Important Dates

March
14 Class Picture Day/Optional Individual Pictures
21 Chick-fil-A Night at Johns Hopkins Road Location
31 School Spirit Day, "Rainbow Day"

April
1   10:00-2:00 Green Fest
7   End of Quarter 3, Dismissal at 12:35
10-17 Spring Break
18 Staff and students return
28 School Spirit Day, "Work-out Day"

Forest Ridge News and Events
 

Class Picture Day is March 14
Picture envelopes will come home on Monday, March 13.  Your child's class will be photographed, and optional individual pictures will also be taken.

Thank You PTA
The FRES staff would like to thank our wonderful PTA for providing dinner on Thursday during our conference evening.  It was much appreciated and delicious!

Green Fest Comes to Forest Ridge!
The FRES Green Team and PTA are proud to partner with Hammond HS to bring Green Fest to Forest Ridge! Saturday, April 1st from 10:00am - 2:00pm. This is a FREE event with games, prizes, crafts and more! Food will be available for purchase. Come join the fun doing crafts and games to be green! See reptiles from the Howard County Nature Conservancy! Sure to be a fun day! Indoors, rain or shine!

Hoops for Heart Reminder
Students have until the first day of the event on March 13th to raise as much as they can!  The event takes place during PE in school, so everyone is participating, but asking for donations is optional.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. Cassard of the P.E. department:  Samuel_cassard@hcpss.org

Here is a link to Forest Ridge’s Hoops for Heart page where you can sign up and donate online:

http://jumphoops2017maa.kintera.org/faf/teams/groupTeamList.asp?ievent=1163058&tlteams=6810470

Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run® is a life-changing, experiential learning program for girls currently in grades 3 through 5. The program combines training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goals of the program are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development. Our mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. The girls will meet after-school twice a week for 10 weeks with the season ending 5k to be held on June 3rd in Howard County, MD. FRES GOTR will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45-5:00 starting the week of March 19th. Registration is open and spots are still available! Visit www.gotrcentralmd.org to register. *The content is neither sponsored nor endorsed by HCPSS.

From the President
Hello FRES families!
I had a great time yesterday serving dinner to our amazing teachers and staff.  Thank you to all who donated Italian dishes for them to eat. They are ALWAYS SO appreciative of all the meals we provide and to get a break during their long day of conferences. Thank you so much for helping to make it such a success. Just a few highlights of things going on right now with PTA...
Learn more from the PTA President and about PTA Happenings

Community News for Parents

Learning Together Program – Prekindergarten
The Gorman Crossing Regional Early Childhood Center (RECC) preschool programs are making preparations for classes for the 2017-2018 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 or 4 years of age by September 1, 2017 may pick up an application packet in the front office beginning on February 15th. 

All applications must be returned by March 31, 2017. A limited number of openings are available for children without disabilities.  Children are selected based upon screening information given on the application form and the “Ages and Stages Questionnaire,” as well as observations of the child’s participation in a playgroup.  If necessary, a lottery process is conducted. 

If you have any questions, please email Rae Ann Kaylie  rae_kaylie@hcpss.org.

The Howard County Family Institute Presents
"How to be a GREAT Grandparent"
A lot has changed in parenting since grandparents were parents! Learn the latest research based information to balance your tried and true skills with current best practices. Discuss your role as a grandparent verses being the parent. Discover ways to safeguard your home for infants and toddlers and gather important resources to help support your children in their new role as parents.

When: Thursday, March 23, 2017, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Bain 50+ Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia, MD 21044
Cost: FREE. Space is limited; pre-registration is required
Who Should Attend: Grandparents
Registration Options Online www.howardcountymd.gov/familyinstitute
By Phone (voice/relay): 410-313-1940  

"Preparing to Launch"   - See attached flyer
Preparing To Launch.pdf

Kids Nearly New Sale
When:  Saturday, March 11 8-1 and Saturday, April 8th 8-1
Where: Howard County Fairgrounds, Exhibition Building
Free admission, Stuff for kids ages newborn to teen

Please visit the Community News and Programs page at http://www.hcpss.org/community-news-and-programs/ for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations.