August 20, 2023

Dear Charger Parents and Families,

It’s almost GO TIME! Hang on tight and take a deep breath because I have included important information! Please be patient with me as I am frontloading a lot of information right now in detail, so we are crystal clear and leave no room for uncertainty. As always, please make sure you are checking your email each Sunday for important information and updates on all things Pin Oak. As always, we are here to help. If you have any questions after reading through the newsletter, please contact your student’s Assistant Principals for help! I have included their information below to make it easy for you. 

Save the Date:

• Charger Camp - Tuesday, August 22
  • 6th Grade - 9 AM until 12 PM 
  • 7th & 8th Grade - 1 PM until 3 PM
• First Day of School - Monday, August 28: We start school at 8:30 AM and end at 4:00 PM. 
• Open House - Tuesday, September 19 from 6:00-7:30 PM 

Are you ready for the 2023-24 school year? Please review the helpful resources below so you are prepared for the 2023-24 school year. 

Academic Calendar - for more information, please visit 2023-2024 HISD Academic Calendar.

After School Charger Care - follow the link to learn about the program and registration. If you have any questions, contact Norma Ruiz (nruiz@houstonisd.org), After School Care Coordinator. 

Backpack Policy - all students will be expected to have their backpack before receiving a school issued Chromebook. Lockers will not be utilized this year and students must carry their school issued Chromebook in their backpack when transitioning from class to class (no exceptions).  Clear backpacks are not required for the 2023-2024 school year.

Bell Schedule - all students will follow a modified block schedule for the 2023-24 school year. Please click the link to view this year’s POMS Bell Schedule.

Canvas (Learning Management System) is a reliable and reputable web-based learning management system (LMS). It allows institutions to manage digital learning, educators to create and present online learning materials and assess student learning, and students to engage in courses and receive feedback about skill development and learning achievement. Learn more about Canvas here. 

Clinic - Nurse Troetscher will be monitoring the health of students and staff.  Please keep your contact numbers in HISDConnect Parent Portal up to date. It is helpful to have multiple emergency contact numbers for each child.

Communication - Connecting with you is important to us. As a result, we have many ways to share the latest and greatest of Pin Oak Middle School, including:

• Our School Website: Here you will find information on Spirit Events, PowerUp, Canvas, Clusters, Magnet Program, Clubs, Digital Resources, Virtual Library, and more.
• Remind: Join the 2023-24 Remind group to receive important communication through text message or email. Join Remind or send a text to 81010 and text this message @hghga3b
• Follow our #WeArePinOak hashtag and Principal Vela on Twitter @POMS_Principal: We will post pictures and information on our daily activities at POMS to our #WeArePinOakhashtag. We encourage you to share your Charger pride here as well!

Counselors - Check out the POMS Counseling Corner for Back to School Tips and What to Expect This Year.

Immunizations - If your child is a rising 7th grader, s/he MUST be current on their vaccines, or risk being removed from school until proof of vaccination is presented. For more information, visit: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize/school/school-requirements.aspx

• REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS FOR 7th GRADE
  • 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.
• Where to go for low cost immunizations?
  • City of Houston Health Centers
  • Texas Health Troubleshooters
  • Texas Children's Mobile Clinics

Contact Nurse Troetscher at Thea.Troetscher@houstonisd.org or 713.295.6500 if you have questions. 

PowerUp - in order to prepare our students for a world beyond the four walls of a classroom, POMS launched PowerUp, a campus initiative aimed at transforming teaching and learning. PowerUp is about creating a personalized learning environment for today’s 21st-century learners and to enable teachers to facilitate instruction, manage curriculum, collaborate with their peers, and engage today’s digitally wired students more effectively. 

• POMS PowerUP Parent Night Recording - Learn about what we need from our POMS students and parents before our Chromebook rollout. Your student will not receive a Chromebook until all requirements are met.
  • Parent Digital Safety Course
  • Student Device Loan Agreement
  • Pin Oak Technology Acceptable Use Policy
  • PowerUp Device Fee - SchoolPay

School Safety - School safety is top priority at Pin Oak Middle School. Our safety measures include, locked exterior doors, pre-approved visitors properly screened, courtyard/ patio carefully monitored, and safety drills implemented following the state law. As teachers establish procedures in their classrooms the first week of school, they will teach students about each type of drill. Our goal is student preparedness without causing alarm or distress. Your support is appreciated.

School Supplies - all students will be expected to have their school supplies for the first day of school.  Please click the grade level link for the full POMS School Supply List.

• 6th Grade
• 7th Grade
• 8th Grade

School Uniforms - all students will be expected to be in their school uniform for the first day of school. Please click the link for the full POMS Dress Code Policy. 

Social Media - PARENTS…Be in the Know!

• 11 Social Media Red Flags Parents Should Know About
• 18 Social Media Apps and Sites Kids Are Using Right Know
• Parents’ Ultimate Guide to TikTok
• Parents’ Ultimate Guide to Snapchat
• How to Help Teens Manage Effects of Social Media on Their Mental Health

Student Schedules - There is still tons of movement happening due to student enrollment verification, HB1416, student interventions, and course offerings, so shifting and class leveling will be happening almost daily until school begins, and even after during that first few weeks in some cases, so we appreciate your patience. I promise we are doing our best to get it as close as possible by day one.

If you have a specific question regarding your child’s SCHEDULE, you will need to email your child’s assistant principals so they can help support you. Please understand that all campus administrators are leading trainings, attending district trainings and meetings, preparing for Charger Camp, and supporting teachers throughout the school day. We are working on student schedules after hours and on the weekend so your patience, understanding, and grace is appreciated. (I have included their names, house assignments, and linked email addresses to make this easy on you.)

• Do You Need Help Understanding Your Schedule? - Click on the link to access the Schedule Cheat Sheet.
• Schedule Change Request - Before a schedule change request is reviewed by the house administrator(s) parents/ guardians must complete all beginning of the 2023-2024 forms for their child enrolled at Pin Oak Middle School. Please access HISD Connect Parent Portal to complete the forms. These forms can be viewed using the link provided (parent forms). 
  • HISD Connect—How to Videos:
    • Getting Started with HISD Connect Parent Portal - How to create your account and associate your student’s information.
    • Completing Forms in HISD Connect Parent Portal - How to navigate to and complete forms after you are logged in to Parent Portal.
    • Student Verification in HISD Connect Parent Portal - How to complete the Student Verification steps after you are logged in to Parent Portal.
    • HISD Connect Parent Portal the Complete Guide - How to create your account, associate your students information, complete forms and complete Student Verification in Parent Portal.
• Schedule Change Request - Click on the link to access the Student Schedule Change Request. 

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. 

Athletics - Sports Physicals 2023-2024

• Any student interested in participating in Athletics for the 2023-2024 school year must complete the requirements listed below by Friday, August 25th!
• Athletic Physicals are a MANDATORY REQUIREMENT. They are not optional! No student will be allowed to participate on an athletic (UIL and/or Club Sport) team or practice without a current Athletic Physical. Athletic Physicals are good for the duration on one (1) year and physicals should be taken prior to the start of the school year.
  • Parents, if you have a child playing school sports in HISD/ POMS, please watch the video guide and go to HISD REGISTER MY ATHLETE.COM. Parents are required to register their athlete before August 25.
  • Parents, make sure you give a copy of the Athletic Physical to the Athletic Coordinator, Coach Carter by Friday, August 25. Also, make certain to keep a copy for your personal records. 
• Please see the links and content below regarding athletic requirements.
  • HISD PHYSICAL FORM 
  • UIL Acknowledgement of Rules 
  • Register My Athlete 
  • HISD Athletics Department 

Please contact Coach Carter, POMS Athletic Coordinator if you have any questions.

Transportations - The Houston ISD Transportation Department determines eligibility for transportation services. The Transportation Department, upon determining eligibility, will assign a route and stop. For more information about eligibility, please visit the HISD Transportation Services Homepage. 

The information will also be available online at https://www.houstonisd.org/transportation. Please click on the ‘Find My Route’ button and enter your address to get your child’s route and stop information. For more information on transportation, please follow the links provided below. 

Links and Contact Information for Parents:

• Let’s Talk Link
• Find My Route
• Customer Care Contact Number: 713-556-9400

If you have additional questions, you may contact Ms. Childs Molly.Childs@houstonisd.org. Please be patient and flexible, Ms. Childs is working to answer transportation questions for all Pin Oak families; therefore, I encourage you to follow the links provided to have your immediate questions answered.

*Traffic & Safety Procedures*

1. 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. 

2. 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. 

3. 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. 

4. Wait patiently for cars ahead of you to unload.  Do not attempt to pass vehicles in the drop-off lane.

5. When exiting the school driveway, you may turn right or left on to Glenmont. Be careful of oncoming traffic.

6. 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. 

7. If your child is going to walk or ride his/her bike to Charger Camp, 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. 

8. 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. I cannot stress enough that lines will be long so please plan accordingly and have patience, so this remains a positive and fun event for students and staff.

Water Bottles - Water is available through water-filling stations. Please send a refillable water bottle to school each day with your child. Please label the water bottle with your child’s name. The water bottle should be filled at home each morning before coming to school. 

Campus Administrators

• Lindsey Vela – Principal lindsey.vela@houstonisd.org 
• Jeremy Gates – A-House Assistant Principal jeremy.gates@houstonisd.org
• Kiran Kumari Rao – A-House Assistant Principal kiran.rao@houstonisd.org
• Olga Catoni – B-House Assistant Principal ocatoni@houstonisd.org
• James Ware – B-House Assistant Principal jamesware2@houstonisd.org
• Staci Davis – C-House Assistant Principal gdavis6@houstonisd.org 
• Ashly Vining – C-House Assistant Principal ashly.vining@houstonisd.org

Campus Support Team

• Molly Childs – Magnet/ Transportation Coordinator molly.childs@houstonisd.org 
• Brooke Corso – Librarian brooke.corso@houstonisd.org 
• Qiana Rankins – Counselor (Alpha Split A-M) qiana.rankins@houstonisd.org 
• Alynn Lebiga – Counselor (Alpha Split N-Z) alynn.lebiga@houstonisd.org
• Ashleigh Todd – Wraparound Specialist Ashleigh.Todd@houstonisd.org
• Thea Troetscher – Nurse Thea.Troetscher@houstonisd.org 
• Carter Astaire – Athletic Coordinator ACARTE10@houstonisd.org
• Barrett Doke – Instructional Technologist bdoke@houstonisd.org
• Kaneika Bell-Brown – User Device Technician kaneika.bellbrown@houstonisd.org
• Michelle Johnson – Attendance Clerk pomsattendance@houstonisd.org
• Kia Ward – Student Information Clerk kia.ward@houstonisd.org

See you soon!

Lindsey Vela, Principal

Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram!

Twitter: @pinoakms

Instagram @pinoakchargers

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.

Pin Oak Middle School PTO

4601 Glenmont • Bellaire, TX 77401

pinoakpto.org