Banneker Bobcat Family Bulletin
April 26, 2024
Hello BBMS families, please see the newsletter for updates regarding the 8th Grade Promotion, Outdoor Education, and end of the school year activities.
8th Grade End of the Year Activities
This letter contains information regarding the events and celebrations to assist with your planning and preparation. Please review the information with your student and keep it for future reference.
Upcoming Events
Monday, April 29th: Outdoor Education Session 1 (6th Grade Students Only)
Wednesday, May 1st: Outdoor Education Session 2 (6th Grade Students Only)
Tuesday, May 7th: MCAP Math (All Students)
Wednesday, May 8th: MCAP Math (All Students)
Thursday, May 9th: High School Athletic Director Visit (8th Grade Students Only)
Tuesday, May 14th: Schools closed Primary Election Day
Wednesday, May 15th: MCAP Social Studies (8th Grade Students Only)
Thursday, May 16th: MCAP Social Studies (8th Grade Students Only)
Tuesday, May21st: MAP R (All Students)
Wednesday, May22nd: MAP R (All Students)
Monday, May 27th: School closed Memorial Day
Wednesday, May 29th: MAP M (All Students)
Thursday, May 30th: MAP M (All Students)
Tuesday, June 4th: 8th Grade Promotion RehearsalThursday, June 6th: 8th Grade Promotion Rehearsal
Monday, June 10th: 8th grade Main Event trip
Tuesday, June 11th: 8th Grade Promotion Rehearsal
Wednesday, June 12th: 8th Grade Promotion 6pm to 8pm Paint Branch High School
Thursday, June 13th: Last Day for Students/Early Release Day
Outdoor Education (6th Grade Parents Only)
Next week some BBMS 6th Grade students will travel to Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Education Center in Rockville, MD for this unique, memory-making educational adventure. Sixth graders attend one three-day session. Please see the Information Letter.
Session 1
Monday, April 29th - Wednesday, May 1st
Students in Dr. Coffields World Studies Class
Session 2
Wednesday, May 1st - Friday, May 3rd
Students in Mr. Van Scyoc and Mr. Hulsizer World Studies classes
Step Competition
Please come out to Gaithersburg High School to support our BBMS Step team as they compete next Friday.
Title 1 Funding for School Year 2024-2025
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.
PTSA Session Recordings from 3/12/24
BBMS School Calendar.
BBMS After School Activities Weekly Schedule
TUESDAY ACTIVITIES:
Goal Setting Girls (6th Grade)
Peer to Peer Tutoring
Drama Club
WEDNESDAY ACTIVITIES:
Soccer
Cooking Club (8th Grade)
Step Team
SGA
Peer to Peer Tutoring (Every other Wednesday)
THURSDAY ACTIVITIES:
Goal Setting Girls (7th Grade)
Soccer
Cooking Club (6th and 7th Grade)
Step Team
NJHS
Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County (CRCMC) Partnership with BBMS
Benjamin Banneker Middle School and the Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County had engaged in a 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.
Food Delivery Policy
This is a reminder that students can not have food delivered to school through a delivery service such as Door Dash or Uber Eats. If a student has food delivered to school that food will be held in the office and not given to the student during the instructional day. If a parent would like to bring food for their student they may do so during their students lunch period.
MCPS Would Like Your Feedback
Tell Us What You Think About Our Food
The Division of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS) is still collecting feedback on what you want to see more of on school menus. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey and give us your input. Survey results will directly impact menu development.
Chromebook Reminders
Recently, we sent home the Family Chromebook Agreement as a reminder of the purpose of the MCPS loaned Chromebook devices. Each time a person logs onto the device they agree to the User Responsibility for Computer Systems, the Students Rights and Responsibilities, and the Student Code of Conduct. Chromebook and charger obligations will be processed this year. We will use the repair cost document as guidance.
Banneker Boutique
We will be accepting donations to our new Banneker Boutique (a free store at BBMS). Help us stock the store by donating gently used clothes and/or shoes. Students will be able to shop at the store for free once a month during lunch. Donation bins will be in the school lobby in the mornings. Thank you for your support!
Gentle Safety Reminder for Drop Off
This is a gentle safety reminder as we are continue to develop our routines. When dropping your student off, please pull as far forward as you can before dropping your child off. Please let your child out of the car when they can exit directly onto the sidewalk. Also, please follow the directions of our staff members who are working to move traffic as safely and as quickly as possible.
2023-2024 BBMS BUS ROUTES (POSTED 9/19/2023)
Please review bus routes closely with your students as most route numbers have changed from the previous year. The attachment below includes the 2023-2024 BBMS Bus Routes. It can also be found on our school website.
Ride-On Transportation
The issue of safe and healthy bell times for teenagers has been plaguing MCPS, and no action has been taken toward achieving a bell time of 8:30 a.m. or later since 2015. MCPS claims that the issue is transportation, yet has neglected to conduct a study to assess the feasibility of achieving this goal.
ACTION REQUESTED: Please respond to Montgomery County's request for feedback on its Ride-On Reimagined initiative to request Ride-On bus routes serve MCPS High Schools. This may help MCPS implement later bell times. Please send an email to: rideon.reimagined@montgomerycountymd.gov
2023-2024 CAFETERIA NEWS and MEALS INFORMATION
Tell Us What You Think About Our Food!
The Division of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS) wants to hear from you! DFNS is seeking feedback from staff, students and parents on what you want to see more of on school menus. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey and give us your input. Survey results will directly impact menu development.
For Schools Participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
Benjamin Banneker Middle School is excited to announce that we are a CEP school for the 2023-2024 school year. As a result, ALL students will be provided with free breakfast and lunch. Students who wish to purchase A La Carte items can do so for a fee. More information is linked below:
MCPS Cafeteria News and Meals Information: Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
If you qualify for other resources and services, please continue to submit a Free and Reduced Meals form. All information collected is confidential and will not be shared. Please click here to apply online.
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.