dessert auction and dancing to the music of Password. This is camaraderie at its finest as staff from our schools and community members vie for the best cakes made by local bakers. All proceeds benefit the Education Foundation and its Grants to Teachers and Schools.
Spirit Night @ Carmelo's (ALL DAY)
Birthday Shout-Outs at SMS
Does your 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 an ongoing fundraiser this year. For just $15 the shoutout will run all day to celebrate your student. Click HERE to reserve your birthday shoutout and feel free to order other Jag swag like hoodies, t-shirts, and more while you are ordering your child's birthday message! Note that submissions must be received at least two weeks ahead of the desired date to be posted on our campus marquee.
PTO Business Sponsors
Important Contact Information
6th Grade
Associate Principal: Dr. Sunday Johnson
sunday.johnson@fortbendisd.com
Counselor: Tanya Johnson
7th Grade
Assistant Principal: Paul Wells
Counselor: Kat Friedel
katherine.friedel@fortbendisd.com
8th Grade
Assistant Principal: Courtney Border
courtney.border@fortbendisd.com
Counselor: Amy Melby
Attendance: Glenary Williams glenary.williams@fortbendisd.com
Registrar: Alejandra Pena alejandra.pena@fortbendisd.com
Nurse: Christine Ferguson christine.ferguson@fortbendisd.com
Sartartia Middle School
Help us grow our fan base! Follow us on:
Twitter @sms_jaguars
Instagram @sartartiams_jaguars
Email: cholly.oglesby@fortbendisd.com
Website: www.fortbendisd.com/sms
Location: 8125 Homeward Way, Sugar Land, TX, USA
Phone: 281-634-6310
Twitter: @sms_jaguars