SLMS Titan News
Week #30- April 5, 2021
Greetings SLMS Parents and Guardians,
I hope everyone has had a good three-day weekend and that you are off to a good start with T4 learning. Please take a moment to get caught up to all the goings-on at SLMS this week by reading the news items below. This edition of Titan News includes information about:
- April 5-9 is National Assistant Principals Week
- Course Selection Verification in Skyward April 5-9
- STAAR Writing 7 Assessments (April 6 for F2F, April 13 for Online)
- SLMS PTO Spirit Night at Willie's Grill and Ice House - April 7
- SLMS GT Virtual Showcase - April 7
- Wear Your Pajamas to School Day - April 16
- Immunizations for Current Sixth Grade Students -- How to be Ready for Seventh Grade
Thank you for taking some time to consider the items in this week's Titan News. I hope each of you has a great week this week!
Sincerely,
Keith Fickel, Principal
#Resilience
#GracePatienceOptimism
#BetterTogether
#InfinitePossibilities
#TitansOwnIt
Week At-A-Glance
Upcoming Events
- April 10 – Teen Book Con (visit https://www.teenbookcon.org/for details)
- April 6 - STAAR Writing 7 (F2F students)
- April 7 – GT Showcase (Virtual, at 6:30)
- April 12-16 – Scholastic Book Fair in Library
- April 13 - STAAR Writing 7 (Online students)
- April 16 – Progress Report 7 (PR7)
- April 16 - National "Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day" (fundraiser for Science Club; details and guidelines forthcoming)
- April 19 – Professional Learning Day (Student Holiday)
- April 22 – NJHS Induction (Virtual)
April 5-9 is National Assistant Principals Week
Our assistant principals are a vital part of our team. They work together with students' counselors to lead our students to physical, social, emotional, and academic success. A lot of "behind the scenes" work goes on in the AP's world, and we are so proud of the value they add to SLMS. Please take a moment to give a shout-out (phone call, voice mail, or email) to your child's grade level assistant principal this week. They would love to hear how they have helped your child and to receive an encouraging word from you. You may reach your child's AP at (281) 634-3080 or via email as follows:
6th Grade - Dr. Dawn Rogers
7th Grade - Mr. Luster Goodwin
luster.goodwin@fortbendisd.com
8th Grade - Mrs. Monika Martin
Verify Your Chosen Courses for 2021-22 in Skyward - April 5 through 9
Middle School and High School Course Verifications are this week----April 5-9. Course Requests are posted in your child’s Skyward account. If you see something that you would like to change or you see no courses requested, please email your child’s counselor directly. 8th grade parents would contact their KHS counselor at the email address listed below. The email should come from the parent to request a change. This is in lieu of asking you to print and sign.
SLMS Counselors:
Eleni Smith (6th) eleni.smith@fortbendisd.com
Kimberly Seright (7th) Kimberly.Seright@fortbendisd.com
KHS Counselors:
Renee.Edwards@fortbendisd.com / Students A – C
Dwana.Durgens@fortbendisd.com / Students D – I
Tysi.Burrell@fortbendisd.com / Students J – NE
Donna.Minix@fortbendisd.com / Students NG – R
Kerry.Jongeward@fortbendisd.com / Students S – Z
STAAR Writing 7 Assessment - Reminders for 7th Grade Parents/Students
The STAAR Writing 7 assessment, which, depending upon whether your child is an online or face-to-face student, is either this week or next week. Please read below for the specific information related to your child, based on his/her method of instruction (either online or face-to-face). If your child is an online student who is not participating in the STAAR administration, your child is expected to attend his/her normal online classes with their regular teacher on the day we administer the STAAR Writing 7 assessment to our online students. While other district middle schools may be leveraging asynchronous days available to them, SLMS is not.
Face to Face Students – STAAR Writing 7 is Tuesday, April 6
- Even though your child attends SLMS in-person (F2F), the assessment will be administered at Sugar Land MS via the STAAR online platform (i.e. via district laptops).
- District laptops will be furnished for students who do not already have a district device issued to them. Students who have a district device issued to them need to bring it with them to school that day
- Students will need a set of wired earbuds (not air pods or wireless ear buds)
- Students will need to bring a sack lunch from home, or be prepared to receive a sack lunch from the cafeteria
Online Students – STAAR Writing 7 is Tuesday, April 13 (at SLMS)
- District laptops will be furnished for students who do not already have a district device issued to them. Students who have a district device issued to them need to bring it with them to school that day. The assessment will be administered at Sugar Land MS via the STAAR online platform (i.e. via district laptops).
- Students will need a set of wired earbuds (not air pods or wireless ear buds)
- Students will need to bring a sack lunch from home, or be prepared to receive a sack lunch from the cafeteria
- Students will be picked up by a parent when they are through with their STAAR assessment. Therefore, parents need to be ready to receive a message from their child indicating they are ready to be picked up
- Students not participating in the STAAR Writing 7 are expected to attend their normal online classes with their regular teacher
SLMS PTO Spirit Night at Willie's - Wednesday, April 7
We are looking forward to hosting Sugar Land Middle School at Willie’s Grill & Icehouse Sugar Land on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. Willie’s Grill and Icehouse is open for Dine-In at 50% occupancy, Curbside, Take-out and Delivery business. A few notes:
- Top volume for dinner is 6:00-7:30 and call volume may be so large that some callers will experience difficulty connecting, please be patient with us.
- Online orders WILL COUNT toward Spirit Night Donations for orders placed through our website. Enter “SPIRITNIGHT” into the promo code box during online check out to be counted.
- We have changed all spirit nights during quarantine to “ALL DAY” spirit nights to help spread the orders out and hopefully relieve parking lot congestion for pickups and curbside
ONLINE ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Place your order at https://order.williesgrillandicehouse.com/ (Third party orders DO NOT count towards Spirit Night donations.)
2) Type in your address or zip code, and choose the correct location from the locations panel. Please ensure that you are choosing the correct location.
3) Add items to your cart, including Adult beverages.
4) Click the Red “Cart” button on the top left of your screen
5) Click “Checkout” and enter vehicle details if ordering curbside.
6) Enter SPIRITNIGHT into the coupon code field, and click Apply.
7) You will see a “discount”; SPIRITNIGHT -$0.01 below Subtotal. This means that your ticket was counted towards Spirit Night.
8) Enjoy your meal
SLMS GT Virtual Showcase - Wed., April 7 at 6:30
Our GT students have been busy working on their TPSP (Texas Performance Standards Project) activities, and they will present them at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, April 7. Please join us on Zoom for this virtual showcase of their work.
Meeting URL: https://zoom.us/j/93524840239?pwd=VGVIbzc1UE9uUFFxQldnd1UrTkw1UT09 Meeting ID: 935 2484 0239 Passcode: 704568
Wear Your Pajamas to School Day - April 16
Important Information For Face-to-Face Students in Term 4
Please take a moment to open the two documents below related to expectations and safety for in-person (face to face) learners and their parents (regarding car rider line safety)
Teen Book Con is April 3 and 10
If you have middle or high school kids who love to read or if you enjoy reading Young Adult books, then you will want to check out this virtual convention. We will have panels with various authors and many fun activities. Please go to https://www.teenbookcon.org/ for more information and registration.
Immunization Reminders for Current Sixth Graders (Online or F2F)
Your sixth-grade child did or will 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! You may email it to julie.cutaia@fortbendisd.com or fax it to (281) 327-3091.
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!
Reporting a Positive Case of COVID-19 or Exposure to a Positive Case
To ensure the safety of all staff and students, it is critical that families report all positive cases of COVID-19, or exposures to a positive case of COVID-19, immediately. If your student tests positive for COVID-19 or is exposed to a positive COVID-19 case, please notify the District by reporting within the Daily Wellness Screener in Skyward Family Access.
Attendance Information for Parents
Parent notes are required for all absences within five days from the absence date. Notes must include full student name as well as the reason for the absence (including technical difficulties). If a student misses a synchronous engagement, they are counted absent.Please email all absence notes to AttendanceSLMS@fortbendisd.com. Contact our attendance clerk, Mrs. LaVergne, at (281) 634-3089 if you have questions.
Important Contact Information
- Assistant Principal - Dr. 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)
- 8th Grade - Sherri Woodcock (sherri.woodcock@fortbendisd.com)
Attendance - Mary Beth LaVergne (mary.lavergne@fortbendisd.com)
Registrar - Tandi Phillips (tandi.phillips@fortbendisd.com)
Nurse - Angi Lincoln (angela.lincoln@fortbendisd.com)
Executive Assistant to Principal Fickel - Mary Connealy (mary.connealy@fortbendisd.com)
Sugar Land Middle School
45 Years
1975-2020
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
#BetterTogether
#InfinitePossibilities
#GracePatienceOptimism
#Resilience
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