Thundercat Weekly

Parent Newsletter - May 6-- May 10, 2024

Newsletter Contents

RTMS Parents To-Do List
Important Dates
Teacher Appreciation Week
Locker Clean Out
Special Education Parent Advisory Committee
Thundercat TV Episode - 19
Nurse's Corner
3rd Party Food Deliveries
Student Dress Code
Cell Phone Policy
Attendance News
Links and Resources

Parent To-Do List

1. Submit a 2023-24 FBISD Volunteer Application HERE

2. Add money to School Café Account https://www.schoolcafe.com/fbisd

3. Log on to Skyward to review your child’s grades in all classes

Important Dates

April 29, 30 & May 6, 7 ~ Girls Sports Camp 4:30-6 pm

May 2 & 3 ~ Boys Sports Camp 6:30-8 am

May 6-10 ~ Teacher Appreciation Week

May 7 ~ Athletics Parent Meeting (Commons - incoming 7th grade)

May 8 ~ School Nurse Day, 6:00 Beginning Band Concert (gym)

May 9 ~ 6:00 Choir Pop Show @ACHS

May 11 ~ Orchestra & Beginner Band Solo Concert

May 14 ~ Band Spring Concert 7:00 pm (RTMS Gym)

May 15 ~ Beginning Orchestra Spring Concert 6:00 pm (RTMS Gym)

May 20-23 ~ Final Exams (HS Credit Courses only)

Teacher Appreciation Week

Thank you to all the amazing teachers at RTMS!

Locker Clean Out

Please have all personal items removed from all assigned lockers by Friday May 10th. All items left after this date will be discarded.

Special Education Parent Advisory Committee

Campus representatives for the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) are needed for the 2024-2025 school year. SEPAC is a support network where parents can ask questions, meet other parents on the special education journey, and learn about relevant issues in the state and district that pertain to educating students with disabilities. To inquire about being a SEPAC representative, please complete the SEPAC Application Form 2024-2025.

Join the SEPAC meeting on Wednesday, May 15 @ 6pm to learn more and meet other special education parents in FBISD.

Thundercat TV

Hello!

Here is the link for TTV Ep -20

https://www.wevideo.com/view/3400743162

https://youtu.be/_IUAP40JkxU

Enjoy!

Nurse's Corner

Nurse Corner

Stop those Germs! Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick. Be sure to wash between your fingers and under your nails. Wash your hands any time they are soiled, before eating, after using the restroom, and after sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose.

Laura Dietrich, RN

School Nurse

Ronald Thornton Middle School

3rd Party Food Deliveries

Only parents or guardians may drop off food for their children. Parent deliveries should NOT be for friends of your child. All 3rd party deliveries will be turned away and not delivered. RTMS is not responsible for refunds.

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Student Dress Code

The District believes the Student Dress Code shall promote the attributes of the Profile of a Graduate. Therefore, students are expected to dress in a way that promotes respect for self and others, a safe learning environment, and honors the diversity of the learning community. Students and parent/guardians may determine the student’s personal dress and grooming standards, provided they comply with the general guidelines set forth in this Code and Board policy FNCA (Local). Generally, students shall be dressed and groomed in a manner that is clean and neat, does not cause distraction from learning, and that does not disrupt the learning environment.

The District prohibits pictures, emblems, or writings on clothing that advertise or depict tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, drugs, or any other prohibited substance.

Students must comply with the following dress and grooming standards, including in online learning platforms.

Shirts, Blouses, Sweatshirts, Sweaters, Vests

•Shirts, blouses, sweatshirts, sweaters, vests that expose undergarments and/or midriff are prohibited;

•Shirts, blouses, sweatshirts, sweaters, vests must not depict or reference alcohol, drugs, tobacco, weapons, nudity, gang affiliation, death, violence, vulgar or obscene language or images, and/or insults to race, religion, gender, or ethnicity, or other emblems or writing that may be expected to cause a material or substantial disruption of, or interference with, normal school operations.

Dresses, Jumpers, Skirts, Shorts, Skorts, Pants, and Jeans

•Dresses, jumpers, skirts, and skorts may be worn at a length that is slightly above mid-thigh;

Shorts, jeans, and all pants shall be worn at the hip or higher and must cover undergarments; •Shorts may be worn at a length that is approximately above mid-thigh; and

•Athletic wear, which may include yoga pants, stretch leggings and fitness tights, are permissible as long as they do not reveal undergarments, do not have sections of seethrough material, or are worn with a shirt that covers the posterior, or are not disruptive to the school environment.

Shoes

•Shoes shall be worn, and if designed to be tied shall be properly tied; •Elementary students shall not wear flip-flops or shoes with no back/heel strap;

•Unsafe footwear is not permitted (i.e., house shoes, slippers); and

•Appropriate shoes must be worn during PE/athletics classes, as well as during lab activities in science, CTE, etc.

Hair

•All hair, including facial hair, shall be neat, clean, and well groomed, and worn in a style that is not distractive;

•Mustaches, beards, or goatees shall be neat, clean, and well groomed, and worn in a style that does not display derogatory remarks, symbols, or statements that disrupts the learning environment. Hair markings must not depict or reference alcohol, drugs, tobacco, weapons, nudity, gang affiliation, violence, vulgar or obscene language, or images that substantially disrupt or interfere with normal school operations. Drawings, icons, and/or other markings cut into the hair, including eyebrows, and not associated with required religious markings or hairstyles are not permitted.

Miscellaneous

•Proper undergarments shall be worn at all times;

•Revealing clothing of any type may not be worn;

•No clothing that has been ripped, torn, or cut in a way as to reveal undergarments, midriff, chest, or posterior;

•Clothing including face coverings with profanity, obscene patches, references to alcohol, drugs, weapons or tobacco, or anything that may be construed as violent, vulgar or obscene

language or images, and/or insults to race, religion, gender, or ethnicity, or other emblems or writing that may be expected to cause a material or substantial disruption of, or interference with, normal school operations.

• Any attire, tattoo, icons, or markings on body, e.g. bandanas, shoelaces, chains, t-shirts, etc., that is distractive, causes a disturbance, or identifies a student as part of an unauthorized group, gang, or society are not permitted that includes but is not limited to virtual background choices. No pajama wear of any type except on-campus designated days;

• Body piercings that are distractive or that pose a safety concern are not permitted;

• No hats, caps, doo-rags, wave caps, bandanas or hoods worn indoors, except on campus designated days or during designated times permitted by the campus; and

• No sunglasses may be worn inside the building unless there is a medical note on file.

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Cell Phone Policy

We are a cell phone-free school.

Reminder: All cell phones/earbuds/air pods must be put in students' backpacks before they walk into RTMS.

Cell phones may be used for educational purposes with the teacher's permission. Students not adhering to cell phone expectations may have devices confiscated for the day. Third confiscation will result in a $10 fine through RevTrak. The parent/guardian may then retrieve the device at the campus during normal school hours after the fine has been paid.

Please speak to your child about the cell phone expectations at RTMS.

Attendance News

Below are some frequent Q & A’s and resource information from our RTMS Attendance Clerks to help alleviate your attendance concerns:

1. What should I do if my child is absent? Do I need to call the campus or my student’s teachers?

If your child is absent from instruction, please submit an excuse note (with documentation attached, if available) via email within 5 days of the absence to attendancertms@fortbendisd.com, or have your student drop a note by the attendance office. Phone calls regarding a student’s absence are considered a courtesy, but not an excuse. Please follow up with a written parent note or medical note for the absence to be excused.

2. I believe my child was incorrectly marked absent or tardy.

Please contact the teacher who marked the absence or tardy. If it is incorrect, the teacher will either edit the attendance or contact the Attendance Clerk to make the correction.

3. What is considered Tardy, Late, and/or Absent within the day?

Tardy: 19> minutes since class started

Late: <20 minutes since class started

Absent (W): <40 minutes since class started

4. How do I pick my child up early for an appointment?

Sign in at the Front Office with your state issued I.D. to get a Visitor’s Badge for the Attendance Office. Sign your student out with the Attendance Clerk. Remember to bring a doctor’s note back to school the following day for the absence to be excused. Please note that should you pick your student up during their PE class or lunch time, wait times may be longer than usual, as we are unable to contact a classroom.

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

Please arrive to the school before 3:30 pm to check your student out for an appointment. The end of the school day can be chaotic, as students are shuffling from classes to their dismissal areas; therefore, student pickup is suspended from 3:30 p.m.-4:10 p.m.

6. Can someone else pick my student up early from school?

Yes, provided they are listed as an emergency contact for your student in Skyward. To add someone to your ER contact list, email Christine.Gruber@fortbendisd.com their name, phone number, and relationship to your student, along with a copy of your ID.

7. Why is my student’s absence still showing unexcused?

Once documentation has been submitted, it can take up to 48 hours to be reflected in Skyward. Notes MUST BE SUBMITTED within 5 business days after the absence. If they are turned in outside that timeframe, the absence will still be considered unexcused.

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

Please include your student’s first name and last name, date/s of absence, grade level and reason for their 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 3 consecutive days with a parent written excuse; after the 4th day, a medical note will need to be provided.

10. My student is sick and leaving from the clinic; do I need to check out with the Attendance Office?

You will sign your student out from the clinic only if the nurse or nurse’s assistant has specifically requested that you pick up your student. The nurse will inform the Attendance Office, and your student will be excused for the missed classes. Otherwise, you may sign your student out from the Attendance Office, and they will be called directly from class.

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

Due to safety reasons and the constant flow of students entering and exiting the building, please DO NOT ask your student to wait for you at the entrance of the school. Students must be checked out according to FBISD policy.

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, nor will they be called out of class to retrieve them. A table is set up in the vestibule for parent drop-offs. Once you text your student to inform them the item is there, their teacher will determine whether they are allowed to retrieve it. If not, they can pick it up during a passing period.