What's Happening at Rushe

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year. We are excited to see students back to school tomorrow! Once again, we begin the school year as an "A" rated school, being designated by the Florida Department of Education as a School of Excellence (the top 20% of all middle schools in Florida), and having met the proficiency requirements for all subgroups on the federal government's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Our school's theme this year - Soaring to Extraordinary - challenges all of us to stand out among the best of the best schools. As students, teachers, and staff, we will continue to strive for being the best of the best in all we do.

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

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!

Students are now teamed according to their 4th period teacher. Students will need to know their team (Teal, Black, White, or Gold) for a variety of events (expectations meetings, pep rallies, promotion ceremonies, etc.).

Only 10 Students will be chosen to participate in the Photography/Yearbook Club, and they must agree to the following criteria:

1. Club will meet on Wednesday’s from 1:50-2:30 PM. *** MUST have a ride pick you up NO LATER than 3:00 PM. In second semester, students may be staying longer than 3:00 to put the final touches on the yearbook.
2. After school activities (clubs) will need to be photographed (ex: other clubs, dances, sporting events, etc.). This may require students to stay after on days that are not typical meeting days.

• Athletic events are usually scheduled anywhere from 5:30-8:00 PM.

****You are responsible for a ride to and from these activities****

To apply for the Photography/Yearbook Club, you MUST complete the application questions below and email them to the sponsor, Susan Smith, NO LATER than Saturday, August 31st.

Photography/Yearbook Club Sponsor: Coach Susan Smith

Meeting Location: Room 337

Submit your application to: suasmith@pasco.k12.fl.us

Subject email: Photo for Club Entry

Application Requirements

1. Must be able to photograph at least one home sporting event (any sport)
2. Must submit an image (1) that you think is quality work (i.e., what you think would be a good “fit” for the yearbook)

• Image may be the following:
• Close up of a person or animal (portrait)
• Nature (landscape)
• Motion (action)

Please submit only 1 category for submission

3. Must get at least 4 recommendations from your teachers. (Your academics are priority)

• Only one may be an elective teacher!
• Only one may be from a previous teacher/year!
• 6th graders may just get current teacher- you do not have to go to elementary to get recommendations

4. In a paragraph, no more than five complete sentences, say why you would be a “Soaring Fit” to the photography club.

Thank you for considering joining the Photography/Yearbook Club!

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. For the safety of others, please walk your bicycles when you are on campus.

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.

• July 31-August 11 - Florida Tax Holiday on School Supplies and Clothing
• August 6th - Meet the Teacher Day 8:00-9:30 AM and 12:00-1:30 PM
• August 12 - First Day of School for Students
• August 13 - Student Expectations Meeting (Teal Team), 1st pd
• August 13 - Student Expectations Meeting (Black Team), 2n d
• August 14 - Student Expectations Meeting (White Team)
• August 14 - Student Expectations Meeting (Gold Team)
• August 14 - Civil Air Patrol Meeting, 2:00-4:00 PM in Room 104
• August 19 - Student Government Meeting, 1:45-2:30 PM
• August 30-September 9 - Scholastic Book Fair

Athletics

• Football Tryouts
• August 6-8, 2:00-4:00 PM
• August 13-15, 1:45-4:30 PM
• Cheerleading Tryouts
• August 15, 16, 19, 20, 2:00-4:00 PM
• Volleyball Tryouts
• August 19, 1:45-3:30 PM - 8th Grade
• August 20, 1:45-3:30 PM - 7th Grade
• August 21, 1:45-3:30 PM - 6th Grade

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