IMPORTANT DATES
June 10 Full school day
June 10 PTA elections - Dive Bar (see below under PTA News)
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
July 1 Summer School Begins
July 4 Independence Day 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 have had a great week filled with student and staff celebrations. It is always great when we can lift up the wonderful things happening here at FRES.
The Howard County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) recognized three of our staff members. Mrs. Doxater, special ed para; Ms. Bounoua, Special Ed ALS teacher; and Mrs. Knutson, our 4th grade team leader, were all recipients of the Gladiator Recognition Program, an award honoring incredible individuals who make a positive impact on the lives of our special education students! We congratulate all of them on this well deserved recognition!
Last week Tech4Learning awarded their Innovative Educator (TIE) award to one of Forest Ridge's teachers – Mrs. Matanin. The TIE award is the way they recognize educators who work passionately to utilize technology as a way for students to creatively demonstrate their content knowledge and understanding. Best of all, Mrs. Matanin is one of the top Wixie-using teachers this school year in all of HCPSS!
Lastly, we got to celebrate our students this week. Our kindergarten students held their wonderful Kindergarten Show, 5th grade had their closing show, and first grade did the Author’s Tea.
As we get closer and closer to the last day of school on June 14th, we are doing a lot of reflecting as a staff. The work we are doing now is preparing us for an amazing 24/25 school year. We are very proud of our staff and the hard work they do here everyday for your children.
Enjoy your weekend! It is hard to believe there are only 5 more days left!
~Mrs. Lannon & Ms. Pazornik
2024 Free Summer Meals Program
To continue meeting the growing need to feed hungry children and families in Howard County and fill the nutritional gap over the summer months, HCPSS once again will provide free summer meals Monday-Friday, June 24-Aug. 2, at locations throughout the county. Meals will be served only on days schools are open and there will be no meal service Thursday, July 4.
Complete details on the HCPSS 2024 Summer Meals Program are available online.
Yearbooks
Yearbooks arrived and should have gone home with your students! Please reach out to your teacher if you ordered a yearbook and your child did not receive it. Congratulations to Ariel Chen and Anoushka Sreethran as our cover art winners! Also, a big thank you to all of the students who submitted artwork!
NOTE: A limited supply of yearbooks are available for purchase at the front office. These are first come, first served! Please email Ms. Traini at christin_traini@hcpss.org to be added to the list. The cost is $25 via cash (exact change) or check.
From our Registrar, Mrs. Jackson
All students moving on to middle school in HCPSS must have records in compliance in accordance with Policy 9000: Student Residency, Eligibility, Enrollment and Assignment. Currently, all records are being reviewed for compliance. We ask that if you receive a letter for a missing document/s, you provide the requested documents by June 3. Please feel free to reach out to the front office if you have questions about the request if received.
Not returning to FRES next year?
Please let us know so we can assist in the transition to your child's new school.
From the Media Center
G’readings FRES Families,
The Forest Ridge Book Swap is quickly approaching! The Book Swap is an opportunity for your child to reuse books and to get different books to read over the summer. Your student received a form this week; the bottom of the form should be filled out and returned with books that are being turned in for the swap.
Week of June 10th-June 14th: your child will choose a different book(s) to take home, based on the number of books they brought in to swap.We are also accepting additional donations.
If you have any books you would like to donate for the Book Swap we would truly appreciate the contribution. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Tordella, heather_tordella@hcpss.org. Thank you and happy swapping :)
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.
2024-2025 School Supply Orders available online thru 6/23!
EPI School supply online – Deadline extended to 6/23
Ordering link: https://www.educationalproducts.com/ShopPacks. School code: FOR153 (3 letters/3 numbers)
Email: Barbara Gumes with questions at ssgumes@gmail.com
PTA Elections – June 10th Dive Bar
Join us at Dive Bar on June 10th at 7pm to elect the new 2024-2026 board. Appetizers will be provided, but drinks will be purchased on your own. Meet the FRES PTA 2024-2026 Candidates! Election is on June 10th! The FRES PTA election is June 10th at 7 p.m. at the Dive Bar & Grille in Savage (8600 Foundry St, Savage, MD 20763. Come out to vote and enjoy some appetizers. Drinks can be purchased on your own.
Prior to the election meet our candidates at,
https://frespta.org/2024/06/05/meet-the-fres-pta-2024-2026-candidates/
There is still time to run for a position, for more information visit, https://frespta.org/2024/04/24/fres-pta-board-members-needed-for-2024-2026-term/
RESCHEDULED! 5th Grade Mini Golf Meet-up / Year End Event
Due to rain the fifth grade PTA committee rescheduled the mini golf meet-up for Wednesday, June 12th from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. If you would like to attend please email freswebmaster@frespta.org by June 11th with your child's name.
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.
Howard County Family Wellness Day
What: Howard County Family Wellness Day
When: Sunday, June 9th from 8am – 1pm
Where: Centennial Park (South Gate entrance off Rt. 108)
Website: www.WePromoteHealth.org
HCPSS joins with other leaders in challenging our community to incorporate healthy food choices and physical activity into your daily life. Howard County Family Wellness Day brings families together each year to put the focus on wellness in our schools, workplaces and community. There will be lots of interactive booths and activities for adults and children of all ages. This year’s event kicks off with the 20th Annual Matzohball 5k run/walk. Family Wellness Day is free. There is a fee for participating in the 5k and the 1 Mile Fun/Run-Walk. All registration fees, when registering on the official website, benefit HopeWorks, DreamBuilders and GrassRoots.
Take part in our annual CPR Pump-A-Thon at noon and watch the internationally acclaimed ”Kangaroo Kids” Performance at 12:30pm. There is something for everyone, including our kids zone and even an area showcasing the many available resources to help our seniors age gracefully. Visit www.WePromoteHealth.org for information.
Invitation from the County Executive
The County Executive would like to invite you to the 4th Annual STEM Awards program. The program will take place on June 12th from 5:30-7:30pm at the Howard County Community College Smith Theatre located in the Horowitz Performing and Visual Arts Center. Refreshments will be served following the program. Please find a link to the campus map for building location and the West Parking garage. Please RSVP by clicking here or on the link attached in the flyer. If you are a principal/teacher/mentor registering in the student’s name section, please put “teacher”. Any questions please feel free to reach out.
Please note we will accept RSVPs even up to the day of the event; however, we are ordering refreshments, if possible, please RSVP by June 10th. We are looking forward to seeing you all at the program.
Hammond High Boosters – Summer Camp Options
Click here to view a list of Boys and Girls Summer Camps for Incoming 5th Graders to Incoming 9th Graders.
Guilford Park High School Boosters Lacrosse Camp June 17th-21st
The camp is open to rising 5th graders through 9th graders. Current and former college players are scheduled to come and help work with the girls. We even have equipment that can be borrowed. We really want to help grow the game in the southeastern part of the county! View the flyer.
Guilford Park High School Boosters Basketball Camps June 24-28, 9:00-12:00
Boys' and girls' camps are combined. June 24-28, 2024 9-12. Before care 7:30 am After care 1:30 pm.
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.