Principal's Post
Dear Charger Parents and Families,
It is hard to believe that we are quickly closing on the end of 2021. We’ve had many changes, and the students have been wonderful transitioning to them. As we close in on the last 10 instructional days of 2021, please help us to keep academic expectations high during this exciting time of year.
Attendance As we enter the cold and flu season, this is a reminder to send in an excuse every time your child is absent. We continue to monitor absences and ask that parents please let us know if you notice any discrepancies. Please contact our attendance clerk Ms. Johnson at Michelle.FusilierJohnson@houstonisd.org if you have a question about your child’s attendance.
Progress Reports I know it seems like we just began the 3rd six weeks, but the window for progress reports will close on Friday, December 10. 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. Progress reports will be distributed on Friday, December 17.
District Level Assessments As you may already know, HISD uses District Level Assessments to help teachers understand what students know and what they are ready to learn next. These assessments are given throughout the year to students in STAAR tested areas to monitor student progress. This year a writing component will be part of each DLA. The District Level Assessment testing window opens Monday, December 6, and closes Friday, December 17. |
The District Level Assessments will assess a set of priority standards taught during a specific period of instruction as defined by the district scope and sequence document for a content/course and grade level. These assessments are designed to provide teachers with specific and timely information on each student’s learning. With the resulting data, teachers can promptly evaluate the effectiveness of their instruction, make any needed adjustments in the class, and address the learning needs of each student. As part of this process, teachers will be able to give students near immediate feedback on their performance.
To provide the best test experience and results, please consider the following tips: - Ensure your child is well rested and has a good breakfast
- Ensure your child arrives at school on time and prepared to take the assessments seriously
For more information about the assessment contact your child’s teacher.
Winter Ugly Sweater Days Get ready to get cozy and show our holiday spirit! We want everyone to wear their fluffiest, ugliest, funniest sweater on Friday, December 10, and Friday, December 17. Dress code bottoms and footwear are required.
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.
The front office is open and ready to assist you Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also email us or call (713) 295-6500 during the same hours. We are happy to help! |
Admin Contact Information
Campus Administrators
Campus Support Team
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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 |
| 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. |
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| Bring Baked Holiday Treats for POMS Teachers & Staff
The POMS PTO Staff Appreciation Committee is looking for help providing your favorite holiday/festive cookies or treats for our staff and teachers for the holidays. Whether you bake them yourself or pick them up from your favorite bakery, please sign up to contribute to this sweet treat collection.
All baked goods need to be delivered to POMS by Wednesday, December 15, at 10:30 a.m.
Any questions can be directed to the POMS PTO Staff Appreciation Committee at staffappreciation@pinoakpto.org. |
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| 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. |
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| School Picture Retakes are Monday, December 13
Photo Texas Photography Houston is coming back to campus on Monday, December 13, for Fall Picture Retake Day. We will photograph students who missed the original picture day, are new to the school or need to retake their photo.
Our staff is fully vaccinated, masked up and ready to capture your student’s most important moments! To help everyone stay healthy and safe, Photo Texas Photography Houston encourages and provides a contactless experience. All orders are Prepay. We do not email proofs. During the Prepay period, you can choose Ship to School for FREE or Ship to Home. Shipping charges will apply.
Order Fall Pictures NOW!
The Prepay Link remains active for 3 DAYS after Retake Day. Any order received after the Prepay period is considered a late order and is shipped to the address provided. Shipping charges will apply. Please contact Customer Service for assistance placing late orders. We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to take a snapshot of your student’s life. Thank you for the opportunity!
PTP Houston PTP Houston is following CDC Guidelines for COVID-19 in K-12 Schools. Our staff is required to be fully vaccinated and must wear a mask that completely covers their nose and mouth when visiting a school, conducting a photo shoot or otherwise interacting with students and customers. We also encourage and provide a contactless experience. |
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| POMS Soccer Tryout Information
The POMS Boys' Soccer Team Interest Meeting will be Monday, December 13, at 5 p.m. on Microsoft Teams for 7th & 8th grade boys interested in trying out for soccer.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Coach Terrel or Coach Caraballo.
The POMS Girls' Soccer Team Interest Meeting will be Monday, December 13, at 5:30 p.m. on Microsoft Teams for 7th & 8th grade girls interested in trying out for soccer.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Coach Biondolilo.
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| POMS Track & Field Tryout Information
There will be a POMS Track & Field Team interest meeting on Monday, December 6, at 5:30 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.
Tryouts will be Monday, December 13, and Tuesday, December 14, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact Coach Alexis Willis. |
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| POMS Softball Tryout Information
Attention softball players:
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. |
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| 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 o 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. |
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| 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. |
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| POMS Cheerleader for a Day Clinic is Saturday, April 2
POMS Cheerleader for a Day Clinic will be held on Saturday, April 2, 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. |
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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 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
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| 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. |
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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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| 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) |
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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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| 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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| 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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| 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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| | Monday, December 6 | | | | Wednesday, December 8 | | | Thursday, December 9 | | | | Friday, December 10 | | | | | Monday, December 13 | | | | | | Tuesday, December 14 | | | Thursday, December 16 | | | | Friday, December 17 | | | | | | Monday, December 20 | | | Tuesday, December 21 | | | Wednesday, December 22 | | | Thursday, December 23 | | | Friday, December 24 | | | Saturday, December 25 | | | Sunday, December 26 | | | Monday, December 27 | | | Tuesday, December 28 | | | Wednesday, December 29 | | | Thursday, December 30 | | | Friday, December 31 | | | Monday, January 3 | |
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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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