BTMS Community Newsletter - 23/24 (Archived)

BTMS Website

Parent Welcome Letter - 24/25

BTMS Information and Overview

Learn how Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) is ensuring safe and welcoming schools for all students by providing resources and support for immigrant families. Join a virtual information session to hear updates from key district offices, Know Your Rights information, and how to access services designed to assist families.

Partner presentations from: CASA de Maryland and Standby Guardianship Project, Inc.

Session Options:

Thursday, February 20 | 6:00 - 7:30 PM – Spanish with English interpretation

Monday, February 24 | 6:00 - 7:30 PM – Spanish with English interpretation

Wednesday, February 26* | 6:00 - 7:30 PM – English with Spanish interpretation and additional languages by request*

Register

*Requests for additional language interpretation on February 26 must be submitted at least three days before the event.

Sesiones virtuales: Apoyando a nuestras familias inmigrantes: ¡inscríbase ahora!

Aprenda cómo las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Prince George (PGCPS) están garantizando tener escuelas seguras y acogedoras para todos los estudiantes al brindar recursos y apoyo a las familias inmigrantes. Únase a una sesión informativa virtual para escuchar actualizaciones de oficinas distritales clave, información sobre “Conozca sus derechos” y cómo acceder a los servicios diseñados para ayudar a las familias.

Presentaciones de aliados: CASA de Maryland y Standby Guardianship Project, Inc.

Sesiones disponibles:

Jueves, 20 de febrero | 6:00 - 7:30 P. M. : sesión en español con servicios de interpretación en inglés

Lunes, 24 de febrero | 6:00 - 7:30 P. M. : sesión en español con servicios de interpretación en inglés

Miércoles, 26 de febrero* | 6:00 - 7:30 P. M. : sesión en inglés con servicios de interpretación en español e idiomas adicionales bajo solicitud*

Inscríbase

Las solicitudes de interpretación para idiomas adicionales para la sesión del 26 de febrero deben hacerse al menos tres días antes del evento.

Sessions virtuelles : Soutien aux familles des immigrants - Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant !

Découvrez comment les Écoles publiques du comté de Prince George (PGCPS) garantissent des écoles sûres et accueillantes pour tous les élèves en fournissant des ressources et un soutien aux familles des immigrants. Participez à une session d'information virtuelle pour connaître les dernières nouvelles venant des principaux bureaux du district, obtenir des informations sur le fait de Connaître vos droits et savoir comment accéder aux services destinés à aider les familles.

Présentations de la part des partenaires : CASA de Maryland et Standby Guardianship Project, Inc.

Options de session :

Jeudi 20 février | 18 h 00 - 19 h 30 - En espagnol avec une interprétation en anglais Lundi 24 février | 18 h 00 - 19 h 30 - En espagnol avec une interprétation en anglais Mercredi 26 février* | 18 h 00 - 19 h 30 - En anglais avec une interprétation en espagnol et en autres langues sur demande*

Inscrivez-vous

*Les demandes d'interprétation dans une langue supplémentaire le 26 février doivent être soumises au moins trois jours avant l'événement.

Join us at Benjamin Tasker for our Black History Month Program!

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2025

Time: 6:00 PM

Experience the richness of African American history through music, dance, visual arts, and more, all performed by our talented students and staff. For more information, contact Ms. Provost at Rachelle.Provost@pgcps.org

Let’s come together to honor and celebrate the incredible legacy and contributions of Black history!
#BlackHistoryMonth #CommunityCelebration #BenjaminTaskerPride #PGCPSProud

Join us for the Annual NJHS Dance "A Night In Paris"

Date: February 21,2025

Time : 6:30pm -8:30 pm

Location: Benjamin Tasker Middle School

for more information Please contact Ms.Clarke-Green at janet.clarke@pgcps.org

Spring Picture Day will be Monday, March March 3,2025 Create an account or login at www.mylifetouch.com use the code EVTSZF9KN

Online orders must be completed by 11AM on March 3,2025

To purchase & Customize your School Yearbook click here

enter the school's passcode : 10153989356625

Regular Price $40.00 *

*Does Not Include Sales tax, if applicable**

Create Custom Page by April 18th

Raffle Fundraiser all proceeds go to LOVE IS RESPECT, a project of the Domestic Violence Hotline

February 10- 17 2025💕 See flyer for more details

📚Encourage Your Student to Read and Skate for Free!📚

Parents, let’s motivate our young readers to dive into books and enjoy some fun at Skate Zone in Crofton!

Here’s how it works:

Read Books: Students can pick their favorite books to read.

Get Your RELA Teacher's Signature: Once they finish reading, they’ll need their reading teacher’s signature to confirm their achievement.

Receive a Bookmark: With the signed confirmation, they’ll be given a special Reading Enroll Bookmark.

Free Admission: Present the bookmark at Skate Zone for FREE ADMISSION to an exciting skating session!

Let’s celebrate the joy of reading while enjoying some skating fun. Encourage your student to pick up a book today—reading unlocks imagination, and this time, it unlocks free skating too!

Hurry—start reading now!

Date : Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Time: 6:30pm -8:00pm

Register: here

2025 Black Male STEA3M Ed Day! This event is curated to explore the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Agriculture, Athletics, and Mathematics (STEA3M) in education. Programming is geared toward Black male 7th and 8th-grade students.

Join us for a day filled with engaging activities, inspiring artists, and collaboration opportunities to represent creativity and innovation in STEA3M teaching and learning. Whether you're a student, educator, parent, professional, or simply passionate about STEA3M, there's something for everyone. Take the chance to connect and enhance your skills in this dynamic field!

For additional information, please Contact : Mr. Daniel Akinribade

dakinribade@bowiestate.ed

We value your voice at Benjamin Tasker Middle School, and we invite you to join our Parent Focus & Feedback Group on February 24, 2025. Three times are available by grade level as follows:

• 9:15am - 10:15am - 6th Grade
• 10:30am - 11:30am - 8th Grade
• 12:30am - 1:30am - 7th Grade

This is a space for open discussion and collaboration to help enhance our school community and improvement efforts. Your feedback is essential in ensuring a positive and supportive environment for all students. This session will provide an opportunity to share your thoughts on key topics, including:

• Safety & Security: Ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment

• School Culture & Climate: Fostering inclusiveness and belonging for all students

• Instructional Rigor & Engagement: Enhancing student learning experiences

• Communication: Strengthening school-home partnerships

• Building & Facilities Concerns: Updates and areas for improvement

Your input will help guide improvements and initiatives that directly impact our students and families. We encourage you to attend and be part of the conversation!

Please sign up Here to join.

Synergy Directions: For directions and information on Synergy, please click on the Synergy ParentVue Presentation link.

School parking lot safety is crucial to creating a safe, welcoming environment for learning. When students, staff, and visitors come to your school, navigating where they need to go and parking are the first steps in their journey.

With so many people moving through an area and cars all around, it’s crucial to have safety measures in place to protect each person in your school parking lot. Families, we ask that you please be:

Be considerate & Kind: Be courteous and patient with other parents and drivers.

Use drop-off zones: Use the designated drop-off and pick-up areas Students must stay in the crosswalk when walking.

Cross at crosswalks: Use crosswalks when crossing from the parking lot to the building

Follow safety guidelines: Don't speed, drive recklessly, or engage in horseplay.

Support school efforts: Work with the school to improve drop-off and pick-up systems.

PGCPS Parent Guide: Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Middle School Support from parents and families is critical to helping children succeed academically. Here are ten ways you can put your middle schoolers on track. For more information, please contact the Department of Family and School Partnerships at 301-618-7456.

Instructional Support & Tutoring:

• Math Tutoring:

• Math Tutoring Flier (English

• Tutoring Flier (Spanish)

• Math Unit Study Guides by Math Level: The following guides share what your child is currently learning in math, as well as how they are learning.

• Math 6 Family Resource letter Unit 1

• Accelerated 1 Family Resource letter Unit 1

• Math 7 Family Resource letter Unit 1

• Accelerated 2 Family Resource letter Unit 1

• Math 8 Family Resource letter Unit 1

• Foundations For Algebra Family Resource letter Unit 1

The FAA: invites kindergarten through 12th-grade students to participate in our Airport Design Challenge!

This interactive and collaborative learning opportunity allows students to design virtual airports in Minecraft. Participants will meet aviation professionals, engage with other designers, and learn about the aerospace industry.

What you can expect:

• Small teams of students learn about their local airport and complete development tasks in Minecraft.

• Organized lesson plans cover topics such as airport layout, pavement, lighting, structures, and innovative growth.

• Students, parents, and teachers collaborate in a virtual environment.

Have questions? Email avsed.challenge@faa.gov.

For more information, visit faa.gov/adc. Let your creativity soar, and enroll today!

reEarth invites Benjamin Tasker Middle School to submit photography, painting, drawing, digital art and illustration created by its students

Submission Deadline: 31 December, 2024

Results: January 2025

Art Forms: Painting & Drawing, Photography, Digital Art & Illustration

Age Group: 4 to 25 years old

Fee: USD $10

Discount: 20% discount for schools/groups E-certificates for All Participating Children and Youth

Cash prizes for Artists Selected by Jury Exhibition Events in Auckland, New Zealand, and Venice, Italy

Lumiere Education: The Junior Explorer Program is an 8-week program designed for middle school students (Grades 6-8) to explore their academic interests in fields such as economics, astrophysics, biology, history, and computer science. In the past, we have had students create research papers, case studies, and analytical presentations.

Join us in celebrating the Washington Capitals with the Caps in School 50th Anniversary Fan Wall, presented by KPMG! This is a unique opportunity for students to showcase their artistic talents while honoring the rich history and future of the Washington Capitals. We encourage students to create artwork that captures the spirit of the Capitals, their love for hockey, and this incredible milestone. This is a great way to engage your students in a fun, creative project while celebrating a beloved team with deep ties to our community. Select pieces will be featured throughout the season, helping to tell the story of 50 years of Capitals pride! We can't wait to see what students create to help celebrate this exciting anniversary! Link to the submission form

2025 C-SPAN StudentCam Competition: Where Students Become Filmmakers! The 21st year of C-SPAN’s StudentCam documentary competition for middle and high school students is officially underway. Students from grades 6-12 can participate in the competition and can do so as part of any subject area class, as an extra credit or enrichment activity, or on their own accord. This presidential election year's theme is: Your Message to the President? What issue is most important to you or your community? Examine your selected topic from multiple perspectives and assess what action(s) the president should take after Inauguration Day. Link to flyer

• Benchmark Testing Information

• Grade 6 Math Counts Information

  Accelerated 1

• More to Come

Administrator: Ms.Provost Counselor: Ms.Hardy Student Advocate: Mr.Porter

As we start the second half of the school year, here are a few important reminders:

• Refillable Water Bottles: Please send your student with a refillable water bottle. We have water refilling stations on each floor.

• Monitoring Online Activity: Many student conflicts originate from conversations happening outside of school on social media or other online platforms. We kindly ask for your support in monitoring your child’s online activity. Addressing concerns at home can help prevent issues from carrying over into school.

• Code of Conduct: Now is the perfect time to review the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook!

• BTMS Dress Code: Crop tops, pants with rips and holes, fuzzy slippers etc. Hoodies of any kind are not allowed to be worn during the school day. Students must place all hoodies and jackets in their lockers during arrival. Headphones (large Beats headphones and apple earpods) are also not allowed. Please ensure your scholar does not bring these valuable items to school.

• Bookbags - Only clear book bags are allowed to be carried throughout the day. All other book bags or large purses must be placed inside student lockers.

Thank you for your continued partnership!

• Benchmark Testing Information

• North Bay Field Permission Slip & Information

• Grade 7

  Accelerated 2

  
  

Administrator: Ms.Hazel Counselor: Ms.Dzirasa Peer Mediator: Mr.McFarland

• Benchmark Testing Information
  

• Grade 8- Math Counts Infor

  Foundations For Algebra

  
  

• More updates to come

Administrator: Dr.Scott Counselor: Mr.Reid Peer Mediator: Ms.Sibila

• Click here for BTMS TAG Updates

• Testing Information Letter

Benjamin Tasker Middle School will proudly receive its EGATE recertification banner, reaffirming our commitment to excellence in Gifted and Talented Education! In addition, we do have an outstanding teacher who will receive an honorary award along with former students who will be honored for their dedication and achievements in the area of Gifted and Talented education.

Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025

Time: 1:30 – 3:30 PM

Location: Severn Run High School, 8065 New Cut Road, Severn, MD 21108

Let’s celebrate our success together because, at Benjamin Tasker, we don’t just meet the standard, we set it!

We hope to see you there!

The Joint Science and Technology Institute for Middle School Students (JSTI-MS) is a one-week, fully-funded, residential science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) research program that provides middle school students the opportunity to solve and complete STEM challenges and projects. The hands-on projects provide students with opportunities to develop problem-solving and collaboration skills. The program's purpose is to provide students with an opportunity to solve STEM challenges while working as a member of a small team and to inspire them to become lifelong STEM learners.

There are two locations for JSTI-MS. JSTI West will be held at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM from June 14-20, 2025. JSTI East will be held at Towson University in Towson, MD from July 19-25, 2025.

For more information on the specific locations, visit https://orise.orau.gov/jsti/.

Link to the application page: https://zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/JSTI-MS-2025

Young Scholars Program: The Cooke Young Scholars Program is a selective five-year, pre-college scholarship for exceptionally promising 7th-grade students with financial need. It provides comprehensive academic and college advising, as well as financial support for school, Cooke-sponsored summer programs, internships, and other learning enrichment opportunities

Program Experience

Educational Advisers support Young Scholars to maximize high school experiences and to go on to thrive at the nation’s top-performing colleges. Our programming and support may include:

• Identifying an appropriately rigorous high school.

• Engaging in four-year planning and goal-setting.

• Funding for academic and extracurricular opportunities, such as music and art lessons, supplemental academic classes and technology.

• Annual summer programs, including two required Young Scholar programs.

• Year-round Young Scholars community programming.

• Networking opportunities with a high-achieving peer community.

The application for the Cooke Young Scholars Program is currently open. It will close on April 30, 2025. Link to application page

If you have any questions regarding your application, please email us at scholarships@jkcf.org.

BTMS Students interested in applying for any of the programs can check in with Janet.Clarke@pgcps for assistance with their application profile

The BTMS Boys Basketball Team finished with a record of 6 wins and 3 losses and just missed the playoffs. A special thanks goes to Coach Cromer, Mr. Ellard, Mr. Messiah and Ms. Mayes for their time, hard work, and consistency with the young men this season.

The BTMS Girls Basketball Team: Congratulation to the Lady Tigers for exceling to the PGCPS Middle School Basketball Championship Game. They played well and had an AMAZING season. Congrats!

BTMS offers a wide variety of after-school clubs and activities. We encourage all students to participate. Please open the BTMS After-School Clubs & Activities doc to review the current offerings. Students participating in after-school clubs and activities must have their own transportation home.

On behalf of the Benjamin Tasker Middle School National Junior Honor Society, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to every student, staff member, and parent who supported our annual January Service-Learning Project: Dollar for Cancer DRIVE. Today, as we recognize World Cancer Day with the theme "Close the Care Gap", we are proud to have contributed to the fight against this disease by raising funds for a cure.

Our goal was $1,000, and thanks to your incredible generosity, we surpassed our goal, raising an amazing $1,063. 56! Every dollar and cent collected will be donated to the American Cancer Society to support vital research and provide hope to cancer victims.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped us achieve this milestone!

A special SHOUT OUT to Mrs. Rita Smith’s Section 603, which raised an impressive $253.26 the highest amount of any class! As a token of appreciation, they will enjoy a well-deserved ice cream social on Tuesday, February 11, 2024.

But we’re not stopping here! Up next is our highly anticipated annual school dance, “A Night in Paris,” on February 21, 2025. Stay tuned full details will be released on Thursday, February 5, 2025!

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to make a difference!

Our BTMS student led News Club has are so excited to finally publish and showcase all our hard work and effort! The newspaper will bring weekly relevant and exciting news to our community.

The Real Talk Male Mentoring Program: For Male Scholars Grade 6 - 8 Tuesday & Thursday 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM 1st Saturday 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. The Mentoring Program is now full.

The Leo Club is now full. We do have a waiting list of students in case a space becomes available. If your child is in the Leo Club, be sure to return the signed permission slip. Information about our schedule and upcoming activities can be found on our Leo Club Google Site. Questions? Email ann.fleming@pgcps.org.

🎨Our Wonderful Art Club gave our school shed a beautiful makeover🎨

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LVGVfnqNN1GqH5YQ1y2ypszpP_06nFE2/view?usp=sharing

Meals (Breakfast/Lunch): Breakfast is available to all students from 8:00 am to 8:20 am. Students must be in line by 8:20 am to receive breakfast. However, all students arriving on a late bus will be permitted to receive breakfast, if they choose. Students may purchase breakfast ($1.60) and/or lunch ($3.00) daily

https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/BenjaminTaskerMiddle

Please check your student's My School Bucks account status and balance My School Bucks Links

Each year students are required to complete 3 forms (Emergency Contact Form, Publicity & Photography Release Form, & Parent Receipt of Acknowledgement form) to ensure BTMS has updated and accurate information in addition to ensuring important policy has been reviewed.

• Emergency Contact Form

• Publicity & Photography Release Form

• Parent Receipt of Acknowledgement

• Review: Student Behavioral Expectations

• Review: Student/Family Handbook

Website: https://www.pgcps.org/benjamintasker/
Location: 4901 Collington Road Bowie, MD 20715

Phone: 301-805-2660

Instagram: @BTMS.TIGERS