Bobcat Bulletin
February 2026
Principal's Message
Good Afternoon Ballenger Creek Families!
It sure was great to be back in school today with a school full of students. While many students acted like they didn’t want to be here, everyone seemed so excited and settled into the routine. We are hopeful that this is the last disruption to our school schedule, let’s keep our fingers crossed.
Many of you received email and text message invites for our second quarter Bobcat Best Celebrations that were to happen this week. All celebrations were moved to next week. We look forward to celebrating our Bobcat Best Award winners next week.
Last Thursday, January 22nd, Mrs. Queen and her husband welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Savina Myrtle Queen. Savina and mom are doing great and were excited to get sent home prior to the snowstorm on Sunday. Mrs. Queen misses us, but is excited about her now role as mom!
Also last week, I was able to attend the FCPS MLK Jr celebration at Thomas Johnson High School. During this celebration, one student from each of the county schools is recognized for their efforts. I’m pleased to share that Dorian Harryman, one of our 5th graders, was recognized as our BCES representative. Here’s a small snapshot from his award comments.
“Dorian's caring and respectful nature is evident in all his interactions. He is exceptionally friendly and helpful to all students and staff, fostering a welcoming and inclusive classroom environment. He treats every individual with fairness and kindness, making him a quiet leader in promoting acceptance and positive interactions.”
Well done Dorian, we are proud of you!
Please remember to help your children dress appropriately for the weather, our goal will be to head outside for recess if the temperature is above freezing. We hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Davis
Principal, Ballenger Creek Elementary School
Quarter 2 Bobcat Best Celebrations
We are excited to host our Quarter 2 Bobcat Best Celebrations this month! These special grade-level events will honor the remarkable accomplishments and growth of our students, as well as the invaluable support and dedication of our families. Invitations were sent to the families of the students who will be receiving an award.
Due to the inclement weather, these celebrations will occur on the following rescheduled days:
Wednesday, February 4th
- 9:25 AM - Pre-K
- 10:00 AM - Kindergarten
- 2:00 PM - 5th Grade
- 2:50 PM - 2nd Grade
Thursday, February 5th
- 10:00 AM - 1st Grade
Friday, February 6th
- 2:00 PM - 3rd Grade
- 2:50 PM - 4th Grade
Thank you for being an integral part of your child’s education. We look forward to celebrating together and honoring the outstanding efforts of our BCES Bobcats!
Important School Dates
- February 4: PTA Meeting, 6:30-7:30 pm (virtual)
- February 4 - February 6: Quarter 2 Bobcat Best Celebrations (Parent/ Guardian invitations sent for award recipients)
- February 5: Report Cards Issued
- February 6: BCES School Spirit Day - BCES Spirit Wear
- February 6: PTA SnowGlow Bobcat Ball 6:00-8:00 PM
- February 13: Mid-Term, 2-Hour early dismissal for students (dismissal will be @1:45 pm)
- February 13: Class Valentine's Day Parties (information sent by classroom teachers)
- February 16: Presidents' Day, Schools and Offices Closed
- February 27: BCES School Spirit Day - Wacky Tacky or Rainbow
BCES Spirit Wear T-Shirt & SY26 Yearbooks
BCES has 2 items available to purchase for a limited time.
We are offering a Spirit Wear T-shirt for our students and parents if you would like to order. Price is $11.00 up to Adult XL. XXL and larger will be a $4.00 up charge. We are running the promotion until 2/17/26. The shirts can be purchased through School Cash https://www.schoolcashonline.com.
25-26 Yearbooks are on sale now until 3/11/26. We are encouraging you to purchase because we do not order extras yearbooks. Please make sure you order a yearbook before the deadline. Price starts at $21.00 soft cover $26.00 hard cover.
Traditionsschoolphotography.inter-state.com. Don't let the memories of this amazing year be forgotten.
If you have any questions on either item - Please feel free to reach out to Amber Duong @ leigh.duong@fcps.org.
2025-2026 FCPS Volunteer Training and Registration is Open
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 (select the sta image to access the webpage). Applicants will be directed to:
1. Complete a registration form.
2. Complete a training module on Unified Talent.
3. Await school approval on application.
4. Sign-up for volunteer opportunities facilitated by individual schools.
*Complete ONE registration form only 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.
For more information on the volunteer program and process, please see our FCPS Volunteer Handbook.