What's Happening at Rushe

Hello Raven Families,

With such a supportive community, there is so much to be thankful for year- round, but especially during the Thanksgiving season. Please know how thankful I am to our faculty, staff, students, and families for making Charles S. Rushe Middle School a great place for students to soar with their talents, gifts, and strengths. On behalf of all of us at CSRMS, I wish everyone a relaxing and happy Thanksgiving!

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

Congratulations, Kai! Your dedication and passion for theatre are truly inspiring. From your fantastic performance as Sebastian in The Little Mermaid Jr. last February to your current role as Lord Farquaad in Shrek Jr. this past weekend, you've shown incredible talent and growth. It's amazing to see how much you've accomplished since starting theatre classes at Mary Jo's Performing Arts Academy just last year. And with your birthday coming up on Monday, it’s the perfect time to celebrate all your hard work and achievements. Keep shining on stage and enjoy your special day! 🎉🎭🎂

A huge thank you to the CSRMS Builders Club Officers for helping escort school principals to their monthly meeting in the Media Center all day on Wednesday, November 13. You are great leaders, and are appreciated beyond words. Great job!

Charles S. Rushe Middle School will be hosting a special Science and Engineering judging night on Monday, December 16, from 6:00-8:00 P.M. in our media center. This evening is for students whose projects will be represented at the district Science and Engineering Showcase and will provide them an opportunity to practice responding to questions they may have posed to them at the district event.

An overview for judges will take place from 6:00-6:30 P.M. with a light dinner served. From 6:30-8:00, judges will circulate around the media center speaking with our students about their projects and providing them with feedback. We are in need of parents and community members with knowledge in one or more area of science (biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, engineering, and physics) to assist with judging.

Those interested can contact Kate McCracken at kmccrack@pasco.k12.fl.us.

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.

At CSRMS, we have a strong system in place for addressing student behaviors, and it starts with prevention.

We have communicated our School-wide Expectations, the Raven Claws, at assemblies at the start of the year, and in each classroom, teachers review classroom expectations on a regular basis. We also have posters around the school reminding students what the expectations are in various locations, such as the office, cafeteria, hallway, restrooms, and media center (image below).

We reward students who are displaying the Raven Claws: Respectful, Responsible, Problem Solver with Raven Rewards - virtual tokens in myStudent. Students can then go to the PBIS store and place an order with their Raven Rewards. Orders are fulfilled weekly during lunches.

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! We are still accepting applications for the National PTSA Reflections Program. This year’s theme is “Accepting Imperfections.” All the students’ entries are now due by Friday, November 22nd. Be on the lookout for our social media posts for more detailed information. We are so excited about this program. It gives a wonderful creative outlet for our kids.

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

• November 18 - Jr. Thespian Meeting, 1:45-2:30 PM in Room 210🎭
• November 18 - Extended School Day, 2:00-3:30 PM in Media Center⌚
• November 18 - SGA Meeting, 2:00-2:45 PM in Room 311
• November 18 - Dungeons & Dragons Club, 2:00-3:00 PM in Room 324 🐉
• November 18 - Girls' Basketball vs. Thomas E. Weightman MS, 6:00-8:30 PM (@CSRMS) 🏀
• November 19 - Student of the Month, 9:00-9:30 AM in Media Center🏆
• November 20 - The Great American Teach-in
• November 20 - Fellowship for Christian Athletes, 1:45-2:30 PM in PE Classroom🏅
• November 20 - Yearbook Club, 1:50-2:30 PM in Room 337📷
• November 20 - Civil Air Patrol, 2:00-4:00 PM in Room 104🛫
• November 20 - Builders Club, 2:00-3:00 PM in Cafeteria
• November 20 - Girls' Basketball vs. Pasco MS, 6:00-8:30 PM (@PMS) 🏀
• November 21 - SAC Meeting, 7:40-9:10 AM in Staff Development Room
• November 21 - HOSA Club, 1:45-2:45 PM in Room 237
• November 21 - Extended School Day, 2:00-3:30 PM in Media Center⌚
• November 21 - Band Help with Mr. Cook, 2:10-3:30 PM in Room 121🎺
• November 21 - Boys' Soccer vs. Raymond B. Stewart MS, 6:00-8:30 PM (@SLHS) ⚽
• November 22 - On Track Day (Activity Schedule)

• December 2 - Tornado/Severe Weather Drill🌀
• December 2 - Extended School Day, 2:00-3:30 PM in Media Center⌚
• December 2 - Dungeons & Dragons Club, 2:00-3:00 PM in Room 324 🐉
• December 2 - SGA Meeting, 2:00-2:45 PM in Room 311
• December 3 - Boys' Soccer vs. Cypress Creek MS, 6:00-8:30 PM (@CCHS) ⚽
• December 4 - 7th Grade NJHS Meeting, 1:45-2:45 PM in Media Center
• December 4 - Fellowship for Christian Athletes, 1:45-2:30 PM in PE Classroom🏅
• December 4 - Yearbook Club, 1:50-2:30 PM in Room 337📷
• December 4 - Civil Air Patrol, 2:00-4:00 PM in Room 104🛫
• December 4 - Girls' Basketball vs. Raymond B. Stewart MS, 6:00-8:30 PM (@CSRMS) 🏀
• December 5 - Extended School Day, 2:00-3:30 PM in Media Center⌚
• December 5 - HOSA Club, 1:45-2:45 PM in Room 237
• December 5 - Band Help with Mr. Cook, 2:10-3:30 PM in Room 121🎺
• December 5 - Boys' Soccer vs. Pasco MS, 6:00-8:30 PM (@SLHS) ⚽
• December 6 - Winter Wonderland Dance, 6-8:30 PM in the CSRMS Cafeteria⛄

Even Further Ahead...

• December 10 - Sunlake High School Curriculum Night & Incoming 9th Grade Parent Info, 6:00-8:00 PM
• December 11 - Land O' Lakes HS International Baccalaureate Open House, 6:00-8:00 PM
• Click here to sign up!
• December 10 - Band Winter Concert, 6:00-7:30 PM in CSRMS Cafeteria
• December 17 - Chorus Winter Concert, 6:30-8:00 PM in CSRMS Cafeteria
• December 19 - Curriculum Fair & Incoming 6th Grade Night, 6:00-8:00 PM

If you see something, say something. Click the banner above to submit a tip to FortifyFL.