Ballenger Creek Middle School

Dear Ballenger Creek Middle Families,

I hope that you and your loved ones are well. I don’t know how it could possibly be October already, how about you? As we look at this month’s calendar, parent-teacher conferences start on the 7th (though the 9th) and we have had a great response with most of our conference slots already filled. If you haven’t been able to sign up but want to speak with your children’s teachers, I recommend you email the teachers you want to meet with directly or contact your grade level counselor who can assist:

• 6th: Johnny.Webber@fcps.org

• 7th: Rebecca.Reese@fcps.org

• 8th: David.Ledyard@fcps.org

After parent-teacher conferences, situations sometimes arise when you need more than an email or a phone call with your child’s teacher. Please know that our counseling office and administrative team are here to assist you in arranging any needed meetings. Partnering with you, we can work through the vast majority of challenging scenarios to find an outcome that provides long-term benefits for your children.

Have a great month,

Jay Schill

Principal, BCMS

ATTENTION, WRITERS!

We’re excited to take part in the 2024-2025 Young Authors’ Contest again this year!

• Who can participate? Any student, Grades 6-12

• What is it? It’s a writing contest where students can submit a short story or a poem at their schools.

• When should I submit? You will submit any entries to your ELA teacher by Wednesday, December 4th. School winners need to be submitted to the county by Monday, December 16th.

• Contest Specifics:

• Entries must be original work

• *Families and students must certify that an entry was produced without the use of any artificial intelligence tools or assistance on the submission cover sheet*

• Entries must be a poem (25-300 words) or short story (600-1,600 words)

• Entrants may submit only one short story and/or one poem each

• Entries must be 12 point font in Times New Roman

• Entries may not include graphics

• Violent themes will not be accepted

• Appropriate language must be used

FCPS Earth and Space Science Lab (ESSL)
Spooktacular Science will be taking place at the ESSL on October 18th from 9:30am-3pm. Visit their website for tickets and details.

For a full listing of events at the ESSL, click here.

Make-up picture day will be held for students on November 20, 2024.

All students will be photographed so that pictures can be included in the yearbook.

If you do not want your child's picture included in the yearbook, please reach out to Ms. Lotoya Gee (lotoya.gee@fcps.org) or be sure to update your child's student information card via the PowerSchool Enrollment document that was sent to parents/guardians on August 20, 2024.

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.

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:

• Bulldogs LEAD (Leadership, Empathy, Achievement, & Determination)
• Confidence
• Brain, Neuroplasticity, & Learning
• Community Building

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

BCMS was granted an opportunity to have our kitchen updated. This kitchen is used by our students as part of the curriculum in various classes offered at BCMS. As soon as the final inspection is completed, our students will have the opportunity to the first students to use the upgraded kitchen space at BCMS. We can't wait to see the amazing items our students make in the upgraded kitchen space.

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.

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.

BCMS has been selected to participate in the FCPS Farm to School Program funded by the Local Foods for School grant from Maryland Department of Education. Farm to school programs strive to teach students where their food comes from, how it is produced and the benefits of healthy eating; provide hands-on learning activities such as bringing students to visit farms and/or producers visiting schools.

At FCPS, the Food and Nutrition Services Farm to School Program focuses on bringing fresh, locally grown produce to our cafeterias while supporting small farms in Frederick County. Local produce will be available in the cafeteria weekly. In addition, we will have a Harvest of the Month, once a month for students to select in season produce. We plan to have taste tests and farmer visits throughout the year and will communicate with individual schools when this may occur.

Any questions, please contact:

Darcie Smith, RD, LDN

FCPS Farm to School Program Administrator

darcie.smith@fcps.org

6th Grade:

Students are wrapping up with their first unit soon, and we will soon begin a unit titled Never Give Up. In this unit, students will read about people and characters who refuse to give up, despite the hardships they face. We will consider different ways to face challenges and stay strong. The texts we will read center on the Essential Question “What keeps people from giving up?” 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 2 includes the following texts:

• “A Schoolgirl’s Diary” from I am Malala: In this memoir, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai details events that led to her being wounded by members of the Taliban. She explains how—when the Taliban ordered girls to stop going to school—she came to record a series of BBC radio diary entries about her experiences. Students will analyze features of informational texts, and they will learn how to generate questions to help improve their understanding of a text.

• “Speech to the Young: Speech to the Progress-Toward”: In this poem, Gwendolyn Brooks presents a call to action for young people, encouraging them to seize the power of the moment and to disregard the voices of people who try to keep them down. Students will learn to analyze poetic forms and how to make inferences about theme.

• “The First Day of School”: This short story, set in 1954, explores internal and external conflicts faced by two children. As they consider the struggles of the characters, students will analyze plot, character, and setting.

• from New Kid: In this excerpt from Jerry Craft’s graphic novel, new kid Jordan has a heart-to-heart with his grandfather about the challenges he faces while trying to make friends at his new, elite, and often divided school. Students will continue to analyze plot and character, and they will also analyze setting and theme.

7th Grade:

As we finish our first unit, we are eager to begin a unit titled Take Control. In this unit, students will encounter people and characters who took control in situations of great risk and difficulty. We will consider ways in which we can overcome both internal and external obstacles. The texts we will read center on the Essential Question “How do actions define us?” 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 2 includes the following texts:

• “Heartbeat”: In this short story, a teenager struggles to change his body to win over his crush. Students will learn how to analyze characters and conflict in a story.

• “The Flight of Icarus": This retelling of an ancient Greek myth tells of how an attempt to escape from an island goes too far for Daedalus and his son Icarus. Students will learn how to analyze myth and how to determine themes in literary works.

• “Icarus’s Flight”: In the poem based on an ancient Greek myth, poet Stephen Dobyns imagines why Icarus flew so close to the sun. Students will analyze form in poetry as well as word choices.

• “Rogue Wave”: In this short story, two siblings face a life-or-death crisis when a rogue wave capsizes their boat. Students will learn how to analyze a story’s plot and how to make inferences about the story using clues provided by the author.

• “Women in Aviation”: This piece of historical writing recounts the true story of Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to earn her pilot’s license. Students will learn how to determine an author’s purpose and how to cite evidence and evaluate details.

• “Thank you, M’am”: Langston’s Hughes short story shares how a boy learns a lesson about life after he is caught stealing a woman’s purse. Students will learn how to analyze characters’ qualities and how to analyze setting and conflict in a story.

8th Grade:

We will soon begin a unit titled The Thrill of Horror. In this unit, we will explore the feelings that many people enjoy when reading horror stories. The texts we will read center on the Essential Question “Why do we sometimes like to feel frightened?” 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 2 includes the following texts:

• “What Is the Horror Genre?”: This piece of literary criticism examines the ways in which horror stories are defined and categorized to better understand the genre. Students will learn how to analyze literary criticism and how to paraphrase and summarize text.

• “The Tell-Tale Heart”: Edgar Allan Poe’s famous story is told by an unnamed narrator who defends his sanity after killing an old man. Students will analyze narrative point of view and learn how to analyze how an author creates suspense in a story.

• “The Monkey’s Paw”: In this short story by W.W. Jacobs, a visitor, gives the White family an object that will grant its owner three wishes. After Mr. White’s first wish is granted, the family learns hard lessons about the importance of being careful with wishes. Students will learn how to analyze themes and the use of foreshadowing in a work of fiction.

Clip from The Monkey’s Paw: In this clip from a film based on W.W. Jacob’s famous story, Mrs. White urges her husband to use his third wish to bring their son back to life. Students will learn how to analyze film adaptations and filmmaking techniques.

6th Grade:

Students will be finishing Module 1 - Ratios and rates which builds conceptual understanding of equivalent ratios and how to create equivalent ratios to answer real world problems. Students will also be starting Module 2 - Decimals, fractions, and percents which relates these three representations and how to convert between them.

7th Grade:

Students will be finishing up Module 2 (Solve Percent Problems), which includes solving common percent problems, like tax, tips, discounts, and interest, as well as commission, interest, and percent error. They will be starting Module 3 (Operations with Integers), which includes building skills with adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers with a focus on negative integers.

8th Grade:

Students will be working through Module 2 (Real Numbers) and beginning Module 3 (Solve Equations with Variables on Each Side). In Module 3, students will review solving two-step equations then progress to solving multi-step equations and equations with variables on each side. Students will also learn to determine the number of solutions (one, none, infinite) that an equation has.

Algebra:

Students will be finishing up Module 2 (Equations in One Variable) and taking the Module Test in the first week of October. Students will then move into Module 3 (Relations and Functions) and Module 4 (Linear and Nonlinear Functions). In Module 3, students will learn how to determine the difference between relations and functions, and how to solve for x- and y-intercepts. In Module 4, students will learn how to determine the difference between linear and nonlinear functions, as well as reviewing rate of change.

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

6th Grade:

6th Grade Social Studies students are finishing their unit on Ancient Mesopotamia and will be transitioning to Ancient Egypt next year. Students will explore the geography of the region and determine how it impacted the settlement and growth of this civilization. Please work with your student to submit any missing work.

Grade 7:

Students are starting Unit 2 Arabia and North Africa. They will be exploring the geography as well as the major political, educational, social and religious changes during the Middle Ages in this region.

Grade 8:

Students are taking their Unit 1 test and moving on to Unit 2 Confederation to Constitution where they will focus on the foundations of American Government including the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.

6th Grade:

Students are working to construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.

7th Grade:

Students are working to analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions.

8th Grade:

Students are working to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and differences among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer evolutionary relationships.

Mark your calendars!!!!

Monday, November 11, 2024

BCMS Veterans Day Concert 6PM at Tuscarora HS (FREE!!!)

We encourage you to make contact with your child’s case manager and build the home and school communication.

Our special education department staff:

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

• Case Manager (7th grade): Becky Schimel and Allison Silvey

• 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

Our special education team welcomes Allison Silvey, 7th case manager, to BCMS. We are excited to have her on our team.

We are well into the school year and tackling English!

A great opportunity to get involved, share culture and learn public speaking skills is Model UN! See Mr. Schaller or Ms. Montgomery for details!

If you have questions or need support, please contact:

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

• sarah.birmanns@fcps.org

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

• claudine.webb@fcps.org

Ballenger Creek proudly recognizes October as Dyslexia Awareness Month! Did you know that we have students and teachers with dyslexia? BCMS offers several foundational reading programs to students who may still require systematic, explicit instruction.

From the International Dyslexia Association:

How widespread is dyslexia?

Current studies indicate that one half of all the students who qualify for special education are classified as having a learning disability (6–7%). About 85% of those students have a primary learning disability in reading and language processing. Nevertheless, many more people— perhaps as many as 15–20% of the population as a whole—have some of the symptoms of dyslexia, including slow or inaccurate reading, poor spelling, poor writing, or mixing up similar words. Not all of these will qualify for special education, but they are likely to struggle with many aspects of academic learning and are likely to benefit from systematic, explicit, instruction in reading, writing, and language.

Dyslexia occurs in people of all backgrounds and intellectual levels. People with dyslexia can be very bright. They are often capable or even gifted in areas such as art, computer science, design, drama, electronics, math, mechanics, music, physics, sales, and sports.

In addition, dyslexia runs in families; parents with dyslexia are very likely to have children with dyslexia. For some people, their dyslexia is identified early in their lives, but for others, their dyslexia goes unidentified until they get older.

How is dyslexia treated?

Dyslexia is a lifelong condition. With proper help, many people with dyslexia can learn to read and write well. Early identification and treatment is the key to helping individuals with dyslexia achieve in school and in life. Most people with dyslexia need help from a teacher, tutor, or therapist specially trained in using a multisensory, structured language approach.

Visit the International Dyslexia Association for more information.

Contact Information:

Katherine Shaffer, Literacy Specialist

Email: Katherine.Shaffer@fcps.org

Phone: 227-203-2150 Ext. 41608

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program
The application for the upcoming school year is now open! All interested 8th grade students are welcome to apply.

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.

Career and Technology Center (CTC) Open House
Students, find out how to jump start your future at the Career and Technology Center (CTC). CTC will be hosting an open house on Thursday, October 24, 2024 from 6-8pm at their location on Opossumtown Pike. For a full listing of all CTC programs and information on the upcoming open house, click here.

HAL Program Links:

• Overview of middle school gifted and talented services Video, PDF, PDF (Spanish)

• Caregiver/parent resource folder

• FCPS Advanced Academics website

If you have any questions or concerns about this programming, please reach out to me.

Christine Brown | Middle School Advanced Academics Teacher Specialist

Serving Ballenger Creek MS & Brunswick MS

BCMS Spirit Wear

BCMS SPIRIT WEAR IS STILL AVAILABLE!

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.

I can’t believe we are almost at the end of term 1. Students and parents are encouraged to reach out to their grade level counselor for any questions or concerns. Below you will find each of the counselors contact information along with their assigned grade level.

• David Ledyard (8th Grade ) David.Ledyard@fcps.org
• Rebecca Reese (7th Grade) Rebecca.Reese@fcps.org
• Johnny Webber (6th Grade) Johnny.Webber@fcps.org

The Academy of Fine Arts, which is located at Thomas Johnson High School, is having an Open House on October 24th from 6:30 - 8:00. If your child is interested in pursuing the arts when they get to high school, this Open House is a great way to learn about the AFA program. Use the link below to learn more about the AFA.

https://sites.google.com/fcps.org/academyforthefinearts/home/

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 & Technology

Please checkout the Media Center & Technology Updates Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/csd5z

This Month’s Highlights:

• What’s Happening in the Media Center

• Overdue Books

• Book Checkout Overview

• "BCMS Media Center Pass" System

• Technology Reminders: Device Care & Usage

• Helpful Links

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.

Mrs. Specht

tracey.specht@fcps.org

User Support Specialist

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

Dental Smiles Program - November 11, 2024

November 11, 2024 we are hosting the Dental Smiles Program. Interested families need to return the forms to me no later than Friday, October 18, 2024.

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.

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 meet starting Tuesday September 17th at 7:00am 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.

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.

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.

As of July 1, 2024, Ballenger Creek Middle School's phone number has been changed as part of the FCPS transition to a new telecommunications system.

Ballenger Creek Middle's new phone number for the main office will be 227-203-2150.

School based staff can be reached by calling the school's main number and choosing the appropriate option from the call menu or by dialing a staff member's extension at any time:

1 - Front Office

2 - Attendance

3 - Counseling Office

4 - Health Room

5 - Cafeteria

9 - Spanish

• October 18th - Teacher Professional Learning Day (Schools Closed for Students)
• October 25th - End of Term (Two Hr Early Dismissal for Students)
• October 28th - Teacher Work Day (Schools Closed for Students)
• November 5th - Election Day (Schools Closed)
• November 26th - Mid-Term (Two Hr Early Dismissal for Students)
• November 27th - November 29th - Thanksgiving Break (Schools and Offices Closed)