Farmland PTA

Family Literacy Night  celebrating Dr. Seuss’ Birthday                                               

Thursday, March 1, 2012 at Farmland ES from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Look out for an R.S.V.P. in your child’s back pack mail and RSVP to your child’s teacher by Friday, February 24, 2012. We hope you can come!

Families are invited to participate in an interactive, informative evening all about reading!  Some of the highlights will include seeing your favorite teacher dressed as book characters!  Some of the other fun will be:

• Playing games involving literacy skills for readers at all levels
• Fun with Mysteries
• Interacting with your child in fun ways to increase their comprehension
• Reading Trivia Game
• Puppetry, Speed Words & POW! Word game
• Dr. Seuss Room

*Book Swap*

Bring gently used books to school on 3/1/12. You will receive a ticket for each book brought.  Tickets will be redeemed at Literacy Night for another book.

The February 2012 edition of the PTA’s “Harvest” newsletter is now available!  View it here:  February Harvest Newsletter

Farmland was well represented in the 2011-2012 PTA Reflections program.  We had entries from the Visual Arts, Literature, Musical Composition, and Photography  categories supporting the theme, “Diversity Means…”.   It was amazing to see how the children took the theme and created such unique and beautiful projects.  We truly have a talented group of kids.

Thank you to all of this year’s participants and a special thank you to Sonya Karpishpan who judged the visual arts category.  Grades K-2 Participants:  Jessica Kim, Alex Morper, Carolyn Lee, Navya Shukla, Sakash Khanna, Tong-tong Ye, Shani Barad, Mridvika Sahni.  Grades 3-5 Participants:  Donna Mbulaiteye, Alexander Constantino, Chloe Leverson, Jessica Lee, Erin Forsythe, Emilia Ochoa.

The Montgomery County Council of PTAs recognized four students from Farmland:  Awards of Merit were announced for 4^th grader Alexander Constantino (Literature) and 5^th graders Emilia Ochoa (Photography) and Chloe Leverson (Musical Composition).  An Award of Excellence was announced for 1^st grader Tong-Tong Ye whose visual arts entry will be moving on to the Maryland state competition.  We wish her luck!  The County will be announcing the date for their awards ceremony soon and all participants will be recognized at Farmland at a future date.

Liz Leverson, Reflections Chairperson

Bingo Night is BACK!  Save the Date – Friday March 9^th (Note Date Change!) at Tilden MS

This event includes Bingo fun (emceed by Bobby Epstein), pizza, calzones, and salads available for purchase from Flippin’ Pizza, and a raffle with more than $2,000 worth of prizes up for grabs!  PTA relies on this event as a significant fundraiser, plus it is an opportunity to spend a fun evening with your Farmland Community.   Your support by participating will make this a successful event!

We are asking for donations of new or “like-new” toys or games to give away as Bingo prizes.  Donations can be dropped off at the homes of Robin Blackman or Jodi Rose effective immediately:

• Robin – 27 Lily Pond Court, 301-881-7530, robinblackman@yahoo.com
• Jodi – 1003 Farm Haven Drive, 301-881-0369, jodijrose@gmail.com (don’t forget the middle initial “j” in Jodi’s email address!)

Also, we are looking for volunteers for to help with various tasks: coordination of pizza pre-purchases, set-up/clean-up, selling raffle tickets or bingo cards that night, etc.  C’mon, we know there are some dedicated volunteers out there!!  Contact Robin or Jodi if you can help with anything between now and March 9^th.

SHOW YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT!  Student Council is sponsoring Spirit Week next week.  Show your school spirit by dressing up each day.

• Monday is Backwards Day:  Just for fun, wear your clothing backwards.  Shoes not included, of course!
• Tuesday is Red, White & Pink Day:  Help celebrate Valentine’s Day with valentine colors and heart designs.
• Wednesday is Crazy Hat Day:  Stand out by wearing your most unique hat.
• Thursday is College Day:   Wear clothing from a favorite college.
• Friday is Farmland Day:  Show your school spirit by dressing in our school colors — blue and yellow — or Farmland spirit wear.

Are you concerned about funding for our schools?

The annual operating budget process is underway for Montgomery County. Funding makes a huge difference to the education opportunities for our children. Do you have questions, concerns or things you would like to better understand?

If so, you don’t want to miss this opportunity!

More than a dozen Montgomery County Council and Board of Education members will take part in the MCCPTA Operating Budget Forum this coming Wednesday, February 15, 2012, beginning promptly at 7:30pm in the auditorium of Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

The Board of Education will vote the night before (February 14) on the Superintendent’s recommended MCPS Operating Budget. Come and hear first hand what the Board is proposing, and hear from the Council about the funding outlook. The vast majority of the program will be dedicated to questions from the audience. If you are wondering what is being added to, or subtracted from the school budget, if and when staff positions will be restored, how priorities are determined, or what the future holds given projections for 9,000 more students in the next five years, don’t miss this opportunity!

Take advantage of this invitation and bring a neighbor! Your presence will speak volumes about the importance of funding for our schools. Help us to make this event a success — together, we can make a difference!

Hope to see you there -

Jean Schlesinger
MCCPTA Operating Budget Committee Chair

Parent Volunteers, it is time to start preparing for the FARMLAND PTA INTERNATIONAL NIGHT 2012 on Tuesday, April 17 (note date change!)  This year’s theme will be “Unite Our World”!  There will many opportunities for the participating countries to teach us all about what makes them extraordinary and unique.  In addition to “country leaders”  we need parents who can help with the planning of this HUGE  and  favorite Farmland event. An information planning meeting is scheduled for March 8 for those countries who have signed up to participate…more details to come in the near future.  Please send the completed (attached) participant information sheet to Eleni Jernell (ejernell@verizon.net), by no later than February 27, 2012 if you plan to participate in this wonderful event.   We are looking forward to another fantastic travel experience!

International Night Participant Information

The winter session of the Parent Academy has begun. You can see the schedule and register for workshops here: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/parentacademy/schedule.aspx

Computer Smart (Part 3 of 5) Monday, February 13 6:30-8:30pm

Explore the MCPS website and online resources, set up as Edline account, and learn about Microsoft Office programs in this beginning-level workshop. Facilitated by an MCPS technology teacher. Earle B. Wood MS, 14615 Bauer Dr., Rockville 20853

An Innovative Approach to Anti-Bullying Presented by Rockin’ the Rage, Inc. Wednesday, February 15 7:00-8:30pm

Established in October of 2010, Rockin’ the Rage, Inc. (RTR) is designed to empower our youth to create a positive change both in our schools and society. Rather than teaching our children the “don’t do’s” and “shouldnt’s,” RTR focuses on what to do to create a positive climate for all. Come see this moving and interactive presentation given by the founder and see what is happening in the schools that RTR is currently involved with. Eastern MS, 300 University Blvd., East, Silver Spring 20901

Parenting Without Threats and Bribes Wednesday, February 15 7:00-8:30pm

Parenting tools will be the focus of this how-to workshop. While the use of rewards and threats in disciplining may be effective in controlling behavior in the immediate situation, over time it can decrease mutual respect in the relationship. Come learn alternative approaches. Facilitated by YMCA Youth & Family Services. Cannon Road ES, 901 Cannon Rd., Silver Spring 20904

Understanding the Maryland School Assessment (MSA) Thursday, February 23 7:00-8:30pm

The MSA is a test of reading, math, and science achievement required by the state of Maryland taken by all students in Grades 3-8. Learn more about this test and why it matters for your child. Benjamin Banneker MS, 14800 Perrywood Dr., Burtonsville 20866

Curriculum 2.0 Thursday, February 23 7:00-8:30pm

Curriculum 2.0 has been developed to create a more exciting learning environment for our students in Grades K-2. Built upon the existing MCPS curriculum, Curriculum 2.0 blends reading/language arts and mathematics instruction with lessons in science, social studies, music, art, and physical education in a way that spurs creativity and critical thinking skills. Come learn about the new curriculum at this session. New Hampshire Estates ES, 8720 Carroll Ave., Silver Spring 20903

Childcare and interpretation are provided at all workshops. To register and see other upcoming workshops, please visit http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/parentacademy/

Rachel Sprecher, Partnership Manager - Department of Family and Community Partnerships Montgomery County Public Schools, 850 Hungerford Drive, Room 50,Rockville, MD 20850  301-279-3256 (office)  240-388-5256 (mobile)

Our friends at California Tortilla in Rockville Town Square would like to celebrate Farmland’s hardworking students.  Have your child bring their current report card to the Rockville location and receive one free kid’s meal.  Offer is valid February 1-March 1.  California Tortilla has generously supported Farmland PTA’s Bingo Night and for that we say THANK YOU! Be sure to mark your calendar to bring the whole family to Bingo Night on March 23 at Tilden MS.  More details to come!

2012 Science Fair Handbook

The handbook contains information on safety, choosing a project or a topic, doing the project and completing the display.  There is also resource information if you are still looking for ideas.  If you need a hard copy of the handbook, copies are available in school office.  Remember to let your student take the lead in the project.  The goal of the science fair is for the students to have fun and learn something – so it’s fine if your child’s project looks like it was done by a child.

Display Boards (white boards):  Each project will receive one white board for displaying the project details.  You can pick up the white board in the school office starting Thursday, February 2.  White boards are available for registered projects only — there is a sign-out sheet in the office for you to verify that your child or child’s group has received a board.  If you registered but your child’s name is not on the list, or if you need to make alternate after school pick up arrangements, please contact Amy Chang at amykchang@gmail.com.

Communication.  Most of the communication will be sent via the PTA listserv. If you have not signed up to receive communications, please email farmlandpta-subscribe@yahoogroups.com so you don’t miss out on further instructions.

Project Titles.  You will need to submit your project title no later than Monday, February 13.  You will receive instructions next week on submitting the title.  Remember the project titles go into the Science Fair Program and is also listed on the back of each child’s ribbon so please do not delay in getting that information to us (neatly please to avoid typos).

The Event Date and Place:  The 8^th Annual Farmland Science Fair will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2012 in both the gym and the multi-purpose room.

Event Details: On February 23, you can drop off your child’s display board between the hours of 3:15PM and 4:15PM or between 5:00PM and 6:00PM in the multi-purpose room (APR/cafeteria).  The Fair officially starts at 6:30 but feel free to come early for dinner which is hosted by the 5^th grade class.