Important Dates:
February
21 PTA Ice Skating Night
26 4:00-8:00 PTA Blaze Pizza Fundraising Night
March
3 Class pictures and optional individual pictures
3 7:00 PTA Meeting
9-13 Kids Heart Challenge
9-13 Kindergarten Registration for 20-21 School Year!
8 Daylight Saving Time Starts (spring forward 1 hour)
11 6:30-7:30 Watch DOGS Ice Cream Social for all past & future Watch DOGS!
13 7:00 PTA Movie Night
18 Last Chick-fil-A Day at Johns Hopkins Road location
31 6:30 Reading Rumble
Items of Note:
From the FRES Administration...
Dear Parents,
It was wonderful to see so many of our families at the Science Fair on Thursday night. The projects that students created and shared were fantastic. We loved seeing all their hard work.
Are you wondering why you received an email saying my child was absent?
If a student is marked absent at the time attendance was taken at 9:15, HCPSS sends an automated email stating the student is absent. If a student is present but arrives after the 9:15 bell, parents may still receive an email stating their student was marked as absent. The correction to the student’s attendance will be made by the end of the school day.
For the most accurate account of your child’s attendance, please look at the Attendance tab in your child’s HCPSS Connect account https://www.hcpss.org/connect/. If you have questions about attendance after that, please contact the front office.
Please send any emails about days absent to chantel_williams@hcpss.org or fresabsence@hcpss.org . Please remember to include the child’s first and last names, the days absent, and why they were absent. HCPSS Policy 9010 states that all absences should be documented within 2 school days of the absence.
Student News...
Congratulations to the following students! They were our Eagle Egg Winners this week:
K- Percy K., 1- Blake M., 2-Haris M., 3-Anderson Q., 4-Kush P., 5-Elena N.
Great job!
Kindergarten Registration
Hello parents of students who live in our district and will be 5 by September 1, 2020! Kindergarten registration for the 20-21 school year is open online! In-person registration is March 9-13, 10:00-2:00; no appointment is necessary. Here's more information.
Class Picture Day with Optional Individual Pictures
March 3 is class picture day. There will be optional individual pictures taken as well. Students new to FRES since our picture make-up day on October 27 will have their picture taken for the yearbook, even if pictures are not ordered. See the attached flyer for packages and pricing.
From the Media Center
Poster Contest: A Story Called Kindness
Basic Info:
Create an original artwork illustrating acts of kindness. Use your imagination, creativity, and artistic talent to illustrate a scene from your life story where you’ve shown someone kindness or offered a helping hand.
Start by asking yourself a few questions:
Watch DOGS
Many thanks to Mr. Alimasi, Mr. Brigman, and Mr. Fuentes, who came in this week to serve as our Watch DOGS!
Change Matters Fundraiser
During the week of February 19th-February 27th, our school is proudly participating in an educational fundraising campaign called -- Change Matters -- to benefit Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center -- Howard County’s only 24-hour homeless shelter and crisis center.
Since 2008 Change Matters has been teaching children about homelessness in Howard County, the services Grassroots provides, and reminding students that they are never too young to make a difference in the lives of people who need help.
To kick off our campaign week, Kim Steffens, an authorized representative of Grassroots, will present the campaign to Kindergarten –grade 5 students during lunch shifts on Wednesday February 19th..
Your child will be asked to share information with you about Change Matters and ask your permission to donate change. There will be a Change Matters collection jar for each grade during our campaign week and your donation will go directly to Grassroots services.
If you are able to donate, please send the change in your child’s lunch bag or backpack during this campaign week February 20th-February 27th.
https://www2.heart.org/site/TR?fr_id=4817&pg=company&company_id=244900
Green School Info
Straw Free Friday has begun! Fourth grade students on the Green Team know how great an impact just a small act like skipping the straw can have on our environment. Their research has shown that plastic straws do not decompose, they just break down into tiny pieces and eventually end up floating around in our oceans like pieces in a snow globe. These students lead the charge to help FRES become better stewards of our environment. You too can make a difference by skipping the straw!
Lights Out! Small groups of students under Mrs. Dixit’s charge are acting as energy monitors for the Ridge. Are your lights off when you are out of the classroom or office? This is another small change of habit that can have a great impact on energy conservation. These students will be wearing badges and checking up on how consistent we are about turning off the lights. Do your part. Be an energy saver!
Bird Habitat! Did you know FRES has a bird habitat? Check outside the 5th grade classrooms by the pond. PTA is partnering with our 5th grade Green Team to bring additional plants to the bird habitat. The students are measuring area and testing ph levels in preparation for these plants. In addition, another bird feeder will be added to the habitat. Go 5th grade Green Team and PTA!
Hello FRES families!
Tonight is our next Ice-skating Night event at the Garden's Ice House from 7:50 to 9:20pm. For this event tickets are $8, skates included. You can purchase wrist bands directly from the PTA - look for the PTA table to the left of the check-in counter. Cash only please - if you forget there is an on-site ATM. Come join the fun! If ice-skating is not your thing, don’t worry. Our next regular Skate Night is March 20 from 7-10pm!
Are you anxious about your 5th grader leaving FRES and moving on to middle school? We understand how intimidating it can be and we are working with PVMS and the PVMS PTA to help ease this major transition. On Monday, March 2, PVMS Principal Mr. Robb and PVMS PTA invite you and your 5th grader to join us in the FRES media center and cafeteria for an informal Q & A session about middle school. This is also a great opportunity for your students to ask current PVMS and FRES alumni questions about PVMS and what to expect next year. It’s a big transition and we’re here to support you through it!
As always, feel free to reach out to the PTA if you have questions about anything! Check out our FRES PTA website and keep up with events and news by following our the FRES PTA Facebook page.
Khaleda Hasan, FRES PTA President
More from the PTA
Restaurant Night
Mark your calendars for Restaurant Night at Blaze Pizza in Laurel on Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 4-8pm. We should all enjoy a night off from cooking at least once a month! And what better way than to have the PTA receive 20% of the proceeds while you hang out with FRES friends?
PTA Variety Show Auditions
Variety Show applications were due Friday, February 14. Audition selection opened online at the FRES PTA website on Tuesday, February 18! All families who submitted an application either online or using the paper copy were emailed with an invitation to select an audition day and time. If you completed a Variety Show application for your child but did not receive an email, please contact Tangie Smith at tangelats@gmail.com. Audition selection closes Tuesday, February 25. You must choose a time slot by then to be able to audition.
PTA Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee will help recruit a slate of candidates for next year’s PTA Board. If interested, contact me at president@frespta.org by Tuesday, March 3. Please note that you cannot serve on the Nominating Committee if you’d like to be considered as a candidate for serving on the PTA Board.
Movie Night
Get your singing voices ready, the next movie night will be featuring Frozen 2 on Friday, March 13 from 7-9pm and admission is free!! Concessions (popcorn, drinks, nachos, hot dogs, and candy) will be available for purchase. Children must be accompanied by adults!
Dad’s Club
We're planning at least one more sporting event planned by the Dad’s Club. If have ideas for future events or would like to help coordinate events, please contact Ed Chrzanowski at edmund_chrzanowski@hcpss.org
Community News...
From the Kindness Pantry
One of the greatest things we love about the people of Howard County is how kind and generous they are - always willing to help others in need and helping to make our county a wonderful place to raise our children. And if you have a moment, please check out our website: www.thekindnesspantry.com to find out more about how to donate or access snacks and supplies.
Murray Hill Middle Presents "Frozen, Jr."
The Murray Hill Middle School Theater Department is putting on a production of "Frozen, Jr." A current FRES student and several former FRES students are performing. The shows are Feb 28th @ 7 p.m. and Feb 29th @ 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. View the flyer here.
Super STEAM Saturday
Description: Enjoy hands-on robotics, LEGO, experiments and more! Preregistration encouraged to save your space. Registration/Info: 410-313-0458.
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2020
Time: 10:00am-1:00pm
Location: North Laurel Community Center (9411 Whiskey Bottom Road Laurel MD, 20723)
Course Number: RP4411.601
Registration Link: https://apm.activecommunities.com/howardcounty/Activity_Search/new-super-steam-saturday/91930
View the flyer here.
Learning Together Program – Prekindergarten
Howard County Regional Early Childhood Center (RECC) prekindergarten programs are making preparations for classes for the 2020-2021 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 by September 1st or 4 by September 1st may obtain an application packet at the Gorman Crossing Elementary school office for an application package beginning January 31, 2020. All classes are part time programs. The application package will give detailed information regarding prices, locations and hours available for this county-wide program.
All applications must be returned by February 28, 2020. A limited number of openings are available for children without disabilities. Children are selected based upon screening information given on the application form, completion of the “Ages and Stages Questionnaires,” and observations of the child’s participation in a playgroup.
If you have any questions, please contact Rae Ann Kaylie at rae_kaylie@hcpss.org
Community News and Programs
Please visit the Community News and Programs webpage for all announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations. Organizations requesting distribution to Public Information at 410-313-6682 or publicinfo@hcpss.org.
Have a wonderful weekend!