Foulois Family Newsletter
2026-2027 School Year
A Message from Principal Hogue
Happy Sunday BDF Family!
Welcome to a new week! I hope your NFL Sunday is as favorable as it has been for the Commanders fans lately. Ravens fans...we've made it to halftime looking good, and if we keep giving the ball to King Henry, we just might leave Rio de Janeiro with a win. 😅
As we prepare for another great week, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible parent volunteers who adjusted their work schedules and took time out of their day to help make our Book Fair a success. Your willingness to serve speaks volumes about your commitment to the BDF community. Because of partnerships like this, we are able to provide meaningful opportunities that bring joy to our scholars while supporting their learning.
The Book Fair has also been a perfect complement to our Reading Rally Fundraiser. We know that putting exciting books into students' hands can spark a love for reading and that excitement matters. Reading is one of those skills we are not born knowing how to do, it is developed through practice, encouragement, and consistency. When school and home work together to make reading part of everyday life, our scholars have the opportunity to grow into stronger, more confident readers.
Our Reading Rally Fundraiser ends on Friday, and I am excited to celebrate what our BDF Family has already accomplished! Because we reached our first milestone of 25% of our fundraising goal, Monday, September 28, is Pajama Day for all students! Please take a moment to review the Pajama Day flyer for the list of unacceptable pajama items before students arrive tomorrow.
Even more exciting, we are already at 54% of our goal! If we reach our next milestone of 70%, our Top 20 participants/earners will earn the opportunity to “pie” an administrator. Now, I know my babies love me, so I'm sure they'll choose to pie Ms. Hawkins and Mr. Hunter instead! (We'll see what happens. 😂)
Parents of some of our exceptional students should have received an invitation from Ms. Watson-Bell for a special parent information night designed to help families better understand the services and supports available for their students at BDF. The parent night is on Wednesday, September 30th at 6:00 pm. This is an adults-only, invitation only event to allow for open and transparent discussion among families and staff. If your child receives support from Ms. Watson-Bell and her team but you did not receive an invitation, please contact Ms. Watson-Bell by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, September 28. In order to provide a light meal for attendees, we must have our final RSVP count by that time.
Finally, this is a reminder that Friday, October 2 is an early dismissal day. Students will be dismissed at 1:15 p.m. If your child is a car rider or van rider, please adjust your schedule to ensure timely pickup, and please notify your aftercare provider of the early dismissal as well.
As we continue Conquering the Pressure of Perfection: Moving in Our Greatness @ BDF, I want to leave you with this reminder: perfection has never been our goal…growth is! Every day, our staff shows up committed to being part of your village, and we never take that responsibility for granted. We know that our greatest impact happens when school and home work together, supporting, encouraging, and believing in our scholars as one team. We are in this together, and we are grateful for the trust you place in us each day as we help every BDF Scholar and Artist walk in their greatness.
Have a wonderful week BDF Family!
📣 Volunteer Season is Coming!
Field trip season and PTO volunteer opportunities are almost here! Please complete your volunteer requirements early so you’re ready to participate.
✅ Complete the PGCPS Volunteer Application
https://www.pgcps.org/volunteer/
✅ Complete fingerprinting/CPS clearance if required
✅ Complete all required volunteer trainings
✅ Send your training certificates, fingerprinting receipt, and PGCPS volunteer approval letter to Ms. Halsey.
Discounted Fingerprinting Fees:
💡FARMS: Families approved for Free and Reduced Meals may qualify for waived or discounted fingerprinting fees. Please bring proof of approval to your fingerprinting appointment.
📌Volunteer applications and training are required yearly. Fingerprinting is generally a one-time requirement once completed and approved. Please don’t wait until a field trip is announced — start now!
Sasscer Administration Building
14201 School Lane, Room 128
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
1A Prevent First Fingerprinting
3710 Riviera Street, Suite 1A
Temple Hills, MD 20748
LivescanMD – Upper Marlboro
1401 Mercantile Lane, Suite 251
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
LivescanMD – Waldorf
11705 Berry Road, Suite 201
Waldorf, MD 20603
📚 Books on the Ground Part II: We Want Your Feedback!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Books on the Ground Part II! Your feedback helps us continue improving PTO events and creating experiences that work well for our entire school community. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey that applies to you:
👪 Parent/Guardian Survey: https://forms.gle/HN953uv6cYnCdHso7
🎒 Student Survey: https://forms.gle/iqsjbzs94a1LzspX9
🍎 Teacher/Faculty/Staff Survey: https://forms.gle/xKg42voFxCX7LGBD7
Thank you for helping us make our next event even better! 🤍💙
Arts & Academic Rotation Days
Monday, September 28, 2026:
- K-5: A Day
- MS: B Day
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
- K-5: B Day
- MS: A Day
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
- K-5: C Day
- MS: B Day
- Speducator Meet & Greet Night @ 6:00 pm
Thursday, October 1, 2026
- K-5: A Day
- MS: A Day
Friday, October 2, 2026
- K-5: B Day
- MS: B Day
- Teacher PD Day: Half Day Early Dismissal Begins at 1:15 pm
K-5 Creative Arts Rotation Schedules
BDF Alternate Schedules
Delayed Openings:
- One Hour: Doors open at 10:00 am; Students late after 10:25 am
- Two Hour: Doors open at 11:00 am; Students late after 11:25 am
Early Dismissal (Half Day): Dismissal begins at 1:20 pm
Arrival & Dismissal
Arrival
Parent Drop Off: Please follow the traffic pattern as to not negatively impact the buses coming in to the bus lanes.
Maintaining a steady routine is essential. While we understand emergencies happen, frequent or sudden changes can compromise a safe and smooth departure.
- Students arriving after 9:25 a.m. are considered “tardy”. Late bus arrivals will receive a late bus tardy slip, while students being dropped off late by a parent or van service must be signed in by a parent/guardian at the main office.
Please do not call your child directly on their cell phone during the day—this violates the PGCPS/BDF Cell Phone Policy.
Dismissal
If an emergency occurs after your child has left home, please email their teacher(s), Ms. Halsey, and Ms. Holmes…all email addresses can be found on the BDF website and on the bottom of this newsletter.- Any dismissal changes made after 2:00 p.m. will need grade level administrator notification.
- Changes after 3:00 pm, please email teachers, the grade level administrator and the front office team; additionally, a phone call is needed after the email.
- Early dismissal/sign-outs conclude at 3:30 p.m…NO EXCEPTIONS.
Late Buses
Students will call if the bus has not arrived by 5:00 pm in order to inform you of the estimated arrival time.
Please do not change your child’s dismissal plan due to a late bus. If the bus arrives prior to a parent/guardian arrival, the student WILL be placed on the bus.
If your child rides a bus that typically arrives around 4:30ish pm and you have a scheduled activity, please plan their dismissal accordingly.
Dismissal Plan & Flash Pass
- If you haven't done so already, please be sure to complete the Dismissal Plan for each student and return it as soon as possible. This form dictates how your child gets home daily, and BDF staff will follow this plan strictly. Please lock in this plan before school starts and walk through it with your child. The first week is busy with new routines, and a clear plan ensures everyone gets home safely and quickly. .
- If there is a long-term change to your child’s dismissal plan, please contact Ms. Holmes for a new plan and return it to the main office.
- If you have a change the morning of, please let your child know before leaving home whenever possible.
- Each family should have received a Dismissal Flash Pass in the school mailer. For security, these will never be sent through digital means like email or ClassDojo. Each unique pass speeds up the process and presenting it means you won't need to fill out the sign-out sheet. Please keep the original safe and do not duplicate or share it. If a pass goes missing, see Ms. Halsey for a new one. Replacements must be collected in person at the school office.
Transportation & Bus Stops
Families who are still waiting for a permanent transportation assignment can check whether an eligible bus stop is available for their child:
Enter your home address and select your child’s school.
BusPlanner Web will identify the single closest eligible bus stop for that school.
Families may use an eligible stop identified through BusPlanner while they are waiting for a permanent transportation assignment to appear in ParentVUE and Chipmunk.
For some students, this may provide an immediate transportation option while PGCPS completes or corrects their permanent route. Families should continue to check ParentVUE and Chipmunk for updates to their permanent transportation assignment. For students who do not have an eligible stop available through BusPlanner Web, PGCPS will continue working directly with the affected family and school to identify available transportation options.
Families should not place a student on an alternate bus or route without receiving authorization from the school or transportation team.
👥 Attendance Policy 👥
- Please be advised that Benjamin D. Foulois follows the PGCPS Attendance Policy AP 5113.
- After 3 absences within a quarter, whether or not consecutive, you will receive a “Notice of Concern”.
- After 4 absences, an attendance letter from school administrators will be sent and a parent meeting will be scheduled to develop an attendance plan of action.
- Letters are sent regardless of lawful or unlawful absences.
- Attendance is monitored by the BDF Staff and our Pupil Personnel Worker, Ms. D. Mayfield.
- Chronic absences: 4 in a quarter, 9 in a semester, and 18 in a year. Parents, please send a note or email within 3 days of your child returning to school.
- Please note that vacations and out-of-state sporting events are unlawful absences.
Publicity Release
- Appear in the yearbook
Be featured in school announcements
Be shown in performance flyers or videos
Appear in any media coverage (including first day of school)
School Meals
Families are encouraged to apply for free/reduced-price meals at MySchoolApps.com.
No outside food deliveries (UberEats, GrubHub, etc.) are allowed…no exceptions.
- Breakfast Reminders
- Ends at 9:15 for car/van riders
- Students riding a PGCPS Bus may have breakfast regardless of bus arrival time
Free and Reduced-Price Meals Applications
Apply online for Free and Reduced-Price Meals!
Applying online is the fastest, easiest, and most reliable way to submit your Free & Reduced-Price Meal Application. Families can receive an eligibility determination within 48-72 hours. Please include a valid email address on your application to ensure faster, more efficient service.
Completing a Free & Reduced-Price Meal Application may qualify you for additional benefits and programs, including:
- SAT, ACT, AP exam fee waivers
- College application fee waivers
- Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) registration assistance
- Discounted internet service through Comcast Internet Essentials
- Department of Human Services (DHS) Sun Bucks program
- And other valuable educational and community assistance programs!
Please call us at (301)952-6517 if you need any assistance.
Health Requirements
- Medication must be renewed yearly with the correct physician-signed forms. Parents must deliver medication directly to our school nurse, Mrs. Isha Spencer.
- Immunizations must be current by September 14, 2026 or your child will be excluded from school.
Kindergarten Readiness Assessment
Renaissance Star Math Assessment
DIBELS K-3
8th Grade PSAT 8/9 Student Information
1. Our in-school testing date for PSAT 8/9 will be Wednesday, October 21, 2026. This is the ONLY day for in-school testing and ALL 8th graders will take the assessment for FREE. If you miss this date, you likely will have to pay for them to take it outside of the school building.
2. Bluebook is the app our students will complete testing on and it is available for download at home. Students must sign in to Bluebook with their College Board Student Accounts, made with a personal email address ONLY.
3. Feel free to check out this Student Resource document for more resources regarding PSAT 8/9. We will share most of this same information at the 8th Grade Parent Night on October 7, 2026.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out!
iReady Inform Reports 4th & 5th Grade
In the past two weeks, our students in Grades 4 & 5 have been working to complete the iReady Inform Diagnostic so their reading teachers can gain an insight on the baseline data for each student and see where support is needed. This week, your students will receive a family report with information on their scores and we wanted to share some resources to help you get a clearer understanding of the report:
Understanding Your Scholar's i-Ready Inform Results for Families
The 4th & 5th Grade Family Reports will be sent home by Thursday, September 16, 2026. Please be on the lookout for these reports in your child's backpacks. Ask them for these reports and use the resource linked above to discuss their results with them. Celebrate their strengths and talk about how you will work with them to meet their goals. Once your child has taken more than one i-Ready Inform assessment in reading, you’ll also get information about their growth and can celebrate their accomplishments!
If you do not receive your child's report, please reach out to Mrs. Nimmons or Ms. Stefanak.
IXL Math & ELA Diagnostic Reports
Over the past two weeks, our students in Grades 6-8 have been working to complete the IXL Math & ELA Diagnostics so teachers can gain an insight on the baseline data and see where support is needed. With the completion of each, a Diagnostic Action Plan will be sent home and we want to share some additional resources to help you better understand your child's scores.
IXL LevelUp Diagnostic Parent Letter
A few things to keep in mind as you are looking at the score reports:
1. IXL is an adaptive assessment, which means it dynamically adjusts question difficulty based on student answers to pinpoint current grade-level abilities, track growth, and instantly generate personalized action plans for targeted learning.
2. The test is not timed but each question has a time limit: 5 minutes per question on the ELA diagnostic and 3 minutes per question on the Math diagnostic. Once that amount of time has passed on the question, students are automatically moved to the next question regardless of whether they answered or not.
3. Remember that these diagnostics are not given a grade. It simply provides baseline data for teachers to determine how to move in their instruction.
6th Grade Math Reports were sent home on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
7th Grade Math Reports will be sent home by Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
6th-8th Grade ELA is still in progress so those reports won't be available until the beginning of next week.
If you do no receive these reports from your student, please reach out to their Math and/or Reading teacher or to Ms. Stefanak.
Dance Department
Intermediate 3-5 Sign-Up Link
- Mondays 4:30-5:30 (Beginning September 14, 2026)
Middle School Sign-Up Link
- Thursdays 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm (Beginning September 10, 2026)
Visual Art Department
Art Club 2026-2027
Attention Middle School Parents:
Art Club will begin THURSDAY, October 1. Art Club will be held every Thursday from 4:30-6pm unless otherwise announced. Students do not have to be a Visual Arts major but must be in middle school.
Please look for an invite to our Art Club Class Dojo once you sign up.
Here is the sign-up link if you still need to sign your child up.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScj_79FecUubTRNOVATj07Hwf2YfoswFW6FUup4zOvk4p2SAA/viewform?usp=dialog
Artfully,
Ms Tolson
Parent Survey
Please take a moment to complete our Beginning of Year Parent Survey. This survey will provide us with information that may be helpful for your scholar to be successful this school year!
Thank you!
Mrs. Reynolds & Mrs. Colbert
BDF Professional School Counselors
Week of October 5 - October 9
Monday, October 5, 2026:
- K-5: C Day
- MS: A Day
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
- K-5: A Day
- MS: B Day
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
- K-5: B Day
- MS: A Day
- 8th Grade Parent Night (In-Person) @ 6:00 pm
Thursday, October 8, 2026
- K-5: C Day
- MS: B Day
- 5th Grade Parent Night (In-Person) @ 6:00 pm
Friday, October 9, 2026
- K-5: A Day
- MS: A Day
Phone: (301) 817-0300 | Fax: (301) 817-0941
Administrators:
- Ms. Hogue | Principal
- Ms. Hawkins | ES Assistant Principal
- Mr. Hunter | MS Assistant Principal
- Mrs. Barnes | Arts Program Coordinator
Administrative Assistants/Team Home Base
- Ms. Gorham | Principal Secretary
- Ms. Holmes | Registrar
- Ms. Halsey | Secretary I
Professional School Counselors
- Mrs. Colbert | Elementary PSC
- Mrs. Reynolds | Middle School PSC
Instructional Specialists & Resource Teachers
- Mrs. Watson-Bell | Special Education Coordinator
- Mr. R. Williams | Special Education Teacher
- Ms. Dunn | Special Education Teacher
- Ms. Stefanak | School Testing Coordinator
- Ms. D. Smith | Athletic Director