CADD-ARE April 2017

What we did this month:

This month, we started off going on our field trip to Carderock. We did a
great job with our robots. Something I found out after we returned from the
field trip was that we received a grant to cover the cost of the trip. So I have
been filing the proper paperwork and getting your information sent to our financial
assistant so that you will be receiving a refund in the mail. Look for your check
coming in the mail for $16 to cover the cost of the Carderock Field Trip.

Below is the email that I sent just after the trip to summarize our field trip:

We had a great trip to Carderock today. We left Farquhar with most Sea Perch ROVs functioning
and left with ALL Sea Perch ROV's being successful. We started by having kids put their ROVs in a
very large basin. They had to first show the scientists how their ROV could do different
movements. They had to show an up and down motion in the water. They also had to move their
ROV left and right in the water. This was their readiness grade that you will see in the summative
category.

Then came the hard part. The scientists had a challenge for the students. The students had 2
minutes to push as many ping pong balls that were floating and/or golf balls on the bottom, past a
certain point. The golf balls were 2 points for each one they were able to move. The ping pong balls
were 1 point for each one they were able to move. This was a summative grade for the quarter. I
made the maximum amount of points for the challenge 10 points, however there were 3 groups that
scored above this amount with the most points being 12 points at the end of 2 minutes. We will be
raffling off our ROV's to the students that would like to keep them at once we are back from
spring break. The 2 summative grades were added to the gradebook this afternoon.

After our challenges, we then took a 45 minute tour of the facility and got to see the large basins
and where they have submarine races during the summer that are open to the public
(http://www.navsea.navy.mil/Media/News/Article/608505/tomorrows-engineers-test-their-skills-
at-carderocks-international-submarine-rac/). The basin we saw was ~3,200 feet long in length! It
was very dark in the room with the basin. Ask your child why they need to keep it so
dark? (Correct answer - so algae doesn't grow and effect their tests)

Tomorrow's class we will be using to make up any missed work from the 4 classes we missed today
so we don't fall behind at the end of the quarter. We will also be cleaning up our Sea Perch
materials. I will not see CADD on Thursday due to a practice PARCC test during 6th period. Once
we come back from spring break we will be starting our next project in the media center planning a
park on the old Farquhar property.
I wish I had pictures to share but they wouldn't allow any pictures in the facility. I did get a
picture of the group on the bus on the way home that I uploaded to my class blog. We had to eat
lunch a little later than normal because of all the activities but we ate on the bus ride back. It
looks like all the students had a great time. They did a great job on the trip. Be sure to ask them
about it.

Once we finished our Sea Perch project, we moved on to start our park
project. Students started by researching why community parks are beneficial to a
particular area. They learned that with parks, there is a community revitalization,
economic development, safer neighborhoods, more community engagement, etc.
They then brainstormed parts of a park they wanted to design. They came up with
a huge list of ideas. We looked to see if we could group some of the ideas
together and what are things that we should take off the list. We are looking at
the land where the old Farquhar MS was located as the area we will be designing.
We even took an unofficial field trip over to talk with a construction
manager/engineer of the old space and were able to ask him a few questions about
the land and their future plans. I have some pictures posted on my blog.
Students voted on a Google Form about which park space they want to
design. I tried to meet everyones top choices but wasnt able to get all students
1st choice. They are currently, listing equipment they will be needing to design
their space, looking up costs of those items, as well as thinking of the safety
precautions and handicapped accessibility for that area and how to make the area
green. Fun fact: 95% of the materials they will be using on the old FMS property
to build a park, are made from recycled materials.

Announcements:

Look for your check coming in the mail for $16 to cover the cost of the
Carderock Field Trip. (see above)

Come support our student interns Ms. Mason and Ms. Doermann at Maryland
Day as they finish up their graduate studies at University of Maryland! They have
tons of activities planned throughout the day with other science interns in the
county. Please visit the website below to learn more about Maryland Day and all it
has to offer! https://marylandday.umd.edu/

Please Volunteer!
 FMS Career Day
May 11, 2017
Farquhar Middle School will host its annual and very popular school-wide
Career Day on Thursday, May 11, 2017. We are especially excited about
holding this Career Day in our beautiful new building.

We are looking for adults to talk about their work with our students. All
occupations are welcome and encouraged! Speakers are needed between the hours
of noon and 3:00 p.m. Sessions are just 30 minutes long and take place in
classrooms supervised by our teachers. Suggestions and tips for presentations
are provided.

Please help our students become familiar with the world of work and its
relationship to their education!

If you are willing to speak, can suggest another speaker, or would like more
information, please contact the FMS Counseling Department at 301-240-1210 or
email Mr. Ingram at Jason_R_Ingram@mcpsmd.org

Thank you for your interest and support of this important Farquhar
tradition!

Coming Up:

Dates:

April 24-28 Roadrunner Week

Friday Give someone a Compliment Day
April 28 Roadrunner Night 6:30-9:00 pm
April 26-30 - FMS Art Show @ Lakeforest Mall
May 1-5 Staff Appreciation Week
May 2-4 PARCC ELA
May 7 Social Studies Family Field Trip
May 11 Career Day
May 11 NEC Parent Meeting @ 7:00 pm
May 16-18 PARCC Math
May 16 PTA Meeting @ 7:00 pm
May 19-20 Band Field Trip to Pittsburgh
May 25 Spring Music Concert at Blake HS @ 7:00-9:00 pm
 May 29 No School
May 30-June 5 Map-R and Map-M in English and Math Classes
June 16 Last Day of School Early Dismissal