Weekly Update
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Good evening Farmland families, I hope everyone was able to enjoy the beautiful weekend! I apologize in advance for the length of this week's Update; there are a lot of exciting activities and information to share. On Friday I shared the exciting news that Mrs. Kellner is no longer at Farmland, having been appointed Acting Principal of Twinbrook Elementary School. Mrs. Pamela Strauss has been promoted to Acting Assistant Principal until the end of the year. Moving forward, please email Mrs. Longest, April_D_Longest@mcpsmd.org, and Ms. Strauss Pamela_A_Strauss@mcpsmd.org when necessary. Ms. Strauss shared the following message for the community: "I am thrilled to introduce myself as the Acting Assistant Principal for Farmland Elementary School for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year. Having served as the Staff Development Teacher at Farmland for the past several years, I've had the privilege of collaborating closely with Mrs. Longest to enhance our school community. A little about my background: I have been with Montgomery County Public Schools for 23 years, my teaching began as a first-grade teacher at Weller Road Elementary School. I then transitioned to Farmland, where I taught second, third, and fourth grades. For the last seven years, I've focused on supporting our dedicated staff as the Staff Development Teacher, helping to implement initiatives and enhance our curriculum and classroom management techniques. On a personal note, I grew up in Pennsylvania and love visiting family there. I enjoy spending quality time with friends and my dog, Chester. Reading mystery novels and binge-watching new shows are some of my favorite pastimes. As a proud Penn State alumnus, I am passionate about Penn State football and make it a point to attend 2 to 3 games each year with family and friends. I am eager to continue the important work we're doing at Farmland Elementary, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to grow academically and socially. I look forward to partnering with all of you to make this a fantastic year! Warm regards, Pam Strauss Acting Assistant Principal Farmland Elementary School" We are thrilled to announce our October Staff Members of the Month! The Farmland community nominated these staff members in recognition of their dedication to supporting our students.
Staff members will be announced during the morning announcements, and their pictures will be added to our foyer slideshow along with the information shared about the winner. If you submitted a recognition for a staff member who was not selected, it will still be shared with that staff member. We are looking forward to a fabulous week. April Longest, Principal New Information
New Information Student Support for October 7 Monday marks the anniversary of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. We recognize that many families in our school community have been affected by these events and may be facing challenges during this difficult time. If your child needs someone to talk to in a safe and supportive environment, please tell them to ask their classroom teacher, one of our school counselors, or another trusted adult. We will provide the support your family may need. The counselors can be reached at: Mrs. Stephanie Mann for Grades K, 2, and 4 at stephanie_l_mann@mcpsmd.org Miss Denika Mason for Grades 1, 3, and 5 at denika_mason@mcpsmd.org Here are some resources you might find helpful when talking with your child about the tragedy of October 7. How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime, and War: Common Sense Media gathers tips and conversation starters to help you talk to kids of different ages about the toughest topics. Resilience in a time of war: Tips for parents and teachers of elementary school children: This article from the American Psychological Association can help adults guide their young children beyond fear and to resilience. Supporting Youth Affected by the Violence in Israel and Gaza: Tips for Families and Educators. Guides caregivers and educators in supporting young individuals by helping them factually understand these events, addressing safety concerns, and offering strategies to manage their emotional responses. Author Assembly: Wednesday, October 9 On Wednesday, October 9, Farmland will host author/illustrator Ms. Jennifer O'Connell, who will discuss her book Elephants Remember, about the true rescue of a herd of elephants and the bond they developed with the man who helped them. The schedule for assemblies in the APR is:
Second Grade Teacher Update We are excited to welcome our new second-grade teacher, Ms. Beckley, to the Farmland community! Ms. Beckley brings a strong foundation in Early Childhood and Special Education from Bowie State University and two years of experience as a substitute teacher. Her passion for working with diverse students and her hands-on teaching experience make her a great addition to our team. Please join us in welcoming Ms. Beckley! School Counselor Update Miss Denika Mason, our school counselor for first, third, and fifth grades, will be on leave from Thursday, October 10th until Friday, November 1st. Ms. Kidai Farhana will be her long-term counseling substitute. If your child needs support while Miss Mason is on leave, please contact Ms. Farhana at Kidwai_Farhana@mcpsmd.org and include Mrs. Stephanie Mann, Farmland School Counselor at Stephanie_L_Mann@mcpsmd.org. Maryland's Interagency on School Construction (IAC) Inspection of Farmland Last week, Maryland's Interagency on School Construction (IAC) conducted two important assessments for our school, and we are pleased to share that we passed both. Here's what those assessments involved:
Farmland Parent Visitation: October 14 When: Monday, October 14 Time: 9:25 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. On Monday, October 14, from 9:25 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Farmland will be hosting our annual Parent Visitation for parents/guardians. This is an opportunity to visit your child's classrooms. If you arrive between 9:25 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., enter through the Kids After Hours door on the front right side of the building. When you enter the All Purpose Room, you will be asked to sign in, make a name tag, then proceed to your child's classroom. If you arrive AFTER 10:15 a.m., please enter through the office. You will be asked to sign in, make a name tag, and then proceed to your child's classroom. If you have multiple children, please ensure you visit all their classrooms. When entering the classroom please find a seat designated by the classroom teacher. Out of respect for the teaching environment, parents/guardians are asked not to bring any siblings while observing in the classroom. In addition, please do not use any electronic equipment such as cell phones while in the classroom. Please do not engage students or the teacher in conversation. We appreciate your cooperation. Please exit the building promptly at 11:30 a.m. When leaving, please exit through the doors near the front office. If you have additional questions, please contact your child's classroom teacher. October is CyberSafety Month Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an annual initiative dedicated to educating and empowering individuals to safeguard themselves against digital threats. Held every October, this important event is essential in our increasingly connected world, where online safety is a critical concern, especially in our schools. The 2024 theme for Cybersecurity Awareness Month is "Secure Our World". I National Cybersecurity Alliance Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Maryland Department of Information Technology MCPS School Calendar Feedback From MCPS: "This feedback represents one component of the development process incorporating feedback from our school community, including students, staff, and families. MCPS will consider educational interests, operational needs, mandated school closures by state law, compliance with minimum instructional days and credit hour requirements, contingencies for inclement weather and other emergencies, staff professional days and early release days, alignment with assessment schedules, etc. MCPS provides a school year calendar that allows for effective use of time for teaching and learning, for professional growth opportunities, and for planning instructional strategies focused on improving student achievement while maintaining our lens of equity for all students and commitment to community engagement. PTA New Updates Walk to School Day National Walk to School Day is this Wednesday, Oct. 9. Students will be greeted as they arrive at the bus loop between 8:50 and 9:15 a.m. and students who walk to school will receive pencils and stickers from the PTA. We need a few more volunteers for this event - please sign up here to monitor an intersection near the school between 8:40 am and 9:20 a.m. to keep an eye on students as they cross the street. PTA: Farmland Geography Bowl The Geography Bowls are around the corner in November so the geography studying starts... now! The PTA will share links this week to a grade-appropriate study packet for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. If your student is interested in participating in their grade's Geo Bowl, the study packet has the info they will need to be successful! The study packet answers will be shared later this month so students can check their work. On October 31st and November 1st, interested students will be able to take the qualifying quizzes (during lunch/recess) and the top scorers will be formed into teams for their grade's Geo Bowl held on November 14th and 15th. Good luck to all the geography students! Please contact PTA Volunteer Kate Legates (katelegates@gmail.com) with any questions. Attention Special Education Families The PTA's Farmland Together committee is hosting 2 opportunities this month for Farmland special education families: a coffee social for parents/guardians on October 10, 9:30-10:15 a.m.. in the All Purpose Room, and a playdate for special education students on the Farmland playground on October 19, 10-11 a.m. Come and meet other special education families and share resources. Book Fair SAVE THE DATE for the Scholastic Book Fair, October 21-25, in the Media Center! The Book Fair is a chance for kids to purchase books and related items (journals, bookmarks, etc.). Students are invited to create a poster advertising the Book Fair. See details here. Posters should be turned into the main office no later than Friday, October 11. View the volunteer sign-up here, and go to our Book Fair website to add funds to your student's e-wallet (e-wallet allows your child to shop without cash). Hear From Board of Education Candidates Three spots on the MCPS Board of Education will be filled during next month's election. The Board of Education sets policies for the entire school system so this election affects all of us. There are 2 upcoming candidate forums. Hear from the candidates and be informed when you vote!
Organizers will record both forums and share the video with anyone who can't attend. Fall Clothing Drive Now through Tuesday, October 8, we are collecting fall clothing (pants, shirts, light jackets, etc.) and accessories (rain boots, socks, shoes, etc.) for all ages (babies to adults) to benefit families at Georgian Forest Elementary. Collection boxes are outside Farmland's main entrance. If you are interested in assisting with this or future donation drives (e.g., picking up, sorting, washing, and delivering donations), please email us at FarmlandPTAPresident@gmail.com. PTA Membership Drive - Last Chance to Join and Win Your Child's Class a Prize! Thank you to everyone who has already joined our PTA. If you have not joined yet, please consider joining today. We are close to our membership goals and you can help us get there! Read about all the ways the PTA supports our students and school: https://www.farmland-pta.org/membership). All PTA members who join by October 8 will be entered in a raffle for a prize of extra PE for their child's class! Join the PTA here: https://www.farmland-pta.org/
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