News From the Falcon's Nest: 11/02
Dear Fallsmead Families
Happy Sunday, and Hello, November! 🍂 As Daylight Saving Time came to an end, I hope you enjoyed the extra hour and savored the brighter morning.
As we enter Week 11, we’re helping students stretch their thinking, make connections, and explain their ideas. Through reading, students build knowledge about the world; in math, they explore patterns and relationships to deepen their understanding. Across classrooms, our goal is for every child to feel supported and challenged as a learner.
At home, everyday moments offer opportunities to think and learn together. While cooking, shopping, or taking a walk, ask: “What do you notice? What do you wonder?” Whether your child notices numbers on a price tag, compares ingredients, or wonders about changing leaves, invite them to share their ideas and explore together.
There is no school for students on Monday, November 2nd, for grading and reporting. Schools and offices are closed on Tuesday, November 3rd, for Election Day. We look forward to seeing our Falcons on Wednesday, November 4th!
As One Team with One Goal, we are Champions Together—working to support our students as they grow in knowledge, confidence, and character. Thank you for your continued support as we strive for the “Treasure Cup” together! We look forward to another great week!
All my best,
Ms. Spaugh
Mission: To foster lifelong learning, promote social responsibility, and inspire personal growth.
Vision: We foster an inclusive environment that supports the holistic development of every child, empowering them to thrive academically, socially, and personally. We cultivate a community where we prioritize collaboration, accountability, growth, kindness, and building relationships in service to all students.
Core Values: Collaboration, Accountability, Growth, Kindness, Relationships
As students continue learning with Amplify Desmos Math, families have resources available to help stay connected to what students are learning and support that learning at home.
The Amplify Desmos Math Caregiver Hub provides families with information about the curriculum, what students are learning, and simple ways to encourage mathematical thinking outside the classroom. Even questions like “What did you learn in math today?” “How did you figure that out?” or “How do you know your answer makes sense?” can help students explain their thinking and build confidence.
Remember to visit the Caregiver Hub throughout the year for resources and ideas to support your student’s growth as a confident and capable math learner.
Visit the Parent Hub in English:
https://mcpsmd.info/ParentHubEnglish
Visite el Centro para Padres en español:
On the newest episode of EdTalk, hear from host Board of Education President Grace Rivera-Oven and principals Alicia Deeny (Richard Montgomery High School) and Isabelle Mensah (Rolling Terrace Elementary School) about how their schools create welcoming environments, engage students and maximize family involvement for multilingual students and families. Watch EdTalk | Vea Educación al Día
You can now listen to all the EdTalk and Educación al Día episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
ParentSquare is the primary communication platform for MCPS and Fallsmead for sharing schoolwide announcements, classroom updates, reminders, forms, and important information with families.
Families are encouraged to download the ParentSquare app and review their account settings to ensure that contact information, language preferences, and notification preferences are up to date. Keeping your account current will help you receive timely messages from Fallsmead and your child’s teachers throughout the school year.
This school year all Montgomery County Public Schools will be restricting the use of cell phones during school hours. These restrictions are in alignment with the Maryland Phone-Free School Act (HB 525). Effective the first day of school, August 24, 2026, all students are not permitted to utilize personal mobile devices (cell phones, tablets, e-readers, personal laptops, smart watches, smart glasses, and anything with a microphone, camera, speaker, or headphones/earbuds (including AirPods) during the instructional day. This includes during lunch and in the hallways as students transition to class.
We believe that by restricting personal mobile devices it will reduce distractions to your child’s learning, support their social development through increased engagement in discussions with their peers and teachers, and promote a safer school environment. For more information, including how you can support your child, please visit the MCPS Family FAQ - Personal Mobile Devices.
