Principal's Post
Dear Charger Parents and Families,
I am always so impressed with our amazing staff and students and how they are able to jump right back into the flow of school and progress forward after a break. Their commitment, determination, and grit is noticed throughout the school day. As second semester activities pick back up, we are confident that our Chargers will continue their growth in the daily process of learning.
As always, thank you for the encouragement that each of you provide our Chargers as they come to school full of confidence and support to succeed. On the same note, thank you for the positive encouragement that I see daily given to our teachers and support staff. As you all know, it is a challenging time in education with our current obstacles and substitute shortage, but together we will continue to push through and create the best school year possible.
COVID-19 Testing HISD encourages all students and staff to participate in regular COVID-19 screen testing, which allows preventative measures to be taken to avoid further transmission of COVID-19. You can help us keep school running smoothly for all by not sending students to school who are ill. If there is any question, please err on the side of caution. When we have to send staff home because they are ill, it has a dramatic impact on all students and staff.
Beginning January 28, HISD will provide free PCR COVID-19 testing to all consenting HISD students and staff at Pin Oak Middle School. Testing will take place bi-weekly. A one-time consent form is required for participation in the COVID-19 campus testing program. The form can be completed at HoustonISD.org/COVIDTesting. For more information, visit HoustonISD.org/HealthAlerts.
Athletics, UIL, & Extracurricular Activities All indoor and outdoor competitions, practices, and extracurricular activities/performances occurring at HISD facilities will allow spectators at a limited 50 percent capacity. At indoor events, all spectators, visitors, and students who are not actively participating must wear a mask covering the nose and mouth regardless of vaccination status. At outdoor events, masks are highly encouraged.
Mask Wearing Masks are required indoors for all HISD schools, buildings, and buses — regardless of vaccination status. If a student, employee, or essential visitor does not have a mask, one will be provided upon entry.
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 must be properly placed over the nose and mouth. Your assistance is much appreciated.
Water Bottles Water is available through water-filling stations. Please send a refillable water bottle to school each day with your child. Please label the water bottle with your child’s name. The water bottle should be filled at home each morning before coming to school.
The front office is open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to assist you. You can also directly email us or call 713-295-6500 during the same hours. We are happy to help!
For more information, visit HISD 2021-2022 Back to School Plan: Ready, Set, Go! |
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 |
| Online Registration for Color Run Ends TONIGHT at 11:59PM
Register your student(s) for the Pin Oak Color Run today!
On Friday, January 28, students will participate with their grade level in our annual fun run event and you don’t want to miss out!
There are 3 opportunities for students to participate:
- Color Thrower (SOLD OUT FOR ALL GRADES)
- Positioned at all 4 corners of the track, these lucky students will throw color powder on their peers as they run by.
- T-shirt is included. Size requests are first come, first served.
- Runner/Walker
- These students will get covered in color powder as they travel 2 laps around the track.
- T-shirt is included. Size requests are first come, first served.
- Spectator
- These students will get to leave class to watch the fun run event and participate in the Post-Run Color Party!
- T-shirt not included.
Online sales will close TONIGHT at 11:59 p.m.
If you are VIPS approved and would like to volunteer at the Color Run, please click here to sign up. We especially need help on the morning of the Color Run for setup and ticket sales. If you have any questions, please email POMS PTO Co-VP of Fundraising Melissa Bayne at fundraising@pinoakpto.org. |
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| Kona Ice Will Be at Color Run on Friday, January 28
Kona Ice will be at the Color Run on Friday, January 28. Take a breather after running by enjoying a nice cold treat! Prices range from $4 to $6 - cash or credit. |
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| POMS Auditions for Musical: Honk! JR. are THIS WEEK
Auditions for the all-school musical Honk! JR. will be held on the following dates (choose one): - Monday, January 24, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 25, 4 p.m - 6 p.m.
The show performs April 28 - April 30.
All POMS students are invited to audition. To sign up for auditions and for additional information, check out the audition packet or email Ms. Katherine Goldman. |
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| Donate to the POMS Auction
Dear Parents and Friends of Pin Oak Middle School,
The Pin Oak Middle School community is invited to a week-long celebration starting Sunday, February 20, 2022 as we kick off our annual auction!
The “Lights, Camera, Auction!” is 100% online this year, where you can bid over coffee or cocktails – you decide! The funds raised from the auction enrich and enhance the quality of each student’s education at POMS. We hope that you will support our school and donate to the auction!
In addition to the auction with round-the-clock bidding, the week-long celebration includes much more. A movie night, school spirit days, spirit nights at local restaurants, promotional social media posts, and raffles with exciting prizes are just some of the activities that will be part of this exciting event.
Pin Oak Middle School has established itself as one of the finest middle schools in Texas and has been nationally recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School, a TEA Exemplary Middle School and a “No Place for Hate” by the Anti-Defamation League of Houston. Pin Oak serves a highly diverse population of children. The students come to Pin Oak through a boundary option or a foreign language magnet program. Students in the boundary option live in Bellaire, Braes Heights, Meyerland and West University Place. Students in the magnet program live all around the greater Houston area.
Our annual auction is a critical fundraising source for the POMS PTO. Your donations allow us to continue the strong tradition of supporting our teachers, staff and administrators with the resources needed to provide an excellent education and development of the whole child.
Listed below are just a few ways our PTO uses your donations to develop tomorrow’s leaders:
• Child Advocacy – school books, supplies and uniforms, and financial assistance to Students • Classroom Technology – laptops, interactive teaching systems, iPads • Fine Arts – band, choir, dance, orchestra, theater, visual arts • Library – books for school and classroom collections • UIL Athletics – equipment and uniforms
Now, more than ever, we need your help. Your generous, tax-deductible donation of items, services, gift certificates, vacation home rentals, unique opportunities or a monetary gift allows Pin Oak to continue the strong tradition of excellence for which it is known. It is also a wonderful opportunity for business advertisement , with the families of the more than 1,200 Pin Oak students able to show their gratitude with support of your business/organization. Click here to complete the online donation form today. We thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Shannon Westin (Chair), Melissa Bayne, Lindsay Colvin, Shannon Hancher, Elena Heaton, Melissa Law, Abeer Patel, Karyn Price, Nisha Rathi, Zephanie Reed, Anna Ripley, Jennifer Sanders, & Andrina Weatherly Pin Oak Middle School's 2022 Auction Committee |
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| Art Department T-Shirts & Hoodies
The Pin Oak Art Department T-shirt is now available!
The design includes a line art drawing of a potted plant with flowers and art supplies sprouting up on the back, and a small flower on the front along with the text "Pin Oak MS 21-22."
It is printed in blue ink on dark gray fabric and is available as a short sleeve shirt, long sleeve shirt, or a hoodie with a front pouch pocket. Our winning design this year was created by 8th grade Advanced Art student Zoe Kimberly.
Anyone can purchase and wear this gear to show support for the visual arts program. Please visit SchoolPay to place your order online by Monday, January 31, at 11:59 p.m.
Thank you for your support! |
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| POMS School Store on Campus Temporarily Closed
The POMS School Store on campus will be closed for the month of January as we update our computer system.
The POMS Online School Store is open in the meantime for apparel and uniform purchases. Orders placed online will be distributed via porch pickup from a residence in Bellaire. Instructions will be emailed to you when your order is ready for pickup.
Thank you for your understanding and patience!
If you have any questions, please email schoolstore@pinoakpto.org. |
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| Join the POMS UIL Academic Team
Are you interested in competing in UIL Academics this school year?
Pin Oak Middle School already has 22 students in 18 different contests who have qualified for HISD's District UIL competition and we are looking for more students to join them!
If you are interested in showing off your skills in chess, mathematics, science, writing, social studies, spelling, or speaking, please complete this Google form to get information about our upcoming UIL competitions.
If you have any questions, please email Ms. Kelly Moore at kelly.moore@houstonisd.org. |
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| Send Us Photos of Your POMS Student for the Yearbook
Please send photos of your Pin Oak student to us for our yearbook!
We especially want to see your Charger in action doing hobbies outside of school, hanging with their pets, traveling, or at important events, milestones, and accomplishments.
Please only include Pin Oak students in the photos and no other people.
Email photos to abeckman@houstonisd.org along with the student's name, grade level, and a brief caption explaining what is happening in the photo.
Yearbooks are still available for sale at Balfour.com for $55. |
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| 2022 Maccabi Game Tryouts are January 16 and January 30
The Maccabi Games are an Olympic style competition for Jewish teens (13-16 yrs.) to compete in their respective sports. Events offered at the games: Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Flag Football, Swimming, Dance, Track/Field, and Ice Hockey. Tryouts will be January 16 and January 30.
The 2022 Maccabi Games will be held July 31 - August 5.
For more information please see this flyer or contact the Houston Delegation Head, George Ross at GRoss@erjcchouston.org or (832) 889-3518. |
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| HERO Program Updates
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 view this PDF that outlines step by step instructions on how to create a parent account and add your HISD student(s) to that account. |
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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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| 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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| 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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| 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, January 24 | | | Tuesday, January 25 | | | | Thursday, January 27 | | | | Friday, January 28 | | | | Tuesday, February 8 | | | | Wednesday, February 9 | | | Thursday, February 10 | | | | Monday, February 14 | | |
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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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