IMPORTANT DATES
September 24 6:30 Watch D.O.G.S Kick-Off & Ice Cream Social (see below under PTA News)
September 26 FRES Hearing and Vision Screening
October 1 Technology Parent Help Night
October 2 School Custodian Appreciation Day
October 3 Schools and Offices closed
October 10 Hispanic Heritage Night
October 18 Professional Work Day - schools closed for students
October 31 Professional Work and Development Day - schools closed for students
View the HCPSS Calendar in English
View the HCPSS Calendar in Spanish
View the HCPSS Calendar in Korean
View the HCPSS Calendar in Chinese
Forest Ridge Family and Friends,
We have been so very lucky to have such great weather and to have our students outside for recess! Students have been doing a great job with recess and following our FRES rules - Be Focused, Be Respectful, Be Empathetic and Be Safe!
We are so proud of the incredible start to the school year! Our students have shown great enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication in these first few weeks, and it’s been wonderful to see their positive energy fill our classrooms and hallways. From building new friendships to diving into learning, our students are embracing every opportunity with open minds and hearts. We are proud of their accomplishments so far and look forward to continuing this journey of growth together. Thank you to our families and staff for your continued support—here's to a fantastic year ahead!
~ Mrs. Lannon & Ms. Pazornik
FAQs from Back to School Night
Our PTA president reached out with some questions parents had following our back to School Nights. You can go HERE to see the questions and the responses.
Arrival/Dismissal Reminders
We need all parents who walk or drive their children for arrival and/or dismissal to make safe choices. No one should be parking in our staff lot to drop off or pick up their children. This is causing safety hazards with children walking through the parking lot. If you walk your children, please do not try to take a shortcut through the parking lot for the same reason.
It is required by law that parents have students of a certain age and weight in a car seat. There are also laws about the age when a child is permitted to ride in the front seat of the car. Please go HERE to read what is required. We have many parents picking up very young children and not putting them in a car seat or putting them in the front seat. One of our most important jobs as educators is to keep your children safe and we ask that all families ensure they are following the seatbelt and car seat laws.
Help Us Restock the Staff Coffee and Tea Station in the Staff Lounge
We need your help in restocking the staff coffee and tea station in our lounge. We have an Amazon WIsh List that you can access to help us out. The Wish List can be found HERE.
Information and Application for Free and Reduced Meals (FARMs)
The HCPSS participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. Students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals. Qualification is based on family size and income, and enrollment is confidential. All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can get free meals regardless of income, and students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals. Those eligible for Free and Reduced Meals receive both breakfast and lunch for free.
Parents/guardians must submit a new application every school year to maintain their student’s eligibility. Please go HERE to apply.
Policy 8080 - Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools and Social Media
We want to address students bringing personal technology to school with them. Policy 8080 defines a personal technology device as “Any non-HCPSS device that may be used to send or receive data via voice, video or text. This includes, but is not limited to, mobile phones, e-readers, tablets, personal computers, wearable technology, video recorders or other devices equipped with microphones, speakers, and/or cameras.”
At the elementary level, Policy 8080 specifies that “Students will keep personal technology devices in backpacks during the school day, unless otherwise authorized by school administrators or instructional staff.”
At FRES, our expectation is that any cell phones or tablets that students bring to school be turned off or silenced during the day and kept in student backpacks. Wearable technology such as smart watches are also to be put in the student’s backpack for the entire school day. It is not acceptable for students to photograph or record staff or other students during the school day or on the school bus. Please contact the front office with any questions about Policy 8080.
Birthday and Other Class Celebrations
We know and appreciate that families want to recognize their children’s birthdays and participate in other class celebrations. However, it is important to remember that HCPSS Policy 9090: Wellness Through Nutrition and Physical Activity does not allow for parents to bring in food for these kinds of occasions. You may bring in something special for your own child, but any food items cannot be shared with other students.
If there are class celebrations throughout the year, the community will be notified of any food items that will be provided for students. These food items will be in alignment with HCPSS Policy 9090 and meet the required nutritional guidelines. If you would prefer that your child not have what is being offered, you may choose to send in an alternate item.
From the Art Department
Our art teachers are working with your students to create artwork to be used for our "Art to Remember" fundraiser. See the flyers for more information. Ordering info will come home soon. Art to Remember Flyer English Art to Remember Flyer Spanish
Is Your Student Interested in Cheerleading?
On 9/25, SuperSquads Cheerleading is back on Wednesdays 3:15-4:30 at Forest Ridge Elementary for students Grades 2-5. Visit http://www.supersquads.org to register!
GT Presentation from Back to School Night
Here's the link to the presentation.
Tech Girls After School Class Open for Registration
Through our partnership with the Chinese American Parent Association (CAPA) we are able to offer this class free of charge for girls in 4th & 5th Grade, starting on Monday, September 30. View more information here. If interested, please return the parental permission form and pre-survey by September 25.
Vision & Hearing at FRES
Our Vision and Hearing screening is scheduled for Thursday September 26, 2024, and Monday October 7th, 2024. Screenings will be completed on all PreK, Kindergarten, 1st grade and new students to Maryland Public Schools. Please see the attached permission letter and flyer for more information. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Health Room at 410-888-8811.
DEAR at Savage Library
FRES students are invited to attend DEAR at the Savage Branch Library the second Monday of the month at 7PM. Dogs Educating & Assisting Readers is a program where kids, K-5th, read to dogs to practice reading and reading aloud in a judgement free space; dogs are great judgement free listeners! Build reading skills and confidence!
Join the Forest Ridge PTA!
The Forest Ridge Parent Teacher Association (FRES PTA) is a non-profit 501-c3 charity organization formed to support the FRES community. Its purpose is to promote collaboration, accountability, commitment, respect and the value of diversity. The goal of the National PTA organization is to engage and empower families and communities to advocate for all children to reach their full potential.
ALL Forest Ridge families and staff are invited to join our PTA and get involved in the community support work that it does. There is no "wrong way to PTA" - however you can participate - a lot or a little or somewhere in-between - is welcome and celebrated!
For a general overview, visit https://frespta.org/ or click MEMBERSHIP to go directly to the membership website to create an account and join! A PTA membership must be renewed each year so if you have joined in the past, please renew your membership for the 2024 - 2025 School Year! Membership Fees are:
Individual Parent/Guardian/Family Member $13
Family Membership $23
Faculty/Staff $7
Community Member $15
Watch this video to hear why others have joined a local PTA. Why Join PTA? https://youtu.be/xzGtGcYdEFs
Mire este video para saber por qué otras personas se han unido a una PTA local. Por qué Deberías Inscribirse en PTA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TCIZVt2gp4
PTA Committees
Committees are VITAL to the work of the Forest Ridge PTA! Committees make it possible for many people to carry out the mission of the PTA throughout the year and are a great way to get involved in a specific area of your interests or talents! Click here for more information about the 2024 - 2025 Committees. We hope you will sign up for at least one committee.
Watch D.O.G.S Kick-Off Ice Cream Social, Tuesday, September 24th 6:30 pm
Are you a Dad Of Great Students? Watch D.O.G.S is a family and community engagement program for elementary schools. It helps provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important. Bring your child(ren) and join us in the cafeteria at 6:30PM for an Ice Cream social and information session. Activities will be available for the children in attendance. Watch D.O.G.S t-shirts will be available for purchase for $20.00. All dad, granddads, uncles and other male role models of FRES students are welcome to join.
Fall After School Activities
Fall 2024 Howard County Recreation & Parks before & after school classes for students at Forest Ridge ES. These classes provide fun, structured, educational and enriching activities for students, benefitting both the child(ren) and parents! Click HCRP Student Enrichment to see the flyer.
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.