Originally delivered on 9/7/2025 3:03 pm

SUBJECT: Charger Chatter

September 7, 2025

Principal's Post

Dear Charger Parents and Families,

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Open House, it was a huge success. We were thrilled to welcome over 700 parents to our campus to meet our amazing teachers and staff, walk the halls, and visit classrooms. Your support helps make our school community stronger, and we truly appreciate your involvement.

Important Student Updates:

Last Friday, all students received the following items:

First Six Weeks Progress Report
NWEA Beginning-of-Year (BOY) Results
Student ID and Grade-Level Lanyard

Please help us ensure your student is prepared for success by keeping the following in mind:

Dress Code: Students must be in full dress code every day.
Student ID: IDs must be worn visibly on the provided grade-level lanyard at all times.
Chromebooks: Devices should be charged each night and brought to school fully charged each day.

Important Student Updates:

Last Friday, all students received the following items:

First Six Weeks Progress Report
NWEA Beginning-of-Year (BOY) Results
Student ID and Grade-Level Lanyard

Please help us ensure your student is prepared for success by keeping the following in mind:

Dress Code: Students must be in full dress code every day.
Student ID: IDs must be worn visibly on the provided grade-level lanyard at all times.
Chromebooks: Devices should be charged each night and brought to school fully charged each day.

Reminder: Annual Student Information Survey

We need all parents to complete the Annual Student Information Survey as soon as possible. Your prompt response is greatly appreciated.

National Junior Honor Society

Join us for the interest meeting on Thursday, September 11 from 4:15 - 4:45 PM in C121. The application and recommendation forms are due Wednesday, October 1. Forms are only accessible via an HISD email account

For more information, email Presley McClendon.

POMS Dungeons & Dragons Club

Wednesday, September 10, 4:00 - 5:30 PM, in B126 (will meet biweekly)

Please complete the Interest and Application Form.

Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop roleplaying game using only pencil and paper - no tablets or phones. Full details and links in the form.

For more information, email Jeremy Gates.

World Language Clubs

Meetings began on August 28
Clubs meet 4:15–5:15 PM

Love Spanish flair? Spanish Club meets biweekly on Mondays in C102.

Into German vibes? German Club meets monthly on Tuesdays in C109.

Dreaming in French or Italian? Both meet monthly on Thursdays (French in C101, Italian in C138).

Curious about Latin or Mandarin? Latin Club meets biweekly in C136, and Mandarin (Dragon Dance) meets biweekly in C140.

Connecting with you is important to us and we are here for you.

Visit the POMS website for a full staff directory and much more
POMS Student Handbook
Attendance Policy (email excuses to maciel.hernandez@houstonisd.org)
Bell Schedule
Dress Code Policy
POMS School Safety & Transportation page
Use the Remind app (text @cf3a8ca to 81010) for timely reminders
Connect on X @pinoakms and Instagram @pinoakchargers
Connect to the POMS PTO on Facebook and Instagram @pinoakpto
Other POMS helpful links and information

See you soon!
Lindsey Vela, Principal

Calling all Hispanic POMS Parents!

Do you have a career you're passionate about? We'd be honored if you'd be a guest speaker at POMS during Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15). During one or more grade-level lunches, you would speak to a group of interested students about your educational background and career path followed by a brief Q&A.

Our three lunch periods are 30 minutes each. Students would sign up to attend in advance and bring their food into the library. Your presentation would be fifteen minutes followed by five minutes of questions.

If you want to participate on a date convenient for you, please contact Brooke Corso, POMS Librarian, before September 8.

6th Grade Events

6th Grade Game Night

Friday, September 19
4:15 - 6:15 PM

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

Deadline to buy virtual tickets is Thursday, September 18 at 11:59 PM.

Students can remain on campus after school in the gym until Game Night begins. 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

6th Grade Parent Social

Friday, September 19
4:00 – 6:00 PM
The ‘401 Table and Tap
6700 Ferris St in Bellaire

The POMS PTO invites 6th Grade
parents to mingle and meet
new faces while our 6th graders
have fun at Game Night.

Iced tea | Lite bites | Cash bar

For more information, email Lauren Blackburn and Valerie Davis,
6th Grade Activities Chairs.

EF Tours Germany 2026

Come travel with us to Germany Summer 2026. We will have an informational and sign up meeting Monday, September 22 room B129 (Mr. Meyer's room).

EF is a partner of HISD and these tours are very well executed. The students always have a great time. Parents are welcome to sign up and go as well but it is not required.

For more information, email Shelly Hulbirt.

☀️ The Sunshine Snack Cart is Rolling Out

Our amazing PTO volunteers are rolling out the snack cart for our awesome teachers and staff. It is a simple way to brighten their day and show our appreciation every month for all that they do for our students.

Would you help us stock the cart?

Please purchase items directly from our Amazon Wish List - Items will be shipped to POMS
Drop off individually packaged drinks or snacks of your choosing to the school office labeled "PTO/Sunshine Cart". Teachers like sweet or salty snacks, sparkling water, tea, and soda.

For more information, email Amy Chang, Snack Cart Chair.

Swim Team Interest Meeting on Wednesday, October 8

Pin Oak Middle School will host a Swim Team interest meeting on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria. The meeting is for 7th and 8th grade students only.

To help expedite the process, please create an account on Register My Athlete (if you have not already done so) and upload all required physical forms prior to the meeting.

For more information, email Shelly Hulbirt.

Purchase a POMS 2025-26 Yearbook

Place your order today before the price increases in January.

Please note that the yearbook is not included in the 8th grade end-of-year packet.

For more information, email Shelly Hulbirt.

Volunteers Needed in the School Store

We could use your help to open the School Store on Wednesdays 1st Shift - Group B (11:30 AM - 12:30 PM) covering 6th grade lunch. Currently, we have one volunteer signed up (thank you!) but we need at least 2 volunteers to open the store.

Sign ups are for the 2025-2026 school year
We require at least 2 people in the store at all times
The School Store is open during the students' lunch periods.

Sign Up to Volunteer
Please sign up for the group (A or B)/day(s) that works best for you (shifts are every other week). The 1st shift covers 6th grade lunch and the 2nd shift covers 7th/8th grade lunches.

Complete VIPS Approval
All school volunteers are required to be VIPS approved. Please complete your VIPS application using the same first and last name on your ID to expedite check-in at the front office.

For more information, email Maia Miley, School Store Director.

Renew/Join Membership Toolkit Today

The POMS PTO uses the Membership Toolkit platform across the board, so you'll need an account to receive the Charger Chatter e-newsletter, sign up to volunteer at POMS, shop the online School Store, join the PTO, and more.

It can all be found at our PTO website, pinoakpto.org.

All new and returning parents should Log in to update/confirm your information or sign up for an account if you're a new user. If you have used Membership Toolkit at another school, you may log in using your same account.

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 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.

💻 For questions, email communications@pinoakpto.org

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 e-newsletter and website recognition, banner display in a prominent location on campus, 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.

For details, please contact Adriana Cune, VP of Sponsorship.

Full Calendar

Monday, September 8

4:15p POMS Spanish Club

Wednesday, September 10

5:30p POMS Football v Black Middle School

Thursday, September 11

4:15p POMS NJHS Interest Meeting (7th and 8th Grade)

6:00p POMS Volleyball v Meyerland MS (7th grade AWAY)

7:00p POMS Volleyball v Meyerland MS (8th grade AWAY)

Saturday, September 13

POMS Volleyball Spikefest Tournament