Weekly Update February 19 2024

Weekly Update

Good evening, Farmland families,

We hope you all enjoyed time with family and friends last week! We have just a few short weeks until winter break.

As you may have heard, snow is possible on Tuesday of this week. A quick reminder that when MCPS announces a two-hour delay, Farmland doors will open at 11:15 a.m. Please do NOT drop off students before this time, as staff will not be on duty. Likewise, when school is delayed, staff will also arrive later, including those available to answer phones.

Please see below in this update for more information regarding emergency closings and delays.

We hope everyone has a wonderful week of learning!

Warmly,

April

April D. Longest

Principal

Farmland Elementary School

Spotlight on First Grade!

First graders recently finished reading Balloons Over Broadway. They then worked hard to design and build their own unique balloons and, just before the break, filled our hallways with their energy and creativity by proudly parading their balloons through the school. Students from other grades lined the hallways to cheer them on, turning the building into a celebration of imagination and community.

We’re so proud of their effort and joy, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped make this memorable moment possible!

❤️Join Farmland in Giving Back

All Farmland classes will be learning about empathy and helping our community. We will collect canned and healthy food for the Manna Food Center.

What to Bring:

Instant oatmeal
Whole-grain pasta
Canned tuna, salmon, or chicken
Canned veggies, fruit, or fruit cups
Cooking oil or spices
Baby formula or baby food

Bring items to your class box by December 19.

The class in each grade with the most items wins the Empathy Award + extra recess!

Thank You, Farmland Families!

A huge thank you to all the families who donated pies and bingo prizes this year. Our students had a blast playing bingo, and the excitement in the room was contagious. Staff enjoyed taking home the pies. One team member shared that there were so many great options to choose from and that it saved them from having to bake a dessert. A student also mentioned that they look forward to bingo every year and love the chance to win prizes.

Your generosity helped make this tradition joyful for everyone. Thank you for supporting our school community!

5th Grade Pizza Fundraiser – Entrepreneur Market 🎉

Join us THIS THURSDAY, December 4, 6:00–7:00 pm for pizza, snacks, and treats!

Preorder slices or whole pizzas using the link below. To ensure you have pizza, order ahead!!
Prices: $2 per slice | $15 per whole pizza
Cash only for purchases at the event.

Pizza Pre-order link: Https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/106151/354/False/True

Please see below for more information about this event. Thank you for supporting our 5th graders!

Second Grade Gifted and Talented Screening – CogAT

As part of our universal screening for Gifted and Talented (GT) identification and to help teachers understand how your child learns, all second graders will take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). The test measures reasoning in three areas: verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal, with each area containing three subtests.

Testing Details:

Dates: Monday, December 8, Tuesday, December 9, and Wednesday, December 10
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Format: Students complete one battery (3 subtests) per day. Tests are untimed; each subtest lasts about 10–15 minutes.
Make-up Testing: Available December 8–19 for absent students.
Important Notes:
- The CogAT is an abilities test—no studying or preparation is required.
- Prior to taking the test, students will practice sample questions and become familiar with the online format.
- A good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast are helpful for the testing day.
If you have specific questions, please email, Assistant Principal. Ms. Pam Strauss at Pamela_A_Strauss@mcpsmd.org.

Weather and Emergency Closures, Delayed Openings, and Early Dismissals

Safety is our top priority. School closures, delayed openings, and early dismissals are based on weather forecasts, road conditions, and coordination with county authorities.

Closures/Delayed Openings: Announced by 7:00 PM the night before or by 5:00 AM if needed.
Early Dismissals: Announced by 10:30 AM if afternoon transportation is affected; evening activity changes announced as early as possible.
System-wide: All weather decisions apply to the entire school system.
How can I get the MCPS Emergency Information and any changes to the Operating Status Color Codes?
- MCPS Web: Home Page
- Sign up for Alert MCPS
- Social Media (X, Facebook, Instagram)
- Ask MCPS (240)740-3000
Farmland Procedures:
- Do not call the school office during delays. Staff arrive according to the delay.
- Do not drop off students unless staff are on duty. For childcare, contact Kids After Hours: 301-933-6888.
- Delayed openings do not change the dismissal time unless announced.
Schedules:

Early Release:
- Doors 9:15 am | Bell 9:25 am | Dismissal 1:20 pm | Lunch will be served, but there will be no recess
2-Hour Delay:
- Doors Open 11:15 am | Bell 11:25 am | Lunch will be served, but there will be no recess
Link to MCPS Weather-Related Changes: click here.

Parent Teacher Association News and Updates

Student Entrepreneur Market on Thursday, 12/4 from 6 to 7:30 PM!

Come shop at 42 student stores at Farmland this Thursday and enjoy food, snacks, crafts, and other items for purchase. PTA will also be selling Farmland-logo items.

This event is cash only - thank you for your cooperation, and thank you for supporting our student businesses!

Reflections Art Competition - Submission Deadline is This Friday, 12/5!

All students are invited to participate in the Reflections Art Program and to create art on this year’s theme, “I Belong!” To enter the competition, students submit their original work in the categories of Dance Choreography, Film, Literature, Music, Photography, or Visual Arts, along with a brief artist statement.

Reflections celebrates creativity and every child’s unique voice. Selected works may advance to district, state, or national recognition. Entries are due by THIS FRIDAY December 5.