Hello BBMS families!!!! Students demonstrated Bobcat Pride at our most recent town hall assembly's today. Please see the newsletter for relevant information for the upcoming week.

Tuesday, January 14th: MAP-M Testing

Tuesday, January 14th: PTSA Meeting @ 6:30 pm

Wednesday, January 15th: MAP-R Testing begins in English Classes

Wednesday, January 15th: 5th Grade Articulation Night (BBMS Cafeteria 6-7pm)

Monday, January 20th: Schools & Offices Closed

Monday, January 27th: High school Registration Visits (8th Grade Only)

Monday, January 27th: Rising 6th & 7th grade Registration Begins(Science Classes)

Tuesday, January 28th: End of Marking Period 2

Wednesday, January 29th: No School for Students

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The BBMS FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT is going to NEW YORK CITY on April 25th through April 27th 2025. Students will compete in an international music competition and engage in art from around the world. Final Payment is due March 15th; limited spaces are still available on a first-come, first-serve basis. A minimum deposit of $184.83 is due ASAP to hold your spot. Payments can be made via School Cash Online (SCO). Total Cost of $555 per person.

Any parents interested in attending the trip please contact Dr. Stoll directly. (Anita_K_Stoll@mcpsmd.org)

January 27th to May 15th, Monday through Thursday, students can enjoy these 20 free after school programs! The programs run from 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm. After school buses (current after school bus routes) will be available, and free snacks are included! Sign up quickly as each class needs at least 10 people! Hardcopy forms will be given to students on Monday, January 13th during lunch.

Benjamin Banneker Middle School After-School Activity Programs will begin on September 24th. See attached schedules and website for specific dates of activities. New clubs may be added so check back from time to time.

Signing the Permission Form acknowledges that you are agreeing to the terms and conditions set by the Montgomery County Public Schools and Benjamin Banneker Middle School regarding every student’s rights and responsibilities to participate in activities after school hours.

Signing the Permission Form also acknowledges that you are permitting your student to attend an activity or activities sponsored by Benjamin Banneker Middle School, Montgomery County Public Schools and their staff members.

Attention parents of 6th and 7th grade students: we are beginning the schedule registration process for the next school year. Counselors will be registering students through science classes during the week of 1/27. If you have any questions please reach out to your child's counselor

Ahmed Adelekan is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: BBMS PTSA Meeting

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/7599671029?pwd=QS9uSFkzRlNnZTQ1ejBDaFpwSTltZz09

Meeting ID: 759 967 1029

Passcode: BBMS

Dial by your location

• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student's academic success. Please see the attached newsletter regarding attendance.

Please see linked the site to purchase BBMS gear if you choose to do so. Items can be customized by brand and logos. If you have any questions, please call the main office.

Ms. Spivey is excited to announce that she is offering an Iceland Adventure travel program for summer 2026. Visit www.explorica.com/Spivey-8031 to review the itinerary and details about the travel program.

English Version:

PBSB Newsletter

Spanish Version:

PBSB Boletin

Arleeta's Food Pantry

Saturday, January 11, 2025, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Location: Silver Spring United Methodist Church 8900 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910

Contact: Rebecca W McGinnis #: 301-979-8111 email: rgwmcginnis7@gmail.com

Growing Together: Community Empowerment Series / Creciendo Juntos: Serie de Empoderamiento Comunitario

A program designed to support and strengthen the Latino immigrant community, addressing key issues that affect their well-being, safety and development. Over the course of 12 weeks, participants will have access to interactive workshops, practical resources, and the opportunity to connect with experts and community leaders. Each session focuses on a specific area, such as access to health services, labor rights, education, mental health, finances, and more. The goal of this series is to empower individuals and families in Maryland, DC, and Virginia with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to thrive and grow together in a safe and supportive environment. Via Zoom Every Monday from January 27 to April 14, 2025 at 6 pm - 7:30 pm.

Un programa diseñado para apoyar y fortalecer a la comunidad inmigrante latina, abordando temas clave que afectan su bienestar, seguridad y desarrollo. A lo largo de 12 semanas, los participantes tendrán acceso a talleres interactivos, recursos prácticos y la oportunidad de conectarse con expertos y líderes comunitarios. Cada sesión se enfoca en un área específica, como el acceso a servicios de salud, derechos laborales, educación, salud mental, finanzas, y más. El objetivo de esta serie es empoderar a los individuos y familias de Maryland, DC, y Virginia con el conocimiento, las herramientas y el apoyo necesarios para prosperar y crecer juntos en un entorno seguro y solidario. Por Zoom Cada Lunes de 27 de enero hasta 14 de abril del 2025 a las 6 pm - 7:30 pm.

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We are excited to share that Benjamin Banneker Middle School will become a federally-funded Title I school in the 2024–2025 school year. Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) requires that schools with the highest poverty in the district receive supplemental Title I funding. Please see the community letter below for more details.

Hello Banneker Family. My name is Dr. Augustina Bryan and I am the Pupil Personnel Worker for Banneker MS. Pupil Personnel Workers (PPWs) are educators trained to determine student needs through a collaborative process, to serve as advocates for students and their families, and to facilitate appropriate services. Please scan or use the link below if you would like assistance for requesting a change of school, homelessness, attendance, student engagement, intervention, residency, help with school policies, and/or social emotional support.

Link to form: https://forms.gle/eMXDtz7bxzG8XEV3A

For the 2024 - 2025 school year Benjamin Banneker Middle School is adopting the Cell Phone "Away All Day" policy. This policy includes additional personal media devices that distract from the teaching and learning process. Students received information in their homeroom classes during the first week of school regarding updated policies and procedures for the school year. Please see linked an article which explains why we are taking this step.

Please see Chromebook information below:

• BBMS will continue to be 1 to 1 device school

• 6th grade students received their chromebooks during the first week of school.

• BBMS Family Chromebook Agreement states that

“Each student is financially responsible for damage caused or loss of any Chromebook and charger checked out to the student. The device is loaned and for instructional purposes only. No cost is associated with a student borrowing, possessing, or using an MCPS Chromebook. A family is only financially responsible when there is avoidable damage to the device. There is a charge for any lost or stolen devices or chargers.” Charges range from $25 to $300”.

This portal will help you find solutions to your questions about MCPS programs. You can use this page to search for guides, videos, or get your questions answered through a virtual agent. Please click on the portal's support guide for additional information. If you need support using the portal, we have provided the support guide.

Benjamin Banneker Middle School and the Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County are excited to continue our partnership to support the Well-Being of our school community. The purpose of this school-based conflict resolution program is to provide the students and staff of Benjamin Banneker Middle School the opportunity to address and resolve student disputes with an “on-site” conflict resolution professional. The program will empower students to use the on-site Conflict Resolution Office to address and resolve disputes in constructive ways supporting a positive and safe learning environment. Additionally, students will practice restorative discipline principles that focus on: strengthening relationships, collaborative problem-solving, and student accountability. For more information regarding this partnership, please read the attached letter.

The attachment below includes the 2024-2025 BBMS Bus Routes. It can also be found on our school website.

As our entire region adjusts to a return to school, MCPS wishes to remind families of the usual impact on traffic and the expectation of typical, but very few, bus route delays on some of our runs. This may be particularly true in areas affected by the Purple Line rail system construction. Due to the size and interconnectedness of our transportation system, we anticipate that the impact may be felt beyond just the immediate schools near the construction. Although delays are the exception, we know that traffic in our area can sometimes be challenging.

Need Help?

To address any concerns or issues with bus delays, we want to introduce the MCPS Transportation Hotline. This service will begin Monday, August 26, starting at 6:00 am to 5:00 pm, and will be available during the first week of school. MCPS transportation staff will be able to support families if questions, concerns or problems with a bus or bus stop need to be addressed. To access this service, call 240-740-7790.

Check out MealViewer, MCPS’s new website where you can view your child’s breakfast and lunch menus. Using a computer, place your mouse over the specific food items to see the nutrition facts. You can even select allergens your child is allergic to for the website to show you what foods your child should not eat.

MCPS has implemented a new online service to accept payments for school-sponsored field trips along with other school-related activities School Cash Online (SCO). To help reduce the confusion of remembering PINs, our online service provider no longer requires them. MCPS highly encourages everyone to sign up and use this service. By using this service, it makes it convenient for parents to make payments at their own convenience and minimizes loss of funds which often happens when carrying cash. The online system is a great way to keep track of student payments. Families can easily log into the system and see which activities are being offered to students and discuss which ones they would like to participate in.

For approved guardian(s) who do not currently have an SCO account, you will receive an automated email with an invitation to create an account.

For approved guardian(s) who already have a SCO account, but who have not yet linked their student(s) to their account. An automated email from SCO for each unlinked student will be sent to the guardian. The email will have an “Accept” button. If the guardian clicks the button, the system will attach that guardian’s child to their account automatically based on the student Information data.

SchoolCash Online: Subscription Process for Guardians

SchoolCash Online: Registration Instructions