August 17, 2025

Dear Charger Parents and Families,

We had a great start to our 2025-2026 school year, and we are ready for Week Two. We LOVE having our Chargers back. They have done a great job learning campus rules and expectations and adhering to safety protocols we have in place to keep everyone safe. I am blessed and proud to be their principal. Our epic First Day video is LIVE - watch all the smiles, high-fives, and first‑day energy.  

Spotlight on Our Campus

Pin Oak Middle School has been selected as the featured HISD campus. The HISD media team visited last week and will be on campus again this week. Be sure to follow along all week on HISD Now for media coverage and daily highlights.

Celebrating Academic Excellence

We are thrilled to announce that Pin Oak Middle School – Premier Foreign Language Magnet has earned an A rating from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and received all seven Distinction Designations:

• Academic Achievement – Reading & Language Arts

• Academic Achievement – Mathematics

• Academic Achievement – Science

• Academic Achievement – Social Studies

• Top 25% Comparative Academic Growth

• Top 25% Comparative Closing the Gaps

• Postsecondary Readiness

This exceptional accomplishment is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our students, teachers, administrators, support staff, and families. Your commitment to academic excellence has truly set us apart—congratulations to all. 

Charger Gym

Over the past several years, Pin Oak Middle School has treated our gymnasium to a sequence of remarkable upgrades—bringing both function and spirit to the heart of our school community:

• New bleachers have been installed, providing improved comfort, fresh aesthetics, and safety.

• The gym floor has been meticulously refinished, complete with our updated mascot—bringing our Charger identity into every game and gathering.

• A full fresh coat of paint enhances the space’s vibrancy and durability.

• Most recently, we unveiled two stunning murals: the spirited “Charger Nation” mural, and the elegant Pin Oak mural, anchoring our gym with bold visuals and school pride.

These updates reflect our steadfast commitment to cultivating an inspiring environment for students and families alike. The revitalized gym now stands as a welcoming, dynamic space where Charger pride shines in every detail.

Thank you for being such an engaged part of our school community. We look forward to seeing our students enjoy the enhanced gym during upcoming events and activities.

View a video of the Charger Gym here

Thank You to the PTO

We are also grateful for the support of our community. A heartfelt thank you to our PTO volunteers and Los Tios restaurant for providing an amazing lunch for our hard-working teachers and staff at last week's Staff Appreciation Lunch. Your generosity made the day truly special.

NWEA Beginning-of-Year Testing Update

This week your child will take a MAP® Growth™ test from NWEA®. Chromebooks will be provided in each classroom for testing. It is very important that students are in attendance and on time. 

MAP Growth scores help teachers check student performance by measuring achievement and growth. Teachers use results to tailor classroom lessons and set goals for students.

MAP Growth tests are unique and adapt to your child’s responses to measure your child’s knowledge. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. These results will provide a more complete picture of where your child is on their learning journey - regardless of whether they are on, above, or below their grade level.

Since MAP Growth tests provide immediate and accurate information about your child’s learning, it’s easy for teachers to identify students with similar scores in similar skills and topics and then plan instruction accordingly.

MAP Growth reports also provide typical growth data for students in the same grade and subject with the same starting performance level. Each school year, students grades 6th through 8th take the tests in August, January, and May. Following each testing period, you will receive a Family Report showing a summary of how your child is performing academically.

Please encourage your student not to guess on their responses and to use their testing time productively. Remind them of the importance of maintaining testing decorum, if they finish earlier than other students. They may sit quietly and read a book upon completing their exam.

We are truly excited to focus on your child’s individual growth and achievement. For more information about MAP Growth, visit NWEA.org/familytoolkit.

Attendance Reminder

As we prepare for Week 2, it is extremely important that students arrive before 8:30 AM. Any student not in class at 8:30 AM will be marked absent/ tardy depending on their time of arrival. We open our doors at 7:50 AM so there is more than enough time for students to be in class when the tardy bell rings. 

Absences

Students who have been absent or tardy must present a written excuse from their parent or guardian when they return to school. Parents may also email excuse notes to the POMS attendance clerk at maciel.hernandez@houstonisd.org.

In the case of ANY absence, excuse notes must be turned in to the attendance office within three days of returning to school. All notes emailed from parents or guardians must contain the following:

• student’s full legal name and school ID number
• date(s) of absence  
• date the note was written
• parent name, signature, and contact phone number

Detailed information can be found in the POMS Student and Family Handbook.

A Friendly, Yet Important Reminder 

We’ve noticed an increase in items such as pencil pouches, lunchboxes, backpacks, instruments, pullovers, and more being left behind—in hallways, the cafeteria, gym, classrooms, and even outdoors. To help students keep track of their belongings and reduce clutter in our Lost & Found area:

• Please label everything—a clear, visible name on items improves the chances of them finding their way back to their owner.

• Encourage your child to check the Lost & Found, located in the cafeteria, during lunch or at the end of each day for any missing items. 

• Labeling builds responsibility—students learn ownership and are more likely to notice and care about their own possessions. 

Thank you for partnering with us to keep your child’s belongings safe.

Chromebook Deployment Requirements:

• All documents and payment must be submitted before a student is issued a Chromebook & charger. The paperwork was distributed to students the first day of school.
• The $25 Chromebook User Device Fee can be paid via SchoolPay (Item Search = device).

Student Schedules

There is still movement happening due to student enrollment verification, HB1416, student interventions, and course offerings, so shifting and class leveling will be happening through August 25. 

If you have a specific question regarding your student's schedule, please email your student's assistant principal for assistance. Please understand that all campus administrators are supporting students and teachers throughout the school day. We work 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? Review the Schedule Cheat Sheet

Schedule Change Requests

Before a schedule change request is reviewed by the house assistant principal, parents/ guardians must complete all beginning of the year 2025-2026 forms for their child enrolled at Pin Oak Middle School.

To request a schedule change, use the Schedule Change Request Form.

Traffic & Safety Procedures

Traffic patterns were heavy during the first week of school. With your help, we can get you on your way and clear Circle Drive by 4:15 PM.

Please refer to the POMS School Safety & Transportation page for school drop-off and pick-up procedures.

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.

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

Entrance fee is required and virtual tickets can be purchased for $20 on SchoolPay.
(Price includes pizza, snack and drink)

Students will not need a paper or digital ticket.
The name of each student attending will be on a printed list at the entrance.
Deadline to buy virtual tickets is Thursday, September 18 at 11:59 PM.

Students attending Game Night can remain on campus after school in the gym until Game Night begins at 4:15 PM. Please pick up your student in front of the school no later than 6:15 PM so we may send our supervising staff home.

Proceeds benefit the POMS Athletic Department

Pin Oak Middle School PTO

4601 Glenmont • Bellaire, TX 77401

pinoakpto.org