Welcome Back!

Dear Pin Oak Families,

Tomorrow is the day! We are incredibly excited to welcome our Chargers back to campus and begin what we know will be a wonderful school year.

As you prepare for the first day, please take a few minutes to review the information that has been shared with families. There are a lot of important details, and reviewing them tonight will help tomorrow morning go as smoothly as possible.

We also want to be transparent that we are still working through a few scheduling issues. Some student schedules may need additional tweaking during the first days of school, and we will continue making necessary adjustments as we work through course request changes and other scheduling needs during the first 10 days of school. Starting Tuesday, August 11th, students will be able to pick up a Schedule Change request form during Team Time. Students will be able to bring the form home to fill it out. Schedule change requests will not be considered if they are received electronically, as we need to organize and process requests in the order students turn them in. Student online enrollment survey must be completed, along with the Student Loan Agreement, before changes will be considered.

Please be patient with us during this process. Even if your child’s schedule needs an adjustment, our priority is making sure every student has a positive, welcoming, and successful first day. Students will be cared for, supported, and connected with their teachers while we continue refining schedules as needed.

We also recognize that some families have had difficulty reaching Transportation or have questions about bus routes. Transportation is currently managing a very high volume of new requests and route questions. They will continue responding to families and working through concerns as quickly as they are able.

If you are not confident in the transportation information or route you have received for tomorrow, we strongly encourage you to make alternate transportation arrangements for the first day if possible. We want every student’s first morning and afternoon to feel safe and as stress-free as possible while Transportation continues resolving outstanding questions.

There is a tremendous amount of excitement on campus, and our staff is ready to welcome your children. Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and partnership as we work through these final details.

At Pin Oak, we are committed to excellence.

Our promise to you is that we will continue to hold ourselves to the highest standards when it comes to:

Clear and consistent communication
Building strong relationships with students and families
Upholding rules and safety protocols
Prioritizing academic rigor
Encouraging every student to be a kind, a respectful, and a productive member of our Charger family

In return, we ask for your partnership and support as we hold our Chargers to those same expectations. When we work as a team—school and home—we are stronger, and we are better for each other. This year, we are projected to welcome over 1,300 students to our campus. As we grow, staying connected becomes even more important. The district has launched several updates to enhance parent engagement, and every HISD family is required to verify and update their student’s information online. This process ensures we have the most current contact, health, and emergency details for your child.

Traffic & Safety Procedures

Traffic patterns will be heavy during the first week of school. With your help, we can get you on your way and clear Circle Drive by 4:15pm.

Coming from 610, form 1 line on Glenmont. Please turn right into circle drive and stay in the carpool line. Do not drop-off or pick-up your child(ren) off Glenmont. This maybe a time saver for you, but it is not SAFE.
As you enter circle drive, please pull up as far as you can. When the car ahead of you leaves, please pull up. If your child is not ready, you will be asked to exit the lane and park in the front parking lot. Do not stop your car on the crosswalk.
Place your car in park and allow your child(ren) to exit the vehicle on the curb side. It is dangerous to exit from the driver side of the vehicle.
Wait patiently for cars ahead of you to unload. Do not attempt to pass vehicles in the drop-off lane.
When exiting the school driveway, you may turn right or left on to Glenmont. Be careful of oncoming traffic.
Please NEVER leave your car unattended. If you need to enter the school building; please park your car in the parking spaces in the front lot.
If your child is going to walk or ride his/her bike to school, please remind them to be very careful. They must always obey the traffic signals, and always cross with the light and in the crosswalk. They should never have earbuds/ headphones, AirPods, or any Bluetooth device distracting them when walking or riding their bike. They must stay alert and aware of what is happening around them.
Students and parents are not allowed to cross in the middle of the street instead of crossing at the cross walk.

Reminders:

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 will give tickets to those who are parked illegally.

Lastly, we are all responsible for the safety of our students. Treat every student you see as if they were your own. Please try not to be in a hurry during drop-off and pick-up.

After School Charger Care

For questions, please contact Norma Ruiz, After School Care Coordinator. We do not have morning care at Pin Oak, as our staff is busy preparing for students to arrive. Doors open to students at 7:50am each morning.

Backpack Policy

All students will be expected to have their backpack before receiving a school issued Chromebook. Hallway lockers are not utilized at POMS and students must carry their school issued Chromebook in their backpack when transitioning from class to class.

School Supplies

Pre-ordered school supplies will be placed in your student’s Charger/Team Time class prior to the first day of school. If you did not pre-order school supplies, click here to view the supply lists by grade.

Sports - UIL & Club Sports

We offer a full UIL athletics program for 7th and 8th graders. Our student athletes are competitive, but our program emphasizes the importance of being part of a team. Several sports are offered as Club Sports to students in all grades.

Sports Physicals

A POMS Sports Physical Clinic is scheduled for Tuesday, August 11 from 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM in the gym for current 2026-27 Pin Oak students.

Complete the Medical History portion of the Pre-participation Physical Evaluation Form and have your student bring it with them to the clinic
The cost is $25 CASH ONLY
Parents are not allowed in the gym
No appointment needed

Sports physicals are a MANDATORY REQUIREMENT for any student participating in sports (not PE class) at POMS. No student will be allowed to participate on an athletic team or attend practices without a current physical evaluation form on file. Sports physicals are good for the duration of one (1) year and physicals should be taken prior to the start of the school year. The form also can be completed by your student's physician. For questions, please email Coach Carter, POMS Athletic Coordinator.

Connecting with you is important to us and we are here for you.

(HISD is redesigning their website that hosts the POMS website and some of the listed links below may not be available yet - please stay tuned)

· Visit the POMS website for a full staff directory and much more.

Renew/Join Membership Toolkit Today

The POMS PTO uses the Membership Toolkit platform across the board, so you'll need an account to receive the Charger Chatter e-newsletter, sign up to volunteer at POMS, shop the online School Store, join the PTO, and more! Sign up here.

It can all be found at our PTO website, pinoakpto.org. All new and returning parents should Log in to update/confirm your information or sign up for an account if you're a new user. If you have used Membership Toolkit at another school, you may log in using your same account. Also, be sure to download the free Membership Toolkit app on the Apple Store or Google Play, so you'll have the school directory and school calendar 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. Suscribe to the PTO Calendar here. For questions, email communications@pinoakpto.org.

A special thank you to all of our PTO members and volunteers that have put in countless hours of work to help prepare for a successful year. We cannot do this work without you all! We know that you have very busy lives and still make the time to volunteer in the school store, at lunch, and at home! I ask our community to be kind and patient with you all in our appreciation of what you contribute to Pin Oak!

7th & 8th Grade Volleyball Tryouts

August 18-21st. Volleyball tryouts will be held before school on the dates below:

8th grade - Tuesday, Aug. 18th.

7th grade - Wednesday, Aug. 19, Thursday, Aug. 20th, and Friday, Aug. 21st.

Drop off in front of the school by 6:15 am at the side gate to the Gym entrance. The gate will be closed and locked at 6:30 am. No admittance allowed once the gate is locked. No exceptions made. Athletes must be registered at Register My Athlete. For more information, please contact Coach Erin Morris.

Message from 7th grade volleyball coach, Coach Jackson:

Volleyball Tryout Registration Reminder

Attention all students interested in trying out for volleyball:

Please note the following deadlines:

By Monday, August 10: Create an account with Register My Athlete/AKTIVATE(Register My Athlete and AKTIVATE are the same thing).
By Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.: Submit all required paperwork through Register My Athlete/AKTIVATE.

Important: If your paperwork is not submitted correctly and completely through Register My Athlete/AKTIVATE by Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., you will not be eligible to participate in volleyball tryouts.

Please note: I have posted a list outside Room B129 of all 7th grade girls who have been cleared by me for tryouts. If your name is not on the list, please contact me at Bailee Jackson.

If you are a 7th grade student and would like to check on your paperwork, please email Bailee Jackson.

If you are an 8th grade student and would like to check on your paperwork, please email Erin Morris.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing everyone at tryouts!

Volunteer in the PTO School Store

This is your chance to volunteer and be in the middle of the action! It's a great way to meet other parents and interact with the students in the school store.

Sign ups are for the 2026-2027 school year
We require at least 2 people in the store at all times
The School Store is open during the students' lunch periods.

Sign Up to Volunteer

Please sign up for the group (A or B)/day(s) that works best for you (shifts are every other week). The 1st shift covers 6th grade lunch and the 2nd shift covers 7th/8th grade lunches. More details below in the PTO News.

Complete VIPS Approval

All school volunteers are required to be VIPS approved. Complete VIPS here.

For more information, please contact Maia Miley at schoolstore@pinoakpto.org.

School Uniforms

All students are expected to be dressed in their school uniform for the first day of school. Please review the full POMS Dress Code Policy and Student Handbook here.

Proof of Immunizations for 7th Grade Students

Tdap – 1 dose of Tdap is required if at least 5 years have passed since the last dose of tetanus-containing vaccine.
Meningococcal (MCV4) – 1 dose of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine is required on or after the student’s 11th birthday. If a student received the vaccine at 10 years of age, this will satisfy the requirement.
All students entering 7th grade MUST have the vaccines listed above in addition to all previously required vaccinations.

PLEASE SUBMIT PROOF OF THESE VACCINATIONS PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF 7TH GRADE. SUBMIT THE VACCINATION RECORD DIRECTLY TO THE CLINIC OR EMAIL THE RECORD to Nurse Russell.

For more information, visit: Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Students Grades K-12
For information on low-cost immunizations, visit City of Houston Health Centers, Harris Health, or Texas Children's Mobile Clinics. For questions, please email Nurse Russell.

Charger Camp Highlights

Charger Camp was a BLAST! Our future 6th grade Chargers toured the campus, picked up their uniforms, learned greetings in SIX languages, and got charged up for all things POMS!

NWEA Beginning-of-Year Testing Update

During the week of August 17th, your child will take a MAP® Growth™ test from NWEA® on their Chromebook. MAP Growth scores help teachers check student performance by measuring achievement and growth. Teachers use results to tailor classroom lessons and set goals for students. MAP Growth tests are unique and adapt to your child’s responses to measure your child’s knowledge. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. These results will provide a more complete picture of where your child is on their learning journey—regardless of whether they are on, above, or below their grade level.

Since MAP Growth tests provide immediate and accurate information about your child’s learning, it’s easy for teachers to identify students with similar scores in similar skills and topics and then plan instruction accordingly. MAP Growth reports also provide typical growth data for students in the same grade and subject with the same starting performance level. Each school year, students grades 6th through 8th take the tests in August, January, and May. Following each testing period, you will receive a Family Report showing a summary of how your child is performing academically. Please encourage your student not to guess on their responses and to use their testing time productively. Remind them of the importance of maintaining testing decorum, if they finish earlier than other students. They may sit quietly and read a book upon completing their exam.

Personal Device Use During School

HISD implements the Texas law that limits the use of personal devices in schools to keep classrooms focused on learning. For full details, visit HISD Cell Phone Policy.

ParentSquare Communication

HISD uses ParentSquare as its communication platform for schools and families. Pin Oak MS will use ParentSquare to share important school announcements, updates, reminders, and other communications with families. Parents and guardians are encouraged to activate their ParentSquare account and download the ParentSquare app for the most convenient access to school communications. Messages can also be received by email and phone without the app. Through ParentSquare, families can stay connected with Pin Oak MS, receive timely notifications, and manage their communication preferences in one place.

Shared Decision-Making Committee

The Shared Decision-Making Committee (SDMC) has been established on our campus to assist the principal. The committee meets for the purposes of implementing planning processes and site-based decision-making in accordance with Board policy and administrative procedure. Pin Oak Middle School is seeking nominations for representatives from the business community to serve on the SDMC for the 2026-2027 school year. We encourage you to email Principal Crowley, deborah.crowley@houstonisd.org, if you are interested in serving this year.

Open House

Save the date for the POMS Open House on September 4. Parents will have the opportunity to follow their student's schedule and meet their teachers. We encourage all parents to attend.

Again, we are excited to see all of our new and returning Chargers tomorrow!

Warmly,
Deborah Crowley
Principal Pin Oak Middle School

SUBJECT: ✨ Charger Chatter | Welcome Back, Chargers! 📣

Student Store Updates