African American elementary age girl throwing a paper airplane standing next to a Caucasian woman in a gymnasium

For nearly a decade, the Rice Elementary PTA has been organizing and hosting the highly anticipated Pizza and Planes event. This annual gathering stands as one of the school's premier campus events, bringing together families for an engaging and enjoyable evening. Centered around STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), Pizza and Planes invites participants to indulge in pizza while taking part in the exciting challenge of building paper airplanes. 


The highlight of the event is the competition among students to determine whose paper airplane can soar the farthest. With each passing year, Pizza and Planes has become a beloved tradition, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie among the school's families.

The Pizza and Planes event serves a dual purpose – not only as an avenue for family fun but also to encourage greater involvement of men in the students' academic journey. Volunteers generously contribute their time to serving pizza and provide participants with all the necessary materials for crafting their paper airplanes. The event is meticulously organized, with each grade level having a designated flight time for testing their creations. 

To add an extra layer of excitement, awards are given to participants based on the performance of their airplanes in the competition, making Pizza and Planes a truly festive and rewarding experience for all involved.