The Bulldog Blast
BCMS Community Newsletter
Dear Ballenger Creek Middle Families,
I hope that you and your loved ones are well. We’ve only had a few days of term three because of snow, but how are your students settling into their second semester schedules so far? While much of their schedules are identical compared to their first semester, they may have a new elective or they may have switched from physical education to health (or vice versa). We hope that any change they might have experienced has been welcome.
In addition, it’s good for us all to be aware that the second half of the year often brings changes to our middle school students. Our sixth graders, now comfortable with their teachers, their classes, and navigating the building, are gaining confidence. Our seventh graders often start to take more ownership of their learning during the second term. Many of our eighth graders show signs of being ready for high school by exhibiting more maturity both in classes and unstructured settings (lunch, class exchanges, and recess). Not every one of our students follows these patterns, and that’s okay too--each of your children is unique and we wouldn’t want them any other way. My wife and I have three children who all have been through Frederick County Public Schools and each one negotiated school a little differently. From experience as a parent and as an administrator, I know that if we partner together, we will collectively make sure that your child is on the path to success.
Should you need support for your child during the upcoming months, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s counselor, assistant principal, or me--we’re all here to help!
Take care,
Jay Schill
Principal, BCMS
It’s hard to believe we’ve already passed the halfway point in the school year. As we move into the month of February, we have a lot of important information to share with students and families in all grade levels.
- THS registration forms for all 8th grade students were due on January 30th
- Term 2 report cards will be mailed home on February 2nd. Along with the report card, current 6th and 7th grade students will get information about class registration for the 26-27 school year. BCMS will also send out registration information through School Messenger.
- Mr. Ledyard and Mr. Webber are going into classes on February 10th to discuss next year’s courses and how to access registration information. Starting the week of February 9th, Ms. Reese is visiting each of the elementary schools to talk about the registration process.
- All incoming 6th grade students, current 6th grade students and current 7th grade students, will register for their classes on Schoology. Course recommendations and the registration forms for current 6th grade and 7th grade students will be available on Schoology on February 10th. Course recommendations and registration forms for incoming 6th grade students will be available on February 16th.
- BCMS is hosting a Parent Night for the families of incoming 6th grade students. The Parent Night is February 19th from 6:00 – 7:30.
- Registration forms for all students are due February 24th.
- Finally, midterm for term 3 is February 13th. Please check in with your student to make sure they are keeping up with their assignments. Specific questions about assignments due dates should be directed to your student’s teacher.
Feel free to reach out to your student’s grade level counselor if you have any questions.
6th Grade Counselor Mr. Ledyard David.ledyard@fcps.org
7th Grade Counselor Mr. Webber johnny.webber@fcps.org
8th Grade Counselor Ms. Reese Rebecca.reese@fcps.org
Rising 6th Graders
Registration season for next school year has officially begun. Please read the information below for more details about what you and your child can expect in the coming weeks.
Ballenger Creek Middle School will be hosting a Parent Information Night for our Rising 6th Grade families on February 19th from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM (snow date: February 23rd).
Ms. Reese, the rising 6th grade counselor, will be meeting with 5th grade students at their elementary schools during the week of February 9th to review information about middle school registration. Registration forms will be available on Schoology starting the week of February 16th.
Mr. Ledyard and Mr. Webber will be providing next year registration information to current 6th and 7th grade students on Tuesday, February 10th.
We encourage all families to be a part of this important process so students can select their classes for next school year. Students can access their individual registration information on Schoology by following these steps:
1). Make sure that your child is signed into Google using their FCPS account
2). Go to Courses in Schoology – open their respective grade level counseling course
3). Open the Registration folder found in Materials
4). Open the assignment and follow the directions
5). Complete and submit the Google Form attached in the assignment
All registration forms will be due on Tuesday, February 24th.
Rising 6th Graders' Parent Night
Maryland BHA Poster Contest
The Maryland Behavioral Health Authority (BHA) is having its annual Children’s Mental Health Matters Campaign (CMHM) poster contest! This year’s theme is "No Judgement. Just Help.," which is related to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Please share the linked flyers below. Some of the artwork submitted will be chosen and the artist/student will be recognized with their art being included on the annual Children's Mental Health Matters poster. The contest deadline is February 6, 2026.
Academy of Fine Arts Shadow Day
The Academy for the Fine Arts will be hosting a Middle School Shadow Day on
Wednesday Feb 18th. During this time, students will have the opportunity to tour the AFA, meet the teachers, and engage in arts-based activities with current students from each focus area. The AFA is a half day college and career prep program hosted at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School that is open to students in grades 10-12 from any FCPS High School offering focus areas in Art, Dance, Music, Musical Theatre, and Theatre. This is a great opportunity for students to visit and see if this is something they would like to be part of their four-year high school plan.
IMPORTANT: Transportation is NOT provided to this event.
Students will need a ride to TJ and then back to their home middle schools. A roster of attending students will be sent to each school, so the absence is excused.
Times: There are two times for this event. Please read the descriptions below to ensure you register for the correct time slot.
- 8:00-10:00am: This session will allow students to experience music, visual art, and dance.
- 11:30-1:30pm: This session will allow students to experience musical theatre and theater.
- To keep as many openings as possible for others, please only register for ONE session.
To register for the MS Shadow Day, please visit:
https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=16058749&calendarID=2286826
For more information about the Academy for the Fine Arts, visit: www.fcpsartsacademy.org
6th Grade: Elissa Grimm and Danielle Holt
7th Grade: Emily Pemrick and Tyler Britt
8th Grade: Ashley Nuckols and Kelsey Summers.
Speech and Language: Kellee Byun
Parent Night for incoming 6th graders will be held
at BCMS on February 19th.
Come meet the Special Education team from 5-6pm.
We look forward to welcoming new families and students to BCMS.
This year, Ballenger Creek Middle School is focused on helping every student achieve their best, with goals around academic success, attendance, behavior, and wellness. We're working to improve proficiency in both English and Math, reduce chronic absenteeism, and ensure that students are supported in making positive choices. Strategies include high-dosage tutoring, early intervention for attendance, social-emotional learning, and wellness activities.
Families play a huge role in student success! Please encourage your child to attend school every day, and check in regularly on their progress. Together, we can create a strong foundation for your child’s future success.
Thank you for your continued partnership!
Advanced Academics
Dual Enrollment:
Dual Enrollment (DE) courses allow students to earn college credits before they graduate from high school. These courses are offered through a partnership between Frederick Community College (FCC) and Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS).
For more information, visit the DE website: https://www.frederick.edu/admissions/dual-enrollment.aspx (there are three upcoming information sessions) and to get an idea of the current course offerings, view the slideshow: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1IyUhzmObvNVVaFCMyK3LcKTG3YbvxpIupJFxJtwH0BE/edit?slide=id.g2b28bc03c83_0_0#slide=id.g2b28bc03c83_0_0 ;
Mathematics Department:
7th Grade: Students will be working through Module 6 (Write and Solve Equations) and starting Module 7 (Write and Solve Inequalities). Module 6 includes writing and solving one- and two- step equations, eventually also using the distributive property. In Module 7, students will begin with writing and solving one-step inequalities, first using addition and subtraction, and eventually adding multiplication and division.
7ACC: Students will be working through Module 7 (Equations and Inequalities), which includes writing and solving multi-step equations and inequalities, as well as writing and solving equations and inequalities with variables on both sides.
8th Grade: Students will be working through Module 6 (Systems of Linear Equations) and beginning Module 7 (Triangles and Pythagorean Theorem). In Module 7, students will be learning about Angle Relationships, Triangle Angle Theorems, and the Pythagorean Theorem (a2+b2=c2).
Algebra: Students will be working through Module 7 (Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities) and beginning Module 10 (Polynomials). In Module 10, students will be learning how to identify polynomials, polynomial operations, and how to factor polynomials.
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. For questions about ALEKS topic goals, please reach out to your student’s grade level math teacher, our school Math Specialist, Ms. Moffitt (Maleita.Moffitt@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.
Media Center And Technology
Please use the following link for updates and information regarding the Media Center and Technology: https://secure.smore.com/n/7pd81
- Jenn Lungociu
Science
Are you interested in participating in the Frederick County Science and Engineering Fair this spring? This is a chance to explore a scientific question or engineering challenge, present your project, and possibly earn recognition and awards. Check out the FCPS Science & Engineering Fair Homepage for more detailed information.
Top middle school winners qualify to enter the national Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Competition (JIC)!
300 semifinalists are selected from across the nation and the top 30 compete in Washington DC!
Fill out the Science Fair Interest Form 2026: here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe3IK7wHVtQI2j41AT9RFEinthITcq9F_FUdIC4AbMeNo1UzQ/viewform
For more information about the Science Fair click the link and see the flyer below.
Fellowship Of Christian Athletes
Our school is only as good as its volunteers, so if you want to be a part of something bigger than yourself and helpful to the school, think about joining the PTSA, Membership is $10 for the year. If you are interested please contact ballengercreekms.ptsa@gmail.com.
BCMS VOLUNTEERS are needed!
Interested family and community members should be directed to the FCPS Volunteer Webpage to follow the new onboarding process found below:
· Complete a registration form.
· Complete one training module on Unified Talent.
· Await school approval on application.
· Once approved, sign-up for volunteer opportunities facilitated by individual schools.
**Please note, this is an annual process and must be completed every school year. To avoid delays, volunteer applicants should only apply once and can be added to multiple schools AFTER initial building approval. Additionally, we are advising all prospective volunteers that they must complete the registration form and training using the exact same full name and email address each time. Using nicknames, abbreviations, hyphen variations, or alternate spellings or email addresses will create delays in import.
FCPS Parent Education Program
To the families of FCPS
Happy New Year families!! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. We are preparing for the start of our Winter session on February 3, 2026, we are about helping parents and caregivers strengthen relationships and build healthier families in our communities.
Program Highlights:
Offered three times per year: Winter (February), Spring (April), Fall (October).
Available in Montgomery County, Frederick, Dorchester, and other Maryland regions.
Delivered via Zoom or in person, based on community needs.
Each group is offered in one language: English, Spanish, or Amharic
Facilitated by trained parents who have completed the program.
Families who attend at least five sessions and complete the final evaluation receive a $50 gift card (one per household).
Topics:
- Parents of School-Age Children
- Navigating Change & Transitions
- Raising Motivated and Cooperative Kids
- Responding to Strong Emotions
- Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-Being (two-week module)
- Setting Healthy Limits
- Managing Parental Anger
- Pre-K Family Resiliency Program (Private Groups Only)
For parents and caregivers of children ages 0–5, topics include:
- The Power of Connection
- Tantrums & Meltdowns
- Firm and Respectful Limits
- Rhythms & Routines
- Raising Cooperative Kids
- Managing Parental Anger
- Helping Young Children Handle Strong Emotions
- Culminating Session & Program Evaluation
*Accurate Registration Is Essential*
To ensure smooth enrollment and timely gift card distribution, families must provide:
- Full name of the parent/caregiver
- Valid phone number and email address
- Number of school-age children and their current school(s)
Incomplete or incorrect information may delay registration, placement, or gift card fulfillment.
Groups are designed as confidential spaces for parents and caregivers only. To support open discussion, individuals in positions of authority or oversight should not attend sessions.
We also strongly encourage families to begin with Week 1, as early sessions establish trust and foundational concepts that are not repeated.
Thank You!
Contact: Kathy Hedge, Executive Director, kathy.hedge@PEPparent.org or Mindy Chong, Associate Director, mindy.chong@PEPparent.org (#202-810-3403)PEP - Parent Encouragement Program - PEPparent.org - office@PEPparent.org - 301-929-8824
MSDE Courses Offered
MSDE is pleased to offer “Rights and Services for Children and Youth With Unstable Housing", asynchronous online courses for FCPS staff. Participants can register for the module that is appropriate for their role by visiting this link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=4umvYM1JsUmIUWTfAnai6CBaOLeY-zxEnuT_vlveZidUMklXUEdWNlhQQVEwQ0FKWUMyS0E3R0pNSC4u
A Canvas account is required to access the course, and the first cohort will run from January 5, 2026 through March 31, 2026. Canvas accounts are free to create.
Lunch For All
Ballenger Creek Middle’s fundraising page is now live on AllforLunch.org!
www.AllforLunch.org/BallengerCreekMS
This page is dedicated specifically to BCMS, and 100% of the donations will go directly to our school to help eliminate school lunch debt of our students, which is significant. There are no fees, and all donations are tax-deductible. Donors will automatically receive a receipt via email after giving.
All for Lunch and Lunch for All!
BCMS Multicultural Night
Please join us for our annual Multi-cultural night here at BCMS on April 23, 2026 from 6-7:30 pm.
Share with us about your culture through music, games, clothing, food or whatever you would like to share.
If you would like to participate, please see Ms. Kathleen Rogers as soon as possible, as I would like to know all participants no later than February 27th.
All displays must be to me, Ms. Rogers, no later than April 13th.
-Kathleen Rogers, Community Liaison
Support our Bulldog Basketball teams throughout the 2026 season!
Attending games is a great way to build school spirit, uplift and encourage our student-athletes, and strengthen connections among students, families, staff, and the broader community.
Our student-athletes work hard both on and off the court, and your presence in the stands makes a meaningful difference.
Whether you’re a longtime Bulldog supporter or attending your first game, we invite you to join us in creating an energetic, positive, and supportive game-day atmosphere.
Check out the schedule below and come cheer on the Bulldogs as they represent BCMS with pride!
Production Dates Pushed Back
This year BCMS will present a production of
The Mysterious Murder at Manchester Manor.
Play dates have shifted and are as follows:
Friday, February 20th, 7pm
Saturday, February 21st, 1pm
Saturday, February 21st, 6pm
Please make a note of new dates and times.
Troubling Social Media Trends
Parents and guardians, please be aware that social media users are participating in the “Picked my Date” trend on Tik Tok to post their suicide date.
The state’s attorney shared that there is a 200% increase in online sadistic exploitation, where people are telling kids to harm themselves, others, younger siblings, etc.
Youth are being targeted through SnapChat, Instagram, Discord, TikTok, Reddit, WhatsApp, YouTube, and video games with messaging options, like Roblox.
Please take some time to monitor your child's social media accounts and to talk with them about their mental health and wellbeing.
Join The Celebration
February is Black History Month and Ballenger Creek Middle School proudly invites parents, families, and community members to join us for our Black History Month Program. This special event is a celebration of the history, culture, resilience, and contributions of African Americans. Through performances and presentations, we will honor the past, celebrate the present, and look to the future with hope and pride.
The 20th Annual Summer Soccer Camp is set for Monday June 22nd through Thursday June 25th. Friday the 26th will be used as a make up date if needed.
Camp runs from 8:30am-12:30pm each day.
This is a boys only camp (information on a girls camp will be coming soon).
Camp is for boys entering Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade. We are expecting upwards of 125 campers again.
Go here to learn more about the camp and to register:
Learn more : https://soccer.titansportscamps.com/index.cfm
Register: https://register.ryzer.com/camp.cfm?sport=7&id=321396
Here is a video from Camp a few years ago to give you an idea of what you'll experience:
https://youtu.be/nKQ6lX7SgTQ?si=LjaA-zzJn4-wdxAT
Here is a recap of our 2025 Season (if you haven't seen it yet):
https://youtu.be/wvaz_waZB1g?si=kKv4jqJOeVd_6wUr
Thank you for considering! Please reach out with any questions.
I am also pleased to announce that we are planning a World Cup watch party for the USA vs. Australia game on 6/19 at 3pm. This event will be held in the Tuscarora High Auditorium and feature a jumbo screen. Details to come!
-Coach Knepper
Full-Time Enrollment Virtual School (4-12) Applications for 2026-27 Open January 9–31, 2026
Frederick County Virtual School (FCVS) is accepting applications for full-time virtual learning for the 2026–27 school year from January 9–31, 2026. Students currently enrolled in the Grades 4–8 Remote Virtual Program (RVP) and Grades 9–12 Full-Time High School Program must reapply to continue next year.
Why Families Choose Virtual Learning at FCVS
Families choose FCVS for a flexible, supportive, and personalized educational experience.
Students who thrive in virtual learning typically:
- Work well independently and stay organized
- Engage actively in live instruction
- Communicate needs and seek support
- Use digital tools confidently
- Value a mix of live and self-paced learning
- Want flexibility while remaining connected to their home school
Grades 4–8: Remote Virtual Program (RVP)
A fully virtual option with daily live instruction, structured routines, and continued connection to students’ home schools. More details are available in the RVP overview and one-pagers.
Grades 9–12: FCVS Full-Time High School
A flexible, personalized virtual high school experience combining live instruction and self-paced learning, supported by high-quality digital curriculum and teacher access. More information is available in the FCVS full-time high school overview.
Application Window & Links
- Application Window: January 9–31, 2026
- All current students must reapply.
Enrollment decisions will be sent to families via email in March.
Upcoming BOE Community Listening Session: Tuscarora – February 18th
Join the Board of Education for a Community Listening Session: The Board of Education will host an informal Community Listening Session at Tuscarora on February 18th from 6 – 7:30pm. This session features a collaborative format, beginning with a brief town-hall-style forum followed by small-group table discussions for more personalized conversation. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your successes, ask questions, or discuss areas of advocacy directly with Board members. Your perspective as a member of the Ballenger Creek Middle School community is highly valued, and we hope to see you there! Thank you for your partnership in helping us hear from as many voices as possible. While we are highlighting this event for the Tuscarora feeder pattern, please note that these sessions are open to the entire FCPS community, including all staff and families from across the district. We welcome all perspectives and look forward to a robust conversation. If you have any questions or would like to discuss specific topics of interest unique to your community, please don't hesitate to reach out. Kind regards, Sabrina Nail Sabrina Nail, Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner, (CO-OP®) Ombuds for Frederick County Public Schools The Office Of the Ombuds 240-586-8906 Office
This is an important reminder regarding morning drop-off and
afternoon pick-up procedures for car riders.
We have noticed an increase in families using the staff parking lot for morning drop-off. This creates challenges for staff attempting to park and disrupts traffic flow, as students must cross active car and bus lanes. For student safety and efficiency, all students should be dropped off using the designated car rider line that loops around the basketball court.
Additionally, Jackson Chapel United Methodist Church has opened its daycare. They have graciously continued to allow BCMS families to use the gravel lot located to the left of the church for drop-off and pick-up. Please note that the paved parking lot is coned off and reserved exclusively for daycare providers and families. We kindly ask that you respect these boundaries so we may continue to use their space.
School Year 2025-2026
For the 2025/2026 school year,
we wanted to provide a reminder about school meals.
In 2025-26, the price for meals is $1.75 for breakfast and $2.80 for lunch for elementary school students and $2.00 for breakfast and $3.05 for lunch for middle and high school students.
To apply for free and reduced-price meals, Visit the FCPS Food Service
online parent portal at www.linqconnect.com and click on
School Services and then select Free & Reduced Meal Application.
BCMS Spirit Wear Is Here!
Our BCMS Spirit Wear Store is finally OPEN!
Click the link below to see the store.
https://teamlocker.squadlocker.com/stores/ballenger-creek-middle-school-spiritwear-2724241
If you are looking for a specific item and can't find what you want, let us know! We can try to add more items if there is demand, and if our vendor offers that option.
-The BCMS PTSA Board
Volunteer Registration And Training Now Available
Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) is thrilled to partner with family and community members who are interested in joining efforts to support our students and schools with their time and talents by way of volunteering.
Last year, we welcomed over 12,700 volunteers into our school system contributing over 76,550 volunteer hours.
THANK YOU!
This year, FCPS collected the feedback from our volunteers and staff to modify the volunteer process, while prioritizing the safety and security of our students, staff and community. As a result, we have streamlined the process of registration and training to be completed by all volunteers across the county. All volunteers will be equipped with the necessary information they need to partner with our schools.
Family and community members interested in volunteering should begin the volunteer process by visiting our FCPS Volunteer Webpage. Applicants will be directed to:
Complete a registration form.
Complete a training module on Unified Talent.
Await school approval on application.
Sign-up for volunteer opportunities facilitated by individual schools.
*Complete only ONE registration form per person. Additional school selections may be added after original approval.
Please note: To avoid delays, you must complete the registration form and training using the exact same full name and email address each time. Do not use nicknames, abbreviations, hyphen variations, or alternate spellings or email addresses.
The volunteer registration and training process is completed annually for each school year. Volunteers must complete the process before being signed up for volunteer opportunities. FCPS encourages family and community members interested in volunteering to complete the process early as processing times can vary.
For technical support in Unified Talent, volunteer applicants may contact unifiedtalent@fcps.org. For all other volunteer related questions, volunteer applicants may contact: FCPSVolunteers@fcps.org. FCPS is grateful for the generous support from our family and community volunteers.
Click here for the FCPS Volunteer Webpage.
Be sure to consult the Frederick County Public Schools parent handbook and calendar for important dates and observances.
For a copy of the FCPS 2025-2026 SY Calendar, click here.