Thundercat Weekly
#TPND= Thunder Pride Never Dies
Instructional Schedule 8/24- 8/28
Principal's Principle
Dear Thundercat Families,
This is your Principal, Jennifer Petru. I wanted to take a minute and thank you for all that you do for your student and the success of Ronald Thornton Middle School. This school year is starting different, I don’t know another year that has ever started this way. This is an opportunity to learn and grow. We started this year navigating on-line learning and are seeing all that we can achieve.
This week, I wanted to talk about overcoming obstacles and share a personal story. This message was important to me because we will all see some obstacles this year that we have to overcome, however that can be a good thing.
One of my greatest classroom teacher memories is embedded in obstacles. I vividly remember one particular student overcoming an obstacle they thought impossible. I can remember it so well that I think 20 years later I could still paint the scene. The student had to stand up and present an assignment. Seems simple, right? However, I am pretty sure he did not sleep the night before and most likely wanted to avoid school that day. It was no secret this student feared giving his presentation. But in the end, after he presented, the entire class clapped and cheered after he spoke. It felt like an academy award movie scene in that moment. It was a celebration of an achievement, an obstacle overcome that everyone felt. In that exact time someone’s life changed. I can still feel the emotions that overcame everyone, in that classroom, at that moment.
The pride all of us felt for the student and the class, has never left me. It helped form who I am today. One of the things I know to be true is when you’re overcoming obstacles, one person does make a difference, and one assignment does make a difference, one act of kindness does makes a difference. And the best part is you just don’t always know when or what it is going to be. It might be a supportive class during a speech, like I saw that day. It may be a conversation with a friend struggling with a math problem. It could be a smile. You just never know. And that is the beauty of education. You never know when a difference might be made or an obstacles overcome, but it will happen.
I hope everyone enjoys their weekend and I look forward to a fantastic Thundercat Country school year. It may look different at the beginning of this year, it will feel different, but the pride we carry as Thundercats will remain the same.
Thunder Pride Never Dies!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Petru
Principal
Ronald Thornton Middle School
We Value Your Feedback
Have a Thunderific Week !
Mark Your Calendars !
We hope you and your family are adjusting well to the online learning taking place. As with any year, we will offer Open House this fall! It may look a little different this time.
Our Open House will be held virtually via MS TEAMS. In order to gain access, you will need to use your student's TEAMS account and simply follow their MS TEAMS calendar class links specifically created for Open House.
Video Tutorial- 1st Time Laptop Access for Parents & Students
Need help with logging in or using your laptops for the first time. Check out the link below as a resource to address your issue.
REN 360 Assessment Window
This is a friendly reminder that the window for your child to complete the Renaissance Star Assessment(s) in Schoology by August 31, 2020.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your student's teacher or Lori Sherman, Assessment Coordinator at 281-327-3936, Email: lori.sherman@fortbendisd.com
Tech Tips: TEAMS & Online Instructional Norms
1) Students must RSVP teacher invites for the links to appear on their TEAMS calendar.
2) As we engage in developing best practices for synchronous learning, we ask that when using MS TEAMS thundercat students:
- should have their camera on the entire time,
- microphone muted,
- engaged,
- students may turn off their camera if they need to excuse themselves briefly.
These norms will help to provide a quality learning experience for all students.
Have a thunderific week !
CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK
Hello Thundercat Country,
We've just completed our 1st week of school. So many new people, new experiences, and new learning that we were able to engage in together.
This week I challenge you to:
1) Complete your Ren 360 Assessment and do your best.2) Talk about 1 tech skill you tried today with your parents.
Our goal is that you grow a little each day and yesterday is better than the day before.
Go Thundercats !!!!
Counselor's Corner
Schedule change submissions began the week of August 17th. All schedule requests are completed electronically with a form that was made available in the schedule change link below.
Should you have any questions on any of this please email your grade level counselor.
6th Grade Schedule Change Link
7th Grade Schedule Change Link
8th Grade Schedule Change LinkDon't Forget P3: PASSION ! PRACTICE ! PERSEVERANCE ! All day, every day !
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE LIBRARY ?
Are you interested in becoming a Thornton cheerleader?
Nurse's News
Hello thundercats!
- All 7th grade students need to email proof of Tdap and Meningitis vaccinations to Andria.lee@fortbendisd.com.
- All new students need to email full vaccination records to Andria.lee@fortbendisd.com
Nurse Lee
At Home Kit Pick Up
Greetings RTMS Parents and Guardians,
Thank you to all that completed the At-Home Learning Kits survey.
For parents and guardians that completed the survey, please follow the RTMS car rider pick up line (map attached) to the bus ramp doors.
Pickup times and dates for the At-Home Learning Kits are:
· 6th Graders- Wednesday, August 26, 2020 from 3:00-4:30pm
· 7th and 8th Graders- Thursday, August 27, 2020 from 4:00-6:00pm
· If you have students in multiple grade levels, you may pick up for them at one visit.
STEP ONE
TO DO LIST (BEFORE ARRIVING TO CAMPUS)
· Place a sign with the name of each student and grade level, that you requested a learning kit for, on your front window dashboard.
· Please ensure the sign is visible to individuals outside your vehicle.
STEP TWO
WHEN YOU ARRIVE ON CAMPUS FOR KIT PICK UP
· Drive up to the Gym location
· A staff member will assist you with obtaining the correct learning kit.
· To ensure the health and safety of all please do not exit your vehicle.
As a reminder, At-Home Learning Kits for Middle school include an ELA, Science and Math textbook with additional math resources.
Thank you,
Kurllenne Martin
RTMS At-Home Learning Kit Coordinator
Meal Benefits Online
Child Nutrition is encouraging families to apply for Meal Benefits online at schoolcafe.com/fbisd or on their smartphone/device by downloading the SchoolCafé app from their Google Play or App Store.
SchoolCafé is user friendly; allowing parents to set account restrictions, make online payments, apply for Free/Reduced Benefits with instant approval or denial, and much more!
Families will need to create an account online to apply for Meal Benefits and to make payments to their student’s account.
Meal Applications will all be done through schoolcafe.com/fbisd. Due to the pandemic, our office will not be open for paper applicants.
Families can email MealApps@fortbendisd.com for further assistance with applications if they’re unable to fill one out online.
RTMS PTO: The Thundercash Campaign
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the questions commonly asked during a Write-A-Check Fundraiser. If you have additional questions, please email Robin Strickland at robinstrickland79@gmail.com
Q: How much should I donate?
A: Every dollar counts and no contribution is too big or too small. We ask that everyone give as generously as they can while understanding that people's ability to contribute varies.
Q: Does Thundercash campaign replace all other fundraising activities at Thornton?
A: No, but a successful campaign will eliminate all commercial product-based fundraising at our school. RTMS also participates in a number of passive fundraising programs that earn either credits or cash for the school. Box Tops, Spirit Wear, Kona Ice, Marquee Messages, and Recycling Drives are other fundraising activities sponsored by the PTO. They are designed to provide a service to our families and a small amount of revenue is made to support our expenses. Other activities not sponsored by the PTO will also be held during the year. The Book Fair, Band, Choir, PE, and other school organizations all hold a variety of fundraisers with those proceeds going directly to the identified programs.
Q: Will I be contacted for other donations this year?
A: Yes, our school participates in a number of activities which rely on the generosity of our parents. You will be asked to support our staff by donating baked goods, lunch items and gift cards for staff appreciation events throughout the year as well as during Staff Appreciation Week. This is a great way to show our staff how much they mean to us.
Q: The Thundercash suggested donation seems like a lot of money. How was the goal calculated?
A: The PTO board creates a budget that reflects the needs of the teachers, students, parents, and the school. This budget is voted on by the general membership and it drives the activities of the PTO during that school year.
Q: Is my Thundercash contribution tax deductible? If so, will I get a donation receipt for tax reporting purposes?
A: Yes. Your contribution is 100% tax deductible. RTMS non-profit ID#: 83-0533551
Q: Can I earmark my contribution for a specific RTMSPTO program?
A: No, all contributions to the Thundercash campaign go into the general PTO account and are distributed across all of the programs that the PTO funds.
Q: Does my Thundercash contribution include my PTO membership dues?
A: Yes! As long as you contribute we will consider you a member of the RTMS PTO. As a PTO member, you are entitled to participate in PTO meetings, votes, etc.
A: You need to contact your company's HR department (or look on your company's HR website) to understand their policy regarding matching grants. Many companies do have a matching grants program and match your contribution dollar for dollar! Please check with your employer. It is a really easy way to maximize your contribution to the PTO and your child's education!
Plan Now for Return to Face to Face
With the implementation of new health and safety protocols on all FBISD campuses, parents should start now to prepare their students for the return to in-school instruction.
We have included useful guides that may be helpful to families, the “10 Ways to Prepare Your Child for School” one-pager, and an educational video PSA targeted to elementary students to help start the conversation about COVID-19 precautions being taken at your school.
The health and safety of our FBISD students and families remain to be our highest priority. For more information on how the district is fulfilling our mission during the COVID-19 Pandemic go to www.fortbendisd.com/reimagined.
Links: https://youtu.be/xqho-psZakk
Document: 10 Ways to Prepare Your Child for School