Don't forget to check out the Green School section on our home page!
Another Reminder to Choose Civility in the Car Loop
Parents, it's unfortunate, but we again need to send a reminder about using civility in the car loop. We have folks entering the parking lot who turn left from Gorman Road, and others who turn right. You must allow each other to merge into one lane to form a single line, without honking horns, yelling, pointing fingers, etc. Since most car riders are designated as "walkers," why not allow your student to walk to school with other children or walk with your student now that the weather is getting nicer? Please strive to set a good example for the children.
Congratulations to these students, who were our Eagle Egg winners for this week: Dominic J., Amira P., Alec M., Christel A., Ethan B., Victoria M.
Great job!
Reminders from the Office - Thanks for your help!
Hoops for Heart Total
Wow! FRES collected $11,948.06! Nicely done, Forest Ridge!!
Free Spring Break Meals Program
HCPSS is partnering with the Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services, the Howard County Library System and the Community Action Council of Howard County to provide nutrition for children in need, Monday, April 15-Thursday, April 18. Learn more
Doing some Spring cleaning? Donate your gently used or new sports equipment!
Forest Ridge is partnering with Leveling the Playing Field to run a collection drive through April 30th. Equipment may be dropped off in the FRES gym or cafeteria. Leveling the Playing Field accepts soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, hockey, golf, basketball, lacrosse, field hockey, tennis, and recess type equipment.
LPF collects donated sports equipment and redistributes it to low-income kids throughout the Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia area. All donations benefit needy schools, after school programs, and athletic leagues looking to engage their students in the physical and mental benefits of youth sports participation. LPF relies on used/excess sports donations from local communities to engage underprivileged children, so clean out your garages and basements of your unused sporting equipment, and help LPF get more kids off the sidelines and into the game!
Contact Mrs. Goodwin (janice_goodwin@hcpss.org) for questions about Forest Ridge’s collection. You may visit the website at www.levelingtheplayingfield.org to learn more about the organization.
GT Summer Institutes
The HCPSS GT Summer Institutes are still accepting registrations for the summer 2019 program. Spaces are available in a variety of elementary classes that provide enrichment experiences in technology, science, engineering, advanced art, and more. Visit https://www.hcpss.org/summer-programs/ for further information. Please make sure to click on the GT SITD link towards the bottom of the page. Classes with a few open spots are noted on the attached list.
Give Your Unwanted T-shirts A New Lease on Life
Less Plastic Please's mission is to reduce the use of single-use plastic in Howard County. To that end they have an on-going project to create reusable bags from unwanted t-shirts and to distribute them to local grocery stores. A "Rags to Bags" collection box has been placed in the media center near the intermediate hallway so that we may supply LPP with the shirts they need to create reusable bags. This will be an on-going collection, so please check your closets and bureaus for unwanted t-shirts. They do not have to be in perfect condition. Your donations will help change our throw-away culture into a sustainable one. Thank you!
Less Plastic Please Answers Your Questions!!
Pat Hersey, a co-founder of Less Plastic Please, has been educating us about the problems with single-use plastics and has answered the following questions. If you have any questions pertaining to plastics please send them to judith_major@hcpss.org. Answers will also appear on the FRES Green School web page.
Question: “Which numbered plastics can be recycled by Howard County, and is everything that has those numbers recyclable?”
Answer: Generally, it is safe to recycle #1 and #2. Since China stopped taking our plastic, recycling is becoming more complicated. If you have any doubt, throw it away. Recycling can easily become contaminated. One contaminated item can turn the whole bin into trash. They want items to be washed out now. Common questions: Clamshells are not allowed. The plastic rectangle container that hold lettuce or spinach are NOT recyclable. Yogurt containers are allowed. Aerosol cans, if empty, can be recycled. The plastic windows in envelopes or pasta boxes need to be removed before recycling. Any golden trim on cards are not allowed. Styrofoam can only be recycled at Alpha Ridge and must be clean. Pizza boxes can be recycled ONLY if clean. (You can often rip off the top).
Visit :https://www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Public-Works/Bureau-Of-Environmental-Services/What-Should-I-Do-With
Question: “Is it okay to store dry food products (rice, lentils, beans, spices) in plastic containers?”
Answer: The best option is glass. Glass can be safely used for hot foods or liquids. You can reuse glass containers since they don't pose harmful risks to environmental or personal health. They don't leach potentially harmful chemicals when in contact with food. If you need to use plastic, as a general rule, the numbers that are safer to use with food are 1, 2, 4, and 5. The best type of plastic for use in long-term food storage is high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is indicated by the "2" symbol. Researchers believe phthalates may leach from plastic containers into our food, like BPA does. Although there is no consensus on how or how much leaching occurs, people who want to avoid phthalates should not store food in a container with a '3' or the letters 'PVC' on it.
Question: “I heard that they are now burning "recycled" plastics because they can't ship them overseas to be processed. Does the incinerator in Baltimore filter out toxic substances that result from burning plastic?”
Answer: Yes, since 2017, when China stopped taking our plastic, recycling is in crisis. In 2018, Howard County made $0 on recycling. Thirty percent of recycling became trash in 2018. Unfortunately, plastic is burned in the Bresco incinerator. That air pollution flows to Howard County. Multiple toxins are released when plastic is burned, such as hydrochloric acid, sulfur dioxide, dioxin, furans and heavy metals, as well as particulates. These emissions are known to cause respiratory ailments and stress human immune systems, and they're potentially carcinogenic, cancer-causing.
Attend a Free Screening of “Angst” and Discussion Around Anxiety in Youth, April 9 and 10, 2019
Students and families are invited to a free documentary screening and panel discussion around anxiety in youth.
https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2019/03/attend-a-free-screening-of-angst-and-discussion-around-anxiety-in-youth-april-2-4-9-10-2019/
Thank you for your support!
"Newsies" at Reservoir High School View the flyer here.
Watch DOGS
Our Watch DOGS dads this week were Mr. Green, Mr. McGhie, Mr. Nagbe, and Mr. Shackelford. Thank you so much!
If you are interested in supporting this awesome program by signing up for a day, or even part of a day, we are looking for YOU!! Simply copy the links included and paste them into your browser. Keep in mind, you will also need to complete the Howard County child abuse and confidentiality training online, complete the certificate for each, and turn it in. Those links are also provided below. Finally, to help make the Watch DOGS stand out while you are here, we encourage you to purchase a Watch DOGS t-shirt. When you arrive at the school, you will be able to purchase one for $12 sizes S-XL, $14 for 2XL and $16 for 3XL If we are out of that size we will order and and it will be sent home with your child as soon as it comes in. You are also welcome to send in your money ahead of time and we will send your shirt home with your child right away. Send your payment in an envelope with your name, child's name, teacher, and your shirt size. If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact Craig Dorsey at dorseypremier@gmail.com or Jen Renkevens at trenkev@juno.com.
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