#newsletter
Welcome to the Week of October 18th!
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!
Montgomery County and Benjamin Banneker Middle School proudly honor Hispanic Heritage Month! Check out the exciting events happening in Montgomery County.
DATES TO REMEMBER
October 26: Picture Day
- October 30: Last Day of the Marking Period
- November 2: Non-Instructional Day
- November 3: No School (Election Day)
Sports Dates:
October 20
- Coed Cross Country SSI @ BBMS 3:30
- Softball - SSI MS (G-Home/B-Away) 3:30
October 28
- Coed Cross Country Odessa Shannon @ BBMS 3:30
- Softball - Odessa Shannon MS (G-Home/B-Away) 3:30
6th Grade Administrator Selected!
We are excited to announce that we have hired the new 6th Grade AP ! Please find this update on Benjamin Banneker's New Assistant Principal, starting November 3rd (Marking Period 2)!
👻 Parents may send BOO-GRAMS to their students! 🍬
The BBMS PTSA is spreading smiles and sweet surprises with our Boo-Gram fundraiser through Friday, October 23!
Families can purchase Boo-Grams online for their students, teachers, or staff members! Students can also bring cash to school and purchase Boo-Grams for their friends during lunch on scheduled sale days.
Each Boo-Gram includes a sweet treat and a special message to brighten someone’s day!
🛍️ Order online through October 23: https://www.givebacks.com/causes/bbmsptsa
Thank you for supporting the BBMS PTSA and helping us spread a little kindness throughout our Bobcat community! 💙🧡
Saturday School is Now FREE for Banneker MS Students!
There has now been an update that students who attend Community Schools can now attend for free. Guardians must use the QR code in the flyers attached and select Paint Branch HS.
*Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively. Families who have already registered and paid for Saturday School will not be reimbursed.
8th Grade Families: High School Center Programs
This month, MCPS will host Fall High School Showcases across all six regions, connecting eighth grade students and families with expanded Regional High School Center programs in Medical Science; International Baccalaureate, Humanities & Languages; STEM; Leadership & Public Service; and Visual & Performing Arts.
The Center Programs will provide greater access for more students across the county, expand capacity and reduce barriers created by limited seats, waitlists, transportation and geography so more students can pursue programs aligned with their interests and goals.
- Watch: Now You Know — Center Programs: The Basics.
- Watch: MCPS High School Opportunities Presentation — available in English and Spanish.
- See the full Fall High School Showcase schedule and find the event near you.
October 19th - 23rd is Digital Citizenship Week
Students are invited to the library to learn about several topics. Parents you can support by visiting Common Sense Media and reviewing the Family Resources tab.
MCPS THINGS TO KNOW
MCPS' 2026 Mental Health Awareness Week
2026 Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW
The Division of Specialized Support Services and the Montgomery County School Psychologists’ Association are co-hosting 2026 Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) from Nov. 9-14. The Mental Health and Wellness Fair will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14 at James Hubert Blake High School, 300 Norwood Road in Silver Spring. Open to staff, students and families, this free event will include workshops, community partners sharing information about mental health and wellness, and a student forum. Students can earn four Service Learning hours for their participation in the fair. Learn more.
PSAT Administration is Complete!
Congratulations to our students on completing our very first PSAT administration! Taking this important assessment establishes a crucial milestone for our college readiness programming and data-driven student support, bringing our entire school community one step closer to bright academic futures.
Family Resources & Repeated Announcements
* Free Food Available
Sign-up to receive bi-weekly free bags of food on Tuesdays. Submit forms to the main office or email carmen_moore@mcpsmd.org
* 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.
* MCPS Student Handbooks
*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: @BBMSBobcats
PTSA Instagram: @BBMS_PTSA