October Community Newsletter

Dear Ballenger Creek Middle Families,

I hope that you and your loved ones are well. As we’re heading into the second half of the first quarter, what have your students said about their year so far? If your kids are like mine, it can often be like pulling teeth to get them to share. From my experience, I get more out of my children when we’re in the car or doing an activity shoulder to shoulder instead of sitting face-to-face. Here are a few questions you might consider asking them about school as you’re involved in some activity together:

• What was the best part of your school day today?

• What was frustrating about school today?

• What’s one topic you learned about today?

• What made you laugh today?

You’ll notice that there are no questions that would elicit simple “Yes” or “No” answers. Below are some additional specific tips for talking with your adolescent:

https://parentandteen.com/keep-teens-talking-learn-to-listen/

If you need assistance with any element of your child’s middle school experience, please reach out--we’re here to partner with you to benefit your children!

Take care,

Jay Schill

Principal, BCMS

Parent-teacher conferences will take place on October 11th, 12th, and 13th. Virtual conferences through Google Meet will be the default option for conferences; however, our teachers will also be offering in person conferences for anyone who wishes for that option.

Mark your calendars:

Veterans Day Concert

Wednesday, November 8th BCMS Cafetorium, 6pm

BCMS will be participating in the Frederick County Young Authors’ Contest. Students may submit a short story and/or poem. Winners at each grade level will represent our school in the countywide contest. For more information, please check out this flyer. See your ELA teacher or Ms. Shaffer with any questions.

Jackson Chapel United Methodist Church, our next door neighbor, has shared that they will be opening a preschool in their building in late September or early October. In order to keep our new young neighbors and their parents as safe as possible, the church leaders are asking that BCMS parents who utilize their parking lot for pick-up and drop-off stay off of the paved portion of their parking lot and only utilize the gravel area. To prepare for this transition, in the afternoon the church is beginning to use cones to mark the paved area. Our parents and guardians are to avoid both morning and afternoon when the preschool starts in several weeks.

Thank you in advance for helping us be good neighbors by honoring Jackson Chapel's request.

Frederick County Public Schools is inviting the public to community meetings this fall to hear about the new alternatives developed for the Crestwood area redistricting study.

All meetings are open to all school communities who are included in the redistricting study area.

Sign language or English language interpreting services can be provided. More information is available online.

FCPS understands the significant impact redistricting can have on school communities, families, and students. Families have requested consideration of additional options and community meetings for comment. This led the Board to revise the redistricting study schedule.

Scheduled meetings:

6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1: Board of Education Public Hearing, Board Room, 191 S. East St.

More information about the Crestwood Area Redistricting Study, including updated Frequently Asked Questions, is available online.

For additional information, please contact the FCPS Facilities Planning Department at CrestwoodRedistricting@FCPS.org.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE FOLLOWING PTSA EVENTS:

• December 1 -- BCMS Night at Urban Air! If you arrive between 5-7 PM and mention the BCMS PTSA when purchasing your admission, the PTSA will receive 20% of the sale.
• December 11 -- BCMS Night at Chipotle Westview (4-8 PM) Show the cashier the digital flyer prior to paying at the register OR order online using the Promo Code BMAQCPE and the PTSA will receive a portion of the sale.

Annual "B --> E.Z." Fundraiser

The PTSA's annual fundraiser kicks off on October 16th. The PTSA needs your help to meet this year's goal of $2,500. This money includes $1500 for student field trips, $800 for year-end picnics for all 3 grades, $600 for various clubs at BCMS, and funds to provide lunch during Teacher Appreciation Week to the hard-working BCMS staff. 100% of your donation goes straight to the PTSA budget and don’t forget that your donation is tax deductible. It’s E.Z. to donate! Just CLICK HERE Thank you to our generous and amazing BCMS community! We can do this!

Frederick County Public School is proud to announce that we’ve teamed up with TutorMe as we head back to school this year to empower our grade 6-12 students with unlimited on-demand access to 24/7 online tutoring! From homework help to test prep, students can get live one-on-one help from 15,000+ verified tutors covering hundreds of subjects anytime, anywhere. In addition to live tutoring, students can submit essays and papers for prompt, detailed feedback from writing experts within hours. TutorMe is available to all students via their current Clever Portal login. We're excited to partner with TutorMe to further support our students’ excellence. Reference the TutorMe Support Guide to get started. TutorMe Student Support Guide (English) ESP. Guia de Apoyo- TutorMe (Spanish) and click on the TutorMe icon in Clever to get started today.

6th Grade: Finishing up Module 1 and moving into Module 2: Fractions, Decimals, and Percents.

7th Grade: Finishing up Module 1 and moving into Module 2: Solve Percent Problems.

8th Grade: Finishing up Module 1 and moving into Module 2: Real Numbers

Algebra: Finishing up Module 1 and moving into Module 2: Equations in One Variable.

Students should be completing weekly ALEKS topic goals in Math. Students should be checking their Math schoology pages to see what their specific weekly goal is. Students can monitor their own progress by checking their topic reports in ALEKS, a step-by-step how to for this can be found here. For questions about ALEKS topic goals - please reach out to your grade level Math teacher; our school Math specialist, Ms. Boyer (Laura.Boyer@fcps.org); or our school Math department chair, Ms. Dickson (Ashley.Dickson@fcps.org).

Students should be checking their grade reports on schoology weekly to see updates regarding missing/re-do work. If there are any questions regarding student grades, please reach out to your grade level Math teacher.

We are excited to have these two team members in our department.

Rebecca Schimel 6th grade case manager: This is my first year at Ballenger Creek Middle School but my 11th year in Frederick County Public Schools. I hold an elementary education and special education degree from Mount Saint Mary's University. I am still attending the Mount for my Masters degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis and will graduate in May of 2024. I live in Frederick with my husband, 2 teenage children and 2 dogs..

Tyler Britt 8th grade case manager: This is my first year as a case manager at BCMS. I enjoy watching/playing sports, and I'm fluent in sign language.

Parent conferences are approaching. They will be held October 11, 12, and 13. Please, sign up and meet your child’s general educators and case manager. Together we can make a difference.

Meet the Teachers of the Fine and Practical Arts:

Samuel Buppert: Graduated from Limestone University and NDMU. Grew up on a farm in Carroll County. I am married to my wife (Lisa) and have two dogs (Reed & Kona). I played college lacrosse at Limestone college for 4 years. I love going on hikes and camping outdoors.

Hello! My name is Ms. Highfill and I am starting my 6th year here at BCMS. I'm originally from Missouri and received my Bachelors and Masters degree from Missouri State University. I love teaching and can't imagine doing anything else. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with family, friends, and taking naps! I am looking forward to a great year!

NEED COUNSELOR SUPPORT? ❤️

Use your grade level counseling page on Schoology and select "Student Support Request Form." Your grade level counselor will speak with you as soon as possible.

Ms. Reese: rebecca.reese@fcps.org

Mr. Ledyard: david.ledyard@fcps.org

Mr. Webber: johnny.webber@fcps.org

Introducing the Multilingual Education Program Teachers:

Ms. Webb

It is a pleasure to be working with the students at BCMS! I am new to Frederick, Maryland, and middle school! Hi! My name is Claudine Webb. I have been teaching English Language Learners for the past 22 years at an elementary school in NYC! I am happy to be here at BCMS!

What is WIDA, you may ask?

WIDA is a comprehensive approach to supporting, teaching, and assessing our Multilingual Learners. WIDA has 5 standards that support the way language learners learn.

The first standard, Social and Instructional Language, reflects the ways in which students interact socially to build community and establish working relationships with peers and teachers in ways that support learning.

The remaining four standards present ways multilingual learners can communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies.

There are four big ideas that anchor the standards and are interwoven throughout the framework:

• Equity of opportunity and access

• This is essential for multilingual learners' preparation for college, career and civic lives.

• Integration of content and language

• Academic content is the context for language learning, and language is the means for learning academic content.

• Collaboration among stakeholders

• Stakeholders share responsibility for educating multilingual learners.

• Functional approach to language development

• This approach helps educators focus on the purposeful use of language.

These big ideas support the design of standards-based educational experiences that are student-centered, culturally and linguistically sustaining, and responsive to multilingual learners' strengths and needs.

Multilingual learners are assessed in February using the WIDA assessment called ACCESS for ELLS. Test scores can support decisions about instructional planning, show the progress students make, and can also be used as one of multiple measures to make reclassification decisions about whether a student can exit English language support services.

So, it is imperative that each student tries their best when taking the test.

The Stock Market Game club at BCMS is looking for students that are interested in learning about investing. The fall session will run from October 9, 2023 - December 15, 2023. Students will meet once per week, during Homebase, in the BCMS Media Center. The signup form is located in the grade-level Schoology courses. For more information about the program, please visit: https://www.stockmarketgame.org/

The FCPS Science and Engineering fair is an opportunity for students to do an independent science project following either the scientific method or the engineering design process. Students conduct their research then present their results at a science fair. This year’s fair will be held on March 23, 2023. Updated information will be posted throughout October at: https://sites.google.com/fcps.org/fcsef/home

For more information about enrichment opportunities, check out the grade-level Schoology course updates, or contact Christine.Brown@fcps.org, Specialist for Advanced Academics at BCMS.

Pep Team

Advisors: Rebecca Reese and Kaia Jenerette

This group will meet after school each Thursday from 3:15-4:15. Our mission is to help mentor students towards academic, behavioral, and social success. We will learn different cheer, dance, and step routines as a team to increase school spirit. We will perform during school and community events. The Pep Squad is currently filled at 35 members. We are still accepting permission slips and will add those names to our waitlist.

6th Grade: Students are developing models that predict and describe changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed.

7th Grade: Students are constructing an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.

8th Grade: Students are applying scientific ideas to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and differences among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer evolutionary relationships.

6th Grade: In sixth grade, we are kicking off Cycle 2 with an exploration of vocabulary words relating to people's actions and how those actions impact the world. By examining vocabulary, influential people from around the world, and reading about/listening to a young girl's story about how she overcame challenges, we will be able to identify the significance of small acts.

7th Grade: We are excited that Ms. Vanessa Aguilar will be joining our BCMS team as a 7th grade ELA teacher! Mr. Velnoskey, Ms. Zumbar, and Ms. Aguilar will be diving into Cycle 2, which strives to answer the essential question, How can our choices cause ripple effects? Students will analyze a variety of informational texts to determine how the author’s point of view reveals the central idea of a text.

8th Grade: Students in eighth grade just completed narrative writing tasks based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe and W.W. Jacobs. This week we have moved to our new Cycle. This Cycle poses the following questions: How do people understand and manage emotions, set and achieve goals, practice responsibility, and build other soft skills? Students will analyze argumentative texts that talk about perseverance, grit, and being your best self. Students are encouraged to work on iReady reading lessons for forty minutes a week. These lessons help students with their skill gaps in reading and vocabulary.

6th grade: Students are finishing their unit on ancient Mesopotamia with a look at their writing system. Afterwards, students will begin examining ancient Egypt by first looking at the geography of the region and how it shaped culture and society.

7th grade: We are completing Unit 1 which examined the Byzantine and Ottoman Empire. In our next unit, students will be learning about the peoples of the Arabian Peninsula.

8th grade: We will be wrapping up Unit 1 on the Revolutionary War with our first test on October 10th. Then we will dive into Unit 2 on the creation of the United States government.

Please checkout the Media Center & Technology Updates Newsletter for information regarding our pass system, book checkout, and technology tips: https://www.smore.com/92x4qt

Adventure Park is offering a free admission ticket for each FCPS student for their Fall Festiv-All. Click here for more information.

ON THE MARK ADOLESCENT CLUBHOUSE: Open to ages of Frederick County from 12-17. Free membership. Those who attend receive educational support, homework help, incentives for improving grades, outdoor rec. and field trips are available, after school snacks. Contact Jeffrey Thompson, Program Director 301-600-1755 for more information.

Hello everyone and it is good to be back! Hope you had an enjoyable summer vacation. Now is the time to “FALL” back into learning mode.

Also, remember that the yearly clothing drive is coming up. It will be held on Monday, November 13, 2023. It will run from 5 to 7pm. All items are free to the public, please spread the word. Donations will be accepted from October 2, 2023 until November 3, 2023. Please be sure items are clean and folded, and in boxes if possible.

Remember we always need volunteers for we cannot do it all alone, we Need YOU. Please go to the BCMS website or register to be a volunteer here. You are essential to what we can do.

I am here to help you, do not hesitate to reach out when your child or you are in need, I cannot help, if I do not know: Kathleen.Rogers@fcps.org]

For those who need weekend food bags, please call me and let me know A.S.A.P. I need to get information to the church by the 1st of each month.

Maryland Medicaid Renewal is NOT automatic this year

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, Marylanders who were enrolled in Medicaid continued to be covered, even if they were no longer eligible.

Medicaid renewals will not be automatic this year. Starting in April 2023, Maryland began making Medicaid eligibility reviews again. Not everyone will be up for renewal at the same time. These renewals will take place over 12 months.

Learn more, watch this video:

https://youtu.be/M9ReXXWuWDE

Your child may need additional immunizations recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Please speak to your doctor to determine if your child needs other immunizations.

Immunizations are available from your health care provider.

Immunizations are also available at select CVS Minute Clinics. Further information is available at https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/services/vaccinations-and-injections/N-d8Z3a3joZd5

*Frederick County Health Department provides immunizations by appointment for qualifying individuals (uninsured or underinsured). You may call the Health Department at 301-600-3342 to schedule an appointment.

*City of Frederick Community Health Center provides immunizations by appointment only for qualifying individuals (uninsured or underinsured). You may call the City of Frederick Community Health Center at (301) 600-1393 to schedule an appointment*

Dónde Obtener Vacunas

Es posible que su hijo(a) necesite vacunas adicionales recomendadas por la Academia Estadounidense de Pediatría. Por favor hable con su médico para determinar si su hijo(a) necesita otras vacunas.

Las vacunas también están disponibles en clínicas selectas de CVS Minute. Más información disponible en https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/services/vaccinations-and-injections/N-d8Z3a3joZd5

*El Departamento de Salud del Condado de Frederick proporciona vacunas con cita previa para las personas que califican (sin seguro o con seguro insuficiente). Puede llamar al Departamento de Salud al 301-600-3342 para programar una cita.

*El Centro Comunitario de Salud de la Ciudad de Frederick provee vacunas solamente con cita previa para personas que califican (personas que no tienen seguro o tienen un seguro insuficiente). Usted puede llamar al Centro Comunitario de Salud de la Ciudad de Frederick al (301) 600-1393 para programar una cita.