What's Happening at Rushe

Hello Raven Families,

🎉 Happy New Year! We are excited to have our students and staff back to school tomorrow to round out the second quarter and prepare for a successful second half of the school year. As we begin 2025, setting goals or resolutions to strive toward achieving will help us continue soaring to success!

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

Congratulations to Alec Brown, Tyson Dang, Ana Menard, and Eli Nevyarovskiy for their outstanding performance at the AAU Cross Country National Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina! Competing in the 4K race, these talented 8th graders represented the Hillsborough Harriers Distance Running Team with distinction, finishing among the top distance athletes in the nation. Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance have truly paid off, and we are incredibly proud of your achievements. Keep striving for excellence!

Students of the Month (December)

Congratulations to all the talented students for their outstanding STEM fair projects and for advancing to the district competition! Your innovative ideas and hard work have truly shone through. Special kudos to Haylee Brown, Laim Green, Brendan Pratt, Ekaterina Shchelokova, Praneeth Sai Vivek Kumar, Alina Zhussupova, Cameron Browder, Navya Nandhanamudi, Sashanth Duvvuru, Mindy Moss, Alexis Kelly, Aria Bagdanov Martinez, and Hansika Sankaranand. Your dedication to exploring and solving real-world problems is inspiring. Best of luck at the district level – keep up the amazing work!

For everyone's safety, parents are kindly reminded not to make a left turn onto Mentmore Blvd. from the Cafeteria side car loop. This helps keep traffic flowing smoothly and ensures the safety of all students. Additionally, students are asked to refrain from riding bikes, scooters, or skateboards on campus to prevent accidents and injuries. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school safe!

The K-12 Pasco Pathways School Choice Window for the 2025-2026 school year will be open from January 8 through January 21, 2024. The notification window is from March 3 through March 12, 2024. The programs/schools that will be listed on the January school choice application are linked here and on the School Choice webpage.

In the months of January and February, we invite stakeholders to participate in the review of textbooks that are being considered for adoption for a number of middle and high school science courses. Digital access to resources is provided for families and community members who would like to review the options. Please access the textbook adoption website for resource access and information on how to submit your input for consideration.

Exciting News! Students can earn Raven Rewards each week by demonstrating respectful and responsible behavior through active participation in class activities. Let’s celebrate those who are making a positive impact in our classrooms!

Together, we can create a vibrant learning environment where everyone thrives. Keep up the great work, Ravens!

We are 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. If you would like to enroll your 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.

Happy Sunday, Raven Families! If you have not already done so, please consider joining the PTSA and supporting your school community!

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

• January 6 - Grade Level Expectations Meetings
• 1st pd - 8th Grade
• 2nd pd - 6th Grade
• 3rd pd - 7th Grade
• January 6 - Extended School Day, 2:00-3:30 PM in Media Center⌚
• January 6 - Spring Musical Auditions, 2:00-3:30 PM in Room 210 and 120
• January 6 - Dungeons & Dragons Club, 2:00-3:00 PM in Room 324 🐉
• January 6 - SGA Meeting, 2:00-2:45 PM in Room 311
• January 7 - Spring Musical Auditions, 2:00-3:30 PM in Room 210 and 120
• January 7 - Girls' Soccer Tryouts - 7th and 8th Grade, 2:00-3:30 PM
• January 8 - Girls' Soccer Tryouts - 6th Grade, 2:00-3:30 PM
• January 8 - Civil Air Patrol, 2:00-4:00 PM in Room 104🛫
• January 8 - Spring Musical Auditions, 2:00-3:30 PM in Room 210 and 120
• January 8 - Builders Club, 2:00-3:00 PM in Cafeteria
• January 9 - Odyssey of the Mind, 1:45-2:45 PM in Room 237
• January 9 - Girls' Soccer Tryouts Callbacks, 2:00-3:30 PM
• January 9 - Extended School Day, 2:00-3:30 PM in Media Center⌚
• January 9 - Spring Musical Auditions, 2:00-3:30 PM in Room 210 and 120
• January 9 - Band Help with Mr. Cook, 2:10-3:30 PM in Room 121🎺
• January 9 - CSRMS PTSA Meeting, 4:30-5:30 PM in Media Center
• January 9 - Spring Musical Parent Meeting, 6:30-7:30 PM in Cafeteria
• January 10 - End of Quarter 2 and Semester 1

• January 13 - No School for Students: Teacher Planning Day
• January 14 - Rushe Writes (BEST Writing Practice) for 6th Grade
• January 14 - ATP Drill: Video Only
• January 14 - Boys' Basketball Tryouts for 7th and 8th Grade, 1:45-3:15 PM
• January 14 - Spring Musical Rehearsal, 2:00-3:30 PM in Room 210 and 120
• January 15 - Rushe Writes (BEST Writing Practice) for 7th Grade
• January 15 - 8th Grade Presentations for Sunlake HS Course Cards
• 7:30-8:00 - Black & Gold Teams
• 8:00-8:30 - Teal & White Teams
• January 15 - Boys' Basketball Tryouts for 7th and 8th Grade, 1:45-3:15 PM
• January 15 - 7th Grade NJHS Meeting, 1:45-2:30 PM in Media Center
• January 15 - Fellowship for Christian Athletes, 1:45-2:30 PM in PE Classroom
• January 15 - Yearbook Club, 1:50-2:30 PM in Room 337
• January 15 - Civil Air Patrol, 2:00-4:00 PM in Room 104🛫
• January 16 - Rushe Writes (BEST Writing Practice) for 8th Grade
• January 16 - Boys' Basketball Tryouts for 6th Grade, 1:45-3:15 PM
• January 16 - HOSA Club, 1:45-2:45 PM in Room 237
• January 16 - Extended School Day, 2:00-3:30 PM in Media Center⌚
• January 16 - Spring Musical Rehearsal, 2:00-3:30 PM in Room 210 and 120
• January 16 - Band Help with Mr. Cook, 2:10-3:30 PM in Room 121🎺
• January 17 - Report cards available in myStudent
• January 17 - Spring Musical Rehearsal, 2:00-3:30 PM in Room 210 and 120

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