What's Happening at Rushe

Hello Raven Families,

Can a week get any better? Star Wars Day, Cinco de Mayo, Teacher Appreciation Week, and the spring testing window—all rolled into one! May the Fourth be with you on the 5th of May and on every day you're testing. The greatest gift you can give your teachers is showing just how much you’ve learned from them this year!

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

Our track program continues to shine with a Girls 1st Place finish and a Boys 2nd Place finish—a true testament to the hard work, dedication, and determination of our athletes and coaches!

🔥 Individual Highlights:

• Sprint Dominance: Jaelyn Finan and Titus Moore doubled up with 1st place finishes in both the 100m and 200m.
• Middle & Distance Strength: Victories from Anora Smalls (400m), Ella Hemmers (800m), Lena Budzilek (1600m), and Collin Langston (1600m) led the way, with strong podium finishes by Riley Eckelbarger, Steven Olver, Ace Hallinan, Jacob Greene, and Anthony Pantaleo.
• Hurdles & Field Events: Joline Gheesling topped the hurdles and added a high jump placing, while Anora Smalls soared to 1st in Long Jump. Reagan Kummelman had an impressive throwing day with 1st in Discus and 3rd in Shot Put, joined by Brylee Widman and Kellan Stevick on the discus podium.
• High Jump Success: Strong performances by Hadley Pater and Titus Moore added valuable points.

⚡ Relay Excellence:

• Girls 4x100 – 1st Place
• Boys 4x400 – 1st Place
• Girls 800 Sprint Medley – 1st Place
• Boys 4x100 – 2nd Place

Congratulations to all of our athletes for an incredible showing and for representing our school with pride. The momentum is real—keep pushing, keep believing, and keep winning! 💪🏆

This message serves as a reminder about the upcoming EKG requirement from the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) which must be met on or before July 1st, 2026, for students-athletes to be able to tryout or participate in any High School Sport.

In accordance with State Statute 1006.20, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year and thereafter, the following students shall complete at least one electrocardiogram screening:

• All incoming 9th-grade student-athletes
• Students in grades 10–12 who have never participated in an FHSAA-sanctioned sport
• Any student who transfers to Pasco County Schools and participates in an FHSAA-sanctioned sport

• Returning athletes are not required to obtain an EKG, but it is strongly encouraged. An EKG performed on or after July 1, 2024 will satisfy this requirement

  
  

As a reminder, Pasco County Schools is partnering with Who We Play For to offer EKG screenings at a reduced
cost of $20 per student.

If you have not yet met this requirement, please go to the Pasco County School Athletic Website to see all of the upcoming dates. If you have additional questions about this process, please contact Julieann Usry, Senior Supervisor of Athletics and Electives jusry@pasco.k12.fl.us.

Attention 8th Graders! The countdown is on for our Universal Studios Gradventure field trip on Friday, May 8. This is your chance to celebrate your middle school journey with an epic night of thrills, music, and memories with your friends across both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

Tickets are no longer available on Rycor, but you can email E.J. Doychak at edoychak@pasco.k12.fl.us to learn more and possibly reserve a spot on the waitlist

Get ready for an elegant evening of unforgettable memories! Our PTSA is transforming the Cafeteria for this year's 8th Grade Dance on Friday, May 15, from 6:30–9:00 PM. Join your classmates for a night of mystery and celebration as we wrap up your middle school years in style.

Important Details:

• Dress Code: This is a semi-formal to formal event. Please leave the jeans and shorts at home!

• Mask Policy: To keep the masquerade theme, masks are encouraged but must be held on a stick (no masks attached to the head or face).

• Tickets: On sale now through Tuesday, May 12.

Don't wait until the clock strikes midnight—grab your tickets today and prepare for a magical night!

Get ready for the ultimate wrap-up to your 8th-grade year! Join us on Tuesday, May 26, for a full day of celebration. You’ll spend half the day outside enjoying inflatable slides, games, and outdoor fun, followed by a catered lunch. The rest of the day will be dedicated to preparing for your big moment at promotion practice and gathering in the Media Center for a dedicated yearbook signing session with all your friends.

Important Details:

• Date: Tuesday, May 26

• Tickets: Must be purchased by Friday, May 22, to participate.

• Lunch: Provided for all ticket holders!

Don't miss out on this final chance to relax and celebrate before you head off to high school. Secure your ticket by the deadline and let’s make some noise!

It’s almost time to cross the stage and celebrate your transition to high school! Our promotion ceremonies are just around the corner, and we can’t wait to honor your hard work and achievements. Please note that ceremonies are scheduled based on your ELA teacher:

Ceremony Schedule

• Wednesday, May 27 @ 8:30 AM: Students of Roth & Plancer

• Wednesday, May 27 @ 11:00 AM: Students of Sutton

• Thursday, May 28 @ 8:30 AM: Students of Thompson

• Thursday, May 28 @ 11:00 AM: Students of Nobles

Mark your calendars and make sure your families have the correct time for your specific teacher. Let’s finish this year strong and celebrate this huge milestone together!

As of July 1, 2025, Florida has implemented a statewide ban on cell phone use for middle school students during the entire school day. This means students cannot use their personal wireless communication devices like phones, smartwatches, or tablets while on campus, according to Florida House Bill 1105. Exceptions will be made for students with medical requirements documented through medical records, such as an Individual Education Plan (IEP), Section 504 plan, or Health Plan. To enforce this new legislation, violations may result in device confiscation and disciplinary action.

If you need to reach your child during the school day, please contact the school directly.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

All student absences should be reported through the myStudent Parent Portal.

To submit an absence:

1. Log in to your myStudent Parent Portal.
2. Navigate to the Forms section.
3. Complete and submit the Absence Reporting Form for approval.

For step-by-step instructions and helpful resources, please click below.

Happy Sunday Raven Families!

We have a Linktree that is your one-stop hub for everything PTSA and school related! Use the QR code below and bookmark the page to stay up to date on all our events.

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.

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 volunteer with Pasco County Schools, applicants must complete the Volunteer Programs application and undergo a Level II background screening. This background screening will review records in the state of Florida as well as the national FBI database. As part of the background screening process, real-time notifications for any future incidents that occur will be provided mirroring our current process for employees and contractors/vendors

Please pull all the way to the front (as close to the bike rack on each side). In addition, please do not park in the car line. If you arrive early and your child wishes to wait to exit your vehicle, please park in a space and have your child use the crosswalk. Also, for the safety of all students and staff, 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, only cross roads at crosswalks, and be sure there are no incoming vehicles before crossing. 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.

All athletic event tickets will be sold online through GoFan. No cash will be accepted at the door.

Pasco County Schools has safety procedures in place for all sporting events. Only clear plastic , clear vinyl, and clear Ziploc bags will be permitted. Diaper bags, medically-necessary bags, and school/professional photographers’ camera bags will be allowed. No other bags of ANY kind will be permitted, including backpacks, fanny packs, purses and duffle bags. All bags are subject to search. To learn more about security procedures, click here.

• May 4-8 - Staff & Teacher Appreciation Week🤩🩵💛
• Monday, May 4 - Sunlake Marching Band Parent Meeting, 7 pm in SLHS Band Room
• Tuesday, May 5 - Track Conference Meet, 5:30-8 pm (@AAC)👟
• Wednesday, May 6 - School Nurse Appreciation Day!🩺
• Wednesday, May 6 - Science Bootcamp, 1:45-2:45 pm in Room 102 🧪
• Wednesday, May 6 - Civics Bootcamp, 2-2:30 pm in Room 224⚖️
• Wednesday, May 6 - Builders Club Meeting, 2-3 pm in Cafeteria
• Wednesday, May 6 - Civil Air Patrol, 2-3:30 pm at SLHS Bldg 4-140✈️
• Wednesday, May 6 - Raven Jazz Band Rehearsal, 2:15-3:15 pm in Room 121🎺
• Thursday, May 7 - Dungeons & Dragons Club, 1:45-2:45 pm in Room 153🐉
• Thursday, May 7 - HOSA Club, 1:50-2:50 pm in Room 348
• Thursday, May 7 - Advanced Band Rehearsal, 2:15-3:15 pm in Room 121 🎻
• Friday, May 8 - 8th Grade Gradventure Fieldtrip

• Tuesday, May 12 - Spring Chorus Concert, 5 pm in CSRMS Cafeteria
• Tuesday, May 12 - MS Track Championship Meet, 5:30-8 pm (@AAC)
• Wednesday, May 13 - Science Bootcamp, 1:45-2:45 pm in Room 102 🧪
• Wednesday, May 13 - Civics Bootcamp, 2-2:30 pm in Room 224⚖️
• Wednesday, May 13 - Civil Air Patrol, 2-3:30 pm at SLHS Bldg 4-140✈️
• Wednesday, May 13 - Raven Jazz Band Rehearsal, 2:15-3:15 pm in Room 121🎺
• Thursday, May 14 - Dungeons & Dragons Club, 1:45-2:45 pm in Room 153🐉
• Thursday, May 14 - STAND Club, 1:50-2:50 pm in Room 348
• Thursday, May 14 - FCA, 1:50-2:30 pm in Room 149
• Thursday, May 14 - SGA Meeting, 2-2:30 pm in Room 311
• Thursday, May 14 - Advanced Band Rehearsal, 2:15-3:15 pm in Room 121 🎻
• Thursday, May 14 - PTSA Board Meeting, 4:30-6 pm in Media
• Friday, May 15 - 8th Grade Dance: Masquerade Ball, 6:30-9 pm

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