Rice Middle School eNews
Monday, December 9, 2019
PTA News
During the week of December 9, Rice PTA is sponsoring Keep it Calm week to encourage our students to relax and de-stress prior to final exams. Activities this week are designed to promote relaxation, enjoyment and support for our students social and mental health.
Monday: Healthy Body, Healthy Mind
- Walk or bike to school
- PE programs will be practicing yoga
- Celebrate "no homework" night at our Pack the Gym basketball game at 6 pm in the Rice Gym
Tuesday: StarBOOKS - Read and Relax
- Free hot cocoa in the rotunda from 7:45-8:10 am
- Visit the library and find a quiet reading nook
- Staff will enjoy their own beverages and reading station in the teachers' lounge throughout
the day
Wednesday: Music Day - Celebrate Your Unique Rhythm
- Band, orchestra, and choir will perform in the school throughout the day
- Music will be played during the day
- PE programs will have a dance party
Thursday: Random Acts of Kindness Day
- Take a picture at the "Be the I in Kind" banner
- A thank you note station will be available so that students can recognize teachers/staff
- Bring in donations for Christmas Cops Toy and Food Drive and/or the MSA Food Bank collections
Friday: Sleep Away the Stress
- Wear your pajamas to school
- Encourage students to go to bed early
- Students will enjoy a wide variety of wellness themed activities during Block Lunch
Absences & Exam Week
With the end of the first semester fast approaching, many of you have already begun to make plans for Winter Break.
December 17th - 20th, the 7th & 8th graders will be taking semester exams, and 6th graders will take a Math test. Please consider this as you make travel arrangements.
Keep in mind that it is important for students to be at school during exam week. If you know that your child will be out during this time, please contact your child's counselor as soon as possible. Also, have your child pick up an Absence Request Form from the Front office, and once completed, he or she should submit it to the main office.
Winter Choir Concert
Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 10th is our annual Rice Choir Concert. There will be over 270 kids singing and some of our amazing Orchestra and Band students are featured in a few of the songs!
Where: United Methodist Church
6601 CUSTER ROAD, PLANO, TX 75023
When: 7:00 pm
Who: Anyone is welcome!
Hope you can join us for this special event!
MLK Diversity Contest: Rice Results
Rice has semi-finalists, finalists, and an overall district winner of the MLK Diversity Contest. This year’s theme being PISD Proud!
- Cody Huang- Semi-finalist
- Eesha Gundam- Semi-finalist
- Hallie Wang- Finalist
Hallie Wang advanced to the final round to win against all the other finalists of the other grade levels and was the overall winner! This means she won against high school and senior high students!
The finalists will be recognized, and all this work will be hung at the Pop-up gallery during the Diversity Celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the evening of January 23rd at Williams High School. Afterwards the work will be hung at Cox building from January 27 to Feb 18th.
So proud of our amazing Rice artists and Miss Lin for their accomplishments!
RMS 5th Annual Festivus, December 16th-20th
Attention 8th grade Parents:
Attached you will find information on the three high school Academy Programs. If your child is interested in applying for the Health Science Academy, IB Academy or Academy High School, please pay attention to the parent information meeting dates. All needed information about the application process can be found in the attachment and hard copies are available in the front office and counseling office. If you have additional questions, please contact the counseling office.
Important Application Dates
- November 22, 2019 (Applications open)
- December 18, 2019 (Applications close)
- January 10, 2020 after 3:30 p.m. (Notice of selection)
- January 17, 2020 by 9:00 p.m. (Commitment from student)
Plano Police Association Christmas Cops Program
We are proud to announce that the Rice MS Student Council has partnered with the Plano Police Association Christmas Cops program. Christmas Cops is a non-profit organization comprised of police officers and volunteers who assist with some of our less fortunate Plano families during the holiday season.
The Plano Police Association Christmas Cops program began in 1984 during the holiday season by a handful of compassionate Plano Police Officers. These men and women saw a tremendous need in the community and knew they could make a difference—and the Christmas Cops story began. Large boxes are placed at local businesses, and now our school, to collect children’s toys, coats, non-perishable food items, and miscellaneous household items. Shortly before Christmas, our Officers and Santa’s Helpers will make deliveries to the families in need.
The Christmas Cops toy and clothing drive will begin at Rice on Monday, November 11th and end on Friday, December 13th. The organizers of the Christmas Cops program have requested our assistance with donations specifically for middle school age children. Examples may include clothing items, clothing accessories (e.g., belts, wallets, purses, etc.), toiletries items (e.g., cologne, perfume, deodorant, makeup kits, etc), age appropriate board games, arts and craft or science kits. Please donate anything you think a preteen would love to have as a gift for the holiday.
For more information about Christmas Cops please visit https://planopa.org/christmas-cops/christmas-cops-about-us. If you have a specific question not answered by the website, feel free to email our School Resource Officer, Tyrone More at Tyrone.More@pisd.edu.
Remember, Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much!
Flu Prevention and Exclusion Policy
The flu season is approaching to us. The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine every year, as soon as it is available. Flu vaccine is recommended for anyone over the age of 6 months (except for individuals with medical contraindications).
Other forms of prevention include proper hand washing, use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and staying away from sick individuals.
*School Exclusion Policy related to the flu - Children with fever ( temperature 100 degree Fahrenheit or higher), or any condition that presents with fever, vomiting, diarrhea are required to be excluded from school until they are fever/symptom-free for 24 hours, without the use of medication.
*Attached is more information about the flu and cold vs. flu.
MSA Food Bank
MSA is contributing to the already existing Food Bank at IACC, which serves around 80 families a week. MSA is collecting non-perishable food items, hygiene, and cleaning supplies all year round. There is a box in the rotunda. Please consider donating generously to help someone in need.
Half Gallon Milk Cartons & Paper Shopping bags
MSA is collecting shopping paper bags (clean and folded) for the local IACC food bank which serves around 50-70 families every Saturday. We will collect all year round.
We have a box in our recycling center (picture attached) or send to Room 817.
Thank you
Rice Upcoming Events for Next Two Weeks!
Monday, December 9
- 8th Grade Boys Bball Game - 6:00 pm - Rice Gym - PACK THE GYM
- 8th Grade Girls Bball Game - 6:00 pm - Otto Gym
Tuesday, December 10
- Choir Winter Concert - 6:30 - Custer Road UMC
Wednesday, December 11
- Orchestra Winter Concert - 6:00 pm - Rice Gym
Thursday, December 12
- 7th Grade Boys Bball Game - 6:00 pm - Rice Gym
- 7th Grade Girls Bball Game - 6:00 pm - Otto Gym
Friday, December 13
- Band Winter Concert - 6:30 - Plano West Senior High School
Saturday, December 14
- Speech Tournament - Haggard Middle School
Helpful Links!
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