Rice Middle School eNews
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Raven Walk-About Today!
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!
Table of Contents
1. 2017-18 School Year Begins!
2. Meet the Administration and Counseling Teams
3. PTA News
4. Attention all 6th Grade Parents and Students
5. Please Read: Solar Eclipse Letter
6. Stay Connected
7. PAYPAMs & School Lunches
8. Locker Information for 2017-2018 School Year
9. Make a Plan with your Child for Carpool Pickup?
10. Calling all Plano West Hockey Players
1. 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!
2. Meet the Administration and Counseling Teams
3. PTA News
A. Time to Sign up for a PTA Membership
While you’re in Membership Toolkit, sign up for your 2017-18 Rice PTA membership. Families need to renew each July 1 for the coming school year. Signing up for PTA doesn’t mean you have to volunteer, although we appreciate those who do.
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.
B. Complete your Volunteer Application Now
Rice Middle School PTA new and returning volunteers for the upcoming 2017-2018 school year must complete an online volunteer application through PISD to be eligible to volunteer. Get a head-start and submit your application today at https://www.pisd.edu/volunteer.
You can also select the Rice opportunities that you are interested in volunteering for through our Rice PTA Membership Toolkit athttps://ricemspta.membershiptoolkit.com/home - just log in and click on the "Volunteering At Rice 2017-18" form to submit your preferences.
Contact volunteers@ricepta.org with questions. Thank you in advance for your service to the students and staff at Rice!
Please like the Rice PTA Facebook page to stay informed about PTA activities!
4. Attention all 6th Grade Parents and Students:
The 6th grade reading block has now been added to schedules. Your child will still have the same teacher for both the ELA and Reading periods. You may log into Parent Portal to see these changes reflected in your child’s schedule.
5. Please Read: Solar Eclipse Letter
We are excited about the Solar Eclipse that is going to happen on Monday. Please review the information regarding the plans that we are going to do at Rice.
6. Stay Connected
7. PAYPAMs & School Lunches
FANS has updating the website to include meal prices, what a meal consists of, free and reduced meal benefits, request a refund or transfer of funds, etc. The menus are now posted on our website.
8. Locker Information for 2017-2018 School Year
Locker Information:
During Schedule Pick Up (Aug. 10th) and Raven Walk-About (Aug. 15th), 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!
9. 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.
10. Calling all Plano West Hockey Players
Registration is now open for the 2017-2018 Season Plano West Hockey Club. Please click on the link below for further information.
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