Important Dates
January 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - Schools and Offices Closed
January 17 Professional Work & Wellness Day - schools dismiss 3 hours early (12:55)
January 17 PTA Chuck E. Cheese fundraiser. View the flyer in English & Spanish
January 18 6:00-8:00 PVMS 6th grade parent orientation night
January 18 No 1/2 day Pre-K/RECC
January 22 Professional Work Day - Schools closed for students
January 22 Parent/Teacher conferences open for parent scheduling
January 24 Winter Band and Chorus Concert (at Hammond High School)
January 24 Sweet Frog Fundraiser. View the flyer.
January 25 FRES Spelling Bee
January 25 Snow Date - Winter Band and Chorus Concert (at FRES)
January 26 School Spirit Day: Wear animal print/camo day
January 30 Report cards available for viewing by parents (after 4:00 p.m.)
January 31 Health & Wellness Fair
February 6 Clubs & candid pictures taken for the yearbook
February 7 Schools close 3-hours early for parent/teacher conferences (12:55)
February 7 PTA Main Event Spirit Night. View the flyer.
February 8 Schools close 3-hours early for parent/teacher conferences (12:55)
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!
Dear FRES community,
Coming soon in March is National Staff Appreciation Week, but we have plans to celebrate them the entire month of March. We have set up fun activities, treats, giveaways and more! Our dedicated teachers and staff stand out as some of the most hardworking individuals in the county, and we consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to have them as part of our community. As part of our month-long celebration, we invite you to express your gratitude by writing thank you notes or appreciation messages to our outstanding staff.
To make this process convenient for you, we have created a Google Form for submissions. You are welcome to use this form as many times as you wish, and we'll handle all the printing. If you prefer a more personal touch, handwritten notes are also appreciated. Please ensure that handwritten notes are submitted to Mrs. Lannon or Ms. Pazornik, so they can be included in the beautiful folders assigned to each person.
Our goal is to gather a plethora of thank you notes and letters for each staff member. We've invested in high-quality, vibrant folders to compile these messages, providing our staff with a lasting collection of encouragement throughout the years. These letters serve as a source of inspiration, offering a reminder on challenging days of the profound impact their work has on students. Even years later, these messages continue to inspire.
The culmination of this initiative will be on March 19th, when we present these letters to our dedicated staff. To ensure inclusion in this heartfelt gesture, please submit your letters by March 18th. Your words will be merged into a collective letter and printed for distribution. Should you have any questions, Mrs. Lannon or Ms. Pazornik are available to assist you. Thank you for joining us in expressing appreciation for our remarkable educators and staff.
Warm regards,
Mrs. Lannon and Ms. Pazornik
Road to Kindergarten Workshops
Do you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2024? Please join us for an information session about Kindergarten in the Howard County Public School System. The attached flyer lists the dates, locations, and times for each session. No registration is required.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
On January 22nd, scheduling for parent/teacher conferences will open up and remain open until February 2nd. This year’s winter conferences will be held on February 7th and February 8th. We will be holding 15-minute conferences. All conferences will be held with your child’s math teacher. If your child is in grades K - 2, you will also have the option to conference with your child's related arts teacher, if you wish to or if you have any concerns about their related arts grades.
Below are the details of how they will be held based on the date and time of your conference:
Wednesday, February 7th
All conferences will be held in person until 4pm.
After 4pm, all conferences will be held virtually only.
Thursday, February 8th
All conferences will be held virtually.
Howard Co. Rec & Parks January After School Activities at FRES
View the flyer here.
Registration Open for the FRES After School Drama Program!
In partnership with the PTA, the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA) is offering an after-school drama class at FRES. Class will meet at FRES immediately after-school until 5:15 pm on Wednesdays beginning 2/14 (no class on HCPSS early dismissal days). Performance will be Wednesday, May 8th at 7 pm complete with costumes, sets, and a professional sound system. This year's musical is School House Rock Live! Register directly with CCTA on their website: https://cctarts.org/elementary-after-school-program/ Note: the display of class times may be a bit confusing if viewed on a mobile phone; the total tuition for FRES students is only $60; double check to ensure you are registering for the FRES session if using your phone.
Register Now for Before/After School Enrichment Classes!
HoCo Parks & Rec Dept is offering a line up of classes AT Forest Ridge this semester. Check out the listing and complete online registration for your child to participate! Most classes meet once a week for 6-8 weeks. View the flyer.
Chuck E. Cheese FUNraiser – January 17th
Spend the afternoon with your friends at Chuck E. Cheese Laurel on this ½ day. All purchases made the COUNTER will count towards our event. View the flyer in English & Spanish
Sweet Frog (Laurel) – January 24th 3pm-9pm
Meet your family, friends, and neighbors every 4th Wednesday of the month from January to May, at Sweet Frog in Laurel for a sweet treat from 3pm – 9pm. FRES PTA will receive 25% of your order. View the flyer.
Health and Wellness Fair - Wednesday, January 31 from 6:30-8:00pm
Resolutions, summer camp, activities, did the kids have a coat today, what's for dinner?? Not a SNOW day?? Life is hectic!
FRES PTA invites our amazing families and community to our Health and Wellness Fair on Wednesday, January 31 and take some time for themselves. Bring your whole family and learn more about the many resources available to the community in Howard County and beyond. Learn how to make a stress ball, join our PE teachers for some fun play stations, get a wellness check from the Howard County hospital and SO much more! Grab a snack and make sure to stick around to the end for the raffle prizes!
Stay tuned for a PT Board sign up sheet but if you want to help or are a community member who has a service you think would be a good fit for the fair, please contact Pratima Lele at pratimalele@gmail.com.
Main Event FUNraiser - February 7, 2024, 4 to 7pm.
Looking for something to do on the half day on February 7th? Visit Main Event in Columbia between 4 and 7 pm and help us raise funds for 5th Grade end of year activities. Look for the FRES table at Main Event to drop off your receipts and we will earn 20% of the total. View the flyer.
WatchD.O.G.S Sign up
Here is the calendar of remaining dates available. Please sign up to volunteer today!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090A4EA8AB2CAAFC1-watch3#/
Want to stay up to date on PTA information? Follow us on facebook at Forest Ridge Elementary PTA (FRES) or visit our website at www.frespta.org for more information.
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.