Principal's Post
Dear Charger Parents and Families,
Gotta love Texas weather! Freezing cold… to shorts and flip flops if you can just ride it out a few days! I hope everyone enjoys their 3-day weekend! Please keep in mind the end of the 4th six weeks is this Friday.
You can view your student’s grades and attendance by accessing HISDConnect. Please contact your student’s teachers if you have any questions or concerns about their academic progress.
We will be on a modified bell schedule this week:
- Monday – Presidents’ Day (Teacher Service Day)
- Tuesday – GRAY Day (Periods: 2, 4, 6, and 8)
- Wednesday – BLUE Day (Periods: 1, 3, 5, and 7)
- Thursday – GRAY Day (Periods: 2, 4, 6, and 8)
- Friday – BLUE Day (Periods: 1, 3, 5, and 7)
POMS Outdoor Movie Night Our first POMS Outdoor Movie Night was a hit with over 350 Chargers in attendance! A HUGE thank you to our students, volunteers, administrators, and support staff for making it possible. Make sure to view the pictures below! |
Sandy Hook Promise Pin Oak Middle School implemented the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System last October. Sponsored by Sandy Hook Promise, the program educates secondary students, educators and administrators on how to recognize the signs and signals of individuals who may be at-risk of hurting themselves or others and encourages them to report that behavior through an anonymous reporting system. The reporting system allows administrators and law enforcement to create effective interventions and help prevent violence, suicide, bullying, self-harm and other forms of threatening behavior.
Anyone can submit an anonymous tip by going to the program’s website (www.saysomething.net), calling the hotline (1-844-5-SAYNOW) or using the Say Something mobile app, available on the App Store or Google Play.
The Say Something program is provided through Sandy Hook Promise, a nation-wide non-profit organization focused on preventing gun violence before it happens. For more information, contact Anastasia Warren at 712.296.5600.
Submit an anonymous tip:
Say Something Parent Guide Say Something Parent Brochure
Attendance Attendance matters. We have noticed an increase in student absences and tardies without notification to the main office as to the reason for the absence. Written excuses should be in the school’s possession no later than three days after the day of the absence or tardy. The three-day period begins with the day the student returns to school.
Students may enter the building at 7:45 a.m. Students must be in their seats by 8:30 a.m. If a student arrives late, they will be required to get a tardy pass from their house office. No student should be on school grounds any earlier than 7:45 a.m. as there is NO SUPERVISION until 7:45 a.m.
Safety Expectations and Reminders Thank you to the majority of our campus that is consistently wearing IDs and lanyards daily! You are noticed and appreciated.
If you do not have your ID or lanyard, you can purchase a new ID for $5 and a lanyard for $2 at the Student Success Table each morning from 7:45 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
Why IDs? It’s all about campus safety and security. It makes students easily identifiable to ANY STAFF MEMBER (there are 115 adults in the building each day and not all of them will know your student or vice versa) in case of an emergency. Thank you for helping us keep OUR students safe. It’s my responsibility, so your cooperation and support is appreciated.
COVID-19 Protocol Reminder 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. Thank you for being our partners as we continue to navigate the complicated world of COVID-19.
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 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! |
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 |
| Register Today - "Lights, Camera, Auction!" is Happening NOW!
Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for!
The "Lights, Camera, Auction!" virtual event is underway NOW! There is something for everyone at the auction, with some starting bids as low as $5 and as extravagant as $2,800.
Do you want to win BIG PRIZES for your Pin Oak student?Register/sign in now to enter to win some exciting raffle prizes like a PS5, Oculus Quest 2, and Hoverboard!
Buy a raffle ticket for prizes that adults will love too! Stock your bar, wine cabinet, or beer fridge by entering to win one of our "spirited" gift baskets. Whether you're a fan of booze, bubbly, a rich blend, or a good brew, there's a perfect bundle of bottles for those who love to entertain!
Bid on amazing auction items such as vacation getaways to exciting destinations like Napa, luxurious spa and health services, gift cards to your favorite area restaurants, gift certificates for the most popular summer camps, and the coveted "Choose Your Locker" voucher for Pin Oak students. This completely virtual event ends Sunday, February 27, at 12PM.
Don't wait... REGISTER NOW! We can't wait to see you in a starring role in Lights, Camera, Auction! (Please note that a credit card is required to register, but there are no charges unless you make a purchase or are the winning bidder.)
If you have any questions, please contact POMS PTO Auction Chair Shannon Westin at auction@pinoakpto.org. |
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| POMS Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A is Tuesday, February 22
Join us on Tuesday, February 22, from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. for Pin Oak Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A located at 5325 S. Rice Ave (S. Rice near Westpark).
Simply mention that you are with Pin Oak when you place your order via Drive-Thru, Dining Room, or Carry Out and 10% of all collected sales during that time will go directly back to Pin Oak Middle School! |
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| Kona Ice Friday is March 4
It's Kona Ice time again on Friday, March 4. Get a cold treat and hang out with friends after school. The truck will be parked on Glenmont and prices range from $4 to $7. Kona Ice accepts cash, credit, or Apple Pay. Be safe and have fun! |
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| Buy Your Wristbands for Charger Fest (Saturday, March 5)
After last year's event was canceled due to COVID, Charger Fest is BACK!
Pin Oak Middle School is hosting its annual Charger Fest on Saturday, March 5, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and we would like to invite everyone from the Pin Oak community to join us!
Charger Fest is a fun-filled day of carnival games, inflatables, raffles, fine arts performances, food, sweets, and more for the whole family!
Buy your wristbands, food/drink tickets, and fine arts performance tickets here to join in all the fun! There are also many underwriting and booth sponsorship opportunities available, so get yours now!
We are so excited for the opportunity to invite our family and friends to Pin Oak to celebrate our students and faculty. We need lots of volunteers to make it the best ever for our Chargers! If you are able to sign up to volunteer for multiple shifts, it is appreciated!
If you have any questions, please contact the POMS PTO Charger Fest Chairs at chargerfest@pinoakpto.org. |
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| Your PTO Dollars at Work!
Traditionally funded twice a year, the Teacher Grants Program provides assistance for teachers and staff to purchase resources that might have otherwise been unavailable. The funds available for grants are made possible thanks to the generous donations of Pin Oak families and corporate sponsors. The total amount of funds available each year varies depending on fundraising and budget constraints.
Last week, the Pin Oak Grants Committee met and approved the following items for Pin Oak, including:
- New Cross Country uniforms
- Replacement commercial washing machine
- Football helmet covers to reduce chance of injury
- Shoebox Tasks (Special Education learning program)
- Upgraded microphone system for the theatre department
- Headphone storage organizer, lab goggles and lab aprons for 7A Science classes
- Life Skills Classes items for Special Education students, including cookware and housewares
- Supplies for the Wings and Wheels Elective
- Materials for Urban Agriculture and Farm to Table Cooking classes
Additionally, PTO has approved the purchase of the following from our Facilities and Infrastructure budget:
- Replacement privacy film for B House windows
- Updated sound system for the cafeteria
The total amount of your Pin Oak PTO dollars at work is $34,214.31.
Thank you to Aichen Chih, Kristi Coffey, Martha Gau, Kathleen Graf and Naomi Wittlin for their unwavering commitment to this process and making Pin Oak a better place for our students and staff.
Special thanks to our POMS PTO Grant Purchaser, Christina Lyster and our POMS PTO VP of Budget & Finance, Keith Desrosiers, for their tireless work behind the scenes to realize all of these grants.
And thank you to all of our generous families. We could not do it without you! #ChargeOn
Sincerely,
Tricia Onufer |
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| School Store Volunteers Needed!
We have some school store volunteer positions open for anyone who missed the opportunity to sign up at the beginning of the year. This is a recurring commitment on a bi-weekly basis until the school year ends and it is a great way to see our students at school. No experience necessary as we have veteran volunteers available to help.
if you have any questions, please contact POMS PTO VP of School Store Peggy Chang at schoolstore@pinoakpto.org. |
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| Gently Used Uniform Donations Are Needed
We are in need of gently used uniform pants. Please donate khaki pants (preferably sizes 18 and up) to the front office. Thank you for your support!
If you have any questions, please contact POMS Wraparound Specialist Brigid Gould. |
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| Westside High School STEAM Magnet Program
Westside High School’s amazing STEAM Magnet Program still has limited seats still available for HISD’s students. HISD will be hosting a virtual School Choice Fair on Saturday, February 26. We are hoping to have many families log in to hear about all of the opportunities at Westside High School! |
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| Lamar Women's Lacrosse FREE Clinic
The Lamar Women's LAX FREE Clinic is geared for LAX players of all ability levels from experienced to beginners. Our LAX camp will provide athletes with lacrosse training from our superior coaching staff assisted by our talented players. We will offer fundamentals, fast paced action, and of course a fun atmosphere!
Saturday, February 26, from 1PM - 3:30PM at South Campus |
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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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| 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 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 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, February 21 | | | | Tuesday, February 22 | | | | | Wednesday, February 23 | | | Thursday, February 24 | | | | Friday, February 25 | | | | Saturday, February 26 | | | Sunday, February 27 | | | Monday, February 28 | | | | Tuesday, March 1 | | | Friday, March 4 | | | Saturday, March 5 | | | Monday, March 7 | |
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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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