June 13, 2021

Principal's Post

Dear Pin Oak Community,

Thank you for the notes you've sent over the past week. Your kind words and memories will be cherished. I'm stronger and forever changed because of my time as Principal at Pin Oak MIddle School. You've taught me how a community can work together during unprecedented challenges to help every student, family and teacher stay connected and care for one another. Our school became so much more than a brick and mortar building designed for learning the core subjects and arts. We moved our classrooms and learning into your homes and built relationships that carried us through a worldwide crisis. I hope our students look back on this time and know we cared for them. Yes, we have a few more grey hairs and I still can't believe I told you goofy stories wearing a cape during Pin Oak Connections in September to keep your attention - but it worked! Your support has been an anchor for me and our teachers. We could not have done it without your partnership.

Many of you have asked about my next adventure- I'm headed to Dicksinson ISD to be the Dean of Instruction at Dickinson High School. It's a large school with 3300 students and all the fun that comes with a comprehensive high school. My challenge is to help them reset after COVID and gain recognition as a learning community meeting the needs of every student at a high level. I love big goals that are focused on students and learning and eagerly said yes to join their work. The school colors are blue and green, so no doubt I will think of the Pin Oak community each time I greet students in my Gator Gear.

Now, let's enjoy some much needed rest and play time before the work starts in August!

As always, thank you for everything. I wish you only the best.

Michelle Shoulders

#ChargeOn

Dear Pin Oak Charger Families,

We made it! This year has not been without challenges, yet the Charger Spirit was stronger than ever.

Due to your generosity and support, the Pin Oak PTO put your dollars to work this year in the following ways:

80 Medical Grade Air Purifiers with H13 True HEPA Filters installed in every classroom

16 Picnic Tables with Thermoplastic Coating which are enjoyed daily for outdoor learning and lunches

Grant for POMS Library to procure continued parts of current series in the library collection, replace copies of damaged books, and purchase bilingual editions of popular titles.

Grant for Science Class Instructional Resource which includes a schoolwide subscription to Generation Genius

Windowed Face Masks for speech therapists, educational diagnosticians, and teachers who have students with auditory impairments

Increase of Teacher Reimbursement to $250 per teacher for classroom materials

Maintenance and regular upkeep of school grounds

Products and supplies to maintain gardens and chickens in agricultural science program

Replacement of flags in the school gymnasium

Compost for our garden areas

New "Charlie the Horse" mascot heads

Pin Oak spirit wear for coaches

Model kits for the "Wings and Wheels" history elective

Pitching machine, screen and tee for the Pin Oak Chargers baseball team

Uniform supplies for the boys' and girls' soccer teams

Although things looked different than in years past, our PTO continued to provide monthly meals for staff, hosted a virtual book fair, operated our online school store, held spirit nights and debuted a new look for our Pin Oak PTO website.

Additionally, we saw the inception of our Charger Commitment Campaign that raised over $50,000, our "Pajama Jam" auction raised over $30,000, and our 8th Grade Committee was able to celebrate and send off our 8th graders with a party they will never forget!

Thank you to the Executive Board for your hard work, enthusiasm and tireless commitment to making Pin Oak a better place for our children: Amy Allen, Melissa Bayne, Lauren Blackburn, Melanie Carter, Peggy Chang, Judy Cheng, Lindsay Colvin, Keith Desrosiers, Alison Edwards, Andrea Freedman, Ludy Lopez, Renee Konstanzer, Melissa Law, and Dawn Pennington.

And finally, thank you to YOU the Pin Oak community for your patience, encouragement and resolve to make the most of this school year -- we could not have done it without you!

Order Your School Supplies Today

School supply kits for the 2021-2022 school year are now on sale. Purchase your student's supplies now and make it easy for yourself when school starts. Use this link: https://1stday.sale/104263

Deadline to order is Thursday, July 1st.

Questions? Please contact the POMS PTO School Supplies Chairs.

POMS Used Uniforms Donation Drive Extended

Is your child moving on to high school? Has your child outgrown their school uniform clothing? Please consider donating their gently used uniforms to the POMS PTO Used Uniform Sale.

School dress code polos, khakis, jeans, skirts, sweatshirts, and jackets in all sizes can be dropped off in the collection boxes by the library through Monday, June 14th.

After Monday, June 14th, used uniforms may be dropped of on the porch of PTO Used Uniforms Co-Chair Pauline Mathiesen (8718 Ferris Drive - 77096)

For more information, please contact the Used Uniform Committee at useduniforms@pinoakpto.org.

POMS PTO Executive Board 2021-2022

A new board slate was approved at the PTO General Meeting on May 24, 2021. Congratulations to our new board!

Pin Oak PTO Executive Board

2021-2022

President: Tricia Onufer

President Elect: Anu Hiremaglur

VP of Communications: Melissa Law

VPs of Activities: Andrea Freedman & Lauren Blackburn

VPs of Fundraising & Development: Melissa Bayne & Dawn Johnson

VPs of School Store: Peggy Chang & Barby Garibaldi

Treasurer: Roxzan Zager

Assistant Treasurer: Dawn Pennington

VP of Budget & Finance: Keith Desrosiers

Recording Secretary: Lindsay Colvin

Corresponding Secretary: Renee Konstanzer

Parliamentarian: Lisa Lim

President Emeritus: Judy Cheng

POMS Summer Reading

Current POMS students received packs of books for summer reading from HISD on the day they took the STAAR Reading Test.

Any student who was not on campus for the STAAR Reading Test can pick up their books from the front office this week.

Incoming 6th Graders will need to get their book pack from their elementary school. Parents should be sure to ask about these books before the end of the school year.

Students who are new to HISD can check with Pin Oak after June 11, 2021 to see if we have any extra packets available for pick-up. If not, students will need to acquire their own copies of the book they choose.

Reading Expectations for Students:

Follow the directions for your grade level.
These books are yours. You may annotate them (take notes in the margins, draw doodles of what you imagine while you are reading, underline words you need to learn, or words you love).
Each grade level will be completing activities regarding summer reading books upon returning to school in August.
Scholastic has provided a reading journal, family guides to each book, and colored pencils in each packet. You can use the journal to practice your reading skills, but it is not required by any grade level.

Incoming 6th Graders:

Read at least one of the following books in your packet:

Incoming 7th Graders:

Read at least one of the following books in your packet:

Incoming 8th Graders:

Required reading:

A Good Kind of Trouble, by Lisa Moore Ramée

Choose at least one more book in the collection to read:

Students can visit the Pin Oak Library Summer Reading Page to get more information on any of the books.

For additional practice on Language Arts skills, students can:

Practice vocabulary using sites such as
- www.freerice.com
- www.vocabulary.com

Use this Quizlet link to study words from the book 100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know

Review grammar using Khan Academy Grammar Course

POMS School Store Orders Will Be Delivered at Charger Camp in August

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.

NOTE: ALL ITEMS FROM ORDERS PLACED AFTER JUNE 7 WILL BE DISTRIBUTED DURING CHARGER CAMP IN AUGUST!

Please email schoolstore@pinoakpto.org with any questions.

Thank you for supporting POMS!

POMS Virtual Orientation for Incoming 6th Graders Replay & POMS Tour Video

Did you miss the Virtual Orientation Live Event for Incoming 6th Graders? You can watch the replay via Teams. Then click here to view the POMS Tour Video that includes a special message from the PTO.

Summer Volleyball Camps

Volleyball camps will be held this summer at St. Agnes Academy, Lamar High School, and Bellaire High School. Please look at the attached flyers/links for more information:

St. Agnes Academy

Lamar High School

Bellaire High School