Important Dates
- January 20 - Schools/Offices Closed - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- January 21 - Rising 6th Grade Parent Information Night - 6:00 pm in cafeteria
- January 23 - 3 Hour Early Dismissal - Professional Work Day
- January 27, 28, 30 - Math MAP Testing
- January 27 - Math Information Evening for rising 6-8 families (virtual - 5:30-6:30pm)
- January 29 - Schools Closed - Professional Work Day
- January 31 - PTSA Bingo and Winter Dance (info below)
Visit our FQMS website for more upcoming news and events.
Important Phone Numbers
School Office: 410-313-1506
Student Services: 410-313-1514
Health Room: 410-313-1510
Check out the latest PTSA newsletter
Dear Folly Quarter families,
Our Chorus concert was wonderful last night. Kudos to our students in Chorus and kudos to our students in General Music who performed as well. Thank you, Ms. Sartor for her direction and support!
The weather for next week is forecasting extremely cold temperatures and we have many more weeks of winter in the coming months. Many middle school students like to wear shorts year-round; however, we want all of our students to dress for the winter months. Our students go outside for recess and it is also important that students bring their jackets to lunch on days when we are able to go outside. Please remind your students to dress appropriately for the temperature all winter.
I wish you and your family a fantastic weekend.
Mike Babe
Principal
Congratulations - PTSA Reflections Contest Winners
Film Category
- First Place - Outstanding Interpretation Award: Sarah G. "Acceptance is Key"
Musical Composition Category
- First Place - Outstanding Interpretation Award: Julia B. "Uphill Fight"
Photography Category
- First Place - Outstanding Interpretation Award: Alea P. "Nature's Imperfection"
- Second Place - Award of Excellence: Shlok K. "Two Peppers"
Visual Arts Category
- First Place - Outstanding Interpretation Award: Aarya B. "Kintsugi"
Congratulations to all the winners for their creativity and hard work! Their entries have all moved on to the county level.
Folly Quarter Rising 6th grade Family Orientation
Save the date if you have a current 5th grader or let your neighbors know. We have our Family Orientation on January 21 from 6:00-7:00 PM (Snow date is January 30 from 6:00-7:00 PM) in our cafeteria. Families can learn about middle school, the academic schedule, and the Gifted and Talented program. We cannot wait to meet our future Falcon families!
Folly Quarter Math Information Virtual Evening
The Folly Quarter Math Department will be hosting a virtual information session on math course recommendations and graduation requirements. Parents/guardians of rising 6-8th grade students are encouraged to attend. Please save the date and time for January 27th, 5:30-6:30 PM. Virtual link: https://meet.google.com/hfa-ewnk-shn
Rising 9th Grade River Hill Students
Thank you to all parents and students who attended the River Hill High School Scheduling Extravaganza on January 13th. If you were unable to attend, the slides from the event and additional scheduling resources are available in the Scheduling Extravaganza Presentation.
2025 FQMS Reading Contest
The 2025 FQMS Reading Contest is running for seven weeks from January 27 through March 14! The top 5 individual readers in each grade will earn recognition and prizes, and the grade level that reads the most books will earn extra recess.
Students who read at least 4 books will earn 2 free Chesapeake Baysox game tickets for our school's reading night on Saturday, May 31 at 6:35pm. Additional tickets will be able to be purchased at a discount in advance of the game date. See the attached flier for more information! Happy Reading!
YEARBOOK COVER CONTEST (Ends January 24, 2025)
All FQMS students are invited to submit their own design for the 2024-2025 yearbook cover. A panel of judges will determine the winner of the Yearbook Cover Contest for artwork SUBMITTED TO MS. BADER BY FRIDAY, January 24th. Please submit to Ms. Bader or the front office. Cover submissions that follow the requirements below will be entered.
REQUIREMENTS
- All cover artwork must be original and created by the student submitting the entry
- 8 x 10 sheet of paper – portrait orientation only
- Folly Quarter Middle School and 2024 – 2025 must be legible and prominent
- You may draw or use Photoshop to create the cover design
- No critical artwork should be in the bottom inch of the page – this area is reserved for student’s names and stickers (if purchased)
- Leave a .25 inch buffer space around the edge of the cover – the buffer space will protect your design during the printing process so it doesn’t get cut-off.
TIPS FOR HAND DRAW COVERS
- Any type of marker works best!
- Avoid using pencils and light-colored crayons.
- Choose bright and bold colors.
- Crayons are accepted if they are bright, but may not print with perfect quality.
- To make your cover design POP, create a thick outline using a sharpie or marker.
- Warning: the use of a pencil may cause your design to blend.
TIPS FOR PHOTOSHOP COVERS
- Artwork must be a minimum of 300 dpi before submission.
- Do not flatten your file - keep it layered.
REMEMBER TO CHECK THAT ALL REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET BEFORE SUBMISSION. Have fun! Be creative! Do your best!
2025 MAP Winter Assessment
What is MAP & Why are students taking it? MAP is the Measures of Academic Progress assessment. Most students in grades 2-8 will take the assessment in the area of reading and math. The data from the MAP assessment will help schools and teachers plan for instruction.
Will my child participate? Yes. However, students enrolled in 8th grade ELA-GT or a high school assessed math class including: regular or GT Geometry, Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and upper level high school math classes are exempt from participating in MAP this school year.
What device should my child use to participate in MAP? Their HCPSS issued chromebook. Students should bring their HCPSS chromebook and charging cord to school every day.
When will MAP take place @ FQMS?
Math–January 27, 28, 30
Reading–February 3, 4, 5
Will MAP impact my child’s grades? The MAP assessment does not affect grades and the difficulty of questions adjusts depending on how your child responds. It is normal for students to only answer about half the questions correctly. To learn more about the MAP assessment, please visit: https://www.nwea.org/the-map-suite/common-questions-families/
From the FQMS Gifted & Talented Department
The Howard County Middle School Creative Works Magazine, Our Voice
The Howard County Middle School Creative Works Magazine, Our Voice, is published annually as a showcase of student writing and photography and the editors are currently accepting original poetry, fiction, non-fiction and photography to be considered for publication. Submissions are open to all current 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-grade students attending Howard County Middle Schools. Students can submit their original work (deadline for submissions is January 24) at https://forms.gle/X8t6DABRQdNic7zr6.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Folly Quarter Middle School Presents: PTSA Fundraiser Bingo & Dance Night! Buy your tickets now!
Get ready for an unforgettable evening of fun and excitement! Join us on Friday, January 31, from 6:00-8:00 PM for a special Bingo & Winter Dance Combo Night! Whether you’re striking a pose in the photo booth, grooving to the latest hits, or shouting "Bingo!" with your friends, this event has something for everyone.
- Tickets are just $15 per person. Your child will get access to the dance floor, bingo, and a 10-game bingo card! Purchase your Tickets here
- Concessions will be available for purchase, including bingo dabbers, baked goods, and soda, each for just $2!
Important Reminder: To keep the energy high and the vibes right, phones are not allowed during the event. Let’s enjoy the moment together!
This awesome night can’t happen without 20+ volunteers and chaperones, so sign up to help us make this evening a success! Sign Up Here:- Bingo and Dance Night Sign Up
Deadline to purchase tickets is January 30.
AND
Folly Quarter Middle School PTSA Cultural Festival
Join us for a vibrant celebration of diversity at FQMS! Enjoy delicious food, explore fascinating display booths, and experience captivating performances showcasing cultures from around the world.
- Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025 from 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: Folly Quarter Middle School Cafeteria and GYM
Want to participate or share your culture? Sign up here: Google Form
Let’s make this event unforgettable together!
The Howard County Women’s Commission - Student Essay/Poster Contest
The Howard County Women’s Commission is holding a student essay and poster contest to celebrate Women’s History Month. Prizes will be rewarded. The contest is open to all Howard County middle and high school students. Entries are due February 21, 2025. Read the attached flier for more information on contest submission rules.
Middle School Art Showcase
Members of the public are invited to attend the Middle School Studio Art B Showcase, featuring artwork by 8th grade students from all HCPSS middle schools. The artwork is on display through Jan. 21 in the main hallway of the Howard County Department of Education building, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City. Showcase hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on days the building is open.
Resources in our Community
Additional Resources/Supports:
After hours mental health support: If you have an immediate need for help with depression, suicidal thoughts, or other serious mental health issues, please contact:
Call or text 988
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
After hours threat/safety concern: We encourage you to utilize Safe Schools Maryland, an anonymous and free system to report any school or student safety concerns, including mental health concerns. Safe Schools Maryland operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Anyone can call the tip line (1-833-MD-B-SAFE / 1-833-632-7233), complete an online form, or use the Safe Schools Maryland app.
Community Notices
HCPSS’ Community News and Programs website makes it easy for families to find educational and recreational resources, events and after-school programs beyond the school day by non-profit organizations.”
Community organizations requesting their announcements be shared in school newsletters should visit community-programs.hcpss.org for more information. Questions should be directed to the Public Information Office at publicinfo@hcpss.org