1. Welcome
to Dean Rusk MS Panther Camp
2013
Mrs. 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
Tuesday, September 3 @ 7:00 (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 2013
Counselors:
Wendy Fort-8th Grade
Kasi Williams-7th Grade
8th Grade Teachers:
Haley Brown-Math
Carrie Barie-Science (CIS)
Special Education Teachers:
Shane Giardina- (RRHS)
Lisa Petersen- (CIS)
Korie Hold- MI/MO Teacher
Laurie Koger- SI Para (KES)
Denna Hutson- SI Para
Connections Teachers:
Ricky Williams- Band Director (Fayette County)

5. DRMS 7th Grade Teacher Teams
2013 - 2014
7R
Jeff Pence – Language Arts/SS
Debbie Whitlock – Reading/SS
Teresa Kannawarf – Math/SS
Leslie Powell – Science/SS

6. DRMS 7th Grade Teacher Teams
2013 - 2014
7M
Jill Poe – Language Arts
Bridget Conway – Reading
Jennifer Campbell – Math
William Morris– Science
Debbie Garner – Social Studies

7. DRMS 7th Grade Teacher Teams
2013 - 2014
7S
Holly Seargeant – Language Arts
Jennifer Evans – Reading
Day Craig– Math
Brad Mann – Science
Amelia Ormsby – 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, Ban
d, Orchestra
• No Recess
• Daily Literacy Period

9. Dean Rusk Middle School
2013-14
• 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 and sign either the appropriate documents or 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 be sending home progress reports or report cards approximately
every four and one-half weeks so please look forward to receiving information regarding your child’s academic progress regularly.
•
• Also, please find enclosed your student’s GCRCT test results for the 2012/2013 school year for your records.
•
• Thank you for your help and cooperation!
•
• Date Signature Information
•
• 8/5/13 Sign Front & Back of Page CCSD First Day Information
Sign Individual Form Emergency Instruction for Early Dismissal
• Sign Individual Form Student Health Needs Identification Form
• Sign Individual Form Scoliosis Screening Program Form
Sign Individual Form Student Profile/Data Verification
• Sign Individual Form BYLD Student/Parent Agreement
• Complete Back of BYLD Agreement Type of Device and Serial Number
• Complete School Council Nomination Form
•
• 09/4/13 __________________________ Progress Report
•
• 10/18/13 __________________________ Report Card
•
• 11/13/13 __________________________ Progress Report
•
• 01/10/14 __________________________ Report Card
•
• 02/07/14 __________________________ Progress Report
•
• 03/26/14 __________________________ Report Card
•
• 04/28/14 __________________________ Progress Report
•
•
• The final report card will be mailed home in June 2014.

10. 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

11. 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
• Breakfast & Lunch

12. Commonly Asked Questions???
• Is there a nurse at DRMS?
Yes –Rebeccah Keaton
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.

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

14. 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 2013-14
Does DRMS have behavior expectations?
Absolutely – the CCSD Discipline Code and
policies stated within will be followed

15. DRMS CLUBS & ACTIVITIES
• Drama Club: School Plays
• Beta Club: Academic Excellence
• Fish Club
• Yearbook
• Science Olympiad
• Book Rap Club
• Student Council
• Mathletes
• Environmental
• FOR (Friends of Rachel)
• Geography Bee
• Science Fair
• Social Studies Fair
• Young Author’s Fair
• Intramurals
• Spelling Bee
• 7th & 8th Grade Basketball
• 7th 7 8th Grade Cheerleading
• Chorus, Band, Orchestra
• Career Day
• Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl

16. 7th GRADE STUDENT PLACEMENT
Student Academic Course Placement
is determined by the following factors:
• Average of Quarters 1, 2, & 3 Grades from 6th
grade
• GCRCT Subject Score
• CogAT Verbal or Quantitative Stanine Score
• Iowa Test of Basic Skills (IOWA) Score

17. 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, Co-Taught SC 7 &
Resource SC 7
Social Studies (SS) – SS 7, Advanced SS 7, Co-Taught
SS 7 & Resource SS 7

18. BRING YOUR LEARNING DEVICE
B.Y.L.D.
• New initiative by CCSD
• Several schools participated
in a pilot program in spring of
11-12
• DRMS began this program
last fall in September 2012
• CCSD Cell Phone policy changed from student
possession to student inappropriate usage
• Access B.Y.L.D. Appendix L in CCSD Handbook

19. DRMS 12-13 SY Test Results

20. 7th Grade
99
98 98
95
96
98
97
96
93
92
88
90
92
94
96
98
100
Reading LA Math Science Social Studies
DRMS
CCSD

21. 8th Grade
100 98
91
83 86
99 97
93
85 86
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Reading LA Math Science Social Studies
DRMS
CCSD