C.W. Ruckel Middle School

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Congratulations to the 103 new members of the National Junior Honor Society who were inducted on Tuesday night, and a job well done for the continued success of the 79 additional members who received their 2nd and 3rd semester awards.

April 13-17 is the book fair.

April is Month of the Military Child and we have a lot going on to help celebrate these students.

Ruckel Middle School is proud to host our “Treats for Troops” event on Wednesday, April 1st from 7:00–7:30 AM in the Media Center. This special opportunity allows students with active-duty guardians to share a meaningful moment of appreciation and connection before the school day begins. We are honored to support our military families and recognize the sacrifices they make for our community and country. We look forward to seeing our students and their guardians there for this heartfelt event.

Our phone service has been restored. Thank you for your patience, and have a wonderful day!

On Saturday, March 28th, 14 dedicated and fearless speech and debaters traveled to the Florida Civics & Debate Initiative (FCDI) #4 tournament at Panama City Gulf Coast State College. Several amazing students earned top placements in multiple events. For Declamation Speaking: Aubrey Inman placed 2nd and a special congratulations to 1st place winner, Emmanuel F! In Extemporaneous debate: William D placed 2nd. And let’s give it up to 1st place winner, Faith C! For Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate, Benjamin N received 2nd place. Finally, a huge round of applause is in order to all 14 participants for their hard work, and we owe a special thanks to all the parents, judges, Mrs. B, and club officers who made everything go smoothly and showed a ton of support throughout the day. Go Rams!

Calling All Ram Superheroes 🦸🏾‍♂️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸 Ruckel Middle School’s Staff Appreciation Week is coming up (May 4th–8th), and we need YOUR help to make it extra special for our amazing teachers and staff! We’re looking for volunteers to help with: 🍽️ Organizing or sponsoring a meal 🍬 Creating a fun candy bar or snack station 📬 Putting together mailbox treats or small surprises 🎁 Donating items or coordinating themed days 👊🏽 Decorating the staff lounge Do you have a connection to a local restaurant or business? We would LOVE your help partnering with them! Whether you can donate, organize or make decorations- every bit makes a difference in showing our appreciation 💛 👉 Comment below or send us a message at ruckelMSPTO@gmail.com if you’re interested in helping! Let’s come together to celebrate the incredible staff who do so much for our kids every day!

Join us for a Ruckel Band Spirit Day at Panda Express in Niceville on Monday, March 30, 2026, and support our amazing student musicians! Simply dine in or order online using fundraiser code 3854984, and Panda Express will donate 20% of all sales to our band program. It’s an easy and delicious way to give back—grab a meal, spread the word, and help make this fundraiser a success!

RMS families and local businesses- we need your help! We are looking for additional sponsors for the 3rd annual Color Fun Run on Thursday, April 30! All levels available. Thank you to the 5 sponsors who have stepped up: Crosspoint Church, Emerald Coast Cancer Center, JP Wood Surveying & Mapping, Monica Atkinson realtor, Bluewater Fitness & Twin Cities Anesthesia Associates. It takes a village to make this event happen, please consider being a part of this community building and school spirt event.

If you didn’t make it to Ruckel’s Got Talent earlier this month, don’t miss next year! Our team of 21 students put on an incredible show full of song, dance, music, and comedy!  Way to go Rams!

Ruckel Middle School is proud to host our “Treats for Troops” event on Wednesday, April 1st from 7:00–7:30 AM in the Media Center. This special opportunity allows students with active-duty guardians to share a meaningful moment of appreciation and connection before the school day begins. We are honored to support our military families and recognize the sacrifices they make for our community and country. We look forward to seeing our students and their guardians there for this heartfelt event.

Help Ruckel support The Month of the Military Child while showing your school spirit! *Optional “Purple Up” t-shirts are now on sale through April 6. Shirts are $16 and available in both youth and adult sizes.

https://stores.inksoft.com/ruckel_purple_up_for_military_k/shop/home

Registration is OPEN! Join us for the 3rd Annual Ruckel Middle School Color Run & 5K Fun Run 🎨 📅 Thursday, April 30 📍 Ruckel Parking Lot ⏰ Fun Run begins exactly at 6:00 p.m. Bring your friends and family for an evening full of excitement as we celebrate our RAMS community 🐏 🍔 Food Trucks 🍭 Sweet Treats 🎧 DJ & Music 🎈 Inflatables 📸 Mascot Pictures 💲 Registration: • $25 – OCSD Students • $35 – Adults & Community Members • $100 – Family Pack (includes 4 tickets & shirts) 📦 Packet Pick-Up: • April 29 from 2:30–4:00 p.m. • April 30 starting at 5:00 p.m., race begins at 6:00 pm 👕 Register by April 16 to guarantee your preferred t-shirt size! All proceeds support campus beautification projects, so come run, celebrate, and help make a difference for our school community. 📲 Scan the QR code on the flyer to register! We NEED sponsors: Email ruckelMSPTO@gmail.com or leave an email address in the comments and we will send you the sponsorship opportunities.

As we approach our upcoming writing assessment, we want to emphasize how important it is for students to be present and on time each day of testing. This assessment provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their learning, critical thinking, and writing skills developed throughout the year.

Arriving on time ensures that students can begin testing in a calm and focused environment without missing important directions. Late arrivals can disrupt not only your child’s testing experience but also the concentration of others. Please note that students who arrive late will not be permitted to enter a testing room once testing has begun, as this would disrupt students who have already started. Late students will be rescheduled for a make-up testing session.

We appreciate your support in helping your student be present, prepared, and punctual during this important time. Together, we can ensure they have the best opportunity to succeed.

Congratulations to our outstanding Ruckel Middle School students who were recognized at the 2026 East Panhandle Regional Science and Engineering Fair! These talented students showcased their creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking while presenting their research projects alongside peers from Okaloosa and Walton counties. The fair was held on February 11 at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds, with the awards ceremony taking place on February 17 at Beachside Community Church.

During the competition, students presented their projects to professional scientists and engineers who served as judges. Each student participated in personal interviews where they discussed their research, methodology, and findings. These conversations provided valuable feedback and allowed students to practice communicating their work using authentic scientific language and real-world problem-solving skills.

Superintendent Marcus Chambers shared, “The quality and innovation of these projects highlight the next generation of scientists and engineers. We are proud of all the students who participated and inspired us with their ideas.” We are incredibly proud of our Ruckel students who earned recognition for their dedication, innovation, and scientific thinking.

🧪 Ruckel Middle School Science Fair Award Winners

Benjamin R. N – Spot the Spot: Creating a More Efficient Skin Cancer Logistic Regression Model by Using Geometric Representations
🥇 1st Place Category Award & State Finalist, Spies Award, Fay – Math Award

Aviana C. S – Twisted Tunes: From Strings to Bands
🥇 1st Place Category Award & State Finalist, Metric Award

Eliza A. C – Mind the Gap: How Distance Changes Learning
🥈 2nd Place Category Award, APA Award

Riley E. C – Sunscreen or Sun Scream?
🥈 2nd Place Category Award, Fay – Chemistry Award

Jonah M. C – The Pesky Plastic Pollution Problem II
🥉 3rd Place Category Award, NASA Earth Award

Graham T. G – Bone Bustin' Beverages
🥉 3rd Place Category Award

Rebecca E. G – Mean Green Planting Machine
🥉 3rd Place Category Award, Ricoh Award

Elisha M – Shells and Strength: Sculpting Superior Concrete
🏅 Citadel Award

Evan J. M – Rock and Roll
🏅 Fay – Space Award

Mila G. N – Not So Plastic: The Strength of Bioplastics
🏅 MTSI Award

Jane J. P – Beyoncé vs Mozart – Which Green Beat is Better?
🏅 ECSC Award

These students demonstrated exceptional dedication to scientific exploration and inquiry. Their work represents the innovation and academic excellence we value at Ruckel Middle School, and we are proud to see them recognized among the region’s best young scientists.

Congratulations to all of our award-winning students and their teachers for representing Ruckel with excellence!

Congratulations to our Ruckel Rams of the Week! Each week, teachers nominate students who demonstrate outstanding character, leadership, and dedication in the classroom and throughout our school. These students represent what it means to be a Ruckel Ram by showing respect, responsibility, and a commitment to doing their best each day. Our Rams of the Week consistently make positive contributions to our school community. Whether through hard work in their classes, kindness toward others, or stepping up as leaders among their peers, they set a great example for those around them. We are proud to recognize these students and celebrate the positive impact they have at Ruckel Middle School. Keep up the great work, Rams!

Congratulations to our Ruckel Staff Members of the Month! Each month, we recognize outstanding staff members who consistently go above and beyond in service to our students, families, and school community. What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that these individuals are nominated by both their peers and our students, highlighting the powerful impact they have on those around them every day. Our Staff Members of the Month demonstrate dedication, positivity, and a commitment to excellence in all that they do. Whether supporting students, assisting colleagues, or contributing to the positive culture of Ruckel Middle School, they exemplify what it means to be a RAM who leads with heart and purpose. We are proud to celebrate their hard work and thank them for the difference they make in our school community.