Order forms for the 2011-2012 Farmland Yearbook are available in the school office…don’t miss the early order discount of $5. Orders placed before March 1 are $28. After March 1 and through the deadline of April 1, the cost is $33. Don’t miss out on this special memory!
Do you have great photos to share for the yearbook? Please send them to farmlandphotos@gmail.com
Dana Hirsch, Yearbook Chair
Please join Dr. David Steinberg, MCPS Director of the Department of Professional Growth Systems, for an interesting and informative hour explaining how these invaluable individuals are selected, trained and evaluated by MCPS, while greatly influencing so many aspects of what happens at our local schools. This MCCPTA program will take place on Tuesday, February 28th in the auditorium at Carver, 850 Hungerford Drive, in Rockville. Please note that we will begin promptly at 6:30 pm and end promptly at 7:30 pm and will have plenty of time for Q&A. All members of the school communities are welcome – we hope to see you there!
Deb Lang, MCCPTA’s interim Programs Chair
Last Friday night over 200 Farmland kids and their families attended the 2012 Family Dance sponsored by PTA and it was a HUGE success thanks to our amazing volunteers. Special thanks to Lizzy Menard and Shannon Buskirk for planning this fun social event and leading our team of parent and student volunteers: Kristen Parker, Katherine Walsh, Rintaro Kato, Caroline Cooksey, Sam Cooksey, Andrea Nadelman, Liz Leverson, Andrea Leff, Denise Chambers, Dori Morper, Chris Menard, and Bill Buskirk. A big thank you to Matt and Courtney from KAH who provided temporary tattoos! Did we catch you doing the Electric Slide or the Cuban Shuffle? Check out the poster of photos from the event in the breezeway of the school.
MCCPTA Growth and Enrollment Program to be Televised
MCCPTA presented a panel discussion January 24 focusing on Growth – Where does it go from here? Montgomery County schools have grown by more than 6,000 students in the last three years, with continued growth expected. Student enrollment is increasing not only in newly developing areas but also in some more established areas of the county. Where is the growth coming from in the next decade? What does this growth mean for MCPS and the county as a whole? Steve Augustino, MCCPTA CIP Chair, along with Rollin Stanley,
Planning Director of the Montgomery County Planning Board and Bruce Crispell, Director MCPS Division of Long-Range Planning, discussed how they are addressing this growth and planning for adequate schools in the future. Topics included: Trends in MCPS enrollment over the past few years, Role of the Planning Board, Impact of Growth, MCPS Additions and Capacity Projects, Accuracy of enrollment projections
This fascinating hour of information will be televised on MCPS tv channel 34 Comcast, channel 36 Verizon, channel 89 RCN:
Suzanne Weiss, MCCPTA Cable TV Chair, 2010-2012 sjwassoc@att.net
Seeking Nominations for Outstanding Contributors to Special Education
The MCCPTA Special Education Sub-committee is seeking nominations for outstanding educators, programs, parents and students who contribute to the acceptance and success of special needs students who attend Montgomery County Public Schools. Winners will be honored at the 24th Annual Recognition Awards ceremony which will be held on Monday, May 14, 2012 @ 6:30 PM at Rockville HS.
For additional information, go to http://www.mccpta.com/specneeds_dir/2011-2012/2011-2012infoform.pdf or visit our web site at http://www.mccpta.com/specneeds.html and click on the Nomination Information link.
Jeanne Taylor, MCCPTA Special Education Chair
MCCPTA Operating Budget Forum
MCCPTA’s Operating Budget Forum will be held on February 15th at 7:30pm in the Richard Montgomery High School Auditorium: http://www.mccpta.com/opBudg_dir/2011-2012/MCCPTA_Operating_Budget_Forum_Flyer.pdf
The Board will approve its proposed MCPS Operating Budget on February 14th. Come and hear first-hand about the budget, as approved by the Board, and the prospects for funding for FY 2013. As we move forward into the funding cycle, this a wonderful opportunity to ask YOUR questions and share YOUR concerns. Please plan to attend and help get the word out to your local school communities – together, we can be a strong voice in support of funding for our schools!
Jean Schlesinger, MCCPTA Operating Budget Committee Chair
Community Symposium on Bullying in Schools
Please help us spread the word about this Community Symposium on Bullying in Schools held on Saturday, February 4th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza. The symposium, sponsored by the Montgomery County Committee on Hate/Violence (COHV) and the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights, will provide parents, teachers, school administrators, students and community leaders the opportunity to discuss and explore with panel experts a range of topics regarding the prevention and intervention of bullying in our schools. This program is free and open to the public.
The symposium has a Facebook event page as well: http://www.facebook.com/events/240371376011445/.
Donna Pfeiffer, MCCPTA Safety & Health Committee Co-Chair C: 301-370-3200
On Thursday morning, Farmland students will have the opportunity to be dazzled by acrobatic stunts and feats of balance, flexibility, coordination and strength!
The Fabulous Chinese Acrobats give audiences an unforgettable experience. The acrobats will be accompanied by an interpreter who enriches the performance with fascinating information about Chinese culture, customs, history and school life. These talented athletes tumble and flip, twist and bend in mesmerizing ways, demonstrating how practice, concentration and hard work turn their bodies into moving works of art. They skillfully balance or juggle items such as porcelain jars, silk umbrellas, tables or each other as they share this ancient and colorful art form.
With the continued support from you, the PTA is able to sponsor performances such as these. If you have any interest in getting involved with the Cultural Arts program please contact Yvonne Levine at ylevine@verizon.net.
Hypothesis: Children who participate in school science fairs think more critically and gain more confidence in their ability to solve problems?
Conclusion: Join us and find out for yourself.
The Farmland PTA is pleased to announce the 2012 Farmland Science Fair – a hands-on and fun approach to science in a non-competitive setting. Students become star scientists to better understand the world around them. They gain confidence, learn about creating a display, and can gain valuable team and resource skills. All projects and participants are winners!!
Last year, we had a tremendous response – over 165 students from kindergartners to 5th graders showcased over 100 science projects. Their experiments tested dominant paws of cats, whether boys see optical illusions differently from girls, the pull of gravity and the effect of sunlight on plants etc. They researched household detergents, examined lung capacity, melted ice, launched balloon rockets and had fun with slime, breads, molds, ice cream, avocados, pickles, rock candy and more.
As parents and teachers, we can do our part in three ways: 1) encourage our kids to sign up and don’t worry if they don’t have an idea yet. We’ll send out materials that will help them get started 2) help your child with their project but please remember to let your child take the lead 3) volunteer as a Scientist Reviewer or help out at the fair.
The Science Fair will be held at 6:30pm on Thursday, February 23 at the Farmland ES where your budding scientist will get the chance to show off their experiment/project. Scientist Reviewers from our community will review their projects, ask questions, and present a ribbon for their outstanding efforts.
Sign up today!! Science Fair Sign-up Sheet
Lisa Peterson, Amy Chang and Caroline Cooksey–Science Fair Chairs
You are invited to attend a coffee on campus tomorrow, Wednesday, January 18 at 9:00 AM hosted by Farmland Elementary Principal, Diane Smith. Mrs. Smith will be sharing the School Improvement Plan process and the goals set for Farmland. I hope you can attend!
Please RSVP to Diane Smith <katherine_d_smith@mcpsmd.org> or 301-230-5919.
Dori Morper
PTA President
The Science Fair is just around the corner and its success depends so much on
your child’s participation and your support. One other way of showing support
for your child (other students and the school)is by being a Scientific Reviewer
and providing feedback and expertise on their submissions. I have been a
volunteer this past two years and the role has been very rewarding.
If you are interested in being a volunteer Scientific Reviewer, please feel free
to e mail me at annecns@gmail.com so I can provide you with the details of the
“job”. I strongly encourage you to be a part of this exciting Farmland project.
Anne Constantino
These free meetings allow parents to support each other, share experiences, and solve problems to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students on the autism spectrum. Partnership for Extraordinary Minds (xMinds) is sponsoring the following events. Please mark your calendars:
Time: 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Location: Rockville Memorial Library, 21 Maryland Ave, Rockville
No registration required.
Light refreshments are served. All are welcome!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Mainstreaming Students on the Autism Spectrum
A panel of parents will share their experiences in working with teachers and school staff to help their children succeed in general education.
Wednesday, February 18, 2012
Individual Education Programs (IEPs) for Students on the Autism Spectrum
Speakers: Janet Price and Jennifer Engel-Fisher, Weinfeld Education Group
The authors of Take Control of Asperger’s Syndrome: The Official Strategy Guide for Teens With Asperger’s Syndrome and Nonverbal Learning Disorders will present information on successful IEPs for students on the autism spectrum.
March 2012 (date to be determined)
Extraordinary Minds in MCPS
Our fourth annual forum for parents to learn how diploma-bound students on the autism spectrum are educated in Montgomery County. More information.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Student Experiences in Special Education
A panel of students on the autism spectrum will share their experiences.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Transitioning Students on the Autism Spectrum
Speaker: Judith Bass, Bass Educational Services
Transition to career and/or higher education.
The January 2012 edition of the PTA’s “Harvest” newsletter is now available! View it here: January Harvest Newsletter