Roadrunner's Digest

Good evening FMS Families and Staff,

This week, May 5–9, is Teacher Appreciation Week! We’re so grateful for our incredible staff whose dedication, care, and talent make Farquhar a place where students thrive every day. Please take a few moments to thank a staff member who has made a meaningful impact. Thank you also to all the educators in our parent community!

Thank you for an amazing STEAM night on Thursday! We had an unprecedented turnout of over 400 people, and we could not be more grateful for your participation. A HUGE thank you to all the staff and students who helped plan, coordinate, and execute every special experience. I look forward to sharing our survey results collected from the evening.

If you have an 8th grader, your student will be taking the Social Studies MCAP assessment on Tuesday (AM) and Wednesday (PM) this week. Thank you for prioritizing attendance on both of these days. Also, if you have not completed the promotion info form, it is due tomorrow! The link to the form is below. Please contact Ms. Gaske, 8th Grade Team Leader, at Michelle_R_Gaske@mcpsmd.org with any questions.

Don't forget to pick up your tickets to this weekend's performances of Legally Blonde, Jr., and have a wonderful week!

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: Vote for your Roadrunners!
• TIMELY: Get your Yearbook!
• DUE TOMORROW: 8th Grade Promotion Info
• TIMELY: Legally Blonde, Jr. Tickets Available Now!
• NEW: May Media Newsletter
• NEW: MocoCAP Lunch Bunch
• NEW: Summer RIASEC Road Trip
• Color Wars 2025
• Parent Workshop Opportunity
• NEW: MCPS Boundary Study Update
• MCPS Things to Know

PTA Corner:

• Join the PTA

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

• Tanya Campbell
• Mrs. Page
• Annaliese Crosseto
• Emma Kirkpatrick
• Helena Awoke
• Aisha Toure
• Candice Morgan
• Cali Rhodes
• Edom Zerihun
• Eden Zerihun
• Ruth Asegu
• Paulina Ascencio
• Jenaba Jah
• Candice Morgan
• Liana Taddesse
• Harper Kominski
• Mr. Lichvar
• Christian LaCroix
• Brent Davis
• Alexis Savage
• Cynthia Merchant
• Christine Higley
• Matthew Lichvar
• Ms. Rivas
• Ms. Smith
• Ms. Bonfils
• Ms. Rhone
• Ms. Campbell
• Michelle Moton
• Ms Affinito
• Dr Higley
• Mason Verna
• Charlotte Bond
• Catie Braham
• Tanya Campbell
• Sophie Dodge
• Isabella Argueta
• Lea Al-hassani
• Olivia Verna
• Sabrina Fuentes
• Penelope Ketchen
• Eve Ayenew
• Candice
• cameron vaughan
• Nathalia
• Ainsley
• Ella Shore

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.

Congratulations Helen Ray, Eliza Hanif, and Lauryn Yoon! Their entries were chosen as finalists in the MCPS Sustainability contest. It was very difficult to choose, as there were so many lovely posters! Please be sure to vote and help choose the final winner in each category (K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12). Only vote once.

Please view the finalists here.

📣 Yearbook Reminder! 📣

Don't miss your chance to own a piece of this year's memories! 📚✨

Yearbooks are still on sale for $45 each and will be delivered in early June. Quantities are limited — order yours before they sell out!

🖥️ Purchase online at yearbookforever.com
🔍 Search for: Farquhar

Secure your copy today and celebrate the moments that made this year unforgettable!

Congratulations to all our 8th grade students and families!
We’re excited to celebrate this important milestone with you.

🎉 Promotion Ceremony Details:

📅 Wednesday, June 11, 2025
🕐 1:00 PM
📍 Our Lady of Good Counsel High School

Each student is guaranteed two guest tickets.

✅ What You Need to Do:

Please complete the Promotion Information Form by:
🗓️ Monday, May 5, 2025

Form Includes:

• Guest information & ticket pick-up authorization
• Request for 1 additional guest ticket (not guaranteed; limited availability)
• Option to upload up to 3 group photos of your student for our ceremony slideshow

📌 IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• Only authorized adults listed in Synergy can pick up printed tickets
• Photo ID is required at ticket pickup
• All guests must present a ticket for entry
• No ticket = no entry due to occupancy limits
• Students must attend mandatory practices on June 5 and 10 to participate
• Class t-shirts, yearbooks, and Chromebook collection will happen around this time

📧 Questions? Contact Mrs. Gaske

✉️ Michelle_R_Gaske@mcpsmd.org

Thank you for helping us make this a memorable celebration for our 8th graders!

Tickets are now on sale for William H. Farquhar’s production of, Legally Blonde, Jr. All tickets are $12.00*

Show Times:

Friday May 9th 7:00 PM

Saturday May 10th 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM

Tickets may be purchased using School Cash Online (SCO). https://schoolcashonline.com/

IMPORTANT:

*Please refer to "Ticket Options" to purchase your tickets and carefully check your cart prior to check out for a stress-free purchasing experience.

*Children aged 4 and under are free. However, to help us prepare accurate seating arrangements, please indicate the number of children attending by selecting the appropriate number of "Children's Tix" (free of charge).

Seating is limited. Please purchase your tickets now.

Join us for a Moco Cap Financial Literacy Workshop during lunch on Monday, May 12! We'll be exploring the importance of financial literacy and how it impacts your future. Be sure to pick up a green pass from Room 004 or Room 033 to attend. All students are welcome to join!”

RIASEC Road Trip is an optional half-day (AM) summer programming compliment that is being offered at Farquhar Middle School this summer at no cost to families.

The activities offered will range from RIASEC self-identification review, college and career readiness skill-building, and career exploration.Coaches will lead students through support sessions and activities rooted in experiential future-learning. These sessions build upon MoCo CAP Core Programming.

The RIASEC Road Trip Summer Program at FMS will run based on student interest. If you are interested in this option for your student, please click below for dates, times, and other logistics.

COMING SOON… Color Wars 2025 is right around the corner! We are so excited to host our fourth annual Color Wars for the 6th and 7th graders on Thursday, June 12, 2025. All students will be participating. Please be on the lookout for a donation list to help FMS make this a memorable event! Thank you for your continued support!

For many families, the high cost of higher education is a daunting proposition. Parents lie awake at night trying to figure out how to afford sending their children to college and still have enough of their hard-earned money to retire one day. Some families have children attending college next year and others have 12 years to plan; but the fears of tackling these monumental and rising costs are the same. The College Funding Coach® is here to help families figure out HOW to pay for it! Through our educational workshop, Little-Known Secrets of Paying for College parents can expect to learn the following:

• College funding strategies for parents with students who DO and DO NOT qualify for financial aid
• Strategies for parents who are looking to fund their student’s college education without destroying their plans and dreams for retirement
• The 13 most popular college funding financial vehicles explained and debunked
• How to implement strategies that may allow students to attend out-of-state or private colleges for a lower cost than attending an in-state public
• Ways to maximize and increase financial aid eligibility
• …and so much more

On May 8, during the Montgomery County Board of Education meeting, a presentation will be given providing the latest information on the Boundary Study Project for the new Crown and Damascus High School projects, as well as the new Woodward High School project. This meeting will provide insights into the engagement plan, including the announcement of dates for the next round of community engagements scheduled for late May and early June. During those upcoming engagement sessions, participants will have the opportunity to review and discuss early boundary options developed by the project vendor.

Additionally, MCPS Project Team members will share progress on the Secondary Program Analysis that is currently underway. Last week, you should have received an email with a survey. We encourage everyone to participate and share input on what matters most to you regarding high school academic programs.

Please keep an eye on your inbox for further updates and visit our project websites for both the Boundary Study and Program Analysis projects, where you can find the latest information.

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.

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