Newsletter December 2025

Haga clic en el botón traducir en la parte superior y elija español para la traducción.

As we wrap up a successful semester, we want to take a moment to celebrate the hard work and growth our students have shown over the past few months. While the upcoming break is a well-deserved time for rest, we know that the holiday season can also bring unique challenges for families. In this edition, we’ve gathered a collection of family resources and social-emotional wellness tools designed to support your household’s health and happiness during the time away from school.

Additionally, you will find practical strategies to help your child maintain their academic momentum at home in a stress-free way. Whether you are looking for local community assistance or simple ways to keep your child’s mind sharp, we hope these guides provide a helpful bridge until we see you again in the new year.

Families can request help on a regular basis or as needed.

Support is available to ALL Rice ISD students and families from all campuses.

Schedule your pickup by contacting the Rice High School campus.

903-326-4502

November is wrapping up, and soon we will welcome a new month! November often reminds us to be thankful for all the wonderful people and things in our lives. As the leaves finish falling from the trees, we get ready for the exciting arrival of December. December is a special time of year filled with holidays, cozy sweaters, and maybe even some snow! It's a month for spending time with family and friends, sharing joy, and looking forward to special celebrations. Get ready to bundle up and enjoy all the fun December has in store!

Empathy is the emotional glue that binds all relationships. When children refuse and resist, responding with empathy feels unnatural. After all, defiant children are argumentative. They have a short fuse. They are emotionally reactive. They resent parental directives and defy them boldly. Over time, they become conditioned to engage in power struggles. Punishment becomes counterproductive.

As parents, we must understand when defiance is a sign that our children are having a hard time. We must pause and ask ourselves, Are they struggling with something in this moment? Whether it’s arriving late for school or missing assignments, they’re choosing not to behave in an acceptable way. For children with ADHD, such behaviors often stem from deeper difficulties.

Defiant children often get very wound up and struggle to problem-solve when they’re upset. They have problematic interactions with adults, and they believe they’re not understood by their parents and teachers. That’s why it’s so important to lean into empathy when we’re trying to connect with our defiant children, whatever their age. When you interact in a calm, firm, non-controlling way — keeping in mind that no one likes to be told what to do, especially a defiant kid —it helps bypass emotional reactivity. Whatever the situation, try this to remain calm: Picture yourself up on the ceiling, looking down at these interactions from the perspective of an emotion-regulation coach. This shift in mindset helps to avoid potential power struggles.

Click here for more information on this subject

Congratulations to all our students on a fantastic first semester! From our 5th graders finding their footing to our 8th graders who are tackling high school-level courses, we are so impressed with the progress made this year.

Now is the time to unplug and recharge. Use this break to rest your minds and enjoy time with friends and family.

When we return, let’s keep the momentum going. For our students—especially those earning high school credits—attendance is the foundation of success. Being in your seat every day, staying organized, and hitting deadlines ensures you stay ahead of the curve. Let’s start the new semester with the strong habits that lead to big results!

The second half of the school year goes by fast. Everybody wants to have a successful year. At the high school level, graduation is not far away. And with graduation comes new opportunities, new transitions and new expectations. One way to make all these changes easier is to have some lifelong healthy habits in place before graduation. Here are a few every student should have before they turn that graduation tassel.

1. Have a successful morning routine that you can do independently. Every student should be able to wake themselves up, get dressed and ready for the day and get out the door on time to meet whatever their schedule demands. After graduation, many students will be on their own for the first time. Before they head out into the world, they need to be able to do their morning routine without help. Morning routines take some preparation and a habit of consistency. Develop the ability to get to work or school on time and ready to go.

2. Be present. Being absent when others are counting on you to be there is a problem. Make sure you are consistently where you are supposed to be, doing what you are supposed to be doing. Yes, things come up and you can't be there, but make that the exception that is rare - not the regular rule.

3. Listen more than you talk. Get in the habit of listening to others. Hear what people are saying. Spend more time listening.

4. Be kind. In a world where you can be anything, BE KIND. Be known for being the positive person in the world, not the negative one. When you spend your time talking negatively about others, the people around you will worry about you say about them when they are not around. And you should worry about what they say about you when you are not around because your negativity has given them the green light to talk negatively about you. Get in the habit of being a person who is more positive than negative.

5. Be a good worker. Whether it's a school assignment or a task at work, do your best to get the job done well. People need to know they can count on you to take care of business. Don't be that person others have to constantly chase down to finish tasks. Be responsible. Be trustworthy. Be consistent.

As you move forward through 2026, create new habits that will help prepare you for life. Little habits can yield huge rewards.

Rice High School students can apply for a number of local, county and national scholarships to defray the cost of college or technical school. New scholarships are coming out every week. Rice High School lists some scholarships on the Rice ISD website and sends out many through Google Classroom. Students are encouraged to check their Google Classroom account regularly. Come see the counselor, Mrs. Floyd, if you need help or have questions.

As the holidays approach, we recognize this time of rest, reflection, and connection can also bring challenges. Grief, stress, and loneliness may arise, and we remain dedicated to supporting every student and family through these moments.

This time of year can be especially difficult for individuals struggling with mental health or substance use disorders. It's also a critical window for those looking to access treatment before insurance benefits reset on January 1.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or substance use disorders, please reach out to your campus counselors. We all are here to help, and can make available resources that offer complimentary interviews and are designed to be patient-first. If you or someone you know is in immediate distress, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline anytime in the US

Thank you for your ongoing empathy, presence, and unwavering heart. Your steady support makes a difference in ways that truly matter. We wish you moments of peace and renewal as we close out the year.

As we head into the winter break, it is a wonderful time to celebrate the unique curiosity and intensity that our GT students bring to our classroom and homes every day. While the holidays are often associated with "unplugging," for a gifted learner, their brain rarely has an "off" switch.

Here is a guide to keep those bright sparks glowing- without adding more "work" to your holiday plate.

Every day your student is in class is an opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with their peers. Consistent attendance helps build the strong habits and social foundations that lead to long-term success. When students are present, they benefit from hands-on activities and teacher-led discussions that simply can't be replicated at home, ensuring they never miss a beat in their learning journey. Beyond the lessons, your child's presence enriches our entire classroom community. Every day they are here is a chance to strengthen friendships and build the confidence they need to thrive both in and out of school.

For parents and families that couldn't attend Movie Night, we are sharing a variety of teacher compiled support materials. Please explore the links below to access all of the documents.

• State Testing: TELPAS & STAAR
• ACT & SAT
• Track, baseball, softball, basketball, tennis, powerlifting
• Navarro County Youth Expo, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, San Antonio Livestock Show, Heart of Texas Livestock Show, Ft. Worth Livestock Show.
• Spring Family/Community Event
• TSIA-2 Testing is offered at the high school every month for $5.
• MOY and EOY K-2nd Grade Reading and Math Testing
• GT Showcase
• IMS Career Fair
• Graduation!