Important Dates
October 16 Joe Corbi’s Fundraiser ends
October 18 Maiwand Kabob Restaurant DAY - View the flyer
October 20 Staff Work Day - no school for students
October 28 PTA Fall Fest
October 31 End of 1st marking period - schools close 3 hours early
November 2 PTA Meeting 7pm
November 2 Picture re-take day. View the flyer
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.***
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 fridge - whatever works for you to remember these fun days!
Forest Ridge Family and Friends,
We held our very first Hispanic Heritage celebration last night, and it was a HUGE success! We were packed with students and families - all having fun tasting traditional foods, listening to music, dancing, doing crafts, having fun with pinatas and games, and even getting their faces painted. We want to send a HUGE shout out to our Hispanic families who contributed to the food and decorations for our celebration. We are so lucky to have so many wonderful families who were willing to share their culture with us. We also could not have had this event without the tireless efforts of our amazing Hispanic Liaison, Paola Loarca Estrada. We are a very lucky school to have her!
Next week is a 4-day school week. Schools will be closed for students on Friday, October 20th. Please mark your calendars! As always, we are here if you need us to answer a question or concern that you may have.
~ Mrs. Lannon & Ms. Pazornik
CAPA Tech Girls
TechGirls is an after-school enrichment program dedicated to promoting gender and social equity in STEM. The program will cultivate young girls’ interests and confidence in STEM. It offers 10 STEM workshops for 4th and 5th-grade girls throughout the school year. Digital registration link for Fall 2023 is here.
Good News Club
Your child is invited to the Good News Club, a FREE, exciting, fun-filled, weekly after-school club that meets in schools across America. Good News Clubs emphasize respect for authority, moral values and character development based on Biblical principles. Link for more information about the organization: https://www.cefonline.com/ministries/goodnewsclub/
Time: Every Tuesday from 4:00-5:30pm, Room: 102B, Art Room (next to the Music Room) at FRES
Contact: Savannah Elkins 410-979-1062 or sgdoehne@hotmail.com.
Please use this link or the attached QR code to register your child: https://forms.gle/2s6q67FBogRMCCCa6
From Our School Counselors
Dear Families of FRES ~
Are you able to support a family for the upcoming holidays (meals, gifts etc)? Please consider spreading the love to those who need it most.
Donate a monetary gift to help a family:
Fund our community support group, Feathers for Families! Here are ways you can help ALL YEAR ‘ROUND:
Questions? Ask alyssa_norris@hcpss.org or the front office!
Announcing the Reflections Arts Program!
Invite your creative kid to participate in this year’s Reflections Arts Program! Reflections offers students the opportunity to earn recognition in their division (PreK-2nd, 3rd-5th, or Special Artists) for original artwork they create to interpret the theme: I am Hopeful Because… This video can be viewed with your student to learn more.
FRES students select from six categories: dance, film, literature, musical composition, photography or visual arts to create art to submit by Monday, November 27th. More guidance and the initial registration form can be found here. Would your student enjoy attending a free, after school help session with other Reflections participants? Fill out the online permission form so they can attend on Thursday, October 26th!
Joe Corbi’s Sales Ends MONDAY!
Joe Corbi’s fundraiser is currently ongoing. A packet came 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.
Maiwand Kabob (Maple Lawn) – Restaurant Fundraiser, October 18th ALL DAY
No Cook Wednesday!! Visit Maiwand Kabob in Maple Lawn from 11am – 9:00pm and mention FRES. This ensures FRES receives a percentage of your bill. Click here to see flyer.
Fall Fest – Saturday, October 28th
Our Fall Fest committee is in the process of planning the spooky hallway, and fall festival activities.
Do you have decorations we can borrow for the spooky hallway? Do you LOVE Halloween and want to help plan this event? Want to feed the Candy Monster? We are in need of nut-free candy donations or other treats/toys for the candy trail.
Excited for the Pie Walk? We will need donations of pies. Please sign up here. Please email president@frespta.org with any questions.
PTA Monthly Meeting - November 2 at 7pm Save the date for this monthly meeting in the media center.
Fall for All at Howard Community College
Howard Community College is having a FREE, community-wide Fall for All event on Friday, October 20, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. With HCPSS schools being closed, we thought this would be a great benefit to the community, especially those with small children, or those looking for fun, fall activities. From corn mazes, to bounce houses, to pumpkin bowling, this event has been structured with community members of all ages in mind and will be a great end to the week. Food will be available for purchase through food trucks! Come in your Halloween costume, or as you are! For more information, please visit: www.howardcc.edu/fallforall
Moderate Income Housing Program
The moderate income housing unit (MIHU) homeownership program is currently open for enrollment until 10/31/23. Information, eligibility, and applications for homeownership possibility can be found online here: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/DHCD-MIHU-Open-Enrollment
October Resource Navigator Newsletter
Take a moment to read this great newsletter. It has a number of resources in it, including one for coats/winter wear and some food resources for families.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12kuSBviyvS2bHunZahTlhupshwVhP_EDPUEeQ9gQalY/edit
Coat Drive
The PTA Council is co-sponsoring a coat drive with The HCPSS Pupil Personnel Services now until October 16, 2023. Please consider donating new or gently used clean coats and winter wear (scarves, gloves, hats) to help those less fortunate stay warm this winter. They can be dropped off at North Laurel Multiservice Center, Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (address on attached 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.