SLMS Titan News

Greetings SLMS Parents and Guardians,

This 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. The teachers will have something to look forward to each day this week, whether it is food or a tangible thank you item. Thank you to our PTO for sponsoring Teacher Tacos on Monday, to our Counselors for sponsoring Chick-Fil-A lunches on Wednesday, and Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union for our Dessert Bar on Thursday.

We have some STAAR testing going on this week for 8th grade students. Please check the news article below related to that. 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. Last week during Advisory, we began a new expectation for students, and that is to spend the first 20 minutes of their Advisory class using a software product called DreamBox. Their math teachers have been working with them on how to use it. DreamBox is a game-like environment where students sharpen math skills, and/or receive mini-lessons and assistance with concepts they show difficulty with. The system is intelligent, where it adapts to students' needs after they complete lessons. Our expectation is that students spend the first 20 minutes of each Advisory class using this system and completing as many lessons as they can. Math teachers and administration will be evaluating the effectiveness of this product through the data collected on student performance. Students are also encouraged to continue to use it at home, as well.

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. The application window has been extended to Monday, May 3, and details are below.

We will also be coming to you in the next week or two with information related to school supplies for the 2021-22 school year, new student orientation sessions prior to the start of school, a preview of our bell schedule for next year, and a few other updates to help you get a sense of what 2021-22 will look like at SLMS.

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
• Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month
• Band and Orchestra Earn Sweepstakes at UIL Concert and Sightreading Evaluation
• STAAR Testing Schedule for This Week (8th Grade Testing)
• STAAR Schedule for the Month of May (Downloadable)
• Community Advisory Teams (CAT) for the KHS Feeder Pattern - Application Window Extended to May 3
  
• WEB Leader Application (current 7th grade students) - Due May 5
• End of Year Schedule (May 28 through June 3)
  
• SLMS Boys' Athletics for 2021-22 -- Calling All Current Sixth and Seventh 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 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
• May 21 - 8th Grade Drive-Through Celebration/Parade

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 forthcoming....stay tuned!

Congratulations to our band and orchestra students, as well as their directors, for earning the highest award that UIL may bestow for performing arts organizations--the Sweepstakes Award! Both the band and the orchestras that performed at UIL were made up of face to face and online students, which meant that they had to rehearse after school for many weeks to be able to bring everyone together. We are so proud of our musicians not only for their demonstrations of musicianship and artistry but also for their commitment to their programs and to each other during this challenging COVID year!

Directors for the Band are:

• Kyle Baragas
• Amanda Payne
• Jake Peralez

Directors for the Orchestra are:

• Joe Garcia
• Ricky Lethridge

8th Grade students will experience at least two, perhaps three STAAR assessments this week. Please read below for the specific information related to the three assessments being administered this week. Sixth and seventh grade students will go about their classes as usual this week.

STAAR Algebra EOC (End of Course) is Wednesday, May 5

• All F2F Algebra students, as well as those Online students who "opted in" will take the STAAR Algebra EOC on Wednesday, May 5
• 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, FULLY CHARGED, and also bring the charging cable, just in case
• Students will need a set of wired earbuds (not air pods or wireless ear buds)
• TI-Nspire calculators will be provided
• Students will need to bring a sack lunch from home, or be prepared to receive a sack lunch from the cafeteria
• NOTE: If your child is an online student and he/she is taking the Algebra EOC on Wednesday, they must complete the wellness screener in Skyward prior to arrival at campus, and be wearing a mask. Please drop them off at the front circle drive. When testing is complete, be prepared to receive a message from your child so you may come get him/her and bring them home, where they are expected to engage in their remaining classes online for the balance of the day

F2F (Face-to-Face) 8th Grade Students – STAAR Science 8 is Thursday, May 6 AND STAAR Social Studies 8 is Friday, May 7

• 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, FULLY CHARGED, and also bring the charging cable, just in case
• 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
• NOTE: 8th grade students in the Online learning model who "opted in" to take these assessments will take STAAR Science 8 on May 21 and STAAR Social Studies 8 on May 24. They will go about their usual online class schedule on May 6 and 7

If you have questions about STAAR, please email becky.white@fortbendisd.com

Below, please find a chart showing how SLMS is administering the STAAR assessments this year. There is a link to download it as a PDF, as well, found below the chart. Please take note of a few general items related to STAAR assessments at SLMS in May:

1. All testing will be done IN PERSON at SLMS, even for students in the online learning model who "opted in" to take the STAAR assessments this year
2. With the exception of F2F 6th grade students on May 11 and 12, all assessments will be administered using the STAAR online platform that is loaded on FBISD-owned laptops. F2F 6th grade students will take their assessments on May 11 and 12 using the traditional paper-based assessment method
3. Related to #2 above, if you have been issued a FBISD-owned laptop, please bring it, FULLY CHARGED, along with the charging cable to school on your STAAR day(s)
4. All students, including those in the online learning model who "opted in" to take the STAAR assessments, must continue to complete the wellness screener in Skyward prior to arrival at SLMS
5. When students who are in the online learning model complete their STAAR assessment, they will contact a parent who will then come to campus to pick them up and take them home, where they are expected to engage with their regular classes online for the balance of the day

Questions about STAAR assessments may be directed to becky.white@fortbendisd.com

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 May 3.

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)

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

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