Thundercat Weekly
Parent Newsletter - February 20-- February 23 2024
Newsletter Contents
- RTMS Parents To-Do List
- Important Dates
- Staff vs Student Basketball Game
- Girls Soccer
- FCA Meeting
- Tardy Sweeps
- Gifted and Talented Parent Newsletter
- Become a Thunder Games Business Sponsor
- Whole Child Health Parent Webinar – Study Habits & Test Anxiety
- School Links Guide
- Elective Applications, Links and Deadlines
- Thundercat TV Episode - 17
- Bookapalooza
- 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
February 16 ~ No School for students
February 19 ~ President’s Day – No School
March 11-15 ~ Spring Break
April 5 - Save the Date! Thunder Games 5:30-8:30 pm
Staff vs Student Basketball Game
Staff vs Students Basketball Game will take place on March 28, 2024
Students who earn a disciplinary referral between February 22 - March 28 will lose the privilege to attend. If you purchase a ticket and your child has received a referral during the timeframe above, there will be no refund.
Only 300 tickets will be sold
Ticket sales will go live on Monday, March 25th @ 6 pm, via RevTrak
**No Discipline Referrals**No Refunds** No Purchasing Tickets for other Students**
** No Ticket Exchanges**
.
Girls Soccer
Tryouts for soccer will begin in March 18, 2024
Girls Soccer Tryouts will be held Monday, March 18- Wednesday, March 20. On Monday, March 19 doors will open at 6:45am and all girls need to be in gym ready to go by 7:00. Tuesday and Wednesday tryouts will be held from 7:15-8:30. Girls are required at attend all 3 days of tryouts. All girls need cleats, tennis shoes, and shin guards. Please join our Sports You Soccer group - D5LTAKRL. For more info contact Coach Barger – dana.barger@fortbendisd.com All participants trying out must be clear in Rank One. ( physical uploaded and all electronic forms filled out)
Girls trying out will find out who made the team on Wednesday, March 20 at the end of the school day.
RTMS Girls Soccer Schedule
March 27 at Missouri City MCMS
April 4 vs Dulles RTMS
April 11 at First Colony FCMS
April 18 vs Quail Valley RTMS
April 25 at McAullife CMCS
May 2 vs Lake Olympia RTMS
May 9 vs Baines RPHS
May 16 District Quarterfinals TBD
District Semi finals
May 18 District Finals TBD
5:15/6:30- A team plays 1st
March 27- April 11
B team plays first
April 18- May 9
We are very excited for RTMS soccer!
JOIN SPORTSYOU- D5LT-AKRL
- Soccer Coaches—contact via email with questions
- A Coach- Dana Barger - dana.barger@fortbendisd.com
- B Coach - Cody Victor- cody.victor@fortbendisd.com
FCA Meeting
FCA will meet on THURSDAY, Feb 29 at 8:10 in library. ( Notice date change, due to no school on Friday, March 1)
Tardy Sweeps
Hello parents
We have seen an increase in students in the hallways after the tardy bell rings.
We have spent the last two weeks reiterating our campus expectations on getting to class before the tardy bell. We will have our tardy sweeps beginning next week. Students who are not in class and or do not have a hall pass during the sweep are subject to disciplinary consequences. This will include after-school detention and possible Saturday detention. Please speak to your child about the importance of arriving at class on time.
Thank you
RTMS Administration
Gifted and Talented Parent Newsletter
The February Edition of the Gifted and Talented newsletter is now available.
Links: https://www.smore.com/p6tax
Become a Thunder Games Business Sponsor!
From our PTO:
Why sponsor Thunder Games?
· Receive valuable marketing for your business -
(Name and logo placement, online publishing, ad placement, business recognition)
· Tax-deductible contribution
· 100% of your sponsorship is directly applied to RTMS
· Business exposure to 1,500+ RTMS families and our growing community
· Backing RTMS’s largest event
· Supporting our students, staff, and families
What does it mean to be a Business Sponsor?
Business Sponsors are the backbone of Thunder Games! We rely on support from business leaders to cultivate the success of our school’s largest event. Various sponsorship levels are offered to correspond to your needs. We are available to discuss sponsorship options and make this a meaningful business opportunity while building a successful campus event.
How do I become a business sponsor?
1. Visit the THUNDER GAMES page to complete the sponsorship packet and choose your level of giving.
2. Complete the short sponsorship packet, along with your selected level of giving.
Reach out to RTMSFundraising@gmail.com with any questions!
Whole Child Health Parent Webinar – Study Habits & Test Anxiety
As a part of the Whole Child Health Initiative, Fort Bend ISD is excited to present our parent webinar: “Study Habits & Test Anxiety”. The webinar will equip parents and caregivers with research-based strategies and tools to help students be better prepared for school, state, and national assessments. Information about test anxiety symptoms, current district and campus-based support systems to address it, and best practices regarding how to lower and/or minimize it will also be shared.
The parent webinar will be held on Wednesday, February 21st 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: Parent Webinar - Study Habits & Test Anxiety; FBISD Whole Child Health Webpage
School Links Guide
.
Elective Applications, Links and Deadlines
7th Grade Athletics: open- due Mar. 1st
Thundercat TV
Hello!
Here is the link for TTV Ep - 17
WeVideo- https://www.wevideo.com/view/3337788305
YouTube- https://youtu.be/y7pcnN2daZw
Enjoy!
Bookapalooza
SAVE THE DATE! Bookapalooza will be Saturday, April 13
Bookapalooza, Fort Bend ISD’s popular annual literacy experience, will be held Saturday, April 13, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Dulles Middle School (500 Dulles Ave., Sugar Land, TX 77478).
The free book and comic festival is open to all FBISD students and their families.
Be sure to stay tuned for registration information.
3rd Party Food Deliveries
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.
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.
Links and Resources
FBISD Instructional Calendar (2023-2024)
FBISD Volunteer Application & Background Check
PE Uniforms https://fortbendisd.revtrak.net/FBISD-Schools-1082/ms/thornton-ms/rtms-pe-uniforms/#/list
Immunization Information - FBISD Health Services Webpage
FBISD Student Parent Handbook https://www.fortbendisd.com/cms/lib/TX01917858/Centricity/Domain/91/2023-2024%20Student%20Parent%20Handbook%201.12.24.pdf
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