BCMS Community Newsletter

Dear Ballenger Creek Middle Families,

Welcome back to school! I hope that you and all of your loved ones are well and that you’re having a positive start to the school year. It’s great to have your students back with us! We want to let you and your children know that they are welcome here, we value them as individuals, and that they belong here. In the classrooms, our staff is working hard setting expectations, designing and delivering lessons, and getting to know your students to establish positive connections with them. We’re also working hard to establish a welcoming environment in other areas of the school, including the cafeteria, with our Student Government Association (SGA) flag project. To honor and celebrate our diverse school community’s many cultures, we are displaying flags that represent our students’ heritages. If your student is interested in having a country’s flag added, they can visit their grade level counseling resources page on Schoology for more information.

Besides working to make your students feel welcome, we want you to know that we are here to partner with you to help your student--whether it’s through an academic or social challenge. As I start my 26th year as a middle school educator (and 13th as an administrator), I can definitively say that when we as the adult home/school team work together, there is rarely a situation we can’t help your students through.

If you’ve had a student in middle school prior to this year, you certainly know that it’s not usually a matter of if there will be challenges, but instead when challenges will present themselves. There will inevitably be bumps along the way--we’re interacting with adolescents after all! While some struggle is actually good for students to fight through and overcome--it builds resilience in your children that will benefit them later--we can all agree that there are times when adults have to step in to help. If you learn of such a situation--or one you’re not quite sure what to do about--please contact your student’s grade level counselor or assistant principal to think or work through it together!

As always, I’m also here to assist in any way. It’s an honor to serve the Ballenger Creek Middle School community!

Sincerely,

Jay Schill

Principal, BCMS

BCMS SGA:

Are you interested in Student Leadership? Do you want to serve as a voice for the BCMS Student Body? Would you like to meet with other students from across FCPS and Maryland to learn about advocacy and how laws and legislation are made? Then join the BCMS SGA! Meetings are Thursdays from 3:00-4:00pm in Room 165. Please see Mrs. Weller in Room 165 for more information.

The BCMS Math Department is excited to welcome students back into our classrooms! If at any time during the school year, you have questions about your student’s progress in Math class, please do not hesitate to reach out to the teacher. Our Math Department is as follows:

Math Specialist:

Laura Boyer

6th Grade:

Mr. Collins and Ms. Topovich

7th Grade:

Mr. Katz, Mr. Wolfe, and Ms. Brown

8th Grade:

Mr. Milauskas and Ms. Dickson

Math Intervention:

Ms. Hedlund

Hello English Learner Families!

My name is Mariah Beaucage. I am the English Learner (EL) teacher at BCMS. I am excited to be working with your child and helping them learn English. I know that learning a new language can be challenging, so I want you and your child to know I am always happy to help.

I have already sent home the yellow paperwork that you will need to sign for your child to continue in the English Learner program. Please return these forms by September 10th. If you have any questions about this form, please contact me. If I do not receive this form by then, I will begin contacting you directly.

Finally, below you will find information about Talking Points. I will use this app to contact you regarding your child’s progress, school events, paperwork, and more. It is also another way for you to contact me with questions or concerns.

Talking Points Parent App Link: https://goo.gl/D89aov

Again, I am excited to work with your child and help them learn English. I am also excited to learn from them. Please if there is anything I can do to help you or your child, contact me. My contact information is below.

Ways to contact me:

• Email: mariah.beaucage@fcps.org

• Phone: (240) 236 - 5772

***Please note: During the school day, the phone will go directly to voicemail.

Please leave a phone number for me to call you back.***

• Talking Points (text message): I have sent you a message to invite you. You can reply to that message thread at any time to contact me.

The BCMS Science Department is excited to welcome students back into our classrooms! If at any time during the school year, you have questions about your student’s progress in Science class, please do not hesitate to reach out to the teacher. Our Science Department is as follows:

6th Grade:

Mr. Merson and Ms. Traube

7th Grade:

Ms. Paul and Dr. Patterson

8th Grade:

Mr. Leonard and Ms. Schramm

Welcome Back!

The BCMS ELA Department is excited to welcome students back into our classrooms for another year of fun and engaging lessons. If at any time during the school year, you have questions about your student’s progress in ELA class, please do not hesitate to reach out to the teacher. Our ELA Department is as follows:

Literacy Specialist:

Mrs. K. Shaffer

6th Grade:

Mrs. Giacco & Ms. Jackson

7th Grade:

Ms. Grakin & Mr. Velnoskey

8th Grade:

Mrs. Nuckols & Mrs. Weller

Reading Interventions:

Ms. Decker, Ms. Highfill, & Ms. Tully

Welcome Back!!

There are some classes that will require lab fees for the school year. These fees are used to help offset the cost of specialized materials used in those courses. Teachers with lab fees will be sending home notice the first week of school on how much and how to get into School Cash to pay your fees. If you have any questions or concerns about lab fees, please contact the teacher or your student’s grade level administrators.

Extra! Extra!

If you are a returning student in the 7th or 8th grade and did not have the chance to snag a yearbook from last year, there are very few remaining. Please contact Windy Schmidt, the yearbook advisor to get one of the final copies. windy.schmidt@fcps.org

About Mrs. Holland- Life Skills

Hello! I teach 8th grade Life Skills class. I was born and raised in Pennsylvania. My parents had three daughters and then I had three sons:). Family is the most important thing to me. I am married to Matt Holland and we are living in Maryland. I enjoy being outdoors, photography, friendships, exercising, cooking, entertaining at home, hanging out with my husband on the golf course, going to the beach, painting (walls, not pictures), watching sports, TEACHING (I am excited for a new year!), and most of all spending time with family and friends.

About Mr. Meredith- P.E./ Health

Micah Meredith is entering his 4th year of teaching health and physical education at Ballenger Middle. He enjoys spending time with family, and being active.

About Mrs. Schmidt- Performing Arts