Mar. 13, 2020 Forest Ridge Forerunner

Fri, 03/13/2020 - 4:44pm

Important Dates:
18  Last Chick-fil-A Night at Johns Hopkins Road - To be Rescheduled
31  Reading Rumble Postponed and possibly changed to different format

Student News...
Congratulations to the following students, who were our Eagle Egg winners this week:
K-Malkia, 1-Naqi, 2-Rose Mercy, 3-Nathan B., 4-Uri, 5-Caylee
Keep up the good work!

HCPSS Happenings...

Access to Instructional Resources
On Friday, March 13, we provided students with information and instructional resources that can be used optionally while at home. A paper version of these documents was sent home with all students according to their grade. These resources will not be collected or graded.
 
Food distribution
Beginning Tuesday, March 17, we will be providing free "Grab-N-Go" nutritious meals to anyone age 18 and under at four school sites and five mobile sites. Meals will be available from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., weekdays, Tuesday, March 17 through Friday, March 27.
 
School Sites:
  • Howard High School, 8700 Old Annapolis Road, Ellicott City
  • 
Oakland Mills Middle School, 9540 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia

  • Swansfield Elementary School, 5610 Cedar Lane, Columbia

  • Cradlerock Elementary School/Lake Elkhorn Middle School, 6680 Cradlerock Way, Columbia

Mobile Sites:
  • Laurel Woods Elementary School Parking Lot, 9250 North Laurel Road, Laurel

  • Ducketts Lane Elementary School Parking Lot, 6501 Ducketts Lane, Elkridge

  • Bushy Park Elementary School Parking Lot, 14601 Carrs Mill Road, Glenwood

  • Monarch Mills Apartments, 7600 Monarch Mills Way, Columbia
  • 
Forest Ridge Apartments, 5890 Stevens Forest Rd, Columbia
 (Please note: This is NOT Forest Ridge Elementary.)
Due to the upcoming school closure all PTA activities will be cancelled.  This includes Movie Night, Skate Night, Variety Show rehearsals, as well as McDonald's Restaurant Night.  
 
If your child is absent from school today, you can access the instructional resources that were sent home by downloading a copy at this this link.

Students may continue to work on classroom assignments provided by teachers prior to school closures. There are no expectations that assignments be turned in during the closure. 

Forest Ridge News...

Parents, We Need Your Help in the Car Loop/Parking Lot
We've recently seen some "near misses" between parents on their phones in the car loop/parking lot, and staff members trying to direct traffic and keep children safe.  We really need you to be off your phone between the time you enter the parking lot and when you leave it.  Thank you for your help!

From the Reading Team
Reading Rumble has been postponed, and may take on a different format. Stay tuned for more info!

Change Matters Fundraiser
Thank you to all of our FRES friends who donated their change to our Grass Roots fundraiser.  We collected $612.92!

Daycare Provider in our Community
Jigna Bhatt (Just Like Mom Daycare)
Loving and caring, just like mom
Licensed day care in Stone Lake community
Care available infant and toddler
No before or aftercare
Jignabhatt@gmail.com
301-776-8624 Home
301-377-4317 Cell
www.justlikemom.org
Lic# 16-0504

PTA News...

Hello FRES families,

I’m sure everyone is making plans to adjust to all the changes over the past 24 hours.  In an overabundance of caution and in the interests of the safety of our FRES community and the community at-large, the PTA is cancelling or postponing several events over the next two weeks.  Movie Night tonight, Skate Night next Friday (20th), and Sweet Frog Spirit Night (30th) have been cancelled for now.  Restaurant Night at McDonald’s has been tentatively rescheduled for May 26th, and the Variety Show will definitely be rescheduled as we monitor the situation.  We will keep you posted.

In other news, the PTA is seeking candidates to serve on the PTA Board next year!  We have a very active PTA with lots of activities and this is a great chance to become more involved in the community.  Our PTA has fostered a wonderful working relationship with the FRES administration, teachers, and staff, which allows us to do what we do.  It has been immensely rewarding to work with parents, teachers, staff, and administration this year and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have served and to have made some changes based on parent feedback.  Along with several other current PTA officers, I will not be seeking re-election.

Due to the cycle of elections (every 2 years), all elected positions will be open for elections: President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary.  Please see the By-laws for a description of duties or feel free to reach out to the current leadership to get a feel for the position.  The Nominating Committee will present a slate of candidates at the May PTA meeting.  If interested in serving, please contact Tangie Smith at tangelats@gmail.com.

Stay healthy and safe!

Khaleda Hasan, FRES PTA President

After School Enrichment
Registration is open for spring Chess Club. Fridays, 3/27 to 5/29, 3:50 to 4:50 PM. Club does not meet on 4/3, 4/10, and 5/15. Grades K – 5.  We are looking for a parent/guardian volunteer for this class.

Registration is also open for spring Spanish session. Tuesdays/8-week session: March 24, 31, April 14, 21, May 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2020. No classes: 4/7 and 4/28.  Grades K-4.  A parent volunteer is also needed for this class.

Pongos Learning Lab will be offering two new classes for the spring.  Registration will be opening soon for:

Introduction to Animation – on Mondays, March 30-May 18 (No class April 6 or 13)

Robotics – on Tuesdays, March 31-May 19 (No class April 7 or 28)

A parent volunteer is needed in both of these classes. 

Please contact Korin Sharp at iamkorin@gmail.com or Monaca Noble at kojothecat@gmail.com with any questions on these classes.

Spring Carnival Planning Committee
The Carnival is planned for May 16.  Unfortunately, due to the school closure, the planning meeting will no longer be on Monday.  Contact Jen Renkevens at VP1@frespta.org or Jess Petro at VP2@frespta.org if you have questions or would like to join the planning committee.

Fifth Grade Activities Fundraiser – Will be rescheduled

Celebrity Skate Night - TBD

Variety Show Update
Students invited to perform in the Variety Show should have received letters in their mailboxes this week.  In light of the two-week school closing, March 27th can no longer be the final performance date.  The show practice, rehearsal and final performance dates will all be rescheduled.  Families and participants will be updated soon.  We thank you for your patience.

Restaurant Night Update
We loved seeing so many FRES families at Blaze Pizza last month!  McDonald’s restaurant night has been rescheduled for Tuesday, May 26 from 5-8pm.

We are cancelling FRES Family Night at Sweet Frog (which would’ve been Monday, March 30) and hope to reschedule when we have more information.

Watch D.O.G.S
Current FRES Watch DOGS, male role models and their FRES children enjoyed frozen treat and sharing stories with each other on Wednesday night.  Sign up for a slot to help us finish the year out strong!  Please make sure you have completed the Howard County trainings on Confidentiality and Child Abuse. Be sure to also complete the certificates for each training and turn them in to the front office.  If you have any questions on this program, contact Jen Renkevens at VP1@frespta.org or Mrs. Schuck at alyssa_schuck@hcpss.org.

Yearbook
Do you have some great photos of PTA and FRES events that you think would be great for the yearbook?  Please send them to fresyearbook@hcpss.org.  This account is managed by FRES staff for privacy and security.  Thanks for your support!

Community News... 

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.

Reservoir High School Yard Sale on May 30 - from 8 am to noon
The RHS Music Foundation's annual yard sale is coming up and promises to be a fun event!  Individual and business vendors can rent spaces for just $20 each (the rate will increase after May 26).   Please save the date, and tell your family and friends!  Send a message to rhsyardsale2020@outlook.com for more information.

Have a wonderful weekend!