Message from the Principal
Good evening FMS Families and Staff,
It's another busy week at FMS! MCAP testing season begins this week, interims are on Friday, and our 4th annual STEAM night is Thursday! Keep reading for more details.
All students will be participating in the ELA MCAP assessment on Tuesday, April 29 and Wednesday, April 30. Students will be taking sections 1 & 2 on April 29 and sections 3 & 4 on April 30. Thank you for prioritizing your student's attendance on these dates. The modified bell schedule for these dates can be found below. Your student received an email from Mr. Katzel on Friday with their testing group and location. Please remind your student to check this information so they know where to go in the morning!
Heads up to our 8th grade families! Read the ACTION REQUIRED announcement below to complete the VERY important promotion form. We have a very limited number of extra tickets for promotion, so anyone requesting one additional ticket on the promotion form will be assigned one on a first-come basis. The link to the form is below. Please contact Ms. Gaske, 8th Grade Team Leader, at Michelle_R_Gaske@mcpsmd.org with any questions.
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
- TIMELY: STEAM Night is Thursday!
- ACTION REQUIRED: 8th Grade Promotion Info
- NEW: Legally Blonde, Jr. Tickets Available Now!
- NEW: Congrats to our new NJHS Inductees!
- NEW: Color Wars 2025
- NEW: MCPS has a new SMOB!
- NEW: Parent Workshop Opportunity
- 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!
- Mark Eisenhower
- Trish Pignone and Dawn Trahern
- Bryan Rodriguez
- Kristina Mason
- Mical Beniam
- Helen Ray
- Lauryn Yoon
- Elise Madden
- Logan Lipczenko
- Eve Ayenew
- Tara Yadav
- Eliza Hanif
- Ms. Smith
- Ms. Pignone
- Ms. Trahern
- Ava Hardy
- Henry, Mirna, MariaV. Maria T Jose A Jose M.
- Ms. Rivas
- Jackeline Rivas
- Cristian Gomez-Organista
- Zena Bochkarev
- Blanche Tama
- Rayne 8th grade
- Haley Tchoufong
- Peyton Tran
- Serenity Lawson
- Annaliese Crosseto
- Emma Kirkpatrick
- Eve Ayenew
- Edom Zerihun
- Eden Zerihun
- Ella Burns
- Helena Awoke
- Candice Morgan
- Jenaba Jah
- Hope Garten
- Maddie Hamilton
- Evelyn Forbes
- Ariya Patel
- Hamna Suekera
- Jena M
- Shelby Almeroth
- Sophie em
- Aurelio Castro Soneira
- Olivia Verna
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?
Thank you for taking a moment to thank a Roadrunner who has made a meaningful difference.
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.
Congrats to the New Inductees of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). We look forward to inviting our new inductees after Marking Period 1 in the Fall 2025.
Information about the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)
The NJHS at Farquhar Middle School is open to 7th and 8th graders who have the following qualifications:
- Scholarship
GPA of 3.7 or higher - Service
This involves voluntary contributions made by a student to the school or community, done without compensation. - Leadership
Student leaders are those who are resourceful, good problem solvers, and idea contributors. - Character
The student of good character is cooperative; demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability; shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others. - Citizenship
The student who demonstrates positive citizenship understands the importance of civic engagement.
7th grade:
- 4 consecutive marking periods with a cumulative GPA. of 3.7 or higher
- At least 20 SSL hours completed by quarter 1 of 7th grade year
- Marking periods that will be considered are MP's 2, 3 & 4 in 6th grade in addition to MP 1 in 7th grade.
8th grade:
- 4 consecutive marking periods with a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or higher
- At least 30 SSL hours completed by quarter 1 of 8th grade year
- Marking periods that will be considered are MP's 2, 3, & 4 in 7th grade in addition to MP 1 in 8th grade.
The difference in SSL hours is due to the fact that students earn 10 hours of service each year, which is embedded in the curriculum.
There is no application process required; instead, students must qualify for admittance based on the criteria above. Ms. Chaney and Mr. Lichvar will be sending out invitation letters to this year's new inductees the first week of December. If you have any further questions please email them.
Ms. Anuva Maloo, a junior at Montgomery Blair High School, has been elected as the Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) for the 2025-2026 school year. Ms. Maloo’s term begins on July 1, 2025.
All secondary students were eligible to vote in the SMOB election and 61,647 students cast ballots. Ms. Maloo received 62 percent of the vote, while her opponent, Mr. Peter Boyko, a junior at Northwest High School, received 38 percent. The SMOB election was held on April 23, 2025, through an electronic ballot that all students received in their MCPS emails and were encouraged to vote through a class lesson.
Ms. Maloo serves as her school’s class president and the workshop deputy for the Montgomery County Regional Student Government Association. She also serves as the founder and president of the Northeast Consortium (NEC) and Downcounty Consortium (DCC) Advocacy Coalition (NDAC) and the outreach director for the Yellow Foundation, an international organization dedicated to helping young people in poverty.
The SMOB is a voting member of the Montgomery County Board of Education. The SMOB can vote on matters related to collective bargaining, capital and operating budgets, and school closings, reopenings and boundaries. The SMOB cannot vote on negative personnel actions. The SMOB is not paid, but does receive a $25,000 college scholarship, Student Service Learning hours and one honors-level social studies credit.
Contact Mrs. Rivas-Smith
Email: Angelica_L_Smith@mcpsmd.org
Phone: 240-740-1200
Twitter: @farquharms