Roadrunner's Digest

Hello Farquhar Families and Staff!!

What an incredible first week of school it has been! Our Roadrunners have returned with enthusiasm, ready to embrace new challenges, and it's been wonderful to see them engaging in their learning and building connections with their peers and teachers. The positive energy in our classrooms and hallways is contagious!

Thank you for your ongoing collaboration and partnership. Your support is vital to our success, and together, we are creating a nurturing environment where every student can thrive. We are excited about the year ahead and look forward to working closely with you to ensure a fantastic school year.

As we approach Labor Day, I want to take a moment to honor the hard work and dedication of all our families. Your every day efforts build our strong community and are modeling success for the next generation. I hope you enjoy a restful and well-deserved holiday weekend.

In this newsletter you will find:

• This week's bell schedules
• This week's Roadrunner Shout Outs
• UPDATE: Back-to-School Night Info
• NEW: Does your student have their Chromebook?
• NEW: Outdoor Education Parent Meeting
• NEW: Turn in your Summer SSL Forms!
• NEW: Upcoming SSL Opportunity Alert!
• NEW: Mental Health Services via Thrive @ FMS
• NEW: EF Travel Opportunity
• Attendance @ FMS
• UPDATE: Student Expectations Module
• Family Life & Human Sexuality Curriculum: Virtual Parent Meeting
• MCPS Things to Know

PTA Corner:

• Join us @ Back-to-School Night!
• Save the date: October 8
• Support Restaurant Night 10/24
• Join the PTA

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

• Mr. Foster
• Ms. Grissette
• Mason Laibson
• Ms. Bonfils
• Liam Hopper
• Brook Micheale
• Gabriel Pacheco
• Ms. Affinito
• Mr. Eisenhower
• Maida Rada
• Ms. Rivas
• Mr. Rodriguez
• Ms. Fuentes
• Ms. Hunzelmann
• Mr. Lynn
• Ms. Via
• The Counseling Department
• Olivia Verna
• Building Services Team
• Ms. Bronstein

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.

We are excited to welcome you to Farquhar for Back-to-School Night this Thursday, September 5. Here's what you need to know:

• Carpool if possible! All three parking lots will be available for families, but they fill up fast! Good Counsel also has an evening event at the same time, so we anticipate extra congestion.
• Our family information fair will be in the media center from 5:30 - 6:10pm. You can get information about Outdoor Ed, the ParentVUE and Remind apps, the MocoCAP career advising program, and our amazing PTA.
• Students will be bringing home a flier that has the agenda for the evening and their class schedule written on it for you to follow during classroom rotations. There is a blank copy here in case you need it, and also here in Spanish.
• Spanish translators will be available throughout the evening! If you have any questions about this or require special assistance, please contact Tetze_G_Hunzelmann@mcpsmd.org.

We look forward to seeing you later this week!

As our Roadrunners are getting back into the swing of morning routines, your support in ensuring your student has their MCPS-issued Chromebook before they leave is greatly appreciated! Students who forget their Chromebook at home can check out a day loaner that must be returned at the end of the school day. All day loaner Chromebooks have a big yellow sticker on them. You shouldn't see one at home, but if you do, please remind your student to return it to the main office the next morning.

Students who have lost their Chromebook must check out a new one from Ms. Brown in the media center. The lost Chromebook will be obligated to your student's School Cash Online account.

Thank you for your partnership and collaboration with instructional technology!

All families of sixth grade students are invited to our Outdoor Education parent info meeting on Thursday, October 24, 2024 from 6:30 - 7:15pm.

• This meeting will be in HYBRID format. Come in-person to the Cafeteria, or join us on Zoom (link forthcoming)
• Spanish translation will be available in person
• Learn about the curriculum and experiences of Outdoor Ed
• Participate in the Q&A session

Check out the Counseling Website for more information about SSL hours and opportunities. Student Service Learning (SSL) is a Maryland state graduation requirement. Students must earn 75 SSL hours to graduate from high school and can start earning SSL hours the summer after grade 5.

Students may continue to earn SSL hours throughout middle school and high school. All summer SSL forms should be submitted to the school’s SSL coordinator, Ms. Payne, by September 27, 2024.

SSL hours completed during the 2024-2025 school year should be submitted no later than the required deadline of May 30, 2025. All MCPS students must earn 75 SSL hours to graduate.

All SSL forms should be turned in to the counseling office.

ATTENTION MCPS! The Montgomery County Board of Elections is in search of civic-minded students grade 6-12.

Since 2004, the Montgomery County Board of Elections has conducted the Future Vote Initiative to encourage students from grades 6 to 12 to participate in elections. To date, +52,000 students have participated in the Future Vote, including over +12,000 who have served as election workers after their sixteenth birthday. The program also provides an experience for young people that will shape their values and character and give them an understanding of what it means to exercise their vote and empower others to do the same. To apply, review the registration instructions provided here: 2024_FV_Registration_Instructions_03292024-2.pdf (montgomerycountymd.gov).

Future Vote deadline is October 16, 2024, with mandatory training held from October 8-17, 2024. Training information, dates and locations provided during registration.

• FV FAQs Montgomery County Board of Elections: Future Vote FAQs (montgomerycountymd.gov)
• Future Vote Recognition by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission Montgomery County MD 2018 Clearinghouse Award Winner | U.S. Election Assistance Commission (eac.gov)

Students 16 years or older are eligible to register to vote and serve as election poll workers. Each minor must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Maryland State Board of Elections, that they meet all qualifications for voter registration in the State. Each student will earn a minimum $250 stipend or up to 25 Student Service Learning (SSL) hours per full day of service. Individuals who served at the polling places or early voting in previous elections will receive a $100 bonus per full day served ($50 for half-day shifts). To serve in this paid volunteer position election workers must be U.S. citizens, registered to vote in the State of Maryland, able to speak, read, and write the English language, and cannot hold, or be a candidate for, public or party office. In addition, election workers may not serve as campaign managers for candidates or as treasurer for any campaign finance entity. Training is required and will be provided to election workers. This includes an online quiz and in-person classroom training held now through October. Volunteers will be paid for completing training and working during Early Voting and/or on Election Day. Due to the diversity within the county, voters who speak multiple languages are encouraged to apply. We offer several different positions, full-day, and part-day. To apply, text SERVE to 77788, or EJ Connection - Montgomery County Board of Elections (montgomerycountymd.gov). The Maryland voter registration deadline is Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

• High School Election Worker FAQs High School Poll Workers - Montgomery County MD
• Position Description & Stipend/SSL Amounts Montgomery County Board of Elections - Election Worker Job Descriptions (montgomerycountymd.gov)

Gilberto Zelaya, Ph.D., CERA

Community Engagement/Public Relations Officer

Montgomery County Board of Elections

18753 N. Frederick Avenue, Suite 210, Gaithersburg, MD 20879

(O) 240-777-8532, (Cell/Text) 240-508-4820

(Email) gilberto.zelaya@montgomerycountymd.gov

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/

Step into the Middle Ages on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and under the towering spire of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin! In Belfast, old conflicts have given way to an influx of restored 19th-century architecture and a thriving arts scene. We will be traveling to Ireland & Scotland in the Summer of 2026. A parent interest meeting will be held on Zoom on Sept 18, 2024. If you are interested in attending the meeting, please RSVP here. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Amber Gramkow at amber_m_gramkow@mcpsmd.org. I look forward to traveling with you and your students.

--Ms. Gramkow

Need to communicate that your child will be absent?

There are multiple ways that you can reach us:

1. We are excited to introduce our new Student Absence Google Form! This is the quickest, easiest way to ensure our attendance secretary codes the absence as excused. We strongly recommend bookmarking this link so that it's accessible to you anytime. You can also find it on the FMS Website. Please note that only notes submitted from verified parent/guardian email addresses will be accepted.
2. You can call the school at 240-740-1200 anytime between 7:30am and 4:30pm.
3. You can email our attendance secretary, Mrs. Michele Fuentes, at Michele_Fuentes@mcpsmd.org.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is committed to ensuring our students are equipped with the information needed to be able to promote a positive school culture and ensure the physical, social and emotional safety for all students. This year’s annual student training module, MCPS Student Expectation Lessons, has two parts, and both are required learning experiences.

• Part one is the updated edition of the annual “Culture of Respect.” We must take an active role to ensure students are informed and able to recognize signs of bullying/cyberbullying, harassment (including sexual harassment), hate-bias incidents, hazing, intimidation, student gender norms, and how to use the Speak Up Protocol.
• Part two ensures that students are aware of key information in the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Student Rights and Responsibilities and MCPS Code of Conduct documents. This training educates students on their expectations for creating a learning environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and knows the various ways to report alleged/concerning incidents.

The MCPS Student Expectation Lessons were developed for students in Grades 6–12. The training should take approximately two classes to complete and will be accessible to all students via their myMCPS Classroom homepage.

• Students will earn three Student Service Learning hours to complete the training.
• At Farquhar, students will complete the modules on September 4th and September 11th during ROCK time. They will need wired headphones to complete the modules.
• Students may also complete the modules at home with parent/guardian support.
• Students are expected to complete the training by September 27, 2024.
  

The objectives of the training module are for students to know and be able to:

• Review collective responsibilities in promoting a positive school culture and ensuring the physical, social, and emotional safety for all students in alignment with the MCPS Be Well 365 initiative.
• Define bullying, cyberbullying, harassment (including sexual harassment), hate-bias, hazing, intimidation, and student gender norms.
• Recognize signs of hazing, bullying, and harassment, including sexual harassment/assault.
• Identify reporting procedures to inform school administration of potential concerns and incidents.
• Analyze different scenarios and discuss possible consequences according to MCPS Student Code of Conduct.
• Discuss how students can address the situation and report it.

If you have any questions or concerns about the topics that will be covered, please contact your student's school counselor:

• 6th grade: Ms. Julie Lazaris (Julie_C_Lazaris@mcpsmd.org)
• 7th grade: Ms. Jacqueline Payne (Jacqueline_M_Payne@mcpsmd.org)
• 8th grade: Ms. Melanie Bronstein (Melanie_E_Bronstein@mcpsmd.org)

We are pleased to invite you to a virtual meeting on September 19th from 6:00-7:00 PM via Zoom to discuss the upcoming Family Life and Human Sexuality (FLHS) unit for our 7th and 8th grade health classes. This session aims to provide you with an overview of the curriculum and address any questions you may have regarding the topics covered. Information for the zoom and grade level letters reviewing the curriculum are below. We look forward to your participation and collaboration in supporting our students' education.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://mcpsmd.zoom.us/j/87822891229?pwd=ntJA2mfbtzFbvx14PRw3a5sJQ2HsWZ.1

Meeting ID: 878 2289 1229

Passcode: 453280

• 7th Grade (English) (Español)
• 8th Grade (English) (Español)

Though the 6th grade curriculum does not include FLHS instruction, information about the units covered is below.

• 6th Grade (English) (Español)

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.

Please join us for Back-To-School Night on Thursday, Sept.5th. At 6:15 PM, the PTA will share our plans and budget for the year and conduct a quick vote on the budget, followed by classroom visits.

Our first full (virtual) PTA meeting on Tuesday, 10/8 at 7:00 PM. We look forward to seeing you there! Stay tuned for Zoom details.

We will have our first Restaurant Night scheduled at Chipotle on Nov. 4th from 4-8pm.

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