This document provides information for parents about Dean Rusk Middle School's Panther Camp for the 2014 school year. It includes greetings from the principal and assistant principal, the school mission, information about upcoming events like Open House, staff lists, bell schedules, and commonly asked questions. It also provides students' 2013-14 test score results and information about clubs, activities, and academic classes available at the school.

1. Welcome
to Dean Rusk MS Panther Camp
2014Mrs. Cindy Cooper
Dean Rusk Principal
Mr. Lawrence Gluckson
Dean Rusk 7th Grade Assistant Principal
http://portal.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/rusk-ms/default.aspx
DRMS Mission:
DRMS is committed to a learning environment of cooperation
that will encourage the maximum development of academic,
physical, social, and emotional growth. Our mission is to enable
students to become successful participants and life long learners
in a global society.

2. Join us for:
Dean Rusk Middle School
PTSA Open House/ Curriculum
Night
Thursday, September 4 @ 6:30PM (Cafeteria)

3. Resources…..
• The DRMS Homepage can serve as a useful tool for all things Dean Rusk.
http://portal.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools/rusk-ms/default.aspx
Bell Schedules
Parent/Student Portal for schedules
CCSD B.Y.L.D.
CCSD Student/Parent Handbook (online)
CCSD Discipline Code (online)
Teacher’s Web page/syllabi (online)

4. New Panther Staff for SY 14-15
7th Grade Teachers:
Erin Hoerr – Science 7S
Tiffany Robbins – Language Arts 7S
Mindee Calabrese – Reading 7R
8th Grade Teachers:
David Colvin – Math 8S
Jacob Pendergraft – Social Studies 8M
Connections Teachers:
Melissa Christensen – Family & Consumer
Science (FACS)

5. DRMS 7th Grade Teacher Teams
2014 - 2015
7R
Jeff Pence – Language Arts
Mindee Calabrese - Reading
Teresa Kannawarf – Math
Leslie Powell – Science
Debbie Whitlock – Social Studies

6. DRMS 7th Grade Teacher Teams
2014 - 2015
7M
Jill Onufrak – Language Arts
Bridget Conway – Reading
Jennifer Campbell – Math
William Morris– Science
Debbie Garner – Social Studies

7. DRMS 7th Grade Teacher Teams
2014 - 2015
7S
Tiffany Robbins – Language Arts
Jennifer Evans – Reading
Day Craig– Math
Erin Hoerr – Science
Debbie Lanter – Social Studies

8. Elementary to Middle
Transition
What changes will they see?
• LOCKERS!! – Do not share combinations
• Return of First Day Packet = Locker Assignment
• Team of Teachers – Middle School Model
• Connections = Specials
• Art, FACS, PE, Careers, Technology, Chorus, Band, Orchestra
• No Recess
• Daily Literacy Period
• Period Attendance
• Tardy Bell
• Car Rider Procedures
• Walking to SHS in afternoon

9. What’s New in Middle School???
•Georgia Milestones Assessment April 13 – 23
•Georgia Formative Assessment Benchmarks (GFABS)
•Iowa Test of Basic Skills (IOWA) October 13 - 31
•Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) August 18 – September 5
•Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DOK)
•Healthy, Hungry Free Kids Act of 2010

10. Dean Rusk Middle School
2014-15
• Student Name: ________________________________________________
•
• Homeroom Teacher: ___________________________________________
•
• An open line of communication helps parents and teachers build successful learning opportunities for their students. We ask that you review the
contents of this envelope each time that it comes home. Sign and return the appropriate documents or sign the outside of the folder indicating that you
have reviewed the information inside. Please return the envelope to your child’s homeroom teacher the following day. We will send home progress
reports or report cards approximately every 4-1/2 weeks, so please look forward to receiving information regarding your child’s academic progress
regularly. Additionally, enclosed is your student’s GCRCT test results for the 2013/2014 school year for your records. Thank you for your help and
cooperation!
• Date Signature and Return Information
•
• 8/4/14 If Applicable, Sign the First, CCSD First Day Information
• Third, and Fourth Page
• Complete and Sign Individual Form Emergency Information for Early Dismissal
• Complete and Sign Individual Form Student Health Needs Identification Form
• Complete and Sign Individual Form BYLD Student/Parent Agreement
• Complete and Sign Individual Form Student Profile/Data Verification (Please
• write any corrections, additions and/or
• deletions of information on this form. The
• people listed on this form are the people
• that are allowed to check your student out.)
• If Applicable, Complete and Sign Extra Food Sales
• Complete School Council Nomination Form
•
• 09/03/14 ____________________________ Progress Report
•
• 10/17/14 ____________________________ Report Card
•
• 11/12/14 ___________________________ Progress Report
•
• 01/09/15 ___________________________ Report Card
•
• 02/05/15 ___________________________ Progress Report
•
• 03/24/15 ___________________________ Report Card
•
• 04/24/15 ___________________________ Progress Report
•
• The final report card will be mailed home in June 2015.

11. Elementary to Middle
Transition
After School Programs
• ExP Tutoring – After school tutoring for math, language arts, reading,
science, and social studies
Intramurals Program
• After school activities. More information forthcoming

12. Elementary to Middle
Transition
• School Day – 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
• Class Periods – 55 to 59 minutes
• Connections Period – 78 minutes
• Literacy Period – 78 minutes (25 minutes of Literacy & 53 minutes of
a specific curriculum)
• Breakfast & Lunch

13. Commonly Asked Questions???
• Is there a nurse at DRMS?
Yes –Rebeccah Keeton
She is on campus from 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Medicine – Must be in original container with appropriate paperwork
on file. Students may not carry medicine with them.

14. Commonly Asked Questions???
• Are there school counselors at DRMS?
Yes – Ms. Fort – 8th Grade
Ms. Williams – 7th Grade
•Individual Counseling
•Small Group Counseling
•Student Scheduling
•Classroom Guidance
•Teacher/ Parent Consultations
•Crisis Intervention
•Community Resource Referrals

15. Commonly Asked Questions???
Does DRMS have a dress code?
Yes – we follow the dress code established by CCSD and found
in the CCSD Discipline Handbook 2014-15
Does DRMS have behavior expectations?
Absolutely – the CCSD Discipline Code and policies stated
within will be followed

16. 7th Grade Field Trip
• Occurs in the spring after Georgia Milestones Assessment
• Extended Day trip on motor coaches
• Drop off and pick up is off campus
• Inappropriate student behavior can result in:
 Parent being required to attend with child
 Students not being allowed to attend trip

17. Loss of Field Trip Privilege
Attendance on school based field trips is a privilege and requires positive behavior
in the regular school environment, conducting yourself as a good DRMS citizen at
all times, and displaying respect to peers, teachers, administration, and staff at all
times. Therefore, the following policy will apply to all students and their
participation in all field trips:
• Office Discipline Referral – Warning
• Second Office Referral – Student’s parent must accompany student on field trip
in order for student to attend. Parent must submit to a background check and
cover adult cost of field trip.
• Third Office Referral – Attendance on all field trips is denied.
Any assignment to Out of School Suspension (OSS) or Alternative School (ALT
School) results in denial of field trip attendance for the school year

18. DRMS CLUBS & ACTIVITIES
• Drama Club: School Plays
• Beta Club: Academic Excellence
• Fish Club
• Yearbook
• Book Rap Club – Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl
• Student Council
• Geography Bee
• Science Fair
• Social Studies Fair
• Young Author’s Fair
• Intramurals
• Spelling Bee
• 7th & 8th Grade Basketball
• 7th & 8th Grade Cheerleading
• Chorus, Band, Orchestra
• Career Day
• Nat’l Junior Honor Society
• Relay For Life Team

19. 7th GRADE ACADEMIC CLASSES
Reading - Reading 7, Advanced Reading 7,
Co-Taught Reading 7 & Resource Reading 7
Language Arts (LA) – LA 7 ,Advanced LA 7,
Co-Taught LA 7 & Resource LA 7
Mathematics (MA) – MA 7, Advanced MA 7,
Accelerated MA 7, Co-Taught MA 7 & Resource MA 7
Science (SC) – SC 7, Advanced SC 7
Social Studies (SS) – SS 7, Advanced SS 7

20. BRING YOUR LEARNING DEVICE
B.Y.L.D.
• DRMS is a BYLD school
• BYLD sign = Bring Device
• BYLD sign = No Device
• NEXT Network
• CCSD Cell Phone policy changed from student possession to student
inappropriate usage
• Access B.Y.L.D. Appendix L in CCSD Handbook

21. DRMS 13-14 SY GCRCT Test Results

22. 7th Grade
97
96 96
91
96
98
97
95
91
92
86
88
90
92
94
96
98
100
Reading LA Math Science Social
Studies
DRMS
CCSD

23. 8th Grade
100
98
88
86
96
99
97
92
88
90
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
Reading LA Math Science Social
Studies
DRMS
CCSD

24. • DRMS PTSA sponsored event
• 3:45pm – 6:00pm
• Dance in gym and refreshments for sale in cafeteria
• $6 unless parent has joined PTSA, then no charge
• Friday, August 22, 2014*
• There will be no early dismissals from the dance.
• Parents must send a note giving permission for son/daughter to
remain after school.
*Please note date has been changed from August 15, 2014 due to
change in SHS Football game.