Originally delivered on 11/28/2021 6:13 pm

SUBJECT: Charger Chatter

November 28, 2021

Principal's Post



Dear Charger Parents and Families,


I hope you and your families had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are energized for the busy month of December. Here at school, we are very proud of the outstanding achievements of our students. I am also very grateful to have such a talented, energetic staff who have a tireless commitment to students, supportive parents, and surrounding community that we couldn’t do without. The staff and I are truly grateful to be working in such a wonderful school community. Thank you!


We have been very busy during the last three months with district and state assessments, wrapping up fall sports and transitioning to winter sports, and all the day-to-day management of our students' academic, social, and emotional needs. It has taken longer this year to feel like we are all settled into the routine of the school schedule and expectations, but I have been pleased overall with the excitement and progress thus far. Seeing our students every day continues to be my reminder and motivation for gratitude and service.


As we move into December and approach the winter break (the end of the semester will be here before we know it), it is important as ever for students to remain focused and make the most of this 3rd six weeks. Progress reports will close on Friday, December 10, 2021. Please make sure students are taking advantage of the wide range of opportunities where they can get academic support, whether it’s before/after school tutorials or during Team Time.



HERO Program

Pin Oak Middle School has a new positive behavior program named HERO. Students receive points for demonstrating Charger Core Values: Being Respectful, Being Responsible, and Being Resilient. Students and parents can see the points that are granted in real time once an account is created.


Parents please create an account on HERO so you can track your student's positive behavior and encourage them to be Charger Heroes on campus.


Then download the mobile app Hero by SchoolMint on the App Store or Google Playso you can track your student's HERO points at any time!


Please watch this video on how to create an account and/or view this slide deck that outlines step by step instructions on how to create a parent account. 



Mask Wearing

As we continue to navigate this pandemic, it remains imperative that our school community continues to emphasize the importance of and practice proper mask wearing. Please talk with your student about the importance of this safety measure. Masks should be properly placed over the nose and mouth. Your assistance is much appreciated.


Admin Contact Information


Campus Administrators


Lindsey Vela
Principal


Jeremy Gates
A-House Assistant Principal


Kiran Kirmani
A-House Assistant Principal


Johnny Morse
B-House Assistant Principal


Ashly Evans-Vining
C-House Assistant Principal


Campus Support Team


Katty Warren
Counselor


Thea Troetscher
Nurse


Brigid Gould

Wraparound Specialist

Astaire Carter

Athletic Coordinator

Kelly Moore
Magnet Coordinator


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




Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram!

Twitter: @pinoakms

Instagram @pinoakchargers

Enjoy a Kona Ice Treat on Friday, December 3


Kona Ice will be at POMS after school on Friday, December 3, on Glenmont Street in front of the school.


Please bring your cash to purchase a treat. Treats will range from $3.00 to $6.00.


Come enjoy a sweet treat with friends!


Please email POMS PTO Kona Ice Chair Margaret Pinkston with any questions.

Donate to the Teacher & Staff Holiday Gift Fund by Friday, December 10


Help us show our wonderful teachers and staff how much we appreciate them by donating to theTeacher & Staff Holiday Gift Fund. Donations in any amount are greatly appreciated and 100% will go towards our wonderful staff and teachers. We will take donations until Friday, December 10, 2021. Thank you!


If you have any questions, please email POMS PTO VPs of Activities Lauren Blackburn & Andrea Freedman atactivities@pinoakpto.org.

POMS Winter Orchestra Concert is Wednesday, December 8


The POMS Winter Orchestra Concert will take place on Wednesday, December 8, from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in the MPR. The event is open to the Pin Oak community. Masks will be required.


Please email Ms. Lynsey Slavonic for more information.

POMS Softball Tryout Information


Attention softball players: 


There will be a softball team interest meeting on Tuesday, November 30, at 5:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.


Tryouts for the 2022 POMS Softball Team will be on December 6, 7, & 8 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.


Softball is open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls. Players will be scored on long and short throws, catching pop flies and grounders, as well as batting and bunting. The top 16 scoring players will make the team.


Please see Coach Meyer in Room B129 or Coach Frazier in the gym for the required paperwork.


Please email Coach Eric Meyer with any questions.

POMS Baseball Tryout Information


Any student interested in trying out for the POMS Baseball Team must pick up a baseball packet and information sheet from the Boys' Coaches Office, complete the baseball form, and return it to Coach Fujiwara by the date listed below or you may not try out:


  • Pitchers/Catchers: Return by lunch time on Monday, November 29
  • Position Players: Return by lunch time on Monday, December 6.


Please remember, pitcher/catcher tryouts will do the same skills and drills as position player tryouts. If you are not a pitcher or catcher, you will only come to the position player tryout.


If you have any questions, please email Coach Fujiwara.

POMS Girls' Lacrosse Club Registration Now Open


Registration for POMS Girls' Lacrosse Club is now open. To register, please visit pinoakgirlslax.com. Registration will close on Friday, December 17, no exceptions.

 

Due to supply chain issues, we will be ordering uniform jerseys soon. If you are registering a brand new player who is not on our current roster and has not attended practices this fall, please email us at pinoakgirlslaxhouston@gmail.com right away so that we can ensure that she gets a uniform jersey.

Save the Date for the POMS Cheerleader for a Day Clinic


POMS Cheerleader for a Day Clinic will be held on Saturday, April 22, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the Pin Oak Middle School Gym for children Kindergarten through 7th Grade. Check in will begin at 8:45 a.m. and there will be a star-studded performance at 11:45 a.m.


Register by Friday, March 11, to take advantage of the early bird special ($25 donation). After March 11, it will increase to a $30 donation. Checks may be made payable to Pin Oak Middle School or you may pay via SchoolPay.


Donation includes t-shirt, light snacks, and water.


Check the Pin Oak Middle School website for more details closer to the date!


Please email Coach Gina Taylor for more information.

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.

POMS Chickens are Back!


This is a unique volunteer opportunity to take care of our Pin Oak chickens, even if you are not part of the Urban Agriculture classes. It is a rewarding experience and you get to take fresh eggs home!


POMS Chicken Care Information Letter

POMS Chicken Care Sign Up Genius


For questions, please contact Angela Roth.

POMS Lanyards/IDs

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
Next Level Youth Flag Football at Rice University


Join the Rice Football staff and student-athletes for Next Level Flag Football at Rice University. The program is open to all participants Kindergarten through 7th Grade. Registration is now open as league activity starts in mid January and runs through early March.


Questions? Contact Lance Smith with Next Level Sports.

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.

Register for VIPS (Volunteers in Public School)


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)

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.

Join Mrs. Vela's POMS Parent Group 2021-2022 on Remind


To join via mobile phone:

1.  Send a text to 81010

2.  Text this message: @pinoakp


To join via web:

https://www.remind.com/join/pinoakp?utm_medium=ios


Then download the app on theApp StoreorGoogle Play.

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.

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.

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.

Need Food, Clothing, Child Care, Rental Assistance, or Health & Human Services?

HISD Wraparound Services is here to help. Please see the following documents and complete a Student Assistance Form (SAF) found here.

Wraparound Services Contact Sheet

Wraparound Services Info Sheet English/Spanish

For more information, visit HISD Wraparound Services or email POMS Wraparound Specialist Brigid Gould.

Looking Ahead
Monday, November 29
11:30a POMS Baseball Pitcher/Catcher Tryout Forms Due
Tuesday, November 30
5:00p POMS Softball Team Interest Meeting
Thursday, December 2
6:00p POMS Girls' Basketball vs. Pershing MS @ Pershing MS
6:00p POMS Boys' Basketball vs. Pershing MS @ POMS
Friday, December 3
POMS 8th Grade Boys' Basketball @ San Jacinto Invitational Tournament
4:00p POMS Kona Ice Friday
Saturday, December 4
POMS 8th Grade Boys' Basketball @ San Jacinto Invitational Tournament
Monday, December 6
11:30a POMS Baseball Position Player Tryout Forms Due
Wednesday, December 8
6:30p POMS Winter Orchestra Concert
Thursday, December 9
6:00p POMS Girls' Basketball vs. Lawson MS @ Lawson MS
6:00p POMS Boys' Basketball vs. Lawson MS @ POMS
Friday, December 10
4:15p POMS SDMC Meeting
Monday, December 13
POMS Fall School Picture Retake Day
Thursday, December 16
6:00p POMS Girls' Basketball vs. Mandarin Immersion MS @ POMS
6:00p POMS Boys' Basketball vs. Mandarin Immersion MS @ Mandarin Immersion MS
Friday, December 17
POMS Staff Appreciation Luncheon & Gift Distribution
POMS Girls' Lacrosse Club Registration Closes
Monday, December 20
POMS No School - Winter Break
Stay Connected
Ways to Give

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.

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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