***Please make sure to read to the very end of the newsletter. New information, volunteer opportunities, spirit events and more***
***Important Upcoming Dates***
April 30th Thursday - Lanier Pops Words and Music Concert 6:00pm Lanier Auditorium
May 1st Friday - Lanier Dance Chick-fil-a Spirit Night 5:30pm-7:30pm 59/Kirby location
May 4th Monday - Parlez with the Principal (see flyer below)
May 5th Tuesday - Piano Spring Recital 6:00pm Lanier Auditorium
May 6th Wednesday - Kendra Scott Spirit Night 5:00pm - 7:00pm
May 9th Saturday - Incoming 6th Grade Open House 9:00am - 12:00pm
May 12th Tuesday - Lanier Choir POP Show 6:00pm Lanier Auditorium
May 13th Wednesday - Lanier Band Spring Concert 6:00pm Lanier Auditorium
May 14th Thursday - Orchestra Spring Concert (All 4 groups Preform) 6:00pm Lanier Auditorium
May 15th Friday - Parent Coffee
May 16th Saturday - 8th Grade Dance 6:00pm - 9:00pm
May 17th Sunday - Centennial Open House 1:00pm - 3:00pm Lanier Middle School
May 23rd Saturday - International Peace Festival
May 28th Thursday - General PTO Meeting
May 29th Friday - 8th grade Field Day Celebration
Important STAAR Testing Days and High School Credit Testing Days
STAAR
Math Grades 6–8 & Algebra I: April 28 (Tuesday)
High School Credit Testing Days
Tuesday May 26th
Wednesday May 27th
High School Credit Classes Your Child May Have:
Algebra 1 (Murali, Gamit) Geometry (Gamit) IPC (Saad, Bano) Spanish (Cantu, Castillo) French (Prehu) Mandarin (Lun) Principles of Information Technology (Mann) Principles of Applied Engineering (Migala) Debate (Hill) Journalism 1 (Thelander) Student Leadership (Marshall) Art 1 (Dalglish)
Lanier Fun Fact
More photos of years past!!! Pictured below is a 1951 photo collage of the students who made the Houston Post Junior High All-City Football Team.
Steve Spencer and Ed Butler represented Lanier that year.
If you know anyone who attended Lanier and would like to share any memorabilia, please have them email purplepage@lanierpto.org
It is so fun being able to share these memories with the Lanier community.
Lanier Spotlight
Mr. Braziel
Mr. Braziel is new to the Lanier campus. He is the Assistant Office Manager. He will be handling primarily front office and administration support. Right now, you will find him at the front desk along with Ms. Carter. This has been his first week at Lanier, so he is learning the ins and outs of campus and getting to know families and students.
Mr. Braziel has been with HISD for 24 years all in an office manager role. He is originally from Houston. He attended the University of Houston and has a degree in business.
He is married and has 3 lovely children. His oldest son is a 1st year teacher. His middle son is a senior at Texas State and his daughter, the baby of the family, is a sophomore at the University of Houston. Mr. Braziel enjoys both playing and watching sports. He loves to cheer on the Houston Texans and the Rockets.
He has a passion for service and enjoys helping. Mr. Braziel is a wonderful addition to the Lanier family. If you see him on campus, please reach out and make him feel welcomed.
What's Going on in the Halls?
Lanier's Mandarin Chinese students have created Peking Opera face masks showing knowledge of colors and meanings.
Interested in being on the Lanier PTO Executive Board?
Please consider donating to the Teacher Appreciation Fund. We have a week of food, fun and relaxation for our Lanier Staff. We can not make these special treats possible without your support.
Lanier Middle School’s Odyssey of the Mind team has proudly earned the title of Texas State Champion and is advancing to compete at the World Finals in Iowa this May. This incredible team of seven dedicated eighth-grade students has worked tirelessly, showcasing creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills at the highest level.
As they prepare to represent our community on the world stage, they need your support. Travel expenses for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity are significant, and we are seeking financial assistance to help cover the costs. Any contribution will make a meaningful difference in helping these students reach Iowa and compete against teams from around the globe.
Thank you for supporting our students as they take this exciting next step! Click the link below to donate.
Campaign: "Lanier Middle School - Odyssey World Finals" on FreeFunder
Lanier Chess Team Takes 2nd Place at the Annual 2026 T.H. Rogers Tournament
The Annual 2026 T.H. Rogers Chess Tournament had 533 students from across the Greater Houston Area competing.
Lanier Middle School stood out and earned the 2nd Place team trophy among 93 competing schools.
We are so proud of our Pups and their individual achievements in their sections:
Martin Wang (G7, 1st place)
Jasper Foster (G7, 2nd place)
Siyona Adhikary (G7, 1st place)
Anwita Kapat (G6, 1st place)
Kase DeSalvo (G8, 1st place)
Nicholas Karamanian (G8)
Samuel Chiang (G7)
Hasan Purnak (G8)
Brooks Gurley (G6)
Shaurya Rungta (G6)
Congratulations to all team members on this impressive achievement!
8th Grade History Tutorials
8th grade History teachers are at it again, going above and beyond to get students ready for the STAAR Test.
This past Saturday was the last history tutorials. Students did a Colony Escape Room. They had to solve puzzles in order to find the clues. They were given artifacts once they solved a clue to determine where the treasure was buried. After the escape room, students made Civil War Stew with pretzels, candy, and cookies. Lastly students used looping cards where they had to put themselves in order of the question and the correct answer.
Lanier UIL A+ Academics are District Champs. Lanier took 1st place at the district meet held on April 11th.
Lanier is proud to announce a new partnership with Girls Think Pink. Through this collaboration, the organization will provide feminine hygiene products and helpful health information for our students to ensure they have the resources they need to succeed.
Features a family-friendly movie along with engaging activities like crafts, LEGO building, and more.
Yoga For Youngsters
Every 3rd Saturday of the month @ 2 pm - 3 pm
This event combines storytime with beginner-friendly yoga, making it the perfect way to build body awareness, balance, and relaxation in a welcoming environment.
Adult Programming
Read & Relax Party
Every 3rd Saturday of the month @ 2 pm - 3 pm
This event is all about slowing down and savoring a good read in a cozy setting. Enjoy soft music and the company of fellow book lovers. No discussion required—just bring a book, relax, and enjoy a peaceful reading space.
Make Something Craft Something
Every 2nd Thursday of the month from 2:30 pm-3:30 pm
A monthly program designed for adults. Whether you're a seasoned crafter or just looking for a fun way to express yourself, this event offers everything you need to create amazing art projects and more. All supplies and craft materials are provided, just bring your imagination!
Yearbook Signing Parties
We still have spots available for purchase!!!! See below.
The uniform store will be closing for the school year on May 18th. We will be notifying families again to pick up their orders. Since we do not offer refunds, any unclaimed orders will be considered a donation to the PTO.
Special Offer From Minted
If you need graduation invites, thank you cards or more, take a look at Minted and help Lanier at the same time.
Safety is of the utmost importance at Lanier. When requesting entrance into the school please press the button and state the reason for your visit.
Please DO NOT hold the door open for other guests to enter. They must be let in one at a time by pressing the button and stating the reason for their visit.
When you enter the building please close the door behind you.
When LEAVING the building, please close the door behind you. Please DO NOT let the door close freely as to let others grab the door to enter without being let in by proper methods.
The above reminders are for the safety of everyone on campus. We understand the need to visit campus and want visitors to feel welcomed and safe.
Forgotten lunches must be dropped off before 10:00am
Please have Proper ID ready when picking up students. It is a requirement.
Doors open at 7:45am
ADA time for attendance is 10:15am
If you have a change in your student's transportation for the day, please call the school before 2:45pm to allow time to get the student the correct information.
To see an administrator please email them to make an appointment. With daily schedules they are not always readily available to meet at a moment's notice.
Please Read - New Information
Support Lanier Robotics Teams Going to Worlds!
We are proud to share that Lanier Middle School Robotics teams have qualified for the VEX IQ World Championship!
Our students have worked incredibly hard and are now raising funds to help cover competition expenses.
Upcoming Fundraising Events:
Teahouse Spirit Day – Friday, April 24
Chick-fil-A Spirit Night – Friday, April 24 from 5:00–7:00 pm
Día del Niño Fundraiser at PlazAmericas – Sunday, April 26 from 1:00–5:00 pm
For all events please mention “Lanier Robotics Club” when ordering so your purchase counts toward our fundraiser.
Every contribution makes a difference, and we truly appreciate you sharing this information with your friends and family to help spread the word!
Gordon Education Launches 2026 Summer Filmmaking Camps
Gordon Education is excited to announce its 2026 Summer Film Camps, offering four immersive programs for young creatives aged 9 to 17. Each filmmaking camp focuses on a different genre:
Historical, Changemakers, Documentary, and Narrative Fiction, allowing aspiring filmmakers to explore the art of cinema from multiple perspectives while developing their own voice. All camps offer a range of experiences from production to on-camera acting, and conclude with a red-carpet film premiere for family and friends. Prior experience is not required to enroll in any filmmaking camp.
Emerging filmmakers create an original time-traveling movie set on the historic grounds of the Heritage Society. Campers are mentored by professional filmmakers, community leaders, and professional storytellers. After a successful 2025 launch, Gordon Education is thrilled to be back in partnership with The Heritage Society to produce a one-of-a-kind film that uncovers Houston’s fascinating history.
Inspired by global social justice leaders showcased at the Eternal Gandhi Museum, campers create their own narrative film about the footprint they want to leave on this planet. Special guests include inspiring young Houston artists, poets, and peace activists. Campers visit Houston’s own Eternal Gandhi Museum.
June 29-July 10 at St. Paul’s School (No camp on July 3)
Houston teens collaborate on a documentary examining gun violence as a national public health crisis through interviews with individuals personally affected, those in rehabilitation, and those actively working to make the community safer. In partnership with the nonprofit BYkids, this project gives Houston youth a powerful platform to present solutions and spark national change. Includes guest speakers and field trips in the Houston community. Select footage from this camp will be featured in a national PBS film.
Young storytellers unleash their wildest creative visions in this story-driven filmmaking camp. Whether their movie is set in outer space or under the sea, campers have full artistic license to bring their unique ideas to the screen. Together, they will write, film, direct, and act in an original production, using the "Hero’s Journey" as a roadmap to learn the essentials of storytelling. Camp Leaders are Dan Gordon and Bri Guerrero. Dan Gordon is a documentary filmmaker, director of Gordon education, and brings 20 years experience as an arts educator in Houston and NYC. Bri Guerrero is a professional Film Art Director in Houston bringing her design expertise to many local projects. Bri has been teaching with Gordon Education in schools and summer camps since 2023.
Space is limited, and scholarships are available. More information can be found at:
Founded in 2014, Gordon Education is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young voices through the art of filmmaking. The organization has produced Take the Stage, a bilingual PBS Learning Media series, a national PBS documentary on Indian classical dance, and a music video promoting library access. and has been teaching film workshops in schools, museums, and juvenile justice centers across Houston and NYC. Learn more at www.gordoneducation.org
Lanier MS Student and Family Handbook
If you have questions, please consider looking through the handbook. Lots of answers found here!!!
Family Handbook
We are pleased to share the 2025-2026 Lanier MS student and family handbook. This handbook serves to provide a normed resource for all Lanier MS stakeholders to reference for answers and information about some of the most common, but essential questions and areas of interest. While this is not an exhaustive document nor does it supersede HISD board policy, state, and federal education laws we hope you find it helpful and informative as you navigate your journey as a Purple Pup.
Lanier now has its very own textile recycling bin!
Green City Recycler is dedicated to keeping textiles out of landfills and giving them a second life.
Here’s how it works: For every pound of textiles donated by the Lanier community, the school earns 10 cents. That may not sound like much, but those small amounts really add up!
So, if you have any textiles (clothes, shoes, linens, etc.) that aren’t in good enough condition to donate elsewhere, don’t toss them, recycle them in the bin! Every item helps the environment and supports our school.
Bin location: Next to the bus entrance on Harold Street.
Please consider donating something from our wonderful teachers Amazon wishlists.
As always tissues and pencils are greatly appreciated too. You can drop them off at the front desk with the cluster and/or teacher you are giving them to.
We have kicked off the 2025/26 Raise Your Paws for a Cause Annual Fund Campaign
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, Lanier continues to reach new heights. We’re proud to recognize the following corporate sponsors for their outstanding commitment to our school.
Ready to make a difference? Join our growing network of sponsors and help shape the future at Lanier.
The Lanier Middle School PTO publishes this weekly newsletter (The Purple Page) during the school year. Deadline for submission in the Purple Page is Wednesday at 5:00pm.
It is the responsibility of the coaches, sponsors, teachers, parents or team members of an event or activity to submit information to the Purple Page editor.
With so many competitions, performances, club happenings and sports events we rely on submissions.
We want to showcase Lanier students, teachers and staff in all they do.
