August 3, 2025

Dear Charger Parents and Families,

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! We are excited to begin another incredible year at Pin Oak Middle School, full of opportunities, learning, and growth for all students.

Due to recent changes in the district calendar, we’ve had to reschedule several upcoming campus events and make adjustments to our school store hours. Updated information is shared below to ensure everyone is prepared for the start of the year.

We also have some exciting news:
Houston ISD and Pin Oak Middle School have been informed that we are once again an A-rated campus! Even more impressively, we made significant gains in all three accountability domains, increasing our overall score from a 90 to a 93. This growth reflects our hard work and dedication—particularly in Closing the Gaps, where we saw strong gains across various student groups. We are so proud of our students, staff, and families for this achievement!

You’ll hear more about our performance and goals for the year at our upcoming General PTO Meeting on Wednesday, August 28 at 9:00 AM in the Pin Oak Library, as well as at our SDMC meeting in September.

We’re also thrilled to announce a new addition to our academic offerings:
This year, we are introducing Journalism for high school credit. This course will be available to 8th grade students who have successfully completed both 6th and 7th grade Journalism. With this addition, Pin Oak now offers more high school credit courses than any other middle school in the district—a true testament to our commitment to academic excellence.

6th Grade Charger Camp
We’re especially excited to welcome all of our incoming 6th graders at Charger Camp on Thursday, August 7 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Please plan to drop off and pick up your Charger at the front of the school. We understand the desire to walk your child inside, but this is a great opportunity for them to begin their transition from elementary to middle school. Charger Camp is designed to help students build confidence, learn routines, and get excited about becoming part of the Pin Oak family.

I've had the pleasure of meeting many of our new families already, and I can assure you—the staff and I are fully committed to taking excellent care of your children. They’re going to have a great time learning what it means to be a Charger.

At dismissal, we kindly ask for your patience during pickup. While the line may be long, picking up at the front of the school is the safest and most organized method. This helps prevent confusion and avoids any unnecessary safety concerns—such as students crossing Glenmont to find a parent in an unfamiliar location. We promise to keep the line moving as efficiently as possible and will ensure every student is safely reunited with their family. 

Understanding Your Schedule & Schedule Change Requests

Student schedules will be available in HISD Connect starting Friday, August 8. Please log in at that time to review your schedule ahead of the first day of school. A printed copy of your schedule will also be provided when you arrive on the first day.

Please remember that schedules are subject to change. Our Assistant Principals work hard to honor student requests, but academic requirements will always take priority over elective preferences.

Schedule Change Requests:

• All First Day documents must be submitted before a schedule change will be considered.

• Schedule changes will be made within the first 10 days of school.

• Not all requests can be accommodated due to class sizes, availability, and academic priorities.

How to Read Your Schedule – Key Terms:

• EXP = Class Period

• TRM = Term (S1 = Semester 1, S2 = Semester 2, 25–26 = Yearlong)

• Course Name = Name listed in the HISD system (e.g., Broadcast Journalism is labeled as Media Team 6Y)

• Teacher = Teacher’s last and first name

• Room = Room Number (A = A House, B = B House, C = C House, D = Fine Arts/PE Wing)

• TST = Testing Room (used only on testing days)

• TT = Team Time Room – typically listed as “Eng Enrichment 6Y”
  → This is where students should report on the first day of school.

Refer to the Schedule Cheat Sheet for a full list of course names used at Pin Oak.

Important Note About Communication:

Please keep in mind that all school administrators are actively working with teachers and support staff throughout the school day. They are not available to respond to emails during business hours, as they are leading or attending professional development sessions, planning, and supporting staff.

We kindly ask for your patience with email response times. Administrators will review and respond to messages in the evenings and on weekends as needed.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we prepare for another successful school year at Pin Oak. 

Are you ready for the new school year? Please review these helpful resources:

Houston ISD Academic Calendar 

English version and Spanish version.

After School Charger Care

Learn about the program and registration here. For questions, please contact Norma Ruiz, After School Care Coordinator. 

Back to School Bash

HISD Families! Join us for an upcoming back-to-school bash and get connected with resources and supplies to start the school year. Happening at a Sunrise Center near you.

Backpack Policy

All students will be expected to have their backpack before receiving a school issued Chromebook. Hallway lockers are not utilized at POMS and students must carry their school issued Chromebook in their backpack when transitioning from class to class.

Bell Schedule

6th Grade Charger Camp on Thursday

Due to District calendar changes, all incoming 6th grade students are invited to join us for Charger Camp on the new date, Thursday, August 7 from 9am-12pm at POMS. Please register your 6th Grade Student to help check-in run smoothly. Please click here to volunteer at Charger Camp.

Charger Camp is for students only.  Our staff is excited to show your students around the school and get to know them before we kick off our first week with all 1,300+ Chargers together! I promise to take good care of them!

Please drop off and pick up students at the front circle drive. You cannot miss it; the cheerleaders and staff will be ready to welcome them inside. Please review Arrival/Departure details here.

Gifted and Talented Testing Interest Survey

The G/T Testing Request link will be available by Friday. Complete the interest form to receive the link to register for testing by August 25: bit.ly/GT-Interest

Open House

Save the date for the POMS Open House on September 4. Parents will have the opportunity to follow their student's schedule and meet their teachers. We encourage all parents to attend. 

ParentSquare - New Communication Tool

HISD launched a new communication tool that will take the place of many of the communication channels we utilize. School Messenger will transition to ParentSquare. As the new platform is rolled out, Pin Oak MS will send communications through our current channels and ParentSquare to ensure that information gets to all of our families as ParentSquare is rolled out. 

Parents will receive email invitations to set up a new account. We also encourage everyone to download the app. The QR codes below will take you to the Apple and Android Apps for Parent Square. Although email and phone messages will come through without the app, the app helps to streamline communication. More information to follow.

Personal Device Use During the School Day 

HISD is implementing a new Texas law that limits the use of personal devices in schools to keep classrooms focused on learning. For full details, visit HISD Cell Phone Policy.

Pin Oak Middle School Website

In alignment with Houston ISD, Pin Oak's website transitioned to a new platform the week of July 21. Updates will continue to be made throughout the year. Please continue to visit our website for more information about all our upcoming campus events.

Required Proof of Immunizations for Rising 7th Grade Students

• 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.
• All students entering 7th grade MUST have the vaccines listed above in addition to all previously required vaccinations.  

PLEASE SUBMIT PROOF OF THESE VACCINATIONS PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF 7^TH GRADE. SUBMIT THE VACCINATION RECORD DIRECTLY TO THE CLINIC OREMAIL THE RECORD to Nurse Troetscher at thea.troetscher@houstonisd.org. 

•  For more information, visit: Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Students Grades K-12

For information on low-cost immunizations, visit City of Houston Health Centers, Harris Health, or Texas Children's Mobile Clinics.

For questions, please email Nurse Troetscher

School Store

The online School Store is temporarily closed to process online orders and will re-open on Friday for your school and PE uniform needs. The School Store will open on campus August 4-8 at the times posted below.

All online orders placed by July 31 will be available for pick up at POMS during the dates/times posted below. Any unwashed and unworn items purchased through August 8 can be exchanged until September 30.

All visitors must check in first at the front office and must show their photo ID during school hours.

All visitors arriving after school hours (4:00-6:00) need to park in the back parking lot and enter through the cafeteria doors — no front office check-in is required.  

For more information, please contact Maia Miley at schoolstore@pinoakpto.org

School Supplies

Pre-ordered school supplies will be placed in your student’s Charger/Team Time class prior to the first day of school.  If you did not pre-order school supplies, click here to view the supply lists by grade. Please register here to help deliver school supply packs to classrooms on August 6.

School Uniforms

All students are expected to be dressed in their school uniform for the first day of school. Please review the full POMS Dress Code Policy here. 

Fall Sports: Parent Athletic Information Night - NEW DATE

Join us on Tuesday, August 5 from 5:30-6:30 PM in the POMS Gym. All UIL and Club sports coaches will be available to speak about their program and answer parent questions.

Sports Physicals

A POMS Sports Physical Clinic is scheduled for Monday, August 11 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM in the gym for current 2025-26 Pin Oak students. 

• Complete the Medical History portion of the Pre-participation Physical Evaluation Form and have your student bring it with them to the clinic
• The cost is $25 CASH ONLY
• Parents are not allowed in the gym
• No appointment needed
• Upload form to RegisterMyAthlete

Sports physicals are a MANDATORY REQUIREMENT for any student participating in sports (not PE class) at POMS. No student will be allowed to participate on an athletic team or attend practices without a current physical evaluation form on file. 

Sports physicals are good for the duration of one (1) year and physicals should be taken prior to the start of the school year. The form also can be completed by your student's physician.

For questions, please email Coach Carter, POMS Athletic Coordinator.

Connecting with you is important to us and we are here for you. (HISD is redesigning their website that hosts the POMS website and some of the listed links below may not be available yet - please stay tuned) 

• Visit the POMS website for a full staff directory and much more
• Use the Remind app (text @cf3a8ca to 81010) for timely reminders
• POMS Student Handbook
• Connect on X @pinoakms and Instagram @pinoakchargers
• POMS helpful links and information

See you soon!

Lindsey Vela, Principal

Pin Oak Middle School PTO

4601 Glenmont • Bellaire, TX 77401

pinoakpto.org