News From the Falcon's Nest

Dear Fallsmead Families,

Hello October! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! We are heading into Week 7, and we are excited to welcome families to Open House on Monday, October 12th. Please see the information below to RSVP.

As we continue moving through the school year, our students are growing in their routines and learning experiences. In literacy, we are looking to see how students engage with texts and participate in meaningful discussions. In mathematics, student discourse is supporting their reasoning as they navigate tasks, explain their thinking, and learn from one another.

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

In addition to our 1st-semester calendar, please review the October dates below. Some event details and times are finalized as the school year develops, so we’ll continue to share updates here.

On Thursday, October 8th, our school will participate in our routine bus evacuation drill. Even if your child doesn't ride the bus to and from school every day, all of our students take school buses for field trips throughout the year. Practice drills help ensure every child knows important safety guidelines and understands how to exit safely through both the front and emergency rear doors if an emergency arises. We appreciate your support as we help our students stay prepared and safe!

We’re excited to welcome families and caregivers to Fallsmead’s Open House on Monday, October 12th! Join us from 9:30–11:00 a.m. for a glimpse of your child’s morning learning and classroom routines.

Doors will open at 9:10 a.m., with sign-in in the APR from 9:10–9:30 a.m. While you wait, explore literacy, math, and social-emotional learning (SEL) resources. Classroom visits will not begin until 9:30 a.m., giving students time to arrive and settle into their morning routines. Please use the RSVP link to let us know you’re coming. We look forward to sharing our morning with you!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 24th! Join us for the Wootton High School Fall Festival, a fun-filled community event featuring delicious food, exciting games, and incredible performances by our talented student groups. Bring your family and friends—you won't want to miss it! Stay tuned for more details and ticket information coming soon.

Mark your calendars for Friday, October 30th! We are excited to invite our families to join us for our annual Halloween Parade and classroom celebrations. More details on parade times, costume guidelines, and party schedules are coming soon—our room parents will share full details after coordinating with classroom teachers. We can't wait to celebrate a fun day together!

Students recently brought home their mCLASS Math Assessment results! Paired with our new Amplify Desmos Math Curriculum, this report offers a snapshot of your child’s starting skills so we can best partner with you in their learning journey. Visit the Caregiver Hub, linked in the next section, for more details on mCLASS and Boost Math.

Please take some time to review the information that came home with your child. These assessments help us better understand each student’s current skills and identify areas where additional instruction or support may be beneficial. Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

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:

https://mcpsmd.info/ParentHubEspañol

The yearbook team is excited to make this year’s memory book special, and we need your help! To make uploading your photos as quick and easy as possible, we’ve created personalized link folders for each grade level.

You can upload pictures directly from your phone or computer into your child's specific grade folder below:

Kindergarten: Upload K Photos

1st Grade: Upload 1st Grade Photos

2nd Grade: Upload 2nd Grade Photos

3rd Grade: Upload 3rd Grade Photos

4th Grade: Upload 4th Grade Photos

5th Grade: Upload 5th Grade Photos

Password for all folders: 1Treasure!

Thank you for helping us capture all the special moments and treasure-filled memories of this school year!

We understand that occasional absences due to illness or appointments are sometimes necessary. If your child will be absent for any reason, please notify the school before 9:00 a.m. by completing the Fallsmead Absence Reporting Form.

Families should also email their child’s classroom teacher and copy Ms. Lisa Lynch and Ms. Aiko when reporting an absence. If you call outside office hours, you may leave a voicemail that includes your child’s name, teacher, and the reason for the absence. When your child returns to school, please send a written note from home explaining the absence.

Attendance Policy

AM Absence: Recorded if a student arrives more than 2 hours late in the morning.
PM Absence: Recorded if a student leaves more than 2 hours early in the afternoon.
Half-Day Absence: Recorded if a student is absent for more than 2 hours during the school day.
Full-Day Absence: Recorded if a student is present for less than 2 hours of the entire school day.

Please note that Districtwide Updates will be featured in a dedicated section in each monthly edition of the Sunday Message. Be sure to check in regularly to stay up to date on important district news and resources.

MCPS is making mental health resources more visible, easier to find and simpler for students to access. Students in middle and high schools will see new crisis-support information in classrooms and hallways, take-away cards and stickers, trusted-adult buttons, and school-specific support email addresses.

Remember: Asking for help is a strength. You do not need to wait for a crisis, and getting support can start with just five words: “I need someone to talk to.”
Learn more about MCPS mental health resources and support.

MCPS will hold engagement meetings across the county this fall for upcoming school closures and consolidations. No decisions have been made, and community input is an important part of the process before developing any recommendation. With multiple in-person and virtual meetings offered in two rounds, families can choose the location and time that works best for them. You do not need to attend every meeting, as sessions within each round will cover the same information. Interpretation and language support will be available. We encourage families, staff, students, and community members to participate and make their voices heard.

What to Expect at the Engagement Sessions

Each in-person session will give participants multiple ways to learn, ask questions, and

share feedback, including:

• A brief opening presentation will explain the work ahead and what participants need to know.

• Multiple information stations focused on key topics and criteria.
• Content experts will be available to answer questions and discuss the information in greater detail.
• Multilingual staff will be available to help participants access the same information and opportunities to engage.
• Participants will be able to ask questions, offer feedback, and help inform the work ahead.

To learn more about this work, watch the Oct. 8th Board of Education meeting, when staff will provide a detailed update on the closures and consolidations study, the process, and upcoming community engagement. Learn more and see the schedule here.

Are You Getting the Most Out of ParentVUE? Well, it’s one of the easiest ways to stay connected to your student’s school experience. Families can monitor grades and assignments, check attendance, find bus information, access report cards and assessment results, complete online registrations, and communicate directly with teachers.

A few tips: Download the new ParentVUE app, customize your Gradebook and favorite shortcuts, and check ParentVUE regularly. You can even schedule parent-teacher conferences directly through the app. And remember: each parent or guardian should use their own ParentVUE account and password.

Check out the Family Quick Guide Pull-Out: ParentVUE Tips & Tricks for Fall 2026. English / español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ

MCPS is expanding access to specialized regional high school Center programs, giving 8th grade students more opportunities to pursue programs connected to their interests while continuing to offer rigorous programming at every local high school.

Center programs span five areas: Medical Science; International Baccalaureate, Humanities & Languages; Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM); Leadership & Public Service; and Visual & Performing Arts. Additional Middle College dual-enrollment opportunities are being explored in partnership with Montgomery College.

Eighth grade families can start exploring this fall! High schools across all six MCPS regions will host Fall High School Showcases throughout October, beginning Thursday, Oct. 1. These events are a great opportunity for students and families to visit schools, learn about programs and courses, meet staff and begin thinking about the high school experience that best fits their interests and goals.

As a reminder, the six regions Showcases are scheduled at schools throughout the Southern, Eastern, Central South, Central, Central North and Northern regions.
Learn more and get ready:

• Watch: Now You Know — Center Programs: The Basics

• Watch: MCPS High School Opportunities Presentation — available in English and Spanish

• See the full Fall High School Showcase schedule and find the event near you.

There’s nothing more important than being in school every day. Being at school every day gives students opportunities to learn, build friendships, connect with trusted adults and get involved in activities they enjoy. Most importantly, being present helps them feel like they belong — and gives them opportunities to reach their potential. Parents and families, please ensure your student is in school every day, ready to learn.
Learn more: English | Spanish | Amharic | Chinese | French | Korean | Portuguese | Vietnamese

We are excited to share the MCPS Back-to-School Resources Slides to help you prepare for the 2026–2027 school year! We ask all families to read and review this presentation, which covers essential systemwide updates on:

• Curriculum & Instruction: New developments in literacy and mathematics, including the rollout of Amplify Desmos Math.

• Grading & Assessments: Important updates to assessment calendars, makeup work policies, and expectations regarding AI use.

• Mobile Device Policy: The new "Bell to Bell" regulation prohibiting personal mobile devices during the academic day.

• Parent Tools: New features in ParentVUE, including digital hall passes, automated tardy check-in kiosks, and electronic attendance submission.

Saturday School provides MCPS-aligned academic tutoring and instruction led by certified teachers, along with enrichment opportunities that include:

• Academic support for students in Grades K–12, including reading/language arts, mathematics, and high school core subjects
• SAT/ACT preparation and college/career readiness
• Coding and Robotics
• Additional enrichment opportunities, including programs such as Cosmetology and Automotive Concepts

Walking to school is a great way for students to start the day, but staying alert and making safe choices is essential. Families can help by reviewing a few simple pedestrian safety habits with students:

• Use sidewalks and designated crosswalks whenever possible.
• Stop, look left, right and left again before crossing — and keep looking while crossing.
• Make eye contact with drivers and never assume a vehicle will stop.
• Put phones and headphones away when crossing streets or walking near traffic.
• Follow the directions of crossing guards and traffic signals at all times.
• Be especially careful around buses and school parking lots, where vehicles may be turning, backing up or stopping unexpectedly.

Drivers also play an important role: slow down, stay alert and watch carefully for students, especially during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal.

A few extra seconds of attention can make a big difference. Learn more.

The cost of a regular lunch is $2.85. Students in Maryland who qualify for reduced-price meals will receive lunch for free. If you are applying for Free and Reduced-Price Meals, please visit: www.MySchoolApps.com. The Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) application is available for this school year. Families must reapply yearly to determine eligibility, even if their child qualified the previous year. Until a new application is approved, students will be charged the standard meal rate.

MCPS now uses MealViewer to make it easy to see school-specific menus, check nutritional information, and filter meals by top allergens—all in one place.

To help us avoid a backlog of clothing in our Lost and Found, items left behind will be donated quarterly throughout the school year. Please label jackets, coats, sweatshirts, and other clothing items with your child’s name to make it easier for us to return lost items to their owners. We encourage families to check the Lost and Found regularly for any missing belongings.

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.

Families are asked to complete the annual verification process in ParentVUE. This important step allows you to review and update your contact information, emergency contacts, your child(ren)’s medical information, and your preferred primary language. Selecting a language other than English as your primary language ensures that you will automatically receive district and school messages in that language.

📂 Reminder: ParentVUE is also where you can access your child’s student data—including report cards, MAP scores, schedules, and more.

✅ Please be sure to complete your annual verification. If you need support, call our office at 240-740-3545.

Immunization Requirements for the 2026-2027 School Year

All students must have up-to-date immunization records prior to the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Parents should contact their doctor to ensure their child is properly immunized and submit a copy of the documentation to the Health Room at your child’s school as soon as possible, but no later than Tuesday, August 25, 2026, the first day of the school year.

Immunizations for students new to MCPS and children in Kindergarten through Grade 12 are available Monday through Friday by appointment at locations in Rockville and Germantown. Appointments are available at:

• School Health Services Immunization Clinic at Rocking Horse Road: 4910 Macon Road. Rockville; Phone: 240-740-4430

• Germantown Health Center: 12900 Middlebrook Rd. Germantown; Phone: 240-777-3380

Visit this webpage to view the full list of immunization requirements for students.

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.

We love our volunteers. MCPS has different requirements for three volunteer categories. Volunteers must meet all MCPS requirements before participating in classroom or school activities (field trips, etc)

• One-Time Volunteers: Volunteers participating in one-time events, who work under the supervision of MCPS staff members, are exempt from completing compliance measures beyond registering as campus visitors through the Visitor Management System (VMS) using valid identification.
• Regular Volunteers: Volunteers who regularly support school or school-sponsored activities must complete the MCPS online training on Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect.
• Frequent Volunteers: Volunteers who have frequent and independent contact with students, unsupervised by MCPS staff members, must complete the MCPS online training on Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect AND a criminal background check, including fingerprinting.

Stay tuned for more information about supporting recess and other opportunities. If you’re interested in helping, please be sure you’ve completed the required MCPS Volunteer Compliance modules.

Just Ask MCPS! The district’s revamped website offers improved access to information. From the Most Requested webpage (simply click the button below) to the informational AskMCPS chatbot (it can answer MCPS-related questions in any language), we’ve got your questions answered!