Falcon Flyer - March 31

Fri, 03/31/2023 - 12:12pm

Important Dates

  • Spring Break - April 3-10.  Schools reopen April 11
  • Quarter 4 Begins - April 11
  • MCAP ELA Testing April 12-13
  • PTSA "Virtual" Meeting - April 17, 7:00pm
  • PTSA Spring Dance - April 20, 2:30pm
 
Visit our FQMS website for more upcoming news and events.
 

 

Dear Falcon Families and Community,

Today marks the end of Quarter 3!  Students enjoyed “Falcon Day” today, an event filled with student choice activities, games and festivities, as they closed out the quarter and another busy week at Folly.

Congratulations to our Chorus and Concert Chorus students for their outstanding performances in the Howard  County Music Assessments this past week.   Also, congratulations to our G/T Debate team  for their participation in the Howard County Middle School debate competition held this past week at Johns Hopkins APL.   The Debate team argued “for and against” the resolution relating to statehood for the District of Columbia.  Kudos to Debate team students Ella C; Jaden H;  Ruy G-Z;  Stella C; Anna G; Alice E; Kara L; Andrew S; Wakui W; Diya S; Oliver L; Anveeksha B; Prisha T; Penny T; Peter W; Sidney L; Dhruv D; Arnav R; and Ellie D.   Congratulations to our Folly students for their amazing performances!

This past week we also celebrated the recipient of the HCPSS Staff Excellence Award for Folly Quarter Middle School. This award recognizes exemplary performance by an individual as having consistently excelled in their position and demonstrated a strong commitment to the mission, vision and values of the system. One individual from each of the 77 schools/centers was selected along with one individual from each of the six Central Office divisions for a total of 83 HCPSS Staff Excellence recipients.  We happily presented Mrs. Margaret “Peggy” Johnson as our 2023 HCPSS Staff Excellence Award recipient.  Mrs. Johnson is our Front Office Teachers’ Secretary who is dedicated to her work at Folly Quarter.  We are appreciative for the collaboration, hard work, and commitment she brings to the Folly Quarter community.  

We wish you and your families a safe and relaxing Spring Break!   Our 4th and final quarter will be filled with many important and exciting upcoming events and activities for our students.   Please continue to visit our website, school calendar and newsletters for the latest information.

Happy Spring Break!

 

Falcon News

FQMS 2022/23 Yearbook - Now On Sale

Orders are now being taken for your Folly Quarter 2022/23 yearbook by visiting Life Touch, using code: 5635923.   Different packages are available starting at $25.   Deadline to order is April 20, 2023.

Spring Testing Dates

Parents/Guardians, below is a schedule of upcoming spring testing dates.  To avoid  disruptions on testing dates, please help to ensure your student arrives to school on time and please minimize early dismissals during these dates.

  • MCAP ELA/all students - April 12 and 13
  • MCAP Social Studies/8th Grade students only - May 8, 9, 10, 11
  • MCAP Math/all students - May 15 and 16

HCPSS Indicators of Educational Equity Survey

The survey allows families to provide input about their equity priorities at our school. Please use the links below to complete the HCPSS Indicators of Educational Equity Survey by May 12th. We will use your input, along with other school data, to refine our school improvement plan for next year. This survey is anonymous and available in multiple languages. If you have children at more than one school, please complete one survey per school.   English survey; Spanish survey; Chinese survey; Chin survey; Korean survey.  Thank you for your support.

 

Student Services News

Student Service Learning

Please have your students check their FQMS Student Resources Canvas course to see if they are missing any SSL assignments from 11/21, 11/22, 12/14, and 3/15. Students must complete all Student Service Learning lessons/assignments in order to earn 25 SSL hours.  Ms. Bader and Mrs. Coonts will be following up with students who are missing their Service Learning assignments.   All SSL assignments are due by Friday, March 31.
 
 

GT News

Planning for summer enrichment? Visit our FQMS GT website to learn more about summer learning opportunities. 

Health Room News

Important News from the Nurse

Important Immunization Requirements for Rising 7th and Graduating 8th grade students

Effective the first day of school, 2023-2024, 1 dose of Tdap vaccine and 1 dose of Meningococcal vaccine will be required by the state of Maryland for all students entering Grade 7.  ALSO, any graduating 8th grade student entering 9th grade will need proof of a second dose of varicella vaccine.  If we do not receive proof of these immunizations, your child will be excluded from school.  Many students may have already received these immunizations, but the Health Room may not have the updated immunization record.  Please contact your child’s doctor and send, via email or fax, an updated copy of your child’s immunizations to the Health Room.  Our fax # is (410) 531-2473. If you have further questions, please call our Health Room at (410) 313-1510​.  Thank You!

Notifications/Concerns to our School Nurse

Parents/Guardians, we always appreciate communication about your child's health conditions and illnesses. Please ensure that you're directing any questions, concerns, or notification of illness to our school nurse, Laura Smith, 410-313-1510, or email laura_smith1@hcpss and not only your student's teacher. Our nurse is the gatekeeper for health and illness protocol and will be able to help you navigate your specific situation. Thank you!  

 

Media Center News

Overdue Books

Please remind students to bring in their overdue books from home.  Some have been checked out since September/October and other students would like to read those books, too!  Thank you.  

Chromebook Loaners

A friendly reminder to ensure your student is bringing their charged Chromebook to school every day.  Starting in the new year, if a student forgets to bring their Chromebook to school, they will no longer receive a loaner.  Instead, they will use a desktop in the media center when they have a digital assignment.  HCPSS has changed the process for receiving replacement Chromebooks and the FQMS loaner inventory is often low.  We need to prioritize loaners for those students with broken devices awaiting repair.

Thank you, Mrs. Taylor

 

Parent Resources

 

 

HCPSS News

Last Day of School for the 2022-2023 School Year

Having used one inclement weather day, the last day of school for students in full-day Pre-K through grade 12 is now scheduled to be Wednesday, June 14. The last day for half-day Pre-K/RECC students is scheduled for Friday, June 9.

Modifications to the 2023-2024 Academic Calendar

The Board of Education modified the HCPSS 2023-2024 academic calendar and approved the 2024-2025 academic calendar at its Feb. 23 meeting. The return date for staff for the 2023-24 school year will be Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, and the last day for students is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, 2024. The first day for students for the 2024-2025 school year is Monday, Aug. 26, 2024.

Changes to Walk Zones for 2023-2024

Board of Education Policy 5200 Student Transportation increases the allowable distance students may walk to school based on the distance between a student’s home and school. As a result, non-transportation areas (walk areas) have been expanded for the majority of HCPSS schools for the 2023-2024 school year. Schools will begin communicating details to their communities this week. Additional information can be found online.
 
HCPSS Rainbow Conference - Register Now!
The HCPSS Rainbow Conference will be held on Saturday, May 6, from 9am - 5pm.  The conference will be hybrid with opportunities for both virtual and in-person participation.  Read further for more information on the Rainbow Conference.
 
2023 Summer Programs Registration Open
Online enrollment requests for currently enrolled HCPSS students will reopen March 1, at 6:00 pm  for the following programs: BSAP Summer Institute (Entering Grades K-9); Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development (Entering Grades 1-8); Innovative Pathways High School (Entering Grade 9 and Current Grades 9-12) - all courses except credit recovery and Gear Up for Grade 9; and Summer Math Scholars Program (Entering Grades 6-8). Enrollment requests can be made by a parent, guardian, school counselor or school achievement liaison via HCPSS Connect Synergy.

"The Essence of Us" Workshop Series

The Council of Elders of the Black Community of Howard County and the HCPSS Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion have partnered present  "The Essence of Us: Chronicling the African American Experience," a workshop series geared toward middle and high school students that will provide a better understanding of African American history and how it is written. Workshops will be held both virtually and in-person. Participants will receive an email with details upon registering.  Virtual and in-person Workshops will take place on Saturdays (February. 11, March 11, April 15 and May 13) from 10-11:00 a.m.

River Hill High School Summer Dance Camp

Calling all dancers! Are you looking for a way to improve your flexibility, technique, and ability to learn and retain choreography all while making new friends and having a blast!!! If so, this Summer Dance Camp  will be perfect for you! Camp will be hosted by RHHS Dance Director, Sallie Byrd. Follow this link for more information and to register!!

High School Boosters - Summer Camps - Registration Now Open

 

Community News and Events

Please visit the Community News and Programs page for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.