Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School

NEW dates for the CEO Search Community Forums have just been released. Click the link to learn more about how you can offer input as City Schools searches for its next district leader: https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/article/2385508

Few updates with after school opportunities...

-- Tennis is ready to rock and roll with Coach Sammy for grades 5-8. If you want to join the squad, please email him to get permission slips and info - smah@bcps.k12.md.us

-- Join the Fun in Spanish Club at Francis Scott Key!
We’re thrilled to bring back Spanish Immersion Club with The Language Project this fall! Through games, songs, movement, and hands-on activities, students dive into the Spanish language in a fun, energetic, and fully immersive environment.

Led by experienced instructors, this high-energy program keeps students excited and engaged—building confidence and opening the door to the many lifelong benefits of bilingualism. Whether your child is new to Spanish or continuing from last year, this is the perfect way to learn while having fun!

Don’t miss out—spaces fill quickly!

Program Details:
Starts: Monday, September 22
Day/Time: Mondays, 4 – 5 pm
Grades: Classes for PreK, Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd – 4th grade
Teacher meets students at dismissal

Tuition (30-week program):
1 payment of $475 (reflects pay-in-full discount), or
9 monthly payments of approximately $56
Sibling discounts available at checkout

How to Register:
Visit www.languageprojectkids.com

Click on Clubs, Select Enroll Now, Choose Maryland Club Programs 25/26, Click on Spanish Club, and then Scroll to Francis Scott Key to complete registration.
Questions?
Contact Erika Porcel at mdspanishclubs@languageprojectkids.com or 410-935-3795.

-- Library After Hours!!
It's time for the first Library After Hours Session of the school year!
This session is for 25 students in K-5.

Wednesdays After School
*September 10th - November 5th*
3:40-4:40

*Please fill out a form for each child participating.*
You will be notified via email if your child(ren) gets into the program. There will be a waitlist if needed.
Middle School students can sign up to volunteer for Service Learning Hours.

Sign up - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2d3Po13hbYITSWWhy9jAeGrWdQINmnxBJRe1DgWCucr2Y8Q/viewform

NEWS UPDATE: For the 2025-26 school year, City Schools requires students to power off, put away, and secure their cell phones during the day. Details: baltimorecityschools.org/page/cell-phone-policy

Dear Fourth Grade Families,

Yesterday, we received a parent report that some fourth grade students may have come across inappropriate images in magazines used during an art collage activity. The parent shared that their child described seeing pictures that included nudity.

As soon as we were made aware, our administrative team began investigating. We immediately connected with the art teacher, notified my supervisor, and sent an initial message to families last night. This morning, we continued our review by speaking with students and meeting again with the teacher.

During this process, our Assistant Principal, APVW, and the teacher went through the magazines used in the activity. They discovered that some yoga magazines, which had been donated for classroom use, contained advertisements with images of nude or partially nude bodies in yoga poses. While no private areas were depicted, we recognize these images were not appropriate for an elementary classroom setting. All of the donated materials deemed inappropriate have been removed and discarded.

Moving forward, our team will implement a more thorough review process for all donated materials before they are made available to students. We are committed to ensuring that all instructional and supplemental materials support a safe and age-appropriate learning environment.

Thank you for your partnership and understanding. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Tenerra McFadden

We are thrilled with how week 1 has gone so far! There is a positivity running through the building.

It’s the last day of the school week tomorrow so it’s a dress down day! Please be mindful that students should still dress according to the City Schools Dress Code.

We’ll also be celebrating our first week of school with Miss Twist! Our wonderful community partner, International Longshoreman’s Association, just a few rowhomes away, is fully sponsoring the event for every student and staff member to enjoy a well-deserved treat!

Class Dojo (app used for communication) is up and running. Invites have already begun to rollout. This is new for us so when we need to troubleshoot, please know we’re trying!

Welcome back!!

Dear Parents and Guardians, Welcome back to a new and exciting school year! As we prepare to welcome your children back to school tomorrow, I wanted to take a moment to share our enthusiasm and highlight some of the key focuses for the year ahead. Our team is eager to build on the wonderful progress made last year and continue fostering a nurturing and dynamic learning environment. This year, in accordance with the belief that ALL students can excel, we have set a goal that all students will increase their proficiency in ELA and Math by 1.3 grade levels from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, as measured by district diagnostic testing. FSK will prioritize several instructional strategies to support your child’s growth and development: 1. Small Group Instruction/Personalized Learning: We will be implementing more small group instruction to provide personalized support and targeted enrichment, helping each student achieve their best. 2. Improving Achievement Outcomes for Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners : Recognizing that every student learns differently and requires instructional practices geared to their individual needs, we will tailor our teaching approaches to meet the diverse needs and learning styles of all students. 3. Writing Across the Curriculum: Writing will be integrated into all subject areas to strengthen critical thinking and communication skills, making writing a central part of your child’s educational experience. In order to further ensure the success of all of our students we want to also remind our families that City Schools has implemented a No Cellphone/Personal Devices policy. Students must keep all cellphones, personal laptops, tablets, smartwatches, earbuds, Bluetooth headphones, etc., locked up during the school day. We will be enforcing this policy starting Day 1. FSKs personal device policy was emailed to families in our welcome letter and students will be bringing it home tomorrow as well. As we work to meet and exceed our school’s goals and objectives, we call on our FSK families to collaborate and support us in this work. We want to thank our PTO for their continued support, with a special thank you goes to Martha Firehock for her exceptional work in navigating the district's enrollment process with us. Martha has worked tirelessly to ensure that all new parents and families received the information they needed, and her dedication has been invaluable. We are also committed to ensuring that all students and their families feel valued and included in our school community. We believe that building strong relationships with you and your children is essential for their success. We will be intentional about creating a welcoming atmosphere and celebrating the cultures, talents, and achievements of all of our students. Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we can make this school year a memorable and successful one for your child. If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out. We look forward to a fantastic year ahead! Have a great day, on purpose! Tenerra McFadden Principal #fromgoodtogreat

Girls on the Run - Grades 3rd-5th If your child is interested in participating in Girls on the Run this fall, registration opens on August 23 and runs through September 10th. The program begins the week of 9/22/25 and ends with a 5k on Sunday 11/23 and runs on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:45-5. You can find more information about this great program here: https://www.gotrchesapeake.org. Registration numbers are limited. Spots will be given out through a lottery if necessary and you will be notified after September 11th as to whether your child has been accepted. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions at rcaldwell710@gmail.com. Attached flyer has further information. Click here to register: https://www.pinwheel.us/register/index/Fall25ProgramGOTRGC.

School starts Monday, August 25, 2025! Ensure you're prepared by reviewing the City Schools 2025–2026 one-page calendar. It highlights important dates, such as the first and last days of school, holidays, early dismissals, and scheduled breaks. Download the printable version in English and Spanish here: https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/events

Starting in the 2025–2026 school year, students can still bring cell phones and other personal electronic devices to school—but they must stay powered off, put away, and secured during the school day. Learn more about the updated policy here: https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/article/2280560

Ensure your student is well-prepared for a smooth start to the school year by completing the Annual Student Verification. Even if nothing has changed, reviewing and confirming your contact information helps your school stay connected and prepared to support your child from day one. Click here to learn how you can complete yours today: https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/page/annual-student-verification

The City Schools Summer Program Survey is still open and accepting responses. If your student attended a City Schools summer program, please take a moment to complete our quick 3-minute survey. Your feedback is invaluable to refine our options for next year. To complete the study, click here: https://survey.k12insight.com/r/jcNiGi

City Schools has extended the Summer Transfer Window only through Wednesday, August 13, 2025. This is your LAST opportunity to visit the enrollment office in person as part of the open transfer window. Visit our website for more information: https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/article/2344663

Get ready for the new school year with the City Schools 2025–26 one-page calendar. This printable resource includes key dates like the first and last days of school, holidays, early release days, and scheduled breaks. Available in English and Spanish at: https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/events

Good morning FSK! There is a low hanging branch on the fig tree in the back of the school as you pull into the back lot. We are contacting Facilities to have it removed. Please be careful as you enter the back parking lot.

Good Afternoon FSK!

I hope you all are well. There is an error in our welcome letter. Please take note of the following correction: Our 6th grade orientation is scheduled for August 14th, NOT the 15th. We apologize for the confusion.

Take care!

Good Afternoon FSK! We are pleased to announce that Piano for Youth is back for the 25-26 school year! Piano for Youth is celebrating 8 fabulous years of piano instruction at FSK! Please click on the flyer for more information.