Farnsworth Middle School

Farnsworth Middle School's Main Entrance in January 2006, without the main sign

Alton U. Farnsworth Middle School (know also as simply Farnsworth Middle School, or FMS) is a middle school in Guilderland, New York. It is part of the Guilderland Central School District.

At Farnsworth Middle School, students build on an educational foundation as they continue their academic growth. Many students enroll in a second language (French, German, or Spanish) in sixth grade. Regents-level math and science courses (as an accelerated track) are also available to eighth-grade students, pending academic record and faculty recommendation. Students may also take Freshman-level art classes to earn high school credit. Students are currently organized into four "houses" - Hiawatha, Mohawk, Seneca, and Tawasentha - and in grade level teams within each house.

In October 2001, voters approved the expansion and renovation of Farnsworth Middle School. The $19.7 million project which was completed in September 2005.

Foreign Languages

Spanish, the most popular of the second languages at FMS, is taken by most of the students. It is followed by French, and German, which very few students take. Students spend forty-two minutes daily in second language class, such that, cumulatively over three years, the course of study is equivalent to a one-year high school introductory foreign language course. In eigth grade, students take a proficiency exam on their respective second language. Passing this exam provides high school credit for the prior three years of study.

Music

FMS is known to take part in NYSSMA for the school chorus, band, and orchestra in each grade level. Many students have continued from their musical foundation in elementary school, and continue their instrument; some students begin their study in music during Middle School. Farnsworth Middle School, and the Guilderland Central School District as a whole, are well-known for their excellent music programs.

Advanced Courses

FMS gives the opportunity for students to take three High-School level Regents courses. Mathematics A (soon to be Algebra 1), Earth Science, and Studio Art are the courses available. One must be recommended by their teachers and earn a certain number of credits in order to earn this opportunity during 7th grade, so that in 8th grade they may have the choice of taking these courses. Math A and Earth Science must be taken in 9th grade if not taken in 8th grade. If a student completes and passes Math A and/or Earth Science, they earn High-School credit (for each) counting towards their High-School diploma. They then can take Math B (soon to be Geometry) and Biology during their Freshman year of high school. Math A will be however replaced by Algebra 1 in 2007, due to changing the New York State Mathematics Curriculum.

Trivia

- On March 14 (3/14) the school holds a tradition known as "pi" day (given pi=3.14 and March 14 is 3/14) in which all 6th grade students receive a small treat, all 7th graders receive a cookie, and all 8th graders receive a slice of pie. Certain classes may choose to follow this "holiday".

- The Seneca House is notorious for its small lockers. When first built the lockers were 2/3rds the size of the lockers in the other houses and due to heavy demand, were replaced in the winter of 2005-2006 during Christmas Break. For the replacement, the constructors not only replaced the small lockers, but also added new longer lockers, twice the height of the other lockers. These lockers were also regarded to be too small although each student received one "tall locker" or two "small lockers" (the lower and upper lockers).

-The school has had many play productions including Bye, Bye Birdie, Little Orphan Annie, and Once Upon a Matress. This years production is the Wizard of Oz. Starring in it is Alexis Rabadi as Dorthy and Peyton Snyder as the Wicked-Witch of the West.

-The school has a very active student council that meets once every two weeks. The president is Alex Sands and the Sargent at Arms is Russell Oliver.

-After the riots of '99, if it wasn't for Craig Hamor the schools houses would never have unified

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