Barbara Ingram School for the Arts

The BISFA newsletter will go out once a month.

Information for the newsletter is needed by the 20th of the previous month.

Stay tuned!

🎓Yard signs for your senior are available from Anything Printed starting this month.

🎓Signs MUST be purchased before the end of April.

🎓Signs will be delivered to BISFA for pick up.

🎓Signs are 24" w x 18" h, double-sided, corrugated plastic yard with a wire stand.

🎓Cost is $20 per sign.

🎓Click below to order yours today! Please note that the website and sign will read 2026. It is not updated as of 3/31/26.

LAST SESSION

April 11, 2026

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

📣📣In case you missed a newsletter, the back issues of the newsletter for this school year are now posted on the BISFA Website.

💻💻The page also has a link to subscribe to the newsletter if you need an easy way to share this with friends and family.

Submissions are needed for the BISFA student Magazine.

🔺If you think your family might be eligible for free and reduced lunch, please check out the link below.

🔺Applications are only good for one school year.

🔺If you have children at other schools where all students received free breakfast and lunch, you need to apply for your Barbara Ingram student.

🔺If you have questions or are not sure if you qualify, food and nutrition services will be happy to help you!

WCPS Food & Nutrition Services

PHONE: 301-766-2890

FAX: 301-766-8738

April

04/01/26 - End of Marking Period 3, 2 hour early dismissal

04/09/26 - Vocal Dept. Sophomore Recital - 7:00 PM - BISFA Dance Floor

04/17/26 - Visual Arts Dept. - Spring Exhibition Opening Reception - 5 - 6:30 PM - BISFA Gallery

04/18/26 - Hadestown - Teen Edition - 7:30 PM - Maryland Theater

04/19/26 - Hadestown - Teen Edition - 2:00 PM - Maryland Theater

04/22/26 - New Student Orientation - Maryland Theater

04/23 - 04/26/26 - Dance Dept. to Disney

04/25/26 - Hadestown - Teen Edition - 7:30 PM - Maryland Theater

04/26/26 - Hadestown - Teen Edition - 2:00 PM - Maryland Theater

04/29/26 - Theater NYC Field Trip

May

05/01/26 - 2 hour early dismissal

05/01/26 - Creative Writing Neo Futurist - 6:30 PM - TBD

05/02/26 - Swinging in the Park

05/05/26 - Spring Guitar Recital - 7:00 PM - BISFA Dance Floor

05/07/26 - Vocal Spring Choral/Piano Concert - 7:30 PM - Trinity Lutheran Church

05/08/26 - Photo Cinema Senior Show - 5:30 - 7:00 PM - 2nd Floor VG Building

05/08/26 - Visual Arts Dept. - Senior Photography Exhibition - 7:00 PM BISFA Foundation Office

05/08/26 - Senior Dance Concert - 7:00 PM - HCC

05/14/26 - Vocal Dept. Freshman Solo Recital - 7:00 PM - BISFA Dance Floor

05/15/26 - Spring Dance Recital - 7:00 PM - Maryland Theater

05/15/26 - Junior/Senior Theater Showcase - 7:00 PM - Black Box Theater

05/16/26 - Junior/Senior Theater Showcase - 7:00 PM - Black Box Theater

05/19/26 - Creative Writing Senior Reading - 6:00 PM - Maryland Theater Ballroom

05/19/26 - Instrumental Large Ensembles Concert - 7:00 PM - Maryland Theater

05/21/26 - Theater Freshmen/Sophomore Showcase - 7:00 PM - BISFA Black Box

05/21/26 - Vocal Department Celebration - 7:30 PM - BISFA Ballroom

05/22/26 - Visual Arts Department Awards Ceremony - 1:15 - 4:00 PM - WCMFA

05/26/26 - Graduation Rehearsal - 9:00 Am - Maryland Theater

05/26/26 - BISFA Awards Ceremony - Maryland Theater

05/27/26 - Graduation - Maryland Theater

06/03/26 - Creative Writing - Summer Reading - 6:30 PM - BISFA Dance Floor

Week of April 13th TECH WEEK

**Meals wll be provided for the students Monday-Thursday night, please look out for signup genious to contribute.

-Monday, April 13th 4:30 to 9:30 Full Tech Dress

-Tuesday, April 14th 4:30 to 9:30 Full Tech Dress

-Wednesday, April 15th 4:30 to 9:30 Full Tech Dress

-Thursday, April 16th 4:30 to 9:30 Full Tech Dress

-Friday, April 17th: TBA

-Saturday, April 18th OPENING NIGHT 5:30 call, 7:30 show

-Sunday, April 19th 12:30 call, 2:30 show

Week of April 20th

School as normal, no weekday rehearsal scheduled

Saturday, April 25th 5:30 call, 7;30 show

Sunday, April 26th 12:30 call, 2:30 SHOW , 5 pm STRIKE

** Please note, strike is mandatory for all students, parents are encouraged to help. Please do not make plans to take your student home until the strike is finished!! **

Congratulations to the Business for Creatives students for an awesome job with their business pitch presentations today! Each participating student received $100 seed money, thanks to the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation, to use toward starting their art business. Way to go guys!

A big shout out and congratulations Finn Jackson for achieving first place in the Business for Creatives pitch presentations today. Finn was awarded $200 and 6 months of business mentorship from Maureen Kolb at the HCC Incubator. Way to go Finn!

Congratulations to Stanley Stottlemyer for winning The Maryland Symphony Orchestra's Classics 4 Bravo! Cover Art Contest! Stanley's artwork, Calm Bay, will be featured on the program cover of 'Bravo!' and be displayed in the lobby of the Maryland Theater. Way to go Stanley!

USMH Awards

• A big shout out and congratulations to the following USMH Art Exhibition award winners!

• Best in Show:
• Kelly Nguyen
  
• Drawing:
• 1st Place: Hân Hà
• 2nd Place: Neil Rezvani
  
• Painting:
• 1st Place: Minhal Imtiaz
• 2nd Place: Cate Hensley
• 3rd Place: Britany Diaz Castro
  
• Digital Media:
• 1st Place: Isabelle Coughran
• 3rd Place: Rory Curry
  
• Sculpture/Ceramics:
• 1st Place: Stanley Stottlemyer
• 3rd Place: Leo Green

Congratulations to Elizabeth Gumedzoe and Brielle Thames! Elizabeth won first place and Brielle won second place in animation at the Maryland International Film Festival!

Congratulations to Luke Woody!

Luke is continuing to play with many ensembles at Belmont, including the symphony orchestra,

jazz band I, wind ensemble, and smaller chamber groups. He has also had opportunities to play in

orchestra pits, musicals, and many other versatile opportunities. Recently, he got to play with

the legendary Andrea Bocelli for his 30th anniversary Romanza Tour, where he was one of 2 trumpet

players selected to play in his orchestra!

Photos from MDIFF - 3/26 to 3/29/26.

Congratulations Peyton Fitz - Best Student Narrative for "The Red Thread"

USMH

Please support your department with our Spring Fundraiser!

Bulb orders begin shipping May 1-8. Any non-bulb direct ship items will ship within 5 business days after order is placed.

• 50% of the cost benefits your department directly for ALL bulb sales
• 20% of the cost benefits your department directly for any other item sales

Use the direct link for your department to order below.

Mr. Geiman: geimatod@wcps.k12.md.us

Ms. Merchant: merchbra@wcps.k12.md.us

Mr. Sheredy: shereste@wcps.k12.md.us

Mr Youngblood: youngma@wcps.k12.md.us

BISFA Creative Writers Present

49 out of 50: Hub City's Heart

Join us on May 1, 2026, 7:00 PM

🌷Our spring fundraiser with the BISFA Foundation is underway! Please share this link with family, friends, strangers and maybe even people you don't like to support our department. Bulb orders begin shipping May 1-8. Any non-bulb direct ship items will ship within 5 business days after the order is placed. Attached are the products available. We do get a higher percentage from bulb orders versus other product orders.

https://threeriversfundraising.com/fundraiser/bisfa-s26/participant/creativewriting-s26

📝 We have two craft festival opportunities upcoming. Students will be making crafts to sell. Dates are May 2nd for Hagerfest Music and Art Festival

(full day) and May 31st for the opening day for the Historic City Farmer's Market (11 am to 3:00 pm). More details to come.

🚍 Field trip for the Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors to the Gaithersburg Book Festival will take place on Saturday, May 16th. This is a FANTASTIC EVENT. Guess what? We need a few parent chaperones! If you're interested, please reach out to Mrs. Irwin. There will be a slight cost to students to pay for the bus.

🎭 Come check out the Junior's work at the Black Box Theater in the hour before the Hadestown performances. They have composed short plays featuring the characters from Hadestown in modern situations.

🎓 Check out our Senior Reading on May 1st. Grade Levels will be asked to provide donations for a basket raffle to benefit the department. More information to come!

Instagram

Facebook

Creative Writing Links

The Phantom

Please double-check call times and expectations with your student. Your student may have different rehearsal times. Always have them check the Google Classroom calendar.

Students should bring water and any required materials to rehearsals

Ensure all guardians receive important notifications from Mr. Ryan and the Theater Liaisons this year by:

1. Emailing theaterliaison@gmail.com requesting we add parent/guardian to our distribution list
2. Texting @bisfat to 81010 to join Mr. Ryan's Remind class.
3. Texting @7hc9k6 to 81010 to join Theater Liaison Remind class.

If you haven’t already, please access these important resources…
Vocal Dept. Handbook

Vocal Google Calendar

Vocal Department Website

Mrs. Melissa J. Mackley - Vocal Department Chair macklme@wcps.k12.md.us

OOMPa @ BISFA Facebook

BISFA Facebook

BISFA Instagram

BISFA Instrumental Instagram

Callie Hart

oompaatbisfa@gmail.com

240.367.0146

Hello and a warm welcome from the Instrumental Music Department at BISFA!

I’m Callie Hart, of OOMPa – The Organization of Musical Parents and this is my second year as a BISFA Parent.

OOMPA is now a 501 (c) 3 organization and able to accept tax deductible donations.

Contact Ms. Callie Hart if you have any questions about making a Donation of any kind!

Reach out to Callie Hart if you are interested in joining the OOMPa Board!

Click below to connect with CGDA on their website.

Please mark your calendars:

• Senior Show: Friday, May 8, 2026 5:30-7:00 PM

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091540342023 or search for BISFA Photo & Cinema.

Instagram: bisfaphotocinema

Hashtags: #bisfaphotoandcinema

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0bxskGbkSpWu1xyGtUutmw

Parent Guild 2025-26

Denise Hunt: HuntDe@wcps.k12.md.us

Robert Hovermale: HoverRob@wcps.k12.md.us

Co-Presidents

Heather McCauley-Fitz: lafickle@yahoo.com

Ally Sirbaugh: allys@barbaraingramfoundation.org

Treasurer
Foundation Members

Rachel Thomas: RachelT@barbaraingramfoundation.org

Ally Sirbaugh: allys@barbaraingramfoundation.org

Visual Arts:

Kristi Bachtell: kristib71@hotmail.com

Stacy Morris: rasberrypetal1@gmail.com

Theater:

Jennifer White: midwifejenwhite@gmail.com

CGDA:

Tara Jenkins: tarakjenkins@gmail.com

Photo / Cinema:

Heather McCauley-Fitz: lafickle@yahoo.com

Vocal:

Inez Schwarzenegger: inez.schwarzenegger@gmail.com

Instrumental:

Heather Hall: heatherbarsu@gmail.com
Stephanie Halling: Stephanie.halling@gmail.com
Kelly Harman: Kann1217@aol.com

Creative Writing:

Lindsey Meekins: newmrsmeekins@gmail.com

Dance:

Leah Putterman: Leah.putterman@gmail.com

Shaquita Taylor-Fleming: s.taylorfleming@gmail.com

The Parent Guild:

• Connects parents to teachers & students

• Creates a successful unity between all departments for our students, staff and parents

• Helps to support departmental programs through fundraising with the assistance of The Barbara Ingram Foundation.

• Provides sign-ups for Thanksgiving & Easter Baskets

• Hosts Teacher Appreciation Week in May

• Sells BISFA Gear

• Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 5:15 PM - all parents are welcome.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 8, 2025 5:00 pm

🎉For this school year, the BISFA Foundation has given away more than $6,000 to 51 students and $13,400 in enrichment grants.🎉