Important Dates
September 8 PTA Back to School Celebration ***POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER***
September 12 6:00-6:30 p.m. ESOL Presentation in Media Center (with Spanish and Burmese interpreters)
September 12 6:30-8:00 p.m. Back-to-School Night for Grades 1 & 2
September 13 5:30-6:30 p.m. Gifted & Talented Presentation
September 13 6:30-8:00 p.m. Back-to-School Night for Grades 3, 4, & 5
September 15 Rosh Hashanah - Schools and Offices Closed
September 19 Panda Express Restaurant Fundraiser – All Day. English flyer Spanish Flyer
September 20 Parent Meet-up @ Roggenart 11am
September 21 Joe Corbi’s Fundraiser Begins
September 21 Standards-Based Instruction & Reporting Parent Info Night (see below)
September 25 Yom Kippur - Schools and Offices Closed
September 28 Watch D.O.G.S. Kick-off Ice Cream Social at 6:30 pm
View the HCPSS Calendar in English
View the HCPSS Calendar in Spanish
View the HCPSS Calendar in Korean
View the HCPSS Calendar in Chinese
***Want to receive HCPSS text messages regarding weather-related closing info, late bus info, etc.? You must opt-in. Text "YES" to 67587 from the device on which you would like to receive messages.***
FARMs APPLICATION INFORMATION
Many HCPSS families are eligible to participate in the Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMs) program, which provides children with a wide range of benefits including free or discounted college tuition, testing and application fees, academic and athletic program fees and many others in addition to free or discounted meals.
Families are urged to check their eligibility and complete a FARMs application as soon as possible. Families must submit a new application every school year.
Details on the Free and Reduced Meals program are available online. Use the link below to apply.
REMEMBER - you have to apply EVERY year. If you were approved last year, it will expire on October 11th.
FARMs Online Application Link: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application
Did You Know??
Participation in the Free and Reduced-Price Meal program qualifies students for the following opportunities:
Students may be eligible for these additional opportunities:
Please contact the front office if you have any questions or need assistance with applying for the Free and Reduced Meal Program.
From our Gifted and Talented Program Teachers
Mrs. O'Connell and Mr. Whiteford are visiting classrooms and lunches to introduce students to the Fall GT Seminar offerings. Seminars are optional clubs that meet during recess once a week. Each student in Grade 2 will receive an application. For students in Grades 3-5 that are interested, they can ask their homeroom teacher for an application. Any questions can be directed to Mrs. O'Connell (Grades 4 and 5) or Mr. Whiteford (Grades 2 and 3).
La maestra Sra. O'Connell y el maestro Sr. Whiteford están visitando aulas y la hora de almuerzo para mostrarles a los estudiantes los Seminario GT de Otoño. Los seminarios son clubes opcionales que se reúnen durante el recreo una vez a la semana. Cada estudiante en el Grado 2 recibirá una solicitud. Para los estudiantes en los grados 3-5 que estén interesados, pueden pedirle a su maestro de aula una solicitud. Cualquier pregunta puede dirigirse a la Sra. O'Connell (Grados 4 y 5) o al Sr. Whiteford (Grados 2 y 3).
Family Files Need to Be Completed
Please complete your Family File for each of your children through HCPSS Connect. Your Family File needs to be verified and/or updated EVERY school year. As of 9/7/23 we only have 67% of them completed - help us reach 100%!
Your completed Family File provides emergency contact and other critical information for students. Completing your Family File also ensures that you are receiving important information and updates for HCPSS and Forest Ridge ES.
To complete/update your family file information please see the directions below:
Once logged in, parents/guardians will be asked to provide or update all of the following information:
BSAP College and Career Opportunities Night
The HCPSS Black Student Achievement Program invites you to attend the upcoming BSAP College and Career Opportunities Night on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at Long Reach High School. This College and Career Opportunities Night invites scholars in grades 8 - 12 countywide to network with working professionals, colleges, and universities, explore post-secondary opportunities, and learn more about HCPSS pathways. The evening will highlight a variety of colleges and universities as well as local businesses and organizations. To register, please complete the Registration Form linked here.
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 frig - whatever works for you to remember these fun days!
HOWARD COUNTY REC & PARKS - Before and After School Programs
To see what is being offered for students at our school, please go HERE. You can read about the various activities and register your child/children for them. Alal of these are run solely by HC Rec & Parks.
Standards-Based Instruction & Reporting Parent Night
If you are the parent of a student in grades PreK - 2nd grade, please join us at 6:30pm on September 21st in the media center to learn more about the new report card that starts this school year. We will be sharing with you what it looks like, how students will be evaluated, and how you can support your children at home. Change can be hard, but we are here to support you and make it easier.
Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) Saturday Math Academy
Registration for HCPSS’ BSAP Saturday Math Academy will offer an in-person enrichment program for HCPSS students in all levels of math for grades 3 through 12 based on course availability. Registration will take place online Saturday, September 16, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. until capacity is reached. Class space is limited.
Welcome Back to School Celebration - Postponed due to weather
Panda Express – Restaurant Fundraiser, September 19th
No Cook Tuesday!! Visit Panda Express in Laurel from 10am – 9:30pm and mention FRES or place your order online and use code 359550. This ensures FRES receives 20% of your bill. Click here to see flyers: English flyer Spanish Flyer
Parent Meetup – September 20th
Are you a FRES parent with a flexible daytime schedule and would like to meet other FRES parents? Mark your calendars for a casual hang-out at Roggenart Bakery in Savage Mill on Wednesday, September 20th between 11 am - noon! We'll have a table reserved with a FRES sign so we can find each other.
Joe Corbi’s Sales Begin Thursday, September 21st! Save the date!
Joe Corbi’s fundraiser begins! A packet will come home with your child with instructions to participate. Money raised will be used to fund assemblies, field trips, and our community events but the children also have the opportunity to earn rewards for their saleswork!
Pickup for delivery will be on Saturday, November 18th in the afternoon. Additional information will be forthcoming.
Watch D.O.G.S Kick-Off Ice Cream Social, Thursday, September 28th
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. Join us in the cafeteria at 6:30PM for an Ice Cream social to find out additional information, receive training, purchase your shirt for $20 and sign up to volunteer.
Fall After School Activities
Fall 2023 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 here 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.