October 22, 2021 Forest Ridge Forerunner

Fri, 10/22/2021 - 11:20am
  • To opt-in to HCPSS Text messages, text "YES" to 67587 from the device on which you would like to receive messages.
  • Be sure to click on the "Calendar" link at the top of our website for important dates throughout the school year.
  • View the breakfast and lunch menus here.  Please keep in mind that items on the menus are subject to availability.

Important Dates

October 23  -   PTA Halloween/Fall Celebration.  Volunteers are still needed.  Check out the signup here. View the flyer here
October 28 -    9:30 Picture Retake Day (See details below)
October 29 -    Dental Smiles Clinic 
November 1 -  Dental Smiles Clinic
November 3  - End of the First Quarter
November 4 -  Staff Work Day - Schools closed for students
November 10 - Report cards available for viewing

From Our Administrators...

Dear FRES Community,

We’ve had a busy week here at FRES.  All students in grades 1-5 began MAP testing this week and will finish next week.  If your child was absent, they will be able to make it up.  We’ve had a few changes to our outside area this week and we are very excited.  We finally received our outdoor tent to help with our Outdoor Lunch seating.  As the weather gets colder, please talk to your child about your wishes for them to eat inside or outside.  Students must stay in one area and are not permitted to switch from outside to inside or inside to outside.  We also are so excited that we finally got a sidewalk put in from the blacktop area to the doors near third grade.  This makes it much easier as we enter the building after recess.  

Just a reminder that as the weather gets colder, please be sure to label all jackets and coats as they seem to get misplaced quite often.  We are looking forward to a great Halloween event sponsored by our PTA tomorrow afternoon.  We hope to see many of our FRES families there.  

Enjoy your weekend!

Mr. Conroy and Ms. Pazornik

​​Planning for Covid-19 Vaccines for Eligible Children 5-11
HCPSS is partnering with the Howard County Health Department to plan for anticipated upcoming COVID-19 vaccination opportunities for children ages 5-11.

In order to determine interest and possible numbers of vaccine doses needed locally, HCPSS is surveying families of students who may be eligible. This is for informational and planning purposes only; names/email addresses are not being collected. This is not a commitment or a guarantee of vaccination availability.

Families of children ages 5-11 are asked to please complete the survey by Friday, October 22. As we receive additional information from the Health Department, we will provide that to families.

Please complete this brief survey.

Forest Ridge News...

Parents, We Need Your Help

  • There are many students who are being dropped off at FRES too early. There is no adult supervision outside until 8:55.  Please do not drop off students before that time.
  • Also, we have noticed many parents forming a double lane in the car loop and dropping off students from the inside lane. This is very dangerous.  Please form one lane in the car loop at pick-up and drop-off.  Thank you for your help in keeping your students safe!

Help Us Celebrate Mr. Conroy!
October is National Principals' Month!  We will be celebrating Mr. Conroy next week and we know he would love to get some cards and letters from his FRES friends.  If your child would like to send a greeting to Mr. Conroy, please have them send it to school any day next week.  Thanks!

Attention Volunteers - Reminder

  • Effective Monday, October 25, all volunteers and visitors who interact with students, and parents/guardians who are conducting classroom observations will be required to use the PinPoint platform to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 of at least five school days in advance.  Learn how to access and use the PinPoint Vaccine Check platform here.
  • Also, before you come to volunteer, please complete the 2 trainings here, and bring the certificates of completion with you when you come to volunteer.  
  • Thank you for your help!

Picture Retake Day October 28
Picture re-take day will be October 28 at 9:30 a.m.  See the flyer here.  All students new to FRES and those who were absent on September 9 will be photographed.  They will have a blue background because they will be used in the yearbook.  Order forms will be available in the office, or you can use the order form here.  Please place the order in an envelope and give it to your child to give to the photographer on October 28.

If your child was photographed on September 9 (the original picture day) and you've decided you don't like the photo, you may have the photo retaken.  Please send an email to Ms. Traini at christin_traini@hcpss.org if you would like a retake.  Please note:  You must return the entire original package of pictures.

Don't worry, if your child doesn't bring the order envelope on 10/28, you'll be able to turn it in on Friday, October 29. 

From the Health Room
Covid-19 Self Screenings:  All parents/guardians are to perform a COVID-19 health check every day before your student leaves home. Students are not to come to school if they are experiencing any symptom(s) associated with COVID-19 or other communicable disease.  Here's a fun emoji illness chart that can help.

Girl Scouts is the place for every G.I.R.L.! - Unleash her G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)
Join Forest Ridge Daisy Girl Scout Troop O4060 for Kindergarten & 1st grade!
As a Girl Scout Daisy in Kindergarten and first grade, she will discover that there is power in her potential. As a Girl Scout Daisy (grades K–1), our girls will:

  • Make new friends as part of a troop.  Earn petals with her troop as they complete an activity and do a project using their new skills (we call this a Journey).
  • Make a difference in her community through a Leadership Journey as she learns to stand up for what she believes in.
  • Participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, learning goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.
  • Explore nature and the outdoors, learning to care for the environment while benefiting from less screen time and more time to enjoy being outside with friends.
  • And so much more...

For more information email S.Golden@Gstroop04060@gmail.com

From the PTA...

We welcome Jackie Matanin as our new Corresponding Secretary and Michelle Morrison as our PTACHC Rep! We still have another PTACHC Rep spot open and several committee roles, so please let us know if you are interested in helping out!
 
The FRES Halloween Fall Fest is this Saturday from 3-5 p.m. Tickets are $5 for kids. Pizza and drinks will be available for purchase. Costume parade at 4:30 p.m. Please RSVP at tiny.cc/FRESfall. We are still in need of volunteers. Please sign up for an hour here.
 
Spirit Wear is an ongoing sale and FRES PTA receives 10% back on all purchases. This month you can save $6 off the price of long sleeve shirts and free shipping at $60+. Hats are now available! https://1stplace.sale/44343
 
The PTA meeting for the month of October will be in-person on Oct. 25 from 7-8 p.m. in the cafeteria. We have a giveaway for attendees. We will also have FRES merch from previous years available for sale, like car magnets, cook books, cups, and more. This meeting is open to members and non-members. Subsequent meetings through winter will be virtual.
 
Our October Spirit Night will be at Maiwand Kabob Maple Lawn all day on Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mention Forest Ridge PTA or use code FRES when ordering online. 
 
We will be having a Spooky Movie Night in the bus loop on Friday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. Join us for free popcorn and a movie. Drinks available for purchase. 
 
Our Joe Corbi's fundraiser has wrapped up with over 400 items ordered! Thank you for your participation and a special thanks to Faith Lahmon-Martin for coordinating the sale. Orders will arrive at the school for pick up on November 15.
 
Our See's Candy Fundraiser starts next week. Stay tuned for more details.
 
If you have any questions or comments, please email president@frespta.org
 
Have a great weekend and hope to see you on Saturday!
 
Korin Sharp

Here's the link to the PTA website for more information about the FRES PTA.

In the Community...

Food Giveaway
October 25
Salvation Army
3267 Pine Orchard Lane
Ellicott City, MD 
443-656-3376
View the flyer here in Spanish and English.

New 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.

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/