B.B RICE ELEMENTARY
February 2020
904 Gladstell Street
Conroe, TX 77304
936-709-2700
Fax 936-709-2799
School Mission
More than competency in the basic skills of reading, writing, and math, it is this school’s mission to nurture in each child:
The habit of creative independent thinking, a positive self-image, an attitude of social cooperation and moral responsibility, pride in self, community, state, and country, and
the ability to be a producer, not just a consumer, of Knowledge.
“In this school, we reach for the stars.”
School Information
- The building doors open at 7:30 for students to eat breakfast and go to class.
- Please do not drop off students before 7:30 as there is no adult supervision.
- Breakfast is served from 7:30-7:50. 1st through 4th grade eat inside their classrooms. PK and Kinder eat in the cafeteria. Morning PK students go directly to the cafeteria and meet their teachers.
- Afternoon PK begins at 12:10. If they are going to eat lunch, then they need to arrive at 11:45.
- Students may not be checked out or change transportation mode after 2:30. This is for the safety of the students.
- Dismissal begins at 3:10.
- Please make sure you have your car rider sign in your car for car rider. You will be asked to park and come inside if you do not have your tag.
- Thank you for all your help to make this the very best year!!!
Message from the Principal...
Something to Ponder...
When To Help With Homework~
Alex and Jason come home with the same math homework.
Alex complains to his mom, "It's just not fair. Mr. Jenson gives us too much homework. I don't know how to do this. He never explains anything. You need to help me. It's going to take too long!"
"How did he explain this homework?" asks mom.
"I don't remember. You need to help me," says Alex.
Mom opens the book and points out the answers. She gets the task over quickly and then lectures, "You'd better start paying attention in class!"
Jason makes the same complaint to his mom.
"How did your teacher explain this homework?" asks mom.
"I don't remember. You need to help me," says Jason.
"How sad," answers Mom. "I'll be happy to help when you work harder on your schoolwork than me, and I know that you are listening in class." With that, she tells Jason to open his book and try to remember how the teacher told him to do the work. "You can watch your program when it's finished," she tells Jason.
Which mom did the best job of parenting?
Which kid is more likely to start listening better in class?
I bet you know the answer.
Thanks for reading!
Jim Fay (Love & Logic Institute)
Thank you for all you do to make your student successful. We appreciate you!!!
~Mrs. Stewart
Message from the Assistant Principal...
Hey Rice Family!!! Spring is the season for some key assessment dates. These tests help us guide instruction for the remainder of the year and truly show what the students know. Each of these days are treated as any other instructional days. Please make sure that your students are on time and have a great breakfast. Our cafeteria has a delicious menu as well! Here are a few key dates to remember for spring benchmark and STAAR testing!
-2/12 4th grade writing benchmark
-2/26 3rd grade writing benchmark
-2/27 4th grade reading benchmark
-3/2-3/5 2nd-4th grade TELPAS (ESL/Bilinigual/ESL Denial students)
-3/4 4th grade math benchmark
-3/24 3rd grade reading benchmark
-3/26 3rd grade math benchmark
-4/7 4th grade writing STAAR
-5/7 2nd grade math benchmark
-5/12 3rd and 4th grade math STAAR
-5/13 3rd and 4th grade reading STAAR
-5/20 4th grade science benchmark
As always, let me know if you have any questions!
Melissa Sciba
Asst. Principal
Message From School Counselor...
Dear Parents,
The month of February is a very fun, exciting month. During this month we will be celebrating Random Acts of Kindness during the week of February 17th. Students will learn that when we perform Random Acts of Kindness, we go beyond what is expected of us and reach out to help another person. I will focus on three simple steps for teaching them how to perform a Random Act of Kindness.
- The first step is to find out what another person needs.
- The second step is to think about how you would feel if you had that need.
- The final step to performing a Random Act of Kindness is to offer your help.
- These steps will be taught over the announcements and will also be discussed in their classrooms.
Also, this month in Morning Meetings, the students will be discussing Resiliency. The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. They will have daily discussions, watch different videos and be introduced into a new Wild Life High character. Check out Facebook to see the video that will help introduce resiliency to your child.
Full Day PK Program 2020-2021
Conroe ISD will be expanding all current half-day prekindergarten programs to full day in the 2020-21 school year. Currently, Houser and Houston Elementary Schools are the only campuses to operate full-day prekindergarten programs. The expansion is in response to the House Bill 3 requirement that all prekindergarten programs operate as full-day programs. Registration for the 2020-21 school year will take place April 20-24. Eligibility determination and enrollment will take place at the elementary school to which the student is zoned. Please visit www.conroeisd.net/ci/early-childhood/ for more information.
Thanks!
Pre K
Pre-K is off to a strong start in the New Year! Please practice writing first name, recognizing letter names, letters sounds, recognizing numbers 0-9, recognizing shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle), and counting to 30. Please make sure your child has his/her backpack and folder every day. Be sure to check and initial your child’s folder every night.
Just a reminder:
· Write your child’s name on their coats and backpacks.
· Keep a clean change of clothes in your child’s backpack.
· If you need to change transportation please do so in writing.
· Read to your child daily!
Kinder
We are continuing to grow our reading muscles in Readers Workshop. We are learning how to use sound and picture power to read more challenging books. In writing, we will continue to practice writing the sounds heard in words and using the snap words we know in sentences. In math we will be exploring 2D and 3D shapes and describing the attributes. We encourage you to ask your child to find shapes they know around the house and describe them. In science we will continue learning the seasons, day and night patterns and objects in the sky. In social studies we will discuss Presidents Day and the importance of our past and current president. Please continue to practice snap words that come home. These words will be important for your child to know in order to become strong readers and writers!
We will be encouraging students to celebrate Kindness Month by doing something kind for someone every day.
First Grade
In February, your firsties will be continuing to learn new concepts in all subject areas. In math, we will be introducing our place value to 120 unit, numeration and coins (penny and quarter), addition and subtraction to 15. .Then, in reading we will be continuing our nonfiction unit where we will be learning all about different topics (i.e., sharks, turtles, etc.). In writing we will be continuing to using our knowledge about nonfiction reading to write a nonfiction book. Then, in phonics we will be focusing on certain sounds at the beginning and at the end of words. Next, in science we will be introducing units like natural resources awareness, living and nonliving, and parts of a plant. Lastly, in social studies we will be introducing units like black history (for black history month), folktales, fables, and legends, and texes history and culture. Here are a few reminders as well: homework packet is due on Thursday, return daily conduct folder every day, and wear tennis shoes on P.E. days. Lastly, we might still be experiencing colder temperatures, remember to send your child with a coat or jacket because we will still be going outside. If you are sending your child with a jacket, please make sure you write their name in the jacket. Thanks so much for everything that you do for your students and have a happy new year!
Love First Grade Team! :)
Second Grade
Third Grade
Happy February!
In math, we will continue our multiplication and division unit. In this unit we are multiplying two-digits by one-digit problems (example: 23 x 7). We are also working on one & two step word problems. Halfway through February we will start our Geometry Unit and diving back into attributes of 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional shapes! This is a very heavy unit for vocabulary. When discussing shapes with your child, please encourage them to use geometric language such as vertices, parallel sides, angles, parallelograms, polygons and many more that we will be reviewing and teaching. Shapes are everywhere, point them out! For the month of February we be working on our Fact Fluency of x4, x8, and x7. Please help your child study their Fact Fluency at home.
We will be discussing the topics of changes to the Earth's surfaces, weather, and physical characteristics of environments! In social studies, we will be learning all about different historical figures for Black History Month, Women's History and different Presidents.
This month your readers will be reading realistic fiction books, focusing on the story elements of plot and character development. We will study characters in depth in our independent reading. We will start book clubs towards the end of the month to compare and contrast characters. Your writers will be writing opinion essays about their reading, persuading readers to read their favorite books.
Fourth Grade
The fourth grade teachers are super proud of ALL of our babies; they have all been working very hard and showing LOTS of growth!
Language Arts: The students are researching natural disasters and weather events. Students are working in groups to gather information about their subtopics in order to prepare a group presentation. Students will present their topics as a group before switching topics. Students are practicing identifying main idea and supporting details, text structure, and important information. Students will continue to work on their opinion writing. We will focus on elaboration and the structure of opinion writing to start preparing them for the STAAR writing coming up in April! Students have been working hard on writing about topics that matter to them and topics that they feel very strongly about.
Math-We are working on fractions and will begin measurement soon. With fractions, we are comparing two fractions with alike and different denominators and numerators. They are also finding equivalent fractions using pictorial models and written out fractions.
Fourth graders must work multiple step word problems, which involves rereading the problem several times and using many different ways to get to the answer. This takes lots of practice and guidance, so we are doing this daily in the classroom to expose them to the higher level thinking questions! All thinking, as well as steps of their work needs to be proven on papers, so we are able to understand their answer and their process they used to get there.
Science-It is exciting learning about different types of soils, as well as what makes up those soils (textures, retaining of water, and minerals). We are also discovering rapid and slow Earth changes, which develops our different Earth’s structures and landforms.
Social Studies-Texas independence and statehood are the focus this time of year. The students are reading and discovering about different important people that have contributed to Texas Independence and their impact on our Lone Star State.
From The Library...Ms. Parks
The Rice Library announces eBooks available to Rice students…
Rice students now have access to eBooks. These electronic books can be accessed on school computers, home computers, laptops, tablets, iPads, and smart phones. We have fiction, nonfiction, easy to read and high interest eBooks for all grade levels K-4th grade. The url is www.mycapstonelibrary.com
Username: rice
Password: school
Please contact Ms. Parks in the library if you have any question. 936-709-2700
2018-2019 Federal Report Card
Our campus 2018-2019 Federal Report Card has been posted on our school's profile page. Our campus Federal Report Card can be accessed using the following steps:
From the school’s website:
· Go to "Our School/Campus"
· Click “View School Profile"
· Select “Accountability Reports”
· Click “2018-2019”
· Select "Federal Report Card"
From the Nurse...
A few reminders from the clinic:
When your child is ill, please contact the school to let them know he or she won’t be attending that day. It is important to remember that schools must exclude students with certain illnesses for periods of time as identified in state rules. For example, if your child has a fever over 100 degrees, he or she must stay out of school until they are fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications.
In addition, students with diarrheal illnesses must stay home until he/she is diarrhea free without diarrhea-suppressing medications for at least 24 hours. Illness at school is evaluated by the health service staff in the clinic area. A child who demonstrates the following symptoms should be sent home from school.
· Fever of 100 degrees or more.
· Suspected contagious condition or disease.
· Vomiting or diarrhea.
· Severe stomachache, headache, or earache.
· A child who is too ill to function in the classroom.
A full list of conditions for which the school must exclude children can be obtained from the school nurse. Thank you for your help to keep our Rice Raccoon’s healthy!
Conroe Independent School District
The Conroe Independent School District (District) as an equal opportunity educational provider and employer does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in educational programs or activities that it operates or in employment matters. The District is required by Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as Board policy not to discriminate in such a manner.
For information about Title IX rights or Section 504/ADA rights, contact the Title IX Coordinator or the Section 504/ADA coordinator at 3205 W. Davis, Conroe, TX 77304; (936) 709-7752.