Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School

Good morning FSK, We received word of a possible shooting at Latrobe Park. Out of safety and concern we have put the school on lockdown: no one in or out of the school. We have called Baltimore City Police and School Police and are currently waiting for an update. Once we’ve received the all-clear from law enforcement. We will update as needed

Good morning FSK! Friendly reminder that schools are closed tomorrow for professional development and parent conferences. Since schools are closed tomorrow, today is a Dress Down Day! Students may come to school in regular clothes, as long as it complies with Baltimore City Schools’ dress code policy. Tomorrow’s conferences begin at 1pm. All teachers have sent out their conference schedules and sign up protocols. Please reach out to teachers to confirm if you are unsure of their conference process. Conferences end at 3:30 so the time is tight. Please make sure you schedule your time before coming in. Unscheduled conferences are not guaranteed. Please reach out if you have any questions. Have a great day on purpose!

Good Evening FSK! This is a friendly reminder that Wednesday, March 12th, we will hold our community budget review. At this final meeting of the budget season we will review and discuss the draft budget that has been submitted to the district for School Year 25-26. We will begin at 5pm. The meeting will be held on Zoom: https://bcps-k12-md-us.zoom.us/j/88430091415 All are welcomed to attend. We hope to see you there!

Hello Families, Due to traffic the 6th grade field trip is running behind and is not expected at FSK until around 4:15pm. If your child is a yellow bus rider, you will need to come pick them up at the school. Students on the trip have been instructed to call parents to coordinate transportation.

Hello 6th Grade Families! The buses have left DC and are making their way back to Baltimore. Estimated arrival based on current traffic is between 3:50 and 4:00PM. Please ensure on-time pickup for your students, as the building will not be available due to afternoon activities being canceled. Please message Mr. Francella and the team if you have any questions or concerns. Be safe!

Good Afternoon FSK, I hope you all are well. City Schools has left the decision to cancel afterschool activities to the discretion of principals. Due to the forecast of severe storms this afternoon, we are canceling all after-school activities to prioritize the safety of our students and staff. This includes ALU. We kindly ask that all students be picked up promptly at 3:40 pm. It is imperative that students are picked up on time so they can safely head home before the weather conditions worsen. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we make these necessary adjustments. Our priority is the safety and well-being of all our students. Thank you for your support, and please stay safe. Sincerely, Principal McFadden

Good afternoon FSK, I hope everyone is having a good day. We are currently keeping an eye on reports from the National Weather Service regarding this afternoon’s potential storm. As of now, City Schools has not made any changes to today’s schedule. We will update the community with any new information as it comes. We do ask that families make appropriate accommodations to ensure children are picked up on time so we can clear the campus quickly if necessary. Be safe and be well Principal McFadden

Read Across America Week continues! Today's theme is Snuggle Up and Read! Wear your cozy pajamas today! Students not participating must wear their proper uniform. Note: 6th graders going on today's trip to DC MUST be in uniform. Have a great day, on purpose!

Good morning FSK! We received reports of one of the lampposts sparking yesterday afternoon. APVW alerted BGE and School Facilities, but it was not taken care of yesterday. We have put in another ticket for BGE and facilities, but we are asking families to assist us with keeping the children off the picnic/wood stumps until BGE reports and fixes the problem. We will update as soon as possible.

Hello FSK Families! Get ready for Spirit Week as we celebrate Read Across America! From March 2nd to March 7th, students can join the fun with themed dress-up days and special reading activities. Please see the flyer for each day's theme! Let’s make reading an adventure!

Dear FSK Community, School leadership and the PTO encourage as many FSK community members - including parents, guardians, grandparents, teachers, and staff - to attend the Community Budget Forum Forum this Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the FSK Library on the 2nd Floor. The Community Budget Forum will take the place of February's PTO General Meeting. This is an opportunity to learn more and ask questions about the FSK's budget plans and enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year. The PTO has arranged childcare for up to 20 students for anyone who needs it. Sign up here: PTO Feb 19th meeting. Food will be provided! Please join us. Thank you.

Good Evening FSK Baltimore City Schools are closed tomorrow due to the snow. That means the weekend starts today for our kiddos! Here is the rundown: February 12: Snow Day February 13: District PD-no school for students February 14-Wellness Day-no school February 17-President’s Day-no school We’ll see you all Tuesday, February 18th. Take care and be safe! -Tenerra McFadden

BCPSS 2 Hour Early Dismissal: We have a 2 hour early dismissal. We are dismissing at 1:40pm. All buses will still bring students home and students dismiss from their normal locations.

Good evening FSK, I hope you all are well. Per the announcement from Baltimore City Schools, all after school activities are canceled tomorrow. This includes ALU and all clubs. At dismissal tomorrow we will be closing the building and all staff and students will have to leave. Please ensure your student(s) are picked up on time so all can leave and get home safely ahead of the pending storm. We will update the community if anything changes. Be safe and take care. Ms. McFadden

​Dear FSK Families,I am writing to inform you of a concerning trend involving a product known as "honey packs," which has been reported among some of our middle school students. These products, often sold at local convenience stores and gas stations, are marketed as natural honey but actually contain testosterone boosters and sexual enhancement ingredients. It has been reported that some middle school students have been purchasing these packs from local convenience stores and gas stations and sharing them amongst friends.  I'm including a photo for those who need a reference to what to look for.Consuming these substances can pose serious health risks, particularly for children and adolescents. Potential side effects include hormonal imbalances, increased heart rate, headaches, and other adverse reactions. Unfortunately, some students may be unaware of these risks and are consuming these products without fully understanding their effects.We ask for your partnership in speaking with your children about the dangers of consuming unregulated supplements and encouraging them to make safe, informed choices. Additionally, please monitor any unfamiliar products they may have and discuss the importance of avoiding substances that could harm their health.Our school remains committed to the well-being of our students, and we will continue to educate them on making safe and healthy decisions. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for working with us to keep our students safe.Sincerely,Tenerra McFadden

Hi FSK! Please see the message about tomorrow’s field trip from Mrs. Dewey: Hi families this is a reminder of our WALKING trip to the Inner Harbor Ice Rink tomorrow 1/16. As you all know it will be very cold - please ensure your student is dressed warmly and in layers-  with gloves, hat, etc! If you marked off that your child needed a lunch they will receive a bagged lunch from the cafeteria, otherwise please send in cash or your preferred payment type for them to use for lunch. They will have a choice of chipotle or chick fil a.  Thank you and stay warm!! ❄️ 

Good afternoon FSK, Due to inclement weather, City Schools will be closed tomorrow, January 6, 2025. Please be safe and we look forward to seeing you soon. Enjoy the snow day!

¡Hola familias! ¡Complete la encuesta MOY para ayudarnos a mejorar! ¡Gracias! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdbaGOYlcBF7RhpGMtHZ17dY7kel0ihnGYk0TT9_pX6m-pgsQ/viewform?usp=dialog

Hi Families, Please complete the MOY survey so we can collect data on ways to continue to improve FSK! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe57lF1iGGR3G4LnWanYXomVSK42J8lA_n0Psa8KBUJUzTwTA/viewform?usp=dialog

Good Evening FSK! I am beyond honored to to share some exciting news with you—our school has moved up from a 3-star to a 4-star rating on the Maryland State Report Card! This accomplishment reflects the tremendous dedication and hard work of our staff, students, and families. We have worked hard over the last few years and through the hard work, diligence, and continued collaboration and support of our entire school community FSK has moved the needle! The Maryland State Report Card is a statewide accountability tool that evaluates schools based on several key measures, including academic achievement, growth, access to a well-rounded curriculum, school quality, and student success indicators like attendance. Schools are awarded stars on a scale of 1 to 5: 1 Star: Significant room for improvement. 2 Stars: Progressing but still below average. 3 Stars: A solid performance with areas to grow. 4 Stars: Strong performance in most areas. 5 Stars: Exceptional outcomes and equity for all students. Here is a snapshot of our Star Ratings over the years: 2017-2018: 57.3% = 3 Stars 2018-2019: 47.6% = 3 Stars 2019-2021: No ratings due to school closures from pandemic 2021-2022: 54.5% = 3 Stars 2022-2023: 51.3% = 3 Stars 2023-2024: 63.5% = 4 Stars This rating reflects measurable progress in meeting the needs of our students and fostering an environment where learning and growth are prioritized. While we celebrate this amazing feat, FSK will not rest until we are meeting the needs and improving academic and social outcomes for ALL of our students. Thank you for your unwavering support of our school. Your partnership is an essential part of our success, and we look forward to building on this momentum in the months and years ahead. I want to thank our amazing staff who work diligently every day to give the students at FSK their very best. And I thank our wonderful community of parents, families, and partners for your continued support. I am honored and grateful to be a part of the journey. We ARE FSK! Tenerra McFadden Principal, Francis Scott Key Elementary Middle School #fromgoodtogreat