Falcon Flyer January 16, 2026
IMPORTANT DATES hcpss calendar
- January 19: Schools & Offices Closed
- January 22: Schools Close 3 Hours Early (No half-day pre-K/RECC) - Professional Learning Day
- January 23: End of 2nd Quarter
- January 23: MS & HS Only Close 3 Hours Early (No half-day pre-K/RECC)
- January 26: Schools Closed- Professional Work Day
- January 27, 28, 29: MAP Reading Assessment
- January 30: 7th grade Field Trip
- January 30: PTSA Winter Dance
- February 2: Hearing and Vision Screening (8th grade and new to MD students)
- February 4: Schools Closed- Professional Learning Day
- February 3, 5, 6: MAP MATH Assessment
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
IMPORTANT CHANGE TO HEARING AND VISION SCREENING - February 2, 2026
All 8th grade students and students who are new to the state of Maryland without a vision/hearing screening within past 12 months
Please be advised that we have had a change to the DATE of our Hearing and Vision screening. It will now take place on Monday, February 2nd, during periods 1-3 (original date was Wed, Feb 11th). If your student wears glasses/contacts, please make sure they wear them for the screening. Thank you!
If your child does not pass either the vision or hearing screen, you will receive a letter from our school notifying you of this result. It is then recommended that you take your child to have their vision evaluated by an eye care specialist or that you contact your child's medical provider for a referral to an audiologist for a complete hearing evaluation. The rescreen date is February 24 for those who were absent or failed the hearing screening on February 2.
Should you have any questions, please contact our school nurse, Lauren Grabau, 410-313-1510. HV2025parentletterEN.pdf
7th Grade Medieval Times Field Trip Reminder
Next week is the last day for students to turn in their permissions slips for the Medieval Times field trip on January 30. The last day to submit payment for the field trip is January 16. You can make your payment here: 7th Grade Medieval Times Field Trip
And the winner is…(Spelling Bee)
Spelling Bee Winner: Zaneeza Z. 6th grade
1st Runner up: Owen P. 6th grade
Our school champion will compete at the Howard County Level: Scripps National Spelling BEE taking place March 14, 2026, 2 pm at Hammond High School.
Congratulations to all the participants:
Amelia A.
James K.
Rohin G.
Raghav S.
Karthik S.
Boyce C.
Shivanath M.
Libbie T.
Mason B.
Yuxiao Y.
Sylvia C.
Sahil S.
Avery P.
Jackson S.
FQMS PTSA Sponsored Winter Dance
Join us for the FQMS Winter Dance on Friday, 1/30/26, from 6:00–8:00 PM in the FQMS cafeteria! It’s a fun-filled evening for students to enjoy dancing, games, food and drinks, and a photo booth- all in a warm, phone-free space that encourages connection and laughter.
Purchase tickets by 1/27 - Purchase Your Tickets Here
Volunteer & Donate - this special night is only possible because of our amazing community; Please Sign Up Here
Pickup Reminder - students must be picked up promptly at 8:00 PM from the car loop area.
HCPSS Summer 2026 Program Information:
Information for the Summer 2026 programs will be updated on the Summer Programs webpage on January 23 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)
Call for Nominations-2026 School-Based Pupil Personnel Worker of the Year:
We are pleased to announce that we are now officially accepting nominations for the School-Based Pupil Personnel Worker (PPW) of the Year award! This award is a wonderful opportunity to recognize the dedicated professionals who go above and beyond to support our students, families, and school communities. If you know a PPW who demonstrates exceptional commitment, advocacy, and impact, we encourage you to nominate them for this honor. The nomination window will close on March 6, 2026. Guidelines are included in the Nomination Form. Our Pupil Personnel Workers play a vital role in bridging the gap between home and school, ensuring every student has the resources they need to succeed. We look forward to celebrating their hard work and achievements
MAP Assessment
What is MAP and 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?
Reading (in ELA classes)—January 27, 28, 29
Math (in math classes)—February 3, 5, 6
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 expected that students will answer about half the questions correctly.
SMOB Delegate Applications:
Applications are currently being accepted for students interested in applying to be the Student Member of the Board or a delegate at the SMOB Convention. Applications for both opportunities are due Friday, January 23 and can be accessed THROUGH THIS LINK.
RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY
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 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 support 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.
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