Important Dates
January 22 Professional Work Day - Schools closed for students
January 22 Parent/Teacher conferences open for parent scheduling
January 24 6:00 Winter Band and Chorus Concert (at Hammond High School). Participants need to arrive at 5:30.
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 7 Staff Lunch
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
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,
We hope that everyone is staying safe and warm during this wonderful snow day! I am sure our students are excited that they have an impromptu 4-day weekend, but we look forward to seeing them again on Tuesday, as schools are closed on Monday, January 22.
As we navigate the academic year together, we would like to emphasize the significance of participating in parent-teacher conferences. These meetings serve as valuable opportunities for collaboration between educators and parents, playing a crucial role in the success of our students. Parent-teacher conferences offer a unique platform for open communication and a chance to discuss your child's progress, strengths, and areas that may need additional attention. By actively engaging in these conversations, you contribute to a supportive and constructive learning environment for your child.
Elementary school parent-teacher conferences will be held Feb. 7-8, 2024 and they will be for math. Registration opens Jan. 22. Feb. 7 afternoon conferences will be in person, and evening conferences will be virtual. Feb. 8 conferences will be virtual. Parents/guardians can register via HCPSS Connect Synergy beginning at 8am Monday, Jan. 22 through 4pm Friday, Feb. 2.
Related arts teachers will be offering office hours for parents to drop in and ask any questions or address any concerns you might have. We will publish the links, dates, times for those next week.
Please remember that parents can ALWAYS ask to meet with a teacher to discuss any questions or concerns. It doesn’t just have to be at conference time. We highly encourage all parents to schedule and attend the upcoming parent-teacher conferences. Your active participation not only demonstrates your commitment to your child's education but also enhances the overall learning environment at Forest Ridge ES.
Warm regards,
Mrs. Lannon and Ms. Pazornik
Thank a Staff Member
In March, we're celebrating National Staff Appreciation Week with a month-long tribute to our hardworking teachers and staff. Join us by writing thank you notes or messages using our convenient Google Form. Handwritten notes can be submitted to Mrs. Lannon or Ms. Pazornik. Let's create a collection of encouragement for our staff, culminating in a presentation on March 19th. Please submit your letters by March 18th for inclusion in this heartfelt gesture. Thank you for expressing appreciation for our remarkable educators and staff!
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.
Abrakadoodle Art Class at FRES!
This popular class may be in danger of cancellation. They only need 2 more students to be able to run the class. In previous years, the class and summer camps that Abrakadoodle offers have been very popular at FRES. Check out the flyer for more information.
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 here.
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.
Health and Wellness Fair
After this week of snow days, wet laundry and trying to find childcare, it's time to do a wellness check! FRES PTA invites our amazing families and community to our Health and Wellness Fair on Wednesday, January 31 from 6:30pm - 8:00pm. Bring your whole family and learn more about the many resources available to the community in Howard County and beyond. Learn how to achieve mindfulness through art-making, stop by our parent v. student play stations, get a flu shot, find childcare resources and SO much more! Grab a snack in the cafeteria and make sure to stick around for raffles like a $150 gift card to Weis Market!
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.
Staff Appreciation Grab 'n Go Lunch – February 7th
PTA will provide a grab n go lunch for the staff on the 1st day of math conferences. If you would like to donate or volunteer please click here to sign up. https://frespta.ptboard.com/sgnvw?group=&signup=umjFZ498SK6mdsOLeXjJy3N___52Nq_8L3___nLdzs8O
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#/
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.