Weekly Update
|
Good evening, Farmland families, October is off to a great start. Students are settling into routines, teachers are diving into new learning experiences, and there's much to look forward to in the weeks ahead. See below for updates and upcoming events. Warmly, April April D. Longest Principal Farmland Elementary School This week in the Farmland Weekly Update: Farmland Updates
MCPS Announcements
Parent Teacher Association News and Updates
Farmland Updates Families Needing Support Important Literacy Update Farmland Transitioning to ParentSquare Beginning October 31, Farmland will begin using ParentSquare for all school communication. This will replace both Remind and the emails you receive from Synergy. ParentSquare lets you:
Key Information:
You can learn more by watching the ParentSquare Overview Video. You can also review the Translated ParentSquare Quick Guides ParentSquare helps families, teachers, and school staff stay connected in one place. Staff Members of the Month We are thrilled to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of our staff members through our Staff Members of the Month nominations. One supporting staff member and one teaching staff member will be randomly selected each month. To nominate a staff member, please click this link to fill out the short nomination survey. A staff member will be recognized each month beginning October 31. Nominees will receive a copy of their nomination submission. Background Check and Re-Badging Process at Farmland Earlier this summer, a report from the Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General highlighted the need to modernize parts of our employee background check process. MCPS is now addressing this through a countywide effort to ensure all employees' clearances are current. Please note that everyone working with students has already completed a criminal background check. The new fingerprinting effort ensures employees hired before 2019 are properly entered into the state's RapBack monitoring system. On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, MCPS will be on site to update background checks and issue new, color-coded ID badges that indicate each employee's role. Badges will only be issued once the background check process is complete. This process will have minimal impact on the school day, and class coverage will be provided as needed. I will share a follow-up once all staff have completed the updated screening and received their new badges. Thank you for your trust as we work to keep our school community safe. Farmland Parent Visitation Our annual Parent Visitation provides families with the opportunity to observe classrooms and learn alongside their children. Your visit supports teachers and strengthens the partnership that helps students thrive. Arrival Information:
During Classroom Visits:
Additional Resources:
National Walk to School Update The Board of Education has decided not to adopt the "National Walk to School Day" resolution for this school year. This decision honors the families and community members affected by recent pedestrian accidents across the county, some of which have involved students or their family members. As a result, schools will not hold traditional National Walk to School Day celebrations this year. Instead, we will continue to focus on promoting pedestrian safety. Walking to School or the Bus Stop? Stay Alert and Stay Safe!
Families can also learn safety tips and find resources on the MCPS Safe Routes to School website. Parent Volunteer Information We are excited to welcome volunteers into our school community! Your time and support make a huge difference for our students and staff. We are offering flexible 1-hour volunteer blocks between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM each day. Volunteers may choose to support one of the following areas:
If you are interested, please click this link to sign up. Thank you in advance for partnering with us to support our students and staff. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Kharima Wilson kharima_s_wilson@mcpsmd.org MCPS Announcements Boundary Study Options for Reopening of Charles W. Woodward High School Join us for a boundary study options meeting in October. These public information meetings will offer the refined boundary options reflecting community input, for the reopening of Charles W. Woodward High School, the opening of Crown High School, and the expansion of Damascus High School for the 2027-2028 school year. See the meetings list. Virtual Sessions for the Woodward Study
In-Person Sessions for the Woodward Study*
Boundary Study Options Meetings Begin Oct. 6
For more information: Read more. Watch in Spanish | French | Chinese | Vietnamese | Amharic | Korean | Portuguese Free and Reduced-Price Meals Application Apply online for meal benefits today! If you haven't submitted your household's FARMS application, now is the time. To receive this benefit, a new FARMS application must be completed every school year. MCPS encourages all families who may be eligible to apply. Submit the online FARMS application through MySchoolApps (translations available). Only one application is needed for all students in a household. For more information about additional benefits, how-to videos, and frequently asked questions, visit the Department of Food and Nutrition Services website. BlackRock Offers Free Arts Program to Elementary Students BlackRock Center for the Arts is offering a free art and social/emotional learning class for students in kindergarten through 5th grade, starting this Saturday, Oct. 4, and running through Dec. 13. The class will combine art with literacy and vocabulary. Learn more and register. Parent Teacher Association News and Updates Clothing Drive Benefitting Our Sister School, Harmony Hills As the days get shorter, it's time for our fall clothing drive! We are collecting fall clothing and accessories for our friends at Harmony Hills Elementary School. Please donate your new or gently used fall clothing and accessories- pants, shirts, hoodies, shoes, etc - in sizes baby, child, and adult in the bin outside Farmland Elementary School or on the front porch at 992 Farm Haven Drive now through Monday, October 6th. Next PTA Zoom - Meet the APs, Boundary Study and MCPS Curriculum Updates Monday October 13th - 7:00 PM - Zoom Only https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88242207708?pwd=0Xo4Kx5iiH1czp91ZGo8h0bIZHnxAV.1 Join us on Zoom for a "topics of interest" style virtual gathering during which we will have brief presentations on the following topics:
Meeting notes and presentation materials will be available upon request after the meeting - email farmlandPTApresident@gmail.com for a copy. Upcoming Important Dates
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||