Farnsworth Middle School
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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. The students take classes in a "block" format. 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 was completed in September 2005.
TV News Club
F.M.S is a school which performs announcements through an internal television broadcast system. They broadcast the daily news program using cable cords throughout the school facility. The broadcast reaches about 1,400 students each morning. This club currently has about 30 student volunteers. Every job in this club - including the announcers - belongs to students.
The TV News Club has started several student run shows. The shows include FMS Sports, FMS Chat, and FMS Arts. All the hosts of these shows are members of the FMS TV news club. These shows are aired on Channel 16 of Guilderland at 7:00 P.M. on weekdays.
Foreign Languages
Spanish is taken by most of the students. It is followed by French, and German. Spanish and French languages have more than one teacher, but German has only one, Mrs. Hill. Seventh and Eight graders spend eighty-five minutes every other day in a second language class and sixth graders spend forty-five minutes every day, such that, cumulatively over three years, the course of study is equivalent to a one-year high school introductory foreign language course. In eighth 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 AB Accelerated(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. Math A (Algebra 1) replaces Math 8 in a student's schedule. Earth Science is taken in addition to Science 8, and students must arrive an hour early each day, at 7:30, to attend class. Studio Art is taught during a student's lunchtime.