Originally delivered on 2/21/2021 7:41 pm

SUBJECT: Charger Chatter

February 21, 2021

Principal's Post


Dear Pin Oak Teachers, Parents & Students,


I hope this email finds you warming up and well. I know this was a tough week for our area. As a POMS family, we will work together over the next couple of weeks to make sure we are all able to get through this and move forward successfully. Thanks to the hard work of our plant operators Jeff Adair and Raul Cruz, our school facilities suffered only minor issues which will all be repaired by tomorrow. In addition, our chickens were well cared for throughout the freeze and are eagerly awaiting the students' return to school!


This Week's Schedule:


  • Monday (2/22) & Tuesday (2/23): Wellness Check Days (No School)
    • Our teachers and staff will reach out to every student via a phone call for a wellness check. Staying connected has been important to us from the beginning, so we want to make sure our students and families are okay. 
    • We will not meet for virtual or in-person classes.


  • Wednesday (2/24): Asynchronous Virtual Learning Day (Students Work Independently From Home)
    • Will be a Charger Day.
    • Students will log into each class on the HUB.
    • Our students will engage with district-provided lessons AND check the HUB for any lessons offered by the Pin Oak teachers.
    • Attendance will be taken by logging on virtually. 
    • Links and more information will be emailed to the students.
    • Students will complete assignments, but not meet in Teams.


  • Thursday (2/25): Virtual Learning Day (Students Meet in Teams From Home)
    • Will be a Silver Day.
    • All classes will resume virtually on Teams like the first six-weeks.
    • No in-person classes.
    • Attendance will be taken.
    • Our clerks and counselors will follow up with all students that do not attend class via Teams.


  • Friday (2/26): Virtual Learning Day (Students Meet in Teams From Home)
    • Will be a Blue Day.
    • All classes will resume virtually on Teams like the first six-weeks.
    • No in-person classes.
    • Attendance will be taken.
    • Our clerks and counselors will follow up with all students that do not attend class via Teams.


  • Monday (3/1): Regular Schedule
    • Schools will return back to in-person and virtual learning like before the cold snap.


All ARDs and 504 meetings will continue as planned for this week. Please reach out to Amy Sher and Ashly Evans for details and questions. They will work quickly to reschedule any missed meetings due to our weather days. Thank you for your patience.


Please email your House Principals if you have any questions or specific needs during this time. I am always available to assist as well.


Thank you,


Michelle Shoulders

#ChargeOn

Order Deadline Extended to Friday, February 26th


ORDER YOUR PICTURES HERE!


The Link will only be available until Friday, February 26th. After that, you will need to call or email Photo Texas Photography Customer Service for help with late orders.


If you missed school picture day, retakes are scheduled for Wednesday, March 24th.


Questions? Contact Photo Texas Photography Customer Service at 800.883.6463 or houston@phototexasphotography.com.

POMS Softball Team Interest Meeting Rescheduled

The POMS Softball Team interest meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 25th, at 3:00 p.m. via Teams. Use this Teams link to join.


POMS Softball is open to all girls in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.


Questions? Contact Coach Meyer or Coach Frazier.

Celebrate Black History Month

This February marks the 95th year of the official celebration of Black History Month, a month set aside to acknowledge and honor the work of generations of African Americans who have made a mark on history, and forever changed the American cultural landscape.

Click on the resources below to learn more!

National Museum of African American History & Culture

NEA Black History Month Lessons & Resources

Celebrate Black History Month in Houston

New Items at POMS Online School Store

Order your Charger polos, sweatshirts & spirit shirts through the POMS Online School Store! Yard signs, car magnets and umbrellas are now also available for order!

To order, log into your Membership Toolkit account (the same way you access school directory) or create a new account if you don't already have one. You can pay for your items through PayPal or with a credit/debit card.

Once you have purchased your items, you will be contacted by the school store volunteers regarding picking up the items.

Due to COVID restrictions, the physical store at school will remain closed until further notice.

Please email schoolstore@pinoakpto.org with any questions.

Thank you for supporting POMS!

POMS Yearbook Info

Get Your Copy: Pin Oak 2020-2021 yearbooks are available for purchase from Balfour for $50. We are documenting this year in a special way and there will be fewer copies available so preorder your book today!


Be In the Book: Upload your photos of Pin Oak students to the Balfour ImageShare app (code 115643) with student's name, date, and what's going on in the photo and you'll have a chance to be in the yearbook! We need arts, sports, holidays, trips, birthdays, hobbies, you and your pets, Netflix binging...anything!


6th Graders: We need photos of you, especially if you are still learning remotely! See above for how to submit your pics.


All Students: Please answer these 2 questions: https://forms.gle/XX5cDyRN6yzrPzJn7


Questions? Email Ms. Beckman at abeckman@houstonisd.org.

Reminder: School Dress Code

Students must wear our school colors each day. They can wear a polo, spirit shirt, t-shirt, or sweatshirt in grey, white, or royal blue. This is for supervision and safety reasons since students will be outside. All pants/shorts must be school appropriate length.

Reminder: No Deliveries to Front Office

Just a reminder that due to COVID-19 safety protocols, the front office is unable to accept deliveries for students. This includes parents dropping off lunches, instruments, etc. Thank you for your help in keeping our campus safe and healthy!

POMS Amazon Wish List

Our teachers are being diligent with cleaning the desks and work areas. If you would like to help us keep our campus safe and healthy by purchasing additional cleaning products, please see our Amazon Wish List. All items will be shipped directly to the school. Thank you!

Questions? Contact PTO President Tricia Onufer at president@pinoakpto.org.

Need Food, Clothing, Child Care, Rental Assistance, or Health & Human Services?

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.

Questions? Contact Bruno Mesa.

Looking Ahead
Monday, February 22
POMS No School - Wellness Check Day
Tuesday, February 23
POMS No School - Wellness Check Day
Wednesday, February 24
POMS Asynchronous Virtual Learning Day (Charger Day) *Attendance Taken*
Thursday, February 25
POMS Virtual Learning Day (Silver Day) *Attendance Taken*
9:00a POMS PTO Executive Board Meeting
3:00p POMS Softball Team Interest Meeting
Friday, February 26
POMS Last Day to Order School Pictures
POMS Virtual Learning Day (Blue Day) *Attendance Taken*
Monday, March 1
9:00a POMS PTO General Meeting
Stay Connected
Ways to Give

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.

When you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate a percentage to Pin Oak Middle School PTO.

Use the new Box Tops App 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.

We Appreciate Our Corporate Sponsors & Community Partners
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