News From the Falcon's Nest: 11/09
Dear Fallsmead Families,
Happy Sunday! We couldn’t have asked for more beautiful fall weather on Greenplace Terrace for Saturday’s Fun Run. It was wonderful to see our Falcons running, walking, and cheering each other on, with so many families encouraging them along the way. A special thank you to Ms. Mulla and Ms. Szabo for organizing this annual event! Our school community is so grateful for your hard work and dedication.
And just like that, we are entering Week 12! This week, our students are expanding their literacy skills by learning new words through stories and poems, while also using precise mathematical language to explain their reasoning and problem-solving. You can support this learning at home with a few simple prompts. In Literacy: When a new or interesting word catches your attention while reading together, try asking: “What do you think that word means here? Where else could we use it? In Math: When your child shares a math problem from class, try asking: “What math word helps explain what you did? Can you show me what that word means in your solution?”
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
MCPS Survey Coming Soon!
We value our partnership with families and know that your voice plays a vital role in helping us create the best possible learning environment for all students.
We invite you to share your feedback by participating in the Family Survey. This short survey gives you the opportunity to share your experiences and opinions about our school and the broader school district. Your honest input will help us understand what’s working well and where we can improve.
The survey is easy to complete, takes only a few minutes, and your responses are completely confidential. The results will be used to guide our efforts in strengthening programs, services, and supports for students and families.
The survey is open from November 8, 2026, through November 20, 2026. Please look out for the upcoming climate survey in your email. It will be sent to the primary email address linked to your child’s student profile. We deeply appreciate your time and commitment to our school community. Your feedback makes a difference!
Did You Know Our Falcon Doesn’t Have a Name?
Last week, in the spirit of Election Day, our students embraced their civic responsibility to vote and used their voices to help name our school mascot! Students had the chance to cast a vote and take part in this exciting decision. We're officially counting the ballots, and we can’t wait to reveal the winning name later this week. Stay tuned for the big unveil! We are grateful to Ms. Shevitz and Ms. Stracke for supporting this school-wide effort!
Are you looking for a chance to make a difference in your community? Fallsmead ES needs parent coaches to help create a Girls on the Run team this spring!
As a coach, you will be vital in inspiring life-changing transformations in girls and bringing the curriculum to life. This is not just an opportunity to help others but also an opportunity for you to enhance your leadership skills. Imagine the joy of watching girls reach their limitless potential at every practice. Don't hesitate to get in touch with Keeley Barker (2nd Grade Mom) KeeleyBarker@gmail.com.
You can also contact GOTR directly, reach out to Lauren at lauren@girlsontherunofmoco.org, or visit our website at https://www.girlsontherunofmoco.org/coach for more information.
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:
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.
