IMPORTANT DATES
April 26-28 PTA Silent Auction
April 30 School Spirit Day - Dress Like a Teacher/Student Day
May 4 PTA Spring Carnival
May 6-10 Staff Appreciation Week
May 7 Orchestra & Chorus Concert at Hammond High School
May 14 Primary Election Day. Schools and offices closed
May 15 5th Grade Simulated Congressional Hearings
May 17 Staff Work Day - Schools close 3 hours early (12:55)
May 21 Field Day
May 27 Memorial Day Holiday - Schools and offices closed
May 30 STEAM Night. View the flyer in English & Spanish
June 1 5th Grade Dance
June 4 5:30-6:30 Popsicles on the Playground for incoming (2024-25) Kindergarten students
June 5 Professional Work Day - Schools close 3 hours early
June 6 2:00-3:15 5th Gr. End of Year Celebration
June 7 Full school day
June 10 Full school day
June 11 Full school day
June 12 Schools close 3 hours early (12:55)
June 13 Schools close 3 hours early (12:55)
June 14 Last Day of School! Schools close 3 hours early (12:55)
June 19 Juneteenth Holiday - schools and offices closed
View the HCPSS Calendar in English
View the HCPSS Calendar in Spanish
View the HCPSS Calendar in Korean
View the HCPSS Calendar in Chinese
School Spirit Days for 23/24
We are excited to share our school spirit days calendar for the 23/24 school year! We hope this helps families plan ahead. There may be spirit days that pop up here and there based on activities that are going on in the building, but this calendar is what we will be following. You may want to print it out, put the dates on your personal calendar, hang it on the fridge - whatever works for you to remember these fun days!
Forest Ridge Family and Friends,
We are noticing a significant increase of students using their cell phones during the school day. Additionally, parents and children are communicating during the school day using them.
Use of a cell phone by an elementary school child during the day is a violation of HCPSS Policy 8080. Phones must be turned off and placed in the backpack by the student at the start of the school day and remain in the backpack throughout the school day.
As an additional reminder, students bringing a cell phone to school are taking a risk of the item becoming damaged, lost, or stolen. The school is not responsible for any phones that are lost, stolen or damaged. Please keep this in mind with any phones you are allowing your child to bring to school.
If your child needs to contact a parent during the school day, they may ask their teacher to go to the office and office staff will reach out to the parent. Students who access their cell phone during the day will have it removed and given to the administration. Parents will then be contacted to schedule a time to pick it up.
Please help us keep our students engaged and focused on instruction and social engagement with their peers during the school day.
~Mrs. Lannon & Ms. Pazornik
Message From the Office of Safety & Security
We appreciate everyone's help in making sure that our school is as safe as possible. All exterior doors are locked at all times. To maintain safety and security it is important that we all do our part:
Do not let anyone in through exterior doors around the school.
All visitors or anyone arriving late needs to check-in at the front lobby using the buzzer. We know it is in our nature to be nice and hold the door, but please do not let in people you do not know. The front office staff will be focusing on groups coming to the buzzer and ensuring that all parties check-in properly.
Doors should not be propped open.
If you see something suspicious, report it to a teacher, administrator, or other staff member.
Thanks for doing your part to help keep our school safe.
Are You Interested in Purchasing a Yearbook?
The yearbook purchasing site is open for business! Follow this link to place your order.
2024-2025 School Year Bus Transportation Registration is Open
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Parents/guardians whose children are eligible for bus transportation are asked to register to receive bus service each year to help the school system plan for student transportation needs. The transportation registration process will open at 9 a.m. Monday, April 8 through May 31, and will be completed online via HCPSS Connect Synergy. Registration must be done for each eligible child.
To be eligible for bus service, your child’s home address must be outside of a school’s walk zones. You can verify address eligibility in the HCPSS School Attendance Area Locator. After inputting your address, a window will appear that will indicate either bus or walk for each school level. Please note, the attendance area locator also includes a link for the bus stop locator, which is set for the current school year. Bus stop information for the 2024-2025 school year will be available in August.
You do not need to take any action if your child is not eligible for bus transportation, your child receives transportation as part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan, or your child is a graduating senior.
Details on bus transportation registration, including a guide to register and scenarios families may see when registering, can be found online.
From our School Counselors, Ms. Norris and Mrs. Braxton-Cheek
Hello, FRES parents! We are having a career program on Friday, May 31, 2024, from 2:00 to 3:30 pm. We are looking for grown-ups to present information about their careers. If you are interested, please select the following link to complete the Google Form: Career Day Program Interest Form
2024-2025 Kindergarten Registration is OPEN!
Registration for the upcoming school year, 2024-25 is now available. All registrations will be completed online, https://www.hcpss.org/enroll/ After submission, the registration will be reviewed, and the registrar will reach out to you to schedule an in-person appointment to complete the registration. Please upload the required documentation if able. Kindergarten is a mandatory grade in Maryland. Children must be 5 years old by September 1 in order to enroll in Kindergarten. Every child who is 5 years old by September 1 must be enrolled in a Kindergarten program this fall or have an approved waiver on file. (Waiver form for the 2024-25 school year will be available March 1st) Parents or guardians are to register their child at the serving school for their residence.
FRES Regional Early Childhood Program
Learning Together Program for Children who will be 3 years old by September 1, 2024:The Forest Ridge Regional Early Childhood Center (RECC) prekindergarten programs are making preparations for classes for the upcoming 2024-25 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 years old by September 1st, applications are available and are currently being accepted. Please see the link below for information and link to the application: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16QzgRZdlq0mglYunqo2yFdeQXGJo6Nsx/view?usp=sharing
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
Income Eligible Pre-K for children who will be 4 years old by September 1, 2024:
In alignment with Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future, Forest Ridge RECC continues to offer a prekindergarten program for income eligible children who will be four years old by September 1. Applications are available in the front office and online. Our program will fill up. All slots are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applicants are not processed until all necessary paperwork has been received. To apply, visit: https://www.hcpss.org/schools/pre-k-programs/
Silent Auction – April 26-28
Our online silent auction will be live on PTboard at 5pm TODAY and closes at 5pm on Sunday, April 28th. Bid on items from Kendra Scott, MD Science Center, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Raising Canes, Sweet Frog, the principals and teachers!
Click here to see our amazing items: https://frespta.ptboard.com/formvw/form?store=4292&form=9
Spring Carnival – May 4
The FRES PTA Carnival is May 4th 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Tickets are on sale now! An order form was sent home last week. Click here to purchase tickets: https://frespta.ptboard.com/formvw?store=4292&form=7
Reminders:
· Only children age 3 and up need tickets for the carnival. Adults are free.
· PTA Concession Sales will include popcorn, cotton candy, candy, chips and water. Most items are 1 ticket and nothing is more than 2 tickets.
· Food trucks and other vendors will be available for families to purchase other food and beverage items.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
We need your help to make this event possible! Please sign up at the link below to volunteer to help out at Carnival. Middle & High School Students are welcome to volunteer and volunteer hours will be verified. Carnival Volunteers
CAKE WALK DONATIONS
Do you love to bake??? Please consider donating a cake, cupcakes or other dessert for the carnival cake walk. Items can be dropped off at school on Friday 5/3 between 6:30 - 9:30 or Saturday 5/4 by 12:00. What's a cake walk? A cake walk is a game played at carnivals, fundraisers, and funfairs where participants walk around a circle of numbers on the floor while music plays. When the music stops, everyone lands on a number and the person that lands on the number called wins a cake. Sign up here Cake Walk Donations
Staff Appreciation Week – May 6-10
PTA will be celebrating Staff Appreciation Week in May with the following themed days:
Click here to see our flyer:
If you would like to contribute towards any of these days monetarily please email contact@frespta.org or leave a donation with the front office by Monday, May 6th.
Attention Fifth Grade Families!
Your child's personalized Art to Remember order form is now available, so ask your students if they received one! This fundraiser is a great way to both get a keepsake to commemorate your child's elementary school years and to help support 5th grade activities and the Art department. Order by May 7, 2024.
Save the Date!
The 5th Grade Dance will be June 1, 2024 from 6pm to 8pm. This year's theme is "Glow," so break out those neon or white shirts. Permission slips have been sent home. Please return the form to your child's homeroom teacher or bring it to check-in on the night of the dance. All children attending the dance must be checked in and out by a parent or guardian. Let's Glow it up!
FRES PTA Board Members Needed for 2024-2026 Term
The current members of the PTA Board of Directors will end their 2-year term at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Please consider running for the board and help the PTA continue to offer events and support like Carnival, Health and Wellness Fair, Fall Fest. Culture Fest, assemblies, field trip support, and so much more. For more information or to fill out the form please visit, FRES PTA BOARD MEMBERS NEEDED for 2024-2026 Term | Forest Ridge Elementary School PTA
Want to stay up to date on PTA information? Follow us on facebook at Forest Ridge Elementary PTA (FRES) or visit our website at www.frespta.org for more information.
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.