Originally delivered on 8/16/2026 6:04 pm

SUBJECT: đź’™ Charger Chatter | First Week Back at Pin Oak

August 16, 2026

Principal's Post

Celebrating the First Week Back to School!


Dear Chargers and Charger Families,

Dr. Crowley shared her latest update with families on Friday, August 14, celebrating Pin Oak’s strong state accountability results and sharing information on Scheduling, Discovery Language, and Advanced Language Placement.  Her weekly communications are available through ParentSquare, and the Charger Chatter will include a direct link for easy access.

Read Dr. Crowley’s Update
POMS Bell Schedule

Sports – UIL & Club Sports

Volleyball tryouts begin this week for 7th and 8th grade girls.

Please arrive by 6:15 AM at the side gate to the Gym entrance. The gate will be closed and locked at 6:30 AM. No late admittance.

For questions:

7th Grade — Coach Bailee Jackson

8th Grade — Coach Erin Morris

Interested in joining the Pin Oak Tennis Club?

The Pin Oak Club Tennis Program is open to students in grades 6–8 of all skill levels and offers year-round training through 10-week sessions each semester, led by professional coaches from the JCC.

A lottery for available spots will be held on August 26. Please scan the QR code or complete this form to be entered into the lottery.

Questions? Contact Coach Stewart.

Upcoming Campus Events

Meeting link coming soon

POMS Open House is scheduled for Thursday, September 3, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

All Pin Oak parents are invited to meet our teachers and staff.

Parents will report straight to your Charger’s 1st period class. Parents are encouraged to take a picture of their student’s schedule on HISD Connect Parent Portal. You may also download the free PowerSchool app on your mobile phone and take a screenshot of the schedule.

Parents will follow their student’s schedules and have a brief opportunity to meet each of their teachers and hear about course expectations. The purpose of Open House is to put a face to the name, receive contact information, and provide an overview of the class content and expectations for the school year. This is not the time for parent/teacher conferences. If you have individual concerns about your student, please email his/her teacher or house administrator directly.

PTO NEWS

POMS School Store

Student Store Updates

A few reminders about school store policies and procedures:

  • The student store is open daily during student's lunch periods for students only. Parents may not come to shop in person during the lunch hour. 
  • Please have your student bring their receipt for refunds and exchanges.Exchanges are possible on items that have not been worn or washed.
  • We accept cash and physical credit cards in the store. Students may not use Apple Pay or other payment methods that require use of cellphones due to state law. 

The online store is currently OPEN.

Shop the POMS School Store 

  • YXL Strength and Conditioning Uniforms (8th grade only) are now in stock!
  • Polos in colors and sizes that have sold out or have low stock have been reordered and will be restocked shortly, as well as hoodie sweatshirts in currently sold out sizes.
  • If you place an online order and your student does not receive it within 3-5 business days then your order has an item that we are waiting for restock on. 
  • When your online order is ready your student's name will be called during their lunch period to come pick it up in the student store. 
  • Note that all items labeled Discontinued on the school store website will not be restocked after our current stock sells out. 
  • We have ordered new full zip sweatshirt hoodies to replace the full zip jackets. They should arrive in 4-6 weeks and we will post an update in Charger Chatter once they are available in-store and online.
  • The physical student store will be CLOSED Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (August 18-20) due to prohibitions on volunteers on campus during NWEA testing days. This means we will not be open for returns, exchanges or walk-in purchases these days. It also means we will have a delay in filling online orders placed during or immediately preceding these days.
  • Admin has been made aware that we are, at the moment, currently out of stock on multiple popular sizes of sweatshirts. 

Thank you for your patience during a busy uniform season!

Volunteers Still Needed in the School Store!

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. 

Sign Up to Volunteer

FOR ALL NEW VOLUNTEERS:  There will be 2 training sessions and ALL NEW volunteers must attend one training session. Training will take place at 10:45AM in the school store on Monday, August 17 and Monday, August 24. Please attend whichever day works for your schedule; you do not need to attend both.  

2026-2027 School Store Shifts

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.

Monday, August 24 - School Store opens on campus and volunteer shifts begin

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.

As always, feel free to reach out to us at schoolstore@pinoakpto.org.

Fun Food Friday is back!

Kick off the weekend with a campus favorite. This Friday, August 28, the PTO is serving up Chick-fil-A during all lunch periods.

Menu & Pricing

  • Chick-fil-A Sandwich: $6
  • Chips or Cookie: $1 each

Payment Details

  • Accepted:Cash and physical credit/debit cards only.
  • Please note: Phone/smartwatch payments are not accepted.

Send your student with cash or a physical card so they don't miss out!

Show Our Staff Some Snack Love

🍿 Snack Cart — Friday, August 21 | 1:30 PM


Our PTO volunteers are bringing the Sunshine Snack Cart to our teachers and staff each month as a small way to show our appreciation for everything they do for our students.

Shop the Sunshine Snack Cart Amazon Wish List

Items purchased from the wish list will be shipped directly to POMS.

If you would still like to donate items for the snack cart, but don’t want to go through Amazon, you can purchase any snacks, chips, soft drinks, sparkling water, or packaged treats you think the teachers would enjoy. Then just drop them off at the front desk, with a note or label saying “To Wynne Erickson, Snack Cart”.

For more information, please contact Wynne Erickson & Katie Wylie at activities@pinoakpto.org.

Kona Ice Friday!

Kona Ice will be at POMS after school on Friday, September 4. The Kona Ice truck will be parked on Glenmont Street by the crosswalk.

Please bring cash to purchase a treat. A cup of shaved ice is $5, $6, or $7, and 20% of proceeds benefits POMS.

Big Year. Big Memories. Be Part of It.

8th grade is a BIG year at Pin Oak, and it takes a village of mildly organized adults to make all the fun stuff happen! This year’s 8th Grade Committee is led by Jean Lee, Tricia Onufer and Cindy Wu, and we’re looking for parents to jump in.

We need volunteers in the following areas:

  • Promotion Parade and Picnic (PPP)
  • 8th Grade Field Trip
  • Homecoming Tailgate
  • Semi-Formal Dance
  • Breakfast

Each committee will have a chair(s) and volunteers. (And just to be clear, “chair” does not mean “do every single thing yourself.” It means rallying a team and helping keep everyone moving in the same general direction.)

No special experience required. You do not need to be a professional event planner, own a Cricut or have your life completely together. If you are willing and reliable, you’re qualified.

Come help us make their last year at Pin Oak one they’ll remember! To volunteer or ask questions, please contact 8thgradeactivities@pinoakpto.org.

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities

Partner with Pin Oak PTO: Corporate Sponsorships (make this it's own box and add blue behind it to save on space and ensure your email does not get cut off)

Corporate sponsors play a vital role in elevating the Pin Oak experience directly funding classroom grants, campus technology, curriculum enrichment, and staff appreciation.

Packages start at $1,500 and include high-visibility perks:

  • Campus banner placement
  • Logo and link on the Pin Oak PTO website
  • Dedicated recognition in this newsletter

How You Can Help

Whether you own a business or frequent a local favorite like your dentist, realtor, or neighborhood restaurant, a personal connection makes all the difference. An introduction from a parent carries far more weight than a cold email.

Interested in partnering with us or introducing a business?

For more information contact Mayra Marshall.  

Get Started: Click here!

FULL CALENDAR
Upcoming Events
Monday, August 17
6:15a Girls Volleyball Tryouts (8th Grade Only)
6:25a 1st Day of Football Practice
Tuesday, August 18
6:15a Girls Volleyball Tryouts (8th Grade Only)
Wednesday, August 19
6:15a Girls Volleyball Tryouts (7th Grade Only)
8:30a POMS NWEA BOY Math Assessment
Thursday, August 20
6:15a Girls Volleyball Tryouts (7th Grade Only)
8:30a POMS NWEA BOY Reading Assessment
Friday, August 21
6:15a Girls Volleyball Tryouts (7th Grade Only)
8:30a POMS NWEA BOY Science Assessment
1:30p POMS Snack Cart for Teachers & Staff
Monday, August 24
POMS School Store Opens
Thursday, August 27
8:45a POMS PTO Meeting (In Person)
Friday, August 28
POMS PTO Fall Grant Applications Due
11:30a POMS Chick-fil-A Friday
Thursday, September 3
4:00p POMS Faculty & Staff Dinner Provided by POMS PTO
5:00p POMS Open House
Friday, September 4
4:00p POMS Kona Ice Friday
Monday, September 7
POMS No Classes (Labor Day)
Tuesday, September 8
5:30p POMS Football vs. Lawson MS
Friday, September 11
POMS PTO Grant Review
We Appreciate Our Corporate Sponsors & Community Partners
AGENDA SPONSOR
CHARGER SPONSORS
RANGER SPONSORS
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