Thundercat Weekly

· Upcoming Dates

· Open House

· Attendance Office FAQ

· Schedule Change Request

· Student ID Badges

· RTMS 4 Point Check

· FBISD 1:1 Laptop Program

· No Tech Zone

· Attendance FAQ

· RTMS Dress Code

· Student Safety After Dismissal

· Volunteer: Walk. Watch. Repeat

· A Message from the PTO President

· PTO Spirit Wear Order

· Locker Request

· Administration Alpha Split

· Counselor Alpha Split

· Counselor’s Corner

· FCA

· Grade Level Supply List

· A-Z Back-To-School Guide

· Student Verification

· Bus Route Locator

· Carpool

· RTMS Traffic Pattern

· Volleyball PINK OUT

· Sports You App

· PE Uniforms

· RTMS Academic Update

· Registration & Moves

· School Calendar

The school year has begun with great energy, and you can feel the excitement all around!

This year is packed with opportunities for our students to explore, grow, and ignite new interests. Our dedicated staff has been diligently crafting a supportive and vibrant atmosphere where every student can excel.

Here's to an amazing year ahead at Ronald Thornton Middle School!

• August 29 – RTMS Open House, 6-8 pm
• September 2 – No School, Labor Day
• September 27 – No School
• October 9 – End of Term 1
• October 10-15 – No School
• October 16 – Start of Term 2

We are excited to invite you to our Open House on August 29, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet your child's teachers, learn about the curriculum, and explore the school environment. We look forward to seeing you there!

Lockers can be requested by completing the form here. The form will be available starting Friday, August 9 at 5 pm and will close on August 23 at 5 pm. Please allow at least one week for processing your locker request.

Students have had two weeks to learn the quickest routes to their classes, and now it's time to ensure they are in class and ready to learn.

Starting Monday, the following tardy policy will be in effect:

1st Tardy: Teacher/Student Conference
2nd Tardy: Teacher will call the parent regarding the tardies
3rd Tardy: Teacher will call the parent again regarding the tardies
4th Tardy: Student receives a referral and after-school detention
5th Tardy: Referral and after-school detention
6th Tardy (within a 9-week period): Referral, Saturday detention, and a face-to-face meeting with the student, parent, teacher, and administration

Please encourage your student to be on time and ready to learn every day!

This year, all students in the district will be provided with school ID badges.

It is mandatory for students to wear their badges at all times, both on school premises and on buses.

Currently, the only groups without badges are pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. We expect the process of photographing and creating badges for our youngest learners to be completed in the coming weeks.

The benefits of student ID badges include:

• Enhanced Campus Security: Badges allow for quick identification, helping us ensure that only authorized individuals are on campus.

• Streamlined Cafeteria and Library Transactions: Badges can be used to purchase meals and check out books, making these processes faster and more efficient.

• Integration with Stopfinder Bus Software: Bus riders will scan their badges when boarding and exiting the bus, providing parents and school staff with near real-time information on bus arrival times and confirming that students are on the correct bus.

Important Note: The district is currently in Phase 1 of implementing the Stopfinder bus software. During this phase, we are working to ensure the system provides the most accurate data to parents and school staff.

In Phase 2, we will activate the parent app. Parents will receive a notification when the app is available for download.

As we gear up for a fantastic new school year, let's make sure we're all set for a smooth start each day. Follow these simple steps when entering the building:

We’re thrilled to announce that Fort Bend ISD is launching a 1:1 laptop program for all secondary students (grades 6-12) starting in the 2024-25 school year! Each student will receive a laptop! This initiative will enhance learning, boost engagement, and prepare students for the future. We’re excited to see how this program will support and inspire our students!

Click here for more details.

To keep our Thundercats engaged, focused, and learning, RTMS will be a no-tech zone during school hours. Please help us enforce the following rules:

Cell Phones:

• Students may bring their cell phones to school, but they must be turned off and kept out of sight from the moment they enter RTMS until dismissal at 4:10 pm.
• If a student is seen with a cell phone during the school day, the phone will be confiscated.
• On the third confiscation, there will be a $10 fee to retrieve the phone, and a parent/guardian must come to the school to collect it.
• Cell phones may only be used before and after school.

Headphones:

• Earbuds and wireless headphones should not be brought to school.
• Headphones may only be used with district-issued laptops for instructional purposes.
• To ensure students can hear instructions and participate effectively, please avoid using music or noise-canceling headphones during class.

Get ready to capture the memories.

Picture Day is just around the corner!

Make sure your student is dressed in their best and brings their brightest smile.

Capture the memories of this school year by ordering your yearbook today! Yearbooks are now on sale, so be sure to reserve your copy early. You can place your order directly through this link.

Have questions about attendance? Our Attendance Office FAQ section has the answers you need! From reporting absences to understanding attendance policies, we’ve got you covered.

The full FBISD dress code is located in the Student Code of Conduct. Some highlights include:

• No midriff (stomach or back) showing.
• No hoods, hats, caps, doo-rags, wave caps, bonnets, or bandanas.
• No pajamas, house shoes, or slippers.
• Short length may be “slightly above midthigh.”

Students should dress comfortably for all required school activities including sitting in chairs or stools, working in groups at tables or on the floor, walking from class to class, and walking up and down stairs. Please review the FBISD Dress Code prior to the start of the school year to ensure your student is in school-appropriate attire.

Attention Parents: RTMS dismissal begins at 4:10 PM. To ensure the safety of all students, please make sure your child is picked up by 4:45 PM. Please be aware that any students not picked up by 4:45 PM will be unsupervised in the front of the building.

Walk. Watch. Repeat. is a great way for parents to get involved at Ronald Thornton Middle School! We need volunteers to help keep our campus safe and welcoming by being extra eyes and ears throughout the school day. Your presence makes a big difference, and it’s a fun way to connect with our school community. We’d love to have you on our team!

Hello Thundercat Families,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! My name is Betsy George, and I'm honored to serve as your PTO President. The RTMS PTO Board is filled with an amazing group of volunteers who have worked hard this summer to prepare for the upcoming school year. We are excited to serve our students and teachers! There will be many opportunities for you to volunteer as well—​check out our PTO website. Facebook pages and newsletter for the most up to date information on how to get involved. Please feel free to reach out at any time at rtmspresident@gmail.com.

Go Thundercats!

Betsy George

RTMS PTO President

Get into the school spirit and support RTMS by purchasing our spirit wear! We have a variety of items available, including t-shirts, hoodies, and hats, perfect for displaying your school pride. Your purchase helps fund important PTO activities and cheer on our teams.

To order, please CLICK HERE.

Beginning this year, students in Fort Bend ISD will complete NWEA MAP computer-adaptive assessments three times a year to gain information about what students know and what they are ready to learn next. MAP also gives insight into how students are growing academically, allowing you to track your student's progress throughout the school year and across multiple years. Families will have access to their child's results after each testing window. NWEA MAP is replacing Renaissance 360. For more information, visit the NWEA Family Toolkit linked here or contact your child’s teacher.

This school year, RTMS is implementing a new grade level split to better serve our students.

To enhance our support for students, RTMS counselors will now be assigned based on the first letter of students' last names. We're excited to offer more tailored support for every Thundercat!

Hello RTMS Families!

We hope your first week back has been smooth and successful!

Our counseling team is excited to support your students throughout this year, helping them navigate new challenges and seize every opportunity for growth.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. Let's make this a fantastic year together!

Mark your calendars! FCA is kicking off the year on September 6 at 8:10 AM in the library. We're excited to have Coach Rick LaFavers from RPHS Football join us to start the year with a bang! Bring a friend and come be part of the fun. For more information, reach out to Coach Barger at Dana.Barger@fortbendisd.gov.

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, please check the specific supply list for your child's grade level. Having the right supplies ensures that every student is ready for a successful start.

For up to date information, please see the FBISD Back to School Website for information throughout the summer.

To prepare for the upcoming school year, we ask all parents to log into Family Access and update their student's information forms. This update is required for all students, whether returning or new to Fort Bend ISD.

Get ready for the 2024-2025 school year with FBISD Bus Route Locator! Follow the link to enter your address and access the latest bus route details: Bus Route Locator.

To help reduce traffic and ensure a smooth drop-off and pickup experience, we encourage families to carpool whenever possible. By sharing rides, we can minimize congestion and get students into the building faster so they can focus on learning. Thank you for your cooperation and support!

To ensure the safety of our Thundercats, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Use the designated car rider line for drop-off and pickup. Enter by passing RTMS, making a U-turn on Water's Lake Blvd, and turning right into the driveway. This change helps avoid traffic congestion at the Sienna Parkway light.

• Do not drop off or pick up students on Water's Lake Blvd or in the shared DLE/RTMS parking lot. This helps keep traffic moving smoothly and ensures everyone's safety.

• At dismissal, all walkers and bikers must cross Water's Lake Blvd at the crosswalk by the flagpole. A crossing guard will be available to assist if needed.

With 1,800+ Thundercats in our school, following these procedures is crucial for maintaining a safe and efficient environment. Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our students and community safe!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it's time to show your support! RTMS PINK OUT shirts are on sale for just $10. Wear your shirt proudly during our PINK OUT games and spirit days throughout October.

Order now to ensure delivery by October 1st!

Order Here

Important: When placing your order, please include your child's first period teacher's name in the "Delivered to" section.

For more information, contact Coach Barger at Dana.Barger@fortbendisd.gov.

To stay updated on all RTMS sports activities, join the Sports You group for your child:

• Boys Sports: Use code GEMN4S2U
• Girls Sports: Use code 4J5U-RAQH

Join the group to receive important updates and information throughout the season.

PE Uniforms are sold out. We have placed a new order that should be in with in the next couple of weeks. As soon as uniforms are delivered we will fulfill all the unfulfilled orders.

Cost: $20 Total

• $10 for shirts
• $10 for shorts

Purchase Options:

1. Online: Purchase Here
   • Print your receipt – Do NOT email the receipt to the PE teacher!
2. Cash or Check:
   • Make payable to RTMS
   • Send your cash or check with your student the week of August 12-16

Uniform Distribution:

• Students need a receipt or screenshot of receipt to pick up uniforms if ordered online
• Do NOT email receipt to the PE teacher

Dress Code:

• All students MUST dress out for PE
• If not purchasing a PE uniform, students must bring long shorts and a t-shirt in school colors (purple, gold, white, grey)
• No sleeveless shirts allowed

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, it is important to keep in mind that the purpose of school is to provide a solid academic foundation. Over the past few years (post-pandemic), we have noted some areas of concern and new academic trends. Two areas students continue to struggle with are mastering their basic math facts (multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction) and writing sentences, paragraphs, and essays. By sharing this observation with you all, my hope is that you can help maintain these skills over the summer with the resources below.

Registration is open for the 24-25 School Year. Please help encourage family, friends, and neighbors to register HERE as soon as possible to ensure the appropriate number of teachers are in place to start the year. Currently enrolled students do not need to reenroll. If you are moving over the summer, please email Christine.Gruber@fortbendisd.com to update your address.

As you begin planning vacations for the upcoming year, please review the 2024-25 FBISD Academic Calendar. Keep in mind that family trips and vacations are considered unexcused absences. It is no secret that our students learn best when they are here for us to teach them.

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/RTMSThundercats
• Website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/rtms
• RTMS PTO https://www.rtmspto.net/

• Schoology Support for Parents

• School Cafe (Lunch Accounts)

• FBISD Volunteer Application & Background Check

Website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/rtms
Location: 1909 Water Lakes Blvd., Missouri City, TX 77459
Phone: (281) 327-3870