CSRMS Family Newsletter!

CSRMS Families,

The first day of school is almost here, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome everyone back for a new school year! This newsletter is packed with important resources, helpful information, and key reminders to support a smooth and successful first day. Be sure to take a few minutes to review everything so you can start the year with confidence

We are excited to welcome our students back on Thursday, August 13! Please review these important reminders to help make the first day a success.

• Student supervision begins at 6:45 a.m. Students may begin exiting vehicles at that time, and buses will be unloaded as they arrive.
• School doors open at 7:00 a.m.
• Upon arrival, students should report to their designated location:
  • 6th Grade: Gym
  • 7th Grade: Atrium
  • 8th Grade: Cafeteria
• Breakfast will be available for all students:
  • 8th graders can pick up grab-and-go breakfast in the cafeteria.
  • 6th and 7th graders can use the grab-and-go breakfast cart located between the gym and atrium.
• The tardy bell rings at 7:10 a.m. Students should be in their first-period classroom before that time.
• Staff members with master schedules will be stationed throughout the building to help students find their classes.
• Students will receive a paper copy of their schedule in first period to carry during the first few days of school.
• During the first two days, teachers will focus on building relationships and teaching classroom expectations, procedures, and routines. Students will be given grace as they learn their new schedules, and tardies will not be issued during this adjustment period.
• Dismissal will begin at 1:22 p.m. on the first and second days of school. (15 minutes early) This early release from classes will help us establish safe and efficient dismissal routines while minimizing wait times in the heat.
• Car rider families: Please make sure your child knows which car loop they will use for afternoon pick-up.

We can't wait to see everyone on Thursday and kick off an amazing school year!

Morning Drop-Off & Afternoon Pick-Up Information

CSRMS has two car loop options for families.

Sunlake Blvd Car Loop
This year, the car loop accessed from Sunlake Blvd will also serve as a parking lot for Sunlake High School students. Both buses and high school students will use this entrance. This loop is closest to the gym, where 6th grade students will report in the morning before being released to first period.

Mentmore Car Loop
The car loop accessed from Mentmore is another drop-off and pick-up option. It is closest to the cafeteria, where 8th grade students will report in the morning before being released to first period.

Please use the loop that works best for your family, and be sure your child knows which loop you will use for afternoon pick-up so they can go to the correct location after school.

If you were unable to attend Meet the Teacher, or had to leave early, here are the key updates shared by the administration team:

• Welcome to our new administrators! Mrs. Maus is our new Principal, and Dr. Swackard is our new Assistant Principal. Rushe now has a three-person administrative team instead of four administrators.
• New Parent Portal: Be sure to download and use the Pasco ONE app to stay connected and access important student information.
• Attendance Matters: Regular attendance is critical to student success. Please use school holidays and breaks when planning trips and appointments whenever possible. Students should be in their seats by 7:10 a.m. Families of students with more than 10 unexcused absences will meet with administration to discuss the impact on academic progress and develop solutions.
• Arrival and Dismissal: Please review the updated procedures outlined above.
• Dress Code: School dress code expectations will be enforced. Please help ensure your child arrives dressed appropriately each day.
• Cell Phones: Florida law prohibits student cell phone use during the school day in K-8 schools. Phones must remain turned off and stored in backpacks at all times, including during lunch and bathroom breaks. Student may not carry phones in their pockets. Students will receive one warning for a violation. Any additional violations will result in the phone being held in the front office for a parent/guardian to pick up. Phones will not be returned to students.
• No Gum or Energy Drinks: Gum and energy drinks are not permitted on campus. Please do not send these items to school with your child.
• New Anti-Bullying Program: Students will participate in a brief weekly lesson during 4th period focused on building positive relationships and preventing bullying.
• Communication with Administration: Our preferred method for requesting support or sharing concerns is the online Parent Communication Request Form, which is monitored by all three administrators. this can be found on our website.

https://novelintheneighborhood.com/charles-s-rushe

Students will participate in a novel study each quarter as part of their English Language Arts instruction. Every teacher has a classroom set of books, so no purchase is required.

However, if you would like your child to be able to highlight, annotate, and write notes directly in their own copy, as well as take the book home as needed, you may purchase the novels through our local partner bookstore. This small business has partnered with our school to create a convenient bundle of all the novels your child will read this year. Purchased books will be labeled with your child's name and delivered directly to the school for easy distribution.

Thank you for supporting both your child's learning and a local small business!

https://shopeliteink.com/collections/rushe-middle-school

We are excited to partner with Elite Ink for all of our school spirit wear and gear this year!

The online store will be open for the first two weeks of each month. Once the store closes, Elite Ink will spend the next two weeks producing orders. All items will then be delivered directly to students during their lunch period at the end of the month.

This monthly ordering cycle will continue throughout the school year, giving families regular opportunities to purchase school gear and show their Rushe pride. Be sure to place your order while the store is open each month!

As you get started with back-to-school shopping, please keep our school dress code in mind. A few reminders now can help avoid any surprises once the school year begins.

Shirts and Tops

• Shirts should meet the waistband of pants, shorts, or skirts so that midriffs are not exposed.
• Tops should provide full coverage and should not be low-cut. A good rule of thumb is that the neckline should not fall below a line drawn from armpit to armpit.
• Undergarments should not be visible.
• Shirts should not be sheer or transparent.
• Words and graphics should be school appropriate.

Shoes

• For safety reasons, all shoes must have a back. Students travel through crowded hallways and use staircases throughout the day, and backless shoes can easily slip off and create a safety concern.
• Slippers and other backless footwear are not appropriate for school.

Sleepwear

• Pajama tops, pajama pants, and slippers are not considered school attire.
• We want students to be comfortable, but also dressed and ready for a day of learning.
• Sleepwear will only be permitted on designated school spirit or dress-up days.

Hoods and Hats

• We know middle school students love their hoodies, and they are absolutely welcome at school.
• However, hoods may not be worn on students' heads inside the building.
• Hats and other head coverings that cover the head must be removed upon entering the school.

Thank you for your support as we prepare for a great school year. We hope these reminders make back-to-school shopping a little easier and help start positive conversations at home about being ready for success at school!

• ⏲️In order to have an organized office, and so our office staff can support dismissal safety, we ask that all early picks up are done prior to 1:15.
• 🥤 Last year many students were arriving to school with energy drinks. We ask that no energy drinks be brought to school to consume at school.
• 🍬This summer quite a bit of gum had to be scraped off school furniture and pressure washed off the building and outdoor trashcans. In order to keep the campus clean, we are not allowing any gum. Students have have hard candy, but no gum.
• 🚌 If you plan to have your child ride a bus to school this year, bus passes are NOW available in your parent portal. Please check and call the transportation office call center with questions or concerns: (813) 320-2562
• ⏰ Being on time each day is apart of attendance records. School starts early! Our campus will open doors at 7:00 and the tardy bell for 1st period rings at 7:10. Please make a family plan that ensures your child is on time to school each day in their seat ready to learn before 7:10.
• 📅 Plan trips and appointments around the school calendar to prioritize instruction for your child. All school days off and early release days and times are listed at the bottom of this newsletter!
• 📰 A school newsletter will be emailed and texted to families every weekend during the school year. Please make time to read it each week!

As we prepare for a great new school year, please remember that Florida public schools follow state-mandated cell phone regulations under Florida Statute 1006.07 and House Bill 1105.

At CSRMS, cell phones and other wireless devices (including smartwatches, earbuds, and tablets) are prohibited from bell to bell, meaning they may not be used at any time during the school day.

Please remind your student to keep these devices turned off and put away while on campus. Students who violate the cell phone policy will have their device placed in the front office, and it must be picked up from the front desk by a parent or guardian.

Thank you for your partnership in helping us maintain a focused learning environment for all students. This is a great conversation to have with your child before school starts!

We will have MANY opportunities to volunteer this upcoming school year. There will be an increase if field trip opportunities and we will need parent chaperones. We also invite parents to volunteer in the cafeteria during lunches, and supporting in the media center.

Be sure to fill out your yearly volunteer application with Pasco County Schools. This must be done every July! Here is the link to fill out this year's application: https://apps.raptortech.com/vol/onlineapplication/apply/OWI4Y2JlZGEtNDI2ZC00YmY1LThhNzEtOGI1MTM3MTgzNjZhOmVuLVVT

Please remember, that you must also have your fingerprints done once every 5 years. If you have not had those complete, it is important to schedule that appointment! If you wait until a field trip if announced to get fingerprinted, they will not process in time. It is best to do them now, so that they are processed and you are set for the next five years!

To learn how to schedule your fingerprint appointment and to get the necessary code please visit the county's volunteer site: https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/hreq/page/volunteer

Free & Reduced Meal Applications are OPEN for the 2026–2027 school year! 🍎

A new application must be completed each year:

https://connectplus.pasco.k12.fl.us/do/fns/freereduced/

For more information about school meals, visit our website:

https://connectplus.pasco.k12.fl.us/do/fns/

Tryout dates will be:

🏈Football-

Tryouts will be on the track with Coach Williams

Players are able to attend any round of tryouts. Cuts will be made after each round. If your personal or vacation plans do not allow you to attend the first round, that is ok, you may attend a different round. If your player attends the first round and is not cut, they may continue to attend tryouts in order to continue practicing and conditioning.

1st round of tryouts will be July 27- July 31 7AM-9:15AM

2nd round of tryouts will be Aug 3-Aug 4 7AM- 9:15 AM & Aug 5-Aug 7- 3PM-5PM

3rd round of tryouts will be Aug 10-Aug 12 3PM-5PM & Aug 13-Aug 14 1:45 PM-4:30 PM

📣Cheer

Tryouts are in the Atrium from 2:00-4:00 with Coach Davis

Aug 17-Aug 20

🏐Girls Volleyball

All tryouts are in the gym from 1:45-3:15 with Coach Flatley and Coach Smith

6th Grade- Aug 24

7th Grade- Aug 25

8th Grade- Aug 26

If you plan to come to tryouts for any of the 3 fall sports, you will need to have all your athletic paperwork completed.

Now is a great time to get started! Students MUST have a cleared status in the Athletic Clearance Portal in order to attend tryouts.

Links to all required tasks and paperwork: https://www.pasco.k12.fl.us/athletics/page/forms/

• Create an Account & Complete all items on AthleticClearance.com
• Complete EL2 (physical) form with a doctor's signature, stamp, and date, along with Parent and Student Signatures and date at the bottom of Page 4. Then, upload to Athletic Clearance.
• Complete NFHS classes for: Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Concussion for Students, and Heat Illness. Then, upload certificates to Athletic Clearance
• Completed Transportation Form uploaded to Athletic Clearance
• Completed GA4 form uploaded to Athletic Clearance for transfers

As you prepare for the new school year, please consider the school calendar when scheduling appointments and trips!

Here are the dates there is no school or shortened school days so you can use them to plan!

School Hours: 7:10-1:37

No School Days

September:

Labor Day- Mon, Sept 7

October:

Teacher Planning Day- Mon, Oct 12

November:

Thanksgiving Break- Nov 23-27

December:

Winter Break- Dec 21- Jan 4

January:

Winter Break- Friday, Jan 1

Teacher Planning Day- Monday, Jan 4

MLK Day- Monday, January 18

February:

4 Day Presidents Day Weekend: Feb 12-15

*Note: Fri, February 12th will only be a day off if no make up days are needed from storm season.

March:

Spring Break- March 22-26

Teacher Planning Day: Monday, March 29

April :

Student Day off- Friday, April 16

*Note: Fri, April 16th will only be a day off if no make up days are needed from storm season.

May:

No school days off

Early Release Days

School will release 2 hours early on these days at 11:37 AM.

• Wednesday, October 28th
• Wednesday, January 27th
• Wednesday, February 24th

State testing windows where attending school daily will be important:

• September 1-25
• December 1-18
• May 1-26

• Jessica Maus- Principal-

• Dr. Eshonda Swackard- Assistant Principal- eswackar@pasco.k12.fl.us
• Edward Doychak- Assistant Principal- edoychack@pasco.k12.fl.us