October 16, 2015
Dear Farmland Students and Families,
Halloween is fast approaching! Parents are encouraged to use good judgment and
sensitivity in helping their children choose costumes for the school parade. Costumes
with a violent theme are not appropriate. If you have questions about the
appropriateness of a child’s costume, please contact the office (301-230-5919).
Weapons and toy weapons of any kind are prohibited. If a student brings a toy weapon
as part of his or her costume, it will be confiscated and need to be reclaimed from the
main office. Children should put the costumes on in the classroom if possible
(costume items put over regular clothes). If they need to change, they will be sent to
a boys or girls bathroom with a parent volunteer or non-classroom teacher. All nonclassroom teachers are asked to make themselves available during pre-parade time
(2:10-2:30) and parade times (2:30-2:45) to help supervise children in the bathrooms
and during the parade.
Most children typically participate in the parade and party activities. However, some
children’s families may prefer to not have their children attend and we want to honor
that option. Please contact your child’s classroom teacher through email excusing him
or her from the Halloween activities if that is your desire. A child can also bring a note
excusing them from Halloween activities on the day of the party. There will be an
alternative activity, such as a non-Halloween movie in the media center. These
children will be excused to the media center prior to the other children’s getting into
costume. They will stay in the media center until they return to their classrooms at
3:45 for dismissal. Classroom parties should be finished and cleaned up by
3:45. Children cannot choose to participate in some of the Halloween activities (do
the party, but not the parade, etc.) If they are excused from Halloween activities, they
are excused from all Halloween activities.
Our outstanding Farmland Room Parents and their host of volunteers are planning
wonderful party activities and refreshments for our children. In awareness of the
growing number of students with serious food allergies, the room parents will be
working with the classroom teacher and parents with allergies to ensure that the
refreshments are safe for the children in their class. Please contact your room parent
if you have any concerns about the party refreshments and your child’s
allergies. Recognition and thanks should be shared with these individuals for their
contribution for making the Halloween celebration a success!
Montgomery County Board of Education adopted Policy JTD, Emergency Care for
Students Experiencing Anaphylaxis, and MCPS adopted Regulation JPD-RB
Emergency Care for Students Experiencing Anaphylaxis, to safeguard your children in
the event of an emergency. Please read the letter to families located on the
Farmland school website for more information. Here is the link:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/farmlandes/news/index.aspx?id=4
51878
Farmland is very fortunate to have a very active and generous community for which
we are very grateful. There are funds that we raise to benefit the children at
Farmland and then there are the service projects we take on to give to
others. Farmland has a strong caring trait of which I am very proud. Some of the
easiest ways we can raise funds for our children at Farmland is through signing up to
participate in programs such as Giant, Harris Teeter, Target, and Amazon Smile. We
included how to sign up for these programs in the Barnyard Bulletin, as well as on
the Farmland and PTA websites. In addition, we are collecting Box Tops through the
dedication and long hours of labor by Danielle Bennett. (Many thanks to her!!) As
incentives for families to sign up to participate in this program, we are giving out fun,
collectable Spirit Sticks that children can collect and hang on a very attractive
Farmland Sparky key ring which attaches to the child’s back pack. There are a wide
range of Spirit Sticks to collect and we will be changing the availability throughout
the year to offer new options. Children will earn a Spirit Stick if you sign up for two
of the four programs listed above (or earn two Spirit Sticks if you sign up for all four!)
or by turning in two sheets of Box Tops (or 50 Box Tops). When your child reaches
either goal, she or he will receive a coupon to turn in to Mrs. Bliss to pick out the
Spirit Stick of his or her choice. We will be giving the Farmland Sparky key chain with
the first Spirit Stick earned. The PTA will also be selling additional Spirit Sticks at
Farmland activities throughout the year to provide multiple opportunities for
children to collect as many different Spirit Sticks as they like. Together, Farmland
School and the PTA will be using the funds raised by all these programs to: update
the camera in the TV Studio as our morning announcements are getting a bit too
hazy for students to watch clearly; Incentive Programs; financial support for
students, purchase additional classroom library books, and increase instructional
programs, including technology programs. As other needs are discovered, we can
adjust our priorities accordingly. The goal is to provide the best instructional
program in the safest and most welcoming environment.
The Student Government Council (SGA) is in the midst of their March of Dimes
Reading Champions Fundraiser to benefit premature babies. We can help earn
money through pledges on the number of books we read to care for these delicate
babies. We enjoy reading and the babies benefit! That is what I call a win-win
situation. I am reading as much as I can! Last year, Farmland raised an amazing
$2,123 and this year our goal is to raise $2,500. Every bit counts! But, if you want to
participate, you need to hurry as the fundraiser ends on Friday, October 23 rd!
On a last note: PLEASE send in photographs from school or PTA events that we can
publish on our school website, Twitter, Twonky, or in our yearbook. Before you send
the pictures in though, please verify that any person’s face that is shown gives
permission for us to use the picture. Many thanks!
“Peace begins with a smile.” – Mother Teresa
Warmest regards,
Mrs. Bliss (Mary)
Principal
Farmland ES