Important Dates
March 6 Kindergarten Registration for 2023-2024 School Year Opens (Online: www.hcpss.org/enroll)
March 9 Class Picture Day. View the announcement. View the flyer/order envelope.
March 13 Applications for Income Eligible Pre-K Students will be available.
March 14 PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.
March 15 Staff Work & Wellness Day. 3-hour early dismissal for students (12:45 for FRES)
March 15 Read-a-thon Begins
March 15 Chipotle Restaurant Night. English Flyer. Spanish Flyer
March 16 FRES School-wide Reading Night, 6:30-7:45
March 28 Chick-fil-A Spirit Day Fundraiser to benefit the 4th grade field trip
March 29 School Spirit "Dress Like a Book Character Day"
March 29 Reading Night at Savage Library
March 31 End of 3rd Quarter. Schools dismiss 3 hours early (12:45 for FRES)
April 1-10 Spring Break!
April 11 Staff and students return
View the HCPSS Calendar in English
View the HCPSS Calendar in Spanish
View the HCPSS Calendar in Korean
View the HCPSS Calendar in Chinese
***Want to receive HCPSS text messages regarding weather-related closing info, late bus info, etc.? You must opt-in. Text "YES" to 67587 from the device on which you would like to receive messages.***
Dear FRES Community,
What a week we have had! Last Friday night our PTA hosted an amazing Culture Fest night. The night was filled with food, dancing, and a wealth of information about many of the different cultures that make FRES such a special place. We can’t thank the PTA enough for hosting this event. We are already looking forward to next year. In addition Mrs. Allen, our wonderful art teacher, hosted our first Paint Night. We had over 40 families attend. Thanks to all the staff and PTA volunteers who assisted in the event as well.
We hope everyone has a great weekend,
Mr. Conroy and Ms. Pazornik
Class Picture Day is Thursday, March 9, 2023
Picture Day is coming soon! Class pictures and optional individual pictures will be taken. The flyer/order envelope will be coming home with your child the week before picture day. The flyer/picture envelope may be previewed here. To order spring individual photos, you must return the flyer/order envelope on Picture Day. Online pre-ordering is NOT available for spring photos – the envelope must be returned on Picture Day.
Class group photos will also be taken on Picture Day for all classes. For individual portraits, only students who bring in their envelopes on Picture Day will be photographed. Note: There is no make-up picture day for spring pictures. Please look for the flyer/order envelope that will be sent home with your child soon!
Grade 5 The Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA)
Grade 5 students will take the MISA Assessment on March 14th & 21st.
The Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) is administered to all students in fifth grade, eighth grade, and high school. The MISA is aligned to the Maryland Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The NGSS integrates three dimensions necessary to understand science. The dimensions are the Science and Engineering Practices, the Crosscutting Concepts, and the Disciplinary Core Ideas. To assess the three dimensions of the NGSS, a set of interrelated items is required. All items on the MISA are part of an item set.
Test Preparation and Practice
The following link provides resources that can help students prepare for the MISA: Grades 5 and 8 Practice Tests - No username and password required. Click the “Practice Tests” link.
WatchDOGS
Hey DADS, BONUS DADS, UNCLES, GRANDPAS and MALE ROLE MODELS! Have you signed up for a day to volunteer?! Want another go?! Be sure to sign up for a day to help at school!!! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090a4ea8ab2caafc1-watch3#/"
From Mrs. Walls, our RECC Team Leader
The Forest Ridge Regional Early Childhood Center (RECC) preschool programs are making preparations for classes for the upcoming 2023-24 school year. These classes include children with and without disabilities. The program’s focus is helping all children develop communication, literacy, math, problem solving, motor, and social skills. Parents of children who will be 3 by September 1st, applications will be available and accepted in mid February.
In alignment with Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future, new applications for students turning 4 by September 1 will not be available or accepted. The Howard County Public School System continues to offer a prekindergarten program for income eligible children who will be four years old by September 1. For additional information contact the school or visit: https://www.hcpss.org/schools/pre-k-programs/
HCPSS is committed to providing instruction based on the statewide Early Learning Standards which are in alignment with Kindergarten Readiness. The fees listed in the application will be collected monthly regardless of the learning model determined by HCPSS throughout the upcoming school year (virtual, hybrid, in person, or class quarantine). If you have any additional questions, please contact Tricia Walls at tricia_walls@hcpss.org
Girls on the Run Registration is Open!
Who: Girls in grades 3-5.
When: Program Runs March 21 - June 1; 5K on June 3
Meets Tuesdays and Thursdays after school
4:00-5:15 p.m.
To register: Visit gotrcentralmd.org
From our Social Worker, Holly Flanagan
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR THOSE WITH MEDICAL ASSISTANCE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, medical assistance has been automatically renewed since March, 2020. However, automatic renewals will stop on April 30, 2023 so please call the Health Dept Insurance Line at (410) 313-5845 to renew. They will set up an appointment by phone for you to renew.
Weather Guidelines
Remember: Students go out for recess if the temperature including windchill is 20 degrees or higher. Also, if your student needs to stay inside during recess, you must provide a doctor's note. Thanks!
Help for FRES Families in Need
We are starting a community support group at school, called Feathers for Families! Here are ways you can help ALL YEAR ‘ROUND:
Howard County Recreation & Parks Before & After Care Pre-Registration Dates. View the flyer.
Participants currently attending - March 7-17, 2023
22/23 Waitlist Participants - March 21-31, 2023
New Participants - April 4, 2023
PTA Meeting – March 14th – 7 p.m.
Join us in the cafeteria for our monthly meeting. We will have a sitter available for this meeting.
Read-a-thon – March 15th
Your child will be bringing packets home soon with additional about the school wide read-a-thon occurring in March.
Chipotle Restaurant Night – March 15th
After such an amazing turn out with our last Chipotle fundraiser, we had to have another one. Come out to the Fulton Location from 4pm – 8pm. Use code FV3N7BE when you place your order online or in the app.
Family Reading Night – March 16th
Joins us in the FRES Media Center from 6:30 pm – 7:45pm for a family reading night.
Movie Night - March 24th
The weather is perfect, for a Spring Movie Night on the bus loop. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy a movie under the stars. Concessions will be available for purchase.
Savage Library Reading Night – March 29th
Come out to Savage Library and join the FRES community in Reading Night. Additional information will be provided soon.
FRES Carnival & Silent Auction – May 6th
Save the Date! Spring Carnival is May 6th. Bring the whole family for games, activities, music, food, a cake walk, and a silent auction! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! If you are interested in assisting with the planning of Carnival or the silent auction, please email Barbara Gumes at ssgumes@gmail.com.
Media Production Summer Camp at River HS
Attention aspiring filmmakers! Have you always been interested in the movie-making process? Do you dream of being a YouTube vlogger? There’s a week-long summer camp just for you!
Sign up for Video Production camp either in the morning or afternoon (or both) to learn how to improve your filming and editing skills and how to work as part of a video production team. View the flyer here.
When: Weeks of July 10 and July 24 from 9am to 12pm and/or 1pm to 4pm, Monday - Friday
Where: River Hill High School media center
Who: videographers age 9 to 17
How: Go to https://riverhill.membershiptoolkit.com/camp2023 and find the session(s) of your choice
Why: Because it will be a lot of fun!
HCPSS Community News and Programs Site:
In response to community requests for resources, HCPSS’ new Community News and Programs website makes it easy for families to find educational and recreational resources, events and after-school programs beyond the school day by non-profit organizations. Community organizations requesting their announcements be shared in school newsletters should visit community-programs.hcpss.org for more information. Questions should be directed to the Public Information Office at publicinfo@hcpss.org.
HC Drug Free Events
Receive HC DrugFree's Free Newsletter: To receive HC DrugFree's free electronic newsletter packed with information for parents and opportunities for students, go to https://hcdrugfree.org/enews-signup/
Stay Informed about What’s Happening in Howard County: Sign up for HC DrugFree’s newsletter at https://hcdrugfree.org/enews-signup/ to get updates on events as well as information to keep your family safe and informed.