Roadrunner's Digest

Good evening FMS Families and Staff,

I hope you've enjoyed a fun and relaxing spring break! We have a short but exciting week ahead. We look forward to celebrating our new inductees to the National Junior Honors Society this Wednesday night at 6pm! See announcement below.

This Thursday, April 24 is Take Your Child to Work Day. If you plan for your student to be absent from school for this reason, please complete the student absence form as usual, and select "Take Your Child to Work Day" from the reason for absence dropdown menu. The absence will be excused, and students will be responsible for missed assignments and assessments.

Heads up to our 8th grade families! If you have not yet sent permission or payment for the Hershey Park field trip, this is due tomorrow, April 22. If your student is not attending, please communicate your plans to Mrs. Gaske, 8th Grade Team Leader, at Michelle_R_Gaske@mcpsmd.org.

Thank you for your continued partnership, and I wish everyone an 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
• NJHS Induction Ceremony
• Summer School Info (for current 8th grade only)
• DUE TOMORROW: 8th Grade Hershey Park Permission & Forms
• NEW: Free Coding Workshop Opportunity
• FMS Annual STEAM Night
• MCPS Things to Know

PTA Corner:

• Volunteers needed
• PTA Board Vacancies
• Join the PTA

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

• Jordyn Allen
• Paisley Formichelle
• Sara Baboci
• Aurora Stonebraker
• Angela Togbe
• Aylani Callwood
• Catie Braham
• Charlotte Bond
• Hiwote Amslau
• Menna Asegu
• Heather Bruns

Congratulations to the student volleyball team who beat the staff team two games to one in the student vs. staff volleyball match before break! This is the second year in a row that the students have won! We look forward to another competitive match next year!

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.

Summer School Registration

Please reach out to Melanie Bronstein, 8th grade counselor, Melanie_E_Bronstein@Mcpsmd.org, if your child is interested in taking summer courses due to failing a high school level course or for original credit:

1. The deadline for session 1 registrations is Monday, June 2.
2. The deadline for session 2 registrations is Tuesday, July 1.

Please access this link for additional details: Summer School Information

Attention 8th Grade Families,

We are quickly approaching the exciting end-of-year events for our 8th graders! Please mark your calendars for the 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 1:00 PM. The ceremony will take place at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, and each 8th-grade student will receive two guest tickets. More details will be shared as we get closer to the date.

Additionally, Hershey Park permission slips have been distributed! To secure your student's spot, please return the signed permission slip and payment by Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Payment is made by accessing School Cash Online. Click below for the permission slip which includes all necessary details.

We look forward to celebrating these milestones with you!

Check out the flyer for info about a series of online workshops where students can learn to create and launch web applications, and gain some experience in entrepreneurship.

We are hosting our 4th Annual STEAM Night on Thursday, May 1st, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. This extraordinary night features amazing opportunities, activities, and exposure to the world of STEAM to our bright and eager students through an EXPO style format. It is all about community and sparking the curiosity of learning and exploration as our students learn to become future leaders, problem solvers, and outstanding citizens of this world. Meet people from all over the STEAM community including the University of Maryland, Northrop Grumman, NASA, High School Robotics and so much more!

You and your family are invited to interact with the presentations, participate in the activities, and good food from our food trucks! Last year we were BLOWN AWAY when 300+ students, families, and community members came out to take part in this special event. This year, we expect nothing less and want YOU to be a part of it!

Hope to see you here on Thursday, May 1st!

If you are interested in becoming a Presenter/Volunteer to showcase a project, provide a STEAM activity, or share information about STEAM related clubs and activities, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM and save the date for 5/1/25.

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!

Please log-in here. We will be providing board updates and discussing board openings for SY25-26.

FMS PTA Board has the following openings for SY25-26- President, Executive VP/Delegate, Treasurer, Communications and Programs VP. Additional details will be discussed at the April PTA Meeting.

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