Extracurriculars - Pin Oak Middle School

About the Program

Welcome to the Pin Oak Chargers Cheer Team page! We are glad you visited. As a Cheer Team, our vision is to assemble a team of high-spirited athletes who excel at cheerleading, uphold the values of Pin Oak Middle School, and are ambassadors to the school among their peers and within our community.

Our team includes cheerful and talented athletes who are in 7th and 8th grade. We cheer, tumble, jump, and wow our fans wherever we perform!

We cheer at home 7th and 8th-grade football, volleyball, and basketball games for both boys and girls. We also cheer at one home game each for softball, baseball, and boys' and girls' soccer. During the spring semester, we host a Cheerleader for a Day Clinic. At the clinic, the POMS Cheer Team teaches dances, cheers, and chants to clinic participants. This is a great way for the team to demonstrate their leadership skills and give back to the community. Any funds raised contribute to the school athletic fund.

Tryouts, which are open to all 6th and 7th graders who maintain good grades and good conduct, are held annually in mid-April. Charlie the Charger mascot tryouts are held at the same time.

For additional information about the Pin Oak Middle School Cheer Team, please contact our sponsor, Ms. Cordero jonahira.cordero@houstonisd.org .

Go Chargers!

Dungeons & Dragons

About the Club

The Pin Oak Dungeons and Dragons Club is a group of students who meet twice a month to play the tabletop role playing game Dungeons and Dragons (D&D). D&D is a game of collective storytelling based in a fantasy setting. Expect an hour and a half of sitting at table together engaged in collective storytelling. Students may join by submitting an application at the beginning of the school year.

Club Sponsor: Mr. Kyle Verret | kyleverret@gmail.com

Meeting Days / Times

We meet two Wednesdays a month (usually the first and third Wednesday, but that may be changed based on adult sponsor availability). We meet right after school from 4:00pm to 5:30pm.

Laws of the Realm (Charger D&D Club Rules)

We treat other players as we want to be treated.
We will follow the Pin Oak Student Code of Conduct in our gameplay.
We know that joining the club is a commitment to other players.
We know that joining the club is a commitment to attending club meetings.
We are here to play Dungeons & Dragons, stretch our imaginations like dragon wings, and make friends closer than our characters will be. We will stay engaged in D&D gameplay during our time together.
We will come to club meetings with our printed character sheets and pencils.
The characters we play will be Good or Neutral; we will leave the Evil to NPCs.
Costume dress (over your POMS uniform) is welcome and encouraged during club meetings, especially if it matches your character.
We will leave our electronic devices in our bags unless absolutely necessary to temporarily help with gameplay; afterward, we will put them away.
We understand that if we do not follow these rules, we might not be invited back.

Learn more about Dungeons & Dragons at these links:

Japanese Club

About the Club

The purpose of the Japanese Club is to give students the opportunity to learn about and experience different aspects of Japanese culture. Each week, we cover a range of topics, including language, history, pop culture (such as music), and food! Students will also have the chance to participate in Charger Fest, either as performers learning Japanese pop dances or as helpers at tables featuring trivia, displays, and other mini projects.

Club Sponsor: Ms. Fiona Yeung | Fiona.Yeung@houstonisd.org

Meeting Days / Times

Thursdays after school from 4:15pm - 5:00pm.

Club Activities

Club activities vary by meeting and topic, and they can include:

Trying Japanese treats and writing reviews.
Creating playlists of Japanese songs chosen by students.
Arts and crafts, depending on the holiday.

Odyssey of the Mind

About the Club

Odyssey of the Mind (OM™) teaches students how to develop and use their natural creativity to become problem-solvers. Odyssey of the Mind is a club that challenges students to think critically, collaborate, and innovate. Members work in teams to solve complex, open-ended problems in unique and imaginative ways, incorporating elements of engineering, storytelling, design, and performance.

Club Sponsor: Theresa Orsburn | theresa.orsburn@houstonisd.org

Meeting Days / Times

4th period

Application Requirements

Participation for the 2025-2026 school year is by schedule request at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

Important Dates

2025-2026 Dates TBD

Club Achievements

The Technical Problem team placed 1st in the state in 2024 and advanced to the World Competition.
The Performance Team and the Vehicle Team both advanced to the State Competition in 2024.

Links / Resources

Name That Book

Meeting Days / Times

Initially, we meet once a month. As the competition approaches, we meet bi-monthly and then weekly.

Application Requirements

An interest form is attached to an announcement on Canvas and social media in late spring or early fall.

Club Activities

During meetings held either during Team Time or after school, students contribute quotes from any book they have read from the competition list.

Club Officers

Liba Sigel, Elena Peng, & Joude Khraibani

Club Achievements

1st Place, Spring 2025 - District MS Winners!

2nd Place, Spring 2024

National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)

About the Club

The National Junior Honor Society at Pin Oak Middle School prides itself on fostering a community of high achievers and leaders among our 7th and 8th graders. While in the club, students complete community-focused volunteer hours while maintaining admirable academic averages. Members develop and strive to fulfill the five pillars of NJHS: character, citizenship, service, scholarship, and leadership. NJHS is led by a team of four student officers who conduct meetings and organize discussions on developing leadership skills tailored to Pin Oak Middle School.

Club Sponsor: Presley Girard | presley.mcclendon@houstonisd.org

Application Requirements

During September, an application form was shared with students, accompanied by an interest meeting. Students complete a form and request two teachers to submit recommendations on their behalf. All applications are reviewed by a team of educators and then assessed individually based on merit.

If chosen as a member, students will commit to the following:

Maintain an average of 93 in core classes and an 'E' in conduct.
Participate in all NJHS meetings (held once a month after school).
Complete 20 hours of individual community service.
Participate in the NJHS Chapter community service project.
Demonstrate leadership, good citizenship, and character at Pin Oak Middle School and in the community.

Club Activities

Students volunteer in various activities, such as Charger Camp, Charger Fest, school festivals, school competitions, and many others.
Students develop the five pillars of NJHS through targeted discussions and practical activities during meetings.

Technology Student Association (TSA)

About the Club

The Technology Student Association (TSA) at Pin Oak Middle School is a national, student-led organization dedicated to promoting technological literacy and leadership skills through hands-on projects, competitions, and collaboration. TSA provides students with opportunities to explore various fields of technology, including engineering, computer science, digital design, and more. Members develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills while also preparing for careers in STEM.

As Houstonians, we are part of the Space City TSA which operates in and around the Houston area. Our member chapters come from public, private, and charter schools in Alvin, Freeport, Houston, Lake Jackson, Manvel, Pearland, and Sugar Land.

You can access the official Pin Oak TSA website at pinoaktsa.com.

Club Sponsor: Mrs. Brandi Martinez | brandi.martinez@houstonisd.org

Important Dates

2025-2026 Dates TBD

Application Requirements

Students interested in joining TSA should have a passion for technology and a desire to participate in competitions. No prior experience is necessary, but students must be enrolled in either Principles of Information Technology or Fundamentals of Computer Science to apply. Prospective members can sign up for an interview at the first meeting or email Mrs. Martinez for more information. There may be a small membership fee to cover competition materials.

Club Activities

TSA members participate in a wide range of activities, including:

Designing and programming robots
Building websites and apps
Engaging in STEM-related projects
Preparing for local, regional, and national TSA competitions
Learning leadership and communication skills
Volunteering at school and community events

Club Officers

President :
Vice-President:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Reporter:
Seargent-at-Arms:

Space City TSA Club Achievements in 2023

Regional TSA Champions for Robotics and Engineering Design (2023)
Top 10 State Finalists in Video Game Design (2023)