SLMS Titan News
Week of July 31, 2023 (part 2)
Welcome SLMS Parents and Guardians,
Next week your children return to SLMS and we are ready for them to return. Please review the updates included with your students before August 9th.
Our Titans are expected to follow and model the TITAN Way (see image below). Last year we created the TITAN Way as a staff and explained each component to our students. We will continue to teach, model, and reteach what it means to me a TITAN. Our behavioral expectations are high and students will participate in grade level assemblies in the first two weeks of school that will explain expectations and consequences. The students will also engage in lessons in the first week of school specific to schoolwide expectations and classroom expectations. We have a fantastic school community and we expect ALL Titans to exemplify the TITAN Way.
School Lunch Accounts
- If your students eats breakfast or lunch from the cafeteria, NOW is the time to place funds on the account. Remember it can take 24-48 hours for funds to post to the account. Access the School Cafe by clicking here.
Student Schedules
- Student schedules will be available via Skyward on August 7, 2023. Each student should log into Skyward to view their schedule and especially their first period teacher. Access Skyward by clicking here. Please double check the first period teacher on Tuesday, August 8th so students write down the room number and teacher name for August 9th.
Student IDs
- Students will be required to wear student IDs, however, we will not start this practice until later in the semester due to supply issues.
Student Clubs/Organizations
- I highly encourage students to be involved in our Titan community! We have numerous clubs and organizations for students to join. More information regarding club membership, meeting times and days will be in a future Titan News.
I am extremely proud and grateful to serve as the principal of Sugar Land Middle School! I can't wait to see what we can accomplish this school year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Latoya Garrett
Principal
#weareTITANS
TEXAS HOUSE BILL 114 - VAPES
VAPING
It is imperative that you speak with students regarding the seriousness of vaping in general, being in possession, and/or using a vape on campus.
Immunization Reminders for Rising Seventh Graders
All students entering seventh grade should receive the Tdap and the Meningitis vaccines at their 11-year-old check-up. If they have had these vaccines, please provide proof of this 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!
Our experience has been that some parents wait until the last possible minute to be in compliance with these immunization requirements. Please help us help your child be ready for next year, as it will approach faster than you think!
Note that if this is not taken care of before the first day of school, your child will not be able to start school on the first day of school.
Cell Phones Policy
Students may bring a cell phone for communication before/after school. During the school day, cell phone access is restricted and cell phones must be off and placed in backpacks. Cell phones not adhering to the school policy will be confiscated and students can pick them up at the end of the school day (for the first and second confiscation).
On the third confiscation, a parent will be required to pick up the cell phone and pay a $15 fee to SLMS. The district cell phone policy can be found in The Student Code of Conduct. Click here to access the FBISD Student Code of Conduct
If a student needs to make a phone call, we have office phones that can be accessed with permission.
Upcoming Events
First Day of School
- August 9, 2023
- Doors open at 8:20 AM
- Dismissal is at 4:10 PM
August 31st
- SLMS Open House (save the date)
- More details to come
Transportation To/From School
Students are responsible for knowing their transportation after school. We dismiss students at the end of the day by their transportation arrangement. Keep in mind that students do not have access to cell phones during the day so frequent changes are not recommended. Make sure you discuss any changes to transportation before your student leaves in the morning.
Car Rider students must be dropped off and picked up in the circle drive. They should not cross the street unless at the designated cross walk. All cars should move up in the circle drive as far as possible as this facilitates getting cars off the street. Remind your student to watch for your arrival to assist with a quick dismissal. Students should get in and out of cars quickly. Reminder: NO CELL PHONES in the school zone.
Bus Route Locator:
The bus route locator is now available for viewing. Please Click Here to access the Bus Route locator.
Refillable Water Bottles
Meet the SLMS Counselors!
Kimberly Seright-7th Grade Counselor
Kimberly Seright has been in the field of education for over 23 years. Mrs. Seright taught math at middle and high school levels. She has an undergraduate degree from The University of Central Florida and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from The University of Houston-Victoria. She taught math for five years in Florida before moving to Texas with her husband. One of Mrs. Seright’s favorite quotes is by Maya Angelou, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Mrs. Seright loves being a counselor and looks forward to new possibilities each and every year!
Nafecia Brinson-8th Grade Counselor
Ms. Brinson is currently serving as the 8th Grade Counselor. She has been in education for the past 18 years, serving the last 16 here in Fort Bend ISD. Prior to teaching, Ms. Brinson worked as a Forensic Scientist testing biological specimens. Although it was fun and interesting there was still something missing. She started her teaching career, teaching high school science. She has served on the campuses of Marshall HS and Kempner HS before joining the Titan Family. Ms. Brinson received her undergraduate degree from University of South Florida and her master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas. She is the mother of a daughter in high school. You can find Ms. Brinson watching a good horror movie or baking something (anything) sweet! Ms. Brinson stated, “It is truly a pleasure and honor to serve this community! I love to see the students grow into the great people they are destined to be!”
Eleni Smith-6th Grade Counselor
Mrs. Smith has spent over 23 years in education...20 here at SLMS as a counselor! Prior to being at SLMS, she taught 3rd grade at Oyster Creek Elementary. Mrs. Smith grew up in FBISD and is happy to raise her own children here in FBISD. She is a graduate of The University of Texas in Austin, and received her master’s degree from The University of Houston-Victoria. During football season, you can find her family fussing over Longhorn and Aggie football, as her husband is an Aggie! Her 3 girls are always out and about in Sugar Land bouncing around from activity to activity. Please say, “Hi” if you see them! She truly loves being a school counselor and getting to know all of the SLMS families. One of Mrs. Smith’s favorite quotes is by author, J.K. Rowling, “We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”
Parent "To Do" List
Please be sure to check these items off your list before school begins:
- Complete the online verification of student information and enrollment in Skyward Family Access for each child in your family. Please be mindful of your permissions regarding your child's name, image, and social media, as your response might prevent your child's name and/or picture from appearing in the yearbook. Link to Skyward Family Access | Link to Enrollment Verification Flyer in English | Link to Enrollment Verification Flyer in Spanish
- Ensure you are set to receive information from the school through Blackboard Connect. Follow the instructions at www.fortbendisd.com/blackboardconnect
- Looked for your child(ren)'s bus route information, if applicable by visiting the Bus Route Info page
- Complete or renew your application for Free or Reduced Meal Program by visiting the Free and Reduced Meal program web page on the district website
- Ensure your child(ren)'s vaccination/immunization records are up-to-date. This particularly important if your child will be in 7th grade this year, as there were some updates your child needs to have before attending school. Our deadline to receive your information is August 6 in order for your child to attend school on the first day. Note that these immunizations DO NOT include the COVID-19 vaccination. For more details, see the article further down in this newsletter, or visit the district's School Health Services web page
School Supplies
All of the supplies your child will need are listed on the school supply list below 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 uniform sales will begin in late July in a separate process. A list of items needed for specialty electives classes will be shared by your child's teacher once school starts.
If you ordered the ready-made school supply kits that were on sale from late April through early June, orders will be delivered to the school and distributed to students at Titan Camp/ Orientation.
Student Dress Code
All students must adhere to the student dress code. Highlights include:
- Clothes may not show the midriff, undergarments, chest, or posterior
- Unsafe footwear is not permitted (house shoes, slippers)
- No depiction of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, weapons, and more
Please see the attached information regarding dress code.
A Message from the SLMS PTO
Greetings Titan Families,
As the start of the school year approaches, it's that time of the year to renew your PTO membership and FBISD Volunteer Background Check, purchase spirit wear, and support our annual Titan Cash Drive! The PTO is also treating the teachers to back to school breakfast tacos on Wednesday, August 2nd, and are in need of additional breakfast item donations and helping hands. I've included links for everything below.
Complete FBISD Volunteer Background Check
Purchase Spirit Wear (new designs and garment options)
Support the Titan Cash Drive - our main fundraiser!
Donate or Volunteer for the B2S Teacher Breakfast on 8/2
If you no longer have a Titan, we wish you the best and thank you for supporting our efforts! If you are a returning Titan, we look forward to seeing you around the school - we'll be at Titan Camp all day today! Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Jennifer McBride
SLMS PTO President 23-24
New Skyward Passwords for incoming 6th Grade Students
Football Information -- 7th and 8th Grade Students Only
Come and join the Sugar Land Titan Football Team! Open to all 7th & 8th Grade students. You must be GREEN in Rank One prior to being able to come out for football. Please use the QR Code in the image to be taken directly to the Rank One Website. We are asking for all students to be completed no later than August 4.
Football equipment hand out will take place Thursday 8/10 for 8th Grade and Friday 8/11 for 7th Grade from 4:30 - 5:00 PM.
You will not be issued equipment if you are not GREEN in Rank One. If you have any questions, please reach out to Coach Harris at todd.harris1@fortbendisd.com
Information Regarding Academic/Hallway Lockers
SLMS, along with nearly all district middle schools, does not utilize the hallway lockers as students do not have to carry textbooks and much of the curriculum is online. Students may request a locker if they need one.
Items students may need to carry:
- Backpack itself -please note that rolling backpacks will not be permitted
- Pen/Pencil Bag
- Water Bottle with Screw-on Cap/Lid (to be filled at our bottle fillers throughout the building)
- Lunch from home (if not getting a lunch from the serving line)
- Personal Laptop from Home and charging cable (optional as school-owned devices are available in all classrooms if you do not want to BYOD)
- Students may also bring their cell phone and store it OFF and AWAY in their backpack
Band/orchestra instruments will be be brought to their respective rehearsal spaces at the beginning of the day and then picked up and taken home at the end of the day.
Students will continue to be issued a PE locker for their PE uniform (or an Athletic locker, if involved in they are a 7th or 8th grade student involved in a school-sponsored sport). Students will bring their washed, clean PE uniform to class on Monday and place it in their PE locker; they will take it home on Friday for it to be washed (or sooner if needed), and bring it back on Monday (or the next day).
Class Schedule
Our class schedule/bell schedule for the school year features the following:
- 7 class periods daily, with an additional Advisory period on Tuesday and Wednesday
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday will have a 7-period day (50-55 minute class periods)
- Tuesday and Wednesday will have a 7-period day (45 to 50-minute class periods) with an Advisory period between period 2 and 3. Advisory will be used as a flexible time to conduct interventions, enrichments, and campus focused lessons.
- Students will have every class every day
- Students will have the same lunch period every day
- Transitions between class periods will be 4-5 minutes in length which is enough time as the majority of student do not use a locker
Important Contact Information
- Assistant Principal - Dawn Rogers (dawn.rogers@fortbendisd.com)
- Counselor - Eleni Smith (eleni.smith@fortbendisd.com)
Seventh Grade
- Assistant Principal - Luster Goodwin (luster.goodwin@fortbendisd.com)
- Counselor - Kim Seright (kimberly.seright@fortbendisd.com)
Eighth Grade
- Associate Principal - Monika Martin (monika.martin@fortbendisd.com)
- Counselor - Nafecia Brinson (nafecia.brinson@fortbendisd.com)
Counselor Clerk - Carmen Brantley (carmen.brantley@fortbendisd.com)
Assistant Principal Secretaries
- 6th and 7th Grade - Tina Garcia (diamantina.ibarragar@fortbendisd.com)
- 7th Grade - Perla Solis (perla.solisarredondo@fortbendisd.com)
Attendance - Mary Beth LaVergne (mary.lavergne@fortbendisd.com)
Registrar - Tandi Phillips (tandi.phillips@fortbendisd.com)
Nurse - Marium Khan (marium.khan@fortbendisd.com)
Clinic Aide - Cathy Tekrouri (cathy.tekrouri@fortbendisd.com)
Executive Assistant to Principal - Mary Connealy (mary.connealy@fortbendisd.com)
Principal - Dr. Latoya Garrett (latoya.garrett@fortbendisd.com)
Sugar Land Middle School
48 Years
1975-2023
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.
#weareTITANS
Office Hours
8:20-4:20
Email: latoya.garrett@fortbendisd.com
Website: www.fortbendisd.com/slms
Location: 321 7th Street, Sugar Land, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 634-3080
Twitter: @SLMSTitans