Roadrunner's Digest
Mrs. Rivas-Smith's Newsletter for the Farquhar Community
Sunday, January 14, 2024
Message from the Principal
I hope you are all staying warm in this deep cold! Our Roadrunners had a busy week as they continued their MAP testing and learned about student activism in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On Friday our students shared their personal commitments to activism, being an upstander, and voicing their own advocacy during our first MLK Service Day at Farquhar. We thank Ms. Mason and Ms. Rose for their coordination of this awesome event, and we look forward to expanding this effort in the years to come.
We have nine school days left until the end of the marking period! Now is a great time to take inventory of any missing assignments, assessments, and any major projects that are coming up in the next few days. Let's finish the fall semester strong!
In this week's newsletter you will find:
- This week's schedules
- This week's Roadrunner Shout Outs
- NEW: MCPS Status Operating Codes
- UPDATE: SY25 Course Selection Information
- NEW: Science Spotlight!
- TIMELY: 6th grade permission slip DUE January 19
- NEW: Farquhar's First AMC8 Math Competition January 23
- UPDATE: NJHS Meeting rescheduled
- Parent Chaperones needed for 7th Grade Finance Park in March
PTA Corner Updates
- Winter Social January 26 @ FMS
- UPDATE: Healthy Minds Initiative and parent webinar for student academic success
- TIMELY: FMS PTA Fundraiser @ Jersey Mike's
- Parent Support for the IXL Initiative
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/.
There is NO SCHOOL on Monday, January 15
Main Bell Schedule: January 16 - 19
After School Activities January 15 - 19
This Week's Roadrunner Shout Outs!
Thank you to the following Roadrunners who have made a positive impact on our learning community!
- Aheean Rahaman & Farhan Rahaman
- Isaac Gittleson
- Jen Hallmark
- Mr. Lichvar
- Shannon Sullivan
- Alyssa Zaidi
- Julia Abreu
- Masel Zegeye
- Nikia Williams
- Ariannah Swanson
- Sharon Bubis
- Nsombi Brown
- Mary Kay
- Kristina Mason
- Laurie Rose
Would you like to recognize a student, community member, or staff member?
NEW: MCPS Status Operating Codes
In the event of inclement weather, MCPS will indicate the status operating codes as listed below.
UPDATE: SY25 Course Selection Information
January is an exciting time for schools and families to begin planning for and selecting their course programming for the following school year. During the month of January, counselors will visit classes to outline the courses available to students in the next school year, 2024 - 2025.
Farquhar students rising into grade 7 and grade 8 next year participated in an advisory lesson last Wednesday, January 10th where they received a paper handout to bring home to select their electives courses for next school year. Then, during the upcoming week, counselors will guide students to electronically select their electives courses. Please review the 2024 - 2025 Farquhar Middle School Course Bulletin by clicking here to advise your students and provide input on their course selections.
Farquhar students moving on to high school next year will also select their courses for 9th grade during the month of January. High school counselors from Sherwood H.S. and the Northeast Consortium (NEC) schools, including Blake, Paint Branch and Springbrook, will visit our 8th graders on January 25th. Students will complete the high school course registration process on that day. Please review the MCPS high school course bulletin for 2024 - 2025 by clicking here in order to advise your student and provide input on their course selections.
You can also find the Sherwood High School articulation booklet here.
You can find the Blake High School articulation information here.
NEW: Science Spotlight!
Students began their fetal pig dissection in Forensics this week by conducting an external autopsy. Student identified the pig’s gender and made observations that might help them identify the cause of death. They also captured the length and weight to determine the age of the fetal pig. Next week they will complete an internal observation and write their final autopsy report.
TIMELY: 6th grade permission slips DUE January 19
Monday 1/8/24 Grade 6 will pass out permission slips for the Toby's Dinner Theater field trip on 1/30/24.
Make payments online at https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com. Students should turn in permission slips, medical info/ emergency form, and Prescription Medication if needed to Mr. Lichvar in Room 004.
For questions about payment, please email Mr. Eisenhower (Mark_A_Eisenhower@mcpsmd.org).
All permission slips and payments are due by Friday 1/19/24.
NEW: Farquhar's First AMC8 Math Competition January 23
Hello mathletes! Do you like challenging math problems? Do you want to see where you rank nationally among other middle school students with your math knowledge? If you said yes, please register for Farquhar’s first AMC8 Math Competition that will take place on Tuesday, Jan 23, 2024 at 3:15 pm. This competition is open to all FMS students and we have 30 spots available. Be on the lookout for more information from Mr. Mark Eisenhower.
Upcoming NJHS Meetings
Due to the emergency early closure last week, the new Inductee NJHS Meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday 1.16.23 during Academic Rock in room 004.
Email Ms. Chaney with any questions at Penny_J_Chaney@mcpsmd.org.
Parent Chaperones needed for 7th Grade JA Finance Park in March
If you are available and willing to support the 7th grade JA Finance Park field trip on March 14 or 18, please email Ms. Page at Miya_V_Page@mcpsmd.org.
PTA Corner
Winter Social on January 26 @ FMS
Winter Social Friday, 1/26 1:00-3:00 p.m. at FMS
The PTA is supporting the Winter Social at FMS on Friday, 1/26 1:00-3:00 p.m. We are looking for volunteers to help support this fun event. Sign up here.
TIMELY: FMS PTA fundraiser: Jersey Mike’s Restaurant
· When: Thursday Jan 18 Time: 10 AM – 9 PM
· Where: Jersey Mike’s 3494 Olney Laytonsville Rd, Olney
· Why: A portion of the sales will be donated to the PTA budget
UPDATE: PTA Healthy Minds Initiative
Based on our recent Healthy Minds family survey and insights from FMS administrators and counselors, anxiety was found to be the number one mental health concern for students and families. Please read the article for expert advice on child's anxiety in the classroom. Each week we will share a resource/article about mental health and well-being.
Please join us on January 17th at 7 PM for a webinar on helping middle schoolers achieve academic success!
We all make New Year’s resolutions, and sometimes they're hard to keep. However, focusing on building specific strategies rather than unattainable, big goals can help students stay focused and motivated for the second half of the school year.
This webinar covers strategies to increase your middle schooler’s focus, productivity, and time management, simple ways to create daily routines, ways to help resistant kids overcome roadblocks and achieve what they set out to do…and more. Presented by Ann Dolin, M. Ed. of Educational Connections.
This is a live webinar. All registrants will also receive the replay of this webinar.
Parent Support for the IXL Initiative
MCPS has a county wide initiative to meet the academic needs of all students through IXL Learning. At FMS, they utilize the IXL learning platform to provide students with practice opportunities in math and literacy that is tailored to their needs and meets them at their level. FMS has instituted an incentive program that is very popular with students. The students look forward to trading in their earned tickets for fun merchandise. As we begin the new year, the school is planning to restock the store and could use our help. Please consider purchasing incentive supplies for the IXL store through the Amazon Wish List: Amazon.com
Contact Mrs. Rivas-Smith
Email: Angelica_L_Smith@mcpsmd.org
Phone: 240-740-1200
Twitter: @farquharms