Roadrunner's Digest

Good evening Farquhar Families,

Thursday at Farquhar was a great day to break up our unexpectedly long weekends! :-)

This is our last week of marking period 2, so students should shift into high gear ensuring all missing assignments are submitted and any end-of-quarter projects or assessments are ready to go. Friday, January 26 is the last day for students to submit assignments for marking period 2.

This Friday, our PTA is excited to sponsor our annual winter social! This event is free for all students and takes place during the school day. The winter social theme this year is 24 Karat Magic, so students should wear their best yellow or gold clothes/accessories to celebrate a job well done! Our PTA still needs volunteer support, so if you are available to provide a helping hand, please let them know! More information can be found in the PTA corner section of the Digest.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support, and have an excellent week!

In this week's newsletter you will find:

• This week's schedules
• This week's Roadrunner Shout Outs
• MCPS Status Operating Codes
• SY25 Course Selection Information
• Annual SMOB Nominating Convention
• DEADLINE EXTENDED: 6th grade permission slip DUE January 26
• 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

• 24K Magic Winter Social - Parent Volunteers Needed
• Support a Staff Meeting
• UPDATE: Healthy Minds Initiative
• 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/.

Cheer on your girls basketball team as they compete against Rosa Parks! Game starts at 3:20pm. Go Roadrunners!

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

• FMS Building Services
• Kaylee Calebaugh
• Emily Osorio
• Gabriel Cristo
• Mrs. Affinito
• Mr. Ford
• Mirna Cabrera
• Jenny Lipford
• Alexis Savage

Would you like to recognize a student, community member, or staff member?

Submit a SHOUT-OUT!

In the event of inclement weather, MCPS will indicate the status operating codes as listed below.

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.

Is your student interested in seeing the process of the SMOB election unfold? Do they want to attend the annual SMOB Nominating Convention to participate in the democratic process in the selection of our two finalists for the next SMOB? If interested, please contact our SGA advisor, Ms. Affinito, by January 26 to learn more about the process to becoming a delegate to the SMOB Nominating Convention.

The sixth grade class is going to Toby's Dinner Theater on Farquhar Day Out, January 30, 2024.

All permission slips and payments are due by Friday January 26, 2024.

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).

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.

Due to the emergency early closure last week, the new Inductee NJHS Meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday January 23 during Academic Rock in room 004.

Email Ms. Chaney with any questions at Penny_J_Chaney@mcpsmd.org.

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.

Put on your best gold or yellow outfit and get ready to party at the 24 karat Magic Social on Friday, January 26th from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.! DJs, games, prizes, and plenty of candy for sale (so be sure to bring some spending money - small bills, please!). We are still looking for volunteers to help support this fun event. Sign up here.

The PTA has been supporting our FMS staff with snacks at their monthly staff meetings and we need your help to purchase snacks for the upcoming meetings. Please consider donating here!

Based on our recent Healthy Minds family survey and insights from FMS administrators and counselors, stress was found to be one of the top mental health concerns for students and families. Please watch this video to relieve stress through breathing. Each week we will share a resource/article about mental health and well-being.

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

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

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