What's Happening at Rushe

Hello Raven Families,

I hope this message finds you well. I know we have been through a lot personally and as a community this past week, but the stories of our Raven students volunteering and supporting their neighbors were truly heartwarming. I am proud of how our community came together to help one another!

As you know, first quarter has been extended through the end of the week: Friday, October 18. We look forward to seeing our students back to school tomorrow!

Always remember, we ARE Ravens and Ravens soar to success! Have a wonderful week of learning.

As you know, our school and district are committed to fostering the highest-quality learning experience for its students.

To support these goals, we will be encouraging students in grades 5 through 8, to participate in a brief survey sometime between October 1st through October 31st. Survey questions will address students’ views on their coursework, their school experience, and the ways in which our school supports their educational goals. Results will only be used to inform and improve academic supports and advanced/accelerated coursework placement for students. This will also help middle and high schools develop supports and determine course placement for incoming 6th and 9th grade students for the 25-26 school year.

We foresee only positive benefits for your student(s) and are excited to gather data that will enable us to better prepare all students to succeed. It is the right of the parent and/or guardian to request to exempt their student from the Student Coursework Interest Survey. At the beginning of the school year, parents provided their selection for surveys on the consent form located in the myStudent Parent Portal. Please review your selection and ensure it is correct, if it is incorrect, please make the changes necessary in the myStudent Parent Portal, at least three days prior to the beginning of the survey and alert your administration to the change.

We will be offering Extended School Day (ESD) services starting on Monday, November 4, 2024, through May 15, 2024. The program will run on Mondays and Thursdays from 2:00-3:30 PM in the Media Center. ESD is not a tutoring service and is primarily intended for students completing course recovery. ESD can also be a great opportunity for students who do not require additional help with their school work, but instead prefer to complete their work uninterrupted in school. Transportation will not be provided. Invitations will be sent to families starting next week, but if you would like to enroll you student in ESD, please contact Mr. E.J. Doychak, the administrator overseeing the program.

Parents and Guardians, if you have not already done so, please log in to your myPascoConnect parent portals to acknowledge the Parents' Bill of Rights information. These are critical documents that can impact the services we provide your student(s) and should be reviewed annually. To learn more about the Parents' Bill of Rights, click HERE.

Click HERE to login or set up a parent portal account.

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Between the dates September 23rd through October 25th our school will participate in the Gallup Student Poll. Gallup provides analytics and advice to organizations around the world, and it launched the Gallup Student Poll in 2009. The Gallup Student Poll is a brief, 22-item survey available online for students in fifth through 12thgrades. The Gallup Student Poll covers the following themes:

· Engagement is students’ involvement in and enthusiasm for school

· Hope is the ideas and energy students have for the future.

· Belonging is feeling accepted and included as part of the school

· Additional elements focus on how people learn to understand and manage emotions and establish positive relationships with others.

The Gallup Student Poll gives students a voice in building great schools, and results provide schools with important, actionable information beyond standard measures, such as grades and test scores, to help schools make kids ready for the future. To date, there have been over 6 million completes of the Gallup Student Poll. Please visit the Gallup Student Poll homepage at https://www.gallupstudentpoll.com/ to view the survey items and learn more.

This survey is anonymous and voluntary. That means Gallup cannot identify your student, and your student’s individual responses will not be shared with anyone. Only grade, school, district and other group=level results will be shared with our school. Students do not have to participate if they do not want to, and they may skip any item they do not wish to answer. There are no consequences or penalties if your student does not participate.

Email Gallup Education at educationhelp@gallup.com if you have questions about this survey or contact your school principal.

The Duke Energy Great American Teach-In is part of Pasco County Schools’ annual American Education Week celebration. Sponsored by our company since 1994, it’s a special opportunity for you to visit the public school of your choice and share what you know with a new generation.

This year’s event is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. You may choose to stay for an hour or for the whole day! The amount of time you volunteer is determined strictly by what your schedule permits and what the teacher wants to accomplish.

Whatever the length of your visit, you can make a difference. Thousands of previous Teach-In participants have inspired students by sharing their experiences and professions.

To register for the CSRMS Great American Teach-In, click HERE or visit our school website for more information. Registrants do NOT need complete the new volunteer requirements.

Happy Sunday Raven Families! This last week we celebrated Custodian Appreciation Day with some yummy treats and lunch for our hard-working custodians. We are also gearing up for the National PTA Reflections Program. This year’s theme is “Accepting Imperfections.” All the students’ entries are due by Friday, November 1st. Be on the lookout for our social media posts for more detailed information. Our next meeting of the school year is Thursday, October 10th at 4:30pm in the Media Center. After the meeting stay for the “Math Night” hosted by Mathnasium (one of our business sponsors) from 6 – 8pm and our October Spirit Night sponsored by the Ice Dreammm Shop…they will be there with their mobile ice cream truck! We look forward to seeing you all there.

Calling all Ravens!! Do you enjoy Art, Music, Dance, or have an interest in Writing, Producing Films, or taking Photos? Then the PTA Reflections Program is for you!

The National PTA Reflections Program welcomes students of all grades and all abilities to explore their Inner Artist and their Creative Talents. Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student selected theme. This 50+ year-old program helps participants explore their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.

The theme this year is “Accepting Imperfection”. Join us in submitting completed works of Art in one or all of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts. We look forward to supporting and celebrating all of our unique and talented Ravens and can’t wait to see their creative interpretation of “Accepting Imperfection”!!

Entry Forms and Completed Works of Art are Due Friday, November 1st, 2024.

Please reach out to RusheReflections@yahoo.com with any additional questions.

For inspiration, visit the Reflections virtual art gallery and learn more about prizes and scholarships at PTA.org/Reflections/Awards.

To become a Pasco County Schools volunteer!

Charles S. Rushe Middle School has continually been recognized as a Golden School for volunteers in the state of Florida, and this past year is no different! Thank you to all our past, present, and future volunteers for their dedication to Rushe.

Volunteers are a vital part of building relationships between school, parents, community members, and business partners. We truly appreciate the hours our volunteers serve in our schools and the value they add to the educational experience for our students.

To continue to ensure the safety of our students, the District is making several changes to our volunteer requirement and application process for the 2024-2025 school year. Effective 8/1/2024, all volunteers will be required to complete a Level 2 background screening every 5 years. This background check will review records in the state of Florida as well as the national FBI database. The cost for this screening is $41.25 and volunteers will be responsible for this cost. Volunteers will need to be complete an annual volunteer application to ensure accurate records.

Click the image above to complete the Volunteer Application!

This year, all teachers at CSRMS are focusing on increasing student exposure to text and writing. To do so, we will be utilizing the following strategies in ALL classrooms throughout the school year.

Please remember to pull all the way to the front (as close to the bike rack on each side). Do not stop under the awnings. In addition, please do not park in the car line. If you wish to wait to have your child leave your vehicle, please park in a space and have your child use the crosswalk. Also, for the safety of all students and staff, please do not use the center parking area to cut through, and do not let students out along Mentmore or Sunlake Boulevards.

To ensure your continued safety, remember to only cross the road at crosswalks, and be sure there are no incoming vehicles before crossing. Please consider wearing reflective clothing/accessories to increase your visibility to drivers, particularly in the morning. Bike riders, remember to wear a helmet at all times, and do not ride on the street through the bus loop before and after school. For the safety of others, please walk your bicycles when you are on campus. Remember to lock your bicycles inside of the bike racks. Any bikes locked on the outside of the bike racks will have their locks cut and will be confiscated for parents to pick up.

If you or your child are a bike rider, please watch this important bike safety video.

Each district school board shall adopt a dress code policy that prohibits a student, while on the grounds of a public school during the regular school day, from wearing clothing that exposes underwear or body parts in an indecent or vulgar manner or that disrupts the orderly learning environment.

These guidelines are in effect while on any District School Board of Pasco County school or campus, at any school function or on any school-sponsored transportation:

• Students must wear opaque (not see through) clothing that has fabric on the front, back, and on the sides of the body extending from under the arms to cover the entire chest, entire genital area, entire buttocks area, and must extend below the buttocks area.
• Shirts must have sleeves or straps and extend to the waistband of pants/shorts/skirts/or other bottoms.
• Students may not have exposed undergarments, which would include any and all portions of a student’s underwear or bra.
• Students must wear appropriate footwear, which must secure to the heel. No slides or Crocs are allowed. All footwear must have a sole that affords traction and protection to the foot. Socks (when worn alone) and “house” or “bed” slippers are not permissible.
• Clothing must be suitable for all scheduled classroom activities including physical education, career-technical education, science labs, and other activities where unique hazards exist.
• Specialized courses may require specialized attire such as sports uniforms or safety gear

In addition, the following items are considered inappropriate for the school environment and are not permissible:

• Wallet chains, spiked jewelry, dog collars, or similar items
• Slippers or similar shoes
• Pajamas or costumes (unless approved by school administration for special events, etc.)
• Hats, bandanas, or head coverings (unless preapproved administratively for medical, religious reasons and/or for special school activities)

For more information regarding dress code, read the 2024-2025 Student Code of Conduct, page 27.

Grades 6 through 8 – Students who bring WCDs to school must ensure that they remain on silent mode and completely out of view for the entire school day except for when expressly authorized by the classroom teacher for a specific instructional activity. Classroom teachers may also provide, and students may utilize, a cell phone storage area in their classroom. These expectations also apply to extracurricular and co-curricular activities that occur before or after the school day.

For more information regarding WCDs, read the 2024-2025 Student Code of Conduct, page 31.

Tickets to all CSRMS home athletic events will be sold online through GoFan. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door and must be redeemed upon entry in the presence of a ticket taker. Tickets redeemed before entering will be null and void and attendees will be required to purchase a new entry (no screenshots!). No reentry is permitted once your ticket is redeemed. Please do not ask to leave and return after entering.

All bags are subject to search upon entry. Bags and items not permitted on Pasco County Schools property must be returned to the patron’s vehicle. ONLY clear plastic, clear vinyl, or clear Ziploc bags are permitted inside an event venue. Student athletes are permitted to bring bags. These bags are subject to search. Small clutch or wallet style bags no larger than 4 inches by 6 inches are permitted for entry but will be subject to search. All other styles of bags such as backpacks, fanny packs, purses and duffle bags are not permitted. An exception will be made for medically necessary items, diaper bags, and properly credentialed school and professional photographers’ camera bags. These bags will be subject to search prior to entry, unless the item meets the clear bag guidelines. Please refer to the “Event Security Procedures” document on the district website for more details pertaining to this countywide policy.

This Week and Beyond

• October 16 - Girls Basketball Tryouts 8th Grade, 1:45-3:15 PM in Gym 🏀
• October 16 - Fellowship for Christian Athletes, 1:45-2:30 PM in PE Classroom
• October 16 - Civil Air Patrol, 2:00-4:00 PM in Room 104

• October 16 - One Act Play Rehearsal, 2:00-3:30 PM in Cafeteria/Room 210 🎭
• October 17 - Girls Basketball Tryouts 7th Grade, 1:45-3:15 PM in Gym 🏀
  
• October 17 - Odyssey of the Mind, 1:45-2:45 PM in Room 237
• October 17 - 8th Grade NJHS Meeting, 1:45-2:30 PM in Media Center
• October 17 - One Act Play Rehearsal, 2:00-3:30 PM in Cafeteria/Room 210 🎭
• October 17 - Band Help with Mr. Cook, 2:10-3:30 PM in Room 121🎷
• October 18 - Fire Drill #3
• October 18 - Girls Basketball Tryouts 6th Grade, 1:45-3:15 PM in Gym 🏀
• October 18 - One Act Play Rehearsal, 2:00-3:30 PM in Cafeteria/Room 210 🎭
  
• October 18 - End of Quarter 1

• October 21 - One Act Play Rehearsal, 2:00-3:30 PM in Cafeteria/Room 210 🎭
• October 21 - Dungeons & Dragons Club, 2:00-3:00 PM in Room 324
• October 21 - SGA Meeting, 2:00-2:45 PM in Room 311
• October 22 - One Act Play Rehearsal, 2:00-3:30 PM in Cafeteria/Room 210 🎭
• October 22 - Boy's Soccer Tryouts (8th Grade), 1:45-3:30 PM at CSRMS Field ⚽
• October 22 - Football Game vs. Pine View MS, 6:30-8:30 PM (@CSRMS) 🏈
• October 23 - Yearbook Club, 1:50-2:30 PM in Room 337
• October 23 - One Act Play Rehearsal, 2:00-3:30 PM in Cafeteria/Room 210 🎭
• October 23 - Civil Air Patrol, 2:00-4:00 PM in Room 104
• October 23 - Builder's Club, 2:00-3:00 PM in PE Classroom
• October 23 - Boy's Soccer Tryouts (7th Grade), 1:45-3:30 PM at CSRMS Field ⚽
• October 24 - HOSA Club, 1:45-2:45 PM in Room 237
• October 24 - One Act Play Rehearsal, 2:00-3:30 PM in Cafeteria/Room 210 🎭
• October 24 - Band Help with Mr. Cook, 2:10-3:30 PM in Room 121🎷
• October 24 - Boy's Soccer Tryouts (6th Grade), 1:45-3:30 PM at CSRMS Field ⚽
• October 25 - One Act Play Rehearsal, 2:00-3:30 PM in Cafeteria/Room 210 🎭
• October 25 - Halloween Dance sponsored by NJHS, 6:00-8:30 PM in CSRMS Cafeteria
• October 26 - Thespian Showcase Performance, 7:00-9:00 PM in CSRMS Cafeteria

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