Weekly Update
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Good evening, Farmland Families, We are excited to announce that Christine Tilkens has been appointed as our second Assistant Principal for the 2025-2026 school year. This placement was made through the district's staffing process, and we look forward to welcoming her to the Farmland team! Ms. Tilkens comes to us with 18 years of experience in Montgomery County Public Schools. She has served as a teacher, leadership team member, and Assistant School Administrator at Gaithersburg Elementary School. Most recently, she has been the Assistant Principal at Rachel Carson Elementary School. Ms. Tilkens is passionate about creating positive school cultures, building strong relationships with families and community partners, and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed both academically and socially-emotionally. She shared with me how eager she is to bring her collaborative spirit and student-centered leadership to our Farmland community. I am excited to have her join our team and look forward to all the wonderful contributions she will make to support our students, staff, and families. This Update also includes a full list of upcoming end-of-year activities on the calendar. While it's a long list, I want to be sure you have all the important dates and events in one place. Warm regards, April April D. Longest Principal Farmland Elementary School This week in the Farmland Weekly Update:
Staff Appreciation Week: May 5 - May 9 Please help us celebrate our amazing teachers and staff during Staff Appreciation Week! Each day, students are invited to participate in simple, fun activities to show their gratitude and school spirit:
Thank you for helping us make this week special for all of our incredible staff! Staff Members of the Month 🎉 Staff Members of the Month: Mrs. Guertin & Mrs. Mendez! 🎉 We are thrilled to recognize Mrs. Guertin, one of our incredible Learning for Independence teachers, and Mrs. Mendez, one of our exceptional paraeducators, as Farmland's Staff Members of the Month! Mrs. Guertin gives 1000% every day. She goes above and beyond to help her students grow and thrive, always advocating for their needs and putting them first. Her warm smile, compassionate heart, and willingness to support others make her a true role model in our community. Her dedication and positivity are an inspiration to students and staff alike. Mrs. Mendez is a true team player—always ready to lend a hand, cover a class, or offer a kind word. She thinks on her feet, connects meaningfully with students, and supports teachers with calm, capable care. Her flexibility, kindness, and commitment make her an invaluable member of our Farmland family. Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Guertin and Mrs. Mendez for their outstanding contributions and well-deserved recognition! 2025-2026 Kindergarten Playdate We're excited to invite all enrolled Kindergarten students to a special Kindergarten Playdate for the 2025-2026 school year! Join us on Thursday, May 15, at 5:30 p.m. on the Farmland Elementary School Playground to meet your future classmates and have some fun. This event is sponsored by Kids After Hours and will include a chance to meet Farmland Kindergarten teachers and school administrators. We can't wait to welcome our newest Sparkies to the Farmland family! All children must be accompanied by an adult. International Night Pizza, Snacks & Goodies for Sale by the 5th Grade Team! Join us on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Farmland Cafeteria for a fun-filled evening—and help support our 5th-grade end-of-year activities! We'll be selling pizza, snacks, and fun goodies—CASH ONLY! Menu & Prices:
Fun Extras:
Pre-order your pizza by THIS TUESDAY, May 6 at 11:00 AM using this link or by returning the order form. Link: https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/83576/354/False/True All sales are final. We look forward to seeing you there! 5th Grade Families - End-of-Year Activities - Volunteers and Donations Needed The 5th Grade Teachers and the 2025 Promotion Team/Parent Volunteer Committee are hard at work planning for Promotion and the 5th Grade Bash! We still need your assistance to make these end-of-year events a success. If you haven't yet done so, please use the following link to contribute to the 5th-grade end-of-year activities fund! We ask 5th-grade families to contribute $35 per student to offset associated costs. This will help cover the DJ, games, a custom 5th Grade Farmland t-shirt, and more! Although $35 is the suggested amount, any donation will be helpful. If you would like to contribute additional funds to assist other families, that would be truly appreciated. Please contribute here: https://farmland-pta.membershiptoolkit.com/store/6736 We are also looking for volunteers for the day of the Bash (Thursday, June 12) to help with the fun activities planned, as well as donations for snacks and prizes. Please use the following link to access the signup for these items: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084DA9AF23A7FF2-56575670-farmland#/ See this flyer about the Bash! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hq76l93CTvPyo_IXmNIKaJdRDSeRfs_j/view Thanks in advance for your help supporting and celebrating our 5th graders! The 5th Grade Promotion Team North Bethesda's Spring Fling Market Please join us this Saturday, May 3, between 1-5 p.m. for North Bethesda's Spring Fling Market! In the school cafeteria. You will be able to shop at 30 different businesses while supporting a fundraiser that helps North Bethesda Middle School families in need. Plenty of fun gift options and yummy food will be available for purchase! We look forward to seeing you there! Click here to access the flyer. MCPS Update: Boundary Study and Programs Analysis Update Reminder: THIS THURSDAY, May 8, during the Montgomery County Board of Education meeting, a presentation will be given providing the latest information on the Boundary Study Project for the new Crown and Damascus High School projects, as well as the new Woodward High School project. This meeting will provide insights into the engagement plan, including the announcement of dates for the next round of community engagements scheduled for late May and early June. During those upcoming engagement sessions, participants will have the opportunity to review and discuss early boundary options developed by the project vendor. Additionally, MCPS Project Team members will share progress on the Secondary Program Analysis that is currently underway. Last week, you should have received an email with a survey. We encourage everyone to participate and share input on what matters most to you regarding high school academic programs. Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Updates International Night - This Wednesday, May 7, 5:30-7:30 PM, Rain or Shine International Night - a free event to celebrate and learn about our diverse school community - is this Wednesday, May 7, from 5:30-7:30 PM on the blacktop behind school (or, if it rains, in the All Purpose Room). Tables representing 20 countries will be set up, and there will be performances as well. There will also be a calming room for kids who need a break from the energy. The 5th grade is also selling pizza and snacks to benefit their end-of-year activities. We hope to see everyone there! A few volunteers are needed for short shifts to help with setup, decorations, and cleanup - SSL hours available for middle and high school students. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040B45ADAE2EA2FC1-56592497-international Spring Festival - May 16, 5-7 PM at Farmland! Plan to join your Farmland friends for an evening of games, music, inflatables, face painting, playground time, and fun. Pizza and snacks will be available for purchase. Rather than charge an admission fee, we are encouraging optional donations. Suggested donation of $5 per person if you can. Your optional donation is accepted online (https://farmland-pta.membershiptoolkit.com/store/6736) in advance or when you arrive at the event. To ensure a fun, successful event, we need your help! If you can spare a few minutes of your time to help, please sign up here. Slots are also available for middle- and high-schoolers for SSL hours. Thank you for your help! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044AABAA2FA0F85-56493441-farmland Call for Scarecrow's Corner 2025 Submissions We are now collecting submissions for the Scarecrow's Corner -- Farmland's annual digital literary and art magazine. All students are welcome to submit one or more poems, short works of prose, stories, drawings, or other illustrations for inclusion. All submitted works will be included, and there is no theme; your child can write/draw whatever inspires them! Submissions can be via email or hard copy. Each hard copy submission must fit within the margins of a standard 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper. For inspiration, take a look at last year's magazine here https://www.farmland-pta.org/scarecrows-corner-2 Email submissions to scarecrowscornerfarmland@gmail.com or drop off hard copies in the office in an envelope labeled "Scarecrow's Corner" by Friday, May 23, 2025. Include in the email/envelope the student's name, grade, and teacher's name, but please don't include those details on the artwork itself. We look forward to showcasing our Farmland students' creativity!
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