Foulois Family Newsletter
2026-2027 School Year
📣 Welcome Back, BDF Family!
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year at Benjamin D. Foulois Creative and Performing Arts Academy! To our new BDF family members, welcome, we are excited to have you join us! To our returning families, welcome back! I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and is ready for another year of learning, growth, creativity, and greatness.
As we begin this new school year, we will continue carrying our 2025–2026 mantra with us: “Conquering the Pressure of Perfection.” This year, we will continue to remind our students that perfection is not the goal. Our goal is to grow, make progress, learn from challenges, and move confidently in our greatness.
A special thank you to the families who joined us for our Admin-Only Back-to-School Night on August 27th. Your presence and engagement are important, and we appreciate you taking the time to begin the year connected with our school community. We also want to thank everyone who came out for our 2nd Annual Welcome Back Community Event: Books on the Ground! It was a tremendous success, and our students had a ball! A very special thank you goes to our BDF PTO for the countless hours of hard work, planning, and support that helped make the event so special. We are grateful for your partnership!
Stay Connected: PTO & Back-to-School Nights
Our PTO is an important part of the BDF community, and we encourage all families to get involved. The PTO will host a PTO Update Meeting at 6:00 p.m. immediately before each Back-to-School Night:
Middle School Back-to-School Night: September 15th at 6:00 p.m.
Elementary Back-to-School Night: September 17th at 6:00 p.m.
The PTO will also provide a sign-up opportunity for elementary student childcare during the September 17th Elementary Back-to-School Night only. Due to limited classroom space, we kindly ask that students remain at home if possible, during both elementary and middle school back-to-school nights. Having fewer students in the classrooms will allow us to comfortably accommodate parents and teachers and create the best environment for families to participate in Back-to-School Night. We appreciate your understanding and support.
Your Support Makes a Difference!
Our first fundraiser of the year, the BDF Read-a-Thon, begins September 15th. Your participation matters! Funds raised through our fall Read-a-Thon and spring Foam-Fun-Run directly support our school and our students, including school beautification projects such as decorated doors, ceiling tiles, and lockers; the renovation of our Media Arts Studio; student and staff incentives; community events, such as “Books on the Ground”; and monthly attendance incentives.
As a school, we operate with a limited budget, and these fundraisers provide opportunities for us to do more for our students and create experiences that would otherwise be difficult to provide. Every family’s participation makes an impact, whether through fundraising, encouraging your child to read, or simply sharing the fundraiser with family and friends. Thank you for investing in BDF!
Our upcoming Scholastic Book Fair will also take place in conjunction with the Read-a-Thon. Be sure to join us for our Evening Book Fair on September 17th during Elementary Back-to-School Night! Information will be shared with families prior to September 14th.
Communication & Partnership
One of the most important ingredients in a successful school year is strong communication between home and school. If you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s academics, classroom experience, or behavior, we encourage you to begin by reaching out to the classroom teacher. Please approach these conversations with a spirit of inquiry and partnership. There is often important context that can help us better understand a situation and determine the best way to support your child. We are your partners, and our shared goal is always the success, safety, and well-being of your child. When home and school work together, our students benefit.
A Few Important Reminders
Please continue to review and reinforce our dress code and technology expectations with your child. We also ask for your help in addressing an ongoing concern across schools, social media challenges that involve damaging or destroying school property. Please talk with your child about the importance of respecting their school and remind them that participation in destructive behavior will result in disciplinary consequences. Protecting our school is a responsibility we all share.
Vending machines have returned to the cafeteria this school year. Students may not use the vending machines between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Students participating in after-school activities may use the vending machines only with permission from their after-school sponsor. Items confiscated as a result of unauthorized vending machine use will not be returned. Thank you for reminding your child(ren) of this expectation and the consequences for not following it.
Help Us Celebrate Our Amazing Teachers!
This year, families will have an opportunity to participate in our Teacher of the Month recognition by completing the selection link. Each month, families will have the opportunity to recognize an outstanding Elementary Teacher, Middle School Teacher, and Creative Arts Teacher who demonstrates a commitment to students, instruction, creativity, and the BDF community. We look forward to celebrating the educators who make a difference in the lives of our students every day!
As we begin this new school year, I am filled with excitement and optimism about what we will accomplish together. There is so much possibility ahead, and I am grateful to have our BDF families alongside us. Thank you for trusting us with your children, supporting our school, and continuing to walk with us in their journey.
Here’s to a year of purpose, progress, patience, partnership—and plenty of greatness!
Walk in your greatness!
Principal Hogue
Arts & Academic Rotation Days
Monday, August 31, 2026
- K-5: B Day
- MS: A Day
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
- K-5: C Day
- MS: B Day
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
- K-5: A Day
- MS: A Day
Thursday, September 3, 2026
- K-5: B Day
- MS: B Day
Friday, September 4, 2026
- K-5: C Day
- MS: A Day
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
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
iReady Inform Assessment
Renaissance Star Math Assessment
IXL Math and ELA Assessments
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!
PGCPS/BDF Student Device Agreement
This week, our students will be getting set to use Chromebooks during their classes. In order for them to access a device, we must have a device agreement on file for them.
Our goal is to reach 100% completion of these agreements by Friday, September 11, 2026. Completion of the form only takes a few minutes and can be done from a computer, a tablet, or your cell phone. There is NOTHING that needs sent back to the school and there is no physical form being sent home.
Thank you to the 149 parents who have already completed the agreement! Please note that without an agreement on file, your student will not be able to access their device for classroom instruction and activities.
We only need ONE completed agreement PER student - please be sure to check in with all family members connected to Dojo to ensure that only ONE agreement is being completed. Click here to complete the electronic device agreement:
Thank you all for your continued support of our technology procedures here at BDF!
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
Under Construction
Our PTO is an important part of the BDF community, and we encourage all families to get involved. The PTO will host a PTO Update Meeting at 6:00 p.m. immediately before each Back-to-School Night:
Middle School Back-to-School Night: September 15th at 6:00 p.m.
Elementary Back-to-School Night: September 17th at 6:00 p.m.
The PTO will also provide a sign-up opportunity for elementary student childcare during the September 17th Elementary Back-to-School Night only. Due to limited classroom space, we kindly ask that students remain at home if possible, during both elementary and middle school back-to-school nights. Having fewer students in the classrooms will allow us to comfortably accommodate parents and teachers and create the best environment for families to participate in Back-to-School Night. We appreciate your understanding and support.
Week of September 7 - September 11
Monday, September 7, 2026:
- NO SCHOOL: Labor Day Holiday
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
- K-5: A Day
- MS: B Day
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
- K-5: B Day
- MS: A Day
Thursday, September 10, 2026
- K-5: C Day
- MS: B Day
Friday, September 11, 2026
- K-5: A Day
- MS: A Day
- Patriot Day: 9/11 Rememberance 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