Farmland Elementary School

Good afternoon, Farmland families!

There will be NO SCHOOL for students and staff TOMORROW, Monday, January 20, in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to justice, equality, and service to others. His powerful vision and tireless efforts sparked change that continues to inspire us today. As we honor his legacy, we are reminded of the importance of coming together to impact our communities positively.

Join us this coming Thursday, January 23, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in Farmland's All-Purpose Room for our school's Service Night. Together, we will assemble items to be donated to The Children's Inn at NIH, The Tree House Child Advocacy Center of Montgomery County, and local nursing homes. Let's embrace Dr. King's call to action by spreading kindness and supporting those in need. Together, we can carry his dream forward!

Have a wonderful week! 

April 

April D. Longest

Principal

Farmland Elementary School

This week in the Farmland Weekly Update:

• Staff Member of the Month: February 2025
• Attendance Matters
• 3rd Grade Families: Centers for Enriched Studies Parent/Caregivers Information Session
• 5th Grade Families: Tilden's Music & Theater Articulation Information 
• Mindfulness at Home
• PTA Updates

Click here to access last week's Farmland Weekly Update

Staff Member of The Month: February

We would like to recognize the amazing accomplishments of our staff members through our Farmland community nominations for staff members of the month. One supporting staff member and one teaching staff member will be randomly selected each month by the Teacher Representative, Ms. Brothman, and Supporting Staff Member, Ms. Harrison. To nominate the staff member, please click this link to fill out the short nomination survey. All nominees will receive their nomination submission. Please submit your nomination by Friday, January 31. We will announce the winner on Sunday, February 2. If your nominee from a previous submission was not selected, please resubmit. 

Attendance Matters - We Need Your Help!

We need your help to ensure students are on time and at school every day. Consistent attendance is critical for your child's success and impacts our school's Maryland State STAR rating. According to state regulations, absences—whether excused or unexcused—affect both student learning and our school's overall performance rating.

Additionally, Maryland guidelines require that students who are absent for 10 or more consecutive school days will be unenrolled from school. Once the child returns we cannot guarantee the child will return to the same classroom. 

We understand that illnesses happen, and the health of our students is a top priority. However, we encourage families to plan vacations and appointments outside of school hours and make regular attendance a priority. 

To put things into perspective:

Together, we can help students maintain academic progress and support the success of our school community!

If there are concerns regarding your child's absences, please contact Mrs. Sanchez at 240-740-0660. If there are other challenges with attending school you can also contact our school counselors, Mrs. Mann, stephanie_l_mann@mcpsmd.org, and Miss Mason, denika_mason@mcpsmd.org. 

3rd Grade Families: Centers for Enriched Studies Parent/Caregivers Information Session

There will be an information session on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, from 7:00 - 8:00 pm via Zoom for grade 3 parents and caregivers interested in learning more about the central review process for the Centers for Enriched Studies (CES) program. The meeting will provide an overview of the central review process and timeline, a snapshot of the CES curriculum, and a question/answer opportunity.  Please see the Zoom information below if you wish to attend the meeting.

Topic: 3rd Grade Parents - Centers for Enriched Studies Parent/Caregiver Information Session.

Date & Time: Feb 5, 2025, 07:00 PM 

Click here to Join the Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 864 7194 6507

Passcode: Sparky2025

Dial by your location: +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Meeting ID: 864 7194 6507

5th Grade Families: Tilden's Music & Theater Articulation Information 

Thank you so much to the families who were able to join us for Tilden's Music & Theater Virtual Articulation! We had a GREAT turnout! For families that were unable to join us, please click here and use the passcode T&ZZ3pXC to watch a video of the meeting.

Whether it is with Chorus, Band, Orchestra, Theater, or Filmmaking, we want Tilden Music & Theater to be a part of all 3 years of your middle school experience. We hope you will consider our program when filling out your registration forms! 

Please contact Tilden Middle School if you have any questions.

Mindfulness at Home

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment and without reacting, We will share information, strategies, and resources for incorporating mindfulness with your family at home bi-weekly. If you have any questions about Mindfulness, please contact Miss Mason at denika_mason@mcpsmd.org

7 Benefits for Children:

1. Emotion Regulation - Mindfulness helps kids recognize their emotions without reacting right away, creating a pause between feeling and responding. This can be especially useful for managing anger and frustration, and with practice, it can improve their emotional awareness and regulation.
2. Focus and Concentration - In a distracted world, mindfulness helps children focus by calming their minds and improving concentration. This benefits their learning and social interactions, both at school and beyond.
3. Stress Reduction - Mindfulness practices, like mindful breathing, can help kids reduce stress from school, peers, or family by promoting relaxation in their daily experiences.
4. Enhanced Self-Awareness and Empathy - As kids gain awareness of their thoughts and emotions, they often become more empathetic, leading to better relationships with peers, siblings, and parents.
5. Improved Sleep - Mindfulness practices can help children relax, clear their minds of worries, and prepare for a restful night's sleep.
6. Increased Resilience - Mindfulness helps kids build resilience, enabling them to bounce back from challenges with a more positive outlook.
7. Overall Well-Being - Mindfulness promotes calm, focus, and emotional regulation, creating a strong foundation for a balanced and positive life.

Mindfulness practice for the week: "Teddy Bear" /Belly Breathing

Teach your child mindful breathing using belly or teddy bear breathing. Have them place a stuffed animal on their belly or their hands to feel the rise and fall as they take deep breaths, helping them focus on the movement of their breath.

Sesame Street Belly Breathing Video

Balloon Breath Exercise

How To Bear Breathe Video

Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Updates 

Skate Night is February 8 - Buy Your Tickets Now

Join us for some frosty fun with the Farmland community for this year's skate night on Saturday, February 8 from 6:30-8:00 PM at Cabin John Ice Rink. Tickets must be purchased online in advance ($11 including skate rental, $7 without skate rental; spectators are free - advance ticket sales will close on Wednesday, February 5 at noon).  An adult must remain on site; this is not a drop-off event. We hope to see you there!

We are also looking for a few volunteers at our check-in table if you're available to help.

PTA Fundraiser: Mimi's Handmade Ice Cream

January 18-20, visit Mimi's Handmade Ice Cream in Federal Plaza (11274 Rockville Pike, #E) to get a sweet treat and support the school! Simply show the flyer or mention Farmland at checkout and 20% of proceeds will be donated to the Farmland PTA all through the long weekend!