Rice Middle School eNews
Friday, March 14, 2016
PISD Bond Proposal
On May 7, 2016, Plano ISD voters will decide on a $481 million bond proposal to fund initiatives recommended by the Plano ISD Facilities and Technology Task Force. Appointed in August, 2015 by the Plano ISD Board of Trustees, the task force included citizens, business leaders, teachers, principals and parents. The task force reviewed enrollment trends and projections, established construction and renovation needs, validated costs and sought input from fellow community members. After five months of study, debate and public input, the task force made final recommendations to school trustees which are included in this bond proposal. If approved, the bond initiative will provide funding toward eight major project areas with no increase to the tax rate and will impact all Plano ISD campuses through district-wide security updates, renovations and facility upgrades, as well as technology improvements. Find out more, including specific project allocations, at www.pisd.edu/2016bond. You may send questions to askpisd@pisd.edu.
For a list of Frequently Asked Questions - along with their answers - in both English and Spanish, please access one of the following links:
- Frequently Asked Questions (English): http://www.pisd.edu/news/bond.programs/2016bond/FAQ.shtml
- Frequently Asked Questions (Spanish): http://www.pisd.edu/news/bond.programs/2016bond/documents/FAQ_Spanish.pdf
Table of Contents
1. Upcoming STAAR Testing Dates--Mark Your Calendars!
2. Attention Rice Soccer Players!
3. News Update from the Yearbook Staff!
4. Open Positions Rice PTA for 2016-2017
5. Attention 8th Grade Students and Parents: 8th Grade Celebration!
6. Cold & Flu Prevention Information
7. News from Nurse: Parents of 6th Graders
8. Scholarship opportunities for PISD's CenterStage Summer Camp!
9. Speech and Debate Classes at Rice
10. Moving or Might be Moving?
11. Jasper Board & Chair Openings Still Available
12. PWHS Royale's Spring Show!
13. Jasper Jazz News
14. Youth Soccer Night
Upcoming STAAR Testing Dates
March 29:
STAAR Grade 7 Writing
STAAR Grade 8 Math
March 30:
STAAR Grade 8 Reading
May 5:
STAAR Algebra I EOC
May 9:
STAAR Grades 6-7 Math
STAAR Grade 8 Math Retest
May 10:
STAAR Grades 6-7 Reading
STAAR Grade 8 Reading Retest
May 11:
STAAR Grade 8 Science
May 12:
STAAR Grade 8 Social Studies
**Students cannot leave the building and return later to complete their tests. If your child has an appointment on any of the testing days that affects him or her, please try to change the appointment.
2. Attention Rice Soccer Players!
Mark your calendars now!! The Rice Soccer Club will be having an informational meeting on Tuesday, March 15th at 3:45 in the Rice Cafeteria. If you plan to practice and possibly participate in the PISD Middle School Soccer tournament, you must attend this informational meeting.
3. News Update from the Yearbook Staff!
Did you forget to purchase your student’s yearbook? It’s your LUCKY DAY! Our publisher called and told us we have 50 extra books that are available to purchase due! We will be having a LUCKY DAY SALE ON Thursday March 17, 2016 ONLINE only. Yearbooks are priced at $40. This is first come, first serve.
To purchase the yearbook you need to log onto http://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1161317/Rice-Middle-School/ on March 17th to purchase the yearbooks. Personalization is not accepted at this time unfortunately. You may purchase extras like a cover for the yearbook, extra autograph pages, and markers for autographs! If you don’t purchase your yearbook at this time, we cannot guarantee that there will be a yearbook to purchase in May when we hand the yearbooks out. Questions? Email Megan.graves@pisd.edu
4. Open Positions Rice PTA for 2016-2017
**If interested please contact Shannon DeWolf at president@ricepta.org
Board:
- President- Attend and preside over board meetings, general meetings, vote on tied issues, meet with staff at school as needed, and attend Plano PTA meetings.
- VP Membership- Recruit PTA members and maintain an accurate record of membership for the school year.
- VP Ways & Means- Sets up and runs any fundraising for the school year.
- VP of Volunteers- Puts together lists of volunteers for the school year and contacts the volunteers to place them at events.
- Secretary- Attends all meetings taking, send out minutes after meetings, and keeps notebooks of past data of PTA.
- Parliamentarian- Assists in making the meetings run smoothly. They apply the rules of Parliamentary procedure Robert's rules of order, the by laws and the standing rules.
- Communications- Collect from others and e-mail the school contact all information weekly to be included in e-news.
**Board Positions require monthly 1-hour board meetings & bi-monthly general 1 hour meetings**
Committee:
- Reflections-Collect submissions, coordinate judges & awards
- Social Coordinator-Plan a fall and spring social for all grade levels (can be done with 2 coordinators)
- PE Uniforms Chairman-Bring samples of PE Uniforms to feeder elementary schools, order and pass out uniforms
- Box Top Chairman-Collect box tops from Rice and turn in
- Spirit Wear Coordinator-Coordinate getting designs from vendor and take orders for spirit wear
- Band Coordinator-Work with Band Director to help band with what they need
- Copy Room Coordinator-Organize volunteers to use copy room to make copies at Rice for teachers
- Webmaster PTA Site-Manage website for PTA (update and post information)
- Multicultural Chairman-Organize event before spring open hour.
**No monthly meetings just complete job position requirements**
5. Attention 8th Grade Students and Parents: 8th Grade Celebration!
Celebrate your final year at Rice with an end-of-year 8th grade party at the Heritage Farmstead Museum on Friday, May 20th, from 7-9 PM. Plans are already underway, and we are currently looking for someone to create a video to highlight the past three years at Rice. If video creation is your thing and you would like to help out, please contact either Bethany Ulteig (gulteig@sbcglobal.net) or Cristi Dyer (cristi.dyer@pisd.edu). We will need lots of additional volunteers to make this event fun for our students. Please be on the lookout for announcements in the coming weeks with more information regarding 8th Grade Celebration.
6. Cold & Flu Prevention Information
Parents and students can help reduce the impact of the cold and flu season by following these simple tips:
- Get a flu shot!
- Keep your children at home for fever of 100˚F or more for 24 hours without fever reducing medication.
- Wash your hands often with warm water and soap for 20 seconds or more. Use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs can easily enter the body this way.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Cough and/or sneeze into a tissue or your upper sleeve, not into your hand.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces at home, work, and school, especially if someone is ill.
- Practice other good health habits such as being physically active, drinking plenty of fluids, getting plenty of rest, and eating nutritious foods.
If you want more information on influenza please visit these helpful sites:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm
Texas Department of State Health Services: https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/influenza/
*From CCHD and PISD
7. News from the Nurse--Attention Parents of 6th Graders
Please click on the link below to view important information from Nurse Yang, regarding immunization requirements students who will be 7th graders in 2016-2017.
8. Scholarship opportunities for PISD's CenterStage Summer Camp!
Are you an 8th grader and plan to take a theatre or tech theatre class at Jasper next year? Jasper Theatre and Jasper Theatre Boosters are providing full and partial scholarships to PISD's CenterStage Summer Camp. Please see Mrs. Petropoulos in room 731 for more information and to apply.
9. Speech and Debate Classes at Rice
Interested in taking a speech class at Rice next year? Click on the following link to get information on speech classes and access the applications for debate and tournament prep
10. Moving or Might Be Moving?
If you know you will be moving or withdrawing your student from Rice or Jasper (current 8th grader) at the end of school during the summer, please fill out an, "Intent to Withdraw" form as soon as possible. Contact Ms. Pinkston in the Counselor's office for a copy of this form. Please remember , that if you later decide to stay in the Rice zone, you always have a spot!
11. Jasper Board & Chair Openings Still Available
VP Membership. All handled through Membership Toolkit. Have to attend August Teacher Luncheon to collect teacher memberships. Have to file paperwork with Texas Council of PTAs. Updates and applications as the year goes on. Exec Board member. Monthly meetings from 1:30 to 2:30, second Monday of the month.
Arts in Education: announces and collects submissions to PTA Reflections contest. Arranges judges to review campus works submitted. Completes paperwork and orders ribbons for winners advancing. Board member. Monthly meetings from 1:30 to 2:30.
Environmental: serves as representative to PTA Council for advancing environmental awareness at the school. Assists Jasper admin with keeping school entrances attractive (past year, bought and placed mulch around trees. last year, added spring flowers). Board member. Monthly meetings from 1:30-2:30.
Office Volunteer Coordinator: list of volunteers provided from VP Membership. Works with front office to set up volunteers for copy duty and office help as needed. Committee Chair, does not require monthly meetings.
Cultural Diversity: Works with council of PTAs and Jasper admin to highlight diversity. Committee Chair, does not require monthly meetings.
SAGE Chairman: works with PISD PTA Council rep to keep PTSA and campus advised of opportunities for both special and gifted education. Committee position, does not require monthly meetings.
Teacher Treats: Coordinates treats/breakfast for the teachers approximately four times a year. Organizes teacher casserole day. Coordinates with Hospitality Chair and Admin for planning. Currently two people serving as co-chairs, does not require monthly meetings.
Community Outreach Chair: Works with PISD PTA Council, providing necessary resources to support and promote district-wide initiatives, helping schools with limited resources. Committee position, does not require monthly meeting attendance.
Please contact Trudy Hale at txhale@verizon.net if you are interested in particpating.
12. PWHS Royale's Spring Show!
Celebrate with the Royales - Plano West Royales invites the Plano West Community to our Royales Spring Show April 7, 8, and 9 (7PM) in the Plano West Auditorium. Tickets $10, more information on where and when to pick up your tickets coming soon!
13. Jasper Jazz News
A. Jasper Jazz Sweeps Competition
The Jasper Jazz drill team showed exceptional talent at the recent MA Dance Contest as the top scoring school overall for the day. The Jazz brought home 31 awards and ranked #1 overall out of 25 schools and four dance studios. They were awarded: Super Sweepstakes for team and officer division; Best in Class among JV teams and JV officers; Best in Class officer group for JV teams; Best Technique, Choreography and High Points for their team dances; Best Technique and Choreography for their officer routines. In addition, the Trio Performance with Scarlet Walls, Ashley Kadleck and Marinee Fielding won 1st place and the Duet Performance with Tylee Evans and Adrianna Smith won 1st runner up. The Jazz earned six superior ratings for Solos by Gabby Tocci, Auburn Berry, Natalie Moore, Purva Sharma, Brooke Butler and Lauren Hale.
B. Come Watch the Jasper Jazz's Award Winning Show, The Heist!
Come watch their award-winning, spring show performance, titled The Heist, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 29 or Saturday, April 30 at Jasper High School. Tickets are $10 pre-order or $12 at the door. We anticipate a full house, so purchase your tickets today at http://jasperjazz.dance/forms.html . Pre-order by April 15 to ensure your seat.
C. Kendra Scott teams up with Jasper Jazz
Shop the “just-in” spring jewelry collection at Kendra Scott boutique and support Jasper Jazz at the “Kendra Gives Back” shopping party from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, March 24 at Kendra Scott Plano, located at The Shops at Legacy, 5800 Legacy Drive. Enjoy bubbles and bites at this fun event with 20 percent of sales benefiting Jasper Jazz. Contact Kim Butler with questions at kkbutler@airmail.net .
D. Calling all Jasper Jazz alumni and fans: Pre-order your commemorative t-shirt today!
The Jasper Jazz national champions are celebrating 20 years of dance and performance excellence since the drill team’s founding in 1996. In honor of the Jazz’s 20th anniversary, the members are calling all Jasper Jazz drill team alumni and fans to show their Jazz pride and pre-order the commemorative Alumni Spirit Tee featuring a black short-sleeve t-shirt with silver alloy lettering for $20. Pre-order by April 10 at http://jasperjazz.dance/forms.html . Email Dana Tocci with questions at dablue2560@yahoo.com . Sponsored by the Jasper Jazz Booster Club.