Roadrunner's Digest

Happy New Year Farquhar Families and Staff!

I hope you all enjoyed a restful and refreshing winter break. Per this evening's community announcement, MCPS Schools and Offices are CLOSED tomorrow, January 6, in anticipation of the incoming 5-10 inches of snow. Virtual learning will NOT occur tomorrow.

This month, we’re excited to kick off the year with our annual MLK Week of Service. This is a meaningful opportunity for our community to come together and model the importance of giving back. Your continued support with our donation drive is deeply appreciated as we work to instill values of service and kindness in our students.

This month, we are also completing our winter MAP testing. Attendance is critical to ensure all students have the opportunity to showcase their growth and learning. Thank you for your partnership in helping your children arrive to school on time and ready to do their best!

We’re also celebrating the success of our annual student volleyball tournament! Congratulations to the winning team, and thank you to all participants for your energy and sportsmanship. A special shoutout goes to our outstanding PE department for organizing such a fun event, and to Mr. McKenzie for capturing the excitement in a fantastic video, which is shared below for you to enjoy.

Thanks for your continued support and partnership, as always. and enjoy our first SNOW DAY!

In this newsletter you will find:

• This week's bell schedules
• This week's Roadrunner Shout Outs
• After School Activities Schedule
• FMS Counseling Updates
• UPCOMING: MAP Testing starts next week
• NEW: Congratulations to our IXL winners!
• NEW: SSL Update
• NEW: Sign up for FMS Culinary Club!
• NEW: NJHS meeting 1/10/24
• TIMELY: Donation Drive for MLK Week of Service
• MCPS Things to Know

PTA Corner:

• December PTA meeting on Tuesday
• Volunteers needed
• New PTA Treasurer Needed
• Winter Social Volunteers Needed
• Join the PTA

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

• Lucinda Walton
• PE/Health Dept
• Mr. Lynn
• Ellisa Hernandez Ruiz
• Haley
• Lujan Mejia Meyer
• Matthew Foster
• Kidus Cherent

Would you like to recognize a student or staff member?

Submit a SHOUT-OUT!

Thank you for taking a moment to thank a Roadrunner who has made a meaningful difference.

Activities 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.

Please check out the School Counseling Website for information regarding community events, SSL opportunities and mental health resources.

On Tuesday, January 7, we will be conducting MAP-R testing. All 6th graders will participate, along with selected 7th and 8th graders who would benefit from taking the winter administration of the MAP-R assessment. Seventh and eighth grade students who are not participating in testing will engage in a MoCo Cap lesson during this time frame.

Each student has received an email through their school Gmail account (mcpsmd.net) that includes their specific testing location or MoCo Cap assignment.

As snow is in the forecast for next week, our weather contingency plan is as follows:

• If school is canceled on Monday, January 6, MAP-R testing will proceed as scheduled on Tuesday, January 7.
• If school is canceled or there is a two-hour delay on Tuesday, January 7, we will reschedule MAP-R testing for Wednesday, January 8.
• If school is canceled or there is a two-hour delay on Wednesday, January 8, MAP-R testing will take place on Thursday, January 9.

Thank you for your attention to these important details, and we look forward to our students demonstrating their literacy progress thus far. Please reach out to Mr. Katzel at Stephen_M_Katzel@mcpsmd.org if you have any questions or concerns.

We had our first IXL drawing on Friday, and nine of our Roadrunners went home on Friday with exciting prizes. Students can earn tickets on IXL to spend at our school store or enter into various prize drawings. To do so, students must earn proficiency on skills on the Math and ELA IXL platforms. Thanks to all the students for their hard work, and keep chasing those leaderboards!

All MCPS students must earn 75 SSL hours to graduate from high school. Middle school and high school students should continue earning SSL hours towards their SSL graduation requirement by engaging in SSL opportunities during the 2024-2025 school year, including traditional in-person opportunities and select virtual/remote opportunities that follow the amended guidelines posted on the MCPS SSL webpage (www.mcps-ssl.org).

Please refer to important information about the MCPS SSL program provided below:

SSL Hours Documentation

• SSL forms for service completed after June 1, 2024, should be turned into the school’s SSL coordinator by the recommended due date of January 3, 2025.
• Students who wish to submit SSL forms from previous school years must write an appeal to the school’s principal outlining the circumstances for why the SSL form(s) were not turned in by the systemwide deadline. The school’s principal will consider the information presented and make a final decision about the appeal.

To view SSL forms and important due dates for the 2024-2025 school year, please click here.

Please note that all SSL forms for service completed during the summer of 2024 or the 2024-2025 school year should be submitted to the school’s SSL coordinator on a rolling basis by the recommended due date of January 3, 2025, but no later than the required deadline of May 30, 2025.

To learn more about how to complete the SSL form, watch this video at https://bit.ly/SSLForm101

SSL Awards

• Any high school senior who has submitted documentation to show the completion of 240 SSL hours or more by April 4, 2025, will earn the Certificate of Meritorious Service along with a purple tassel for graduation.
• Any middle school student who has submitted documentation to show the completion of the 75-hour SSL graduation requirement (for the first time in middle school) by April 4, 2025, will receive the Superintendent’s SSL Award.

The required deadline for all documentation that qualifies seniors for the Certificate of Meritorious Service and middle school students for the Superintendent’s SSL Award is April 4, 2025.

All SSL forms (MCPS Form 560-51: Student Service Learning Activity Verification form - https://bit.ly/SSLReflection) should be submitted to the school’s SSL coordinator by April 4, 2025, to be considered for these awards.

Student SSL Records on Student/ParentVUE: Step-by-step directions for viewing a student’s full SSL record may be found at https://bit.ly/SSLonVUE

Nonprofit-Hosted SSL Opportunities

MCPS SSL organizations and opportunities are tagged with the blue MCPS SSL banner and graduation cap icon on the Montgomery County Volunteer Center (MCVC) website

All opportunities (including in-person): https://bit.ly/SSLOpportunities

Virtual/remote opportunities:

https://bit.ly/VirtualSSL2020

For additional tips on how to search for opportunities, please go to https://bit.ly/SSLSearchTip

MCPS Form 560-51: SSL Activity Verification Form Used to verify and document SSL hours after service is completed. Student and supervisor must complete the form.

NEW! To learn more about how to complete this SSL form, watch this video at https://bit.ly/SSLForm101

SSL Activity Verification Forms (https://bit.ly/SSLReflection) for service completed should be turned into your school’s SSL coordinator.

(All SSL forms for service completed during the summer of 2024 should be submitted to your school’s SSL coordinator by the recommended due date of Friday, January 3, 2024.)

MCPS Form 560-50: Individual SSL Request Form Used to obtain pre-approval prior to service with a nonprofit organization not listed on the Montgomery County Volunteer Center (MCVC) website

To request pre-approval for service, please complete https://bit.ly/SSLPreApproval

• for in-person service, submit this form to your school’s SSL coordinator
• for virtual/remote service, submit this form to SSL@mcpsmd.org

MCPS SSL Hub for Students

Check out SSL forms, resources, guidelines, and much more at our new MCPS SSL Hub for Students -- https://bit.ly/SSLHubMCPS

MCPS SSL Program Overview may be found at https://bit.ly/SSLOverview2020

If you have any questions about the SSL program, please email your school’s SSL coordinator (https://bit.ly/SSLCoordinatorsMS and https://bit.ly/SSLCoordinatorsHS) or the MCPS SSL office at SSL@mcpsmd.org.

RecXtra Culinary Club sponsored by Ms. Maysonet will begin Wednesday January 8th in Room 33 from 3:15-4:15pm! If you are interested in joining, please fill out the Student Interest Form Linked Here.

Students must complete a Montgomery County Recreation activities permission slip ASAP as there are only 15 Spots Available. Permission slips can be found in room 03 from Mrs. Rose or Ms. Maysonet and returned to the main office to Ms. Maysonet's mail box.

Contact Ms. Maysonet regarding this club maysoner@mcpsmd.org.

Attention all NJHS New Inductees on Friday, January 10. There is a New Inductee Meeting in Room 004 during the first 10 minutes of Open Rock.

From January 13th -17th, 2025 our students will participate in various activities focusing on the themes of kindness, empathy, and social responsibility. These activities will help students understand how they can make a positive impact in their communities and how small actions can contribute to larger changes in the world.

Activities will include: Making hygiene/cleaning kits for the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, blankets & friendship bracelets for local hospitals, dog toys for the Montgomery County Humane Society, friendship bracelets for children in hospitals, and cards for our military troops. Off-campus service options will be available to students as well to volunteer at local elementary schools, nursing homes, public libraries, etc. More information about volunteer opportunities at other MCPS schools will be shared via Remind before Winter Break.

We need your help to make this day a success! We need supplies to make the donated items. Please take a moment to look through the Amazon Wish List linked below and help us make our day of service a success. Items purchased on the list will ship directly to the school. However, if you would like to purchase items on your own and drop them off in the main office, we will happily accept them. We will also be collecting used/old t-shirts to create the dog toys. Please send old t-shirts in a bag labeled “MLK Day of Service”. Lastly, SGA will be conducting a Food & Diaper Drive. Students can bring in non-perishable food items and drop them off in the collection bins in the main lobby. Most commonly needed diaper sizes are indicated on the Amazon Wish List.

For questions, email Ms. Mason (Kristina_D_Mason@mcpsmd.org) or Mrs. Page (Miya_V_Page@mcpsmd.org).

Each week, MCPS shares a community message with helpful system-wide information, reminders, and invitations to events. Though they are sent out via email, we will always link them here.

VOLUNTEERS: Our FMS staff is AMAZING and we are in need of volunteers to support with snacks for the upcoming staff meetings. Please sign up here. The next staff meeting is Monday, October 7th and we need a volunteer!

The PTA is looking for a new treasurer, as our current Treasurer's term will be ending. We will be sharing more information in the coming weeks, so if you are interested, stay tuned!

Direct donations to the FMS PTA are our primary source of fundraising! Help us avoid sales-based fundraisers!

• If you have already joined, but have NOT made a tax-deductible donation, we encourage you to do so. Any amount is appreciated!
• If you have not yet joined, please join, and donate, today!

Your direct donations help the PTA fund:

• Math, English, and STEM materials
• Counseling and wellness initiatives
• Field trips
• Arts, music, and athletic activities,
• Staff appreciation
• Parent/family resources

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

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