Weekly Update

 

Farmland Weekly Update

Week of October 26
 
Good evening, Farmland Families,
We hope you had a wonderful weekend! We have an exciting week ahead with our Book Fair and Farmland for Fitness Night on Thursday evening. We hope you can join us for a fun night of community, movement, and exercise, great for both our physical and mental health!
 
As a reminder, there will be no school for students on Monday, November 2, or Tuesday, November 3. Monday is a grading and reporting day for teachers, and Tuesday is Election Day, when all schools and offices are closed.
 
We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on Wednesday, November 4!
Have a great week! 
 
Warmly,
April
April D. Longest
Principal
Farmland Elementary School
 

Farmland Updates
  • Scholastic Book Fair
  • Book Fair Spirit Week 
  • No Place for Hate Assemblies
  • Fall Into Fitness Night 
  • Help Us Create Safe & Orderly Hallways 
  • Parent-Teacher Association News
  • Montgomery County Public Schools Updates
  • Mark Your Calendars
Contact Information
 

No Place for Hate Assemblies

Farmland is proud to be a No Place for Hate school for the fourth year. No Place for Hate focuses on building a school community where students feel safe, included, respected, and valued.
 
This week, students will participate in grade-level presentations and sign the No Place for Hate pledge, committing to help create a welcoming and respectful school community.
 
Monday, October 26, 9:45–10:15 a.m. – Grades 1, 3, and 4
Wednesday, October 28, 9:45–10:15 a.m. – Grades K, 2, and 5
 
If you would like to find out more about No Place For Hate, click here
 

📚 The Scholastic Book Fair Is Here!

The Scholastic Book Fair has arrived at Farmland!
 
Have you added funds to your student’s eWallet? eWallet makes it easy for students to shop at the Book Fair. Cash is also accepted.
 
Visit our Book Fair website to:
  • Add funds to your student’s eWallet
  • Learn more about the Book Fair
 
Please also check your child’s teacher communications to find out which day their class will be shopping.
 
Thursday Evening Shopping: The Book Fair will remain open after school on Thursday until 7:00 p.m.
 
We still have a few volunteer spots available! Sign up to volunteer here.
 

📖 Book Fair Spirit Week
Get ready to celebrate reading all week long!
 
Monday – PJ Day
Cuddle up and read your favorite book today. 
 
Tuesday – Favorite Color Day!
Wear your favorite color! Sometime during the day, find someone who is wearing or has the same color as you; share a book, read together, or talk about a favorite book.
Same favorite color, same love of reading!
 
Wednesday – Book Character Day
Dress up like your favorite book character!
Costumes should be school-appropriate and must represent a character or real person featured in a book. 
 
Please do not send students in costumes that include weapons, scary or frightening elements, or anything that could be disruptive at school.
 
Students may choose a fictional character, such as Mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie or Harry Potter from the Harry Potter series. They may also dress as a real person they have read about in a nonfiction book, such as Misty Copeland, Megan Rapinoe, Simone Biles, Jackie Robinson, or another inspiring person featured in a biography.
 
If you or your child is unsure whether a costume is appropriate, please check with your child’s teacher ahead of time.
 
We will celebrate the day with a school book character parade for students only, allowing students to show off their characters and celebrate their love of reading!
 
Thursday – Mismatch Thursday!
Books can take us to silly, surprising, and upside-down worlds! Wear mismatched socks, backward clothes, or a fun mismatched outfit to celebrate the creativity and imagination we find in books.
 
Friday – Farmland Friday!
Wear your favorite Farmland spirit wear or blue and yellow! Then celebrate the end of Book Fair Week by reading a favorite book with a friend or classmate.
 
Let’s make it a week filled with books, school spirit, creativity, and a love of reading!
 

🏃‍♀️ Fall Into Fitness Night
Join us Thursday, October 29, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. for Fall Into Fitness Night at Farmland! This is a fun evening for students and parents to get moving together.
 
Enjoy basketball, yoga, gymnastics, jump ropes, hula hoops, step aerobics, rope climbing, and the KAH climbing wall. More than 30 Farmland staff members will be there to join in the fun.
 
Scholastic Book Fair will be open as well!! 
 
Come ready to move, laugh, and have fun together!
 

⭐ Help Us Create Safe & Orderly Hallways
The Amazon Wish List link previously shared was not working, but it has now been updated.
 
We are continuing to add visual stars to our hallways to help students move safely and orderly throughout the building. If you are able to help, please consider donating an item from our updated Amazon Wish List.
 
Donations are completely optional, and we truly appreciate your support!
 
Click this link to donate: Amazon Wish List.
 

Parent Teacher Association News and Updates

Farmland Classroom Parties are Coming November 6th - Sign Up Today, Donations Appreciated!
Farmland PTA is proud to host inclusive, equitable, fun, and memorable classroom parties 3 times a year for our classroom communities to have a great time and make fun memories at school!
More information is at farmland-pta.org/classroom-parties - learn about how our unique parties work, sign up to volunteer, and donate the optional but requested $15 per student, which covers the cost of all 3 parties for the whole school year.
 
Farmland PTA Geography Bowl – Next Steps & Key Dates
Congratulations to all students who qualified for this year’s Farmland Elementary Geography Bowl! View the list of participants here.
Important Details:
Questions? Contact Rachel M at farmlandgeobowl@gmail.com
 
Coming Soon From Farmland PTA - Save These Dates:
  • Monday October 25 - Friday October 30 - Book Fair
  • Thursday October 29 - Community Shopping Night @ Farmland Book Fair
  • Thursday November 5 - PTA Meeting
  • Friday November 6 - Classroom Parties
  • Tuesday November 10 - Entrepreneur Night Applications Due
  • Thursday November 12 - Meet And Greet with Woodward Principal Mr. Sinclair
 

Montgomery County Public School Updates

The Conversation Is Underway. Your Questions, Concerns and Ideas Matter.
Why is MCPS studying school closures and consolidations? What does the data tell us? How will decisions be made? These are important questions, and they're exactly why we're bringing our community together. Our engagement sessions are underway, providing families, staff and community members opportunities to learn about the challenges facing our schools, ask questions and share what matters most to them. No schools have been selected for closure, no recommendations have been made and no decisions have been predetermined. You don't need to have all the answers, or even know all the questions, to participate. This is a process of learning, listening and planning together, and there's still time to be involved. Read the full story here.
Also visit MCPSStudy.org 
Watch the Videos
 
Inside MCPS: The Realities of Our Aging Facilities
Leaking roofs. Failing heating and cooling systems. Aging buildings. Rising construction costs. The hard truth is that MCPS has significant facility needs, and waiting to address them only makes the problems more expensive.
In a new video series, "The Hard Truth," MCPS takes you inside schools and support facilities to show the real facilities challenges facing our district.
The Hard Truth: Doing nothing is not an option.
 
Be Sure to Weigh In on the 2027-2028 School Calendar
As MCPS continues to develop the 2027-2028 school calendar, the district is seeking more input from you!
Complete this second survey to share input on the proposed draft calendar for the 2027-2028 school year. The survey will close on Friday, Nov. 6. Take the survey.
Board Seeking Public Comment on Two Policies
The Board of Education is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to two policies — Policy IPD: Travel Study Programs, Field Trips and Student Organization Trips and Policy BLB: Rules of Procedures in Appeals and Hearings.
 

Mark Your Calendars!

Please review the important dates below as we prepare for the new school year.
 
Please ensure you have all MCPS No School days and Early Dismissal Days marked on your calendars. You can find those by clicking here. 
calendar

Contact Information
Administration
Mrs. April Longest, Principal (Kindergarten and 3rd Grade)
Ms. Pam Strauss, Assistant Principal (2nd Grade and 5th Grade)
 
Administrative Assistances
 
Health Room Contacts -
Asmeret Fessha - Health Tech
 
Food Services
Mrs. Olga Cardenas, Food Svc Satellite Mgr II - For questions related to menu or lunch accounts
 
PTA President
 
School Hours
Doors Open: 9:15 pm
Bell Rings: 9:25 am
Dismissal: 3:50 am
 
Office Hours
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
 
Office Phone: 240-740-0660
School Address: 7000 Old Gate Rd, Rockville, MD 20852
 
Early Release Schedule
9:15 am Doors open
9:25 am Bell Rings
1:20 pm Dismissal
No Recess
 
Two-Hour Delay Schedule
11:15 am - Doors open
11:25 am - School Day Begins
(No recess on a delayed opening
 
Important Links