Rice Middle School eNews
Tuesday, April 16. 2019
End of Year Planning & Semester Exams
Please be aware of our end of year calendar when making travel arrangements. The last day of school is May 24th and finals are given May 21st-24th. STAAR and End of Course Exams will take place from May 7th-17th. Due to State testing, students will be unable to take their exams early. Students will need to be present during part or all of the week of May 20th in order to complete their school year. We appreciate your understanding and support in making your child's school year successful!
Carter Bloodcare Wants to Express Its Thanks!
On Friday, Carter Bloodcare saw a total of 24 donors and collected 20 whole blood units from Rice staff and community volunteers.
Those units it collected will soon be transfused to patients in need throughout our service area. Since each donation will impact 3 patients, over 60 lives were touched by Rice staff and community members' donations. Giving blood is a meaningful way to show your support and also touch the lives of others in need. Carter Bloodcare wants to thank everyone for his or her continued support!
8th Grade Celebration and Student/Staff Games
The 8th Grade Volleyball and Basketball student vs. staff games will take place after school on Friday, May 10th.
PWSH Class of 2023 T-shirts
If you would like to order the t-shirt pictured on the left for the PWSH Class of 2023, please send in the information at the bottom of this page with $5 cash. Orders will be collected in the front office.
Shirts will be handed out at the 8th grade celebration.
Orders must be received by Tuesday, April 23!
STAAR Testing Continues in May!
Please keep these dates in mind as you are making plans. If your child has an appointment on any of the testing days that affects him or her, please try to change the appointment.
STAAR Testing Dates:
- May 7th: Algebra 1 EOC
- May 13th: 6th & 7th Grade Math & 8th Grade Science
- May 14th: 6th & 7th Grade Reading & 8th Grade Social Studies
May 15th: STAAR Math 8 Retest
May 16th: STAAR Reading 8 Retest
*The adjusted schedules for those days will be sent out when testing nears.
A few reminders about testing days:
- Students should NOT attend school on a testing day if they are sick. Please follow the district guidelines for illness and keep your child home, if needed.
- Students are expected to follow the dress code, even on testing days. Pajama bottoms, slippers, etc. are not acceptable. Pillows and blankets are also not allowed into the testing room.
- Students are not allowed to have electronic devices in the testing room. This includes cell phones, smartwatches, earpods, and e-readers, such as Kindles and Nooks.
- Students are encouraged to bring a hardback or paperback book with them on the day of testing.
- We will have make-up testing days after each test.
- Campus will be closed on each testing day.
Please contact the Rice Counseling if you have any questions: 469-752-6015
Attention Valued Parents of Students with Disabilities
The special education program is exploring ways to increase communication, training, and involvement opportunities for families of students with disabilities, and it needs your input. We encourage you to give us your voice by answering the thirteen (13) questions in this survey. We value parent input and want to know how the special education program is doing towards meeting you and your child's needs. Please click the link below that corresponds to your language of preference and complete the survey by Friday, April 26th.
English Version
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FmUyb5HJj1UBDzVdeg9Q0jXYyjKQpHPKH_oPc_6ESyU/edit
Spanish Translation
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1vGSka3qCciZyocnCaimD5BNIQ8KIYck4z6UV0KLnTjs/edit
Arabic Translation
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16sDRRb1inr-Iwl_YiHIrDFFnYc4h9BU21ZUm8cSScBg/edit
Chinese Translation
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-Wbw7vIQjqHVI8Ye9jgEcmO0G4JIaza-a0W1ue15mDo/edit
Vietnamese Translation
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18St2VVRk4xh5s5lkTEodvcNrHRI5Ww615cO2KddqWrY/edit
Telugu Translation
Hindi Translation
Urdu Translation
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HnW1Fpc_hY1gfX6i6GWY-dQVbOkFuywNf_5sGAHlnxU/edit
Attention Parents of 6th Graders
Please read the three forms linked below regarding some upcoming “testing” that will be taking place during your child’s PE class.
The Unofficial Guide to Jasper High School
On Wednesday, May 1st at 11:00 a.m. in the Jasper presentation room, room 1100, Jasper High School principal, Dr. Endsley, will lead a presentation to incoming 9th grade parents about the behind-the-scenes need-to-knows to help set up each student for success as a freshman. The presentation will include an opportunity to get to know Dr. Endsley, including his values and vision for leading Jasper High School. Time will also be spent on the culture of Jasper, what a typical day and week looks like, demands and expectations of high school, and how to get connected early. Parents often leave this presentation saying, "Every high school parent needs to hear this!" We hope to see you there!
Rice Middle School PTA Scholarship
Rice Middle School PTA offer a scholarship to graduating high school seniors in Plano ISD who will be enrolled and attending full-time in an accredited college or university or a technical institute in the summer or fall semester immediately following the applicant’s high school graduation.
During 2018-2019 school year, Rice Middle School PTA offer one scholarship of $500. To learn more about this scholarship, please click on the link below.
PTA News
A. Rice PTA 2019-2020 Board, Chairs, and Coordinators Needed!
Would you like to get more involved in your child's school, get to know other parents and staff, and use your time and talents to enrich our Rice community? Rice PTA is already hard at work to ensure that next year is a great one, and we need YOUR HELP to make it a success! We are looking for parents to serve in the following positions:
- Treasurer
- Communications Chair
- Council Delegate
- SAGE Chair
- Legislative Chair
- Teacher Appreciation Chair
- Hospitality Chair
- Reflections Art Contest Coordinator
- 8th Grade Celebration Chair
- Copy Chair
- After-School Programs Coordinator
- Hardship Chair
- School Supplies Co-Chair
- Dads' Club Chair
- Parent Education Coordinator
- Health Awareness/Youth Protection Coordinator
- Multicultural Coordinator
- Environmental Chair
Go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0E4CABAB2AA64-20192020 to view more information about and sign up for available positions.
Deadline to sign up is May 1st. Contact volunteers@ricepta.org if you have any questions or if you'd like to sign up for a position. Thank you in advance for your service to the Rice community!
B. Teacher Appreciation Take Home Meal 2018-2019
With your donations of $23.00, we can provide a Take Home Meal for our Fabulous Teachers and Staff during Teacher Appreciation Week. Please log into membership toolkit to sign up https://ricemspta.org.
C. Renew your PTA Membership for 2019-2020
Why join PTA? Since we don’t hold traditional fund raisers at Rice, our membership dollars are key to supporting all the wonderful activities and services offered each year. Membership dollars help fund classroom wish list items, student programs, teacher conference registrations, parent education programs, teacher appreciation luncheons and special amenities throughout the building.
This year, we would like to see 100% parent participation in membership. This may be a lofty goal, but everyone can benefit from being a PTA member. Sign up at http://ricepta.org.
Important Information from Nurse Yang
Attention 6th Graders (Updated):
IMPORTANT
Please read this linked letter for required immunizations in order to enter 7th grade. A separate parent letter with your child's detail immunization requirements was mailed to you in March 2019. These immunizations are required for 7th grade enrollment and due by last day of school, 5/24/2019. You can also view your child's current immunization record on file with the school on https://parentviewer.pisd.edu/. Your child will not be able to pick up their 7th grade schedule if these immunizations are not up-to-date.
Flu Season Is Here!
To learn more about seasonal influenza, please click on the link below:
https://www.pisd.edu/cms/lib/TX02215173/Centricity/Domain/233/Influenza2014-2018A.pdf
Guidelines for Exclusion due to Communicable Disease
Communicable Diseases – Exclusion from school for health reasons
Student Events for the Next Two Weeks
Monday, April 15
- City Track Meet Pre-Lims - Kimbrough Stadium - 4:30
Tuesday, April 16
- RMS Poetry Slam - Rice - 3:45
- City Track Meet Finals - Kimbrough Stadium - 4:00
Wednesday, April 17
- 6th Grade Choir Practice - 3:45
Thursday, April 18
- Plano ISD Soccer Festival - 3:00 - Russell Creek Park
Friday, April 19 and Monday April 22
- NO SCHOOL!
Tuesday, April 23
- PISD Choir Festival
Wednesday, April 24
- PISD Choir Festival
- PISD Middle School Cross Country Meet - Haggard MS - 5:00
Thursday, April 25
- Plano ISD First State of the District Address - Courtyard Theatre - 6:00
- NJHS Induction - Rice Gym - 6:30
Saturday, April 27
- Rice Band to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
- Rice Choir All-Region Clinic/Concert
Eco-Club at Rice joins the Great American Clean-up in Plano
Dear Rice community.
The date for the Great American Clean-up has moved to Friday April 19th from 8 to 11am. We will be cleaning around Rice, Skaggs, and Russell Creek's park, creek and lake. We need volunteers. Service hours will be provided. You also will all get a free t-shirt. Come to Room 817 to sign up and to get a parent release form that you need to bring the day of the clean up. Parents are also welcome to volunteer.
We are meeting at 8:00 am in front of Rice, and we will finish at 11:00 am.
2019 PPA Scholarship Golf Scramble
PISD staff, friends and family,
Do you enjoy playing golf and supporting aspiring educators?? Join the Plano Principals Association at the 2019 PPA Scholarship Scramble! The golf scramble format emphasizes fun without the pressure of keeping individual scores. Each player hits a tee shot on each hole, but everyone plays from the spot of the best shot. Fun for all golf levels!
For more information visit our website at www.tinyurl.com/PPAGolfScramble.
Ready to sign-up now? Use our *new* online registration form: www.tinyurl.com/2019PPAGolfSignUp. We now accept check or PayPal payments!
Robotics Summer Camps
The robotics students at Plano ISD Academy High School and Plano Senior High School are running a variety of camps this summer. To learn more about these camps, please click on the links below.
Plano Senior Summer Speech and Debate Camp
Plano East Golf Tryout Announcement 2019-2020
Attention 8th graders attending the Williams Health Science Academy or the Plano East IB World School:
If you are interested in trying out for the Plano East Boys or Girls Golf Team next year, there is a MANDATORY Parent/Athlete meeting at Plano East in the cafeteria on Thursday, May 9th at 6:30 pm. We will be discussing tryouts and the golf program. If you cannot attend, you must contact Coach Engelking at jon.engelking@pisd.edu.
2019 Lady Wolves Summer Basketball Clinics
2019 PLANO WEST SUMMER BASKETBALL CLINICS
To learn more about this event, click on the link below:
Plano West Swim & Dive Team News
Tryouts & Mandatory Parent Meeting
There will be a mandatory Parent Meeting for all parents of students interested in trying out for the Plano West Swim and Dive team: Thursday, April 25th, at 7 pm in the Presentation Room at Plano West. The team is open to students attending Jasper, Shepton and West for the 2019-2020 school year. Swimmers are encouraged to attend this meeting.
New Swimmer Stroke Clinic
New Swimmer Stroke Clinic will be held Saturday, April 27th from 7- 8:30 AM at Tom Muehlenbeck Center. This is for any swimmer who is not currently on the Plano West Swim Team. The stroke clinic will start promptly at 7am. Please RSVP to Coach Looney at Allison.looney@pisd.edu or Coach Poland at Amanda.poland@pisd.edu. Swimmers will need suits, goggles, and caps. The try-out will be a swim practice designed to assess the swimmers' competitive swimming skills (including all strokes), ability to work as a part of a team, and competitive drive.
Please check the Plano West swimming webpage for more details.
*If you currently are receiving accommodations for a disability under Section 504 or Special Education and believe your need an accommodation in order to have equal access to participate in [tryouts/activity], please let [coach/sponsor] know as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours before the tryouts are scheduled.
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