SLMS Titan News

SLMS Parents and Guardians,

Safety remains a top priority here at SLMS. Our administrative team and counselors work closely together to ensure the safety of our students and staff. We encourage you to report any suspicious statements, images or behaviors posted on social media or witnessed in person to our administrative team quickly. You can also make reports through the Fort Bend ISD Crime Stoppers Program at 281-491-TIPS, through the See Something, Share Something app, or by contacting the Fort Bend ISD Police Department directly at 281-634-5500.

Updates to the newsletter:

• Attendance Tips
• Career Day
• STEM Zone

Sincerely,

Dr. Latoya Garrett

Principal

#weareTITANS

Daily attendance in school is a strong indicator of future success. All FBISD students should be on time daily and accounted for to ensure academic continuity and to maximize learning.

• Students earn course credits by meeting the course requirements AND attending classes 90% of the time the class is offered. If not, your student may be in jeopardy of being denied course credit or not being promoted to the next grade level. Each campus has a designated Campus Attendance Committee that meets regularly to determine and review students who are not complying with the 90% attendance mandate.
  

• Parents and guardians should always submit absence notes to campus attendance clerks when their child is not present, even if the child is sent home. A note submitted for an absence will be reviewed by the campus attendance personnel and/or the campus administrator to determine if the absence will be excused or unexcused. Parents and guardians should contact their child’s school if they have any questions.

Per the Student Attendance Accounting Handbook provided by the Texas Education Agency, a student is either present or absent at the official attendance-taking (OAT) time, known as SNAPSHOT. Each campus attendance is determined by the number of students present at this very important designated snapshot time. To ensure academic engagement and successful learning, all students should be present daily by snapshot and remain academically engaged all day:

• Elementary school snapshot time is 10:00 AM.
• Middle school snapshot time is 10:15 AM.
• High school snapshot time is 10:00 AM.

Ultimately, parents/guardians are responsible for getting their children to school. Here are a few tips:

• Daily attendance in school is a strong indicator of future success, and parents/guardians play a very important role in their children’s attendance. Going to school every school day should be a good habit reinforced by parents/guardians.
• What if your child needs to see a doctor? If your child STARTS or ENDS the school day and you provides proper documentation from the medical professional to the attendance clerk for that day, your child will be coded as PRESENT.
• If your child is ill, email the Attendance Clerk the morning of their absence.
• Arrive to school on time and attend every class period.

Skyward has some great features to support you as the parent/guardian. Did you know you can get an alert for a low grade? Did you know that you can check your child's meal account? There are even more tips available.

Please click the link below for a quick reference sheet regarding Skyward.

DreamBox Math (K-8) is an engaging and adaptive math program that integrates curriculum and continuous formative assessment to personalize instruction, develop conceptual understanding, build critical skills, and improve achievement for every student, regardless of where they are in their learning journey. Students are able to practice their math skills using their laptop.

Here is a link with directions for how parents can set up an account to view how their child is doing on Dreambox: https://dreamboxlearning.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/27281567048595-DreamBox-Math-School-Families-Set-Up-a-Free-Family-Account

SchooLinks is back this year and is our hub for College and Career Readiness in FBISD. All SLMS students will be reintroduced to SchooLinks in September during our first classroom visits. As a parent/guardian, we want you in on the action too! Please see the flyer, “Onboarding for Guardians” so you can have access to you children in SchooLinks!

(ENTER ATTACHED FLYERS)

LEVEL CHANGES (down or up from an AAC level course)

Level Changes may begin following PR1. Please reach out to your child’s subject-area teacher and they can guide you through the process. There will be a form for you to sign to initiate the change. It is not guaranteed to be a change that only affects that certain class period. Changes are determined by class availability at the time of the change.

If you have any questions or concerns throughout the year, please reach out to your child’s grade level counselor:

Nafecia Brinson-6

Nafecia.brinson@fortbendisd.gov

281-634-3087

Eleni Smith-7

Eleni.smith@fortbendisd.gov

281-634-3086

Kimberly Seright-8

Kimberly.seright@fortbendisd.gov

281-634-3085

Attention Student-Athletes!To play sports, you must be GREEN in Rank One.

• September 27: NO SCHOOL for students
  
• October 4: Student/Teacher Holiday
• October 10-14: Student/Teacher Holiday
• October 15: Teacher Planning Day/No School for Students

Happy September Titan Families!

We enjoyed meeting some of you who were able to stop by our table at Open House! Our PTO Board held their first meeting of the school year this past August and we have a full calendar of hospitality, fundraising and volunteer events planned. This month, be on the look out for more information about our Stock the Lounge sign-up and VIPS Meet & Greet. We are having a spirit night at Chick-fil-a Sugar Land on Tuesday, 9/17. Pick-up some Chick-fil-a before or after the Titan football game or offer to bring a Chick-fil-a lunch to a Titan Teacher!

Helpful PTO Links & Dates

• Become a PTO Member - membership is free and includes access to our monthly newsletter
• Become an approved Volunteer - all volunteers must complete an annual district background check
• Make a one time donation via Cheddar Up or a recurring donation via PayPal.
• Purchase Spirit Items through our Cheddar Up Store
• Purchase a Happy Birthday Marquee Greeting through our Cheddar Up Store
• Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and bookmark our website: http://www.slmspto.weebly.com
• Donate used clothing & toys to the Textile Bin located near the bus ramp. Please do not place oversized items at the bin.
• Become a Community Business Sponsor

Upcoming Spirit Nights - Mark Your Calendar!

• 9/17 Chick-Fil-A Sugar Land - 6am-9pm (drive thru till 10pm) Order through the app (easiest), drop the receipt in the card if dining in, or tell the drive-thru attendant.
• 10/29 Kona Ice - at the SLMS Trunk or Treat
• 11/19 Lopez Mexican Restaurant

Thank you to all the parents and Titan staff who have joined/renewed their membership and donated to support our efforts! Questions? Contact us at slmsmembership@gmail.com. Volunteer questions? Contact us at slmstitansvips@gmail.com

Together we are TITANS!

SLMS PTO

Support our students and staff by setting up a monthly donation to PTO. You can set this automatic donation starting at a few dollars. Remember that every dollar helps our PTO do AMAZING things for our community.

When a new badge is printed for a student, a fine will be assessed in Skyward. Theh parent will receive an email with a link to pay Revtrak. The standardized fee of $5 will be placed on the Skyward account for the student.

Students must comply with the following dress and grooming standards, including in online learning platforms.

Sugar Land MS Cell Phone Expectations

• Phones must be powered off and stored in the students' backpacks during the instructional day (8:20 AM - 4:10 PM).
• When students arrive on campus in the morning, they will report to their assigned area (commons or gyms). Students will be permitted to use their phones on occasion at lunch and after dismissal.
• Students may not use their phones or devices to access and use any social media at any time while students are on campus, including before and after school activities.
• Students may not use their phones to take photos or videos at any time while they are on campus unless they have special permission.
• Phone use in the locker room or restroom is considered a severe violation and will be considered the fourth offense.
• If the cell phone rules are broken or if a student misuses their own instructional device, the following steps will be taken:
• First Offense—The device is confiscated and delivered to the front office for end-of-day student pickup. The student receives a Skyward referral.
• Second Offense—Same as the first offense.
• Third Offense—The offense is recorded in Skyward with a referral, a $15 fine is assessed and the parent/guardian will need to pick up the phone. (per policy in the current FBISD Student/Parent Handbook).
• Fourth Offense or Severe Violation—Student receives a $15 fine, a parent must pick up the phone, and a referral submitted to their administrator.
• If a student needs to call home for any reason, they can use the phone in the office or in the classroom with permission.
• FBISD schools are not responsible for the loss or theft of student-owned devices per district policy. The student is responsible for retrieving the phone at the end of the day for the first and second offense.

Frequently asked questions:

• So what are SLMS cell phone expectations? When students enter SLMS until the end of the instructional day, students will turn off their cell phones and keep them in their backpacks. Students who do not follow the expectations will have their cell phones confiscated per the district parent-student handbook.
• What if I need to contact my student during the school day? If a parent needs to contact their student during the instructional day regarding transportation or for emergencies they may call 281-634-3080.
• What if my student is not responding to my text messages? This is a great way to see if your student is following the school expectations. As long as they are not responding between 8:20 AM and 4:10 PM, be proud that your student is following the school rules.
• How will my child tell me that they forgot something at home and need for me to bring it up to school? At Sugar Land, part of our mission is to develop independence. You can help us by allowing your child to experience the natural consequence of forgetting something at home. If it is schoolwork, then they receive the late work points taken off. If it is shoes for PE, then they may have to sit out. If it is their lunch, then they receive a meal from the cafeteria at no cost to them this year.
• What if my child sends me a text from the restroom. Phone use in the locker room or restroom is considered a severe violation and will be considered the fourth offense. Fourth Offense or Severe Violation means that the student is fined, a parent must pick up the phone, and a referral is submitted to their administrator.

Support and talk with your child ahead of time about our Sugar Land Cell Phone Policy to help ensure they follow the rules and do not get their cell phone taken up. For some students this will not be a big deal, for others, they will need to understand following school rules is important.

Sixth Grade

• Associate Principal - Monika Martin (monika.martin@fortbendisd.gov)
• Counselor - Nafecia Brinson (nafecia.brinson@fortbendisd.gov)

Seventh Grade

• Assistant Principal - Dawn Rogers (dawn.rogers@fortbendisd.gov)
• Counselor - Eleni Smith (eleni.smith@fortbendisd.gov)

Eighth Grade

• Assistant Principal - Luster Goodwin (luster.goodwin@fortbendisd.gov)
• Counselor - Kim Seright (kimberly.seright@fortbendisd.gov)

Counselor Clerk - Asia Stewart (asia.stewart@fortbendisd.gov)

Assistant Principal Secretaries

• 7th and 8th Grade - Tina Garcia (diamantina.ibarragar@fortbendisd.gov)
• 6th Grade - Mayra Morales (mayra.morales@fortbendisd.gov)

Attendance - Mary Beth LaVergne (mary.lavergne@fortbendisd.gov)

Registrar - Tandi Phillips (tandi.phillips@fortbendisd.gov)

Nurse - Gwendolyn Davis (gwendolyn.davis@fortbendisd.gov)

Clinic Aide - Cathy Tekrouri (cathy.tekrouri@fortbendisd.gov)

Executive Assistant to Principal - Mary Connealy (mary.connealy@fortbendisd.gov)

Principal - Dr. Latoya Garrett (latoya.garrett@fortbendisd.gov)

49th Year at SLMS

1975-2024

Inspiring and equipping the young men and women of our community for futures beyond what they can imagine since September 2, 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 PM

Email: latoya.garrett@fortbendisd.gov
Website: www.fortbendisd.com/slms
Location: 321 7th Street, Sugar Land, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 634-3080
X: @SLMSTitans