Good afternoon, Farmland Families,

 

We hope you enjoy a happy and restful spring break! We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday, April 7, ready to finish the school year strong.

 

As shared in recent MCPS communications, the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) for grades 3–5 is an important way for students to show what they know and can do. This assessment is part of Maryland’s school accountability system, including school report card ratings. To ensure students feel confident, prepared, and have access to all needed instruction, we want to share an update on our testing schedule and preparation plan.

 

MCAP testing, which was originally scheduled to begin in early April, has been moved to May. This change allows us additional time in April to continue strong instruction and support students in their preparation. Classroom teachers will share grade-level schedules, and you can also view them below on our calendar of events.

 

During April, students will continue with regular classroom instruction. They will also have opportunities to practice MCAP-style questions, build test-taking strategies, and become familiar with the tools used on the MCAP platform.

 

To support learning at home, please click here to access helpful resources you may use with your child. The one-page sheets are organized by grade level and subject area and highlight what students are learning in class, as well as the key skills needed as we finish the year and prepare for assessments.

 

Our goal is to help every student feel confident and successful. We believe in our students and know they are capable of doing great work. If you would like to review our presentation from a recent PTA meeting, which shares our data and the supports in place for students, please click here.

 

Enjoy your spring break! There will be no additional update next week. I will send another message on Sunday, April 12.

 

Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

 

Warm regards,

April

April D. Longest

Principal

Farmland Elementary School

STEAM Week was a wonderful success! During our STEAM Night, families and students enjoyed an evening full of exploration and discovery. Many had the chance to observe and even hold a spider, showcase our talented student artists, and participate in a variety of hands-on, interactive STEM activities.

 

In addition, the Kicks Karate assembly was a big hit during the week and brought lots of energy and excitement to our school community!

 

A heartfelt thank you to our PTA for coordinating such a fun and engaging week for our school community. We appreciate all you do to make these experiences possible! 🎉

 

Congratulations to Mrs. Asad’s 3rd grade class for keeping their lunch area the cleanest! 🎉

Our office turned into a concert hall thanks to Mr. Wang and our talented musicians. The smooth sounds of the clarinets were the perfect send-off into break. What a way to end on a high note!

Thank you for sharing your time and talent with us. We loved every minute! 🎵

Greetings and happy spring from the media center. There are some exciting things happening in April in the library world. First of all, it is National Library Week during the week of April 19-26. We encourage you to take your child to the public library! Any resident of Montgomery County can get a library card and check out books. Information can be found on the MCPL website. Also, check out Sora, the online platform for students for checking out library ebooks and audiobooks, both from MCPL and the MCPS digital library.

 

April is also National Poetry Month, a great time to check out some poems that students will enjoy from Poets.org. Challenge your child to write a poem about nature during the gorgeous month of April!

Over Spring Break, take some time for R&R — relaxation and reading — and get caught in the act! We invite our learners to be “caught” reading wherever they are, at home, outside, or on the go. Students and families are encouraged to use #MCPSCaughtYouReading to share joyful reading moments on social media.  

 

Not sure what to read? The 2026 Gaithersburg Book Festival is right around the corner, scheduled for Saturday, May 16th. Choose a title from the wonderful selection of new books, or any books, written by the nearly 50 children’s and young adult authors that will be featured at this year’s festival!

 

It’s time to celebrate! The United States of America is turning 250 years old! Montgomery County Public Schools will commemorate America’s birthday with an eBook recognizing student talent from all of its schools. Each school will select one student’s work, a poem, a short essay, an artwork, music, a performance, or a literary performance to represent it in the eBook that will be shared with students, families, and the larger community.  

 

Student entries must reflect the eBook's theme: “Many Voices, One Nation.” Students can submit their work according to the guidelines contained here. The deadline for submission is April 20, 2026. 

 

No explicit or offensive language and/or images are permitted. All student work MUST BE ORIGINAL.   

 

Go to the Farmland Media Website for more information on how to submit student work to be posted on our website.

Bring your future Kindergarten Sparky to our Kindergarten Open House! This is a wonderful opportunity to explore classrooms, meet teachers and staff, and learn more about our school community. Kids After Hours will also be on hand to share information about their summer program and fall daycare sign-ups.

 

When: Tuesday, June 2 | 4:45–5:45 p.m.

 

We hope to see you there!

We are excited to invite you to the Spring 2026 Game Changer Conference for Young Males & Parents, hosted by Unity Christian Fellowship, Inc. (UCF Aim High Youth Organization). Celebrating 20 years of “promoting student success one student at a time,” UCF remains committed to uplifting, equipping, and empowering young people and their families to thrive academically and socially.

This impactful event, now in its 14th year, will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Montgomery College, Germantown Campus – Bioscience Education and Conference Center.

 

The conference is designed to support the social-emotional growth, confidence, and values young males need to succeed. Through engaging experiences, students will be encouraged to develop a positive mindset, strive for academic excellence, and build the skills necessary for future success, including high school graduation and college readiness.

This year’s theme challenges students to recognize their potential, think boldly, and take action toward their goals. Participants will be encouraged to develop strong strategies, set high expectations, and actively pursue their dreams with determination and purpose.

 

 

Students are invited to submit a 300-word essay responding to the theme:

Prizes will be awarded in multiple age divisions.

 

Pre-registration is required by April 13, 2026. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

 

We encourage you to share this opportunity with students, families, and community members. This conference serves as a powerful stepping stone toward a brighter future for our young males.

 

Thank you to Alexia S for coordinating STEAM night and to Scott S for our Reflections Art Competition recognition!

And a huge thanks as well to our partners, Johns Hopkins Pediatrics of Rockville for sponsoring STEAM night and Kicks Karate North Bethesda for the assemblies this week!

 

It’s time to celebrate the memories, friendships, and special moments from this school year!

 

 

 

Join us for a short Zoom meeting where we will learn more about ongoing PTA projects and discuss the future direction of our PTA as we start to make plans for the next school year.  Come join the conversation or just listen in!

 

 

 

Yes, it’s a survey, but we need to hear from you! Earlier this year, MCPS implemented significant operational changes and shifts — affecting topics including grading, safety (including police in schools), the Student Code of Conduct, open lunch, and cell phones in schools. MCPS is distributing surveys on several of these issues important to families, students, and school-based staff; we want to know how they are working for you in practice. The survey is available here. Read more.

Also, watch this video explaining why your feedback matters:

English | Spanish | French | Chinese | Vietnamese | Amharic | Korean | Portuguese

 

End-of-year assessments are important because they showcase what our students know, understand, and are able to do. The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program, or MCAP test, is the main component measuring student academic performance in Maryland’s accountability system. MCAP performance is a key component of the Maryland School Report Card, including star ratings for each school. This is how the outside world assesses and views our students’ performance, our schools’ performance, and our performance as a district.

In case you missed it, we shared information with families on changes to the testing schedule and how you can help your student prepare for upcoming assessments. 

 

The Division of Specialized Support Services will hold a webinar for families from 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, focused on what’s new in special education services, staffing, and supports — and why. MCPS special education leaders will provide context for what this means for schools and classrooms. The session will be held virtually, featuring a brief presentation followed by questions and answers. More details, including the Zoom link for the meeting, will be shared in the coming weeks.

 

The Superintendent’s Shuffle is fast approaching! Join us on April 11 at Bohrer Park for a day of community and movement to help eliminate student meal debt. Learn more and sign up!