May 10, 2024 Forest Ridge Forerunner

Fri, 05/10/2024 - 4:32pm

IMPORTANT DATES
May 14         Primary Election Day.  Schools and offices closed. Don't forget to vote!
May 15         5th Grade Simulated Congressional Hearings
May 16         6:30-8:00 "Stay Fresh This Summer' math and reading night
May 17         Staff Work Day - Schools close 3 hours early (12:55)
May 17         Deadline for yearbook purchases.  Here's the link.
May 21         Field Day
May 22         Sweet Frog Restaurant Night
May 23         PTA Meeting
May 27         Memorial Day Holiday - Schools and offices closed
May 30         STEAM Night.  View the flyer in English & Spanish
June 1          5th Grade Dance
June 4          5:30-6:30 Popsicles on the Playground for incoming (2024-25) Kindergarten students
June 5          Professional Work Day - Schools close 3 hours early
June 6          2:00-3:15 5th Gr. End of Year Celebration
June 7          Full school day
June 10        Full school day
June 10        PTA elections
June 11        Full school day
June 12        Schools close 3 hours early (12:55)
June 13        Schools close 3 hours early (12:55)
June 14        Last Day of School! Schools close 3 hours early (12:55)
June 19        Juneteenth Holiday - 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.  FRES parents will need to opt-in from the phone that receives messages on the number we have on file for them.  Text YES to 67587.
  • Will your child be absent?  Email fresabsence@hcpss.org.

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!

From our Administrators...

Forest Ridge Family and Friends,

We are delighted to share the success of our recent orchestra and chorus concert, held this past Tuesday night. It was a resounding success, showcasing the talent and hard work of our dedicated musicians. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mrs. Blough and Mrs. DeOrio for their exceptional dedication and guidance, which contributed significantly to the success of the concert.

In addition to celebrating our musical achievements, we would like to express our gratitude to the PTA for their thoughtful recognition of our teachers and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week. Our teachers work tirelessly every day, and their efforts do not go unnoticed. The delicious treats and heartfelt notes provided by the PTA were truly appreciated. The impact of acknowledging and appreciating our educators' hard work is a positive one.

Thank you once again to everyone who contributed to these memorable moments of celebration and appreciation. Your support and recognition mean a great deal to our school community.

~ Mrs. Lannon & Ms. Pazornik

Forest Ridge News...

From our Registrar, Mrs. Jackson
Dear Parent/Guardian of 5th Grade students,
All students moving on to middle school in HCPSS must have records in compliance in accordance with Policy 9000:  Student Residency, Eligibility, Enrollment and Assignment.  Currently, all records are being reviewed for compliance.  We ask that if you receive a letter for a missing document/s, you provide the requested documents in a timely manner.  Please feel free to reach out to the front office if you have questions about the request if received.

Are You Interested in Purchasing a Yearbook?
The yearbook purchasing site is open for business!  Follow this link to place your order.  Deadline is May 17.

2024-2025 School Year Bus Transportation Registration is Open
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Parents/guardians whose children are eligible for bus transportation are asked to register to receive bus service each year to help the school system plan for student transportation needs. The transportation registration process will open at 9 a.m. Monday, April 8 through May 31, and will be completed online via HCPSS Connect Synergy. Registration must be done for each eligible child.

To be eligible for bus service, your child’s home address must be outside of a school’s walk zones. You can verify address eligibility in the HCPSS School Attendance Area Locator. After inputting your address, a window will appear that will indicate either bus or walk for each school level. Please note, the attendance area locator also includes a link for the bus stop locator, which is set for the current school year. Bus stop information for the 2024-2025 school year will be available in August.
You do not need to take any action if your child is not eligible for bus transportation, your child receives transportation as part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan, or your child is a graduating senior.
Details on bus transportation registration, including a guide to register and scenarios families may see when registering, can be found online.

From our School Counselors, Ms. Norris and Mrs. Braxton-Cheek
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Just like our bodies need daily nourishment and activity to stay healthy and functional, our mental health needs its own kind of nourishment! Here is a month of activities that you can do with your child to boost their mental health: May Mental Health Awareness Calendar (English)May Mental Health Awareness Calendar (Spanish)

2024-2025 Kindergarten Registration is OPEN!
Registration for the upcoming school year, 2024-25 is now available.  All registrations will be completed online, https://www.hcpss.org/enroll/  After submission, the registration will be reviewed, and the registrar will reach out to you to schedule an in-person appointment to complete the registration. Please upload the required documentation if able.  Kindergarten is a mandatory grade in Maryland. Children must be 5 years old by September 1 in order to enroll in Kindergarten. Every child who is 5 years old by September 1 must be enrolled in a Kindergarten program this fall or have an approved waiver on file. (Waiver form for the 2024-25 school year will be available March 1st) Parents or guardians are to register their child at the serving school for their residence.

FRES Regional Early Childhood Program
Learning Together Program for Children who will be 3 years old by September 1, 2024:The Forest Ridge Regional Early Childhood Center (RECC) prekindergarten programs are making preparations for classes for the upcoming 2024-25 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 years old by September 1st, applications are available and are currently being accepted.  Please see the link below for information and link to the application:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/16QzgRZdlq0mglYunqo2yFdeQXGJo6Nsx/view?usp=sharing

HCPSS is committed to providing instruction based on the statewide Early Learning Standards which are in alignment with Kindergarten Readiness. The fees listed in the application will be collected monthly regardless of the learning model determined by HCPSS throughout the upcoming school year (virtual, hybrid, in person, or class quarantine).   If you have any additional questions, please contact Tricia Walls at tricia_walls@hcpss.org

Income Eligible Pre-K for children who will be 4 years old by September 1, 2024:
In alignment with Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future, Forest Ridge RECC continues to offer a prekindergarten program for income eligible children who will be four years old by September 1.  Applications are available in the front office and online.  Our program will fill up.  All slots are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Applicants are not processed until all necessary paperwork has been received. To apply, visit: https://www.hcpss.org/schools/pre-k-programs/

From the PTA...Get More PTA Info at the PTA Website

Staff Appreciation Week – Thank you!
What a fun week it was in the Staff Lounge!!!  Thank you, parents, families, and community members of FRES, for donating throughout the week, and making this possible.  Your generous donations were shared with Teachers, Admin, Secretaries, Nurses, Para-educators, Custodial team, Interns, Cafeteria team, Recess monitors, Bus Drivers, and Crossing Guards.

Community donations were provided by Starbucks Fulton, Towson Hot Bagels (THB) Columbia, Sam’s Club Laurel, Costco Columbia, and Otterbein Cookies.

Sweet Frog Fundraiser – May 22
Come out to Sweet Frog Laurel from 3pm – 9pm, for our last fundraiser of the year.  Let’s celebrate!  Make sure to show the flyer so we get credit.

PTA Meeting – May 23, 7pm
Join us in the FRES Media Center at 7pm for our last meeting of the year before elections.

Volunteers Needed!
The current members of the PTA Board of Directors will end their 2-year term at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.  Please consider running for the board and help the PTA continue to offer events and support like Carnival, Health and Wellness Fair, Fall Fest. Culture Fest, assemblies, field trip support, and so much more. For more information or to fill out the  form please visit, FRES PTA BOARD MEMBERS NEEDED for 2024-2026 Term | Forest Ridge Elementary School PTA

Attention Fifth Grade Families!
Let's Glow it up to 6th Grade!   The 5th Grade Dance will be June 1, 2024 from 6pm to 8pm. This year's theme is "Glow," so break out those neon or white shirts.  Permission slips have been sent home. Please return the form to your child's homeroom teacher or bring it to check-in on the night of the dance.  All children attending the dance must be checked in and out by a parent or guardian.  Dinner will not be served, but snacks and drinks will be provided.

5th Grade Mini Golf Meet-up / Year End Event
The fifth grade committee reserved a couple hours of fun at Laurel Golf (9801 Fort Meade Rd, Laurel 20707) for 5th grade students on Wednesday, June 5th from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. Let's spend some time together and have some fun!   Please RSVP by June 1 to  freswebmaster@frespta.org .

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.

In the Community...

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.