Principal's Post
Dear Charger Parents and Families, Homecoming Week was a hit thanks to our POMS Cheer coaches, Ms. Gina Taylor and Ms. Allison Berns, and POMS staff that helped with the planning, prepping, and working before and after school to make it the best week for our Chargers! I appreciate ALL of you! Thanks to all our Chargers (students and staff) for being ALL IN with our dress up days! We captured tons of fun pics on Twitter, so be sure to check them out!
Tuesday night's game had tons of fans celebrating our first homecoming tailgate and packing the stands to cheer on our football team in a 38-6 WIN! After nineteen long months of COVID-19 restrictions, we held an outdoor Homecoming Dance in the back courtyard for our 7th and 8th graders. The dance was a HUGE success due to the support of our PTO who worked tirelessly to help organize an incredible event for our students. Thank you for your time and energy!
I want to specifically recognize several parent volunteers for going above and beyond to make this the best middle school homecoming dance: - Mickie Turner: Professional Balloon Artist
- John Botros: DJ Extraordinaire
- Lindsay Colvin: Homecoming Custom Signage
- Julie Steif: Homecoming Selfie Backdrop
PSAT Update On Wednesday, October 13, POMS administered the PSAT 8/9 to 392 8th graders to start preparing our students for the PSAT/NMSQT. The Preliminary SAT, also known as the PSAT/NMSQT® (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), is a practice version of the SAT exam. You can only take the PSAT once per year, and many students take the test in both 10th and 11th grade. If you earn a high score on the PSAT your junior year, you could qualify to receive a National Merit Scholarship—$180 million dollars in merit scholarships are awarded to students each year. The PSAT is 2 hours and 45 minutes long and tests your skills in reading, writing, and math. Unlike the SAT, the highest score possible on the PSAT is 1520.
Red Ribbon Week We are excited to announce that POMS will participate in Red Ribbon Week (October 25 – 29). The 2021 Red Ribbon Week theme, Drug Free Looks Like Me, is a reminder that everyday Americans across the country make significant daily contributions to their communities by being the best they can be because they live Drug-Free! Please see the graphic below for dress up information. |
New Staff Members We are actively recruiting and hiring at Pin Oak Middle School to ensure that we have the faculty and staff needed to support all students as we maintain our safety and health protocols and implement new instructional expectations. Please help me welcome the following staff members to the Charger family. The bolded staff members will begin on Monday, October 18.
| Joyce Hsu | Instructional Technology Specialist |
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| | Sofia Garcia | Spanish Teacher |
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| Nereida Hernandez
| Math Enrichment Teacher
Intervention
HB4545 Accelerated Learning |
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| | Jeremy Gates | A-House Assistant Principal |
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| | Maria Gonzalez Perez | Spanish Teacher |
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| | Reza Khademakbari | Math Teacher |
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| | Katherine Edwards | A-House Clerk |
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| | Ximena Arevalo | Main Office Clerk |
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| | Leighton Blair | Police Officer (PM) |
IDs/Lanyards I want to thank you for your support and reminding your Charger to wear their ID/lanyard. It's noticed and appreciated!
Things to remember: - First ID and lanyard are FREE
- SCHOOL-ISSUED lanyard and ID must be visible (top half of body)
- 6th Grade: Charger White lanyard
- 7th Grade: Charger Gray lanyard
- 8th Grade: Charger Blue lanyard
- Replacement ID ($5) & lanyard ($2)
- Replacement ID & lanyard may be purchased at the main office student support table before school or during lunches
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Socioeconomic Form Have you submittedthis form? All our forms are important, but this one impacts our funding! Please make sure that this form is updated or completed for the 2021-2022 school year. It is very important that we receive this form from everyone. All forms must be accounted for by October 26 to ensure we have the funding needed for our Chargers. Please email Mrs. Salinas at felissa.montanomarquez@houstonisd.org if you have any questions or need a paper form.
HISD Parent University Sessions The Houston Independent School District is holding its second Parent University event for the 2021-2022 academic school year on Tuesday, October 19, 2021. For now, Parent University sessions will be held virtually via Zoom and will connect parents and students to HISD and community resources to help support successful academic outcomes as well as safe and healthy environments at home and in school. Sessions will have live translation audio in Spanish, Arabic, and Vietnamese. Visit www.houstonisd.org/parentuniversity for more information.
Fall 2021 Sessions - September 21 @ 6PM (Virtual)
- October 19 @ 6PM (Virtual)
- November 16 @ 6PM (Milby HS)*
Spring 2022 Sessions - January 18 @ 6PM (Madison HS)*
- February 15 @ 6 PM (Bellaire HS)*
- April 19 @ 6 PM (Houston MSTC)*
*Please note: Locations and times are subject to change due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19. Please continue to check www.houstonisd.org/parentuniversity for up-to-date information or call (713) 556-7290.
Connecting with you is important to us. As a result, we have many ways to share the latest and greatest of Pin Oak Middle School, including:
Be well and stay healthy,
Lindsey Vela |
| POMS PTO General Meeting Tomorrow at 9AM
Please join us for our next POMS PTO General Meeting tomorrow, October 18, at 9 a.m. on Microsoft Teams.
Hope to see you there! |
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| POMS Charger Commitment Campaign House Competition
Hello Charger Parents,
I can't thank you enough for all of the donations that have come in to the Charger Commitment Campaign already. We are making headway, but we still need to raise more to support the unique and amazing programs that are only offered at Pin Oak because of your generous donations.
Therefore, we are introducing a little friendly competition.
Friday kicked off our week-longCharger Commitment CampaignHouse Competition!
The House (A, B, or C) who has the largest percentage of donations (number of students whose families participate) will win a free outdoor popsicle party during Team Time in November.
We encourage you to donate and help bolster the numbers in your student's house(s). Donations made prior to today also count in the total for each child's house. If you have two or more children at POMS in different houses, your donation will be split evenly across each house they are in.
Currently, A and B Houses are TIED with just under 3% participation. But watch out! House C is less than a percentage point behind! It's already a very tight race!
We are halfway through our campaign, and are at 8.5% of families giving. While we didn't quite reach the 10% goal we set, we did double the total from last week, so that's progress!
Please give what you can - any and all amounts help and will benefit POMS students, teachers and staff in the current 2021-2022 school year.
Don't wait! Click here to donate today and help your student win the CCC House Competition! The CCC House Competition ends on Thursday, October 21 at 11:59 p.m.
Follow Pin Oak PTO on social media @pinoakpto to receive updates throughout the week on which House is in the lead!
Thank you,
Francyne Davis Jacobs |
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| POMS Spirit Night at Betsy's is Tomorrow
Join us tomorrow, October 18, for the first POMS Spirit Night of the year. Plan on taking the night off from making dinner and relax with an easy meal while the kids enjoy playing in the park.
The Spirit Night will be hosted at Betsy's in Evelyn's Park where 20% of all purchases between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. (dine in or take out) will be donated back to our school!
Show the attached flier at time of purchase to ensure proceeds are earmarked for Pin Oak! |
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| Happy National Principals Month to POMS Principal Lindsey Vela
Happy National Principals Month to POMS Principal Lindsey Vela! We are so grateful for her visionary leadership and tireless pursuit of equity and success for every student at Pin Oak Middle School.
To show our appreciation, POMS PTO presented Mrs. Vela with a beautiful floral bouquet on behalf of all POMS parents and students! Thank you for all you do, Mrs. Vela! |
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| Get Involved with the Pin Oak PTO Auction Team
The Pin Oak Auction will be a virtual event again this year and we are looking for volunteers to help this event be another great success for POMS PTO.
Almost all of our soliciting is done via email, but if that is still not your thing, we can still use your help!
If you would like to get involved with this fun team, please email POMS PTO VPs of Fundraising, Melissa Bayne & Dawn Johnson at fundraising@pinoakpto.org. |
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| POMS Girls' Basketball Tryout Dates Have Changed
- Tryout Dates: Wednesday, October 27 - Friday, October 29
- Time: Doors will open at 6:20 a.m. and tryouts will be 6:30 a.m - 7:45 a.m.
- Please enter in the gate near the football field closest towards the gym doors. (The gate will be open.)
An account on registermyathlete.com must be created and all forms must be uploaded before tryouts.
POMS Girls' Basketball Information Packet
If you have any questions, please contact Coach Alexis Willis. |
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| Apply to Join the Pin Oak Press
Calling all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders who have an interest in journalism! Apply now to join the student-run Pin Oak Press!
You will get to write articles for our school's newspaper and possibly start your own column!
Please complete this Google form to submit your application. All applications must be submitted by Monday, October 25!
If you have any questions, please contact Jules Beech at julesbeech@icloud.com. |
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| Gifted and Talented Testing 2021-2022
HISD will be testing all 6th grade students who are not already identified as Gifted and Talented (GT) during the GT testing window of November 29 - December 11. The exact dates for testing at POMS will be announced soon. These tests will happen during the school day.
Current 7th and 8th graders who are interested in being tested for Gifted and Talented identification must complete the GT application and have it submitted to Ms. Vining (C House office) by November 11.
Online applications can be found through HISD Parent Connect or by submitting a paper application:
We will make sure that the teacher evaluation portion is done on campus.
Gifted Education Plans are currently being developed for identified GT students and will be completed by October 29, 2021.
Additional Resources: |
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| Important Traffic Reminders
Reminder to please be considerate of HCC neighbors and surrounding streets. These are NOT official pick-up/drop-off zones and we are fielding many complaints. Blocking driveways and parking on the streets are prohibited and Bellaire Police will be ticketing.
- DO NOT U-turn on Glenmont.
- DO NOT pick up or drop off in the teacher/staff parking lot at the back of the school.
- Avenue B is NOT a sanctioned pick up or drop off location and DO NOT block driveways. Bellaire police are giving tickets to those who are parked illegally.
- The HCC Parking Lot is NOT available for parking. You will be towed.
If you have any questions, please email Principal Vela. |
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| Pants Needed in Adult Men's Sizes
Pin Oak Middle School is looking for uniform pants/shorts in waist size 32 or above. Please bring all donations to front office to Ms. Gould's attention.
Questions? Please email Wraparound Specialist Brigid Gould at Brigid.Gould@houstonisd.org. |
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| POMS Magnet Thursday Events
Do you know someone interested in applying to Pin Oak Middle School for the 2022-2023 school year? Pin Oak Middle School will host virtual information sessions every Thursday from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. for prospective families. We encourage you to share this information with your community and help us spread the word about the great things happening at Pin Oak!
Join on Microsoft Teams here!
If you have any questions about the POMS Magnet Thursdays, please email POMS Magnet Coordinator, Mrs. Kelly Moore, at kelly.moore@houstonisd.org. |
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| Purchase Your POMS Yearbook Today
Yearbooks are now available for sale at Balfour.com for $50. The price will increase to $55 on January 1, 2022.
We sell out every year so please reserve yours today!
If you have any questions, please contact POMS Yearbook Advisor Autumn Beckman. |
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| POMS Boot Walk to End Cancer
Again. this year on Tuesday, November 2, Pin Oak Middle School is teaming up with Team #kirbystrong to participate in the 2021 MD Anderson Boot Walk to End Cancer which raises money to provide support for MDA’s mission, including patient programs, research, prevention, and education initiatives. From October 25 - November 2, for a $5 donation kids can "purchase" a Give Cancer the Boot wristband. Everyone with a wristband will walk the track in their favorite "boots" during team time on Tuesday, November 2. If you'd like to make an additional donation to MD Anderson, please click on this link: https://secure3.convio.net/mdacc/site/TR/Walk/BootWalk?px=1141495&pg=personal&fr_id=1492 100% of funds raised by participants go directly to MDA to advance their mission to end cancer. After all, who doesn't want to give cancer a swift kick out the door? Thank you for your generosity! Gina Taylor #kirbystrong #endcancer |
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| Lamar HS Prospective Parents Virtual Tour
Interested in your child attending Lamar High School? Come join our Principal, Magnet Coordinator, and current parents for a virtual coffee.
Lamar will host three virtual coffees: - October 1
- October 15
- November 5
Each coffee will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Lamar asks that you register in advance and a link will be emailed the Thursday before the event.
These events will take place on Microsoft Teams which works best in Google Chrome or through the Teams app on your smart phone.
You can visit our Prospective Student Website and sign up to receive updates from our Admissions Coordinator, Ms. Casey Titus. She can answer questions whether you are zoned or not and will be your contact as you make decisions about next year!
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| Energy Institute HS Wants You!
Did you know that the applications for magnet transfer are now open? 8th graders are able to apply for specific high schools with specialty programs and this is a great way to find a school that meets your high school dreams. Each year Energy Institute HS has many 9th grade students who come from Pin Oak MS.
We are a STEM magnet school that offers engineering, content on Energy, but most importantly, we are the only school in HISD that is a Project Based Learning campus!
Reach out or explore our site for more information. The Magnet Coordinator can be contacted at jillian.estrella@houstonisd.org.
Energy Institute HS Welcome to Energy Institute HS Energy Institute HS Fact Sheet
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| Volunteer to Help with POMS Lunch Duty
Mrs. Vela and the POMS admin team need your help during lunch duty to encourage students to throw away their trash and exhibit appropriate behavior.
Please also talk to your children at home about why it's important to respect their school campus and clean up after themselves.
Click here to sign up! You must be VIPS approved.
Questions? Please contact POMS Assistant Principal Johnny Morse. |
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| POMS Amazon Wish List
Please consider helping us purchase items on our Amazon Wish List. All items will be shipped directly to the school.
Thank you so much for your generosity!
Please email POMS PTO President Tricia Onufer with any questions. |
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| Missed the Virtual Parent Meeting on TX House Bill (HB) 4545?
Click here to view the replay. If you are asked for a log in, please enter your student's HISD email address and password. |
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| Backpack Buddy is Back!
The Houston Food Bank’s Backpack Buddy Program works to fill the gap between school meals by providing nutritious, child-friendly food for school children to take home over the weekend.
Through the Backpack Buddy program, the Houston Food Bank works in partnership with our school to ensure that the food sacks are distributed to children every Friday during the school year.
In order to receive a food sack every Friday, you MUST submit a permission slip:
Food distribution is set to start in October. Please email POMS Wraparound Specialist Brigid Gould with any questions or to get more information. |
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| Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities
Do you know a business who is looking for corporate sponsorship opportunities?
Pin Oak offers a variety of sponsorship levels and benefits, including school-wide newsletter and website recognition, banner display in a prominent location on campus, marquee signage and much more! By partnering with businesses in our community, we raise funds for teacher, student, classroom and technology support, curriculum enrichment, staff appreciation, and facility enhancements.
Contact POMS PTO Co-VP of Fundraising & Corporate Sponsors Chair Dawn Johnson for more details. |
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| VIPS (Volunteers in Public School) Registration Now Open
All volunteers in HISD must register to be VIPS approved. Please register at least two weeks before your scheduled volunteer shift, as it can take three to five business days to complete the background check. Even if you were previously VIPS approved, you will need to register again as your approval expires at the end of each school year.
VIPS Registration VIPS Registration (Español) |
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| Join the POMS PTO for 2021-2022
Join the Pin Oak Middle School PTO and help the students, teachers, fine arts, athletics, and academic programs at our school.
Membership is just $10.
Membership must be renewed each year, as annual membership expires at the end of each school year on June 30.
If you have any questions, please email POMS PTO Membership ChairJamie Broach Byrd. |
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| Update Information for POMS Directory
Log in to update your directory info or sign up for a new account if you're a new user. If you have used Membership Toolkit at another school, you may log in using your same account information.
The POMS PTO uses the Membership Toolkit platform across the board, so you'll need an account to receive the Charger Chatter, shop at the online School Store, join the PTO, and more! It can all be found at pinoakpto.org.
Also, be sure to download the free Membership Toolkit app on the App Store or Google Play, so you'll have the school directory and school calendar with you at all times on your mobile device! You can even sync the PTO calendar to your phone's calendar and opt to receive push notifications for important announcements!
If you have any issues signing up or logging in, please contact the POMSPTO VP of Communications Melissa Law. |
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| | Monday, October 18 | | | | | Tuesday, October 19 | | | | Thursday, October 21 | | | | | | Friday, October 22 | | | Saturday, October 23 | | | Monday, October 25 | | | | | Tuesday, October 26 | | | | | Wednesday, October 27 | | | | | Thursday, October 28 | | | | | | | | Friday, October 29 | | | | | | | Sunday, October 31 | |
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 When you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate a percentage to Pin Oak Middle School PTO. |
|  Use the new Box Tops App on the App Store or Google Play to scan your receipt. The app will find participating products purchased at any store and instantly add cash to Pin Oak Middle School PTO's earnings online. |
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Donate to Pin Oak Middle School PTO when you do your everyday shopping! All donations support excellence in education through activities and programs at Pin Oak Middle School. |
We Appreciate Our Corporate Sponsors & Community Partners |
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