Originally delivered on 10/29/2023 6:53 pm

SUBJECT: Charger Chatter

October 29, 2023

Principal's Post



Dear Charger Parents and Families,


What a fun Homecoming week we had last week! Thank you to all the Charger parents and families who made it a success, from the tailgate to the dance, I know all the Chargers had a blast last week. Special thanks to the parents who volunteered to set up, chaperone and take down the dance. We could not have done it without you!

Our first year having grade-specific tailgate tables told me we need to keep it up! It was so fun to see all the kids and parents having fun prior to the Homecoming game. Thank you to Tricia Onufer and Lisa Lim (8th), Jean Lee and Kinsey Wall (7th) and Matt Hunn and Thuy Promubol (6th) for hosting the tailgates and all the parents who participated and donated snacks and drinks. The kids had so much fun and we hope you did too!

NWEA Map Growth Family Reports were sent home with Cycle 2 progress reports on Friday, October 27th. Linked below are resources parents can use to learn more about the test and their students test report.

The Charger Commitment Campaign closes Tuesday, October 31st! Congrats to A House for winning a popsicle party before winter break. But it is not too late to donate - we have one last incentive left! See below for more details and to donate now.

Fall Picture Day is Wednesday, November 1. All orders are Prepay with satisfaction Guaranteed. When Photo Texas returns to photograph absent and new students, they are more than happy to retake any student’s photo. Order Fall Pictures NOW! 

We will end the week with 2 amazing POMS events - Color Run is Friday, November 3rd and Pin Oak's first Diwali Festival is Saturday, November 4th. Read below for more details on both events.

Upcoming Campus Events

  • High School Fair (8th Grade Only): October 30th 
  • Charger Commitment Campaign ends: October 31st
  • Yearbook Picture Day: November 1st
  • Color Run: Friday, November 3rd
  • Kona Ice: Friday, November 3rd 
  • Diwali Festival: Saturday, November 4th 
  • Student Holiday: Friday, November 10th 
  • End of 2nd Six Weeks: Friday, November 10th

Connecting with you is important to us and we are here for you parents. Visit Our School Website for the full list of Pin Oak Support staff and assistant principals plus much, much more. Join Remind or send a text to 81010 with the message @hghga3b. Additional POMS Useful Links can be found below near calendar events.

See you soon!

Lindsey Vela, Principal


Connect with us on Twitter and Instagram!

Twitter: @pinoakms

Instagram @pinoakchargers

Charger Commitment Campaign - New Incentive!


Dear Charger Parents,

We are slowly making our ways towards both of our goals: we are just under 20% left to reach our monetary goal; and we are making our ways towards 20% of families participating in our campaign.

You have just 2 days left to make a donation (any amount helps).

BREAKING NEWS: We have one last incentive left: donate at the $500 level or more and you will be invited to a small group tour of POMS with Principal Vela. You get to tour the school and see what your dollars have done, up close! Didn't donate at this level previously? That's okay - up your donation to that level (total) and you will be included! (Previous donations at this level and above are included as are matching donations).

Just 2 days left - don't be left out.

Please use this link to donate today.

Thank you,

Francyne and Katie

Color Run on Friday, November 3rd - Online Sales End Tomorrow!


Pin Oak's annual Color Run is returning THISFriday, November 3, and your student will not want to be left out! 

Color Run is a fun run style event where students can leave class to hang out, listen to music, visit the Kona Ice truck, run or walk around the track, and throw color on each other in the Post Run Color Party.

Purchase a spot for your student to be a Color Thrower ($50), Walker/Runner ($25), or Spectator ($5).

Click here to purchase your ticket. Online sales end on Monday, October 30. We will be selling tickets during lunch this week on Monday - Wednesday (cash only). 

If you'd like to make a donation to cover the cost of additional Pin Oak students to attend Color Run, please do so on the order form.

We still will need parent volunteers to sell tickets at school the week of October 30 and to help support the event on November 3rd. If you are VIPS approved and would like to volunteer for the Color Run, please click here to sign up.

If you have any questions, please email POMS PTO Color Run Chairs, Jamie Broach Byrd, Dana George, and Dawn Johnson.

Join us for our first Diwali Festival on Saturday, November 4th


Pin Oak's first Diwali, or Festival of Lights, celebration will be held on Saturday, November 4 from 3-5 PM at Pin Oak's campus. There will be food, games, mehndi (henna), and performances by students. Join us!

Click the link to RSVP! Please email Pranika Sinha with questions or to volunteer.

Girls' Basketball Tryouts this week!


Tryouts will take place October 30, 31 & November 1st from 6:30 - 7:45 AM. Players must be present for all 3 days to be considered.

Please be sure to register your athlete through registermyathlete.com and select GIRLS BASKETBALL. If not, Coach Willis will not be able to view your account and you will be turned away from tryouts. Please read through the tryout letter for all details regarding tryouts.

Contact Coach Willis if you have any questions.

Kona Ice Friday!


Kona Ice will be at POMS after school on Friday, November 3 in the front parking lot near the entrance of the school.

Please bring your cash to purchase a treat. Treats are $4, $6, and $7.

Please email POMS PTO Kona Ice Chair Jennifer Deneen with any questions.

8th Grade Volleyball Team vs. Faculty Game on Friday, November 17th


Join us for an exciting showdown on the court as our 8th grade girl's volleyball team take on our esteemed faculty in an epic volleyball game! 

Tickets must be purchased through SchoolPay for an entry fee of $5. 

Let's pack the stands and create an atmosphere of unity and sportsmanship that Friday before Thanksgiving Break!

POMS Boys Lacrosse


Boy’s lacrosse clinics are in full swing, but it is not too late to join! Check out the chart below for New Player, 7th and 8th grade clinics plus try out dates. Games and practices begin after the Winter Break.

Come be a part of the two-year all city champion Boys Lacrosse legacy!

Questions? Contact POMS Boys PresidentRachel Markworth.

Join the POMS Boys Lacrosse on the SportsYou App for FAQs, full details and dates! Search “POMS Boys Lacrosse”, Access Code: C99J-P46K 

Join the POMS PTO for 2023-2024


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 Chair.

Pin Oak Middle School Tours


Pin Oak will be hosting tours for interested families on upcoming Thursdays. Spots are limited so click here to learn more and sign up.

We look forward to seeing you!!

Gifted and Talented Testing Requests


Are you interested in having your student tested for Gifted and Talented identification? Applications are due December 8, 2023.

Applications are submitted through HISD Connect. Please see the linked directions to request testing. Once the application is submitted through HISD Connect, POMS will gather the teacher's recommendation.

Testing will be in Spring 2024. Stay tuned for exact dates.

Please contact Ms. Vining with any questions.

POMS School Store Hours


The POMS School Store is open during student lunches. Please refer below for full schedule:

  • Monday, Wednesday and Friday - open for all lunches
  • Tuesday - open until 1 PM (some Tuesdays we may be open for all lunches. Please contact the school store with any questions.)
  • Thursday - open until 1 PM

The POMS Online School Store is open for business. ***Please note that online orders may take a few days to fulfill and you will be notified to have your student come pick up orders when they are ready.***

POMS Amazon Wishlist


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

Thank you so much for your generosity!

School Store Volunteers Needed


This is your chance to volunteer and be in the middle of the action! It's a great way to meet other parents and interact with the students in the school store. 

Signups are for the 2023-2024 school year and we require at least 2 people in the store at all times. The school store is open during the students' lunch periods. Please sign up for the group (A or B)/day(s) that works best for you (shifts are every other week).

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

All school volunteers are required to be VIPS approved.

Register for VIPS (Volunteers in Public School)


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)

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities


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 Anu Hiremaglur for more details.

Update Information for POMS Directory


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 Storejoin 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.

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.

Useful POMS Links and Info
Looking Ahead
Monday, October 30
6:30a POMS Girls Basketball Tryouts (7th & 8th Grade)
10:30a POMS HISD School Choice Fair
5:00p POMS 8th Grade Football vs. Black MS @ Delmar Stadium
5:00p POMS 7th Grade Football vs. Hamilton MS @ POMS
Tuesday, October 31
POMS Charger Commitment Campaign Ends
6:30a POMS Girls Basketball Tryouts (7th & 8th Grade)
Wednesday, November 1
POMS School Picture Day
6:30a POMS Girls Basketball Tryouts (7th & 8th Grade)
Friday, November 3
POMS Color Run
4:00p POMS Kona Ice Friday
Saturday, November 4
3:00p POMS Diwali Festival
Monday, November 6
9:00a POMS PTO Executive Board Meeting
5:00p POMS 7th Grade Football vs. Pershing MS @ Pershing
Friday, November 10
POMS No School - Teacher Development Day
Monday, November 13
9:00a POMS PTO General Meeting
Tuesday, November 14
4:00p POMS Spirit Night at Skeeter's Mesquite Grill
Thursday, November 16
POMS Staff Appreciation Lunch
Friday, November 17
POMS Report Cards
POMS 8th Grade Girls Volleyball Team vs. Faculty
Monday, November 20
POMS No School - Thanksgiving Holiday
Tuesday, November 21
POMS No School - Thanksgiving Holiday
Wednesday, November 22
POMS No School - Thanksgiving Holiday
Thursday, November 23
POMS No School - Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday, November 24
POMS No School - Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday, December 1
4:00p POMS Kona Ice Friday
Monday, December 4
9:00a POMS PTO Executive Board Meeting
Monday, December 11
9:00a POMS PTO General Meeting
Tuesday, December 12
3:00p POMS Spirit Night at Los Tios Mexican Restaurant
Friday, December 15
POMS Staff/Teacher Appreciation Holiday Luncheon & Gift Distribution
Friday, December 22
POMS No School - Winter Break
Saturday, December 23
POMS No School - Winter Break
Sunday, December 24
POMS No School - Winter Break
Monday, December 25
POMS No School - Winter Break
Tuesday, December 26
POMS No School - Winter Break
Wednesday, December 27
POMS No School - Winter Break
Thursday, December 28
POMS No School - Winter Break
Friday, December 29
POMS No School - Winter Break
Saturday, December 30
POMS No School - Winter Break
Sunday, December 31
POMS No School - Winter Break
Monday, January 1
POMS No School - Winter Break
Tuesday, January 2
POMS No School - Winter Break
Wednesday, January 3
POMS No School - Winter Break
Thursday, January 4
POMS No School - Winter Break
Friday, January 5
POMS No School - Winter Break
Tuesday, January 9
9:00a POMS PTO Executive Board Meeting
Friday, January 12
POMS PTO Spring Grant Applications Open
POMS Report Cards
4:00p POMS Kona Ice Friday
Monday, January 15
POMS No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Tuesday, January 16
6:00p POMS PTO General Meeting
Stay Connected
Ways to Give

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

Use the new Box Tops App on the App Store or Google Play 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.

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.

We Appreciate Our Corporate Sponsors & Community Partners
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