Dear Pin Oak Family,

Pin Oak Middle School is strong thanks to support from people like you. The kickoff to our 2022 school year reminds us of what life was like before the pandemic. POMS offers so many opportunities for our students to learn, grow and try new things.

Your PTO can only support all of the extras with your help!

To that end, we humbly ask for you to consider making a donation to the third annual Charger Commitment Campaign. The campaign kicks off on Monday, October 17 and runs through November 15. Your contribution gives consistent and vital support to our teachers and staff, as well as provides and sustains essential school programs where the HISD budget falls short.

It's reassuring to know that Pin Oak Middle School has friends like you to count on!

Please click here to learn more. Questions? Please email commitment@pinoakpto.org. Next week, we can't wait to show you how your dollars support a variety of programs at Pin Oak.

We are so grateful for your support of Pin Oak Middle School and its unique programs - many of which are offered only BECAUSE of your generous donations.

Here's to a wildly successful 2022 Charger Commitment Campaign!

Sincerely,

Francyne Davis Jacobs and Katie Wylie

All 7th and 8th grade girls interested in trying out for the girls basketball team, please meet in the DLL (inside of the library) at 8:00 a.m. for all details regarding tryouts. 

Please read through the POMS Lady Charger Basketball Interest Letter for required documents to be eligible to tryout for the team.

Join us for our second POMS PTO General Meeting of the school year!

When? Monday, October 17th from 9 - 10 a.m.

Where?  Parents have two options to attend:

• Attend in-person at Pin Oak Middle School (DLL room in library)
• Attend via Microsoft Teams (virtual attendees can submit written questions during the meeting using the Q&A tab)

If you plan to attend the meeting in person, please make sure to arrive at least 15-20 minutes ahead of time to get checked in at the front office with your driver's license.

Pin Oak Swimming has an interest meeting for the current season for both swimmers and parents tomorrow, October 17 at 5:00 p.m. in the POMS Cafeteria.

Tight on time? Going to support the POMS football team? Don't feel like cooking? 

Make life easy and join the POMS community for Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A, located at 5325 S. Rice Blvd, on Tuesday, October 18th from 5-8 p.m. 

Chick-fil-A will donate 10% of all sales between 5-8 p.m., dine-in, carry out or drive thru, when you mention Pin Oak Middle School.

Click here for flyer.

All POMS Algebra Parents are encouraged to attend Algebra Night on Tuesday, October 18 from 5:30 - 6:30 PM.

The meeting will take place in POMS Cafeteria.

Attention Pin Oak Chargers: Do you have a special skill or talent that you would like to show off to your friends and family? Can you sing, land a double, or solve a Rubik’s cube in record time? Charger Fest on November 5 is your opportunity to shine!

Auditions will be held in the Guitar room after school on October 19th and 20th. Stop by the guitar room D102 and talk to Mr. Huezo to sign up for an audition slot and ask any questions.

Good Luck!

Come out to watch the 8th grade girls volleyball team take on some of your favorite teachers in the annual student vs. faculty volleyball game, Friday, October 21st. 

Tickets will be on sale during all lunches for 5 dollars starting this Monday, October 17th through Thursday, October 20th. 

Ticket sales are limited for each grade level so make sure that you purchase your ticket first! If you have any questions, contact Coach Willis.

All 7th and 8th grade girls interested in trying out for the Lady Charger Basketball Team, please:

• Read through the POMS Lady Charger Basketball Interest Letter for all details regarding tryouts
• Attend the interest meeting Monday, October 17th at 8:00 a.m. 
• Create an account on Register My Athlete and upload all required forms before tryouts or you WILL be turned away from tryouts.

Tryouts

• Tryout Dates: Monday, October 24 - Wednesday, October 26
• Time: 6:30 - 7:45 a.m.

Please enter in the gate near the football field closest to the gym doors. 

If you have any questions, please contact Coach Alexis Willis.  

Pin Oak Middle School is hosting its annual Charger Fest on Saturday, November 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, fine arts performances, food, sweets, and more for the whole family!

Buy yourwristbandsnow to join in all the fun! There are also many underwriting and booth sponsorship opportunities available, so get yours now!

We need volunteers to help make this event a success! Please click the links below to sign up as a parent or student volunteer:

• Sign up to be a parent volunteer
• Sign up to be a student volunteer

If you have any questions, please contact the POMS PTO Charger Fest Chairs at chargerfest@pinoakpto.org.

The school store will be open for uniform sales during Chargerfest on Saturday, November 5th from noon to 4PM. Please stop by to purchase uniforms, sweatshirts and new full-zip jackets.

We also have several school store volunteer shifts open. Please sign up for a day/time that works for your schedule and meet other parents while volunteering in the store.

Click here to volunteer

POMS Online School Store Open

We will fulfill orders once a week and let you know when they are available for pick up. Your student may pick up their items in the school store during their lunch period. Yard signs will only be available as porch pick-up. 

Please note that when purchasing uniforms in person at the school store, prices are slightly higher for sales tax and the ease of cash transactions.

T-Shirts/Polos - $22.00

Sweatshirts - $33.00

Long Sleeve Spirit Shirts - $27.00

Please feel free to reach out to Thuy Promubol and Jean Lee at: schoolstore@pinoakpto.org with any questions or concerns.

Thank you!

Have you submitted the socioeconomic information form? This form impacts our funding. Please make sure that the form is updated or completed for the 2022-2023 school year. Currently, 93% of our families have completed this form. It is very important that we have all forms completed accounted for by October 28th to ensure we have the funding needed for our Chargers. 

To complete the form online:

1. Log in to the HISD Connect Parent Portal, which can also be found on the Pin Oak MS website on the left-hand side under Helpful Links. 
2. Once inside the Parent Portal, click on the Forms section on the left-hand side navigation to access and submit the Socioeconomic Information Form for the 2022-2023 school year.

It is very important that we receive this form from everyone.  Please email Mrs. Salinas if you have questions or need a paper form.

Pin Oak Chargers are joining forces with Team #kirbystrong

for the 2022 MD Anderson Give Cancer the Boot Walk.

This annual fundraiser provides support for patient programs, research, prevention and education at MD Anderson — 100% of funds raised by participants directly support MD Anderson's mission to end cancer.

Monday, October 24 – Friday, November 4

Donations accepted before school. Donate $5 or more and receive a Give Cancer the Boot wristband. 100% of all proceeds go to MD Anderson to support their mission to end cancer.

Friday, November 4

Students can wear cowboy boots, hiking boots, rain boots, hunting boots, running shoes, high tops, low tops, gogo boots, anything comfy and we will walk to GIVE CANCER THE BOOT!

If you would like to make an additional donation to MD Anderson, please click here.

Thank you for your generosity! We won’t rest until we give cancer the boot.

#endcancer#kirbystrong

To join via mobile phone:

1. Send a text to 81010
2. Text this message: @pomsparen

To join via web:

https://www.remind.com/join/pomsparen 

Download the Remind app:

• App Store
• Google Play

Please make sure you have subscribed to school notifications on HISD Connect Parent Portal. Its one of many notification tools for POMS. Please see the screenshot below on how to subscribe for school notifications.

ATTENTION PARENTS: The Student Annual Verification is now available on the HISD Connect Parent Portal. Please complete your child’s annual updates and forms by October 28 to ensure their information is accurate and up to date. 

Learn more: https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2022/09/06/hisd-parents-asked-to-complete-student-annual-verification/#more-43346

Please visit ChooseHISD.org for an important update from our Chief of Schools regarding the 2023-2024 school choice application timeline. Applications for the 2023-24 school year will open in December!

A Special Message from Chief of Schools Denise Watts:

HISD Community,

School Choice Timeline is Changing!

In Houston ISD, all families have districtwide access to unparalleled educational opportunities, and now the school choice application process is changing to better meet family needs!

HISD will be opening phase one of the school choice application in December 2022 through February 2023. Phase two of the application process will open in April 2023 and go through June 2023. This will provide families with the time to settle into the current school year before they have to decide on the school that they want to attend for the next school year. The district is also rolling out a new application system to help streamline and improve the school choice application experience.

• Who Should Apply in December?
  • Current HISD families that prefer for their child to transfer to another HISD school for the 23-24 school year â—‹ Families that will be new to HISD in the 23-24 school year
  • Families that are seeking to apply to a specific program that is not available at their child’s current and / or zoned school
  • Families with a child in a transitional grade
  • Families who want to enroll in their zoned neighborhood school
  • Families that have moved away from their formerly zoned HISD school
  • Out-of-district families seeking to attend a HISD school in the 23-24 school year
• Who Does Not Need To Apply In December?
  • If your child is currently enrolled in an HISD school in a non-transitional grade, and you would like them to continue at that school for the 23-24 school year, you do not need to submit an application.

In the meantime, families should check-out HISD’s new School Finder platform to explore the vast opportunities available in HISD and help families find the school that’s right for them.

Please contact the Office of School Choice with any questions.

Please consider helping us purchase items on the Pin Oak Amazon Wish List. 

Thank you so much for your generosity!

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.

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 ChairChrissy Abaza.

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)

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.

The POMS PTO uses the Membership Toolkit platform across the board, so you'll need an account to receive the Charger Chatter, shop at the online School Store, join the PTO, and more! It can all be found at pinoakpto.org.

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!

If you have any issues signing up or logging in, please contact the POMSPTO VP of Communications Rebecca Grazier.

Hatch Youth is Houston’s oldest, currently active social group dedicated to empowering LGBTQIA+ youth between the ages of 7 and 20. Hatch Youth groups provide a safe and affirming environment where youth can socialize, make new friends, and engage in educational and creative activities to help youth in and around Houston not just survive, but thrive.

Educational programs include:
LGBTQIA+ health issues and accessing care
Mental health and wellness
LGBTQIA+ rights
Queer history
Creative writing and art
Social justice
Community resources
Empowering community speakers

The groups are comprised of introductions, social time, programming, and small group, and are curated by Hatch staff and trained volunteer facilitators. Youth have access to role models and peer support and can participate in special projects and events, including Hatch Prom and walking in the annual Pride Houston Parade. There are no costs for any activities.

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:

• Use the Website: www.saysomething.net
• Call the hotline: 1-844-5-SAYNOW
• Use the Mobile App: Available for Apple and Android devices

Say Something Parent Guide

Say Something Parent Brochure

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.