Dec. 6, 2019 Forest Ridge Forerunner

Fri, 12/06/2019 - 5:07pm

Forest Ridge Forerunner
December 6, 2019

Important Dates:
December
6     Ice-skating Night, The Gardens Ice Center - 7:50-9:20 p.m.
11   Chick-fil-A Day at Johns Hopkins Road location - Be sure to say you're with FRES!
16   FRES Music Concert (at Hammond High School)
18   6:00-7:00 p.m. Kindergarten Gingerbread House Night
21-Jan. 1 - WINTER BREAK

January
2    Return from Winter Break
4    Dad’s Club – Wizards Game, Capital One Arena – 8pm
7    PTA Meeting – Media Center – 7pm
10  Skate Night, Laurel Roller Skating Center – 7-10pm
15  FRES Book Club - The book will be Season of Styx Malone (more info to come)
17  Movie Night – 7-9pm
22  Family Fit Night – 6:30-8pm
23  Math Parent Night – 6:30-8pm

Items of Note:

  • As the weather gets colder, there is the possibility that schools will be closed or open late because of inclement weather.  HCPSS sends out text messages to let parents know.  These messages usually go out between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m.  To receive text messages from FRES or HCPSS, you must opt in.  Please text "YES" to 67587 to receive text messages.
  • The last Chick-fil-A Spirit Day this year will be on March 18.  Proceeds will help to defray the cost of 4th and 5th grade field trips.

From our Administrators...

Dear FRES Community,

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break and we now have only 10 school days until Winter Break.  With that being said, we know this time of year brings a lot of anticipation and stress to adults as well as children.  As much as possible, we will continue to provide normal routines here at school to help our students stay focused. 

Thank you for partnering with us as we work to keep our students safe.  We want you to know that safety is our number one priority. Earlier this week a young man was seen walking on the upper field while some of our students were at recess. Staff out there alerted us and we monitored the situation.  The gentleman lived in the community behind the school and was walking home. At no time were any students in any danger. 

Mr. Conroy and Ms. Pazornik

Student News...

Congratulations to our Eagle Egg winners for this week:

5th-Emma L., 4th-Emily R.P., 3rd-Janel H., 2nd-Jacob C., 1st-Vung N., K- Kate D.
Class Winner: Mrs. Plunkett
APPRECIATE YOU!

Forest Ridge News...

Watch DOGS
Many thanks to Mr. Akintemi, Mr. Brooks, and Mr. Owen, who came in this week to serve as our Watch DOGS!

From The PE Department - WALK TO SCHOOL 2nd QUARTER
When:  Thursday, December 12th, 8:40am
Where:  Savage Library!  Students that walk from other locations can take their normal route.  Permission slips will go home. Please bring them with you to the library on the morning of Walk to School Day.  Before-care students and bus riders can get extra steps on the black top in the morning. 
Why:  To encourage healthy habits!
We will be joined by very special guests from the Savage Fire Station!

Science Fair
This year's FRES Science Fair will take place on February 20, 2020. If your child would like to participate in the fair, and is not participating currently in the Science Fair Seminar, please email Kim Clawson at kimberly_clawson @hcpss.org. to request an electronic or hard copy of our science fair packet.  We also have extra packets available on the bulletin board in front of the media center. Please take one from there if you are in the building. All students are invited to complete a science fair project.

Attention Parents of Rising 6th Graders
PATUXENT VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

What: PVMS Rising Middle Schooler Parent Night
When: January 14th, 2020* at 6:00pm for Gifted and Talented Information; 6:30pm for Rising Middle Schooler Program
(*Snow Date: January 21st, with the same times listed above)
Who: All Parents of current 5th graders planning to attend PVMS in the 20-21 school year. Students are encouraged to attend as well!
Where: PVMS Cafeteria, 9151 Vollmerhausen Rd, Savage, MD 20763
 
Please Join PVMS Staff to learn what you’ll need to know to help your future middle schooler be successful next year. We look forward to meeting with you! 

From Mrs. Schuck, our School Counselor
Many families have expressed the desire to give and help this holiday season. There are many ways to provide help where it is needed most if you feel in the giving spirit.

If interested, you are welcome to reach out to me ( alyssa_schuck@hcpss.org ) saying, “I’d like to help” and I can share a gift item we’re in need of for one of our families. We are also ALWAYS willing to collect gift cards to local stores and restaurants for families. We are hoping to have everything by Tuesday Dec 17th.

Thankful to be part of such a giving, kind-hearted community. We are all in this together!

Mrs. Schuck, School Counselor

Hints from the Health Room - When Children Show Signs of Illness
Deciding when a child is too sick to go to school can be a difficult decision for parents to make.  When trying to decide, use the guidelines below to help you.

Stay at Home:  If your child has any of the following symptoms, please keep your child at home or make appropriate child care arrangements:     

  • Appearance and Behavior - unusually tired, pale, lack of appetite, difficult to wake, confused or irritable.  This is sufficient reason to exclude a child.
  • Eyes - thick mucous or pus draining from the eye or pink eye.  With pink eye (conjunctivitis) you may see a white or yellow discharge, matted eyelids after sleep, eye pain and/or redness.
  • Fever - temperature 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.  Remember that a child must be fever free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school.
  • Greenish nose discharge and/or chronic cough - should be seen by a health care provider.  These conditions may be contagious and require treatment.
  • Sore throat - especially with fever or swollen glands in the neck.  (With strep throat, the child may return to school after 24 hours on antibiotics.)
  • Diarrhea - three (3) or more watery stools in a 24-hour period, especially if the child acts or looks ill.
  • Vomiting - two (2) or more times within the past 24 hours
  • Rash - body rash, especially with fever or itching.  Heat rashes and allergic reactions are not contagious.
  • Ear infections without fever - do not need to be excluded, but the child needs to get medical treatment and follow-up.  Untreated ear infections can cause permanent hearing loss.
  • Lice - children may not return to school until they have been treated and are free of live lice.  Make a habit of checking your child’s hair for head lice once a week.
  • Cough – your child may bring in non-medicated (non-mentholated) cough drops with a note from you giving permission for the cough drop. They will be stored in the Health Room.

If your child shows any of the above symptoms while at school, it will be necessary to pick him/her up from school.  Please make sure all emergency contacts are up to date and plan accordingly. Each student should have at least 3 emergency contacts listed. Students should be picked up within 30 minutes of receiving the phone call from the health room staff.

Anytime your child is absent due to illness please notify the school via e-mail at fresabsence@hcpss.org

Please put an extra set of clothes in your child's backpack for unexpected events at school.  Please make sure the clothing is appropriate for the cold weather.

Thank you, the health room staff

PTA News...

Hello FRES families!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and relaxing break! 

Thank you to all the volunteers helped students shop for their loved ones at the Holiday Shoppe this week.  Also, thank you to all who attended the PTA meeting on Tuesday.  Meeting minutes can be found here so you can stay informed in case you weren’t able to attend the meeting.

Tonight is Ice-Skating Night at The Gardens Ice House in Laurel.  Skate from 7:50-9:20pm for $7.50, which includes skate rental.  The event is cash only (but there is an ATM on the premises).  We will also be selling FRES merchandise!  All participants who use the FRES special price must sign a waiver at the door.  See you there!

Student Directories are here!  As a bonus of PTA membership, PTA members will receive a hard copy of the Student Directory created by the FRES PTA.  It’s one of the easiest ways to get information to reach out to FRES families to set up playdates or send party invitations directly.  It’s not too late to sign up for PTA membership and receive a hard copy of the Student Directory!  Please note that the Directory information was pulled from Family File two months ago and it only contains information IF parents give permission to share it.  For the most up-to-date information reflecting additions to Family File and changes to classroom assignments, please check online.  This year, student directory information is available to all parents/guardians online through HCPSS Connect under the Family File/Student Directory tab on the left.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Khaleda Hasan, FRES PTA President

More from the PTA

After School Enrichment Activities
The current enrichment classes will continue through the winter.  We are offering “I'm a Chef, Too” again and are working with a non-profit to host a drama club that will be low cost.  If you have questions or would like to join the committee, please contact Korin Sharp at iamkorin@gmail.com or Monaca Noble at kojothecat@gmail.com.

Dad’s Club
Unfortunately, due to a low response, we had to cancel the Terps game event this weekend.  If you sent in money, you should see it returned through your child.  Forms were sent home for the Washington Wizards taking on the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, January 4 at 8pm.  All ticket orders are due to school by next Friday, December 13.  Tickets are $25 a piece, which can be paid with exact cash or check.  Please make sure that checks are written out to the "FRES PTA".  Click here for the Wizards Order Form.  If there are any questions, please contact Ed Chrzanowski at edmund_chrzanowski@hcpss.org.

Movie Night
The next movie night is Friday, Jan 17th from 7-9pm.  Stay tuned for details!

Staff Appreciation
We love our teachers and staff at Forest Ridge Elementary School!  Looking for ways to support our FRES teachers and staff throughout the year?  Need some inspiration as you’re doing your holiday shopping?  We now have an online directory of the FRES Staff Favorite Things open to all interested FRES families and friends.

Important Upcoming Dates:

December:
6  –  Ice-skating Night, The Gardens Ice Center – 7:50-9:20pm
11 – FRES School Chick Fil-A Spirit All-Day
18 – Kindergarten Gingerbread House Night – 6:30-8pm

January:
4  –  Dad’s Club – Wizards Game, Capital One Arena – 8pm
7  –  PTA Meeting – Media Center – 7pm
10 – Skate Night, Laurel Roller Skating Center – 7-10pm
17 – Movie Night – 7-9pm
22 – Family Fit Night – 6:30-8pm
23 – Math Parent Night – 6:30-8pm

Community News...

Holiday Ukelele Play Along
On Saturday, December 14, the Howard County Public Library - Savage Branch will have a Holiday ukulele play along from 2 - 2:45 PM. The play along is open to everyone ages 8+ and teens and adults. Beginners are always welcome! Bring your ukulele and come join us for some family fun! Singing is always optional. The holiday music booklet is yours to keep and share with your family and friends this holiday season. If you would like more information about the ukulele play along, please contact the Savage Library or David Petro (dpetro1377@gmail.com).