Here’s what’s happening with the PTO — events, volunteer opportunities, and ways for students and families to get involved and stay connected. |
⚡Let’s Race! 💙 A Week of Free Dress for Everyone! Hey y’all! 51% school participation = a whole week of free dress for EVERYONE! 👀 Right now, we're at 16% participation — 215 out of 1,294 students. If you've been meaning to give, can we make today the day? You know how this goes. You open the email, someone needs something, dinner happens, and suddenly it's October 31. Give $1, $5, or whatever works for your family. Truly. You don't need to wait until you can make a big donation. For this challenge, participation is what matters! |
This week, hear directly from three of our teachers about the difference that support can make: 🎥 Mr. Dokes — Building Something That Lasts He built POMS Journalism from the ground up — with the PTO as an incredible partner every step of the way. 🎥 Mr. Fahey — Giving Every Instrument a Second Life
Thanks to a PTO grant, orchestra instruments were properly repaired so students can keep learning, playing, and growing through music. 🎥 Mr. Johnson — Opening Doors Through Language A PTO grant brought a new proficiency-based German book and digital access for every student — helping build a stronger path toward AP and IB German. Their stories are a powerful reminder that every contribution helps our teachers do more for our Chargers. |
And because one free dress challenge apparently isn't enough... 👀 We're wrapping up the campaign with TWO MORE CHANCES TO WIN! |
The race between grades is on! 6th, 7th, and 8th grade are competing to see who can raise the most by October 31. The winning grade gets an extra free dress day, including sweatpants and Crocs! 8th grade is currently leading, but there's still time to change that. Come on, 6th and 7th grade, are we really going to let them win this easily? |
And the Houses aren't sitting this one out either! The House with the most donations by October 31 wins one free dress day for its students. Three grades. Three Houses. Two more chances to win. A little friendly competition never hurt anyone! Three grades. Three Houses. Three more chances to win. Let’s Get Those Free Dress Days! 💙⚡ |
Questions? Reach out anytime at commitment@pinoakpto.org. Thank you for your generosity and for being committed to our school! |
💙 Show Your Charger Pride All Year Long! 🐎 Charger spirit lasts all year! Charger Cheer is offering a limited-edition, dress-code approved spirit shirt for just $20, available in cotton or dry fit. Perfect for Charger Day, game day, or cheering on our amazing Charger athletics! Students and parents are encouraged to grab a shirt and show their POMS pride! Shirts are in, with online ordering and distribution during lunch! Please Note: Adult sizes only. Adult XS fits similarly to Youth XL. All sales are final. No returns. 🐎💙 Proceeds benefit the POMS Cheer Fund. |
🎉 Let’s celebrate our Chargers! Know a Pin Oak student, teacher, staff member, or group who deserves a BIG SHOUT-OUT? We’re celebrating special accomplishments, acts of kindness, talents, milestones, and moments that make our Charger community special. Submit your BIG SHOUT-OUT here! All submissions are reviewed. Submission does not guarantee publication. |
The Heart Behind the Scenes: Ms. Ruiz A big shout out to Ms. Ruiz, Dr. Crowley’s assistant and the person we all turn to when we need an answer, a little help, or someone who knows how things actually work around here! She keeps everything in check, helps Dr. Crowley make it all look easy, and somehow does it with a smile. We suspect she’s a little like a duck: calm on the surface and paddling like crazy underneath! Ms. Ruiz, we know there’s so much you do that we never even see. Thank you for taking such good care of our school and the people in it. We love you and are so lucky to have you! |
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💙CHARGER CONNECTIONS with Dr. Crowley 💙 |
| 🎬 Meet Dr. Crowley! What makes Pin Oak special? What does Dr. Crowley enjoy outside of school? And what are her hopes for our Chargers this year? Get to know our principal a little better as she shares her perspective on our school, community, and the year ahead. ▶ Watch Dr. Crowley’s Interview |
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| POMS Yearbooks Are on Sale! Don't miss your chance to capture all the special moments of the school year! POMS Yearbooks are now available to order! From friendships and school events to unforgettable Charger memories, the yearbook is a keepsake your student will treasure for years to come. 8th Grade Families: Make your student's final year at POMS even more memorable with a personalized 8th Grade Ad! Celebrate their accomplishments, share a special message, and recognize this exciting milestone before they head off to high school. |
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POMS October General PTO Meeting General PTO Meeting Replay: Catch Up! Thank you to everyone who joined us for our General PTO Meeting on Friday, October 23. Couldn't make it? Catch up on the latest PTO updates and what's coming up in our Pin Oak community by watching the recording. 👉 Watch here the meeting recording |
| POMS Color Run: Let the Fun Begin! Get ready, Chargers! The POMS Color Run is Friday, November 13, during the school day, and ticket sales are officially open!Join the fun with music, friends, Kona Ice, a one-mile run or walk, and a colorful post-run party! Choose your Color Run experience: Color Thrower — $50: Throw color during the run. T-shirt included. Limited spots! Runner/Walker — $25: Complete the colorful course. T-shirt included. Spectator — $5: Cheer on your friends and join the Color Party. No T-shirt included.
Online ticket sales close November 10 at 11:59 PM. |
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💙 Volunteers Needed! Help with setup, color stations, course support, and more. All volunteers must be HISD VIPS approved. |
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. Complete VIPS Approval | Aprobación VIPS As a friendly reminder, all volunteers must follow HISD VIPS guidelines and allow school staff and administrators to handle interactions with students and parents without interference. |
Here’s what’s happening around Pin Oak — school events, athletics, student activities, and highlights from across our Charger community. |
❤️ Red Ribbon Week is Coming!
Get ready for Red Ribbon Week. Check out the daily themes above and join in. |
🍂 Challenge Fall Fest! 🍂 Challenge Early College HS invites POMS families to its annual Fall Fest on Friday, October 30, from 5:30–8:00 PM! Enjoy music, free games and activities, candy, and food for sale. Costumes are welcome! Admission: $7 for children and teens ages 18 and under. Adults enter free. Cash only. Location: 5601 West Loop South, Houston, TX 77081 |
Ready to Dive In? Join the Swim Team 🏊 Open to 7th & 8th grade boys and girls.
Coaches: Kerri Burris (Girls) and Jason Clayton (Boys).
Tryout details will be announced soon. Swimmers must have an updated 2026 sports physical and proof of insurance uploaded to Register My Athlete before tryouts. Practices begin in November:Tuesday–Thursday, 4:30–5:30 PM at Bellaire HS. Join the Swim Team on SportsYou using code 3T3D-XEN3 for team information. |
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| 🥍 Pin Oak Boys Lacrosse The Pin Oak Boys Lacrosse season is coming soon and we'd love your son to join us! It's a fun sport and a great team.We will have weekly practices, team dinners, and play against local middle school teams. The team is open to Pin Oak students only to ensure that's a fun, fair experience for all players. Players new to the sport are welcome! Interested? Please complete the interest form so we can gauge the level of interest and keep in touch for upcoming events: 👉 Pin Oak Boys Lacrosse Interest Form 2026–27 |
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Explore Pin Oak Clubs Looking for ways to get involved? Check out the 2026–27 Pin Oak clubs and student activities in Dr. Crowley’s latest newsletter.👉 View Club Information |
🐉 Charger Dungeons & Dragons Club We are excited to start a new adventure at Pin Oak Middle School with the Charger Dungeons & Dragons Club. The first meeting will be this Wednesday, October 28th, from 4:00-5:30pm in Room A109. After this meeting, the club will meet twice a month, beginning in December. Mr. Berry will serve as the club's faculty sponsor.To indicate your interest in joining and receive details about meetings, students should complete the form below: D&D Club Interest Form The club welcomes players of all experience levels who have an enthusiasm for tabletop roleplaying games. We ask that players draft an origin story for a character they might want to play and tell us why they are excited about playing Dungeons and Dragons. For questions, reach out to Stephen Kry. |
Welcome all POMS Families from The Living Library! The POMS Library is an award-winning center of reading, research, creativity, innovation, and relaxation that serves students of all fluencies and educational backgrounds. Our library program is built upon the engagement and agency of all types of readers (avid, occasional, struggling, reluctant) who keep it responsive and reflective of their voices, cultures, and feedback. Our Fall Family Flyer can be accessed here and contains links such as a virtual tour of every Nonfiction and Fiction section, instructions for downloading the Library App, newsletters, and more! |
Speaker Series / Calling all POMS Parents! Our 2026-2027 Speaker Series is about to begin in the POMS Library and we want YOU to share your career and educational journey with our students! STEM, the arts, law, business, real estate, fashion...our students love hearing about different careers! Why are you passionate about your field? What did you study in school to get to where you are? Was your path straight from school to present career or did you take several side routes? How has your occupation changed since you began? Fill out this form if interested and thank you for volunteering to share your voice! |
Partner with Pin Oak PTO 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! |
| Welcome Back, Houston Orthodontic Specialists!We're happy to welcome Houston Orthodontic Specialists in Bellaire back as a POMS PTO sponsor for the 2026–27 school year! Thank you to Dr. Vladimir Tabakman, Dr. Melissa Wadler-Bloome, and Dr. Keagan Foss for your continued support of our Pin Oak community. We're glad to have you back! Visit Houston Orthodontic Specialists |
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Be sure to check Dr. Crowley’s latest ParentSquare newsletter for this week’s school news and important reminders. |
New to ParentSquare? Your account is automatically created for custodial guardians listed in PowerSchool. View the ParentSquare Quick Guide (English & Spanish) Sign in using the same email address or phone number listed in PowerSchool, or download the ParentSquare app for easier access. Sign in to ParentSquare |
Whether your family is looking ahead to high school or knows a prospective future Charger, here are a few campus tour opportunities to keep on your radar. For 8th Grade Families For Prospective Pin Oak Families |
Parent Resources & Helpful Links |
Calendar Events | | Monday, October 26 | | | Tuesday, October 27 | | | | Wednesday, October 28 | | | Thursday, October 29 | | | | Friday, October 30 | | | | | Wednesday, November 4 | | | Friday, November 6 | | | Thursday, November 12 | | | Friday, November 13 | | | Wednesday, November 18 | | | Thursday, November 19 | | | Friday, November 20 | | | | | Monday, November 23 | | | Tuesday, November 24 | |
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS & COMMUNITY PARTNERS |
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