#newsletter
Welcome to the Week of September 13th!
DATES TO REMEMBER
- September 15: PTSA Chipotle Night
- September 17: Back to School Night
- September 18: Early Release Day
- September 21: Non-Instructional Day (No School)
Benjamin Banneker Cadets Remember 9/11
Our Benjamin Banneker ROTC Cadets participated in a moving 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at Paint Branch High School. We were proud to watch our students honor an event they have learned about in history, while those of us who remember that day know its impact all too well. Their participation was a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and unity of our nation and the important role our students will play in carrying that legacy forward.
Bobcats Benefit from Away All Day! (Time Unplugged)
As we continue to reinforce our Away All Day expectations, I’m sharing a short video and some research with families about the importance of disconnecting from our phones. One message that stood out was:
“Actual physical separation from the phone was the only effective solution… and the research suggests it’s even more crucial when they are initially trying to learn something.”
We know unplugging can be hard, even for adults! We want to help our students build healthy technology habits and learn to be present with one another.
And score! In the picture below, two students are reading under a tree while others are playing basketball, running around, enjoying the fresh air, and talking with friends. This is what we want for our Bobcats, unplugged, engaged, and enjoying being together.
No Food Delivery for Students
A Quick Reminder: For student safety and to keep our focus on learning, outside food deliveries for students are not permitted.
Our cafeteria provides lunch for all students. Please plan for your child to eat in the cafeteria and save outside food orders for family time outside of school hours. Thank you for helping us keep our focus on students, safety, and learning.
Reminder of Safety Expecations
As a reminder, maintaining safe, secure, and welcoming learning environments is a shared responsibility across Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Consistent implementation of these expectations will strengthen school safety, improve visitor management, and help ensure that all schools provide a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for students, staff, families, and community members.
The following expectations apply to all MCPS schools and facilities:
- The main office door is the single public point of entry during the instructional day.
- All exterior doors must remain secured and are never propped open unless actively supervised.
- All visitors must stand in front of the ACS camera, identify themselves, and state their purpose for visiting the school prior to entry through the main office.
- In the main office visitors must present valid identification, and follow established visitor management procedures before accessing the building.
- Visitor badges must be assigned to all approved visitors and must be visibly displayed while in the building. Visitors with badges that cannot be seen should expect to be stopped and asked for clarification of authorization for access to the building.
- Students must not open secured exterior doors for anyone and doing so results in assigned consequences for potentially endangering the safety of the school community. (This includes consequences and no trespass orders issued to students being let into a building in which they do not attend.)
- Students who leave campus without permission during the instructional day will not be permitted to attend classes for the remainder of the school day and will be subject to either in school suspension or out of school suspension based on progressive discipline.
- Report malfunctioning doors, locks, cameras, or access control systems immediately by notifying school administration.
Thank you for your partnership for our safety.
Student Social Media Best Practices
Check out the new MCPS resource to help students navigate social media safely, responsibly, and confidently.
Learn more about online safety, positive digital citizenship, and respectful engagement on the Student Social Media Best Practices webpage].
MCPS THINGS TO KNOW
REPEATED ANNOUNCEMENTS
Registration for George B. Thomas Learning Academy NOW:
The current registration fee is $85 per student or $40 for students who qualify for waivers.
🚨 Beginning September 1, 2026, fees will increase to:
$100 per student
$50 for students receiving FARMS
Families who plan to participate are encouraged to register before September 1 to take advantage of the current registration fee.
👉 Register online: GBTLA Saturday School Registration
Payment options include PayPal or Zelle through the online registration form.
Emergency Preparedness Slides Shared with Students
Find a copy of the slides that were shared with the students on emergency procedures.
Personal Mobile Devices Away All Day!
If not followed:
- 1st offense: phone confiscated; parent/guardian is notified and the phone is returned to the student.
- 2nd offense: phone confiscated and returned to a parent/guardian.
- 3rd offense: phone confiscated, returned to a parent/guardian, and the student will not be allowed to bring a phone to school going forward.
Questions? Contact us for more information, or review Regulation COG-RA Personal Mobile Devices.
Less screen time. More learning time!
English | Spanish | French | Chinese | Vietnamese | Amharic | Korean | Portuguese
MCPS Student Handbooks
PARENT RESOURCES
*HERE TO HELP*
Main Office: (240) 740-6250
- Admin Secretary: Ms. Ellen D O'Brien: Ellen_D_OBrien@mcpsmd.org
- Attendance Secretary: Ms. Marilyn Joseph: Marilyn_Joseph@mcpsmd.org
- Front Office Secretary: Mrs. Martha H Mendez: Martha_H_Mendez@mcpsmd.org
- Financial Specialist: Ms. Desiree E Lee-Thompson: Desiree_E_Lee-Thompson@mcpsmd.org
Ms. Patricia H Reidy: Patricia_H_Reidy@mcpsmd.org
Counselors:
- GRADE 6: Ms. Mitra A Ghandeharizadeh (Ms. G.): Mitra_A_Ghandeharizadeh@mcpsmd.org
- GRADE 7: Mrs. Wilma A Benjamin Drakes: Wilma_A_Drakes@mcpsmd.org
- GRADE 8:Ms. Taryn E Richards: Taryn_E_Richards@mcpsmd.org
Administrators:
Principal - Ms. Lisa Shorts: lisa_n_shorts@mcpsmd.org- 6th Grade Assistant Principal: Mr. Rodney Isabell: Rodney_A_Isabell@mcpsmd.org
- 7th Grade Assistant Principal: Mr. Nasser Muhammad: Nasser_Muhammad@mcpsmd.org
- 8th Grade Assistant Principal: Mrs. Rochelle L Hawes: Rochelle_L_Hawes@mcpsmd.org
Family Supports:
- PTSA President: LaKeisha Carroll: bbmsptsa1@gmail.com
- Community School Liaison: Carmen Moore: Carmen_Moore@mcpsmd.org
Becoming Banneker: Rooted in Legacy. Growing Through Excellence.
Website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/bannekerms/
Location: 14800 Perrywood Dr. Burtonsville, MD 20866
Phone: (240) 740-6250
X : @BannekerMS_Prin
Instagram: @BBMSBocats
PTSA Instagram: @BBMS_PTSA