Bobcat Bulletin
January 2026
Principal's Message
12/19/25
Dear Families,
We want to wish each of you a wonderful holiday season. Hopefully each of you will get a chance to relax and enjoy some down time with your family. We are excited to welcome everyone back to school on January 5, 2026!
Thank you to all the families who joined us for the wonderful chorus concert. It was great to see the students do such an outstanding job throughout all three concerts. In addition, they were able to visit a local nursing home to bring their festive music and the residents loved it.
We wanted to congratulate two of our staff who earned their National Board Certification, the highest professional credential in education. This rigorous accomplishment reflects their deep expertise, unwavering commitment to student success, and dedication to continuous growth. Earning this National Board Certification, requires months of reflections, evidence of effective instructional practice, and demonstration of a meaningful impact on student learning. We are so proud to recognize, Mrs. Lori Barrick, Reading Specialist and Mrs. Julie Humbel, Reading Interventionist. We are proud of their efforts to support the students and staff at Ballenger Creek!
Have a wonderful winter break! We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday, January 5, 2026!
Sincerely,
Jonathan Davis
Principal, Ballenger Creek Elementary School
A message from Mrs. Queen (Assistant Principal):
Dear Families,
I hope you are doing well. I am writing to share that I will be taking extended parental leave beginning on January 16 (estimated date) as my family prepares to welcome Baby Queen. This is a very special time for us, and I am grateful for the support and encouragement many of you have already shared.
During my time away, Jonathan Davis, Principal, and Candace King, Assistant Principal, will be supporting the school in my place. They will serve as the main points of contact for any questions or needs related to behavior support, attendance, student programming, IEP parent/guardian requests, concerns, or other inquiries. We are also working with our Central Office Director to finalize an interim administrator who will support the school during a portion of my leave. We will share additional communication once we receive updates from the Central Office team.
Our administrative team has been collaborating closely to ensure a smooth transition, and I am confident that our students and staff will remain in wonderful hands.
I want to take a moment to thank all of you for the partnership we have built so far this school year. Your ongoing communication, involvement, and support of our school community play a vital role in helping our students thrive each day. It has been a joy working alongside you, and I will truly miss being present during the remainder of the school year.
My expected return date is June 16 (estimated date), and I look forward to rejoining the school community refreshed and ready to prepare for the 2026–2027 school year. Until then, I wish your family a wonderful winter season and continued success for your children throughout the remainder of the year.
Thank you again for your support. Please feel free to reach out with any questions before my leave begins.
For questions, please contact:
Jonathan Davis, Principal – jonathan.davis1@fcps.org
Candace King, Assistant Principal – candace.king@fcps.org
Karyn Queen, Assistant Principal – karyn.queen@fcps.org (before January 16)
Warmly,
Karyn Queen
Assistant Principal
Important School Dates
- December 22 - January 2 - Winter Break Schools Closed
- January 5 - Students return to school!
- January 9 - BCES Spirit Wear Day - Students and Staff can wear their BCES attire to show off their school spirit!!
- January 13 - PTA Meeting, 6:30-7:30 pm (in-person and virtual option)
- January 16 - Term 2 ends, 2-Hour early dismissal for students (dismissal will be @1:45 pm)
- January 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Schools and Offices Closed
- January 20 - Teacher Work Day, Schools Closed for Students
- January 21 - Term 3 begins
- January 27 and 29 - Quarter 2 Bobcat Best Celebrations (more information coming in the new year!)
- January 28 - BCES Spelling Bee
- January 30 - BCES Workout Gear Day - Students and Staff can wear their favorite workout gear!!
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.