Thundercat Weekly

· Upcoming Dates

· RTMS Daily 4 Point Check

· Student ID Badges & Lanyards

· Replacement of Student ID

· 6th Grade Social

· Trend Alert: Backpack Tags

· Cell Phone Policy

· NO TECH ZONE AT RTMS

· Tardies

· Dress Code

· Student Laptops

· Yearbooks

· Attendance Office FAQ

· Crawford High School Dance Team

· Career Readiness Roadmap

· Student Safety After Dismissal

· Volunteer at RTMS

· PTO

· THUNDERCASH

· Purchase RTMS Spirit Wear

· MAP Assessments

· Administration Alpha Split

· Counselor Alpha Split

· Counselor’s Corner

· Level Down Information

· Bus Route Locator

· Sports You

· PE

· Lady Cats Basketball Tryouts

· FCA Update

· Student Council

· School Calendar

· PE uniforms

It's inspiring to see our students' enthusiasm and positive spirit in every activity. Their eagerness to embrace new challenges is truly commendable. We're excited for the learning ahead and are committed to supporting each student's growth.

Thank you for being part of this amazing journey at Ronald Thornton Middle School!

With the school year already in full swing, let’s make sure each day begins smoothly. Please follow these simple steps when entering the building

Each student has received an ID badge, which must be worn around their necks daily. Please make sure that no stickers are placed over their photos, as these IDs are essential for bus rides, lunch purchases, and library checkouts. Students should use the correct color lanyard:

Red-6th Grade

Blue-7th Grade

Green-8th Grade

Your assistance in reinforcing this policy is greatly appreciated.

Please remind your students of the following regarding their lanyards

• Do not swing or disconnect lanyards to avoid damage.
• The plastic sleeve is meant for the student ID only; extra items can cause it to tear.
• If needed, a sturdier sleeve can be provided, but students must use the campus-issued, color-specific grade-level lanyard.

If your child needs a replacement ID badge due to loss or damage, there is a $5.00 fee. Here’s how the process works:

1. Submit a Request: Use the Microsoft form to enter your child’s name and ID number.
2. Fee Assignment: The campus will assign the $5.00 fee to your student’s Skyward account.
3. Payment: Payments can only be made online through Skyward. Please do not use cash, check, money order, or the school’s Revtrak webstore.

For detailed instructions on finding and paying the fee in Skyward, please refer to the job aid provided.

Get ready for the 6th Grade Social! To be eligible to attend, students must have no referrals from September 23 to October 18. Let's make great choices and enjoy a fun evening together!

Backpack tags are becoming a trend among students, but they’ve been causing some disruptions at school. We ask that you remind your student to avoid removing tags from others' backpacks and to keep their hands to themselves. As always, it's best practice to leave valuable items at home to prevent any issues.

Thank you for your support in keeping our school environment focused and respectful!

• 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.
• It is the student's responsibility to inform their parent that their cell phone has been confiscated.
  
• Cell phones may only be used before and after school.

Getting to class on time is crucial for student's success; repeated tardiness will result in consequences that may affect your child's academic progress.

• 1st Tardy: Teacher/Student Conference
• 2nd Tardy: Teacher contacts the parent regarding the tardies
• 3rd Tardy: Teacher follows up with another call to the parent
• 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! Let's work together to ensure a successful and punctual school year

The full FBISD dress code can be found in the Student Code of Conduct. Key points to remember:

• Midriffs (stomach or back) must be covered.
• Hoods, hats, caps, do-rags, wave caps, bonnets, and bandanas are not allowed.
• Pajamas, house shoes, and slippers are not permitted.
• Shorts should be no shorter than slightly above mid-thigh.

Students should dress comfortably for all school activities, including sitting in chairs or stools, working in groups, moving between classes, and navigating stairs. Please review the FBISD Dress Code before the school year begins to ensure your student is dressed appropriately for school.

RTMS students have received their laptops! Please make sure your child charges their laptop every night and brings it to school each day. As laptops will be used in all classes, it's crucial that they are brought to school daily

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 Crawford HS Flairs Dance Team invites all middle school students interested in dance or joining a dance team to our Varsity game on October 10th! I've attached a flyer with all the details about this event. We hope to see many RTMS students joining us and dancing in the stands!

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

Show your school pride! Don’t miss out on purchasing our exclusive spirit wear. From t-shirts to hoodies, we have a variety of options to help you and your student represent RTMS in style. Visit our online store today and gear up for a spirited year ahead!

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!

We’re thrilled to announce our upcoming Parent Boot Camp! This event is designed to provide valuable tools and strategies to help support your child’s educational journey.

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 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:

• $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

Tryouts for the Lady Cats Basketball team will be held on October 21, 22, and 23.

• 7th Grade: 4:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• 8th Grade: 6:45 a.m. – 8:10 a.m.

All athletes must have a completed physical exam submitted and all FBISD Electronic Forms completed to be eligible.

Important Details:

• Athletes must attend all three days of tryouts to be considered for the team.
• Required items for tryouts:
  • Physical exam dated after April 1, 2024
  • Completed Rank One Electronic Forms

Helpful Links:

• Physical Exam Information
• Complete Electronic Forms

Please note, athletes must upload their physical exam to Rank One. No paper copies will be accepted.

We had a fantastic turnout at our recent FCA meeting—thank you to everyone who joined us!

Our next gathering will be on Thursday, October 3. Be sure to connect with our SportsYou group using the code E8S74MXK.

Exciting news: FCA shirts are now available for purchase! You can order yours here.

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

Looking forward to seeing you at the next meeting!

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