Thundercat Weekly
Parent Newsletter - August 7-- August 11, 2023
Newsletter Contents
- RTMS Parents To-Do List
- Important Dates
- Arrival/Dismissal
- Counselors Welcome Letter
- Volleyball Tryouts Information
- Volleyball Open Gym
- RTMS Football Update
- Picture Day Flyer
- Online Student Verification
- School Supply List
- School Cafe
- Free and Reduced Lunch information
- Bus Transportation
- Student Dress Code
- Immunization information
- PE Uniforms
- Yearbook Information
- Cell Phone Policy
- School Hours
- Locker Request Form
- Thunder Camp Presentation
- Thunder Camp FAQ
Parent To-Do List
1. Complete Online Student Verification – one per student Skyward Family Access
2. Subscribe to the PTO Newsletter to stay informed https://www.rtmspto.net/
3. Submit a 2023-24 FBISD Volunteer Application HERE
4. Add money to School Café Account https://www.schoolcafe.com/fbisd
6. Obtain school supplies https://www.fortbendisd.com/Page/10557. On Tuesday, August 8 please review your child's schedule in Skyward. Please send your child to school with their 1st-period information. A complete schedule will be shared with all students during 1st period.
Important Dates
August 9 – First Day of School
August 24 – VIPS Coffee, 9:30 in the Cafeteria
August 21- Locker Request Due
August 31- Open House (Updated from original date communicated)
Arrival/Dismissal
The safety of our Thundercats is a top priority and we appreciate everyone adhering to our arrival and 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. (Please see the map below)
- 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 them off in the morning.
- 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!
Counselors Welcome Letter
Hello Thundercats!!!
Welcome to Ronald Thornton Middle School!! We are so excited to have you here!! This year is going to be amazing!! So many exciting experiences will happen this year and together we can proudly say that we are a part of it all!!
The counseling office would like to take some time to introduce ourselves to you and share some pertinent information with you.
At RTMS we are blessed to have 3 amazing counselors. Our 6th-grade counselor and lead is Ms. Jefferson. She has extensive experience working with students in the mental health as well as educational arena. She has worked in FBISD for over 20 years and in middle school for the past 10 years. Our 7th-grade counselor is Mrs. Torres. She has a wealth of knowledge in middle school and counseling. Our 8th-grade counselor is Ms. Green. She has worked in education for over 9 years.
Counselors will be visiting classrooms within the first few weeks of school to introduce themselves to students and to share information about our office and programming. We look forward to meeting and getting to know your students.
Elective Change and Level-Up Requests
Many parents have begun inquiring about schedule changes. FBISD adopted a process for elective changes. We will begin implementing this process beginning on the first day of school. Students may now submit a request to change a course only during the first nine days of school. The RTMS counselors will be accepting requests from Wednesday, August 9 at 9:00 am through Monday, August 21 at 4:00 pm. The links will not work until Wednesday, August 9 at 9:00 am and the link will no longer work on Monday, August 21 at 4:00 pm. Please use the grade-level-appropriate link to request a change.
6th Grade Link
7th Grade Link
8th Grade Link
*This document is not to be used for requests for level-down changes (Pre-AP vs. On-level). FBISD policy says that these requests can only be made after the first 3 weeks of school. We will send out a different email later explaining that process, so as to not confuse you with two different processes.
Sincerely,
RTMS Counseling Department
Volleyball Tryouts
For anyone interested in trying out for volleyball, tryouts will occur August 14- 16. 8th-grade tryouts will be held in the morning from 6:45- 8:20 am and 7th-grade will be after school from 4:20- 6:00 pm. If your child plans to tryout, they MUST have their physical uploaded to Rank One and all 3 Rank One forms must be completed by a parent or guardian.
Please visit https://www.rankonesport.com/content/Parent/Parent to see if your child is clear. ( when uploading physical or completing forms, please add a Zero in front of your child's ID number)
All girls need knee pads and will be given a shirt to wear during tryouts. Attendance is MANDATORY on all three days of tryouts. Please fill out the form below if you plan to tryout.
Dana Barger
Thornton Middle School
Athletic Coordinator
Volleyball Open Gym
There will be a Volleyball Open Gym held after school on Thursday, Aug 10 from 4:30- 5:30 for 7th and 8th-grade girls interested in trying out. Girls wanting to attend need to bring athletic clothes, tennis shoes, knee pads, and water. They will report to the girl's locker room at dismissal, change and meet on the gym floor by 4:30. If your child plans to stay, they MUST have transportation home, pick-up time is 5:30 and will be outside the gym doors.
RTMS Football Update
Hello parents and team,
We have some important information for you all. We are having our equipment pick up this Saturday at RTMS Boys' gym on the 5th from 9 am - 11 am. If you have completed your physical completed, please bring me the form.
We will also be having our PARENT TEACHER meeting AT RTMS boy's gym on the 7th from 6 pm-7 pm. I encourage you to bring your child. We're looking forward to meeting everyone and providing you with the information you'll need to help us have a successful year.
Coach Williams
Picture Day Flyer
Online Student Verification
The Student Verification process for the 2023-24 school year is OPEN! To complete Online Student Verification, log on to Skyward Family Access. Parents can access the forms electronically by clicking “2023-24 Student Verification” on the Home column to the left. Please note, each enrolled student requires a separate submission of forms. To submit the forms, parents must click “Submit 2023-24 Student Verification” once all forms have a green checkmark by them. Upon completion, the parent will receive an email confirmation from Skyward that the forms have been submitted.
NOTE: Please DO NOT submit a “New Student Online Enrollment” application for returning students. Only the forms in the “2023-24 Student Verification” section should be submitted.
It is VERY important that you take this opportunity to update your contact information: email, phone number, and home address. Once the verification window closes, changes to your personal information can only be made by emailing a request to our registrar.
School Supplies
SchoolCafe
We use SchoolCafé to:
- Make Payments
- Set up Auto Pay
- Set Purchase Restrictions
- Get Low Balance Alerts
- Submit Meal Applications
- View Letters
- View Purchases
- View Menus
Free and Reduced Meal Program
To receive free or reduced-priced meals in the current school year, your child(ren) must have a current school year approved meal application or current school year Direct Approval/Certification Notice on file in the Child Nutrition Department even if they were approved for meal benefits in the previous school year.
Parents and Guardians are responsible for any charges incurred by their children in the cafeteria. This includes the meal charges while applications are being processed for meal benefits until they are approved.
It is important to include all household members and students on the application even if they choose not to participate in the program.Free and Reduced Benefits. Students and families may receive discounted fees for various programs at school and at home. The District also receives more grant money and funding for students based on the number of students approved for free and reduced-price meals. Every family can assist our District and your child’s campus by completing a Free and Reduced meal application each school year.
ONLINE APPLICATION FOR THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR WILL OPEN AUGUST 1ST. ALL APPLICATIONS ARE TO BE COMPLETED THROUGH HTTPS://WWW.SCHOOLCAFE.COM/FBISD.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE "HOW TO COMPLETE A FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEAL BENEFITS APPLICATION GUIDE".
Questions? Email mealapps@fortbendisd.com or call (281) 634-1855.
Returning Applicants
To avoid any interruption in program benefits, submit a new application for approval before September 20, 2023. FBISD does not backdate application approvals per Federal Regulations so be sure to make a timely submission of your application. Please click here to apply. Submit only one application per household.
Bus Transportation
- Route information for the 2023-2024 school year will be available August 2, 2023.
http://www.infofinderi.com/ifi/?cid=FBI-2B3JIB4YNDI
For questions and general information, please contact:
- For specific routes, contact us at: Transport.Support@fortbendisd.com.
- For special program routes, contact our Customer Care Line at (281) 634-4077.
For safety, students may ride their assigned bus only and will be discharged only at their assigned stop.
Student Dress Code
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.
Immunization Information
All students (new and returning) are required to stay up to date by receiving the necessary vaccinations in order to enroll or start school. FBISD has partnered with Fort Bend County Health Human Services and the Ibn Sina Foundation to offer back-to-school vaccination events for students. There will be vaccination events held between now and when school starts. Please see the attached 2023 Back to School Immunizations Event List for a full list of vaccination events or visit the FBISD Health Services Webpage for what immunization are required and other immunization information.
PE Uniforms
PE Uniforms will be available to purchase at Thunder Camp, or you can go online and order ahead. Please bring a picture or a copy of the receipt to uniform pick up at Thunder Camp. Uniforms are $20.
The PE Uniform link is now open:
https://fortbendisd.revtrak.net/FBISD-Schools-1082/ms/thornton-ms/rtms-pe-uniforms/#/list
If you have any questions, please contact Coach Barger- dana.barger@fortbendisd.com
Yearbook Information
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.
School Hours
Tardy Bell 8:55 AM- Please arrive by 8:45 AM to avoid being marked tardy at 8:55 AM.
Dismissal 4:10 PM to 4:20 PM
Locker Request Form
Requests will be accepted from August 4th through August 21st.
Requests will not be accepted after Monday, August 21st at 4 pm.
Thunder Camp Presentation
Thunder Camp FAQ
Lockers
1. Will 6th graders have designated lockers in hallways or in gym class?
a. Due to limited availability, lockers can be requested by a parent if a need is identified. Not all requests may be granted. A link will be shared for the request in our August 7th Newsletter.
b. 7th and 8th grade students can also request lockers.
c. Gym lockers for grades 6-8 can be reserved through the student's PE teacher.
PE
1. How often is PE and how does it work in terms of changing into PE uniforms?
a. Students attend PE daily.
b. Students will dress out in the locker room.
2. Where are regular clothes kept during class, and where do sweaty PE clothes go after class?
a. Students' regular clothes are stored in a locked designated area.
b. Many students deposit sweaty PE clothes in a drawstring backpack and place them in their locker.
Sports
1. When do 6th graders try out for sports? Do they have an opportunity to observe the practices and games to decide whether they want to join?
a. School sports are only for 7th and 8th-grade students.
b. RTMS sports schedules will be included in the weekly parent newsletter.
c. 6th-grade students are welcome to enjoy all games. However, practices are closed to the public.
Kickstart
1. Where do I purchase uniforms if my child is in the Kickstart program?
a. Students in Kickstart will be fitted for their Kickstart uniform, during the 1st week of school.
b. Parents may buy the uniform after the fitting.
Clubs
1. Are 6th graders allowed to join the student council?
a. 6th-grade students can join the student council.
Arrival & Dismissal
1. What is the process for carpool drop-off and pickup?
a. Drop and Pickup occurs at the front entrance of the campus. (See diagram below in arrival and dismissal portion of newsletter)
b. RTMS doors open at 8:20 am.
c. Dismissal starts at 4:10 pm.
Safety
1. What type of security measures does the school have in place?
a. RTMS has a full-time FBISD officer on campus.
b. Practice drills are conducted throughout the year with student and staff
c. Additional safety information can be found at https://www.fortbendisd.com/site/Default.aspx?PageID=936
2. How is bullying or harassment handled?
a. Bullying and harassment are investigated quickly and efficiently by the grade-level principal.
3. How will I receive communication in case of emergency or threats to the school? Is there a text alert system in place?
a. Communication is sent out to parents/guardians through a system called Blackboard.
i. Please ensure all telephone numbers and email addresses are accurate in Skyward to guarantee the reception of the communication.
4. If my child has an emergency and needs to be picked up asap, will he/she be able to use cell to call me?
a. Students may report to the AP suite or nurse’s clinic to contact parents in case of an emergency.
Agendas
1. Will kids receive an agenda notebook from school like in elementary school or do they need to buy one for themselves?
a. 6th-grade students will not be issued agendas.
Cell Phones
1. Electronics/ cell phone policy?
a. Cell phones should be out of sight in the student’s backpack throughout the school day.
b. Teachers will communicate when students can use their electronic devices to aid in the learning process.
2. Are smartphones/tablets required?
a. Smartphones/tablets are not required at school
b. All classrooms are outfitted with 15 laptops or iPads.
Dress Code
1. What is the dress code policy?
a. RTMS follows the dress code policy set out by FBISD.
b. Additional information regarding dress code can be found in the 2022-2023 FBISD Student Code of Conduct. We are currently awaiting the 2023-2024 updates.
School Supplies
1. When will the school supplies list be released?
a. FBISD general school supply list can be found at https://www.fortbendisd.com/Page/1055
Transition/Bell Schedule
1. How much time do students have to get to their classes?
a. Students have 5 minutes to transition to class.
2. Does RTMS have block schedules for 90min for the classes they attend, or will they attend all classes Math, Science, ELA, and History daily plus their electives daily?
a. RTMS is on a 7-period bell schedule.
Bus Transportation
1. How do we know if our child will receive bus service?
a. Bus service information can be found at https://www.fortbendisd.com/businfo
Schedules
1. When will kids be notified of their schedules?
a. Students will receive their schedules during 1st period on the first day of school.
b. Parents can view schedules in Skyward on 8//08/2023 if all verification forms are complete.
Lunch
1. What time will they have lunch? Will 6th-grade students have their own lunch separate from 7th and 8th-grade students?
a. RTMS has 4 lunches.
b. A lunch starts at 10:50 am.
c. The majority of 6th graders are in 1st and 2nd lunch.
Connect to RTMS
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RTMSThundercats
Website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/rtms
RTMS PTO https://www.rtmspto.net/
Ronald Thornton Middle School
Website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/rtms
Location: 1909 Waters Lake Boulevard, Sienna, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 327-3870
Twitter: @RTMSThundercats