Important Dates
- September 17- Schools Close 3 Hours Early (dismissal at 11:35 AM)
- September 23- Schools and Offices Closed
- September 25, 26, 29- MAP Testing (Math)
- September 26- PTSA Fall Dance (purchase tickets here)
- October 2- Schools and Offices Closed
- October 3- 6th Grade Team Building
Visit our FQMS website for more upcoming news and events.
PTSA Newsletter (link)
Important Phone Numbers
School Office: 410-313-1506
Student Services: 410-313-1514
Health Room: 410-313-1510
Student Picture Day will be Rescheduled for a later date
The rescheduled picture date will be communicated through Falcon Flyer and Website as soon as a new date is available.
Students enrolled in High School Credited Courses
In accordance with Policy 8020: “Any high school course listed in the Middle School Course Catalog which is offered at the middle school is eligible for high school credit and will be treated as an equivalent.” Further, any middle school student enrolled in a high school level course who withdraws after the published withdrawal date of September 30, 2025 will receive a “W” on their high school transcript.
For more information, read the full letter regarding high school credited courses taken in middle school.
From the FQMS GT Department
GT Instructional Seminars are starting soon! Students can sign up for an Instructional Seminar of their choice!
Instructional Seminars are open to everyone. To sign up or find more information go to https://sites.google.com/hcpss.org/fqmsgt/home/fqms-gt-instructional-seminars (From the FQMS GT Website students must be logged into their HCPSS Google Suite student account in another browser window before visiting the form link.)
Students can choose from…Falcon Watch Television, Debate, Voices Across Time, Engineering, Film Making, Math & Logic, Photography, Computer Programming, Environmental Studies, Leadership, Writers Guild, Book Club, Philosophy, Forensics, Graphic Arts & Marketing, and more!!!
If students don’t see a seminar they like, they may get a few friends together and create an Instructional Seminar of their choice.
These classes meet during school on a rotating basis, so students DO NOT miss much class time.
https://sites.google.com/hcpss.org/fqmsgt/home/fqms-gt-instructional-seminars
From our Career Readiness Advisor
Folly Quarter is excited to continue hosting a monthly Career Cafe during grade level lunch shifts for our 6th-8th graders to expose students to a variety of careers.
Once a month, an adult from our community is invited to speak with interested students about the responsibilities, rewards/challenges, required skills, and pathway(s) to their job.
Sign-up here to be part of our directory of parents, guardians, family friends, and/or community members that would be willing to volunteer time once this school year to speak with a group of students while they eat lunch and engage. The speaker would need to be available from 10:30am-12:50pm to meet with students during each grade levels' respective lunch shift.
Feel free to reach out to Folly Quarter's Career Readiness Advisor with any questions: Pauline_Baek@hcpss.org.
Are you interested in volunteering or chaperoning this year?
Each year, volunteers and chaperones must complete the mandatory training. Here is the location for the training and you can drop-off the completed certificates to the front office where they stay on file. We must have them on file prior to volunteering at school or chaperoning during the day.
HCPSS Family Academy Kickoff
Date: Saturday, Sept. 27, 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Location: Oakland Mills High School
This districtwide event is open to all HCPSS families and will feature:
- A session with Superintendent Bill Barnes
- Resource tables hosted by HCPSS offices and local organizations
- Information on programs, resources, and services available throughout the school year
- Childcare and language access provided
- For additional information, please visit the Family Academy Kickoff HCPSS News Post.
Flier: English | Spanish | Chinese | Korean
From HCPSS
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is committed to providing a safe, engaging, and supportive school environment that fosters the social and emotional safety, dignity, and well-being of all students. HCPSS acknowledges the need for employees
- to use an array of research-based positive behavior interventions, strategies, and a tiered system of supports to address student behaviors and keep students safe and free of harm
- to minimize the practice of exclusion from the classroom environment
- to minimize the use of physical restraint (which may only be used when necessary to protect a student or other person from imminent, serious, physical harm and only after other less intrusive, nonphysical interventions have failed or been determined inappropriate).
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It is the expectation of the Board that HCPSS employees will be knowledgeable of and implement proactive positive behavior interventions in an effort to reduce the need for exclusion or physical restraint.
Additional information can be found at HCPSS Policy 9400 - Student Behavior Intervention. If you have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation, please contact a school administrator.
2025-2026 HCPSS School Calendar
For your planning needs, please see the link below to access the HCPSS School Calendar which details dates/holidays for this coming school year, including Winter break, Spring break, and professional learning days.
2025-2026 HCPSS School Calendar
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.
HCPSS provides countless supports for students and families, and recognizes there are times when additional help is needed. Various reputable county, state and national organizations can provide assistance every day and during times of crisis. Visit the HCPSS website for additional resources: Family Supports and Resources
Additional services for residents in Howard County are available on the Howard County Government website.
The organizations listed are neither sponsored nor endorsed by HCPSS, and instead serve to extend resources available for students and families.
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
A message from your local West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department
OPEN HOUSE - October is Fire Prevention Month – COME VISIT US!
SUNDAY, October 19th 12pm – 4pm
12535 Old Frederick Road • Sykesville, MD 21784
HIGHLIGHTS: Fire Apparatus Displays, Volunteer Opportunities, Fire Fighter Obstacle Course for Kids, Demonstrations, Hot Dogs, Funnel Cakes and more!
It’s fun and informative for the whole family! Visit our website – www.WFVFD.org