Roadrunner's Digest
Mrs. Rivas-Smith's Newsletter for the Farquhar Community
Sunday, February 11, 2024
Message from the Principal
We had an awesome week that was capped off with grade level town halls celebrating our marking period 2 academic performance. Last quarter, about 4 out of every 5 students at Farquhar MS earned all A's, B's and C's. Our Roadrunners continue to demonstrate excellence in the classroom! We also celebrated our students who stay committed to their IXL practice in ELA and Math, and nine students went home with a raffle prize! More blue ticket winners will be pulled at random for the remainder of the year, and gold ticket winners will be drawn at the end of Q3 and early June. Thank you for continuing to encourage your students to engage in this important practice!
This week is Kindness Week at FMS. All activities are coordinated and funded by our incredible counseling department, and we thank Ms. Lazaris, Ms. Bronstein, and Ms. Payne, and Ms. Mora for their contributions to the Farquhar Community! Be sure to check out information about spirit day details and daily activities! Also, we are extending our SGA Valentine's fundraiser to parents! Check out the details below if you are interested in sending your student a valentine on Wednesday in support of our amazing music program. Your support and partnership helps tremendously, and is sincerely appreciated.
In this week's newsletter you will find:
- This week's schedules
- This week's Roadrunner Shout Outs
- UPDATE: Black History Month @ FMS
- NEW: Kindness Week Spirit Days and Activities
- NEW: Send a Valentine to your student!
- NEW: 7th Grade JA Finance Park permission slip info
- NEW: NJHS Member Meeting February 13
- NEW: Farquhar AMC8 Math Competition highlights
- NEW: Annual doodle for Google contest info
- UPDATE: FMS Instrumental Music highlights
- NEW: Dear Edwina, Jr. Cast and Crew info
- DC United Home Opener Tickets 2/24
- 8th Grade Baby Pictures for Yearbook due February 29
- UPDATE: MCPS System Messages
PTA Corner Updates
- TIMELY: Pie Day at FMS
- UPDATE: Healthy Minds Initiative
- COMING SOON: PTA Fundraiser at Chipotle March 11
- COMING SOON: 2024 Wellness Fair March 12
- 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/.
Main Bell Schedule: February 12 - 15
Open ROCK Schedule Friday 2/16
After School Activities February 12-16
REMINDER: A note about transportation during after school activities...
Clubs end at 4:15 and students must be picked up no later than 4:30. Students should take the activity bus if they cannot be picked up by 4:30, as the main office closes at this time.
Craft Club will not be meeting for the next few weeks. An announcement will be made once the club resumes meetings.
This Week's Roadrunner Shout Outs!
Thank you to the following Roadrunners who have made a positive impact on our learning community!
- Dr. Julia Abreu
- Amy Councilman
- Matthew Lichvar
- Mrs. Gramkow
- Mr Ford
Would you like to recognize a student, community member, or staff member?
UPDATE: Black History Month in FMS English Classes
Our Roadrunners will be engaging in learning and reflections about Black and African American contributions and accomplishments throughout the month of February!
- English 6- Students reflect on MLK's quote, "At the center of nonviolence stands the principle of love. Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that." This will shape the non-violent organizations the students create and the final project they compose as an organization against violence.
- Digital Literacy- Students will gather information about a Black History Icon. They will utilize digital and print resources to learn about their icon. Students will create a project of their choice using a rubric to present information about the icon's life.
- Adv. English 7- Students read about Simone Bile's career and how she is the best gymnast in gymnastics history. Students unpack and discuss what she experienced from racism, prejudice, and criticism and how those things impacted her mental health and her decision to step away from Tokyo in 2020 and come back this year in 2024. Then, students read the Kevin Love article next week about how he also had experienced a panic attack and how it is okay to have feelings of anxiety and it is okay for us to get help for those things by reaching out to professionals and trusted adults. Students will be exposed to a mix of videos of her career, an article (from Study Sync), and writing about their reflections on the athletes' articles and how society has treated them.
- Adv. English 8- In Unit 3, No Risk, No Reward, students will be reading about historical figures, like Frederick Douglass and Richard Turere, who have taken risks that have dramatically changed their lives and others. They will use textual evidence from each of these informational texts to write an essay answering the question, "Why do people take chances?"
NEW: Kindness Week @ FMS
This week, we will be celebrating Farquhar Kindness Week 2024. It is a week to recognize the big impact that small acts of kindness can have on others. There will be a variety of activities throughout the week that students can participate in during connect time, lunch and open rock on Friday. There will also be a Kindness week advisory lesson. Teachers will also be incorporating the theme of Kindness into their classrooms throughout the week.
NEW: Send a Valentine to your student!
The SGA has 100 chocolate covered roses available for delivery to your student on Valentine's Day. 200 roses have already been sold! You may purchase a rose by completing this form and purchasing a rose for $3.25 through SCO.
To purchase your rose Click Here. Then complete this form to tell us who you're sending it to and writing your personalized message. Your chocolate rose will be delivered to your student with your message on Wednesday, February 14 during Advisory.
~All proceeds support the FMS Music Department.
NEW: 7th Grade JA Finance Park Permission Slips are coming!
7th-grade JA Finance forms were distributed through the Remind app. This week, paper permission slips will be distributed in Social Studies classes. Please promptly return the forms either to the social studies teacher or to danielle_n_affinito@mcpsmd.org.
NEW: NJHS Member Meeting 2/13
- NJHS Members Meeting Tuesday 2.13 in room 004 at the start of Academic Rock.
- NJHS New Inductees Meeting Tuesday 2.20 in room 004 at the start of Academic Rock.
Shout out to the NJHS Students the Valentines for the Veterans was a huge success. Our Valentines will be delivered all around DC, MD, and VA this week!
NEW: AMC8 Math Competition highlights
Thank you to the 14 students that competed in the AMC8 Math Competition this year. The three students that scored the highest are Kenzie Herrera, Brody Marshall, and Farhan Rahaman. Congratulations!
NEW: Annual doodle for Google contest info
Attention all 6th graders, and 7th and 8th graders who are not currently enrolled in art with Mrs. Savage or Mrs. Merchant:
Google is hosting their annual Doodle for Google contest. This years prizes are bigger and better, there are more prizes to be won, and more ways to create! If you are interested in entering, please grab an entry packet located outside of Mrs. Savage’s art room ( room 127). Entries need to be given to Mrs. Savage by February 23rd in order to be submitted.
UPDATE: FMS Instrumental Music highlights
It was a busy week in the music department!
7th and 8th grade students were treated to performances by the Blake High School Acapella Choir, String Quintet and Marching Band. Several Farquhar alums hold leadership positions in these amazing ensembles and were eager to discuss the plethora of performing arts opportunities in high school. To learn more about the Blake High School Performing Arts Department visit https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/bhsopenhouse/performing-arts?authuser=0.
A select group of our Orchestra students performed at MedStar Olney's annual Black History Month commemoration. They were joined by Ms. Merchant's 8th grade Digital Art students who showcased their artwork inspired by quotes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
All County Band and Orchestra students performed at Einstein High School. This concert was the culminating experience of their 5 weekly rehearsals. Audio recordings of this performance will be available soon on any music streaming service. Search "MCPS Southeast All County 2024".
Congratulations to all the students for their incredible accomplishments!
NEW: Dear Edwina, Jr. Cast and Crew Info
Cast auditions begin on Tuesday, February 13. Make sure to use the sign-up genius to select your preferred date/time AND bring a signed after school permission slip. Students interested in joining the crew just need to complete the online application. The call board next to the school door has detailed information about each character including vocal range and number of speaking lines.
Please note a change to our April rehearsal schedule. Email Mrs. Lipford at Jenny_M_Lipford@mcpsmd.org if you've already completed the application and have a conflict on April 20.
DC United Home Opener Tickets 2/24
Students at Farquhar are eligible to receive a FREE ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket for the home opening game on Saturday, February 24. Purchase your tickets at https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/studentachiever and use discount code MCPS.
Eighth Grade Baby Pictures for Yearbook due February 29
To ensure that your student has their baby picture included in this year’s yearbook, fill out this Baby Picture Submission Google form, or send them via email directly to Ms. Gramkow at amber_m_gramkow@mcpsmd.org. The deadline to submit pictures is Thursday, February 29th. Any pictures submitted after the deadline will not be included in the yearbook.
MCPS System Messages
- TIMELY Registration is open for the 16th Annual HBCU Fair happening THIS FRIDAY 2/16. This free in-person event at The Universities at Shady Grove will provide students in Grades 8–12 an opportunity to meet representatives from more than 50 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Read more.
Coming Soon: Important District Wide Survey MCPS is working to improve teaching and making our schools and district a more welcoming place for all students, families, and staff and we need your help. A survey will be available on Monday, Feb. 12 asking for your feedback on the school district. All students, families, and staff are encouraged to participate. The survey will be open from February 12 through March 15.
- The 2024-2025 Change of School Assignment (COSA) transfer season is now open. The COSA process allows families to submit a request for their children to transfer out of their assigned home school. All COSA request applications must be submitted no later than Tuesday, April 2. Read full details. A special reminder to our current 8th graders on a COSA: All rising freshman must apply for a COSA to continue their feeder pattern.
PTA Corner
NEW: Pi(e) Day @ FMS
Any Way You Slice It, FMS Has the BEST Teachers and Staff! Happy Pi(e) Day! Join the FMS PTA in treating the amazing FMS staff by donating a pie for Pi Day. Pies can be homemade or store bought. To donate, please sign up and drop off the pies in the front office on March 13th from 7:45am-3:00pm. The staff will enjoy pies with their lunches the following day. Please indicate here what type of pie you will be bringing in the comment section so we don't have too many duplicates. We thank you for your support!
UPDATE: PTA Healthy Minds Initiative
Based on our recent Healthy Minds family survey and insights from FMS administrators and counselors, proper communication was found to be very important for students and families.
Please read the article for expert advice on discussing difficult situations with your children. Each week we will share a resource/article about mental health and well-being. Thanks to the support from this grant and your voices, we will be hosting the first Wellness Fair at FMS on Tuesday, 3/12 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. We will be sending more information soon.
COMING SOON: PTA Fundraiser @ Chipotle March 11
March 11 at Chipotle in Olney. The battle of the classes continues!
COMING SOON: FMS Community Wellness Fair March 12
We encourage parents to join us during Farquhar Middle School's first annual Community Wellness fair on March 12, 2024 from 5:30 - 7pm. We will be screening LIKE, a movie about the real story behind social media platforms. Click HERE to register!
Parent Support for the IXL Initiative
At FMS, teachers 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