IMPORTANT DATES
January 15 4:00-9:00 PTA Restaurant Night – Blaze Pizza
January 16 7:00 PTA Meeting – Virtual
January 17 Clubs & Candid Pictures taken for the yearbook (rescheduled from 1/7)
January 20 Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday
January 22 6:00-7:30 PVMS Rising 6th Grade Family Orientation (see below)
January 22 3:00-9:00 PTA Restaurant Night – Sweet Frog
January 23 Professional Work & Wellness Day - Schools close 3 hours early
January 28 Paint Night
February 1 Culture Fest
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.
Forest Ridge News...
PVMS Rising 6th Grade Family Orientation
On January 22 Patuxent Valley Middle School will be hosting out Rising 6th Grade Family Orientation from 6pm to 7:30pm in the school cafeteria. Come and learn more about middle school, the academic schedule, and the Gifted and Talented program, and get a chance to see the building and meet some of our amazing staff and students. Contact RIchard Smart, richard_smart@hcpss.org with questions.
Save the Date!
Paint Night is on Tuesday, January 28, 6:00-7:30. Look for more information to come!
Do you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2025?
Please save the date for an upcoming Road to Kindergarten parent information session. All sessions will run 6:30-7:30 p.m. and cover the same content. Learn more.
From the ChildFind Office
Attention Parents of Rising Kindergarteners: Don't Wait for Summer to Address Developmental Concerns!
If you have concerns about your child's development - whether it's their speech, motor skills, social skills or learning - it's important to act now. Waiting until the summer for a referral can delay crucial support that your child may need before starting kindergarten.Contact us today to schedule a screening. Let's work together to ensure your child has the best possible start in kindergarten!Call 410-313-7046 or email ChildFind@hcpss.org
WatchDOGS Sign Up Link
Interested in being a WatchDOG? Sign up here.
From the PTA...Get More PTA Info at the PTA Website
Blaze Pizza – Wednesday 1/15
It’s another no cook Wednesday at Blaze Pizza! Blaze will donate 20% of sales to the FRES PTA to support our activities and programs for students, families and staff. Bring the Blaze Flyer for in-store purchase or use promo code 1037A for online orders.
Sweet Frog (Laurel) - Wednesday 1/22 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Meet your family, friends, and neighbors every 4th Wednesday of the month at Sweet Frog in Laurel for a sweet treat from 3pm – 9pm. FRES PTA will receive 25% of sales.
Register for Before & After School Enrichment Classes
HoCo Parks & Rec Dept is offering a line-up of classes at Forest Ridge this winter. 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.
PTA Meeting-Thursday, 1/23 7:00 pm
Please note the change in date from 1/16 to 1/23 for the January PTA. This meeting will be held virtually via Google Meets. The link will be shared with families via email and in next week’s forerunner. We hope you can join us!
Family Paint Night – Tuesday 1/28 6:15 pm – 8:00 pm
Come out and paint a canvas with your child and help support the FRES Art Department. Ms. Allen & Ms. Frere will be leading the attendees through painting a snowy owl on canvas. All supplies will be provided. Come in paint-friendly clothes and bring a smock/old t-shirt to cover up. Cost is $12 per person or 2 for $22. Each additional participant in the same family is $10 each. Proceeds will go directly to the FRES Art Department. Tickets will be available for sale on Monday 1/13 at this link paint night tickets.
Culture Fest – SATURDAY 2/1 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Come join us for 6th Annual FRES Culture Fest on Saturday, February 1st at 3:00pm - 5:00pm. Culture Fest is an opportunity for FRES families to celebrate and share their unique heritage with the community and for everyone to celebrate the rich diversity at our school. This special night promotes empathy, acceptance and unity for us in our FRES community. Please consider signing up to share about your culture, ethnicity, heritage and/or country of origin. Feel free to join together with other families and let us know how we can support you. Sign up here to share or volunteer Culture Fest Sign Up. Please sign up by Friday, January 17th to give our committee time to plan!
COMING SOON - Registration for the FRES After School Drama Club!
In partnership with the PTA, the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (CCTA) is offering an after-school drama club at FRES. Class will meet at FRES immediately after-school from 3:20 – 4:35 on Thursdays beginning 2/20 and ending with a final performance on performance on Thursday, May 8th at 7 pm complete with costumes, sets, and a professional sound system. This year's musical is Junie B Jones. The total cost for FRES students is only $60. Registration link will be shared next week!!!
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.