NEWS FROM FQMS

Good Afternoon Falcon Families,
We hope you are staying dry on this rainy Friday.  Spring is here and we are very close to the end of the school year.  

This week we have reminded all students about their role in contributing to a positive school environment–BE KIND!!

Please partner with us to make sure our students have a successful end to their 2021-2022 year:  

• Make sure your child is attending school each day and on time
• Check Canvas daily/weekly to stay updated on assignments and grades
• Take time each evening to be sure your child is prepared with homework and supplies for school
• Encourage your child to get a good night’s rest so they are prepared for school
• With the warming temperatures, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for school

Mental Health Awareness Spirit Week (May 16 - May 20)

• May 16 - Music Monday (wear your favorite band t-shirt)
• May 17 - Cruise Day Tuesday (dress up like a tourist/Hawaiian shirt day)
• May 18 - Wellness Wednesday (wear your workout gear)
• May 19 - Thinking Cap Thursday (wear your favorite hat)
• May 20 - Feel good Friday (wear your comfy pjs)

Upcoming Dates:
May 16- MCAP Make Ups (on-going through June 3)
May 18 - Schools close 3 hours early
May 23, 24 - MCAP Math
May 30 - Schools & offices closed, Memorial Day
June 3 - 6th Grade Field Trip
June 6 - In Person PTSA Meeting, 7 pm @ FQMS
June 10 - 8th Grade Celebration, 6-7 pm / 8th Grade Dance, 7-9 pm
June 14 - 8th Grade Picnic Field Trip to Piney Run Park

From the Media Center: All library books are due back to the Media Center by Friday, June 3.  After June 3, we will let you know how to pay for lost or missing books.

From the GT Department - Congratulations to FQMS GT Book Club members Wakui W., Srinika S., Sandra W., and Tyler B. for a successful presentation to the Howard County Middle School GT Book Club Wednesday, April 11th at central branch library! Also, Great job to Perrin R. for helping Book Club work on their presentation.  Great job FQMS Book Club!

IMPORTANT IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS for rising 7th grade students - Effective the first day of school, 2022-2023, 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.  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!
 Laura Smith, Cluster Nurse:   Laura_Smith1@hcpss.org
 Adrian McNeil, Health Assistant:   Adrian_McNeil@hcpss.org

FQMS PTSA

HCPSS Pride Week - HCPSS is proud to announce the upcoming HCPSS Pride Week, June 6-12, 2022.  Throughout the week, there will be multiple activities and events for students, families and staff to show support for HCPSS Pride, including events at Busboys and Poets, book reading/discussion at Shake Shack, family hikes at Howard County Conservancy,  Centennial Park clean-up, and a fundraiser at the Main Event at The Mall in Columbia.  Friday evening, June 10, there will be movies at Long Reach High and Oakland Mills High…popcorn provided!  Many events require prior registration.

HCPSS Pride Week - Secondary (3).pdf 

HCPSS Pride Week Advertisement.pdf 

GHS Booster Camps: https://www.glenelgboosters.com/summer-sport-camps/

RHHS Booster Camps: https://riverhill.membershiptoolkit.com/camp

Damaged Chromebooks - If a student has a damaged Chromebook, please have them bring the device to Mrs. Taylor in the media center.  A repair request will be entered for the Chromebook.  If the technology office finds the device has been damaged by the student and the family has a financial obligation, they will be notified by HCPSS. Most families will receive two emails. One will come from hcpss_notifications@hcpss.org alerting the family about the financial obligation.  The second email will be an invoice sent from the My School Bucks website. Students will not be issued a replacement Chromebook until the invoice is paid.

Parents who have questions regarding the technical assessment are directed to contact DeviceDeployment@hcpss.org and if they have questions regarding the invoice, they can contact finance@hcpss.org.  FQMS does not play a part in making decisions on these financial obligations or collecting payment.

Resources:

Student Device Agreement

Chromebook Repair Costs

IMPORTANT RESOURCES

If you have an immediate need for help with depression, suicidal thoughts, or other serious mental health issues, please contact:

Grassroots Crisis Intervention at 410-531-6677
The Maryland Crisis Hotline: Dial 211 and then choose option 1
The Crisis Text Line: Text 741741 and a trained counselor will respond.
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255

HCPSS Technology Help

Please see our website for technology help resources.

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES

Absences - Absence notes must be received in writing from a parent/guardian within  5 days of an absence.  Please send all attendance correspondence to: fqmsabsence@hcpss.org

Late Arrivals - Students must be in first period by 7:40 am. Please make sure your child is accompanied into the building by either an adult or a note explaining the reason for the late arrival.

Early Dismissal - If you have to take your child out of school early, please email fqmsabsence@hcpss.org, send your child in with a note for the front office, or call in advance. You MUST present your driver’s license when you arrive.  A work ID is not valid.

For Discretionary Absences (up to 3 per school year) see the form here: http://fqms.hcpss.org/sites/default/files/Discretionary%20Absence%20Form%20%28FILLABLE%29.pdf 
Please email the completed form to: FQMSabsence@hcpss.org.

For Religious Observances see the form attached here: http://fqms.hcpss.org/sites/default/files/religious-absence%20form%20%28fillable%29.pdf. Please forward this completed form to: FQMSabsence@hcpss.org.