Important Dates
May 9 Deadline for voting on your favorite yearbook cover.
May 9 FRES Ice Cream Social (5:30) and Book Fair (5:00-7:30 p.m.) Shopping Evening. View the flyer here. Lost and found items will also
be on display to be claimed.
May 18 **Schools close 3 hours early**
May 18 PTA Restaurant Day at Panda Express on Dobbin Road. View the flyer here.
May 30 Memorial Day - schools and offices closed
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.***
Dear FRES Community,
Last Friday, many Forest Ridge 5th graders participated in the HC Library System’s Battle of the Books at Merriweather Post Pavilion! During the competition, several teams were recognized for their costumes, sportsmanship, and posters. Congratulations to all of our teams and thanks to all the coaches.
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week, FRES! We wanted to thank our community for your on-going support and encouragement of our outstanding staff. We couldn’t ask for any more from this wonderful group of educators. Their dedication, kindness, and care for our students is always clear. If you have a few minutes to send a brief note or email of gratitude to a staff member who is making a difference in the life of your child, please don’t hesitate to do so. A heartfelt thank you to our PTA for celebrating our teachers and staff this week and for your support throughout the year!
Hope everyone has a great weekend! Happy Mother’s Day to all of our wonderful mothers!
Mr. Conroy and Ms. Pazornik
Calling all Forest Ridge Change Matters Superheroes…
Grassroots really needs our help so let’s support them IN-PERSON and VIRTUALLY this year!
Bring in your loose change May 9th-May 13th
Each year our school proudly participates in an educational fundraising campaign called -- Change Matters -- to benefit Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center -- Howard County’s only 24-hour homeless shelter and crisis center. Since 2008 Change Matters has been teaching children about homelessness in Howard County, the services Grassroots provides, and reminding students that they are never too young to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. TRUE CHANGE MATTERS SUPERHEROES!
Especially during this pandemic, the pressure is on Grassroots more than ever to respond to struggling members of our community. Grassroots depends upon the generosity of individuals, organizations, and businesses in the community to support its free services to anyone in crisis, to help provide the 24-7 hotline and suicide prevention efforts, round-the-clock personal counseling, Mobile Crisis Team, Day Resource Center, the shelter programs, and other outreach programs to help people achieve a positive resolution to their crisis situation.
This year, please consider joining our school in supporting Change Matters virtually and/or in-person. A $5 donation buys dinner for one person, $275 buys one night’s dinner for all the men, women, and children in the shelter program.
To learn more about Change Matters and Grassroots and to donate by credit card now, please click to follow this url: https://grassrootscrisis.org/changematters/ Minimum donations start as low as $1. Click on your school, grade, enter dollar donation and click DONATE. It’s that easy!
For checks, please make payable to: Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, Inc. and send to: Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, Attn: Anna Katz, Change Matters for Forest Ridge, 6700 Freetown Road, Columbia, MD 21044
Students may also bring in their donations and add directly to the Change Matters collection jars during our campaign week, May 9th-May 13th
For more information about Grassroots, please visit their website: www.grassrootscrisis.org.
MCAP Assessment for Grades 3-5 (Some dates/times have changed)
In the coming weeks, students in grades 3 - 5 will be participating in the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP). MCAP provides information to educators and parents on students' progress towards proficiency on the Maryland College and Career Readiness Standards. Below are the dates for each grade:
G3
ELA: May 16, 17, 19, 20 @ 10:15 - 11:30
Math: May, 23, 24, 25, 27 @ 10:15 - 11:30
G4
ELA: May 9 @ 9:15 - 10:30
Math: May 10, 11, 12, 13 @ 9:15 - 10:30
G5
ELA: May 9 @ 1:45 - 3:00
Math: May 10, 11, 13 @ 11:15 - 12:30, May 16 @ 1:45 - 3:00
Kindergarten Registration for 2022-2023 School Year is Open and On-Going
If you live in the FRES district and have a child who is or will be 5 by September 1, 2022, please register your child for kindergarten. Our staffing for next year depends on our number of expected kindergarten students. Check out this link for more information.
CALLING ALL MALE ROLE MODELS! Come volunteer at school...JOIN WATCH D.O.G.S.!!!
Complete a Confidentiality Training Course about protecting the privacy of our students, staff, and schools
Sign and turn in certificate
Complete the Child Abuse and Neglect Training about reporting any suspicion of child abuse or neglect to Howard County Department of Social Services
Sign and turn in certificate
You may read before hand and bring the signed certificate, or do it when you arrive!
Learning Together Program
The Forest Ridge Regional Early Childhood Center (RECC) Pre-Kindergarten programs are preparing for classes for the 2022-2023 school year. These classes include children with and without disabilities. The program’s focus is helping all children develop communication, literacy, math, problem solving, motor, and social skills. Parents of children who will be 3 by September 1st or are already 4 may learn more about the program by reviewing the Learning Together Program (LTP) Flyer (English). Applications are now being accepted and priority will be given to applications received by April 1st.
We will find out how many classes we will have next year by June 10th. Families will be notified by June 15th as to whether there is room at Forest Ridge or if their child may need to attend a neighboring school.
From the Health Room
What do I need to show as proof of a negative COVID test result?
Effective April 5, 2022, if a student or staff member exhibits COVID-like symptoms, the parent/guardian or staff may submit any of the following to show proof of a negative test and return to the building:
A negative rapid test result will not require a confirmatory PCR test if the student or staff member has not been identified as a close contact or part of a cohort outbreak.
We have some great entries for our yearbook cover contest. Please take a look at each submission and vote for your favorite using the form provided in the Padlet. Click on the link below. Make sure to vote for both the front and back cover art. Cast your votes by May 9th.
https://padlet.com/treasurer40/bccdnjuecl2ig7xx
Want to Learn to Ice Skate?
Learn to Ice Skate with the Tri-City Eagles at the Gardens Ice House in Laurel, MD View the flyer in English. View the flyer in Spanish.
Glenelg High School Summer Theater Camp, Presenting "Newsies, Jr."
Who: Rising 3rd-Rising 8th Graders
When: July 5-15, 2022 9am-3pm
Where: Glenelg High School
Performances- 2 Performances on July 14 & 15
Cost- $550
Questions? Email- Kassidy_Sharp@hcpss.org
Visit https://www.glenelgboosters.com/summer-sport-camps/ for more info!
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.
HC Drug Free Events
HC Drug Free is holding two events on April 30, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Wilde Lake Village Center: "Hidden in Plain Sight" and Medication and Sharps Collection. View the flyer here.
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/