Farmland Elementary School
Barnyard Bulletin
October 2015
7000 Old Gate Road
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 230-5919 FAX (301) 230-5424
http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/farmlandes/
Mary Bliss, Principal
Daniel Tucci, Principal Intern
[email protected]
[email protected]
Farmland Elementary is a
school where all people can gain
knowledge, skills and learn how
to take care of themselves.
Important Dates
Dear Farmland Students and Families,
We have successfully completed one full month of school already! Learning is in full swing and you will
have a wonderful opportunity to see your child’s classroom on Monday, October 12 th from 9:30-11:30 or
2:35-3:30. More details will be forthcoming, but we hope to see you there!
We had a very busy week last week! School Spirit was everywhere thanks to SGA’s week of events:
Pajama Day (my favorite!), Disney Character Day, Sports Jersey Day, 80s Day, and Spirit Wear Friday.
It was fabulous to see the children all dressed up. Even if you didn’t want to participate in a particular
day, it was still fun to see what the others were wearing. Many thanks to the SGA and our SGA
Sponsors, Ms. Heckelman and Ms. Ortiz for organizing this event!
The Book Fair Committee, once again, was magnificent in their orchestration of the Book Fair this
week! I was able to stock up on great books for my grandchildren! It is always so well organized that it
appears effortless, but it is due to the incredible time commitment and devotion of these individuals to
make it happen: Debbie Seo (Chair), Kristen Mirsky (All for Books Charity), Diane Cordray (Teachers
Preview Tea), Carlos Rodriguez (Poster Judge), and several fabulous volunteers!! There were also
special guest readers on Wednesday evening to add to the fun. Many thanks to Ms. Ulrich, Mrs. Ricke,
Ms. Smith, Mrs. Bardin, Ms. Ortiz, Ms. Powelson, Mrs. Weissenburger, and Mr. Adkins!!
At the PTA meeting this week, I shared how much I appreciate the generosity and caring of our
students, staff, and community in the way Farmland continually is involved in service projects and
reaching out to help others. Farmland does an outstanding job of teaching our children the values of
being charitable and concerned citizens. The Book Fair was no exception, as donations of books were
made to add to classroom libraries and to benefit our Sister School, Harmony Hills ES. Giving is
always a gift to both the recipient and the giver!
October 6

Individual Student Photos
October 6

Fall Into Fitness Night 6:00 –7:30
pm
October 12

Open House 9:30—11:30 am or
2:35—3:30 pm
October 14

Culture Arts Assembly – Step
Africa
9:30 – 10:30 and 10:45 – 11:45

Family Portrait Fundraiser 4-6:30
pm
October 16

No School for Students and
Teachers
October 30


First Marking Period Ends
Halloween Parade and Parties
2:25 pm
November 2
Looking to next week, we have our annual “Fall Into Fitness” on Tuesday, October 6 th from 6:00-7:30.
There will be the wall and rope climbing, yoga, aerobics, and much, much more! Hope you come out to
participate in all the awesome fitness activities that our staff will be facilitating as we celebrate the
importance of a healthy lifestyle!

October is Disabilities Awareness Month and a very special month at Farmland as we have the
Learning for Independence (LFI) program for children with various types of cognitive disabilities. The
motto for this year is “We are more alike than different.” There will be messages on the morning
announcements to educate our students on the topic of students with all types of physical or intellectual
disabilities. Our students are exceptionally warm and caring in involving our LFI students into the
fabric of the whole-school environment. They love to volunteer in the classrooms or have classes “buddy
up” for academic or social events, lunch and recess, and field trips. It is heartwarming to see that we are
purposefully working towards being one school, not one school with two programs. These awareness
month lessons build understanding to make sure the lessons learned continue throughout the year and
their lifetimes.
PTA Meeting 6:00 pm
November 10
No school for Students –
Professional Day for Teachers
November 3



Individual Picture Make-Up Day
November 11

Early Release 1:20pm –
Conferences
November 12

“The family is one of Nature’s masterpieces.” –George Santayana

Warmest regards,

Mrs. Bliss (Mary)
Second Marking Period Begins
Early Release 1:20 pm –
Conferences
Report Cards Distributed
November 18
Celebration Assemblies
November 25

Early Release 1:20
November 26
No School – Thanksgiving
November 27
No School
Page 2
Farmland Elementary School
Counselor’s Corner—Stephanie Mann
In grades K-4, I will be reading the story Hey Little A nt by Phillip M. Hoose. The
story emphasizes the importance of showing consideration and respect for others who
are different from us. Students will learn the concept of empathy and discuss the
importance of diversity and acceptance. Students in grade 5 will learn about the
middle school magnet and consortium programs. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions
or concerns. My email address is Stephanie_ [email protected] and my telephone number is 301-230
-5919. I look forward to working with you and your child!
Let’s Talk About Character
The Pillar of Character for the month of October is Responsibility. Students at Farmland show
Responsibility by always doing their best!
Responsibility means: planning ahead, always doing what you ar e supposed to do, per sever ing,
always using self-control, thinking before you act and considering the consequences, being accountable for
your words, actions, and attitudes, and setting a good example for others.
March of Dimes
In October, our school will begin the March of Dimes
Reading Champions program. We will raise money
for the March of Dimes by reading books!
The March of Dimes is an organization that works to improve the health of
newborn babies. We can help the March of Dimes by asking sponsors to
donate money for each book we read in this month.
Be sure to check your child’s backpack for more information about this
program.
E-Mail Addresses
Not receiving e-mails from Farmland? If not, please contact your childs
classroom teacher so we can make sure it is updated in our database.
Daylight savings time ends on
November 1st.
Remember to set back your clocks one hour
Farmland Elementary School
Page 3
Information about Middle School Special Programs Fall, 2015
Dear Parents of Fifth Grade Students,
Here is information about the application and Choice programs available to Grade 5 students. We have received the application
forms, pamphlets and test preparation booklets for the application magnet programs. The materials will also be available in
English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Korean online at: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/parents/programs/
specialprograms/#3
Parents and students who attend the middle school evening information meetings will receive brochures at the meeting. The
evening meetings are as follows:
 Eastern Middle School: October 1st at 7:00pm
 Takoma Park Middle School: October 19th at 5:00pm (A-M) and 7:00pm (N-Z)
The Middle School Magnet Consortium (MSMC): Argyle, A. Mario Loiederman, and Parkland Middle schools will also host
open houses on the following dates:
 Argyle Middle School: October 14th at 7 pm
 A. Mario Loiederman Middle School: October 21st at 7 pm
 Parkland Middle School: October 28th at 7 pm
Due Date for All Applications and Choice Forms is NOVEMBER 6.
Application materials will be available online by end of September at
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/
Choice forms will be available online by mid-October at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/msmagnet/
Students may participate in the Choice lottery AND apply to the application programs.
Feel free to contact me at [email protected] or your Grade 5 teachers with any additional questions or if you
would like an application or brochure. You may also contact the Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program
Services at 301-592-2040.
George B. Thomas Sr. Learning Academy—
Highly Gifted
Application Process for Saturday School Program
Third Grade Students
The application has been mailed to
the home of every Grade 3 student
enrolled in Montgomery County
Public Schools (MCPS). In addition,
the application is available in
Chinese, French, Korean, Spanish,
and Vietnamese and is posted on the
website at
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/
curriculum/specialprograms/.
All applications for the Highly
Gifted Centers are due on Friday
November 6th. If you need more
information on this, please contact
Mr. Tucci.
.
Give your child a jump-start in the school year by enrolling in the George B.
Thomas Sr. Learning Academy, Inc. Saturday School Program. The learning
academy is a tutoring and mentoring program that enhances the academic
performance and achievement of Montgomery County students in grades 1-12.
This program helps children reach their academic potential through small group
support in reading, mathematics and test taking skills.
The program runs from 8:30-11:00 a.m. on Saturday mornings. During this time,
certified teachers and volunteer tutors work with students in areas of reading,
language arts, mathematics, and learning/studying strategies. Centers are
located at twelve locations. The learning academy centers are: Albert Einstein
H.S.; Gaithersburg H.S.; John F. Kennedy H.S.; Col. Zadok Magruder H.S.;
Montgomery Blair H.S.; Northwest H.S.; Paint Branch H.S.; Rockville H.S.;
Sherwood H.S.; Springbrook H.S.; Watkins Mill H.S. and Wheaton H.S.
If you have any questions about the program, please call the learning academy’s
main office at 301-649-8078. Registration information is available at the main
office of the learning centers and online at www.gtblearningacademy.org.
Page 4
Farmland Elementary School
Art News—Carlos Rodriguez
What will students learn during art in October?
Kindergarten
First Grade
Mouse Paint Colors
Kindergarten students will begin to study the art
element of COLOR. After the reading the book
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh, students will
identify the difference between Primary Colors
(Red, Blue & Yellow) and Secondary Colors
(Orange, Purple & Green). Students will then locate these colors on a color wheel and see how to
create a Secondary Color, they need to mix two
Primary Colors. Students will then construct their
own color wheel, correctly painting all Primary
Colors and mixing all Secondary Colors.
Paper Sculpture Masks
Students will examine a variety of mask styles from different cultures from around the world. After identifying how
a mask is a three-dimensional artwork that can cover your
face, students will construct their own paper mask. Students will examine and experiment with different ways to
manipulate a flat piece of paper into a three-dimensional
form; by folding, cutting, rolling, bending, and fringing
paper. Students will use 2-3 different paper form techniques to create a stylized life sized mask.
Second Grade
Third Grade
Matisse inspired Still-Life Collage
Students will observe the still-life painting The
Egyptian Curtain by Fauve artist Henri Matisse. Learning that Matisse created this painting
by arranging everyday objects on a table in front
of his window, students will observe and sketch
everyday objects observed in the art room. After
creating a background students then began to cut
out and arrange everyday objects to create depth
in their still-life. Students will demonstrate an
understanding of depth in their collage by overlapping objects and varying their size throughout the
arrangement.
Artist in Residence – Jing-Jy Chen
This year, the students of Farmland Elementary School in
third through fifth grade will have the opportunity to participate in our Artist in Residence visual arts program.
This year, our focus is on gaining insight into another culture by studying its art forms. Visiting artist Jing-Jy
Chen, an artist originally from Taiwan, will work with our
students on teaching them about traditional Chinese style
of bamboo brush painting. Students will experience painting with ink washes, or Sumi-e painting; and watercolor
painting. Each grade level created a different final project
during this program and each class will have a different
theme for their artwork; Themes include bamboo, flowers,
dragonflies, birds, fish and pandas
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Artist in Residence – Jing-Jy Chen
This year, the students of Farmland Elementary
School in third through fifth grade will have the
opportunity to participate in our Artist in Residence visual art program. This year, our focus is
on gaining insight into another culture by studying its art forms. Visiting artist Jing-Jy Chen, an
artist originally from Taiwan, will work with our
students on teaching them about traditional Chinese style of bamboo brush painting. Students will
experience painting with ink washes, or Sumi-e
painting; and watercolor painting. Each grade level created a different final project during this program and each class will have a different theme
for their artwork; Themes include bamboo, flowers, dragonflies, birds, fish and pandas.
Artist in Residence – Jing-Jy Chen
This year, the students of Farmland Elementary School in
third through fifth grade will have the opportunity to participate in our Artist in Residence visual arts program.
This year, our focus is on gaining insight into another culture by studying its art forms. Visiting artist Jing-Jy
Chen, an artist originally from Taiwan, will work with our
students on teaching them about traditional Chinese style
of bamboo brush painting. Students will experience painting with ink washes, or Sumi-e painting; and watercolor
painting. Each grade level created a different final project
during this program and each class will have a different
theme for their artwork; Themes include bamboo, flowers,
dragonflies, birds, fish and pandas
Page 5
Farmland Elementary School
PE News—Rob Adkins and Susan Pickett
Here is what is going on in Physical Education…
Kindergarteners will continue to work on how to travel to a self-space and through general space and
locomotor movements (walking, running, hopping, jumping, galloping). We will also be learning about
the effects of exercise on the heart as well as how to find a pulse on the body. Two ways kindergarteners
will demonstrate their learning is through VOLCANO and CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE activities.
First graders will continue to work on how to travel to a self-space and through general space using
locomotor movements (walking, running, hopping, jumping, galloping, sliding and skipping) with an
emphasis on levels, directions and pathways. Students will be identifying the effects of exercise on the
body (heart beats faster, lungs breathe faster/deeper, skin sweats). Two ways first graders will
demonstrate their learning is through BEAN BAG TIC-TAC-TOE and CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE
activities.
Second graders will be working on how to travel different directions (right, left, clockwise,
counterclockwise) while galloping, sliding and skipping with an emphasis on showing how to lead/follow,
mirror/match, meet/separate. Students will be explaining why exercise affects the body. Two ways
second graders will demonstrate their learning is through LINE DANCING and CARDIOVASCULAR
ENDURANCE activities.
Third graders will be working on dribbling with their feet. Students will also be learning about the
components of fitness (muscular strength, muscular endurance, aerobic capacity, flexibility) and activities
that target these areas. Two ways third graders will demonstrate their learning is through activities such
as DRIBBLE GOLF and CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE activities.
Fourth graders will be involved in learning how to pass to a partner with the inside and outside of their
feet. Students will also be defining the components of fitness (muscular strength, muscular endurance,
aerobic capacity, flexibility), resting, target and maximum heart rate as well as exercises for each. Two
ways fourth graders will demonstrate their learning is through SOCCER and CARDIOVASCULAR
ENDURANCE activities.
Fifth graders will also be working on shooting with the instep of their foot (laces) after dribbling into
position. Students will also be learning how to explain the phases of an aerobic workout. Two ways fifth
graders will demonstrate their learning is through activities such as the SOCCER and CARDIOVASCULAR
ENDURANCE activities.
Page 6
Farmland Elementary School
Music News
What will students learn during music in October?
In October, students will be working on mastering a variety of skills
during their music classes.
Kindergarten students will continue todemonstrate responding to
music by showing they hear differences between loud and quiet music, various ways to use their voices,
and identifying sounds as fast or slow. They will also demonstrate their learning for performing music
by keeping a steady beat with and without instruments, playing singing games and finger games that help
reinforce a steady beat, and using loco motor and non-loco motor movement in class.
First grade students will develop an understanding of following musical cues through simple folk songs
and singing games. Students will also analyze and respond to music by identifying classroom
instruments by sight and sound.
Second grade students will continue to practice identifying and describing the classification of classroom
and orchestral instruments according to methods of sound production. Orchestral instruments are
classified in four families – woodwinds, strings, brass, and percussion. Students study the ways in which
sound is produced on these instruments and use these qualities to classify them. Second graders will also
continue to use an expanded range of pitches with appropriate vocal technique to sing a variety of songs
and tonal patterns in tune.
Third grade students will focus on identifying, analyzing, and responding to different types of musical
forms containing contrast and repetition. They will identify various song forms including verse/refrain
and cumulative. Students will also continue to focus on performing rhythmic and melodic ostinatos to
support a given melody with classroom instruments and their bodies.
Fourth grade students will identify contrasting and repeating phrases within a given section of music by
sight and sound. Students will also perform rhythmic and melodic ostinatos while others sing or play
contrasting parts. Students will analyze and respond to different types of voices they may hear in a
variety of musical selections.
Fifth grade students will continue to identify specific instruments by sight and sound. Students will also
perform simple chordal accompaniments while other students sing or play contrasting parts, practice to
improve their vocal technique by singing alone and with an ensemble, demonstrate how to conduct music
in a compound meter. Students will also learn about and compose their own lyrics to blues melodies,
which they will accompany on pitched instruments.
Additionally, fifth grade students will be attending a FREE trip to The Music Center at Strathmore on
Tuesday, October 27, 2015. The busses will depar t at 9:40 a.m. and students will r etur n by 12:35
p.m. in time for lunch. This program will give our students exposure to the wonderful world of jazz and
blues music in a concert hall setting. Please sign and return your child’s permission slip and have him/
her return it as soon as possible to their homeroom teacher. These students will be preparing for this
wonderful field trip during their music classes, as well.
Contact Information:
Anne Kasab: [email protected]
Theresa Kormann: [email protected]
Samantha Lalley: [email protected]
Page 7
Farmland Elementary School
Media Center News
What will students learn when they visit the media center
during the month of October?
Kindergarten
Students continue to work on identifying and following circulation procedures and
media center policies. They locate and select literature based on personal
needs and interests with guidance. They make literature-to-self connections with
guidance. They are introduced to the Black-Eyed Susan young readers’ choice contest.
1st Grade
Students are working on comparing and contrasting elements of fiction and non-fiction literature. They
begin to focus on text features in nonfiction and elements of a story in fiction. They also identify parts of
a book, including title, author, copyright date and publisher.
2nd Grade
Students are beginning work on their Nutrition inquiry project. They are focusing on generating
researchable questions that will give them a path to refine their research. They identify parts of a book
and electronic source needed for creation of a citation. Students will take notes on a nutrition related
subject in a graphic organizer. They analyze a recipe to see which ingredients fall into which food
groups. They will use their research to write a passage about a food group.
3rd, 4th and 5th grade classes come to the media center every other week for book checkout. In addition,
they have periodic lessons.
3rd Grade
Third grade begins work on their Community Action inquiry project. They take notes on a topic related to
a service project in the local community. They learn how to create a proper citation and how to search
for relevant resources. They will choose a specific topic and work on finding information to satisfy an
information need.
4th Grade
Fourth grade is working on research on the Jamestown Colony. They have learned how to take notes
from a video clip about Jamestown, and they will continue their note taking in the classroom. They are
creating thorough citations for each resource they access. They will be using their research to write an
informational piece and a historical fiction story in their classrooms.
5th Grade
Fifth grade is working on research of an alternative energy source for the fifth grade inquiry project. They
will conduct thorough research of their assigned energy source and determine whether this source is
appropriate for powering an amusement park ride. In addition, they follow proper procedure for recording
bibliographic information for their sources. They are learning how to use Google Slides to present their
information.
LFI classes
Classes are exposed to a variety of picture books and are encouraged to make connections to the
classroom curriculum as well as to themselves. Topics we have explored through literature are colors,
friendship, opposites and responsibility.
Page 8
Farmland Elementary School
Summer Reading Recognition
Mrs. Regnell, reading specialist, and I would like to congratulate the following students for participating in
our summer reading program and for following all instructions for submitting their summer reading logs:
Anya
Zara
Riley
Tai
Maria
Rebecca
Madalyn
Luke
Stella
Yeshash
Harshita
Minkyeom
Heeryun
Daniel
Mia
Katie
Colin
Rana
Declan
Brayden
Kiki
Isabella
Alexandra
Deeta
Joseph
Mikey
Maddie
Anthony
Grace
Paul
Elena
Haruka
Kanon
Rohil
Naye
Hannah
Andrew
Christopher
Sienna
Annabelle
Eric
Minhwan
Adamyan
Bagai
Berkowitz
Burroughs
Burrus
Campos Molina
Carper
Chaney
Chang
Chinta
Chinta
Choi
Choi
Choi
Corrado
Diao
Dijamco
Dourrachad
Fogarty
Fogarty
Gazit-Rosenthal
Gee
Goodhart
Gupta
Han
Hennemuth
Hennemuth
Hernandez-Gomez
Hudalla
Hudalla
Hurwitz
Ido
Ido
Jaiswal
Jang
Joe
Joe
Jung
Karp
Kehoe
Kim
Kim
Jaehwan
Yoonjung
Yayoi
Koji
Julian
Dayeon
Katherine
Bella
Rocio
Toasama
Zachary
Ashwathi
Elliott
Natalie
Yohei
Ray
Dani
Peter
Nick
Sarthak
Ana Maria
Jinsol
Hannah
Juhyung
Ella Rose
Sofia
Leyton
Ella Rose
Youjeong
Mahoro
Navya
Nicky
Ahalya
Ariel
Ben
Raquel
Yuki
Isaac
Michael
Parinita
Caivs
Richard
Kim
Kim
King
Kirby
Kovalovsky
Lee
Lew
Li
Lima
Luka
Markey
Menon
Merberg
Merberg
Mizuguchi
Mukoyama
Nadelman
Onzay
Opipari
Pal Mahajan
Pantoja Alfaro
Park
Park
Park
Pollin
Reyes
Seo
Serengulian
Shin
Shingai
Shukla
Smith
Srambical
Stone
Taylor
Tolin
Tomita
Torres
Treston
Varshney
Wagner
Wagner
Isabel
Jennifer
Grace
Lindsey
Dan
Seokjun
Alice
Wagner
Wan
Worch
Wu
Yariv
Yoon
Zhang
Great job reading over
the summer. We hope
you continue to enjoy
reading every day of
the year!
Mrs. Gleeson
Media Specialist
Farmland Elementary School
Page 9
Homework Help is Here!
Homework Hotline Live is back on the web and TV! Go to Ask H-H-L dot org or MCPS cable TV
to get help from real MCPS teachers. The TV show is from 4:30 to 6 o’clock, and online help is
from 4:30 until 9:30.
Call 301-279-3234 or go to Ask H-H-L dot org. That’s 301-279-3234 and Ask H-H-L dot org.
Montgomery College
Workforce Development & Continuing Education
YOUTH PROGRAMS
Register now
Kids College
Montgomery College Youth Programs offers Kids College with after school and Saturday courses for students in grades 1 – 10 held on
the Rockville and Germantown campuses. This program consists of enrichment and advancement courses that cover a wide range of
topics including science, math, art, engineering, study skills, writing, etiquette, and technology. Classes begin in October.
Classes fill quickly, so register NOW!
For additional brochures or registration information,
contact YOUTH PROGRAMS
at 240-567-7264 or 240-567-7917 or access brochure online at http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/wdce/youthkidscollege.html
Clothing to Cash Recycling Program
Look for the white bin at the side of the school parking lot. Bring in bags of unwanted clothing, shoes,
and textiles in any condition. Our school gets paid for every bag collected!
Check this out! We are proud to announce that Farmland Elementary School collected 581.0 lbs. of clothing and shoes in June 2015. It not only helps raise funds for your professional development funds but also
gives their items a second life by helping those less fortunate dress for less. Some schools in MCPS have been averaging
1200-1800 pounds of clothes a month which earns them extra bonuses. We can do it too! Keep it up Farmland!!
Safety Reminder
For all our students who walk home or who ride their bicycles, please remember to use the cross walks when you are
crossing the streets in our community. We want to make sure that our students always use the designated cross walks
as they travel and from school. Thank you for reinforcing these safety guidelines at home! Parents, please remember
to carefully follow the parking rules especially during arrival and dismissal. Some community members have expressed concerns and we do not want anyone to be issued a ticket. Thank you!
Page 10
Farmland Elementary School
Halloween Safety
Children wait for this day all year long. They spend weeks deciding on just the right costumes and dreaming of
bags of goodies. While Halloween is a cherished tradition for many of the nation’s youth, the excitement of the
night can make children forget to be careful.
Both children and adults need to think about safety on this annual day of make-believe. The National Safety
Council urges motorists to be especially alert on Halloween and offers the following driving tips:
-
Slow down in residential neighborhoods and obey all traffic signs and signals.
Watch for children walking on roadways, medians, and curbs. If youngsters are wearing dark costumes, they’ll be difficult to see
at night.
Be prepared for children to dart out into the street at any time, especially between parked cars.
Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.
Make sure your headlights are clean and working so you can see and be seen.
If you are driving children on their “trick or treat” rounds, be sure they exit on the curb side, away from traffic. (And, of course,
make sure everyone’s safety belt is fastened.)
If you are on the way to a costume party, do not wear your mask while you are driving, and avoid costumes that make it difficult
to move your arms and legs.
When designing costumes, parents should keep safety in mind to ensure that the children have a fun-filled and safe Halloween. The
Council makes these suggestions about costumes:
-
Only fire-resistant materials should be used for costumes.
Costumes should be loose enough so that warm clothes can be worn underneath and to allow freedom of movement.
Costumes should not be so long that they are tripping hazards. (Falls are the leading cause of accidents on Halloween.)
Outfits should be made of light colors, and strips of retro reflective tape should be used to make children even more visible.
Consider using makeup instead of a mask so that a child’s vision will not be blocked.
For youngsters under the age of 12, attach their name, address, and telephone number (including their area code) to their
clothes, but not in an easily visible place.
Before children start out on their “trick or treat” rounds, parents should make sure that:
-
An adult or older sister or brother will be supervising the outing for children under age 12.
Children travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
Children know to stop only at houses or apartment buildings that are well lighted and never to enter a stranger’s home.
Each child has change for a phone call in case they have a problem while away from home.
A return time has been established.
Youngsters understand not to eat any treat until you have inspected it.
With a little extra thought and planning, you can make sure that all children have safe outings on Halloween.
Halloween Celebrations at Farmland
Weather permitting, Farmland will hold the annual Halloween celebration and costume parade at 2:25 p.m. on Friday, October 30th.
Children will change into costumes after lunch and parties will take place in classrooms after the parade. Parents are invited to wait for
the parade outside on the back field. All parents and guardians who will help in the classrooms during the parties need to sign in as a
volunteer in the main office and wear a volunteer/visitor badge. Remember that Montgomery County Public Schools do not permit
weapons of any kind, including toy replicas (i.e., swords), on school property. It is important that students not include these items as part
of costumes. Anything that could be used or perceived as a weapon will not be allowed. In addition, for safety purposes, children should
not wear any type of mask or article that would impair vision. Halloween is a time of year filled with excitement. It is very important that
we celebrate these good times in a safe manner.
Please note that an alternative activity will be provided for students who for various reasons are not permitted to participate in these
activities.
Thank you for your continued support.
Donations Needed—Halloween Costumes
Halloween is fast approaching and we would like for all of our students to have the opportunity to participate in our annual Farmland
festivities. Last year some of our students did not have costumes. If you have a gently- used or new costume you would like to donate
please contact Stephanie Mann at [email protected] or 301-230-5919. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank
you!
Page 11
Farmland Elementary School
PTA News
Hi Farmland families,
What a first few weeks we have had!
First K-2 Family Fun Night was a HUGE success! A special thanks to all the staff and families who
came out! Tons of fun was had by all!
ALSO, thank you to all who came out to our Book Fair! It was a HUGE success and it
was so nice to see so many families on both nights of the Fair. Thank you to Debbie
Seo, Kristen Mirsky, and all the other volunteers who made the Book Fair possible. In
addition, a special thank you to our teachers who read for Teacher Read Night – Ms.
Smith, Ms. Ulrich, Ms. Ricke, Ms. Bardin, Ms. Ortiz, Mrs. Wiessenburger, and Mr.
Adkins!!!!!!
October 9th is our food truck fundraiser with Go Fish! and Kona Ice! Come and grab some dinner
from 5-6:30PM!!!!
Our Halloween Dance is right around the corner – October 23th from 6:30-8:30PM! There
will be a DJ, costume contest, haunted house, and PRIZES! Tickets are $5 per person and
pizza is $15 per pie ($17 for pepperoni). You will be getting a form soon to preorder your
pizza! It’s a great idea to do so, as we ran out of pizza last year.
Have you checked out our Silent Auction yet? So many amazing items! Old Farm and Tildenwoods
pool memberships, local business contributions, birthday party packages, restaurants, and many,
many more! Bidding ends Saturday, October 24th at 10:00PM. Check it out at
www.biddingforgood.com/farmlandpta
For those of you that have not joined the PTA. Please do. Joining the PTA, by completing the
membership forms (and paying $20) will sign you up for our email list so you will know about
upcoming events and other important information.
Follow us on Facebook (Farmland PTA) which will help us keep you informed and please ‘opt-in’ to
our monthly email newsletter when your room parent asks you to!
We are utilizing our website http://www.farmland-pta.org , so you can check there for ALL PTA info!
There is still time to donate to our Sparky Fund! The Sparky Fund helps us to fund all of the PTA’s
programs in order to not have to sell wrapping paper or candy. The form is on the website.
Thank you and Happy Fall!
Amanda Michalowicz
Page 12
Farmland Elementary School
Snack Day Schedule
Lunch Period
12:00-12:35
Monday/Wednesday
Langford
Mann
Monds
Roberts
Goodman
Basra
Unnithan
LoSapio
Lund
Ortiz
Strauss
Heckelman
12:35-1:10
1:20-1:55
Tuesday/Thursday
Casey/Weinmann
Werlin
Bardin
Trachtenberg
Weissenburger
Buffano
McClure
Hanifin
Warwick
Murphy
Ciccarello
1:55-2:30
Alexander
Peters
Powelson
KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS DO NOT PURCHASE SNACKS
SNACK PRICES—STUDENTS ALLOWED TO GET ONE ITEM ONLY
BEVERAGES
Juice, 100% (4 oz).
Milk (8 oz)
Bottled Water (8 oz)
.50
.60
.50
BREAKFAST ITEMS
Whole Grain Bagel
.75
Whole Grain Breakfast Sandwich
2.50
Whole Grain Cinnamon Roll
1.00
Whole Grain French Toast Sticks w/Syrup 1.25
Sausage, link or patty (1 oz)
.75
Yogurt, Assorted Flavors (4 0z)
.75
SNACKS
Whole Grain Cheez-It Crackers
Fruit Snacks
Sorbet/SideKick, 100% Fruit Juice
.50
.35
.75
FRUIT
Fruit. Canned/Pear Sauce/Craisins (1/2 cup)
Capri sun, 100% Juice (6 oz)
Soy Milk (8 oz)
.75
1.00
Whole Grain Bagel w/1 oz cream cheese
Whole Grain Cereal
Whole Grain Egg & Cheese Breakfast Wrap
Whole Grain Mini Pancakes w/Syrup
Whole Grain Toast, w/Jelly (1 slice)
Yogurt, Assorted Flavors (8 oz)
1.25
.75
1.50
1.25
.25
1.25
Whole Grain Chips, Popcorn
Ice Cream
.75
.75
.50
.75
Fruit, Fresh (1 piece)
STUDENTS WITH A $10 NEGATIVE BALANCE ARE LIMITED TO RECEIVE A CHEESE SANDWICH ONLY
( NO MILK OR FRUIT ) INSTEAD OF A REGULAR LUNCH.
THE SCHOOL IS BILLED FOR THE COST OF THE SANDWICH $ 0.25
LUNCH
STUDENTS MUST GET THREE COMPONENT ITEMS. A SECOND LUNCH COSTS $2.50 OR $2.75 WHICH DOES
NOT INCLUDE MILK OR FRUIT
Health Room News
WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME FROM
SCHOOL
When your child is sick, keep him/her home from school. This not only benefits your child but other children
and staff in the classroom at school.
A temperature of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit
Nausea or vomiting
Stomachache
Diarrhea
Pale or flushed face
Headache
Persistent cough
Earache
Thick yellowish discharge from nose
Sore throat
Rash or infection of the skin
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY CHILD HAS ANY OF THESE SIGNS?
If your child has any of these symptoms when it is time for school, it is best that he/she stay
home. Most childhood illnesses are over soon and no cause for worry. But, if the symptoms
are severe or persist for more than 24 hours, you should contact your private source of medical care.
Children sometimes use illness as an excuse to miss school. On the other hand, some children force themselves
to go to school even though they are sick. There may be times that your child does not show signs of the abovenoted symptoms but may be ill. It is up to you to be alert to your child's health and to decide when it is best to
send him/her to school.
WHEN MAY MY CHILD RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER AN ILLNESS?
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that individuals stay home “until at least 24 hours
after they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (chills,
feeling very warm, flushed appearance, or sweating) without the use of fever-reducing medicine.” http://
www.cdc.gov/flu/school/guidance.htm
Generally, your child may return to school when he/she is free of signs of illness. However, there may be times
when it is necessary for your child to see your source of medical care before returning to school. Please call
your school nurse if you have any questions regarding a specific condition.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF MY CHILD BECOMES ILL AT SCHOOL?
If your child complains of being sick or does not look well after he/she reaches school, we will contact you.
Therefore, it is important that you provide the school with up-to-date information and phone numbers to call in
case it is necessary to contact you.
Support Farmland Elementary by Registering with these
Companies
Each year a number of local companies offer a fundraising program where families can sign up and support the school of their choice by simply shopping at these establishments. It is no cost to you but will
greatly benefit Farmland!
Please sign up and you will be helping to bring funds to our school!
Company
Registration Information
Weblink
Giant Foods
You can register on-line or you
can register your card here at
Farmland in the main office.
http://www.giantfood.com/aplus
Target
You can register on-line or you
can call
1-800-456-0694
(our Target # is 58128)
www.//target.com/tcoe
Harris Teeter
You can register on-line at Harris Teeter or you may register
your card at the store location
www.harristeeter.com
Farmland’s Bus Expectations
Farmland celebrates having a safe and fun school by following our three school wide expectations: “Be Respectful! Be Responsible! Be Safe!” Please see the matrix below how
the students and staff model proper bus etiquette!
Scarecrow says:
All Settings
On the Bus
Be Respectful






Be Responsible




Use appropriate tone, words, and
behavior
Avoid disrupting others’ learning
Use others’ things with permission and
care
Take care of self and materials
Clean up after yourself
Follow directions from all adults
Be honest in words & actions
Be Safe




Work, play, and travel safely
Walk
Keep hands and feet to yourself
Stay in assigned space





Listen to bus driver and patrols at all times
Keep belongings as well as hands and feet to
yourself
Speak quietly on the bus
No food or drink on the bus
Provide written permission from a
parent/guardian if going to a different
destination. The note must also be signed
by the classroom teacher.
Walk to your bus
Enter and exit bus in a single file line
Remain seated while the bus is in motion
Students
Students are responsible for their behavior and self-control on the bus and at bus stops at all times. Disorderly students can threaten the
safety of all riders by distracting the bus operator making the bus ride to and from school an unpleasant and even intimidating experience for
other students. School buses are an extension of school, and students are expected to adhere to the same standards of behavior on a school bus
as in the classroom.
Students are expected to obey the instructions of the bus operator just as they would follow the instructions of teachers and school
administrators. Students must also remember that riding the school bus is a privilege for most students, not a right, which can be revoked if
the student fails to observe basic standards of conduct and safety.
Parents
Parents can help further the safety of all students by making sure their children know the bus rules and etiquette that help ensure safe,
orderly, and pleasant bus trips. Parents also should make sure their children know their bus route number, located in windows on both the
right and left side of the bus, near the front (see Route Numbers section below). The number that is painted on the bus, usually on the body
and bumpers is not used for bus route identification.
For elementary and middle school students, it is recommended that a parent or other adults wait at the bus stop with the students to monitor
and supervise their behavior and help with any problems, such as a late bus. Both students and adults should stand near the bus stop, not
more than 150 feet away, where they can observe the bus as it arrives.
Bus stops are selected to provide safety and convenience for most students, and to economize on fuel and time that students spend on the bus.
Parents should not request bus drivers to make additional stops. Regulations prohibit bus operators from stopping between designated bus
stops.
Many routes are designed so that students do not need to cross a major roadway to use the bus. This is indicated on route descriptions by
"RSO" (right side only) next to the bus stop notation. Parents should not allow their children to circumvent this safety measure by crossing the
road to use a different bus stop if there is one on their side of the street.
KIDS RIDE FREE Program
The Kids Ride Free program provides free rides on County Ride On buses and certain
Metrobus routes within Montgomery County to kids ages 18 and under who are Montgomery County residents. The free rides are available weekdays between 2
and 8 p.m.
The program, which is for students, operates year-round. Students should show their
Youth Cruiser SmarTrip Card when boarding buses. School photo identification cards
(IDs) have been used in the past and will continue to be accepted until December 31,
2015. All student riders should have a Youth Cruiser SmarTrip Card for use by
January 1, 2016. Some schools, all Montgomery County libraries, TRiPS Stores and
the Treasury Division office sell the cards for $2. Please see the list of schools
at:http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-transit/kidsridefree/schools.html New
schools can sign up to participate by contacting Nona Watson
at [email protected].