DRMS Parent Orientation

1. DEAN RUSKMIDDLE SCHOOL
HOME OF THE CHIEFS!

2. DRMS ADMINISTRATION
Mrs. Cindy Cooper: Principal
Mr. Lawrence Gluckson: Assistant Principal
Mrs. Catherine Holman: Assistant Principal
Dr. Tom Usry: Assistant Principal
Ms. Taylor Herman: Counselor
Mrs. Michelle Martin: Counselor
Mrs. Kasi Williams: Counselor

3. 15-16 HIGHLIGHTS
 8th
Grade Band all Superior Ratings at LGPE
 8th
Grade Band invited to perform at Disney World in Orlando, FL
 Students selected for All-State Chorus
 Student selected as Alternate for All-State Band
 8th
Grade Girls Basketball Team placed 2nd
in County Championship
 Students qualify for Regional and State Science Fair Competition
 Students qualify for Regional and State Social Studies Fair
Competition
 18 out of 25 students received an award on their National Latin Exam

4. ACADEMICS

5. Reading
Math Social
Studies
Science
Language Arts
CORE CURRICULUM

6. • All academic teams are computer generated
• All ability groups
• Consist of 4 or 5 teachers with classrooms
located in same area of hall
• Send out progress reports/report cards every
4 ½ weeks
ACADEMIC TEAMS

7. 1st
Period
Homeroom Reading
2nd
Period Connections
3rd
Period
Lunch Language Arts
4th
Period Math
5th
Period Science
6th
Period Connections
7th
Period Social Studies
TYPICAL STUDENT SCHEDULE

8. Art
Business
&
Computer
Science
Health Technology
Exploration
Band
Physical
Education
Family
&
Consumer
Science
(FACS)
Chorus Orchestra
Math
Success
&
Reading
Success
CONNECTIONS CLASSES
Purpose: To give students exposure to a variety of courses, to facilitate student
identification of interests, to refine skills in a variety of hands-on experiences, and
to prepare students to select subjects appropriately when they reach high school.

9. • 8:15amStudents may enter the building. They report to
cafeteria/gym– breakfast is offered
• 8:50amStudents are released to homeroom/1st
period
• Students arriving after 9:00am are tardy and must be
escorted inside the building by a parent
• 9:00amAcademic day begins and students rotate
through seven class periods
• Students have math, reading, language arts, science,
social studies, and PE/Connections classes.
• Students have lunch between 10:30am and 12:30pm
• Teachers are in the cafeteria supervising students
during lunch
TYPICAL DAILY
ROUTINE

10. • A copy of your child’s 2016-2017 course
placement will be given to your son or daughter
during the month of May.
• Please be aware that course placement decision
are data driven.
• Email questions and requests related to course
placements to the following email address:
DRMS.Scheduling@cherokee.k12.ga.us
• These messages will receive a response until:
Friday, May 20, 2016
COURSE
PLACEMENTS

11. • Your child’s school schedule will be available
on the ASPEN Family Portal a few days prior
to the 2016-2017 Walk-Through.
• Please be aware that all schedules are
subject to change within the first ten days of
the school year based on student enrollment.
• Please note that DRMS does not honor
requests for specific teams or specific
teachers.
SCHEDULES

12. BEHAVIOR

13. • Student agendas contain a Behavior Card for each
quarter of the school year. Parents should review the
Behavior Card on a daily basis.
• Points are deducted for behavioral infractions.
• Students must carry their agendas to all classes and
must have their agendas with them when they leave
the classroom; failure to have their agenda with them
will result in a consequence.
• Excessive point deductions will result in an
Administrative Discipline Referral.
STUDENT BEHAVIOR
CARD

14. • Students will receive Administrative Discipline
Referrals when they have earned excessive
point deductions on their Behavior Card.
• Discipline is progressive.
• Students will receive Administrative
consequences in accordance with the 2016-2017
CCSD Student/Parent Discipline Code
Handbook.
ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINE
REFERRAL

15. • DRMS strictly adheres to the CCSD Board
guidelines for student conduct, as described in
the CCSD Student/Parent Discipline Code
Handbook.
• Discipline is firm and fair, and is consistently
applied to all students.
• Please read and discuss the handbook with your
child.
• You and your child will be required to sign for
receipt of the handbook.
CCSD STUDENT/PARENT
DISCIPLINE CODE HANDBOOK

16. STUDENT DRESS CODE
• Second offense clothing must be changed and a day of
In-School Suspension results.
• Progressive discipline for additional offenses.
• DRMS strictly adheres to the CCSD
Board of Education dress code policy.
• Students who are out of dress code (1st
Offense) will
be allowed to change, for the day, into clothing
provided by the school or they may contact their
parents and have them bring a change of clothing.
• Dress Code - Applies to PE classes,
athletics, cheerleading, intramurals, field
trips.

17. ATTENDANCE

18. Research confirms the following:
Students who have high absenteeism rates
typically do not perform in school as well as students
with regular and consistent attendance patterns.
Students who have high absenteeism rates
typically do not score as well on standardized tests as
students who have regular and consistent attendance
patterns.
CONSISTENT ATTENDANCE

19. Per CCSD Student/Parent Handbook, the following are
reasons for an excused absence:
 Personal illness
 Serious illness or death in the family
 Recognized religious holidays observed by one’s
faith
 Absence as mandated by order of governmental
agency
 Conditions rendering school attendance impossible
or hazardous to one’s health or safety
After 7 absences, excused or unexcused, a doctor’s
note is required for every absence.
EXCUSED ABSENCES

20. • Please be aware that your child’s number of
absences, tardies, and checkouts are monitored by
the school.
• In accordance with the CCSD protocols, you will
receive standardized letters notifying you of your
child’s excessive absences.
• Excessive absences will be reported to the CCSD
School Social Worker.
• Field trip privileges can be revoked for students
having more than 6 unexcused absences.
MONITORING OF ABSENCES,
TARDIES AND CHECKOUTS

21. COUNSELING

22. • Individual and group counseling
• Classroom guidance
• Parent/Teacher Consultations
• Crisis Intervention
• Community Resources
• Coordination of Special Events
COUNSELING SERVICES

23. OTHER INFORMATION

24. • New 30+ Million Dollar Building
• One-to-One school
• Addition of sixth grade students to population
• Predicted opening enrollment at 1450 students
• School time: 9AM – 4PM
• 7 period day
• Transportation: Middle school and high school students
transported separately starting in 2016-2017
• School colors change to black, gold and gray
• School mascot changes to arrowhead with interlocking DR
• Total Faculty Members: 110
• Three assistant principals and three counselors
CHANGES FOR 2016-2017

25. • One-to-One School – Each child with their
own CCSD issued device
• Five Computer Labs
• Virtual Lab – 3-D Software
• Latest Version of Smartboards
• Wireless school
• Charging stations in classrooms and media
center
• Online educational programs
• Online Textbooks (Math and Science)
TECHNOLOGY

26. • Extensive materials for reference, pleasure reading
and research
• Class size lab available
• Student access to e-books
• Student access to Virtual Lab for small group or
class activities
• Fees charged for overdue books
MEDIA CENTER
SERVICES
Open for individual students, small groups and classes.
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:45am – 4:15pm

27. Breakfast: $1.50
Everyday from 8:15am – 8:50am
Lunch: $2.60
25 minutes daily period
Seating: Students sit with their assigned class at
assigned tables
Choices: Hot lunch line
Purchasing Options:
Cash and/or lunch debit account
A courtesy tray/sandwich and milk are available if
student has no lunch money. Cost for tray is .75.
CAFETERIA SERVICES

28. • Drama Club: School Plays
• Art Club
• Jr. Beta Club
• National Jr. Honor Society
• Fish Club
• Robotics Club – “The Brick Army”
• Yearbook Team
• Academic Bowl Team
• Student Council
• Spanish Club
• Relay For Life Team
• Optimist Club
Activities offered willbe posted on the school
website
DRMS CLUBS

29. • 7th
and 8th
Grade Girls & Boys Basketball Teams
• Academic Team
• Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Team
• Robotics Team – “The Brick Army”
• Science Fair
• Social Studies Fair
• Snack Wars Team
• Technology Fair
• District Band
• District Chorus
• 7th
and 8th
Grade Cheer Squads (non-competitive)
• Intramurals – Information published at beginning of the
2016 school year
DRMS
TEAMS/COMPETITIONS

30. The state-mandated Bridge Bill, provides
weekly advisement for academic, career and
character education, as well as transition to
high school. This is for grades 6 – 12.
•Goal Setting
•Leadership
•Social Skills
•Career Choices
•Bullying Prevention
TEACHERS AS
ADVISORS

31. • Student Agendas
• Conferences
• Email (teacher’s email addresses
are located on the DRMS
website)
• Teacher’s ASPEN Page
• School Phone (770. 345. 2832)
• Course Syllabi (on Teacher’s
Aspen Page)
• Grade Access: Parent Portal
• DRMS website:
http://www.cherokee.k12.ga.us/Schools.deanruskms/default.aspx
Contacts
Parents are encouraged to
seek assistance from school
personnel. It is requested that
the following sequence be
used:
1. Classroom teacher
2. Counselor
3. Assistant Principal
4. Principal
COMMUNICATION & CONTACTS

32. • PTSA Committees
• School Council
• Media Center
• Veteran’s Day Celebration
• Field Trip Chaperones
• Assist Teams with various tasks
Parents can get involved & show their Chief spirit
in a number of ways…….
PARENT INVOLVEMENT

33. DRMS will NOT hold a camp
(formerlyknown as PantherC amp)
prior to the beginning of the
2016-17 school year.

34. 6th
Grade – Thursday, July 28th
12:00pm – 2:00pm
7th
Grade – Friday, July 29th
2:00pm – 4:00pm
8th
Grade – Thursday, July 28th
3:00pm – 5:00pm