Important Dates
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May 1- 6th Grade Field Trip - Howard County Conservancy
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May 1 - 8th Grade Panoramic Photo
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May 8 - PTSA "Virtual" Meeting - 7:00pm
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May 8-11 - 8th Grade MCAP SS Testing
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May 16 - Orchestra Spring Concert - MRHS - 7:00pm
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May 18 - Theater Arts Production
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May 19 - Schools Closed for Students - Professional Day
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May 24 - Band Spring Concert - GHS - 7:00pm
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May 29 - Schools/Offices Closed - Memorial Day
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May 30 - Choral Spring Concert - RHHS - 7:00pm
Folly Quarter News
Falcon Families and Community,
The month of May is filled with many exciting events and activities. Please make certain to read further and visit our website for important news and information on upcoming testing dates, field trips and other events!
Important Information for 8th Grade Students:
8th Grade Upcoming Events (A packet with more information for the June events will be coming home soon):
- Panoramic Picture - May 1 (Students were given order forms last week...they are due on Monday, May 1)
- High School Visit - June 6 (Field Trip)
- Picnic - June 8 (Field Trip)
- Celebration Stations - June 9 - 6:00-7:00pm
- Dance - June 9 - 7:00-9:00pm
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 Social Studies/8th Grade students only - May 8, 9, 10, 11
- MCAP Math/all students - May 15 and 16
Register by June 1 for 2023-2024 Bus Service
Reminder: Bus Transportation for 2023-2024: Families whose children are eligible for bus transportation must register through HCPSS Connect Synergy to receive bus service for the 2023-2024 school year. This new process will take place annually to help HCPSS plan for student ridership and to make routes more efficient. Registration for 2023-2024 bus service is open now through
June 1. Visit
https://www.hcpss.org/schools/transportation/registration/ for instructions on how to register and more information. Families who reside in non-transportation areas are not eligible for bus transportation and do not need to take any action. Find the new
non-transportation areas for your school online. Students who receive transportation as part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan do not need to register.
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
HCPSS/Howard County Health Department - Student Assistance Community Program
Our school community (in conjunction with other HCPSS schools in our area) will be hosting a Student Assistance Program Community Fair entitled
“Drug Use: A Crisis We Can’t Ignore!” on
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 from 6pm-8pm at River Hill High School. The program will feature a combination of keynote speakers from the Howard County Health Department presenting on vaping and other illicit drugs as well as tables displaying available resources. The program is open to all families who live in the Glenelg High School and River Hill High School attendance areas. We hope you will join us. Please see the
flier for additional information.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
“Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.” Ziad Abdelnour.
Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in May since 1949 to raise awareness about mental health across the country. Folly Quarter Middle School and the rest of the country are participating to help fight stigma and educate our youth and families for the month of May. This year, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is having the More Than Enough Campaign as an opportunity to come together and remember the inherent value we each hold, regardless of our diagnosis, appearance, socioeconomic status, background, or ability. #morethanenough
Please join Folly Quarter students and others across the country by wearing green on Thursday, May 18, 2023. And please join us for a community resource event to engage students, parents/guardians, and community members regarding the substance abuse crisis impacting our schools on May 10, 2023 from 6:00-8:00pm at River Hill High School! (more information above). Many mental health providers around our community will be in attendance.
Important Mental Health Resources
Need to Talk? Call or text 988
PLEDGE SUMMER CAMP for Rising Howard County 9th Graders
This free leadership camp for rising Howard County 9th graders helps to prepare students for high school by teaching communication and leadership skills while participating in many fun activities throughout the week. For more information, please read the
camp flier and
camp website to register.
GT News
Congratulations!
Congratulations to the following students who submitted wonderful entries for publication in the annual Howard County Our Voice magazine. In the Written Works category, we would like to recognize Nuha H., Tide P., Emma R., Stacy O., Lillian E., Lily T., Zaynah H., Camilla S., and Sreekar N. In the Photography category, we would like to recognize Zaynah H., Lily S., Darsh P., Madeleine B., Kaylie P., Zoya B. and Sreekar N.
Congratulations to Alexis P., Ava P., and Diya P. whose poetry entries were chosen at the county-level and will be published in the 2023 edition of Our Voice. We would also like to recognize Tanay P., Kareena B., and Claire S. whoser photography submissions were chosen at the county-level and will be published in the 2023 edition of Our Voice.
Well done to all students! Many of these students are a part of our FQMS Writers Guild/Workshop and FQMS Photojournalism Seminars. Be sure to have your child join us in our GT Instructional Seminars next school year. Instructional Seminars are open to all students. More information can be found at our
FQMS GT website.
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 2022/23 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.
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.
HCPSS 49th Annual Student Art Exhibit
HCPSS' 49th Annual K-12 Student Art Exhibit is now taking place at the Mall in Columbia from April 12 through May 1. Many of our Folly student's artwork will be on display during this exhibit.
Register for 2023 Summer Programs
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Gifted and Talented Summer Institutes for Talent Development (Entering Grades 1–8) has availability for four middle school classes; all other classes can be requested for the waitlist.
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Innovative Pathways High School (Entering Grade 9 and Current Grades 9–12) has availability for most courses. Credit recovery and Gear Up for Grade 9 course requests may only be made by a school counselor.
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Summer Math Scholars Program (Entering Grades 6–8)
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STARTALK Chinese Language Summer Camp (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.