RMA
Mission
Empowering students to graduate, prepared to exceed all expectations.
Vision
Every student will be empowered to make CHOICES for lifelong success.
Dr. Anderson's Update
Dear RMA Colleagues,
As we step into the month of December, a time that often rushes by in a whirlwind of activities and responsibilities, I want to emphasize the importance of self-care and preparation, especially as we gear up for the STARR tests ahead.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of this season, it's crucial to prioritize your well-being. Take the time to recharge, rejuvenate, and nurture yourselves. Whether it's spending time with loved ones, engaging in rest, or simply enjoying moments of tranquility, remember that your mental and physical health are paramount. By taking care of yourselves, you'll be better equipped to face the tasks that lie ahead.
Furthermore, with the STARR tests consuming our school days until we release for the break, I commend your dedication and hard work in preparing our students for these assessments. Your commitment to their success is invaluable, and your efforts in guiding and supporting them through this process are deeply appreciated.
Before closing, I want to remind everyone that the final day for RMA students is Thursday, December 21st, with the staff's last day being Friday, December 22nd. RMA Staff will return on Monday, January 8th, and students will return on Tuesday, January 9th.
I hope you feel pride in RMA as you go into the winter break. I want to thank each team member for their work this year. During the break, I hope everyone takes time to recharge, read, rest, enjoy time with loved ones, and reflect on how much we continue to grow as a District,
Respectfully,
Dr. Armard Anderson
Superintendent of Schools
🎄 RMA 15 Days of Christmas 🎄
🌲IMPORTANT DATES IN DECEMBER 🌲
End of Term - December 21st
December 23rd - January 7th - Christmas Break
December 22nd - Staff Development Day/Student Holiday
January 8th - Staff Development Day/Student Holiday
🎨 RMA AMARILLO'S AH-MAZING ARTISTS! 🎨
🎉SHOUT OUT FROM MR. SHOWERS 🎉
RMA Fort Worth Demonstrates Gratitude and Gives Thanks as a Campus 💙
🤍 How Students Feel Valued 🤍
The Benefits of Feeling Valued
It has been my experience that when students just “exist” in a classroom – they come in every day, do their work, and leave – they are less engaged and less willing to form relationships. Using respect and positivity sets the tone for how students expect to be interacted with and how they will be expected to interact with others. However, without feeling valued, they aren’t entirely a participant in the classroom. Students who don’t feel like they provide value to their classroom community don’t feel like true community members.
When students feel like they have something to contribute to the class, they feel part of the community and that people are relying on them to bring something to the table. Something as simple as passing out the papers or turning on and off the light helps students feel responsible and this increases the relationship bond both with the teacher and the other students as well.
Ways to Provide Value to Students in the Classroom
The first way to provide value to students in the classroom is through class jobs. Many teachers do this already. There is a calendar helper, a paper passer, a chair stacker, etc. When students have a job they feel like they are contributing to the classroom community.
In my own experience, I had a student who had a hard time transitioning into school in the mornings. They would go to the classroom but wander around and distract other students. They would often get grumpy when adults redirected them. I made them the “lunch list helper” which consisted of getting the list of lunches students ordered from the office in the morning and I saw a huge turnaround. Not only did this job occupy their time in the mornings before the morning meetings, but they were proud to help the classroom and have a job that no one else had. They were able to work on life skills such as independently walking to and from the office, asking the administrative assistant for the lists, and filing them where they needed to go. Because they were proud to contribute and happy that I chose them for the job, this strengthened our relationship bond.
how-helping-students-feel-valued-contributes-to-building-relationships
RMA Houston's Impact Mentoring Program
Thursday November 30th marked the commencement of RMA Houston's Impact Mentoring Program. Teachers enjoyed lunch with their mentees, fostering meaningful conversations and deepening connections. We look forward to making a positive impact on the 45 mentees at RMA-Houston 🧡
RMA Lubbock's Government Students Create their Own Government. ❤️Future Leaders
🚜 RMA Pasadena's CTE Program 🪚
National Center for Construction Education & Research - Students at Work
How To Motivate Students
Fostering student motivation is a difficult but necessary aspect of teaching that instructors must consider. Many may have led classes where students are engaged, motivated, and excited to learn, but have also led classes where students are distracted, disinterested, and reluctant to engage—and, probably, have led classes that are a mix. What factors influence students’ motivation? How can instructors promote students’ engagement and motivation to learn? While there are nuances that change from student to student, there are also models of motivation that serve as tools for thinking through and enhancing motivation in our classrooms
Three important questions to consider from the student perspective:
1. Expectancy – Can I do the task?
2. Value – Do I want to do the task?
• Intrinsic or interest value: the inherent enjoyment that an individual experiences from engaging in the task for its own sake.
• Utility value: the usefulness of the task in helping achieve other short term or long-term goals.
• Attainment value: the task affirms a valued aspect of an individual’s identity and meets a need that is important to the individual.
3. Cost – Am I free of barriers that prevent me from investing my time, energy, and resources into the activity?
https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/motivating-students/
🧁RMA Pasadena - Student Ambassador brings Sweet Treats for all Students 🍭
💉RMA CORPUS CHRSTI ATTENDS A VIRTUAL CAREER FAIR (Nurse, Surgeon, and Lineman)
RMA AMARILLO ENJOYS A PANCAKE BREAKFAST & MR. MCNEESE HONORS RECRUITS
Student, Parent, and Staff Surveys
We are collecting data for our District's strategic plan.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
Here are the three anonymous survey links:
RMA Lubbock Practices Gratitude
Teach Teachers How to Create Magic🪄
RMA Corpus Christi with the Door Contest and Community Events
PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF IMPORTANT NEWS FROM OUR PAYROLL DEPARTMENT
We wanted to inform you about an important update regarding your W-2 forms for the tax year 2023.
Due to a recent change from the WebSmart software platform to the Ascender software platform, there will be two W-2 forms issued for the year 2023 for RMA staff. It's imperative to note that both W-2 forms are essential for completing your tax reconciliation for the year.
The first W-2 reflects your earnings and deductions for January 2023 to June 2023. The second W-2 covers the months of July 2023 to December 2023. If both of those time periods apply to you, It is crucial to consider both forms when filing your taxes to ensure accurate reporting and compliance with tax regulations. If you only worked during the second period, then you will only receive one W-2 for 2023 from RMA. If you have opted into the Ascender Employee Portal with W-2 Electronic Consent then you will be able to download your W-2 when they become available.
Please take a moment to review both W-2 forms carefully and provide them to your tax advisor or use them when filing your taxes independently.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter, feel free to reach out to the payroll department at payroll@rma-tx.org . We appreciate your attention to this important update and thank you for your understanding during this transition.
Payroll Department
Talent Ed Log In
As we approach the end of the calendar year, please check your pay stub to verify your home address. If you need to update any information, please complete the appropriate document in Talent Ed.
Talent Ed Log In: https://rmaschools.tedk12.com/sso/Account/Login?pid=9
‼️ W-4 UPDATES ‼️
ALL employees that claim EXEMPT from federal withholding must fill out a new W-4 each year, per IRS.
If someone wants to make any kind of change on their W-4 to be effective on the Jan 15, 2024 payroll, they will need to fill out the Talent Ed form by Dec 15th.
To adjust your W-4 filing status for 2024, please complete a new form in Talent Ed and submit before December 15, 2023.
Finance SharePoint
https://rmatx.sharepoint.com/sites/RMAFinance
2023-2024 Payroll Calendar is uploaded to the Finance Sharepoint
2023-2024 Payroll Calendar.pdf
Ascender Employee Portal
https://portals20.ascendertx.com/EmployeePortal/login?distid=014801
Location for W-2 Forms and Check Stubs
Resources for Youth and Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness.
NEW STAFF MEMBERS - NOVEMBER
EMPLOYEES ANNIVERSARIES - NOVEMBER
DATES TO REMEMBER - NOVEMBER
REFER A BUSINESS OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION TO JOIN "FRIENDS OF RMA"
RMA Texas Public Schools
Email: info@rma-tx.org
Website: www.rmaschools.org
Location: 401 E. Sonterra Boulevard, Suite 375, San Antonio, TX 78258
Phone: 830.557.6181
Facebook: facebook.com/RMAschools
Twitter: @rmaschools