Important Dates
April 28 Last day to order Spiritwear. Follow this link.
April 29 Hammond High School Green Fest. Check out the flyer.
April 30 Chalk the Walk – Staff Appreciation Week
May 1- 5 FRES Staff Appreciation Week
May 6 FRES Carnival & Silent Auction. View the flyer.
May 10 FRES Drama Club Performance
May 16 McDonald’s Restaurant Fundraiser. View the flyer.
May 18 6:30-7:45 FRES S.T.E.A.M. Fair
May 22 Yearbook Order Deadline
May 24 PTA Connected: Ready, Tech, Go! Make Your Summer!
June 13 7:00 PTA Meeting - Dive Bar, Savage Mill
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.***
Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) - Spring Assessment for 3rd, 4th & 5th Graders
The Maryland State Department of Education is conducting a spring student assessment as one of several strategies to identify how students are performing academically. The results will help educators better understand student needs. These results never stand alone in assessing student growth, and will be used in combination with other assessments and class work to gauge overall student performance.
MCAP is the overarching term used for all state assessments. MSDE will administer assessments in the Spring for English Language Arts/Literacy & Mathematics. Here are the dates for FRES Students:
5th Grade MCAP Dates:
4th Grade MCAP Dates:
3rd Grade Spring MCAP Dates
It is important that students arrive at school on time each testing day. If possible please avoid scheduling vacations or appointments on testing days. If a student misses a day of testing they will have an opportunity to make it up.
Please contact Ms. Pazornik (ivye_pazornik@hcpss.org ) with any questions about the MCAP assessment. To learn more about Spring Assessments and MCAP please visit HCPSS Testing FAQ located on the HCPSS website.
HCPSS Indicators of Educational Equity Survey
As part of our school improvement process, we are asking families to provide input about their equity priorities at our school. Please use the link below to complete the HCPSS Indicators of Educational Equity Survey by April 28, 2023. We will use your input, along with other school data, to refine our school improvement plan for next year.
This survey is anonymous and available in multiple languages. If you have children at more than one school, please complete one survey per school.
English survey
Spanish survey
Chinese survey
Chin survey
Korean survey
If you have any questions, please contact Principal Scott Conroy (scott_conroy@hcpss.org) or DeNeatra Barkley (deneatra_barkley@hcpss.org), Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) Coordinator.
FRES Evening of Excellence
Forest Ridge will be holding an evening of excellence to celebrate all of our amazing learning here at school. Please join us on Thursday, May 18th 6:30-7:45 pm, at our FRES S.T.E.A.M. Night, which will include the PTA sponsored S.T.E.M. Fair and student work across all grade levels. We hope to see you there!
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR THOSE WITH MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, Medical Assistance has been automatically renewed since March 2020. With the end of the Public Health Emergency quickly approaching, AUTOMATIC RENEWALS WILL STOP AS OF APRIL 30, 2023. Please call the Howard County Health Dept. Insurance Line at 410-313-5845 to check your status and prevent any lapse in insurance coverage. They will assist you and provide an appointment to renew your coverage, if needed.
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:
Spring FRES PTA Spirit wear Sale! The sale will be open through April 28th!
https://www.selectspiritwear.com/v5store/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=281
Please note: This is the ONLY link/company affiliated and authorized to sell our FRES gear at this time. Please use this link to purchase FRES spirit wear. Orders will arrive at school and be distributed approximately 3 weeks after the sale ends.
Please keep in mind these are custom wearables and cannot be returned or exchanged unless defective.
Chalk the Walk – April 30th
Come out and chalk the walks of FRES as we welcome our teachers on Monday morning with words of phrase and affirmation. FRES Staff Appreciation Week will be celebrated May 1-5. We will place buckets of chalk out for you to stop by at your leisure to write your messages from 7:30am – 7pm on Sunday, April 30th in the front of the school.
FRES Staff Appreciation Week – May 1-5
FRES PTA will be celebrating our wonderful teachers and staff from May 1- 5. Click here to see our events for the week.
https://frespta.ptboard.com/annlist?ann=o43QVD4YQaOW0-2ZBc9Z2Qfnf__-eEAmT4A=
Click here to sign up to donate a snack to stock the staff lounge on Wednesday, May 3rd.
https://frespta.ptboard.com/annlist?ann=o43QVD4YQaOW0-2ZBc9Z2Qfnf__-eEAmT4A=
We also encourage parents and students to send in notes of praise to staff members throughout the week.
If your family would like alternate ideas, please click here to see Amazon Wish List and Favorite things of the FRES Staff.
If you have any questions, please email contact@frestpta.org
FRES Spring Carnival & Silent Auction – May 6th from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Rain or Shine!
Carnival Cards are on sale now!
The spring carnival is FREE to enter. Carnival cards are available to purchase to play games and participate in activities. Click here to access online ordering on PTBoard. Paper order forms will be going home with students on Thursday, 4/20. Purchases can also be made at the Carnival.
Carnival cards cost $5 in advance or $6 the day of carnival. Each card is good for up to 10 games and activities. Most games are 1 punch, while things such as face painting, bounce house, and obstacle course are 2.
Pre-purchase as many game cards as you would like by Wednesday, May 3rd. Pre-purchased cards will be available for pick-up at the ticket booth on the day of carnival. Completed cards can be exchanged for prizes!!!
Parents, we need your help to pull this off. Please sign up for a shift to make this a successful event!
To volunteer please sign up here or email ssgumes@gmail.com.
Donations for Silent Auction are still welcomed! If you own a business or know someone who does please consider donating gift cards/certificates, goods, or services. You can also sign up to donate one of our 10 Themed Baskets (or one of your own creation) to the auction. More details and sign-up available here. You can also email Barbara at ssgumes@gmail.com.
FRES Drama Club Performance – May 10th
Performance Coming! The FRES Drama Club has been meeting weekly to rehearse for their production of "High School Musical, Jr!" and the performance is almost here! FRES friends and family are invited to attend in the FRES cafeteria at 7 pm on Wednesday, May 10th. No tickets required, free admittance. Light concessions will be available for cash sales before the show begins.
Restaurant Night Fundraiser – McDonalds – May 16th
Come out to the Laurel/Fort Meade location of McDonalds from 5pm – 8pm and support the FRES PTA. 20% of all orders will be donated back to FRES. Also, there might be some guest employees working this evening!
STEAM Fair – May 18th
FRES PTA needs your help with directing traffic and overseeing the Science Fair. Please sign up to help the staff during this event.
https://frespta.ptboard.com/sgnvw?signup=8Gsir6O-SDSAUlO1BS2rZnN___59WFs5tX___nhARn1d
Time to order your yearbook! Deadline to order - May 22nd
It's time to order yearbooks. You can order them online through May 22nd. The deadline will not be extended, so order now.
https://shop.yearbookmarket.com/forestridge
Price - They cost $23.32 ($22 plus $1.32 in state tax). An ordering fee is charged at checkout. There is no shipping charge because the books will be delivered to the school and distributed to students.
We'd also like to announce the winners of the cover contest. The front cover winner was Uma G., the back cover winner was Nathan O. Congratulations Uma and Nathan!
PTA Connected: Ready, Tech, Go! Make Your Summer! – May 24th
Plan to Attend! The FRES PTA is honored to be chosen as one of only three locations in the U.S. to be sponsored by the National PTA to launch a new PTA program! They are bringing nationally recognized tech experts to help us put on an exciting end of school year event: “PTA Connected: Ready, Tech, Go! Make Your Summer!” on Wednesday, May 24th from 6:30 - 8:00 pm for both parents and our students! Students will get to attend a rotation of activities encouraging them to "Make Your Summer" creative and participate in three stations for "Make Art; Make Inventions; and Make Stories." While the kids are happily busy, parents get to participate in a presentation & discussion about tools & resources for determining phone readiness and best practices for managing kids phone safety and usage. And everyone gets free dinner, ice cream, and lots of door prizes and raffle giveaways!
PTA Meeting – June 13th Dive Bar
Join us for the last PTA meeting of the school year at Dive Bar in Savage at 7 p.m. Childcare will not be available for this meeting.
FREE Clothing Giveaway
When: Saturday, April 29, 2023, 9:00-11:00 a.m. Lines may form at 7:30 a.m.
Where: Long Reach High School, 6101 Old Dobbin Lane, Columbia, MD 2104
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
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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.