Rice Middle School eNews
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Absences & Exam Week
With the end of the first semester fast approaching, many of you have already begun to make plans for Winter Break.
December 17th - 20th, the 7th & 8th graders will be taking semester exams, and 6th graders will take a Math test. Please consider this as you make travel arrangements.
Keep in mind that it is important for students to be at school during exam week. If you know that your child will be out during this time, please contact your child's counselor as soon as possible. Also, have your child pick up an Absence Request Form from the Front office, and once completed, he or she should submit it to the main office.
Attention 8th grade Parents:
Attached you will find information on the three high school Academy Programs. If your child is interested in applying for the Health Science Academy, IB Academy or Academy High School, please pay attention to the parent information meeting dates. All needed information about the application process can be found in the attachment and hard copies are available in the front office and counseling office. If you have additional questions, please contact the counseling office.
Informational Meeting Times: Health Science Academy
- December 3, 2019, Tuesday | 6:00 p.m. | Williams High School Cafeteria
Important Application Dates
- November 22, 2019 (Applications open)
- December 18, 2019 (Applications close)
- January 10, 2020 after 3:30 p.m. (Notice of selection)
- January 17, 2020 by 9:00 p.m. (Commitment from student)
PTA News
AMAZON SMILE SUPPORTS RICE PTA
Did you know that you can support Rice PTA every time you shop on Amazon? Holiday shopping season is a great time to start using Amazon Smile! Rice PTA receives a donation every time you order from Amazon Smile, at no cost to you. Visit our Amazon Smile site at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/75-2820380 or go to smile.amazon.com to get started and select "PTA- Texas Congress 7401 Rice Middle School" as the recipient of Amazon Smile donations.
PTA REFLECTIONS SUCCESS
Thank you to our Rice community for a successful Reflections program! Rice had 27 entries in this year's contest, representing all six categories. 7 entries advanced to district judging! We are so proud of our talented Ravens. Special thanks to Manik Gupta for coordinating this year's Reflections program.
"KEEP IT CALM" WEEK
Next week, December 9-13, Rice MS and Rice PTA will be sponsoring Keep It Calm Week. We will have fun activities all week long designed to help students de-stress the week before finals. More details will be coming soon!
COMMUNITY DIVERSITY ROUNDTABLE
Thanks to all who attended the November 19th Community Diversity Roundtable at Rice! A fun and enlightening time was had by all. Special thanks to Alex Zhou for coordinating the evening's activities. Rice PTA is looking forward to offering additional multicultural activities in the spring. Please contact Alex Zhou at alexzhchj@gmail.com or Lily Virmani at lilyvirmanisharma@gmail.com if you are interested in more details or volunteering!
Plano Police Association Christmas Cops Program
We are proud to announce that the Rice MS Student Council has partnered with the Plano Police Association Christmas Cops program. Christmas Cops is a non-profit organization comprised of police officers and volunteers who assist with some of our less fortunate Plano families during the holiday season.
The Plano Police Association Christmas Cops program began in 1984 during the holiday season by a handful of compassionate Plano Police Officers. These men and women saw a tremendous need in the community and knew they could make a difference—and the Christmas Cops story began. Large boxes are placed at local businesses, and now our school, to collect children’s toys, coats, non-perishable food items, and miscellaneous household items. Shortly before Christmas, our Officers and Santa’s Helpers will make deliveries to the families in need.
The Christmas Cops toy and clothing drive will begin at Rice on Monday, November 11th and end on Friday, December 13th. The organizers of the Christmas Cops program have requested our assistance with donations specifically for middle school age children. Examples may include clothing items, clothing accessories (e.g., belts, wallets, purses, etc.), toiletries items (e.g., cologne, perfume, deodorant, makeup kits, etc), age appropriate board games, arts and craft or science kits. Please donate anything you think a preteen would love to have as a gift for the holiday.
For more information about Christmas Cops please visit https://planopa.org/christmas-cops/christmas-cops-about-us. If you have a specific question not answered by the website, feel free to email our School Resource Officer, Tyrone More at Tyrone.More@pisd.edu.
Remember, Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much!
Flu Prevention and Exclusion Policy
The flu season is approaching to us. The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine every year, as soon as it is available. Flu vaccine is recommended for anyone over the age of 6 months (except for individuals with medical contraindications).
Other forms of prevention include proper hand washing, use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and staying away from sick individuals.
*School Exclusion Policy related to the flu - Children with fever ( temperature 100 degree Fahrenheit or higher), or any condition that presents with fever, vomiting, diarrhea are required to be excluded from school until they are fever/symptom-free for 24 hours, without the use of medication.
*Attached is more information about the flu and cold vs. flu.
MSA Food Bank
MSA is contributing to the already existing Food Bank at IACC, which serves around 80 families a week. MSA is collecting non-perishable food items, hygiene, and cleaning supplies all year round. There is a box in the rotunda. Please consider donating generously to help someone in need.
Half Gallon Milk Cartons & Paper Shopping bags
MSA is collecting shopping paper bags (clean and folded) for the local IACC food bank which serves around 50-70 families every Saturday. We will collect all year round.
We have a box in our recycling center (picture attached) or send to Room 817.
Thank you
Rice Upcoming Events for Next Two Weeks!
Tuesday, December 3
- Beginning Band Concert - 7:00 pm - Rice Gym
Wednesday, December 4
- 8th Grade Boys Bball Game - 6:00 pm - Rice Gym
- 8th Grade Girls Bball Game - 6:00 pm - Renner Gym
Thursday, December 5
- 7th Grade Boys Bball Game - 6:00 pm - Rice Gym
- 7th Grade Girls Bball Game - 6:00 pm - Renner Gym
Friday, December 6
- Choir and Jazz Tour (students out for the day)
Monday, December 9
- 8th Grade Boys Bball Game - 6:00 pm - Rice Gym - PACK THE GYM
- 8th Grade Girls Bball Game - 6:00 pm - Otto Gym
Tuesday, December 10
- Choir Winter Concert - 6:30 - Custer Road UMC
Wednesday, December 11
- Orchestra Winter Concert - 6:00 pm - Rice Gym
Thursday, December 12
- 7th Grade Boys Bball Game - 6:00 pm - Rice Gym
- 7th Grade Girls Bball Game - 6:00 pm - Otto Gym
Friday, December 13
- Band Winter Concert - 6:30 - Plano West Senior High School
Saturday, December 14
- Speech Tournament - Haggard Middle School
Helpful Links!
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