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Ballenger Creek Middle School

Community Newsletter - December 2024

Ballenger CreekMiddle SchoolCommunity Newsletter - December 2024

Principal's Message

Dear Ballenger Creek Middle Families,


I hope you and your loved ones are well. As we enter December, we know things are probably increasingly busy. School work continues, many extracurricular activities for the winter have started, and the holidays are just ahead. In short, it’s a lot!


Know that you’re not alone and we are here to support you and your children. Please reach out--I’m available, as are our assistant principal/counselor teams:


6th grade: Assistant Principal - Susan.Messmore@fcps.org; School Counselor - Johnny.Webber@fcps.org


7th grade: Assistant Principal - Robert.Everett@fcps.org; School Counselor - Rebecca.Reese@fcps.org


8th grade: Assistant Principal - Sarah.Gordy@fcps.org; School Counselor - David.Ledyard@fcps.org


Take care and have a good holiday season, everyone!


Sincerely,

Jay Schill

Principal, BCMS

BCMS Goals for 2024-2025: Supporting Every Student’s Success!

This year, Ballenger Creek Middle School is focused on helping every student achieve their best, with goals around academic success, attendance, behavior, and wellness. We're working to improve proficiency in both English and Math, reduce chronic absenteeism, and ensure that students are supported in making positive choices. Strategies include high-dosage tutoring, early intervention for attendance, social-emotional learning, and wellness activities.


Families play a huge role in student success! Please encourage your child to attend school every day, and check in regularly on their progress. Together, we can create a strong foundation for your child’s future success.


Thank you for your continued partnership!

Want to be a FCPS Volunteer?

The first step of the process is to follow these detailed directions (instrucciones detalladas en español) on how to create an account in Unified Talent and then how to complete the two required trainings. After you complete your trainings, you will receive an email with the next steps in the process. Please be aware that the process can take 48-72 hours and MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR to you volunteering for FCPS.


If you are a current FCPS Employee who is interested in volunteering, you must complete the Volunteer training listed under your Recommended Courses on your Unified Talent Home Page.

SEL Lessons @ BCMS

Twice weekly students take part in SEL lessons that focus on the social and emotional well being of middle schoolers as well as connecting with one another. The most recent topics covered in the SEL lessons are:


  • Building a positive community
  • Practicing gratitude
  • Growth vs. Fixed Mindset
  • Brain growth / Neuroplasticity


Please take a moment and talk with your child about what they learned in the most recent SEL lessons.

General Reminders

Car Rider Drop Off and Pick Up

Please be sure to use the car rider line to drop off and pick up your child each day. Our goal is to ensure the safety of everyone coming to and from school daily. Dropping off students on Ballenger Creek Pike is not only dangerous, but is not permitted. We kindly ask that all car riders are dropped off and picked up properly each and every day.


Students' Walking Home

To ensure the safety of all our walkers, please remind your child to walk on the designated sidewalks and not cut through the car rider line to get the path in the back of the building. It is imperative that our students follow the directions of our staff members daily to ensure that they all get home safely. Also, please remind your child to use designated crosswalks to cross all roadways.


Outside Food

Outside food is not permitted in our cafeteria. If a student does not have a lunch because they forgot it at home, school staff will support your child in getting a lunch from the cafeteria. However, in the event that you do have to drop off a lunch for your child, please know that your child may not eat food from a restaurant in the cafeteria. The student will be asked to eat the food elsewhere before reporting to the cafeteria. It is best practice to drop off a lunch that is in a packed lunch box for your child so that he or she may remain in the cafeteria during their lunch.


Attendance

Students are to be in their 1st period class each day by 8:00am. If they arrive after 8:00am, students will be marked tardy. When they accumulate 3 tardies, they will be issued a lunch detention and if the chronic tardiness continues, students will be issued after school detention(s). If your child is going to be tardy or absent for any reason, please send an email to BCMS.Attendance@fcps.org. Please be sure to indicate your child's first and last name as well as the reason for the tardy or absence. Thank you for your continued support.

Grade Level News

6th Grade Updates

Great work to those hard working 6th grade students who earned Honor Roll recognition first term!


Parents and guardians, please continue to work with your child to get their work done and turned in on time. Term 2 is where we start to see students slide because the workload increases as the year goes on. Stress the importance of time management and speak to them about using their time in class wisely. If questions arise, please reach out to your child's teacher through email or Schoology.

7th Grade Updates

The 7th grade staff would like to congratulate all of the 7th grade students who were able to earn Honor Roll for Term 1. We are proud of the effort that was put in to achieve this and hope to see more of our students achieve this for Term 2.


We would like to remind students, parents, and guardians to reach out through email or Schoology with any questions or concerns. If students need additional school time to finish work assignments, please encourage them to reach out to their teachers to sign up for tutoring time on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during Homebase. We look forward to seeing everyone grow and improve this term!

8th Grade Updates

Congratulations to the 8th grade students who made First Honors and Honor Roll for Term 1. Your work has not gone unnoticed.


As we continue into Term 2, maintaining our goals of time management and advocating for help are the life skills that will help all students pursue excellence. Remember to check Schoology weekly for grade updates and review comments on assignments in order to progress through the standards in each content. We are almost to the half-way point, let's stay focused.


As we enter the holiday season, it is easy for teens to get out of routine. Please remind your child to get back to a great sleep routine so that they can be on time once they return after the break. Please remember to send in a note if a student is absent or tardy to school. Attendance notes can also be emailed to our attendance secretary.



Department News

ELA Department

All students will be completing their mid year iReady Diagnostic Test in early December. Please remind your child to charge their Chromebook and take their time with the assessment. Teachers use data from the iReady Diagnostic to plan instruction, group students, and make recommendations for class placement next year.


6th Grade ELA:

Students in 6th grade will soon begin Unit 3, titled Finding Courage. In this unit, students will read and consider works about people who develop the courage to face their own fears. We will examine several ways that fear affects us, as well as how people overcome a variety of fears. The texts we will read center on the Essential Question “How do you find courage in the face of fear?” This open-ended question is intended to spark thoughtful discussion. You may wish to explore this question with your student at home as well.


Unit 3 includes the following texts:


  • Life Doesn’t Frighten Me: In this poem, renowned poet Maya Angelou lists a number of childhood fears, describing how the speaker finds the courage to face those fears. Students will learn about elements of lyric poetry, including repetition and refrain, and will develop skills for identifying and explaining a poem’s speaker.

  • Fears and Phobias: In this informational text, the author examines the causes of fears and phobias and explains the differences, noting ways to overcome common phobias. Students will analyze the structure of the text and identify text features. Students will also learn how to cite evidence.

  • Wired for Fear: This video from the website Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear presents an animated explanation of how our brains process reactions to fear. Students will learn how to analyze the visual and sound elements that creators use to convey information.

  • Embarrassed? Blame Your Brain: This informational text examines the complex reasons that teenagers naturally develop a strong and sometimes overwhelming fear of embarrassment. Students will learn how informational texts organize facts and examples and how to determine meanings of words and phrases in texts.

  • The Ravine: The characters in award-winning author Graham Salisbury’s short story face choices that test their friendships, honesty, and courage. Students will learn how to analyze character and make inferences about a story and its characters.

  • from Into the Air: This excerpt from a graphic biography describes Orville and Wilbur Wright’s early efforts to achieve flight as they attempt to build a working and successful glider. Students will learn how to analyze structures common to graphic texts, as well as how to determine a work’s central idea.

  • from The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane: In this excerpt from his biography about the Wright Brothers, award-winning author Russell Freedman examines how the Wrights were able to overcome their own fears of failure as they worked to build their glider. Students will learn how to analyze the structure of informational texts and will determine the text’s key ideas.


7th Grade ELA:

Students in 7th grade will soon begin Unit 3, titled The Terror and Wonder of Space. In this unit, students will explore fictional and nonfictional works on space travel and consider both the challenges and inspiration that space provides us. The texts we will read center on the Essential Question “Is space exploration a daring adventure or dangerous risk?” This open-ended question is intended to spark thoughtful discussion. You may wish to explore this question with your student at home as well.


Unit 3 includes the following texts:


  • Martian Metropolis: In this piece of science writing, astronomy instructor Meg Thacher posits what life would be like if humans tried to live on Mars. Students will learn how to analyze central ideas in an informational text and how to analyze a text’s structure.

  • Challenges for Space Exploration: Award-winning science fiction author Ann Leckle outlines the challenges human face when they leave Earth and ponders if going to space is worth the risk. Students will learn how to analyze an author’s purpose and how to analyze the rhetorical device of repetition.

  • What If We Were Alone?: This poem explores how we feel connected to a vast and distant universe. Students will learn how to analyze the form of free verse poetry and how to analyze a poem’s theme.

  • Seven Minutes of Terror: In this video about the landing of NASA’s rover Curiosity, we see what it takes to land a rover on Mars. Students will learn how to analyze an informational video.

  • Humans Need to Explore Outer Space: This argument outlines why the author believes space exploration is best done by humans. Students will learn how to analyze an author’s argument and how to analyze rhetorical devices used in arguments.

  • Let Robots Take to the Stars: This article provides a counterargument to human space exploration by outlining the benefits of using robots to explore space. Students will continue to learn how to analyze an author’s argument and how to analyze the rhetorical devices used in arguments.


8th Grade ELA

Students in 8th Grade ELA will soon begin Unit 3, titled Places We Call Home. In this unit, we will explore texts in which real and fictional people endeavor to find a sense of home in new places and among new people. We will consider what makes people call a place home. The texts we will read center on the Essential Question “What are the places that shape who you are?” This open-ended question is intended to spark thoughtful discussion. You may wish to explore this question with your student at home as well.


Unit 3 includes the following texts:


  • from The Book of Unknown Americans: This novel excerpt focuses on the obstacles the Toro family faces whenever they try to visit their home country of Panamá. Students will learn how to analyze the plot and themes of a work of fiction.

  • Spirit Walking in the Tundra: This poem by Joy Harjo, who was appointed U.S. Poet Laureate in 2019, explains an important lesson learned from a trip the speaker took to Alaska to visit a friend. Students will learn how to analyze themes and imagery in poetry.

  • New Immigrants Share Their Stories: In this documentary film that highlights the Building Bridges project, students from two schools in New York—including one that specializes in teaching recent immigrants—come together to learn more about each other. Students will learn how to evaluate a documentary.

  • A Common Bond: This informational text by journalist and award-winning author Brooke Hauser explores what it’s like for students who have recently come to the United States to go to a school with other immigrants from a wide range of backgrounds. Students will learn how to analyze structural features and graphic elements of texts.

Math Department

6th Grade:

Students will be finishing Module 4 - Integers, Rational Numbers, and the Coordinate plane, and starting Module 5 - Numerical and Algebraic Expressions. In Module 5 students will learn the difference between a numerical expression and an algebraic expression, the parts of an algebraic expression, and how to simplify and expand algebraic expressions.


7th Grade:

Students will be finishing up Module 4 (Operations with Rational Numbers), which focuses on adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing decimals, fractions, and whole numbers. In the later part of this module, students are focusing on decimals and fractions rather than whole numbers alone.


7ACC:

Students will be finishing up Module 5 (Real Numbers) and continuing to Module 6 (Algebraic Expressions). In Module 5, they will be estimating and comparing irrational numbers, and in Module 6 they will be simplifying algebraic expressions using prerequisite properties.


8th Grade:

Students will be finishing up Module 4 (Linear Relationships and Slope) and beginning Module 5 (Functions). In Module 5, students will be learning to identify, construct, and compare linear and nonlinear functions.


Algebra:

Students will be finishing up Module 5 (Creating Linear Equations) and beginning Module 6 (Linear Inequalities). In Module 6, students will review how to solve one-step and multi-step inequalities along with learning how to graph inequalities in two variables.


Students should be completing weekly ALEKS topic goals in Math. Students should be checking their Math Schoology pages to see their specific weekly goal. Students can monitor their own progress by checking their topic reports in ALEKS. A step-by-step “how to” for checking their reports can be found here. For questions about ALEKS topic goals, please reach out to your student’s grade level math teacher, our school Math Specialist, Ms. Boyer (laura.boyer@fcps.org), or our school Math Department Chair, Ms. Dickson (ashley.dickson@fcps.org).


Students should be checking their grade reports on Schoology weekly to see updates regarding missing/re-do work. If there are any questions regarding student grades, please reach out to your student’s grade level math teacher.


History Department

6th Grade:

6th Grade History of the Ancient World is beginning our unit on Ancient India where we will explore how the geography of the Indus River Valley and Subcontinent contributed to the growth of the unique and advanced civilization. We will also explore the culture and the rise of two major world religions, Hinduism & Buddhism.


7th Grade:

7th Grade History is beginning our Unit on Medieval Asia focusing on China, Mongolia, Japan and Korea. Students will be exploring the interconnected nature of these civilizations and the effects of cultural diffusion in this region.


8th Grade:

8th Grade has begun and will continue working on the New Republic Unit. This is also known as the Presidents Unit where students will learn about the first 5 presidents. 8th Grade will be focusing on writing and analysis skills we expect students to see on the MCAP.


Science Department

6th Grade:

Students will be working to develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed.


7th Grade:

Students will first use data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces. Then, they will be working to conduct an investigation and evaluate the experimental design to provide evidence that fields exist between objects exerting forces on each other even though the objects are not in contact.


8th Grade:

Students will be working to develop and use a model to describe why asexual reproduction results in offspring with identical genetic information and sexual reproduction results in offspring with genetic variation

Fine & Practical Arts Department

Save the Dates!


December 12th BCMS Chorus Winter Concert


December 19th BCMS Instrumental Winter Concert


6:00pm in the BCMS Cafe


Theater Arts Field Trip to the Academy for the Fine Arts

On November 13th, our 6th and 7th grade Theater Arts students had the unique opportunity to visit the Academy for the Fine Arts (AFA) at Governor Thomas Johnson High School. The AFA is a specialized program for Frederick County high school students in grades 10-12 who have a passion for the arts. It offers advanced classes in music, theatre, dance, musical theatre, and visual arts, with a focus on small group instruction, mentorship, and hands-on learning experiences.


During the trip, our students watched a live working rehearsal of a recent AFA production that beautifully combined all aspects of their program's focus areas. This allowed them to see the collaboration between theatre, music, dance, and visual arts students, offering a complete behind-the-scenes view of how a professional production comes together.


After the rehearsal, AFA students took time to answer our students' questions about the program, sharing their experiences and insights into what it’s like to be part of such a creative community.

7th and 8th grade students are encouraged to sign up for the AFA Middle School Shadow Day, which will take place on Wednesday, February 19. During this event, students will tour the AFA program, sit in on a class, and meet with faculty. Additionally, AFA students will visit BCMS on Thursday, February 20, to speak with our 8th grade students and answer any questions about the program.


We look forward to more opportunities like this to explore the world of arts education and career paths in the creative industries!

Special Education Department

We would like to welcome two new teachers to our special education department: Ms. Danielle Holt and Ms. Jansen Hedlund. Both teachers will be working with the 7th grade and will be reaching out to the families of students they are case managing as soon as they move into their new positions. This will most likely take place after winter break. Welcome to Ms. Holt and Ms. Hedlund!


The key to every child’s success is parent-school relationships. Continue to reach out to your child’s case manager with questions that may arise throughout the school year.

Our special education department staff:


  • Case Managers (6th grade): Emily Pemrick and Tyler Britt

  • Case Manager (7th grade): Danielle Holt and Jansen Hedlund (both will be starting mid-December)

  • Case Managers (8th grade): Elissa Grimm and Kelsey Summers

  • Program Assistant: Nancy Suray

  • Special Education Instructional Assistants: Noriko Cook, Shelly Sultana, and Michele Shafer

  • School Psychologist: Julie Kaufhold
  • Speech and Language Pathologist: Kellee Byun


Important dates to remember:

  • Winter Break - December 23rd - January 1st
  • End of Term 2 - January 15th

Multilingual Learners

Hello families!


It is Term 2. Have you seen your child’s report card? If you have questions about grades or marking periods, please let us know via email. The end of the first semester is in January. Make sure your child practices English during the holiday breaks. Some good, free websites are:


https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/

https://www.learnenglish.com/english-vocabulary-page/


MEL Teacher Contact Information:


Sarah Birmanns - 8th grade and A - H 6th grade


Claudine Webb - 7th grade and I - Z 6th grade

Literacy Specialist News

This December, we are taking our middle-of-year i-Ready Diagnostic! We’re excited to see how much progress our students have made since August. Please remind your child to rest, eat breakfast, and take the time to read carefully. It will be important for our students to come to school with fully charged Chromebooks, earbuds, and chargers.


Please see this Fridge Tips Document for more information about supporting your child’s reading at home.


Thank you again for your continued partnership and support of your student’s learning. Please contact Katherine Shaffer, Literacy Specialist, or your child’s ELA teacher with any questions.


Contact Information:

Katherine Shaffer, Literacy Specialist

Email: Katherine.Shaffer@fcps.org

Phone: 227-203-2150 Ext. 41608

Math Specialist News

At the beginning of Term 2 math teachers had students complete another ALEKS Knowledge Check so that we can see the progress that they are making on their ALEKS Pie.


Remember that students should be completing 5 topics a week of their My Path unless they are in Algebra and then they need to complete 10 topics a week.


The chart linked below (click button) shows where students should be in terms of topic completion to set them up for the best chance to complete their course topics by the end of the year. If the student is ahead of schedule please encourage them to continue because the topics as they get closer to completing their pie will become more difficult.


Students can complete ALEKS at home and they should be completing the assignments independently. If a student needs help with ALEKS please encourage them to reach out to their teacher or Ms. Boyer, math specialist, and they can pull them during an upcoming tutoring day to guide them through a difficult topic that they are stuck on.


Students will be starting to work on their county middle of the year knowledge check in ALEKS during their math classes. These scores will be one of the data points that we use to help determine placement for classes next year. It is important that students put their best effort forth when completing these assessments.


Contact Information:

Laura Boyer, Math Specialist

Email: Laura.Boyer@fcps.org

Phone: 227-203-2150 Ext. 41574

Advanced Academics News

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Program
    All application materials must be received by 2:30pm on Friday, December 6.

    The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a rigorous pre-university course of study that meets the needs of highly motivated secondary students. The program encourages “students across the world to become active, compassionate, and lifelong learners" (IBO Mission Statement) who are prepared to contribute positively in their local communities and the greater world.


For more information and/or to apply, visit the website.


  • FCPS Earth and Space Science Lab (ESSL)
    For a full listing of events at the ESSL, click here.


  • Frederick County Public Library (FCPL)
    For an events calendar of programs for elementary and teens at the Brunswick Library, click here.


Christine Brown | Middle School Advanced Academics Teacher Specialist

Serving Ballenger Creek MS & Brunswick MS

PTSA News & Updates

PTSA Reflections Contest

It's time for the 2024 PTSA Reflections Contest!


Does your child like any of the following?


  • art
  • writing
  • photography
  • producing a short film



Then join us and have fun unleashing your inner artist! This year's theme is “ACCEPTING IMPERFECTION” and calls for your own unique interpretation through the arts.


Submissions are due by Monday 12/16/24. You can submit more than one entry as long as they are in different categories! The entry form and official rules can be found at the links below. Please note, the Artist Statement on the Entry Form is a very important part of the judging. Artwork AND completed entry forms can be submitted to the front office by the end of the day on December 16. Please read the Official Rules for file formats and requirements for each category. For even more information please visit https://www.fspta.org/reflections.


There will be prizes for the Top 3 entries!


We look forward to celebrating your artistry and achievement in the arts! If you have any questions, please email Melissa Knoepfle at ecugrad98@yahoo.com.


BCMS Spirit Wear

BCMS SPIRIT WEAR IS STILL AVAILABLE! Shipping for all orders is FREE right now.


Spirit Wear can be purchased online all year. Spirit wear makes great gifts for birthdays and holidays so we encourage you to keep us in mind. Now is the perfect time to plan ahead for the next school year and purchase spirit wear in advance.


New designs have been added showing our Bulldog mascot! Orders can be placed online at http://www.ballengercreekspiritwear.com.


PTSA MEMBERSHIP

PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING THE PTSA!


Families, faculty and students: this is a great time to join the BCMS PTSA. Yes, that’s right! Students are permitted to join the PTSA. The cost of a membership for parents is $10 but is only $5 for students.


The PTSA’s Board of Directors typically meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month virtually. The link will be sent out via email ahead of the meeting date. All PTSA members are welcome to attend these monthly meetings. Joining these meetings is a wonderful way to get involved with your child’s school. We want to hear from you!


The goal is 130 members this year. There are nearly 800 students and over 90 staff members at BCMS this year. We can do it! You may join the BCMS PTSA by going to https://bcms.memberhub.com/store.

Counseling News

School Counseling

The guidance team encourages you to check in with your child about their grades. If you haven’t already signed up for a parent Schoology account the school counseling team would encourage you to do that this term. Below is a link that will take you to the FCPS website, so you can learn how to set up your own account. Feel free to contact your child’s grade level counselor if you have any questions.


Schoology Learning Management System - https://www.fcps.org/student-services/schoology


David Ledyard - 8th Grade David.Ledyard@fcps.org

Rebecca Reese - 7th Grade Rebecca.Reese@fcps.org

Johnny Webber - 6th Grade Johnny.Webber@fcps.org


As always, we are focused on finding ways to support students' mental health during the school day and outside of school. In order to support your child’s mental health and well-being, FCPS is excited to launch Basecamp, a comprehensive mental wellness hub designed to provide students with immediate access to a wide range of mental health resources and services. By utilizing Basecamp, students can better understand their emotions, develop healthy coping strategies, and access supportive mental health services. Basecamp is accessible to all middle and high school students at www.basecampfcps.com.

Media Center & Tech Support

Media Center

Please checkout the Media Center & Technology Updates Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/dv43t


This Month’s Highlights:

  • Welcome Mr. Steedley

  • What’s Happening in the Media Center

  • Overdue Books

  • Book Checkout Overview

  • "BCMS Media Center Pass" System

  • Technology Reminders: Device Care & Usage

  • Helpful Links

Tech Support

As a reminder, when students are assigned a Chromebook, charger, and case, the use of a school issued device, during the school day or at home, is a privilege that comes with responsibilities. If repair for a damaged device incurs a charge, a financial obligation will be issued as follows:


1st Incident: $30

2nd Incident: $60

3rd Incident: $120

4th Incident: Full replacement cost: $317

Lost Charger: $30

Case: $25


FCPS reserves the right to charge full replacement/repair cost if the device is intentionally damaged. Any damage that occurs to a device while not in the case will be considered intentional.


Mr. Steedley

isaiah.steedley@fcps.org

User Support Specialist

BCMS Community Liaison News & Updates

Update from Ms. Rogers, Community Liaison

I am the person who you will reach out to if you are in need of any resources for your child or your family. I also work collaboratively between home and school to bridge the communication and make things easier for everyone. Some supports that I can assist you with are getting food if your pantry is low, helping to locate a therapist, transportation, school lunch support, etc. I am here to support our school community and am only a phone call or email away.


Ms. Kathleen Rogers

kathleen.rogers@fcps.org

240-236-5773


Frederick Food Bank Information

The Frederick Food Bank at Trinity (6040 New Design Road) will operate for food distribution from 2:00pm to 4:00pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for residents seeking assistance.


The Food Bank at 14 E. All Saints will continue to operate from 2:00pm to 4:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. It is also open from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Mondays and Wednesdays.


Additional Food Pantry Information:

Crestwood Middle School will have a food drop that will take place the 4th Tuesday of every month, which is also open to families from our school community.


Want to Be a FCPS Volunteer?

Please follow all directions to create an account in order to complete the FCPS volunteer training, which is linked at the top of our Community Newsletter.


Lunch Monitors NEEDED

BCMS is looking for volunteers to help support lunch monitoring in all of our grade level lunch shifts. Lunch occurs between 11:00am to 1:25pm Monday through Fridays. If you are interested in volunteering by monitoring lunch shifts, it would be greatly appreciated. It is also most helpful to have someone who will volunteer on a specific day/time each week so that our students get to know the volunteer. If this volunteer position is of interest to you, please call me at 227-203-2168 ext. 4158. BCMS could really use your support!


Free and Reduced Lunch Information

Did you know families can apply for free or reduced price meal benefits all year long? We encourage families who feel they qualify, or if they are not sure they will qualify, to fill out an online free and reduced meal benefit application.


Free and reduced lunch applications are available year round.


Families can access the application by clicking on the Confidential LINQ Connect Application Link.


For any questions, email FNS at food.service@fcps.org or call 240-586-8152.


Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)

FCA will be meeting at 7:00am on Tuesdays in the theater arts room. Students will enter through the cafeteria doorway. FCA will begin with 15 minutes for breakfast together, then we will share a 15 minute devotion time, and conclude the morning with 15 minutes of game time. If your child is interested in FCA, please contact me for a registration form at 227-203-2168. Students who still wish to participate in FCA may still do so. Please see Ms. Rogers to get a permission slip.


Friendship Club

Friendship Club started in October. The club meets in the BCMS cafeteria from 3:15pm to 4:30pm the 4th Thursday of every month. However, because December is a shortened month due to the winter break, the Friendship Club will be meeting on December 19th. This group has been created to support our students with socializing and getting to know other students in the school. The goal is to reduce screentime with our students and have them take the time to socialize with one another in order to build friendships. If you think your child might be interested in joining the Friendship Club, please reach out to me at 227-203-2168 ext. 14585.


BASECAMP (What is Basecamp?)

As part of our ongoing commitment to support the mental health and well-being of our students, Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) is excited to announce the launch of Basecamp. Developed in partnership with Greenspace Health and funded by the Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports, Basecamp is a comprehensive mental wellness hub designed to provide students with immediate access to a wide range of mental health resources and services.


Basecamp is an online wellness platform that makes it easy for students to find the help and support they need, ensuring they have immediate access to resources and services to support their mental health. By utilizing Basecamp, students can better understand their emotions, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and access supportive mental health services and resources.


With Basecamp, students will have access to:


  • Educational Content: Access to articles and videos on various mental health topics relevant to students.
  • Self-Guided Resources: Tools and activities that students can use independently to maintain or improve their mental health.
  • Bi-Weekly Surveys: Short surveys to help students check in on their mental health, understand their feelings over time, and identify factors impacting their well-being.
  • Resource Recommendations: Personalized suggestions based on each student’s current challenges.
  • Direct Access to Services: Information and connections to mental health resources available within Frederick County.


Basecamp is easily accessible to all middle and high school students at basecampfcps.com.

FCPS News

5 Star Service Award

The 5-Star Service Award is for community use in recognizing FCPS employees who show excellence in one of the 5 FCPS goals. Community members are welcome to nominate any worthy FCPS employees. You can nominate here.

Upcoming SGA Spirit Week (December 16th - December 20th)

The BCMS SGA is hosting a Spirit Week the week of December 16th. The SGA is excited to have many of our students participate in Spirit Week leading into the winter break.

Calendar

Important Dates

  • December 23rd - January 1st - Winter Break (Schools Closed for Students)
  • January 2nd - Schools Re-Open
  • January 15th - End of Term 2
  • January 16th - Teacher Work Day (Schools Closed for Students)
  • January 17th - Teacher PL Day (Schools Closed for Students)
  • January 20th - MLK Day (Schools and Offices Closed)
  • January 21st - Start of Term 3
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