Roadrunner's Digest

Dear Farquhar Families and Staff,

Thank you for another fantastic week! We’re encouraged by the energy and spirit our students bring each day. This week is especially exciting as we kick off Outdoor Education for our 6th graders—a unique experience that builds confidence, connection, and a deeper appreciation for the world around us. If your child is attending, please be sure to review the Outdoor Ed announcement for all the details.

Please also note that there are NO after school activities this week. All students should depart from campus at dismissal time. There will be no activity buses.

As we approach Veterans Day, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who have served in the armed forces, especially those within our Farquhar community. Your service and dedication have protected the freedoms we hold dear, and we honor you for your sacrifices.

Thank you very much for your continued support and partnership, and I wish everyone a safe and excellent week ahead!

In this newsletter you will find:

• This week's bell schedules
• This week's Roadrunner Shout Outs
• After School Activities Schedule
• FMS Counseling Updates
• NEW: Way to go XC Girls!
• TIMELY: It's Outdoor Education Week!
• NEW: Student Career Advisory Council Lunch Bunch
• In-School Mental Health Services via Thrive
• NEW: National History Day Info
• Yearbooks are for sale!
• Sherwood HS Pom Squad Day Camp
• SK Day Free STEM Opportunity for Grade 6 Girls
• Integirls DC Math Competition
• MCPS Things to Know

PTA Corner:

• Volunteers needed
• Upcoming Events and Winter Social
• Join the PTA

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

• Mrs. Gaske
• Sophia Polizos
• Heather Bruns
• Mark Eisenhower
• Grace Peterson
• Rowan Miller
• Sidney Esser
• AnnaLee Havens
• Mr. Lichvar
• Mr. Green

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 Wednesday, November 6th, Kara Pruitt and Katie Thompson competed in the Over the Hill Invitational Cross Country Meet held at Robert Frost Middle School.

The girls competed against over 70 middle school girls from across the county in a 2-mile race. Congratulations to Kara for placing 4th overall! Both runners made the Farquhar community proud!

This week, our 6th grade class is venturing out to Middletown, MD to participate in Outdoor Education!

• Drop-Off: Please drop your student off in the back of the school with their luggage clearly labeled with their first and last name. Staff will be outside to assist you. Please do not send them on the school bus with luggage.

• Weather: Be sure to check the forecast! The days will be warm, but the nights are expected to be cold, so pack accordingly.

• Key Details about your student's experience are linked here for your review.

• Pick-up: Students will be ready for pick-up at 1:00pm on the day they return from Skycroft. To pick up your student at the end of the session, bring your valid ID and the Parent-Child Reunification Form to the Gym Entrance at Farquhar. Paper copies of the form were distributed on Friday and sent out via Remind. Alternatively, you can click below for a copy, or complete the form upon arrival at FMS.

• Special Arrangements: If you need to make special arrangements for your student to be picked up by an adult who is NOT an authorized pick-up person, you must communicate this special arrangement via email to Ms. Fuentes, attendance secretary, at Michele_Fuentes@mcpsmd.org. Please include the full name of the adult you authorize to pick up your student.

Attention Students!

This is a reminder about the FMS Student Career Advisory Council Lunch Bunch happening on Monday, 11/18, during lunch periods in Room 029.

This month, we’re excited to welcome a guest speaker—an Aerospace Engineer—who will share insights about their work in the aerospace field, as well as their education and career journey. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about this fascinating industry and science!

If you’d like to attend, please stop by Merchant's room (033) to pick up a pass!

Upcoming Career Advisory Council Lunch Bunch Dates and Topics:

• THIS MONTH: Monday, 11/18 – Guest Speaker: Aerospace Engineer
• NEXT MONTH: Monday, 12/9 – Guest Speaker: Military Career Path

Thrive Behavioral Health is partnering with Montgomery County Public Schools. Thrive can support students in need of individual counseling services at Farquhar Middle School through a referral process. Please reach out to your grade level counselor with any questions. Thrive Website: https://thrivebh.com

National History Day is a national competition where students create a research project around a complex historical argument. This year’s topic is “Rights and Responsibilities” where students will explore any moment of history they wish to and then construct a website, video, performance, or essay explaining the relevance of rights and responsibilities to that topic.

Any student who is interested in this should reach out to Ms. Page or Mr. Green for more information, or visit the National History Day website at www.nhd.org

Yearbooks on sale for $30 until December 1st 2024. After that yearbook prices will go up to $35. You can purchase a yearbook here at https://yearbookforever.com/ . Pre-order a yearbook today!

Work with current Sherwood Poms to learn a routine. All participants will perform in a showcase at the end. See the Division 1 award-winning Sherwood Poms perform! A snack and drink will be provided.

Participants will earn a souvenir photo and certificate of completion. Bring cash for the opportunity to buy snacks and raffle tickets. Funds raised will benefit Sherwood Athletics with 10% of proceeds donated to MedStar Montgomery Campaign for Oncology.

Participants will also be invited to perform at the SHS Varsity Boys Basketball game at halftime on Tuesday, December 10th at 7:15pm!

The Sonya Kovalevsky Team at Montgomery College is excited to announce Montgomery College is holding its 28th annual Sonya Kovalevsky Day on Saturday November 16, 2024 on the Rockville campus. The program goal is to increase participation of girls in STEM fields. Research indicates that 6th grade is when many girls turn away from STEM, which is why their program targets 6th grade students.

This event is FREE, but space is limited to the first 60 students who register on their website: https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/academics/stem/k-12/sonya-kovalevsky-program.html

If you have questions, please email us at SonyaKovalevsky.Program@montgomerycollege.edu.

The D.C. chapter of INTEGIRLS is hosting a beginner-friendly, in-person math competition Saturday, December 14th from 9 am - 4 pm at the Bioscience Education Center at Montgomery College Germantown Campus! Our mission at INTEGIRLS is to encourage girls and non-binaries in STEM fields through math competitions and events. This year, we will have math competition rounds (individual and team), an estimathon, a speaker event, awards ceremony, provided lunch, and lots of fun STEM activities. Teams of up to 4 students will be able to connect with and enjoy math with other girls and non-binaries around the DMV. There will be a lot of prizes and fun swag for all participants.

Register here directly or go to the INTEGIRLS D.C. website (dc.integirls.org) to learn more about the competition. If you have questions, please contact Isha Joshi at isha@integirls.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.

HUGE THANK YOU to those who participated in Restaurant Night at Chipotle!!!!

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!

• MLK Day of Service- January 2025: More details forthcoming.
• Winter Social- January 31, 2025 from 6-8pm at FMS. We will be seeking volunteers to chaperone the winter social! 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