White Oak Middle School

Dear White Oak Middle School Families,

We hope everyone is enjoying a restful 🍂Fall Break🍂 and some much-deserved family time! Fall is in the air, and we are looking forward to cooler temperatures and an exciting October at WOMS! Reminder: There is no school for students on Monday, October 12, as our staff participates in professional development. It's hard to believe that one-quarter of our school year is already complete! As we begin the second nine weeks, we remain laser-focused on Mission Success: One Team. One Mission. Our commitment to academic growth, student success, and a strong sense of belonging remains at the heart of everything we do.

October is packed with Warrior spirit, including Porter High School Homecoming dress-up days selected by our Student Council, continued Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, and our second schoolwide PINK OUT Pep Rally 💗 and 1st School Dance on October 23! 🎀📣 We will also recognize Spina Bifida Awareness Day on October 19, when Warriors are encouraged to wear yellow and visit our Inclusion Wall near the 300 hallway. 💛🧡 and Unity Day, encouraging kindness, acceptance, and inclusion by wearing orange on October 21. We will also participate in Red Ribbon Week, October 26-30, featuring fun dress-up days and activities that encourage students to make healthy, positive, and drug-free choices. ❤️ These celebrations reinforce what it means to be a Warrior and live our RISE values: Respect, Integrity, Safety, and Empathy! We are also excited to introduce CharacterStrong, our new social-emotional learning curriculum, during Advisory to help students strengthen relationships, develop positive character, and make responsible decisions. See more information below from our school counselors.

Academically, our second cycle of W.I.N. Time (What I Need) is underway, providing targeted opportunities for students to grow and strengthen essential skills. With exciting choice and fun days on the horizon, we encourage students to stay motivated, actively engage in IXL, and work toward 80% proficiency or higher while progressing through their assigned skills. Reading and math teachers will continue to pull targeted students on specific needed skills. Remember, our daily Tutoring HUB is open Monday-Thursday before and after school in the library for any students that needs more assistance.

A special THANK YOU to our families who continue to prioritize academics, monitor grades, communicate with teachers, and make tutoring a priority! Your partnership makes a difference. 📝 For information about makeup testing and retesting opportunities, please review our WOMS Testing HUB Information Letter. As we move into the new quarter, please continue reminding your Warriors to wear their student IDs daily, follow campus safety expectations, and make responsible choices that keep our school safe and focused on learning. Together, we are building a culture where every Warrior feels connected, takes ownership of their learning, and strives for success. Let's make this second quarter even stronger than the first!

WOMS Warriors RISE Up! 🚀💛🖤

One Team. One Mission. Mission Success!

With Warrior Pride,

Your Proud Principal,

Mrs. Crystal Mayes
Principal, White Oak Middle School
cmayes@newcaneyisd.org

🎭🎶 Celebrate the Arts at WOMS! Join us in supporting our talented Warriors as they showcase their creativity and hard work at our upcoming Fine Arts performances and events!

💛🖤 Get Involved. Get Connected. Find Your Place at WOMS! 🌟 There’s something for every Warrior! Joining a club is a great way to make friends, discover new interests, and build a sense of belonging.

Watch this video to view our upcoming clubs!

New Legislation—Personal Communication Devices Prohibited During Instructional Day

The Texas Legislature passed legislation this year that requires school districts to adopt policies

prohibiting students from using personal wireless communication devices on school property
during the instructional day and that designates a secure, out-of-sight area for storage of these
devices.

A personal wireless communication device includes items such as cell phones, text messaging
devices, laptops, and tablets — any device capable of transmitting or receiving data that the
school does not provide for instructional purposes.

New Caney ISD’s policy regarding personal communication devices can be found in the 2025-26
Student Handbook and Code of Conduct.

The district’s updated policy, in accordance with law, is that:

Personal communications devices must remain off or on silent and stored in backpacks throughout the instructional day except before school or after school. Cell phones and other personal communication devices may not be stored on a student’s person. At White Oak, no cell phones will be allowed from 6:30-2:25 PM. As instruction begins at 6:30 AM with clubs, tutoring, and other special events.

Additionally, teachers may collect a personal communication device and turn them in to the
principal’s office if students are not following policy. The principal will then determine whether
to return items to students at the end of the day or to contact parents to pick up the items.

The use of cell phones or any device capable of capturing images is strictly prohibited in locker
rooms or restroom areas while at school or at a school-related or school-sponsored event.

If a student uses a personal communication device without authorization during the school day,
the device may be confiscated by a staff member. The student or parent may pick up the
confiscated cell phone from the principal’s office.

Confiscated personal communication devices that are not retrieved by the student or the student’s
parent will be disposed of after the notice required by law. [See policy FNCE for more
information.]

In limited circumstances and in accordance with law, authorized personnel may search a
student’s personal communication device. [See Searches and policy FNF for more information.]

Also, The district may authorize the use of a personal communication device for the following
reasons:

• To implement an individualized education program (IEP) or for a plan created under Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C Section 794) or a similar program or plan;
• With documented need based on a directive from a qualified physician; or
• To comply with a health or safety requirement imposed by law or as part of the district’s safety protocols.

Any disciplinary action will be in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. The district is
not responsible for damaged, lost, or stolen personal communication devices.

Our Warriors love earning and spending MINGA Points! 🎉 Teachers recognize students who go above and beyond demonstrating our RISE values: Respect, Integrity, Safety, and Empathy. Campus leaders also award points for strong attendance and academic growth on Bundle assessments.

🌟 Parent Notifications: Families receive an automated email when their child earns points.

🛍️ MINGA School Store: Students can redeem points for rewards during lunch on the 1st and 3rd weeks of each month.

💻 Check Points: Students can view their balance through MINGA in ClassLink.

🚻 Digital Restroom Passes: MINGA also helps us manage restroom passes to support safety and accountability.

Positive choices deserve recognition! Warriors RISE Up! 💛🖤

The SMART tag Parent App is available!

Things you need to know:

• The new mobile Parent App has replaced the Parent Portal (web access). You can no longer access your Parent Portal account.
• SMART Alerts that you received as texts will now be sent as push notifications.
• The Parent App includes new features that let you choose a time setting for bus arrival notifications. You can also sign up to be notified each time you student loads/unloads the bus.

SMART tag ID Cards:

Students will receive their SMART tags from their home campus within 1-2 days after enrollment or the start of school. Students are expected to have their SMART tag ID to board and exit the bus. The first SMART tag ID is free, and replacement cards are $2 for one card or $5 for three cards.

Visit the NCISD Transportation page for more information about SMART tag and Parent App.

Important Transportation Update for Bus Riders

SMARTag Required to Ride Afternoon Buses – No Exceptions

Dear WOMS Families,

For safety and security, all students must wear their official SMARTag badge to board the school bus in the afternoon.

No SMARTag = No Bus Ride
Temporary or paper IDs will not be accepted for afternoon bus transportation. This is a districtwide policy designed to ensure student safety and accurate tracking of bus riders.

Important Information:

• Students will now have one official SMARTag for both school and transportation use.

• There will no longer be separate school and bus IDs.

Replacement Options:
If your child loses or damages their SMARTag, the following options are available:

• $2 per replacement

• 3 SMARTags for $5

What Parents Can Do:

• Make sure your child wears their SMARTag to school every day.

• Help them keep it safe and secure in their backpack or around their neck.

• Contact the front office if a replacement is needed.

We appreciate your support in keeping our Warriors safe and ensuring a smooth dismissal process!

New Caney ISD School Cafe Account

Sign in or create your School Cafe account by clicking here.

All families are asked to set up an account; please click the "apply for school meals" link on the lefthand side to initiate the process. For returning students students have only 30 days to complete their re-enrollment into the free reduce lunch program before fees accrue. All students eat breakfast for free and meals are $3.25 each.

Students who have A and C lunch will bring their backpacks to the cafeteria. Students will need to eat their lunch trays first. Once all students have been served during their lunch time, snacks will be on sale. There is a limit of two bags of chips per student due to the limited amount of serving time on our new instructional schedule. No food will be allowed out of the cafeteria for food safety guidelines and cleanliness.

For the safety and security of our campus, WOMS does not allow deliveries (Door Dash, etc.) of any kind for students.

Download for Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/parentsquare/id908126679

Download for Android: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/parentsquare/id908126679

Proud to be part of New Caney ISD

Email: cmayes@newcaneyisd.org
Website: https://woms.newcaneyisd.org/
Location: 24161 Briar Berry Ln, Porter, TX 77365
Phone: (281) 577-8800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhiteOakMS

Instagram: WhiteOakMS
X: @WhiteOak_MS