The 8th Grade Activities Committee is taking pre-orders for 8th grade class shirts. Proceeds to fund activities/celebrations for 8th graders at the end of the school year.

Pre-orders will be taken ONLINE ONLY through October 23rd. For questions or to pay by check, email 8thgradeactivities@pinoakpto.org. Drive-thru pick up days at POMS TBA. Note: These shirts aren't available for sale through the school store.

Phase 1 of the magnet application process is fully underway. Pin Oak Middle School will be taking applications until November 6th at 11:59 p.m. Ranking does matter, so please list the school you'd like to attend the most as #1. Click here to access our virtual tour which is 100% self-paced. Here, you will learn about the many great programs Pin Oak has to offer and you will be given a chance to hear from our teachers and learn what to expect in our classrooms.

Pin Oak Middle School Fact Sheet

Questions? Contact Magnet Coordinator Philip Neal at PNEAL@houstonisd.org.

Did you know that the State of Texas requires two additional immunizations for students to participate in 7th grade? And they are not making any exceptions this year. All 7th graders must have documentation of Tdap and MCV4 immunizations submitted to the district before October 23rd, or risk being removed from school, even if participating virtually.

Please make sure your child has had Tdap and MCV4 immunizations AND that you have submitted documentation to us before October 23rd. You may submit scanned shot records directly to our nurse at Thea.Troetscher@houstonisd.org, or bring them to school.

Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Students Grades K-12

The PSAT will be administered to all 8th graders attending school IN PERSON on Tuesday, October 27th.

The PSAT/NMSQT is the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The PSAT is a great primer for the SAT, and even the ACT, but it is more than just a trial run. PSAT scores are used to identify National Merit Scholars and award merit scholarships. More than 3.4 million high school students (mostly juniors and sophomores) take this nationwide, multiple-choice test every year.

The PSAT won’t count towards your college admissions applications, but it is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship. Some of the highest scoring students may win scholarship money, so while you should not stress out about the PSAT, you certainly should not ignore it either. Some private high schools as well as public high school programs may use the PSAT as part of their application process.

We will have a sign up for another 30 virtual students to come in during 2 & 4th period on the 27th. We will give priority to the students that are applying to Bellaire’s IB program.

If your student does not sign up for the October 27th administration, we will have a sign up for 8 additional days. These will all be for up to 30 students and based completely on a first come (sign up), first serve basis.
The PSAT will be administered at NO COST to you but is only offered IN PERSON.

Questions? Contact Kat Warren at awarren4@houstonisd.org.

Interested in volunteering at POMS? While this year may look a little different, there is always something to do (even if virtually). Please click here to sign up to be notified for volunteer opportunities as they become available.

Questions? Please contact Zoila Rappazzo at volunteer@pinoakpto.org.

All new and returning volunteers are now able to access the VIPS Online
Orientation and Application to volunteer for the 2020-2021 school year.

Due to implications from COVID-19, volunteer opportunities will be limited. There will not be field trips or lunch visits per the HISD reopening plan. However, there may be virtual volunteer opportunities and all volunteers MUST be VIPS certified! The steps are easy:

1) Visit www.HoustonISD.org/VIPS.
2) Complete the training review and sign all the forms.
3) Then, complete the VIPS Online volunteer application.
4) Once your application is APPROVED, you will receive an email from the Raptor Volunteer Management System notifying you of your status.

You will be ready to go -- sign up today!

Questions? Please contact Pin Oak's VIPS coordinators:
Alicia Escamilla Alicia.Escamilla@houstonisd.org
Deanne Tennant Deanne.Tennant@houstonisd.org

POMS Girls Lacrosse

Parent Info Night and Sign-Ups will be Tuesday, October 20th at 7PM at Feld Park. Questions? Contact Jill Lack at jill_lack@sbcglobal.net.

POMS Boys Lacrosse

Contact Seth Tyler at seth.tyler@evolve.cc to be put on the email list for more information regarding parent meetings and fall clinics.

Log in to update your directory info or sign up for a new account if you're a new user. If you have used Membership Toolkit at another school, you may log in using your same account information.

Also, be sure to download the free Membership Toolkit app on the App Store or Google Play, so you'll have the school directory and school calendar with you at all times 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!

The Charger Commitment Campaign is off to a great start! Thank you so much to the families that have already contributed. Please take a look at the campaign and see if your family can participate this year. As the school prepares to provide both virtual and in-person learning, our PTO is ready to provide support for all the additional needs Pin Oak staff and teachers may have.

Click here for more information. Questions? Email Melissa Bayne at fundraising@pinoakpto.org.

Whether you love to read e-books or print books, there are options for Charger students on the POMS library website. In the Read section, there are direct links to all the platforms for e-books and e-audiobooks (even manga and comics) both in and outside the district. In the News section, there are instructions for browsing a print book and placing an order for curbside pickup. In the Speak section, there are online forms for book purchases and library questions. Check out our library program today!

Online applications are being accepted now for HISD School Choice. Phase I ends November 6th. See HISD's School Choice website for more information on virtual school choice fairs, instructions on how to apply, application deadlines, and more!

Eighth graders: 

Click here to find out more information about Bellaire High School's World Languages Magnet Program and courses offered for zoned students.

Questions? Contact Interim Magnet Coordinator Quan Ngo at lngo@houstonisd.org.

Eighth graders:

Click here to find out more information on magnet programs offered, enrollment, course selections for zoned students, and more!

Questions? Contact Magnet Coordinator Casey Titus at ctitus@houstonisd.org.

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.

During these past several weeks, we have spent a vast majority of our time trying to navigate through the Hub, Teams and PowerSchool all while trying to learn.

If you have not utilized your Home Page on the HUB, there are several how-to guides on moving through these platforms with ease.

HISD has released important information regarding this school year:

• Back-to-School Guide for parents in English and Spanish
• Face-to-Face Instruction Parent Guide in English and Spanish
• Reopening Parent Guide in English and Spanish
• YouTube Videos on In-Person Learning in English and Spanish

For more information, visit houstonisd.org/reopening.

Hispanic Heritage Month continues! How are you celebrating? Don't forget to share your virtual celebrations using #HISDHHM!

Learn more:

HISD Hispanic Heritage Month