Welcome

Dear Benjamin Tasker (BTMS) Families, 

Welcome to the 2026/27 school year. We hope that your summer has been full of fun & relaxation. At this time, we would like to share information that may assist your family in preparing for the return to school. As we plan for the upcoming school year, please take a moment to review our updated Mission/Vision/Core Values, which reflect our changing student needs. Students will follow the BTMS Daily Schedule, which includes (a) morning announcements, (b) attending six classes daily following an A-day/B-day schedule, and (c) one 30-minute lunch break.
To be successful, students should complete the following:   Attend every class on time    Actively participate in the entire lesson   Get involved in school clubs and activities   Complete and submit all assignments on time   Review & follow Student Expectations & Rules (Summary)   Review the Student/Family Handbook & follow all school rules and protocols.   Advocate for themselves by asking questions and seeking assistance when needed.   Remain organized and prepared with classroom Materials: BTMS Student Supply List    Check virtual platforms (ie, Canvas & Synergy) daily for information, grades, and assignments.   Regularly review school-wide information (ie, BTMS Community Updates, Monthly Newsletter & Website) weekly    Complete the Absence Notification Form to inform the school of your child’s excused absences, so that your child can   make up missed assignments
Communication: You may access ongoing communication, including weekly newsletters, from the BTMS Website, or you can sign up for Messenger to receive weekly emails. Please contact Mrs. Sharlin Williams-Ford (sharlin.williamsford@pgcps.org) for questions and/or assistance with communication. Please see the communication information below:   Parent Communication Guide (Communication Platforms & Staffing)   Synergy Parent Vue (Parent Access to Student Information Platform, previously SchoolMax)   Master Calendar (Save to your Google Calendar)   BTMS Community Newsletter: (Receive weekly updates)   BTMS Quick Links (Easy Access to Resources and Forms)   BTMS Website   Canvas: (Teacher shares assignments & information; Teachers will share codes to access their classroom Canvas) 
Schedule Change Requests: Student schedules will be available in Synergy ParentVue as of Friday, August 14th. Students/Families may request schedule changes by submitting the completed Schedule Change Request Form to their grade level counselor. The BTMS Schedule Change Window for BTMS is September 2nd - 15th. Students are placed in their core content area courses based on student performance data (Grades, MCAP, & Benchmark Scores) and teacher recommendation. All requests to change core content areas must be supported by evidence/data. However, we are happy to change electives if the requested elective is available and aligns with the child’s schedule.

Important Dates to Remember: Please review the following dates to kick off the beginning of the school year:

½ Day New Student Orientation Day (New 6th & 7th Grade Students): Monday, August 24, 2026
First Day of School for All Students: Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Labor Day (Schools & Offices Closed): Monday, September 7, 2026
Math Diagnostics: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Reading Diagnostics: Thursday, September 10, 2026
Back to School Night: Thursday, September 17th
Fundraiser Kickoff: Thursday, September 17th

Arrival & Dismissal: Care riders and walkers will enter and exit through the back/side parking lot doors, while bus riders will enter and exit through the front doors. Only buses are permitted into the driveway in front of the school duringmorning arrival and afternoon dismissal. The school hours are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The instructional day for students is 8:30 am to 3:15 pm. To ensure a safe and orderly arrival and dismissal, please adhere to the following guidelines:

Morning Arrival: Students may begin arriving as early as 8:00 am. No student should arrive on school property before 8:00 am, as there is no adult supervision. Upon arrival, 6th and 7th-grade students report to the gymnasium, and 8th-grade students report to the cafeteria. Students are released to lockers and class at 8:20 am. Breakfast is served in the cafeteria in the morning for all grades (Car riders & walkers must be in line by 8:20 am in order to receive breakfast to ensure they have time to eat and arrive to class on time).

Afternoon Dismissal: Dismissal begins at 3:15 pm. Car riders not picked up by 3:30 pm will report to the main office to await their parents, who will need ID for pickup. Early Pickup: Early pick-up ends at 2:30 pm to allow the office staff to prepare for the school’s dismissal. Families picking up after this time must wait for their child in the back parking lot for dismissal at 3:15 pm.

Meals (Breakfast/Lunch): Breakfast is available to all students from 8:00 am to 8:20 am. Students must be in line by 8:20 am to receive breakfast. However, all students arriving on a late bus will be permitted to receive breakfast if they choose. Students may purchase breakfast ($1.60) and/or lunch ($3.00) daily or complete the Free and Reduced Lunch Application.

Staff Contact Information: Please see important contact information below:

We are looking forward to an exciting and engaging school year. We can’t wait to see you!!!
Sincerely,
Dr. Kendra Hill