Roadrunner's Digest

Good evening Farquhar Families,

I hope this week's Digest finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Though the times we are living in are wrought with emotional heaviness and trials, I am encouraged by the dedication and support I've witnessed from staff, families, and students alike. We are never better than when we take care of one another, and I am honored to be leading a community that does exactly that. From our community members who beautified our front entrance to our staff and students who go out of their way to lend a helping hand, I find reasons to be grateful during challenging times. Thanks to each of you for making Farquhar such a special community.

In this week's newsletter you will find:

• This week's bell schedules
  
• This week's Roadrunner Shout Outs
• After-School Activities Schedule
• NEW: National School Bus Safety Week
• Eighth Grade High School Applications due November 3
• Outdoor Ed Forms Deadline November 8
• NEW: 7th and 8th Grade Band Opportunity
• Culture of Respect Lesson 2023
• Sherwood Cheer Clinic October 21
• MCPS to Host Girls’ Summit October 21
• Support FMS by shopping at Harris Teeter
  
• MVA Application for 2024-2025
• NEW: PTA Corner Updates

Need to get back to an previous edition of the Digest? Find them in the archive on our school's website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/farquharms/.

We will operate with regular bell schedules this week. Open ROCK will be replaced with Academic ROCK while our leadership team evaluates structures and processes to ensure student safety. Students will continue to have outside access during their regular 30-minute lunchtime.

• Monday: Academic ROCK
• Tuesday: Academic ROCK
• Wednesday: Advisory
• Thursday: Academic ROCK
• Friday: Academic ROCK

Thank you to the following Roadrunners who have made a positive impact on our learning community!

• Julian Carter
• Duncan Glendinning
• Aerys Hernandez
• Rachel McCray
• Sean Richesson
• Eleanor Thompson
• Mrs. Bowles
• Mrs. Pignone
• Mr. Thompson

Would you like to recognize a student or staff member?

Submit a SHOUT-OUT!

National School Bus Safety Week, which occurs October 16–20, 2023, is a public program designed to educate the public about the importance of school bus safety. Each year schools organize events to bring attention to school bus safety and to recognize the critical role school bus employees play in providing safe transportation to our students. The theme this year is a unique reminder to motorists and students about the dangers that exist outside the school bus, "Safely Rolling to My Destination."

Maryland State Police and the Maryland Center for School Safety remind motorists to stop for school buses.

Attention 8th grade Parents:

Grade 8 students now have access to apply for Regional/Countywide Special Programs using the high school common application found in ParentVUE.

Applications are due by Friday, Nov. 3. Programs-At-A-Glance, eligibility, frequently asked questions and October open house dates are available on this website.

Parents/Students have access to an Eligibility letter on Synergy which describes all the special high school programs students can apply to based on their home/base high school. Throughout October, the special high school programs will host open houses for interested students and families.

Please view resources linked here to learn more: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/high

Outdoor Ed forms went home on Wednesday 9/27. All forms are due to Mr. Lichvar by November 8, 2023.

Required:

• Parent/Guardian Approval for MCPS Transportation (Form 555-6)
• Outdoor Environmental Education Program Parent/Guardian Permission

If applicable:

• Anaphylaxis Form (Form 525-14)
• Authorization to Administer Prescribed Medication (Form 525-13)

All Online payments can be complete here https://schoolcashonline.com/

Any questions? Please email Mr. Eisenhower at mark_a_eisenhower@mcpsmd.org.

You have the opportunity to perform The National Anthem with students from all over MCPS! We will play The Star Spangled Banner at the MCPS Marching Band Showcase on Saturday, October 21st. This is an awesome event featuring the many marching bands in Montgomery County! This event is free for everyone and open to all family and friends. RSVP here by Monday, October 16th.

Who: 7th & 8th grade band students

What: Performance of The National Anthem

Where: Colonel Zadok Magruder High School

When: Saturday, October 21st; 12:00 Call time; 1:00 Performance

Why: Earn SSL hours, perform in a high school stadium, enjoy a free, fun atmosphere and see a snapshot of different high school marching bands

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is committed to ensuring our students are equipped with the information needed to be able to recognize signs of bullying/cyberbullying, harassment (including sexual harassment), hate-bias incidents, hazing, intimidation, and student gender norms. An online student training lesson, entitled “Culture of Respect,” has been developed for students in Grades 6–12. This online training lesson builds on last year’s student module and provides critical information that will help students better recognize the

signs of inappropriate behaviors, including the various ways to report alleged/concerning incidents. The training includes a student survey that will provide school leaders with valuable data to assess the current culture and climate of respect at their schools and determine potential next steps to plan for improvements.

Students will earn two Student Service Learning hours to complete the training.

The objectives of the training module are for students to know and be able to:

• Review collective responsibilities in promoting a positive school culture and ensuring the physical, social, and emotional safety for all students in alignment with the MCPS Be Well 365 initiative.
• Define bullying, cyberbullying, harassment (including sexual harassment), hate bias, hazing, intimidation, and student gender norms.
• Recognize signs of hazing, bullying, and harassment, including sexual harassment/assault.
• Identify reporting procedures to inform school administration of potential concerns and incidents. Analyze different scenarios and discuss possible consequences according to the MCPS Student Code of Conduct.
• Complete a feedback questionnaire, including an activity to help school administration gauge the level of concern in each of the areas addressed in the training module.

The training should take approximately 30 minutes to complete and will be accessible to all students via their myMCPS Classroom homepage beginning October 2, 2023. Students are asked to complete the training by December 1, 2023.

If you have any questions or concerns about the topics that will be covered, please contact me, or your child’s school counselor.

A pdf of this information can be found here.

The district is inviting all MCPS families to the Girls’ Summit on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Clarksburg High School. This event will provide informative workshops geared towards middle and high school girls on a variety of current topics. Join us for a chance to network, participate in fun activities, learn valuable skills and enjoy a fashion show presented by White House Black Market celebrating diverse body types!

Sessions will be provided in English and Spanish, and will be organized by grade level. Student Service Learning (SSL) hours will be available for students. Topics and activities will include:

• Healthy relationships/dating violence

• Social media use and mental health, including cyberbullying

• Self-esteem

• Identifying symptoms of depression and anxiety

• Healthy eating and body image

• Music therapy, Zumba and Kaiser Permanente spin bikes for art therapy

• Narcan kits will be distributed and training will also be available.

RSVP

The Together In Education program gives schools a chance to earn funds when you link your VIC card and shop Harris Teeter.

Any VIC member can link their card to a school.

Link your VIC card to support Farquhar Middle School. Simply sign in to your account, search for Farquhar, and you're done!

Harris Teeter donated $376 to FMS last year with only 26 families participating. Thank you for helping us reach our goal of 50 families this year!

MVA Application Timeline for 2024-2025 School Year

• October 10, 2023- Application opens on ParentVUE
• November 3, 2023- Application deadline
• First Week of February 2024- Notification of results
• February 16, 2024- Deadline to Accept a Program Invitation
• February 16, 2024- Deadline to appeal results

Current MVA families MUST reapply to continue in the program for the 2024-2025 school year.

If you have any questions, contact the MVA office at 240-740-6060.

We have 143 PTA members—a big thanks to all those who have joined. It is not too late to join and donate to the PTA.

Our PTA budget is primarily based on donations from families. If each family donates $20 above the membership cost it will help us meet our budget goal and enable us to support our student activities and staff appreciation. We have 133 members so far and would like to reach at least 200 PTA members!

Join AND Donate to the PTA at: https://fmspta.memberhub.com/store

Sign up to support a FMS monthly staff meeting!

Drop off a snack for the monthly staff meetings and the PTA will reimburse you up to $50 (per staff meeting). It's a great way to get involved and give back to our awesome FMS staff for all they do to support our kids.

Feel free to contact me anytime and follow Farquhar on Twitter!

Email: Angelica_L_Smith@mcpsmd.org
Phone: 240-740-1200
Twitter: @farquharms