Roadrunner's Digest

Dear Farquhar Families and Staff,

I hope you're all enjoying a relaxing long weekend. We've crossed the threshold into November and a brand new marking period! I encourage you to take a moment with your student to reflect on the study skills, time management, and self-advocacy they developed. Together, consider setting goals for Marking Period 2 that build on these important lessons and help them continue to grow.

As a reminder, there is no school on Monday for staff grading and reporting, and no school on Tuesday due to Election Day. Election Day is a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the importance of unity and our shared commitment to a brighter future. Whether we’re casting a vote, encouraging kindness, or learning together, each of us plays a role in building a community that values respect, inclusion, and support for one another.

Let’s continue to inspire our students to be active, thoughtful participants in the world around them. Thank you for all you do to make Farquhar a wonderful place to learn and grow.

Wishing everyone a safe and 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
• NEW: Congratulations, Cross Country Runners!
• NEW: Yearbooks are for sale!
• NEW: Sherwood HS Pom Squad Day Camp
• NEW: SK Day Free STEM Opportunity for Grade 6 Girls
• NEW: Integirls DC Math Competition
• MCPS Things to Know

PTA Corner:

• Volunteers needed
• TIMELY: Support Restaurant Night 11/4
• TIMELY: Stonegate ES Bake Sale - SSL Opportunity
• Upcoming Events and Winter Social
• Join the PTA

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

• Dr. Abreu
• Ms. Hussain
• Mr. Katzel
• Malaika Jalloh
• Padwa Obado
• Aylani Callwood
• Mrs. Fuentes
• Ronan Zelo
• Mrs. Moton
• Juliana Coelho
• Guy Crimans
• Mr. Jones
• Ella Burns

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.

Ms. Mason would like to congratulate the Fall ‘24 Cross Country Team for finishing another successful season. Both the boys and the girls finished the season with a 4-1 record. On Wednesday, November 6th, Tess Thompson, Katie Thompson, and Kara Pruitt will compete in the Over The Hill Invitational at Robert Frost Middle School. Go Roadrunners!

Yearbooks on sale for $30 until December 1st 2024. After that yearbook prices will go up to $35. You can purchase a yearbook here at https://yearbookforever.com/ . Pre-order a yearbook today!

Work with current Sherwood Poms to learn a routine. All participants will perform in a showcase at the end. See the Division 1 award-winning Sherwood Poms perform! A snack and drink will be provided.

Participants will earn a souvenir photo and certificate of completion. Bring cash for the opportunity to buy snacks and raffle tickets. Funds raised will benefit Sherwood Athletics with 10% of proceeds donated to MedStar Montgomery Campaign for Oncology.

Participants will also be invited to perform at the SHS Varsity Boys Basketball game at halftime on Tuesday, December 10th at 7:15pm!

The Sonya Kovalevsky Team at Montgomery College is excited to announce Montgomery College is holding its 28th annual Sonya Kovalevsky Day on Saturday November 16, 2024 on the Rockville campus. The program goal is to increase participation of girls in STEM fields. Research indicates that 6th grade is when many girls turn away from STEM, which is why their program targets 6th grade students.

This event is FREE, but space is limited to the first 60 students who register on their website: https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/academics/stem/k-12/sonya-kovalevsky-program.html

If you have questions, please email us at SonyaKovalevsky.Program@montgomerycollege.edu.

The D.C. chapter of INTEGIRLS is hosting a beginner-friendly, in-person math competition Saturday, December 14th from 9 am - 4 pm at the Bioscience Education Center at Montgomery College Germantown Campus! Our mission at INTEGIRLS is to encourage girls and non-binaries in STEM fields through math competitions and events. This year, we will have math competition rounds (individual and team), an estimathon, a speaker event, awards ceremony, provided lunch, and lots of fun STEM activities. Teams of up to 4 students will be able to connect with and enjoy math with other girls and non-binaries around the DMV. There will be a lot of prizes and fun swag for all participants.

Register here directly or go to the INTEGIRLS D.C. website (dc.integirls.org) to learn more about the competition. If you have questions, please contact Isha Joshi at isha@integirls.org.

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!

We will have our first Restaurant Night scheduled at Chipotle on Nov. 4th from 4-8pm. Check out the flyer below for details.

The Stonegate PTA will be holding an Election Day Bake Sale on Tuesday, November 5th at the school. They need your support to make this a successful fundraiser! Sign-up today to donate items for the Bake Sale and volunteer for a shift during the event. They need homemade or store-bought baked goods, full-size candy bars, lemonade, and individual bottles of water for the sale.

• SSL Opportunity: Middle school and high school students can earn SSL hours for making items and/or working during the event. If you have questions, please contact Hannahe.Raithel@gmail.com
• Donations

• MLK Day of Service- January 2025: More details forthcoming.
• Winter Social- February 2025: More details forthcoming. If you are interested in joining the Winter Social Committee, please sign-up here

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