SLMS Titan News

Greetings SLMS Parents and Guardians,

Here we are on the cusp of starting week 33 of the school year. It is difficult to believe, but the year is zooming by. We are proud of all of our students, but this week, we point out Jessy N., a sixth grade student whose poem, "Reading", placed in a state-wide poetry competition. We inducted many new members into our chapter of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) last week. Congratulations to all of these students and their parents. Soon, parents and students will receive information about our STAAR testing schedule for both in-person and online learners. Stay tuned for those details. Additionally, we will soon be sharing information regarding how students will return the laptops and/or hotspots that were issued to them earlier in the year. Read all about about these items and more in the newsletter below.

We would like to congratulate our librarian, Mr. Sinclair, as well as our library aide, Mrs. Smith, upon the funding of a grant proposal that they had written to the Fort Bend Education Foundation. Their grant, "Amid Isolation, Books Keep Kids Connected," was for $3800, and it will make a big difference in our library.

Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week!!! Therefore, please take some time to send your child(ren)'s teachers notes of encouragement and other ways to demonstrate your gratitude for all they have done for your children during this most challenging of all school years. It would mean the world to them. If you are considering giving teachers gifts, that is fine, too. Please know, however, that even though teachers are worth more than their weight in gold, there is a $50 limit that any individual teacher may receive from an individual student/parent.

Please consider becoming a member of the newly-formed KHS Feeder Pattern Community Advisory Team (CAT). Students, parents, community members, and staff are needed for this. Applications are open through April 30, and details are below.

As I mentioned in last week's message, please continue to drive home the importance of finishing this year strong by ensuring your child(ren) arrive to school/class on time, remain engaged, take pride in their work by submitting their best efforts, and all the other things that are needed for success at school. Thank you for supporting our procedure this year regarding student-owned devices (smartphones, etc.) by not texting/calling your child during the school day or expecting him/her to contact you. Their devices should be off and in their backpacks for the duration of the day. If you need to contact them, please call our main number at (281) 634-3080, and we will relay a message to your child and/or have them come to an office phone to contact you.

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:

• Upcoming Events (esp. Teacher Appreciation Week, STAAR information and Laptop Collection)
• Community Advisory Teams (CAT) for the KHS Feeder Pattern - Application Open Thru April 30
  
• WEB Leader Application (current 7th grade students) - Due May 5
• Sixth Grader Jessy N. Places 3rd in Poetry Contest
• NJHS Inducts New Members
• End of Year Schedule (May 28 through June 3)
  
• SLMS Boys' Athletics for 2021-22 -- Calling All Current Sixth and Seventh Graders!
  
• Kempner HS Cross Country (XC) Interest Meeting for Current 8th Graders
  
• 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

• May 3 through 7 - TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!
• May 5 - Algebra I STAAR EOC (F2F and Online Students, at SLMS)
• May 6 - 8th Grade STAAR Science (F2F students)
• May 7 - 8th Grade STAAR Social Studies (F2F Students)
• May 7 - Progress Report 8 (PR8)
• May 9 - Mother's Day
• May 13 - 8th Grade Virtual Awards Ceremony (via Zoom)
• May 14 - Spring Orchestra Concert
• May 19 - Kickstart Kids' Curbside Belt Ceremony

Also coming soon....

LAPTOP COLLECTION for students who have been issued a FBISD-owned laptop (and hotspots, too, if checked out). F2F students will be first, followed by online students. More details will be sent out sometime around May 3rd.

The Fort Bend ISD (FBISD) Department of Collaborative Communities creates Community Advisory Teams (CATs) to provide guidance on the diverse needs of each feeder pattern across the District. The CATs will discuss and seek feedback on key topics that align with District goals and objectives. CATs will also serve in an advisory capacity to help identify gaps in resources needed to support student learning and development and inform the District’s strategic efforts to address student and community needs.

CATs will be created for each feeder pattern (11 total) and membership shall include the following District and community stakeholders:

• Campus and instructional staff and leaders
• Members from Campus Planning Advisory Committees
• Community members (e.g., health entities, local businesses, non-profit organizations)
• Parents (e.g., parent organizations, volunteers)
• Secondary students (middle school and high school)

If you are interested in serving on the KHS Feeder Pattern Community Advisory Team, please apply using the following link(s). Applications are available through April 30.

Fort Bend ISD Community Advisory Teams 2021-2022 Application

Solicitud para integrar los Equipos Asesores Comunitarios de Fort Bend ISD 2021-2022

Attention 7th Grade Students!!! Would you like to help 6th graders next year feel more comfortable in the school environments, help create new bonds by working through group challenges that demand creativity, thinking outside the box and determination? If so, then you are the perfect candidate to apply to be a WEB Leader. We want unique people from all parts of our school, so that every 6th grader can see themselves in our 8th graders. It is a wonderful opportunity and can help build experiences to help get into certain classes and clubs in High School. Fill out the application using the link below by the end of the day May 5th. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail Mrs. Seright at Kimberly.Seright@fortbendisd.com.

2021-2022 WEB LEADER APPLICATION (requires you to log into your Office 365/Microsoft account)

Sixth grader Jessy N. has won third place in the Poetry Society of Texas’ 2021 Beatrice Land memorial contest for her poem titled, “Reading”. Jessy’s poem will be published, and she will be honored at a ceremony in November. Congratulations, Jessy!

Congratulations to the many seventh grade students who were inducted into the SLMS chapter of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) last week! We are so proud of your academic achievements and your desire to be servant leaders at SLMS. Thank you to the current NJHS officers and to Mrs. Natisha Henry, our chapter sponsor, for their hard work and dedication to NJHS.

Please download the document linked below, which is the End of Year Schedule, covering the dates of Friday, May 28 through Thursday, June 3. This document explains what will be happening on these four days.

You may recall that the district adjusted Wednesday, June 2, by making it a full day (8:50-4:05), rather than an early release day, because of minutes needed to comply with state law. Therefore, our only early release day is the last day of school, Thursday, June 3. School will be over at 1:20 that day.

More details about expectations for the final days of school will be sent at a later date. Download the document below, Middle School Semester 2 End Schedule 2021. It is the same at all district middle schools.

In an effort to gain more participation and streamline communication for athletics next year, the boys' athletics department has created a form for prospective student athletes (current 6th and 7th graders) to complete. Those students who select a sport will be contacted to let them know prior to the start of school what will be required of them to be able to participate in their choice of sport. Students will be able to enter a response using the link below, which will take them to 1Link, where they will be logged into their student Microsoft account.

The link is: https://forms.office.com/r/RrRfR2FhRM

If you are an 8th grader interested in running Cross Country (XC) for Kempner HS next year, please take a moment to complete this form which will tell Coach Pierce and Coach Gonzalez of your interest. At 3:30 on Tuesday of this week (during Advisory), the coaches will be at SLMS to meet with prospective students who are truly serious about considering Cross Country as Freshmen at Kempner. See image below (you can scan the QR Codes)

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)

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!

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.

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.

• 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)

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