Thundercat Weekly

Hello Thundercat Families,

Celebrate:

Good Luck to our Tennis Team this weekend!

Congratulations Morgan on your Bayou City Art win! #PRIDE

RTMS will be receiving the NO PLACE FOR HATE designation for the 2022-2023 school year. This is exciting news for Thundercat Country!

Message from ADL

• Thank you for building a learning community of inclusivity, respect, and equity. We are pleased to announce your NPFH Designation for the 2022-2023 school year. You are eligible to receive a Banner with your school's name and a Star to add to your current banner.

Soccer started this week!

Band is traveling to Indianapolis! Safe travels and have a fantastic time!

Thundergames is coming soon- April 28th, 5:30-8:30 pm! Thundergames Registration Link

Upcoming Events:

2023 RTMS STAAR Dates- are available on our campus website Ronald Thornton Middle School

FBISD Bond election- Early Voting begins April 24-May 2. Election day is May 6.

Fort Bend ISD will hold its annual Special Education Transition Resource Fair on Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fair will be at the James Reese Career and Technical Center (12300 University Blvd., Sugar Land, 77479).

Safety-

Parents of 6th-grade students: Over the last week we encouraged and supported our 6th graders to show us they can have free seating at lunch. Unfortunately, we cannot implement free seating daily. Safety is our number priority and while many of the 6th graders are meeting the expectations, we need them all to show us we can maintain our high expectations of safety while eating in the cafeteria. Lunch expectations include standing orderly in the lunch line, not bringing outside food in the lunch line, keeping our hands to ourselves, asking for permission to move around the cafeteria, and talking at a reasonable volume. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to meet the expectations set at RTMS. If you are interested in volunteering for our campus walk, watch, repeat team please email walkwatchrepeat@gmail.com. You can be a parent volunteer on campus to help us monitor the hallways, restroom, and cafeteria.

As we head further into spring please help us by having conversations with your child regarding the importance in bus safety, walking, bike riding and paying close attention to traffic and their surroundings. There is quite a bit of traffic surrounding our schools and having the students be aware of their surroundings is critical to safety.

FBISD Wellness: In collaboration with the School Health Advisory Council (SHAC), the district will host a wellness fair on April 5th at Marshall High School from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm to provide students, staff, and their families with information and resources to support their mental and behavioral health needs. All FBISD students, families, and staff are invited. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from three guest speakers who will provide information and resources for families with students experiencing mental health and behavioral health challenges. Following the speaker presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to interact with various local mental and behavioral health vendors.

Links: FBISD Whole Child Health Webpage ; April 5th Wellness Fair Flyer; April 5th Wellness Fair Flyer (Spanish)

As a part of the Whole Child Health Initiative, Fort Bend ISD is excited to present our April parent webinar: “Social Media & Your Digital Footprint”. This webinar will equip parents and caregivers will with tools to help your students use social media in healthy ways and understand the impact of their digital footprints. The parent webinar will be held on Wednesday, April 19th at 6 p.m. Whole Child Health, focuses on Whole Child Health, is aligned with FBISD's Profile of a Graduate, and is committed to supporting and developing the mental, behavioral, social, emotional, and physical health of all students in FBISD.

Links: Social Media & Your Digital Footprint Webinar Link; FBISD Whole Child Health Webpage

RTMS has created the Ronald Thornton Award. Our school was named after Fort Bend ISD bandleader Ronald Thornton. People who knew Mr. Thornton described him as an exemplar of passion, practice, and perseverance.

This award will honor an 8th grade student that exhibits the qualities of the RTMS Vision, Mission and Core Beliefs; who practices Passion, Practice and Perseverance; and lives by the attributes of the FBISD Profile of a Graduate in school and in the community.

If you’re in 8th grade and this describes you, then stop by the counselor’s suite and pick up an application. All applications are due no later than April 12, 2023 at 4:10pm

Reminder: Students vs. Faculty Basketball Game April 6th. Ticket sales will be online for one day only April 4th @ 6:00 p.m. We will only sell 400 tickets.

Cost: $5.00 Your child must have their ID badge, No Office Referrals from 3/1- 4/6. The link will be sent to the community on April 4th.

It's time to pick your teams and rally your pride. Thunder Games is on for Friday, April 28 at 5:30 pm! Get muddy, play games, and have fun!

Max of 6 students per team. Registration fee is per person and includes a team shirt, string bag with snacks and goodies, and a wristband for inflatables.

Event date: Friday, April 28, 2023. Registration fee is $30 per student.
Deadline to register is April 5th or once all spots are filled (whichever comes first!)
Students may also raise funds to earn additional prizes, and the registration fee counts as their first donation towards earning those prizes.

https://forms.office.com/r/xVcXPG0h5M

4/29 at Reese Center

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Hello Parents,

Please see the student safety and accountability reminders below:

3rd Party Food Deliveries- No outside food deliveries for students will be accepted, (Grubhub, Postmates, Ubereats, Doordash. etc,

Student ID- Worn daily around the neck with the grade-specific lanyard. Use the link below to purchase lost/misplaced ID for your child. ($5)

https://fortbendisd.revtrak.net/FBISD-Schools-1082/ms/thornton-ms/rtms-fines-fees/#/v/rtms-student-id-replacement-fee

10/10 Rule – Students are not able to leave the classroom during the first and last 10 minutes of class due to the importance of this time in the lesson cycle.

Out of Area - Students should only go to their assigned classroom for each class or at any time during the school day. This is a safety violation and a discipline referral will be entered.

Cell phones/Earbuds – Shall be kept in backpacks during the school day. If they are out, on or seen they will be confiscated. The only exception is for teacher-led instruction.

• Please note the 3rd offense will require a $10 fee. Refusal to give phone/earbuds for confiscation when out, on, or seen will result in a discipline referral.

Dress code- Students must wear appropriate length shorts/shirts No hoodies. No midriffs showing.

Thank you for you help in addressing these reminders with your children,

• Get a good night’s rest. Researchers have said that for optimum sleep we should put away all electronic devices at least 2 hours before we go to sleep.
• Get up in time for a good breakfast. Give the body and brain the fuel it needs for the coming day.
• We recommend that all electronic devices (cell phones, iPads, personal laptops) be left at home on the day of their STAAR tests. If they must be brought to school remind your student that they must be turned in and turned off for the duration of the test. Failure to do so will cause their test to be voided and disciplinary actions taken.
• On the day of all STAAR testing there will be no lunch deliveries to testing classes or visitors allowed in the building during lunch periods. This is for test security and to eliminate any distractions for those testing.

The following are the FBISD guidelines on ID’s, which also included consequences pertaining to various ID infractions.

Wearing Student Badges

All students are required to visibly display their Student ID badge during normal school hours while on campus. The badge must be worn above the waist with the student’s picture clearly visible. Exceptions are afforded for students participating in vigorous activity related to recess or a PE credit class.

Student Badge Use

Student badges provide access to services within the building, including the following access/check-ins:

• Cafeteria meal payments
• Library services
• Entrance to campus events (dances, pep rallies, )
• Entrance to games

Student Badge Replacement

There are several reasons a student might need a replacement badge and no badge replacement fee will be required for the following circumstances:

• Student enrolls at a new campus

• Student appearance changes significantly
• Legal name change

Students are expected to turn in their old ID when a new one is provided.

Students who lose their badge will be offered temporary identification. If the old badge cannot be located replacement fees may be required.

Temporary Identification – Secondary Students Only

If a secondary student arrives at school without a badge, they will be given a temporary wristband to wear during the school day at the beginning of their first period on campus. The student must wear the wristband all day. The student’s name is recorded by the issuing staff member to assist with tracking.

MISPLACED/LOST BADGE

1st-3rd Offense

• Recorded in Skyward but not a referral
• Student given temporary wristband

4th Offense

• Recorded as discipline referral consequence assigned
• Parent contact
• Student pays $5 for new printed badge

5th Offense and Beyond

• Recorded as discipline referral and detention assigned
• Parent contact
• Student pays $5 for new printed badge

DESTRUCTION OF BADGE

1st-2nd Offense

• Recorded as discipline referral in Skyward and detention assigned
• Student pays $5 for new printed badge
• Parent Contact

3rd Offense- Beyond

• Recorded as discipline referral additional consequences assigned
• Parent Contact
• Student pays $5 for new badge
• Assigned ISS

All fees will be entered and collected through RevTrak.

https://fortbendisd.revtrak.net/FBISD-Schools-1082/ms/thornton-ms/rtms-fines-fees/#/v/rtms-student-id-replacement-fee

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to any administrator.

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https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/cgi/sas/broker?_service=marykay&_program=perfrept.perfmast.sas&_debug=0&ccyy=2022&lev=C&id=079907055&prgopt=reports%2Fsrc%2Fsrc.sas

https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/cgi/sas/broker?_service=marykay&_program=perfrept.perfmast.sas&_debug=0&frc=yes&ccyy=2022&lev=C&id=079907055&prgopt=2019%2Ffrc%2Freport_card.sas

First and second offense, students will get their phones back at 7th period.

Third offense and beyond, parents will have to pay $10 via RevTrak and come to the campus to pick up their child’s phone.

https://fortbendisd.revtrak.net/FBISD-Schools-1082/ms/thornton-ms/rtms-fines-fees/#/list

Reminder all cell phones/earbuds/air pods must be put in student backpacks before they walk into RTMS.

We are a cell phone free zone school.

• All incoming 7th grade students for the 2023 - 2024 school year are required to obtain Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines per Texas law.
• Todos los estudiantes que ingresen al 7.º grado para el año escolar 2023 - 2024 deben obtener las siguientes vacunas Tdap y meningocócica según la ley de Texas.

Supervision is available for students daily 8:20AM- 4:30PM.

Thank you for being timely in your drop off and pick up of our thundercat students.

A student is tardy when they arrive less than five (5) minutes after the bell without a pass. Arrival after twenty (20) minutes without a pass students are truant. Each teacher will record tardies in Skyward.

Consequences:

• Tardy: Student Conference with Teacher

• 2-3 Tardies: Parent Contact by Teacher

• 4-5 Tardies: Disciplinary Referral, After School Detention

• 6+Tardies: Referral; Saturday Detention and Parent Conference

The safety of our Thundercats is top priority and we appreciate everyone adhering to our dismissal process.

Parents please be kind to our RTMS neighbors and do not drop off or pick up students in those areas. Please use our car rider line. Thank you for your understanding in keeping our Thundercats safe and our neighbors safe too.

· If you plan to drop off/pick up your student by vehicle, please remain in the RTMS designated car rider line.

1. When dropping off students for tutorials or clubs 7:50 - 8:15 am, please use the second lane crosswalk area, in the front drive, to drop off in the morning.
2. Please have students exit and enter vehicles near the front curb of the campus.

Thank you in advance for following the car rider map.

Thank you for helping to keep our thundercats safe !

Thank you for reaching out to the Ronald Thornton Middle School Attendance Office! Here are some frequent Q’s & A’s and resource information that may help address your concerns even faster:

1. What should I do if my child is absent?

If your child is absent from instruction, please attach your documentation to an email within 5 days of the absence to attendancertms@fortbendisd.com

2. I believe my child was incorrectly marked absent.
Please contact the teacher who marked the absence. If it is incorrect, the teacher will either edit the attendance or contact the attendance office to make a correction.

3. What do I do if I need to pick my child up early for an appointment?
Sign in at the Front Office with your sate issued I.D., you will get a Visitor’s Badge to the Attendance Office. Sign your student out from the Attendance Office. Please remember to bring a doctor’s note back to school the next day to allow the absence to be excused. Please make sure if you (parent or guardian) are sending another person to pick-up your student/s, they are listed on the emergency contacts.Students will not be released if they are not on the emergency contact.

4. What if I need to add someone on my student/s emergency contact for early pick-up?

Email Christine.gruber@fortbendisd.com the name, number and relationship to student/s with a copy of your ID.

5. What is the latest I can pick-up my student?

Student pickup is suspended from 3:40 p.m-4:10 p.m.

6. Do I need to call when my student is absent?

No, calls are considered a courtesy but not an excuse please follow up with a written note or medical note in order for absence to be excused.

7. Why is the absence still showing unexcused?
Once documentation is submitted, it can take up to 48 hours to show in Skyward.

8. What information should be included in the absence note?

Please include first name and last name, grade level, reason for absence.

9. How many days can my student be absent before they need a Medical Note?

According to the FBISD Parent/ Student Handbook, a student can be absent 4 consecutive days with a parent written excuse after the 5th day a medical note will need to be provided.

10. My student is sick and leaving from the clinic, do I need to sign out from the Attendance Office?

You will sign your student out from the Clinic only if the nurse or nurse’s assistant has spoken with you. The nurse will let the Attendance Clerk know and your student will be excused for the missed classes.

If the Nurse or Nurse Assistant does not inform you to pick your student up from the clinic then you will need to sign your student out from the Attendance Office and the student will be called from class.

11. Can my student wait for me in the entrance, if they know I am coming to pick them up?

Due to safety reasons and constant flow of entering and exiting the building, please DO NOT have your student wait for you in the entrance of the school.

12. My child forgot an item (lunch, band instrument, technology, etc.) at home, how can I get it to them?

We do not deliver items to students. Student will not be called out of class to retrieve items. A table is set up in the vestibule, where you are able to drop the item off, text your student the item is at the front of the school on the table. If allowed by the teacher they may come or during passing period to pick item up.

#AttendanceCounts

• Free and reduced lunch forms open on August 1. It can be completed at www.schoolcafe.com/fbisd. Families must complete an application for each school year.
• Meal prices for 2022-23 School Year:
• Student Breakfast: $2.00
• Secondary Lunch: $3.00
• Parents may put money in student’s accounts PRIOR to the 1st day of school to avoid longer lunch lines at the start of school.

Please refrain from parking in the neighborhood across from Ronald Thornton Middle School. Violators will be ticketed.

Please understand that we cannot honor requests for students to ride bus routes other than their own designated route. Students who do not have bus-riding privileges will not be able to ride the bus with their bus-riding friends. Therefore, please plan accordingly so that everyone experiences a smooth dismissal each school day.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RTMSThundercats

Website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/rtms

Join the official Thornton ThunderCats Facebook page!
Please visit and join us HERE.

RTMS

Website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/rtms
Location: 1909 Waters Lake Boulevard, Sienna, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 327-3870
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1648470585359225
Twitter: @RTMSThundercats

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