Welcome to Rutland Middle School!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to welcome you and your child to Rutland Middle School for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year! To assist with your preparations, we have prepared a guide addressing common questions. Please note that updates may occur over the summer and school year. We recommend revisiting our guide closer to August, where any changes will be highlighted in red.

We believe that discussing this information with your child can help ease their transition into the new school environment.

Best regards,

Rutland Middle School Administration

Principal - Keith Groeper

Assistant Principal - Christy Smith (Ms. Smith focuses on 6th grade and 7th grade Team 7-3,

& is our Testing Coordinator)

Assistant Principal - Charita Harris (Ms. Harris focuses on 8th grade and 7th grade Teams 7-1 & 7-2)

.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As instructional leaders, our primary focus is supporting teaching and learning by being present in classrooms alongside teachers and students. Because of this commitment, we may not be immediately available to respond to phone calls or messages during the school day.

We kindly ask for your understanding and patience as we strive to return all communication within 24–48 hours. If you have questions, concerns or need an appointment please contact our main office at 478-779-4400. Your partnership is important to us, and we are committed to maintaining clear and responsive communication.

Thank you,

Mr. Groeper, Ms. Smith & Ms. Harris

All students who are interested in participating in a sport must have an active physical on file with the athletic department before trying out for a sport. Physicals are valid for one year. Students must also have valid insurance. A student policy is available for a low cost for students who do not have insurance. Athlete Try Out Packets are available from the coaches and the front office. All sports teams require a physical with insurance documentation uploaded into Dragonfly. Ms. LaTanya Sandifer is our Athletic Director. Additional information may be found on the district Athletics webpage: https://www.bcsdk12.net/departments/athletics

After-School Teams:

Fall Sports: Cheer, Football, Softball, Volleyball

Winter Sports: Basketball, Cheer, Wrestling

Spring Sports: Baseball, Soccer, Track

The middle school day runs from 9:05 - 4:05.

Carpool

Carpool students may be dropped off starting at 8:35. They will enter the door beside the cafeteria. Students who arrive after 9:05 are considered tardy. If your student is tardy, please enter through the front office area and a parent should sign tardy students in. Carpool students will be dismissed at 4:05. Grade levels are kept separate during the busy carpool times. The 6th graders wait for parents in the first group of students near the under hang before reaching the front office. The 7th graders wait in the area beyond the front lobby area. Eighth graders are picked up closest to the high school.

Please do not drop off students before 8:35. We have an Early Care Program that you may sign up for if needed. See more information under the Before & Aftercare section below.

Bus Riders

Our bus riders wait in the classroom for their bus to be called. The students should watch the panel in the classroom for their bus number to be posted, then they are dismissed. There are occasionally bus numbers called over the intercom. Students should watch for their bus number to be posted.

If you have not registered your child for transportation services, you may do so when you visit the school or you may do so via the Parent Portal.

IMPORTANT: Parents should be prepared to transport their student(s) a minimum of 3 school days after registering for transportation services.

Please look up your child's bus information before the first day of school, and make sure your child is aware of their bus number.

Student Bus Information can be found by accessing PARENT PORTAL or by downloading the new My Ride K-12 Mobile App to your smartphone.

My Ride K-12 Parent User Guide

Tardiness · Defined as:

• being late for school
• being absent from school for any period during the day
• leaving school early

Absent

• A student can be absent from class or school.
• Absent from school - Any student missing half or more of the academic day (9:05 a.m. – 4:05 p.m.) will be considered absent. This means missing more than 3.5 hours of the day.

Important Reminder: When tardy or absent from school, parent/guardians should write and send a note to the office or email our Attendance Clerk, Ms. Bozeman, twanna.bozeman@bcsdk12.net, stating the reason for the absence the morning the child returns to school.

Please note: According to the State of Georgia Attendance Policy, when it comes to chronically absent students, all absences count the same, whether they are excused or unexcused. Please see the Bibb County Code of Conduct for further information.

Rutland Middle School offers Before and Aftercare. In previous years, the programs have begun a week or so after school begins. When we have specific starting dates, we will post on Remind/Parent Square, our social media sites, and here. For more information, call 478-765-8660.

Our Before Care Program is fee-based (it has previously been $10 a week) and begins at 7:30 am. It is held in the Art classroom. The Art classroom has an exterior door that is located between the gym and the front door.

Our 21st Century Afterschool Program lasts until 6:40 pm. Participating students are released to the lunchroom at 4:15 where they are provided a snack. They then break up into small groups in classrooms for homework help & enrichment activities.

Regular Academic Schedule

• Our students have four Academic classes: English Language Arts, Math, Science, & Social Studies. Academic classes last 65 minutes daily. Students are grouped into Teams depending on their homeroom teacher. For example, students in Team 6-1 have classes near the top of the 6th grade hall. Students will rotate among the four classrooms that are grouped together.
• Students take one Connection classes daily. We rotate on an A/B Day Schedule for Connection Classes. Students have two Connections classes per semester. Connections classes last 65 minutes a day.
• Students will leave their assigned hall/team to attend Connections class. They also have classes from students on other grade level teams.
• Students have a PLT or Personalized Learning Class Period. This class can be personalized to meet the needs of individual students. Depending on needs, it may be enrichment, remediation, or a combination of both throughout the school year.

Testing Schedule

• Occasionally we will alter the school day schedule so that we can complete district or state testing. This allows for a longer testing period in the morning, and shorter class periods throughout the day.

Please check back for our detailed schedule.

Rutland Middle School offers several afterschool clubs. They include but are not limited to: Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Future Farmers of America (FFA), HOSA, and Band Ensembles.

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

FBLA is the high school division of a career and technical student organization (CTSO) dedicated to preparing students for careers in business.

The mission of FBLA is to “inspire and prepare students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.”

With a mission to help students become community-minded business leaders, FBLA built its programs to reach that goal. Overall, FBLA has six specific areas focused on helping students become successful business leaders:

1. Leadership development
2. Academic competitions
3. Educational programs
4. Membership benefits
5. Community service
6. Awards & recognition

Mr. Barrett (Business Connections Teacher)is our FBLA sponsor. Many of our FBLA members compete in virtual events several times a year.

HOSA (Future Health Professionals_

HOSA is a student-led organization focused on health sciences education, leadership, and career development for students interested in health professions. It provides a platform for students to gain experience, compete in events, and participate in service projects related to healthcare

Mrs. Walker, RN is our HOSA sponsor.

Check back for more information closer to August.

This LINK takes viewers to the 2024-2025 Bibb County Code of Conduct. When the 2025-2026 Code of Conduct is published we will update our page.

Rutland Middle School uses several online and virtual platforms to communicate with our families. it is very important that our parents maintain accurate information in Infinite Campus via our Parent Portal. If you have not updated your data recently, please visit the BCSD Parent Portal website at https://www.bcsdk12.net/parents/parentportal.

Communications platforms used include:

· Infinite Campus/Parent Portal

· Remind will be merging to ParentSquare

· RMS Facebook Page

· Canvas

· School Intercom

· RMS Webpage

• Our Connections Classes are meant to be an extension of the academic world. They invite exploration, creativity, discipline, competition, teamwork , and real work experiences.

Schedule:

A Day and B Day. Connections classes last 65 minutes.

For example, a student may have PE on A Day and Band on B day. One week the student would have PE (A Day) on M,W, F and Band (B Day) on T, Th. The next week, they would have Band M,W,F and PE T, Th.

Agriculture

6th-8th grade - Exploring Agriculture 8th - Basic Agriculture Science (High School Credit Course)

Subjects include plant science, animal science, forestry and agriculture mechanics.

Art

6th, 7th and 8th-grade Visual Arts Areas of study include:

drawing, two and three­ dimensional work, painting, art history, collage and multimedia projects.

Band

6th Grade Beginning Band, 7th and 8th grade Intermediate Bands

Fees: There are no band fees. However, it is suggested that you purchase a band uniform shirt.

Schedule: Band is a year long class

Clubs: Pep Band - Performs at RMS Football games , "Festival" Band -Performs at a "competition" in March.

Business

Foundations of Business Administration – Learn valuable job skills such as how to use Microsoft Office Suite, employability skills, and Digital Safety

Foundations of Business Management – Class is built around entrepreneurship. Business structure and how to effectively run a business, how to create a business plan, and marketing.

Foundations of Investing and Finance – Learn about credit, how to create a budget, employability skills, the banking system, and much more.

Chorus

Beginning, intermediate and advanced chorus classes offer training in sight-reading, music theory, music history and performance practices. Choruses often travel for competitions and special events.

Healthcare

6th, 7th, and 8th grade health science classes will be introduced to: The body systems, an intro to healthcare principles and more!

Schedule: Most Health science classes are year long, rotating on an A and B Day schedule.

Junior Leadership Corps

JLC combines classroom instruction, fitness, and activities that foster development of Leadership, public service, responsibility, and sense of accomplishment among Cadets.

Music

Music appreciation classes at RMS are offered each semester. These classes study singing, instrument playing, music history, composition and the role that music plays in our culture.

Physical Education

General Physical Education classes

Our Professional School Counselors are Dr. White and Mr. Armstrong.

Dr. White focusses on 8th grade students. Mr. Armstrong focuses on 6th graders. They share 7th grade students.

School counselors are professionals who play a vital role in supporting students' academic, social, and emotional well-being. They help students succeed in school and plan for their future by providing counseling, guidance, and resources. They provide individual and group counseling sessions.

Rutland Middle School's dress code is designed to maintain an academic focus in the classroom and on campus. The RMS administration and staff would like the cooperation of the students and parents in reviewing the student's dress to ensure it meets the following uniform dress code guidelines before the student comes to school.

Please note: Early dismissal ends at 3:30 p.m. If you need to pick up your child early from school, please arrive to the office before 3:30 P.M.

Students being dismissed during the day for appointments or personal business are required to be signed out and picked up in the main office by a parent or designated adult. A picture ID will be required when picking up a student. Individuals not designated as an emergency contact in Infinite Campus will not be allowed to take students from the school. When a parent or guardian comes to pick up a child, the student will be called to the office. Students may not wait in the office for someone to arrive to sign them out. Please do not call ahead and ask the office staff to have the student waiting in the office. Students are responsible for any class work or tests missed when they sign out. Students should be sure to check with the teacher of each class to find out any assignments that will be missed. If you need someone to pick up your child who is not already listed as an emergency contact, please note that any updates parents make to Parent Portal will not be visible to the school until the next day. Updates populate overnight.

If a child is seriously injured or becomes ill at school, we will make him/her as comfortable as possible and then call the parent immediately. If the parent cannot be reached, we will attempt to contact the emergency contacts listed in Infinite Campus. In case of an emergency, an updated work, home or cell phone number for a parent or guardian must be on file. Information must be kept current throughout the school year. Notify the school office if there is a change in phone numbers or you move to a new address. If we cannot reach someone and we feel medical treatment is necessary, we will call the appropriate medical personnel or facility for help. Costs of medical treatment are the responsibility of the parents. Please make every effort to complete emergency information via the BCSD Annual Data Update. Consider who you may send to pick up your child when you are not available and include their information so that you are well prepared. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE RELEASED TO INDIVIDUALS NOT LISTED AS EMERGENCY CONTACTS IN INFINITE CAMPUS. Parents, please be advised that any updates you make to emergency contacts will not be visible to the school until the next day.

Extra-curricular clubs and activities are an important part of middle school. Membership in various clubs and organizations gives students the opportunity to develop skills in social interaction, be creative, and assume positions of responsibility. Rutland Middle School provides a wide variety of activities in which students may involve themselves. All students at Rutland Middle School are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities.

Current activities include:

• Athletic Teams: football, basketball (boys and girls), soccer(boys and girls), baseball, softball, wrestling (boys and girls), track (boys and girls), volleyball, cheerleading
• Academic Teams/Activities: Future Farmers of America, Future Business Leaders of America, Young Georgia Authors Competition, Spelling Bee, Math Team, Science Fair, Quiz Bowl, National History Day/National History Bee, Technology Fair.
• Student Clubs: Will be shared with students in Supervision and then listed on school website.

Students involved in after-school activities must remain in the classrooms until they are dismissed to their designated areas. Parents must pick up students participating in after school activities promptly after practices, games, club meetings, and team competitions.

The Family Engagement Program is dedicated to creating and supporting partnerships between students, parents and the community. As a central resource for family engagement, the Family Engagement Program strives to involve and inform parent leaders and families as essential partners in helping students achieve their goals. The Family Engagement Program is responsible for the development of programs and strategies to support district-wide engagement of families and community stakeholders.

The Family Engagement Program seeks to engage and support students, families, and communities of the Bibb County School District to share responsibility for every student becoming college or career ready. We are building dual capacity of both parent and staff knowledge and skills to engage families with learning and shared decision making opportunities.

Throughout the year, Rutland Middle will offer opportunities for our families to partner with our school through Family Engagement activities. Those opportunities will include but are not limited to: Surveys, Workshops, and Opportunities to review our current Title I Family Engagement Plan & Student/Family Compact and and to help develop our future plans. Your feedback to surveys are important to the work we do at RMS.

Our Eighth graders have the opportunity to take High School Credit classes. Selection to take these classes is based on teacher recommendation and parent permission. The admin staff will have a meeting with students who may qualify in spring of 7th Grade. There are several advantages of taking high school level courses in middle school. Students start high school with credits and have additional opportunities to take dual enrollment or college level classes while in high-school.

This year we will offer 9th Grade Algebra, 9th Grade Physical Science, 9th Grade ELA, and 9th Grade Agriculture.

Our Library Media Center offers over 12,000 books for checkout. Students may visit the media center before school or during the school day with a pass. Students may check out two books at a time. ELA teachers also bring their classes for lessons and check out. When students visit the media center without a teacher they should sign in and sign out.

E-Books

• SORA in Classlink
• The media center suggests that students "Read Sample" before they click BORROW, since many of the books purchased for SORA expire after a certain number of checkouts. If students are interested in the book after reading a sample, they then should BORROW the book. Click How to Read Books in SORA for more information.
• MyOn
• In Classlink, go to Renaissance. Once in Renaissance, click on MyOn. MyOn offers thousands of ebooks and has customizable searches. When finishing a book, students can click on one button to take the Accelerated Reader test.
• Check out books and ebooks from the Middle Georgia Regional Library
• The Middle Georgia Regional Library has an opportunity for all students to have access to Digital Resources including downloadable ebooks.
• When asked for your library card number, enter BCS (for Bibb County Schools) followed by your ID number.
• When asked for your password, type your 2-digit birth month and four digit birth year with no spaces.
• Example: Library Card Number: BCS123456 Password: 082015
• Middle Georgia Regional Library link

Accelerated Reader

Rutland Middle participates in Accelerated Reader. The Media Center recognizes students who read 1 Million words during end of the year awards ceremonies with trophies. In addition, we celebrate our readers who reach word count milestones throughout the school year. ELA teachers may have various recognitions for students who meet their AR goals per grading period (6 weeks).

Come back in August to view our reading incentives for the next school year.

Summer Reading

Summer reading is important for maintaining and enhancing literacy skills preventing summer learning loss, and fostering a love of reading. The district is partnering with the Middle Georgia Regional Library. Their summer reading goal is 25 hours of reading for the summer. For more information, click on their summer reading page here.

Rutland Middle School will be celebrating those students who complete the goal of reading at least 25 hours this summer.

Students are allowed to carry a school appropriate book bag, which must be clear or mesh. The administration reserves the right to check book bags at any time. Random searches are conducted by RMS Administration. Lockers can be rented for $5. Students must use a school-issued lock. Lost locks are $5.

Student Illnesses

Every effort will be made to encourage students to remain at school when they complain of minor aches and discomforts. However, please do not send children to school if they are ill before the school day begins.

Students should not be sent to school if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Fever of 100.4 degrees WITH or WITHOUT other symptoms.
• Vomiting or diarrhea. Keep your child at home until he/she has had no vomiting or diarrhea for at least 24 hours.
• Frequent cough or a thick, runny nose that is not clear. Keep your child at home until his/her symptoms have disappeared or significantly decreased.
• If a student is prescribed an antibiotic, please keep the child at home until he/she has been on the antibiotic for 24 hours and is without fever.

If a student develops any contagious symptoms during the school day, he/she will be required to return home. Parents should make sure their home, work, and cell phone numbers are kept current in Infinite Campus. Emergency contact person(s) should be listed in Infinite Campus. They will be contacted in case the school is unable to reach the parent. Students will not be released to individuals not listed as emergency contacts in Infinite Campus.

Medications

Faculty members may not dispense medication of any kind. Please do not ask the teachers to dispense pain medicine, antacids, cough drops or other over-the-counter medications to students.

Students may request to see the nurse when available and will be treated only if a signed Nurse Consent Form and Medical Authorization Form is on file. The Nurse Consent form gives the nurse permission to give over the counter medication; this does not give the office staff permission to treat the student. Prescription medication should be brought to the office by the parent in the original container appropriately labeled by the pharmacy or physician with the student’s name, medication, dosage, and the time to be administered.

If a child is required to take medication during the school day, either throughout the school year or for a temporary illness, a medical release form must be filled out and signed by the attending physician. Please contact the school office for a copy of this form. No prescription medication of any kind will be given out without this medical release form on file. We cannot accept faxed copies or phone calls from parents authorizing administration of any medication. Students are not allowed to keep medication with them during the school day. All medications must be turned into the Nurse’s office. The exception is doctor’s orders requiring asthma inhalers and EpiPens be carried by a student. The school will provide documentation for students to carry inhalers and EpiPens throughout the school day.

Please inform the school and teachers if your child has a chronic health issue i.e., diabetes, asthma, seizures, or life-threatening allergies (e.g., bee stings, peanuts, or any other allergy needing an EPI Pen or an inhaler). The school does not supply inhalers.

Nurse Eason is our wonderful Schoolhouse Health nurse. She is at our school daily.

Student Medicine Approval

For students to receive non-emergency, over-the counter medications - such as ibuprofen, Tums and Benadryl - permission will have to be granted during the annual data update or new student registration process. During this same process, parents can also make the school aware of any medical conditions, daily prescription medications or potential emergency medication needs the student might have.

For daily prescription medications or emergency medications such as inhalers, EpiPens or Diastat, parents will also need to follow the previous procedure for completing and signing a "Medical Authorization and Release Form," available at the child's school. Parents will also need to provide the medication to the school in the original container or packaging (ask your pharmacy for an extra labeled bottle).

At Rutland Middle School, we use Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). PBIS is an evidence-based, data-driven framework proven to reduce disciplinary incidents, increase a sense of safety, and support improved academic outcomes.

The use of the PBIS framework includes:

• Monitoring of discipline data to identify proper support for students
• Close monitoring of key locations to prevent common problems
• Teaching appropriate skills
• Rewarding appropriate behavior

As part of our effort to clarify our expectations for student behavior, we have a matrix that outlines appropriate behavior in the classroom, hall, restroom, and cafeteria. It also outlines expected behavior during arrival/dismissal and emergency drills.

Canvas

Canvas is a Learning Management System (LMS) that offers a single place where students can access any information related to academics. The platform helps teachers build a digital learning environment. Teachers will explain to students the specifics on how the platform will be used.

Classlink LaunchPad

ClassLink LaunchPad gives you personalized, single sign-on access to all your school resources. With one click, you can have instant access to any of thousands of learning, productivity, and educational apps. With LaunchPad you spend more time learning, and less time logging in.

Infinite Campus

Infinite Campus is a student information system. It is designed to manage student information regarding enrollment, attendance, grades, discipline, test scores, etc. Please click the link to find out about the Parent Portal section of Infinite Campus. https://www.bcsdk12.net/cms/One.aspx?portalId=1736221&pageId=27464832

Our school day lasts from 8:35 - 4:05. If you are in a situation where you need to drop off your child before 8:35 or pick them up after 4:30, please sign them up for our Before or Aftercare Programs. Please see the section above titled Before & Aftercare Programs.

Students in the Bibb County School District are expected to be responsible digital citizens. Students must sign an acknowledgement of training on device care and consequences for abusive behavior related to student devices. Additionally, it is fully expected that parents will review the Technology Do’s and Don’ts as well as the Student Device Contract with their students in order to ensure the device is handled properly at all times. Due to each student receiving a district device, students are not permitted to bring a personal laptop or similar device to school. In addition, parents have an opportunity to purchase Loss/Theft Insurance to protect against some incidents. Beyond the districts individually assigned 1-1 devices, students will also encounter opportunities to utilize other district technology and are expected to handle those devices with proper care at all times. Finally, the district recognizes that many parents will send their students to school with personal communication devices. Students may not use their personal communication devices during the school day.

Please note that for the 2025-2026 school year, students will be issued brand new chromebooks. The device they are issued will be the computer they use their entire time they are at the school.

TECHNOLOGY Do’s and Don’ts

The information below is designed to outline the do’s and don’ts of technology (computers, digital devices, networks, software, applications and the Internet) use in the Bibb County School District.

DO

• Use technology for educational purposes and related assignments.
• Use BCSD provided technology.
• Use technology to review attendance, grades, and other educationally relevant information through the Student Portal.
• Keep information password protected with secure, private passwords.
• Log off when away from a device.
• Protect technology from liquids, dampness, and extreme temperatures.
• Connect technology to the District’s content filtered wireless network.
• Abide by all technology rules and regulations stated in the Code of Conduct.
• Accept that inappropriate use may lead to penalties, including but not limited to, revocation of accounts, disciplinary action or legal action.
• Understand that parents will have to pay for any damaged, misplaced or lost technology that is not covered by the district’s accidental damage coverage.
• Return any and all electronic devices belonging to BCSD when requested by the school administrator, upon withdrawing from school, or at the end of the school year.
• Provide any technology, including personally owned devices, to administration upon request to monitor, inspect, copy, and review when there is reasonable suspicion of a violation.
• Be mindful of digital citizenship and appropriateness of communications when using technology.
• Promote a positive digital culture through appropriate interactions. Be kind!
• Use the Internet via the District’s content filtered wireless network to engage in teacher-designed educational opportunities that promote communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.
• Report any behaviors that violate these expectations to a teacher or administrator immediately.

• Bring or use a personal device (cellphone, laptop, tablet, etc.) during the school day.
• Use technology for non-educational purposes, including but not limited to recording without teacher/administrator permission, social media, non-educational apps, etc.
• Misuse technology. It could lead to serious consequences such as suspension or expulsion. o Use technology in locker rooms, restrooms, nurses’ offices, and/or any other areas that would violate privacy. o
• Use technology to engage in inappropriate communication through email, chat rooms, public messages, private messages, by posting material online, or any other method.
• Engage in any behavior that may be considered cyber-bullying.
• Share your username or password with another student or use another student’s username or password.
• Provide any personal information such as name, address or phone number or that of parents, students, teachers, or anyone else over the Internet unless directed to do so by a teacher.
• Leave technology unattended in a car, unlocked home, or public place.
• Leave technology in a car for long periods of time.
• Remove any labels from technology.
• Decorate, mark up, or otherwise deface technology.
• Engage in vandalism, including any malicious attempt to erase, modify or destroy the data of another user and the creation or uploading/downloading of computer viruses.
• Sabotage or deliberately destroy/alter software applications, operating systems, or computer files.
• Make any attempt to circumvent filters.
• Use technology to record audio or video media or take pictures of any student or staff member without receiving prior permission from a teacher and/or administrator. The distribution of any unauthorized media may result in disciplinary action including but not limited to suspension, criminal charges, and expulsion.
• Engage in electronic distribution of inappropriate material of a defamatory, obscene, abusive, offensive, profane, threatening or hateful nature.

A parent who needs to withdraw a student from school should contact the Registrar’s office. The parent must provide school transfer information to the registrar so the appropriate documents can be provided to the receiving school. State law requires schools to include disciplinary records as part of the student’s transcripts. If the transfer is outside of the school district, the student should clear any outstanding debts and return all devices and textbooks before any records will be released.