Rice Middle School eNews
Monday, July 31, 2017
Welcome Back!
2017-18 School Year Begins: School starts on Monday, August 21. The building opens each day for students at 7:50 and they are released to their classes at 8:15. During the school year, students can attend tutorials or go to the library prior to 8:15. If they are not attending a scheduled event during this time, 6th graders will be directed to the gym, and the 7th and 8th graders will be in the cafeteria until they are dismissed to go to class. The first class begins each day at 8:30 and school is dismissed at 3:30, please make sure you have (see Raven Walk-About above) pre-arranged a meeting place with your child! This could be a great summer activity!
Meet the Administration and Counseling Teams: The PTA will have a coffee and welcome event on the first day of school in the library at 10:30. We hope to see you then.
Stay Connected: We have many ways that you can stay connected with Rice Middle School. We have a Facebook page, Twitter account, Remind Updates, the Rice Website (under construction, hopefully released in July!) and the Rice eNews to name a few. Please make sure you follow/sign-up with one or all!
Hopefully this summarizes most of the important details. We hope the rest of your summer is relaxing! Get refreshed, and enjoy time with your family and friends, because school will be starting before you know it! We are looking forward to a great year!
Sincerely,
The Rice Administrative Team
Mr. Glasscock, Ms. Zimmerman, and Mrs. McCutchen
Table of Contents
2. New to Plano Student Registration: August 3, 4, and 7
3. Raven Walk-About
4. PTA News
5. Rice SBIC for 2017-18
6. PAYPAMs for the 2017-2018 School Year
7. Locker Information for 2017-2018 School Year
8. Make a Plan with your Child for Carpool Pickup?
9. Moving or Might Be Moving?
1. Schedule Orientation
Schedules will be released online on Thursday, August 10. Locker assignments will be included on the schedules. Students may come and visit the school, pick up school supplies, purchase spirit wear, walk their schedules, and set up their lockers during their assigned times on August 10.
To access your schedule, please make sure everything is up to date on Parent Portal and make sure your child is also up to date on the PISD Enrollment Criteria. All 7th graders need to have their shot records up to date and if your 7th or 8th grader is planning on being in Athletics, they will need a physical on record.
Schedule orientation will be as follows:
Thursday, August 10:
6th Grade: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
7th Grade: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
8th Grade: 8:00 am - 10:00 am
If you are out of town on this day, you can still access your child’s schedule and locker assignment online in Parent Portal and attend our Raven Walk-About the following week.
The Rice Middle School PTA will have The Famous Dumpling Bros. food truck and PopStar Popsicles on campus from 10:00-4:00. Cash and credit cards accepted, and part of the proceeds will be returned to the PTA to support campus initiatives. Come hungry and be ready to kick off a wonderful school year!
2. New to Plano Student Registration: August 3, 4, and 7.
Contact your grade level counselor for more information:
- Mrs. Jimenez, 6th Grade: 469-752-6016 or margaret.jimenez@pisd.edu
- Ms. Barshop, 7th Grade: 469-752-6018 or susan.barshop@pisd.edu
- Ms. Edwards, 8th Grade: 469-752-6017 or sarena.edwards@pisd.edu
Please note that if your child attended one of the Rice elementary feeder schools (Andrews, Skaggs, Wyatt), or Rice Middle School last school year, you do not have to set up an appointment to register. All information will be transferred magically through the power of technology. The same applies to those students who are transferring within Plano ISD.
3. Raven Walk-About:
On Tuesday, August 15 from 1:00 - 3:00, all students and parents are welcome to come to Rice for one last walk through before the start of the school year. Teachers will not be available, but you are welcome to put the finishing touches on lockers and ease your stress levels by wandering the hallways, finding classes, and practicing using a lock, one last time before August 21.
The Rice Middle School PTA will have the Easy Slider food truck and Kona Ice on campus from 12:30-2:30. Cash and credit cards accepted, and part of the proceeds will be returned to the PTA to support campus initiatives. We look forward to seeing you!
4. PTA News
A. Hawaiian Falls Tickets on Sale for PTA Back-to-School Splash on Aug. 5
Mark your calendar for the Plano PTAs’ Back-to-School Splash on Saturday, Aug. 5, at Hawaiian Falls – The Colony: 4400 Paige Road, The Colony 75056.
$5 from each ticket benefits Rice PTA. Please note that during the private party (6:30-9:30 pm), Rice PTA won't be sponsoring a cabana, but the proceeds from your tickets will still benefit our PTA.
Park opens: 10:30 am – use your admission ticket ALL DAY
Park re-opens for a PTA private party: 6:30-9:30 pm – use your wristband to re-enter
• $15 – Park admission
• $20 – Park admission with unlimited drink
• $25 – Park admission with unlimited drink and a walk up meal
• $10 – Coolers with non-commercial food
• Children under 2 years old – FREE
Fill out the order form at http://ricepta.org/wp-content/uploads/PlanoPTA_HA_Falls__2017_.pdf and don’t miss the fun!
B. Sign Up for AmazonSmile, Proceeds Benefit Rice PTA
Support Rice PTA by signing up for AmazonSmile. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to Rice PTA. It’s easy to use. Just select Rice PTA as your charitable organization on your first visit and you’re all set.
C. Don't Miss Chance to Order School Supplies, PE Uniforms
The Rice PTA is taking pre-orders for Spirit Wear for next year.
All will be available for pick up at Rice during Schedule Orientation, which will be on Aug. 10 for 6th grade from 2-4 p.m., 7th Grade from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and 8th Grade from 8-10 a.m.
5. Rice SBIC for 2017-18
The Rice administrative team is seeking volunteers willing to participate in the Site Based Improvement Committee, SBIC, for this school year. If you are interested, please email Sara McCutchen at sara.mccutchen@pisd.edu. The committee meets only three times per year, so the time required is minimal, but the impact is great! We need your voice as we continue to grow as a school community. We hope you will join us!
6. PAYPAMs for the 2017-2018 School Year
7. Locker Information for 2017-2018 School Year
Locker Information:
During Schedule Pick Up (Aug. 10th) and Raven Walk-About (Aug. 16th), please note the following:
- Locker assignments (and combinations) are made electronically and will be printed at the top of your schedule.
- If your locker combination is not working, please find an administrator to assist you.
- If you are seeking a locker change for any reason, you must complete a Locker Issue Form available in each pod and return it to the box outside Mrs. McCutchen’s office (across from the teacher mailboxes).
Regarding locker changes, to ensure everyone gets a locker:
- Mrs. McCutchen will work on locker change requests starting Aug. 11th.
- Priority will be given to those needing special placement of lockers due to health/safety concerns or those who cannot see or reach a top locker.
- Next, she will reassign any broken or non-functioning lockers.
- Once those are complete, she will look at the remaining requests and honor changes (for top lockers, different hallway, etc.) as lockers are available.
- Please don’t ask other Rice staff members (counselors, teachers, administrators) to change your locker. Requests must be made on the form, and changes will then be made accordingly in the computer system to avoid double-assignment of lockers.
- All changes will take effect each evening and can be seen if you reprint your schedule from Parent Portal the following day.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!
8. Make a Plan with your Child for Carpool Pickup?
There are two carpool lanes—in front and in back, along with the bus lane on Russell Creek. We do not release students after school like they do in elementary school--all students are allowed to leave out whatever exit they choose! We will be releasing the 6th graders a little early on the first day to help out.
9. Moving or Might Be Moving?
If you know you will be moving or withdrawing from Rice at the end of school or during the summer, please fill out an “ NEXT SCHOOL YEAR NOTIFICATION FORM” as soon as possible. The form is available in the counseling office and front office. Please remember, that if you later decide to stay in the Rice zone you always have a spot! Return to Mrs. Pinkston in the counseling office. Thank you.
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