June 7, 2019 Forest Ridge Forerunner

Fri, 06/07/2019 - 2:13pm

For PTA News, Upcoming Event Dates, Counselor's Corner, and Community News, click here.

Don't forget to check out the Green School section on our home page!

Forest Ridge Forerunner

Important Dates
June
14  10:00 Kindergarten Closing - 2 tickets issued per family (Please, no balloons)
       2:00 5th Grade Closing - 2 tickets issued per family (Please, no balloons)
17   Volunteer Luncheon
19, 20, 21 Schools dismiss 3 hours early (dismissal starts at 12:34)
21   Last Day of School!!

From Ms. Pazornik, Our Assistant Principal

Hello FRES families and community,

We have had a busy week here at FRES.  Our first graders had their Author’s Tea this week where they read their very own published writing and then went to the cafeteria where they sang for our parents.  Our Kindergarteners had a visit from the Wildlife Adventures where they were able to see and touch rabbits, tortoises, chinchillas, snakes, and a bearded dragon. They had a wonderful time!

Also, this week Carl Thomas our new Day Custodian took over since Mr. Johnson retired.  Mr. Thomas has over 30 years in the area of custodial and has been with HCPSS for 5 years.  He is excited to join the FRES staff and looks forward to working with our students and families.  Please say hi to him if you see him in the school.

PARCC and MAP Testing concluded this week and our students did a wonderful job.  MAP scores should be coming home with fourth quarter report cards and PARCC scores will be distributed sometime in the fall.

Student News...

Congratulations to the following students, who were our Eagle Egg winners this week: 

Eduardo G., Lillian M., Khloe B., Zoya R., Shaymis M., Vincent N.

Great job!

Forest Ridge News...

WHAT:  Walk to School!

WHEN:  Tuesday, June 11th, 8:40 am
This is a RAIN OR SHINE event!!  Check the forecast and BE PREPARED!! ONLY in the event of thunder/lightning will the event be cancelled.  Walking will begin at 8:50 am. Parents and families are encouraged to walk with us. 

WHERE: Any student who wishes to walk from Savage Library must be signed in by an adult at the library parking lot between 8:40 and 8:50 am on June 11th.  Students may walk from any neighborhood, not just the Savage Library!  Bus riders may participate by walking around the blacktop before entering the building.  Before Care students make take their laps around the blacktop as the buses arrive.

From the Media Center
Looking for ways to keep sharp in the summertime?
Click here to find summer reading lists and other summer activities for students!

From the Reading Team
G’readings FRES Families,
The Forest Ridge annual Book Swap is quickly approaching! The Book Swap is an opportunity for your child to recycle books and to get different books to read over the summer. The Book Swap form went home with your child on Thursday, June 5. During the week of June 10 -14, your child can bring in books that are in good condition (no tears, watermarks, etc.) along with the Book Swap form.  On Monday, June 17th your child will be able to choose a different book(s) to take home, based on the number of books they brought in to swap.
We are also accepting donations. If you have any books you would like to donate for the Book Swap, i.e. picture books, we would truly appreciate the contribution.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Darden, Nikia_Darden@hcpss.org.

Thank you and happy swapping :)!

Girls On The Run Community Service Project
Every session of GOTR, our runners come up with a project to better serve our community.  This session, our runners have decided to have a canned food drive to help Grassroots.  We are asking for donation of non-perishable canned foods to be donated towards this cause. Each grade level pod area will have a decorated box where the donations can be placed. Our drive will run from May 28th-June 13th.  Thank you for your support.

Important Things to Know:

  • The office phones are answered 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday.
  • Students should arrive to school by 9:10 a.m. so that they are able to put their things away and be ready to start the day when the bell rings at 9:15.
  • Students go out for recess when the temperature with wind chill is 20 degrees or more.  Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather.
  • To get text alerts from FRES or HCPSS, you must opt in to receive those alerts. Text "YES" to 67587 from the cell number that is on file in HCPSS/Connect.
  • If your child's dismissal changes, due to a change in transportation, an after school class, etc., please email the teacher, and copy Dr. Varlack, Ms. Pazornik, Ms. Traini, Mrs. Jackson, and Mrs. Farrell.  All the emails can be found in the "Our Staff" section of our website.  We want to make sure the message is received!
  • Want to get a head start on next year's school supplies?  Click here for the list.

From the Office

  • If you are sending money to school for field trips, lost books, etc., please understand that the school does not supply change.  Please write a check or send exact change.  Thank you!
  • Please be mindful when parking in our lot.  There are spaces reserved for our Principal and Assistant Principal.  There are also 15-Minute parking spaces for parents coming in to pick up students. And please don't park in a handicapped parking space without a handicapped sticker or plate.  Thank you!

Volunteer Luncheon
Our annual Volunteer Luncheon will take place on Monday, June 17.  See the invitation below:
 

Volunteer Luncheon Invite

Watch DOGS
Our Watch DOGS dad this week was Mr. Adelulu and Mr. Snead.  Thank you so much!

ARE YOU MOVING / HAVE YOU MOVED? 
If you are planning to move or have moved, please contact the front office as soon as possible.  Your new address may impact whether or not you receive the year-end report cards, testing results and/or summer notifications. Students who start the year and move out of the school district but within the county, can remain at FRES until the end of the school year unless there are behavior or attendance concerns. Students who move over the summer must register with their new school.  Out of district placements are approved on a case by case basis if there are extenuating circumstances.

OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS
Attention Parents: Does your child have any outstanding obligations for lost or media center books?  How about his/her lunch account? If so, it is important that those items be taken care of as soon as possible.  Please .....

LOST & FOUND
Our lost and found is full! Whatever is not claimed by the last day of school will be donated to the needy.

MEDICATIONS
Health room medications must be picked up by dismissal on the last day of school.  Whatever is not claimed will be disposed of.  New medication orders for next year will be coming out before the end of the school year.  If a student needs medication for next year, the new order must be dated after July 1.

SUMMER MEALS
We are pleased to inform you that our 2019 Open Site Summer Meals Program will begin on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 and run through Wednesday, August 21, 2019. The program hours will be noon to 1:30 at the North Laurel Community Center All children 18 years of age and younger who drop in at any of the sites may receive free meals. Parents or guardians do not need to apply to get these summer meals for their children.  View the county-wide summer meal flyer here.

From Howard County Recreation and Parks:
For Complete information on Before & After School classes, including how to Register, please go to  www.howardcountymd.gov/afterschool

Space Telescope Science Institute Summer Events
The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore will present "Family Night at the Institute" summer events to promote STEM in the community.  Learn more.