Jag-E News
Sartartia Middle School-Exemplary Education Everyday-8.30.20
Dear Jag Families,
One week and 2 days in and we were presented with yet another major incident. We did not let threats of Hurricane Laura stop us as we were flexible and able to continue classes Friday.
The students (and adults!) are settling into a routine and it feels like we are rocking and rolling. This week is our virtual open house and we look forward to getting to know each of you better.
Please read on regarding the following topics:
- Updated Laptop Distribution Information
- REN360 Screener Information (UPDATED)
- LockDown Browser Information
- Fall "Virtual" Open House - Thursday, September 3
- Attendance Information from Mrs. Williams
- Cheerleader Tryout Information
Monday is our final day of At-Home Learning Kit distribution.
Thank you parents for getting your students to class on time and for working with us through any technology issues. Again, thank you for your time, grace, and support.
With Jag Pride,
Cholly Oglesby
Principal
Sartartia Middle School
VIRTUAL Fall Open House--September 3, 2020
Our Fall "Virtual" Open House is Thursday, September 3. It will have asynchronous and synchronous components that will be emailed to you on Tuesday, September 1st. The email will contain a brief video from your Proud Principal along with your child's brief introduction videos. This videos will also be uploaded to their respective Schoology courses and placed at the top of the list of items for easy, consistent access across all teachers' courses. You may watch these at your leisure, starting Tuesday, September 1st (adjusted a day because of the school closures on August 26 and 27). The live, synchronous event on Thursday, September 3, is a open Question and Answer (Q&A) session which allow you to visit any of your child's teachers.These will be conducted on TEAMS with you on mute and you will type in your questions and the teacher(s) will answer each question out loud.
How Will SMS Communicate with Parents During the 2020-2021 School Year?
In an effort to continue with quality communication from the school, you will receive weekly parent newsletters via email on Sunday evenings. These will include the week’s events, looking ahead, and links to frequently needed information. If you are having trouble receiving our emails here are a few ways for you to troubleshoot: check your spam folder and email settings to allow emails from Sartartia Middle School at MassNotificationSystem@fortbendisd.com.
IMPORTANT: The e-mails containing the newsletter and other announcements will only go to the parent listed as “Family 1” in Skyward unless you go in and change the settings to add a second parent to receive them as well. For information on how to change the settings, click here or attached below.
Our website is also a valuable tool for the campus calendar and general campus information at www.fortbendisd.com/SMS. Follow us on Twitter @sms_jaguars and/or Instragram @sartartiams_jaguars for reminders, and highlights.
Student Attendance for 2020-21 Online Synchronous Learning
Please click here to view the daily student schedule during virtual learning. Important things to note:
- Attendance is taken during all synchronous classes and the state law for 90% attendance is in effect. Students need to plan on logging in to their classes for direct instruction every day during these times.
- Each class will have approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes of asynchronous learning experiences each week. Time in the schedule is allotted for this, but students may also complete asynchronous activities during other times outside of the school day (just like traditional homework).
- Teachers will post their tutorial times in Schoology, but students should also communicate with their teachers about specific help as the need arises.
- We are on a block schedule of sorts but students will see all seven teachers on Wednesdays for class check in’s.
Students should arrive to their virtual classes on time and dressed for school. Please help us by encouraging them to wear clothes and shirts that are school appropriate. Teachers spent the first few days helping students set up their daily schedules, understand expectations, and get back into the rhythm of school. Take a few minutes during the next week of school to review the FBISD Code of Conduct with your child here https://www.fortbendisd.com/studentcodeofconduct
At-Home Learning Kits
The final day of distributing at-home learning kits is Monday, August 31, 2020:
9am - 12pm (Last Name A-L)
1pm - 4pm (Last Name M-Z)
Be sure to have your student's name and ID # available when you drive through the front circle of SMS so that our team is able to get your requested books as quickly as possible. We will bring all of the textbooks and resources to your car.We look forward to seeing you soon!
Please note that the at-home learning kits will not include any PE equipment. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please reach out to Ms. Border at Courtney.Border@fortbendisd.com
Ren 360
As you may already know, our school uses Renaissance Star 360 Assessments to help teachers understand what students know and what they are ready to learn next. Typically, these assessments are given throughout the school year to monitor student progress and are administered in the school setting. Part of our normal testing plan includes a fall, beginning of the year assessment. After careful consideration, knowing the value of this data to make informed instructional decisions for your child, we will be administering the assessment remotely.
In order to support your child on this assessment, you will need to:
- Use the Parent/Guardian Ren 360 Checklist
- Have your student follow the Student Login Instructions
- Complete the required assessments between August 17th and September 4th.
- If at any time the program prompts your child to enter a monitor password to continue the assessment, please enter FBISD in all capitals
NOTE: The window for REN360 was extended due to the closure of school on August 26 and 27.
LOCKDOWN BROWSER BY RESPONDUS
Please visit https://www.fortbendisd.com/lockdownbrowser for information on installing a special browser called Respondus which will be used when students take online tests and exams. District-owned devices will need it to be installed using the following steps:
- Click on the "Start" button (four-pane Windows icon in the lower left corner of the screen, along the taskbar)
- Scroll through the list of programs for "Software Catalog", and click to open
- Look for Lockdown Browser or Respondus Lockdown Browser. Select and it will install
SMS LIBRARY WEEKLY PROGRAMMING
Visit the SMS Library Schoology Page for Details.
Schoology Access Code: WP6Q-TM7S-8D848
SMS Cheer Tryouts
Campus-Based Device Distribution - Update
The last day of regular Laptop Distribution ended on Friday, August 28th. We will continue to issue laptops as needed throughout the school year by appointment only by calling our main school number. (281) 634-6310.
Ø Technology Resource Help
The Technology Resource page on https://www.fortbendisd.com/Page/124794 is available for parents/students to obtain help related to technology. There are helpful information on hot topics like password, 1Link, Microsoft Teams etc. You will also find the “Technology Status” section where we post the latest status of technology issues we are aware of.
Ø Password help for 6th-8th graders:
6th Grade: Passwords for all incoming 6th graders or brand-new students in any secondary grade 6-12th their passwords are FORTBENDSCHOOL+Last 4 of StudentID#. Example: FORTBENDSCHOOL0852.
7th – 12th Grade: All returning 7th and 8th students should continue to use their password they used last year. If they have don’t remember it the will need to reset it in Rapid Identity portal, https://my.fortbendisd.com/. They will need to login with network credentials.
FBISD has tech support depots daily (Mon-Fri) 8am-3pm at the following sites:
Hodges Bend Middle School
Marshall High School
Dulles High School
Hightower High School
Austin High School
Clements High School
IT Service Depot Updates
In order to serve the ongoing needs of FBISD students and staff, IT is expanding the support days and hours for the IT Service Depots. We have also added two more locations on the west side of the district to better serve the families and staff on that side of town.
The intent of the Service Depot is to provide IT Services for hardware related issues with district-issued devices. Most services will be managed by appointment by the Site Analysts and should not require customers to remain on-site for any measurable amount of time.
Welcome from the Counselors
Hello and WELCOME BACK Jag parents! We are so excited for the start of the 20-21 school year and are anxious to see you and your students soon.
We understand that this is a very different welcome back, but our main goal is to let both students and parents know that we are here to help. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us to support you at this time.
FUTURE Parent University Nights
We would like your input to see what type of Parent University nights you would be interested in throughout the year. Please click this link to complete the survey.
Connect using Schoology
During the online/virtual learning time Schoology is the district platform that the Counselors will be using to communicate with our students. We have each created a Schoology group as a way to not only connect with our students, but to also provide resources, guidance lessons, schedule virtual conferences, and offer other forms of support.
Please make sure that your child signs up for their grade level course:
6th - H5MR-J4KD-JSNWG
7th - RGNW-SBRK-KB4CS
8th - B8X5-Z8F4-DKTBR
**As always, if you have any questions, you can email your student’s counselor directly and we will set up a time to talk to you. Additionally, should your student need to speak with their counselor they can use the request to see the counselor form here:
8TH GRADE - REQUEST FORM
7TH GRADE - REQUEST FORM
6TH GRADE - REQUEST FORM
Thank you so much for everything you are doing for your child. Stay safe and healthy!
FBISD Meal Benefits
Child Nutrition is encouraging families to apply for Meal Benefits online at schoolcafe.com/fbisd or on their smartphone/device by downloading the SchoolCafé app from their Google Play or App Store. Links: https://www.schoolcafe.com/fbisd
FBISD encourages all families to complete the Free & Reduced Meals application, at SchoolCafe, and families who qualified in the 2019-20 school year will need to reapply.
- Free & Reduced Meals application - https://www.schoolcafe.com/fbisd
- Grab and Go Meals - https://www.fortbendisd.com/grabandgomeals
Assistant Principals & Counselors
Paul Wells-Assistant Principal
281.634.6331
Friedel-Counselor
katherine.friedel@fortbendisd.com
281.634.6320
7th grade
Courtney Border-Assistant Principal
courtney.border@fortbendisd.com
281.634.6314
Brandi Goodly-Counselor
281.634.6318
8th grade
Dr. Sunday Johnson-Associate Principal
sunday.johnson@fortbendisd.com
281.634.6316
Rachel McCune-Lead Counselor
281.634.6319
SMS Helpful Resources
Sartartia Middle School
Help us grow our fan base! Follow us on:
Twitter @sms_jaguars
Email: cholly.oglesby@fortbendisd.com
Website: www.fortbendisd.com/sms
Location: 8125 Homeward Way, Sugar Land, TX, USA
Phone: 281-634-6316
Twitter: @sms_jaguars