Dear Farnsley Families,

I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the fall season. We have had a busy and exciting week at school, and I want to share a few important updates and highlights with you.

First, thank you for your patience and flexibility regarding our MAP testing schedule. Due to Tuesday’s unexpected internet outage, we were unable to complete testing as planned. We have now rescheduled MAP assessments for Thursday (Reading) and Friday (Math) of this week. We appreciate your understanding as we work to ensure a smooth and equitable testing experience for all learners.

I also want to share how much joy our students brought to last week’s Fall Dance! It was wonderful to see them having fun, spending time with friends, and showing their school spirit. A big thank you to our staff and volunteers who helped make the event a safe and memorable evening.

We are also continuing with our annual Food Drive, which runs through November 21. Students may bring canned food or other unexpired non-perishable items and turn them in to their Genius Hour or Zero Hour teacher. Your donations directly support families in our community as we move into the holiday season.

Finally, as we approach the winter months, we want to remind families about our NTI (Non-Traditional Instruction) procedures. Next week Monday (11/23), students will be sent home with a paper copy of Farnsley's NTI work. This should be kept at home and used in the event of a NTI day. Should students lose their copies, digital copies will also be posted in their Google Classrooms and on the Farnsley.us website. We encourage families to ensure that packets are kept in a safe place at home and that students have a quiet place to work should an NTI day occur. All NTI work will be due back to the school within 24 hours of return from NTI. You can access the plan in its entirety at the link below. 

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We are grateful for our Farnsley community and look forward to another great week of learning ahead.

Warm regards,
Carolyn B Smith
Principal, Farnsley Middle School

Did you know that students must be in their first class no later than 8:40 am each day?  Most students take about 5-minutes to get settled in their lockers and make it on time.  

     -Students who enter the building BEFORE or BY 8:40 am are allowed to head to their lockers and get settled into class, though, if they arrive between 8:35 and 8:40, they are likely to receive a mark on their Wildcat Cards for being Tardy to Class... not to school.  These repeated marks on their Wildcat Card will result in progressive discipline for infractions such as tardiness to class, disruptive behavior, dress code violations, etc. 

     -Students who enter the building AFTER 8:40 must sign in Tardy to School.  This is reflected via Infinite Campus and repeated/excessive tardies can accumulate and will result in an absence to school. 

     -We understand that families use multiple means to attend to school daily but consider ensuring your child arrives to school with adequate time, especially if their normal route is delayed.  

     -As a school, we are charged with reducing chronic absenteeism by 3% as compared to last year.  If everyone does a little, it will make a big difference!

     -For more details, take a look at our Student Attendance Action Plan; it gives a detailed explanation of the attendance/tardy policy. 

Thank you for your attention to these details and partnering with us to address these concerns. 

World Kindness Day was Thursday 11/13/25. The Student Wellness Club hosted a school wide activity to spread kindness. Farnsley's students and staff had the opportunity to shout out and thank a peer, family member, friend, staff person etc. to show appreciation for them being in their lives. 

The kind notes were then posted on a poster and hung up in the main hallway of the school. Thank you to the following members of the Student Wellness Club who assisted with this activity: Matti C., Joy D., Ella F., Akeelah J., Maurice K., Tam T., Kenahdi Y., & Mason W.

For all Farnsley Athletics information, check out:

https://farnsleywildcats.com/

November 20, 2025-- Reading MAP Testing

November 21, 2025-- Math MAP Testing

November 26-28, 2025-- No School for Students

Our 6th grade Business students had an exciting opportunity this week to connect virtually with two entrepreneurs—one a social media manager and business owner from Texas, and the other a marketing consultant from California. Students interviewed both professionals, learning firsthand how they entered their fields, built their careers, and developed their own businesses. This real-world insight helped students see the many paths available in entrepreneurship and sparked great conversations about creativity, perseverance, and future career possibilities.

ALL Students will take their Winter MAP tests on November 20th & 21st. Please ensure that your student has gotten a good night sleep, eaten breakfast and understands the importance of this assessment. 

As we approach our next round of MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing, we encourage all families to take a few minutes to talk with their children about their current MAP scores and goals for growth. These assessments are an important tool that help us understand each student’s learning progress and guide instruction to meet their individual needs.

When students know their goals and feel supported at home, they are more motivated to do their best. Please help us by encouraging your child to take their time, stay focused, and show what they know. Use the tables to the right to talk with your students about where they are and what steps they need to take to reach their goals. Together, we can help every student reach new heights in their learning!