March 2021
Greetings Eagles!

This past year has been incredibly difficult not only for us, but for school districts across the country. We continue to persevere through difficult times as a family and crew. Thank you goes out to every staff member and parent on our campus for persevering through these uncharted and difficult times.  

Our school community was saddened to learn of the untimely and unexpected death of Mrs. Lillian Soto. Mrs. Soto was an outstanding member of our RSPA family who cared very deeply about the health and wellbeing of each and every one of our students. We will all miss her very much and will spend many difficult moments grieving her loss. Mrs. Soto leaves behind her husband and five beautiful children. Thanks to all of the staff and parents who donated to ensure she’d have a beautiful memorial service. We will send out a Remind 101 with information as soon as everything is finalized. Let’s continue to keep the Soto family and the RSPA family in our prayers. 

I hope everyone recovered from the winter storm in February. It is going to take all of us working together to help our friends, family, and neighbors come back from the havoc and loss it caused so many in the Houston area. Mrs. Windham has worked diligently to assess the wellness of our Channelview families. If you have not already done so we ask that you complete the wellness form by clicking the link below. Your completion of this form is not mandatory but recommended. CV Wellness Assessment

March is Women's History Month, and we are celebrating amazing women and their groundbreaking accomplishments. The first week of March was busy. Curriculum-Based Assessments were administered March 3rd- 5th. Teachers will keep you informed of your scholar’s performance. We also celebrated Read Across America week and ended with having Green Eggs and Ham to celebrate Dr. Seuss Day. Please note, we have not forgotten about our Black History Program. In order to give our scholars and teachers additional time to prepare we have rescheduled for Friday, March 12th. Spring break is upon us, YAY! Scholars and staff will be on break March 15th-19th. Monday, March 22nd is a student holiday, classes will resume Tuesday, March 23rd.

We recently received an updated Public Health Planning Guidance document from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) regarding Gov. Abbott’s executive order to lift the mask mandate beginning March 10. The Rhodes School for the Performing Arts prioritizes the safety of our students and staff and is continuing to follow the recommendations from the CDC. Out of an abundance of caution, there will be no changes to our current mask-related process on our campus. We appreciate your continued partnership with us, Please stay safe. If you have any questions or concerns please email me at tmcbride@rhodesschool.org.

Educationally yours,

Tonya McBride, M.Ed
Principal
COVID is restricting our lives, but we can find new ways to keep making progress. Trying out new things can actually boost our well-being. When we open up to new ideas, it helps us stay curious and engaged. It can also bring a sense of accomplishment and help to boost our self-confidence and resilience. There are so many ways to learn new things and this month we're encouraging everyone to find new and creative ways to overcome our frustrating situations.
  • March 1-5: Curriculum-Based Assessments
  • March 10- 4: Writing Camp
  • March 12: Black History Program (Time and Zoom Link TBA)
  • March 15-19: Spring Break/No School
  • March 22: Student Holiday/No School
  • March 23-26: College and Career Week
  • March 24: Meeting with McBride
  • Meeting ID: 797 578 6310 
  • Passcode: 6f75R7
  • March 29- April 5: Scholastic Book Fair
Child Nutrition Department
Winter Storm Resources
Recovery Resources 

FEMA Federal emergency
Available to Houstonians who suffered uninsured property damage as a result of the severe winter storm. Register online at http://DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 TTY 
Harris County Home Repair Program
For low and moderate-income elderly and/or disabled homeowners in Harris 
County ONLY (residents of the City of Houston, Pasadena, and Baytown are not eligible) Apply by visiting https://csd.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/HomeRepairProgram.aspx 
or calling (832) 927-4957 
 
Muck and Gut Guide 
Homes that have water damage must have all sodden materials removed to prevent the growth of mold and decomposition before repairs can be made. https://sbpprotects.org/resources/muck-and-gut-guide-pdf 

           Protection from Fraud and Price-Gouging 
Report price-gouging: www.harriscountycao.org/ 
Home Repair Fraud Guide via Lone Star Legal Aid 
Always check to see if a plumber is licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners before hiring anyone. https://tsbpe.texas.gov/portfolio/find-a-license- registration/ Be advised - supplies for plumbing services are extremely low right now. 
Having reliable information from trusted resources allows you and your family to make informed decisions during a storm. You can rely on the following websites for updates: 

Weather Updates: https://www.weather.gov/hgx/ 
Harris County Updates: https://www.readyharris.org/ 
City of Houston Emergency Operations Center: https://houstonemergency.org/ 
If you need assistance or food: 211texas.org or call 2-1-1

Rental Assistance
Harris County Community Services Department COVID-19 Rental Assistance 
Applications are open. To apply, visit: bit.ly/csdRentalAssistance or call 832-927-4955 Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Renters in Harris County that are outside of Houston, Baytown, and Pasadena are eligible to apply. 

Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program 
Applications open February 25th any renter within the City of Houston and/or Harris County can apply for past-due rent as well as two months of current and future rent if their employment has been negatively impacted by COVID-19 AND they are at risk of losing their homes AND have a household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Family Income. *see chart

Renters can apply by visiting Houstonharrishelp.org and apply beginning February 25. Additional assistance is available for past-due utility bills (electricity, gas, and water).

The City of Houston and Harris County are working together to provide $159 million in rent and utilities assistance to families who are at risk of losing their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will be distributed by BakerRipley and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
  *Income eligibility requirements (80% AMI), by size of household 
 | 1 person | $44,150 
 | 2 people | $50,450 
 | 3 people | $56,750 
 | 4 people | $63,050 
 | 5 people | $68,100 
 | 6 people | $73,150 
 | 7 people | $78,200 
 | 8 people | $83,250 
 
Texas Rent Relief 
Applications open on February 15. Any qualifying renters in the state of Texas can apply by visiting Texasrentrelief.com or calling 1-833-9TX-RENT (1-833-989-7368) Monday- Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Technology Help
email: ITParentHelpDesk@rhodesschool.org

District Information
email: Communications@rhodesschool.org