Rice Middle School eNews
Monday, April 8, 2019
National Assistant Principals Week
This week is National Assistant Principals Week. We want to thank our wonderful assistant principals, Sara McCutchen and Kendyl Zimmerman, for their hard work and dedication to making Rice a great school and for brightening our students' days.
Here are some ideas on ways to show your appreciation:
https://www.nassp.org/recognition/national-assistant-principals-week/
STAAR Testing Begins Tomorrow!
Please keep these dates in mind as you are making plans. If your child has an appointment on any of the testing days that affects him or her, please try to change the appointment.
STAAR Testing Dates:
- April 9th: 7th Grade Writing & 8th Grade Math
- April 10th: 8th Grade Reading
- May 7th: Algebra 1 EOC
- May 13th: 6th & 7th Grade Math & 8th Grade Science
- May 14th: 6th & 7th Grade Reading & 8th Grade Social Studies
May 15th: STAAR Math 8 Retest
May 16th: STAAR Reading 8 Retest
*The adjusted schedules for those days will be sent out when testing nears.
A few reminders about testing days:
- Students should NOT attend school on a testing day if they are sick. Please follow the district guidelines for illness and keep your child home, if needed.
- Students are expected to follow the dress code, even on testing days. Pajama bottoms, slippers, etc. are not acceptable. Pillows and blankets are also not allowed into the testing room.
- Students are not allowed to have electronic devices in the testing room. This includes cell phones, smartwatches, earpods, and e-readers, such as Kindles and Nooks.
- Students are encouraged to bring a hardback or paperback book with them on the day of testing.
- We will have make-up testing days after each test.
- Campus will be closed on each testing day.
Please contact the Rice Counseling if you have any questions: 469-752-6015
8th Grade Celebration and Student/Staff Games
The 8th Grade Volleyball and Basketball student vs. staff games will take place after school on Friday, May 10th. More information to follow.
End of Year Planning & Semester Exams
Please be aware of our end of year calendar when making travel arrangements. The last day of school is May 24th and finals are given May 21st-24th. STAAR and End of Course Exams will take place from May 7th-17th. Due to State testing, students will be unable to take their exams early. Students will need to be present during part or all of the week of May 20th in order to complete their school year. We appreciate your understanding and support in making your child's school year successful!
Congratlutions to Rice's Band, Orchestra, and Choir Students!
Rice's Choir Hits a High Note!
On Saturday, many of our 7th and 8th grade students auditioned for the All-Region Choir, and 49 of our students earned a spot in this year's choir (the most ever from any school in our region)! We are so proud of all of the Rice students, who auditioned, for their hard work.
Congratulations to these students, Mrs. Farmer, and Ms. Young on this incredible accomplishment.
Rice Artists Paint a Sweet Picture at Junior VASE!
This past Saturday, we had 14 Rice students with 21 entries who attended the Junior VASE (Visual Art Scholastic Event) art competition at Lebanon Trail High School with other school districts in North Texas. All of our artwork got the highest score!
All the top scoring artworks that received a 4 rating are then judged again, and a very small amount are selected to receive a Platinum medal. Platinum medals are reserved for the top of the top artwork and are rare, and Rice received three!
Those platinum medals went to Audrey He, Alice Qu, and Sarah Tang for their artwork! We are so proud of all of our Rice art students and Miss Lin for their hard work and achievements! Congratulations!
All Sports Meeting at Jasper
Attention Parents & All Boys & Girls & Interested in Playing Sports @ Jasper/Plano West:
Reminder that there is an All Sports meeting for parents & students on April 11th (Thursday) at 6:00 in the gym at Jasper H.S. .We will share information about each sport, the processes of getting into those sports, the expectations of athletes in either program, and how kids are placed at Jasper or Plano West.
If you have questions, please contact Richard Zastoupil, Jasper's Athletic Director, at richard.zastoupil@pisd.edu.
Attention Valued Parents of Students with Disabilities
The special education program is exploring ways to increase communication, training, and involvement opportunities for families of students with disabilities, and it needs your input. We encourage you to give us your voice by answering the thirteen (13) questions in this survey. We value parent input and want to know how the special education program is doing towards meeting you and your child's needs. Please click the link below that corresponds to your language of preference and complete the survey by Friday, April 26th.
English Version
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FmUyb5HJj1UBDzVdeg9Q0jXYyjKQpHPKH_oPc_6ESyU/edit
Spanish Translation
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1vGSka3qCciZyocnCaimD5BNIQ8KIYck4z6UV0KLnTjs/edit
Arabic Translation
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16sDRRb1inr-Iwl_YiHIrDFFnYc4h9BU21ZUm8cSScBg/edit
Chinese Translation
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-Wbw7vIQjqHVI8Ye9jgEcmO0G4JIaza-a0W1ue15mDo/edit
Vietnamese Translation
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18St2VVRk4xh5s5lkTEodvcNrHRI5Ww615cO2KddqWrY/edit
Telugu Translation
Hindi Translation
Urdu Translation
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HnW1Fpc_hY1gfX6i6GWY-dQVbOkFuywNf_5sGAHlnxU/edit
Rice Middle School PTA Scholarship
Rice Middle School PTA offer a scholarship to graduating high school seniors in Plano ISD who will be enrolled and attending full-time in an accredited college or university or a technical institute in the summer or fall semester immediately following the applicant’s high school graduation.
During 2018-2019 school year, Rice Middle School PTA offer one scholarship of $500. To learn more about this scholarship, please click on the link below.
PTA News
A. Calling all Volunteers
Rice Middle School need to fill board positions for 2019-2020 school year. Please email Lisa Mendiola @ volunteers@ricepta.org and help us fill in these required positions:
· VP Ways & Means
· Treasurer
B. Teacher Appreciation Take Home Meal 2018-2019
With your donations of $23.00, we can provide a Take Home Meal for our Fabulous Teachers and Staff during Teacher Appreciation Week. Please log into membership toolkit to sign up https://ricemspta.org.
C. Renew your PTA Membership for 2019-2020
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.
Important Information from Nurse Yang
Attention 6th Graders (Updated):
IMPORTANT
Please read this linked letter for required immunizations in order to enter 7th grade. A separate parent letter with your child's detail immunization requirements was mailed to you in March 2019. These immunizations are required for 7th grade enrollment and due by last day of school, 5/24/2019. You can also view your child's current immunization record on file with the school on https://parentviewer.pisd.edu/. Your child will not be able to pick up their 7th grade schedule if these immunizations are not up-to-date.
Flu Season Is Here!
To learn more about seasonal influenza, please click on the link below:
https://www.pisd.edu/cms/lib/TX02215173/Centricity/Domain/233/Influenza2014-2018A.pdf
Guidelines for Exclusion due to Communicable Disease
Communicable Diseases – Exclusion from school for health reasons
Student Events for the Next Two Weeks
Tuesday, April 9
- 7th Writing STAAR
- 8th Grade Math STAAR
Wednesday, April 10
- 8th Grade Reading STAAR
Thursday, April 11
- AVID Interviews
Friday, April 12
- Welcome to Band Bash - Rice - 4:00
Monday, April 15
- City Track Meet Pre-Lims - Kimbrough Stadium - 4:30
Tuesday, April 16
- RMS Poetry Slam - Rice - 3:45
- City Track Meet Finals - Kimbrough Stadium - 4:00
Wednesday, April 17
- 6th Grade Choir Practice - 3:45
Thursday, April 18
- Plano ISD Soccer Festival - 3:00 - Russell Creek Park
Friday, April 19 and Monday April 22
- NO SCHOOL!
Plano Senior Summer Speech and Debate Camp
2019 Lady Wolves Summer Basketball Clinics
2019 PLANO WEST SUMMER BASKETBALL CLINICS
To learn more about this event, click on the link below:
Plano West Swim & Dive Team News
Tryouts & Mandatory Parent Meeting
There will be a mandatory Parent Meeting for all parents of students interested in trying out for the Plano West Swim and Dive team: Thursday, April 25th, at 7 pm in the Presentation Room at Plano West. The team is open to students attending Jasper, Shepton and West for the 2019-2020 school year. Swimmers are encouraged to attend this meeting.
New Swimmer Stroke Clinic
New Swimmer Stroke Clinic will be held Saturday, April 27th from 7- 8:30 AM at Tom Muehlenbeck Center. This is for any swimmer who is not currently on the Plano West Swim Team. The stroke clinic will start promptly at 7am. Please RSVP to Coach Looney at Allison.looney@pisd.edu or Coach Poland at Amanda.poland@pisd.edu. Swimmers will need suits, goggles, and caps. The try-out will be a swim practice designed to assess the swimmers' competitive swimming skills (including all strokes), ability to work as a part of a team, and competitive drive.
Please check the Plano West swimming webpage for more details.
*If you currently are receiving accommodations for a disability under Section 504 or Special Education and believe your need an accommodation in order to have equal access to participate in [tryouts/activity], please let [coach/sponsor] know as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours before the tryouts are scheduled.
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