Banneker Bobcat Family Bulletin
November 10, 2023
Weekly Message from Principal Adelekan
Hello BBMS Families, the second quarter of the school year is upon us. Students are settling into routines and the emphasis on teaching and learning is ramping up. In order to foster a positive learning environment, students must engage in safe behaviors. We have been speaking with our students frequently about safety, specifically during hallway transitions. We are asking that you speak with your student about the importance of getting to class on time and practicing safe behavior during throughout the school day. Thank you for your dedication and support!!!
For updates on BBMS upcoming events please visit our school calendar.
Parent/Caregivers Conferences (Monday, November 20th)
1:15 pm – 3:45 pm Virtual conferences (Parents/Caregivers will be able to sign up for 10 minute time slots beginning, Thursday, November 16th).
4:15 pm – 6:15 pm In-Person conferences
More information regarding the sign up process will be provided to parents/caregivers will be provided to families next week.
BBMS Scholastic Book Fair Starts Monday, November 13th
Next PTSA Meeting Tuesday 11/14/23 @6:30PM
Join PTSA 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)
Music Department Field Trip (November 15th Commitment)
On May 17th, 2024 Bobcat musicians will participate in the Music in the Parks festival at Kings Dominion in Doswell Virginia. Students will perform for a panel of judges then spend the day enjoying themselves in the amusement park. Any student interested in attending this trip must commit by November 15th by bringing in a signed permission slip (received this week) and paying a deposit online via School Cash online school cash online.
If there is a financial concern please contact Mr. Gray, Dr. Stoll or Mrs. Moten for more information.
Family Chromebook Agreement
This week a Family Chromebook Agreement was sent home with report cards. The agreement serves as a reminder of the policies set by the MCPS when using district issued learning tools. Each time a user logs onto a device they are agreeing to the policies noted. Please read it carefully and return the last sheet by November 20th.
BBMS After School Activities are on break and will resume on Tuesday, 11/28/23
Capital Improvement Program
The PTSA is seeking parents and students to provide testimony at future Board of Education meetings to advocate for funding for Benjamin Banneker Middle School. The PTSA will help prepare written/oral testimony and students can earn SSL hours. Please email BBMSPTSA@yahoo.com for additional information.
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
Youth Cruiser SmarTrip Card Program
POST HEARING SCREENING ATTENTION 8TH GRADE PARENTS
The State of Maryland Education Law 7-404 requires school children to have their hearing and vision screened to identify possible problems that impact learning.
Effective July 1, 2018, the Atticus Act mandated that the parents/guardians of all children screened receive the results of the hearing and vision screening and additional information on vision issues.
To simplify the process of sending results to the families of over 25,000 children who pass screenings each year, we are requesting that you now send the attached Connect Ed email to all parents/guardians of students in Grade 8.
School Health Services staff will continue to send individual letters with the screening results for students who fail either hearing or vision screening or were screened because they were newly enrolled at your school or referred by school staff.
Hearing & Vision screenings were held at our school on September 29th, October 2nd, and October 3rd of 2023.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank-you
Upcoming Community Events
Important Information for Families
The Holiday Giving Project
The Holiday Giving Project has provided Thanksgiving and December holiday assistance to low-income households for over 30 years. Local non-profits, faith-based organizations, and public agencies serve Holiday Giving recipients, as donations are available. If you and your family are in need and would like to be referred for possible assistance for the holiday season, please fill out the Holiday Giving Project Referral and Consent form with the required information. Please return the completed form to BBMS Counseling Office by October 25th. Paper copies will be available in the counseling office as well. Resources are limited: please apply only if you and your family are truly in need. While a referral is not a guarantee of assistance, the Project helps as many families in need as donations allow. Please contact Taryn_E_richards@mcpsmd.org with questions.
Technology Info and Updates
Chromebook and Charger Reminders
Our students have been reminded of their responsibility to take care of their Chromebooks and chargers as if they were any other borrowed material from school (i.e. text book or a library book) see the Student Code of Conduct. Chromebook and charger obligations will be processed this year. We will use the repair cost document as guidance. More information will be shared in the near future.
**New**
If you have technology questions or need assistance the MCPS Community Tech Support portal.
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.
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!
MCPS Saturday School Program
The George B. Thomas Learning Academy Saturday School is back with the sixth day of in- person instruction for grades K through 12 and SAT prep at Paint Branch High School. You, your faculty and staff, and the community are invited to attend our opening ceremony on September 9, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. at Paint Branch High School in the cafeteria. Families can register students in advance at https://saturdayschool.org/ or in person during our opening on September 9. The cost for the two semesters is $85.00 or $40.00 for families eligible for FARMS (Free and Reduced Meals).
To further the excitement, Lorenzo Prillman, Assistant Principal at Clarksburg Elementary School, and his Mu Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. are in partnership with the Savan Group IT firm, and they are attending the opening ceremony! The ceremony will be held in the Paint Branch HS cafeteria, Panther Paw. You are free to park anywhere on the campus. Signs will be available to direct you toward the cafeteria. I look forward to seeing you at the George B. Thomas Learning Academy Saturday School annual opening ceremony!
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.
2023-2024 CAFETERIA NEWS and MEALS INFORMATION
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.