Thundercat Weekly
P3= Passion ! Practice ! Perseverance !
This Week In Thundercat Country !
At Home Kit Pick Up
Greetings RTMS Parents and Guardians,
Thank you to all that completed the At-Home Learning Kits survey.
For parents and guardians that completed the survey, please follow the RTMS car rider pick up line (map attached) to the bus ramp doors.
Pickup times and dates for the At-Home Learning Kits are:
· 6th Graders- Monday, August 31, 2020 from 3:00-4:30pm
· 7th and 8th Graders- Tuesday, September 1, 2020 from 4:00-6:00pm
· If you have students in multiple grade levels, you may pick up for them at one visit.
STEP ONE
BEFORE ARRIVING TO CAMPUS
· Place a sign with the name of each student and grade level, that you requested a learning kit for, on your front window dashboard.
· Please ensure the sign is visible to individuals outside your vehicle.
STEP TWO
WHEN YOU ARRIVE ON CAMPUS FOR KIT PICK UP
· Drive up to the Gym location
· A staff member will assist you with obtaining the correct learning kit.
· To ensure the health and safety of all please do not exit your vehicle.
As a reminder, At-Home Learning Kits for Middle school include an ELA, Science and Math textbook with additional math resources.
Thank you,
Kurllenne Martin
RTMS At-Home Learning Kit Coordinator
OPEN HOUSE IS COMING...Mark Your Calendars !
Open House is quickly approaching! It is Sept. 3rd, 2020 from 6:00 to 7:35 pm. You will use your child's TEAMS to access the meeting links. Follow the schedule below.
Principal's Principle
RTMS Staff Member of the Month
It is that time of year again! When we acknowledge and celebrate our wonderful RTMS Staff! Please complete the form below and nominate an RTMS Staff for the month of August! Winner will be announced the week of 9/7/2020!
RTMS PTO News
The Thornton PTO Thunderchat Newsletter goes out each Tuesday and keeps RTMS Parents informed of all PTO involved events at school, fundraising opportunities and volunteer opportunities. Unfortunately, due to COVID, we were not able to collect email addresses from Parents like we normally would. We are still missing a large portion of the 6th grade parents.
Check out the link in the newsletter below to receive a recurring Newsletter moving forward
Video Tutorial-
The FBISD Technology Department has composed a video that will help students who have been issued with an FBISD device. Click on the link and view the video that will cover these topics: how to turn on and log into the laptop; how to connect to Wi-Fi & launch VPN (Global Protect); how to connect to 1Link (Teams, Schoology & other educational applications); and, how to do a hard reboot of your laptop.
REN 360 Assessment Window
The Ren 360 assessment window has been extended until September 4th due to school closures from inclement weather and issues with the Ren platform.
Click here for easier access to Ren360.
Any questions contact Lori Sherman, 281-327-3936 or lori.sherman@fortbendisd.com
READING IS THINKING
READING IS THINKING and here at RTMS we encourage all of our students to read every day! We also understand that gaining access to books is difficult right now. Last week in class, ELA teachers informed students how they can access free online books through FBISD’s 1Link, but the Fort Bend County Library also has a great online platform for books. If you do not currently have a Fort Bend County Library card, you can register for an e-book card online in order to give your child access to hundreds of free online books. Here is the link: https://www.fortbend.lib.tx.us/landing-page/e-card-registration
CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK
Hello Thundercat Country,
This week I challenge you to:
1) Complete your REN360 Assessment
2) Organize your work space and assignment due dates on a planner or calendar for the week.
Our goal is that you grow a little each day and yesterday is better than the day before.
Go Thundercats !!!!
Counselor's Corner
Reminder: September 2nd is the last day to submit elective change requests.
The links are below.
6th Grade Link
https://forms.gle/yXy7BK3qxKnxBwhP6
7th Grade Link
https://forms.gle/aZCPodX7k9qhD33EA
8th Grade Link
https://forms.gle/wp3dCowusQHgizzBA
Details about leveling up and leveling down will be out soon!
Don't Forget P3: PASSION ! PRACTICE ! PERSEVERANCE ! All day, every day !
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE LIBRARY ?
WeVideo on how to access eBooks: https://www.wevideo.com/view/1800874016
Are you interested in becoming a Thornton cheerleader?
Nurse's News
Hello thundercats!
- All 7th grade students need to email proof of Tdap and Meningitis vaccinations to Andria.lee@fortbendisd.com.
- All new students need to email full vaccination records to Andria.lee@fortbendisd.com
Nurse Lee
RTMS PTO: The Thundercash Campaign
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the questions commonly asked during a Write-A-Check Fundraiser. If you have additional questions, please email Robin Strickland at robinstrickland79@gmail.com
Q: How much should I donate?
A: Every dollar counts and no contribution is too big or too small. We ask that everyone give as generously as they can while understanding that people's ability to contribute varies.
Q: Does Thundercash campaign replace all other fundraising activities at Thornton?
A: No, but a successful campaign will eliminate all commercial product-based fundraising at our school. RTMS also participates in a number of passive fundraising programs that earn either credits or cash for the school. Box Tops, Spirit Wear, Kona Ice, Marquee Messages, and Recycling Drives are other fundraising activities sponsored by the PTO. They are designed to provide a service to our families and a small amount of revenue is made to support our expenses. Other activities not sponsored by the PTO will also be held during the year. The Book Fair, Band, Choir, PE, and other school organizations all hold a variety of fundraisers with those proceeds going directly to the identified programs.
Q: Will I be contacted for other donations this year?
A: Yes, our school participates in a number of activities which rely on the generosity of our parents. You will be asked to support our staff by donating baked goods, lunch items and gift cards for staff appreciation events throughout the year as well as during Staff Appreciation Week. This is a great way to show our staff how much they mean to us.
Q: The Thundercash suggested donation seems like a lot of money. How was the goal calculated?
A: The PTO board creates a budget that reflects the needs of the teachers, students, parents, and the school. This budget is voted on by the general membership and it drives the activities of the PTO during that school year.
Q: Is my Thundercash contribution tax deductible? If so, will I get a donation receipt for tax reporting purposes?
A: Yes. Your contribution is 100% tax deductible. RTMS non-profit ID#: 83-0533551
Q: Can I earmark my contribution for a specific RTMSPTO program?
A: No, all contributions to the Thundercash campaign go into the general PTO account and are distributed across all of the programs that the PTO funds.
Q: Does my Thundercash contribution include my PTO membership dues?
A: Yes! As long as you contribute we will consider you a member of the RTMS PTO. As a PTO member, you are entitled to participate in PTO meetings, votes, etc.
A: You need to contact your company's HR department (or look on your company's HR website) to understand their policy regarding matching grants. Many companies do have a matching grants program and match your contribution dollar for dollar! Please check with your employer. It is a really easy way to maximize your contribution to the PTO and your child's education!
Meal Benefits Online
Child Nutrition is encouraging families to apply for Meal Benefits online at schoolcafe.com/fbisd or on their smartphone/device by downloading the SchoolCafé app from their Google Play or App Store.
SchoolCafé is user friendly; allowing parents to set account restrictions, make online payments, apply for Free/Reduced Benefits with instant approval or denial, and much more!
Families will need to create an account online to apply for Meal Benefits and to make payments to their student’s account.
Meal Applications will all be done through schoolcafe.com/fbisd. Due to the pandemic, our office will not be open for paper applicants.
Families can email MealApps@fortbendisd.com for further assistance with applications if they’re unable to fill one out online.
Plan Now for Return to Face to Face
With the implementation of new health and safety protocols on all FBISD campuses, parents should start now to prepare their students for the return to in-school instruction.
We have included useful guides that may be helpful to families, the “10 Ways to Prepare Your Child for School” one-pager, and an educational video PSA targeted to elementary students to help start the conversation about COVID-19 precautions being taken at your school.
The health and safety of our FBISD students and families remain to be our highest priority. For more information on how the district is fulfilling our mission during the COVID-19 Pandemic go to www.fortbendisd.com/reimagined.
Links: https://youtu.be/xqho-psZakk
Document: 10 Ways to Prepare Your Child for School
Tech Tips: TEAMS & Online Instructional Norms
1) Students must RSVP teacher invites for the links to appear on their TEAMS calendar.
2) As we engage in developing best practices for synchronous learning, we ask that when using MS TEAMS thundercat students:
- should have their camera on the entire time,
- microphone muted,
- engaged,
- students may turn off their camera if they need to excuse themselves briefly.
These norms will help to provide a quality learning experience for all students.
Have a thunderific week !