Forest Ridge Forerunner
For the Weeks of March 30-April 10, 2015
Website: http://fres.hcpss.org
Our phones are answered M-Th 8:30-4:15, F 8:30-4:00
School Hours 9:15-3:45 p.m.
Students may enter the building at 9:00 a.m.
Lunch price: $2.75, Milk: $.50
Dates to Remember
March 30-April 6 Spring Break
April
7 Return from Spring Break
3:45 Girls on the Run
3:45 Minecraft Makeup Session
7:00 PTA Meeting
8 3:45 KidzArt
13 Hearing & Vision Screening
14 3:45 Girls on the Run
3:45 Jr. Minecraft Makeup Session
3:45 Gr. 3-5 Variety Show Tryouts
Chipotle Night (more info to follow)
15 3:45 KidzArt
3:45 Gr. K-2 Variety Show Tryouts
20 Hearing & Vision Screening
21 Class Picture Day (with optional Individual Pictures)
3:45 Girls on the Run
22 3:45 New KidzArt starts
23 Walk to School Day
24 PTA Movie Night (Details to follow)
25 12:00-4:00 PTA Carnival
28 3:45 Gr. 3-5 Variety Show Practice
3:45 Girls on the Run
29 3:45 KidzArt
3:45 Gr. K-2 Variety Show Practice
30 6:30 Patuxent Valley 5th Grade Parent Orientation
From the Principal's Desk...
Greetings Forest Ridge Families!
Today was “CLUB Day” at FRES! This is a school-wide initiative through our PBIS
program (Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports) to reward students for their hard
work during third quarter in demonstrating school expectations (Focus, Respect, Effort,
and Safety). CLUB Day activities included bracelet making, computer club, movie club,
art club, board games, dance party, gym games, BYOE (Bring Your Own Electronics),
and BYO Doll/Stuffed Animal.
We would like to thank the PTA for the “Tea, Coffee, and Treat Cart” that visited FRES
Staff members on Thursday. This was a welcome and tasty break for everyone during a
busy week! Thank you to all of the parents who contributed to the goodies. Yum!
We wish students and families an enjoyable and safe spring break!
We will see you back at FRES on Tuesday, April 7th.
Anne Swartz, Danielle Shanks, and Jason Ortega
Forest Ridge News
Have you Noticed?
The FRES Daisy Girl Scout Troup planted pansies around our school marquee. Thank
you girls for your hard work in enhancing our school's "curb appeal!"
Kindergarten Registration
Registration is on-going by appointment from now until the end of the school
year. Summer registration hours will be announced later in the year.
School Supplies
Parents,
We are noticing that many students have depleted their supplies. During Spring Break,
please take time to check with your child on items that may need replenishing. This
would also be a great time to check the balance in your child's lunch account.
As always, boxes of tissues and hand sanitizer donations are appreciated!
PTA News...
From the President...
Happy Spring!
Even though it doesn't feel like spring today, I was happy yesterday was so warm to get
the kids out of the house to play before bedtime. I wanted to take a moment to thank all
the parents, community members and especially our awesome staff at the Ridge for their
donations for our online Auction. We earned $1,935 to add to our playground fund.
An update of the playground as well...I have been in contact with the people who will
help us get the project going this spring. We are hoping to have benches and some shade
structures for the students this year, and then hopefully the playground surface done next
year. We are about $10,000 away from our goal of the play surface as it's a HUGE
project.
I hope everyone has a great Spring Break and that you are all safe in your travels and
things that you do.
Amanda Fields
FRES PTA President
FRES Night at the Ballpark--Don't forget to order your tickets for the May 1st game
against the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:00pm. Tickets are $12 each. Flyers went home last
week. If you need another copy visit our website at http://www.frespta.org/oriolesgame.html. All orders must be turned in by April 10th! The Orioles will be giving us
back $5 per ticket that we will be using to provide care packages for troops that are
stationed overseas. Join us for some fun and help a worthy cause!!
After School Activities—Visit our website for order forms, registration info, etc.
www.frespta.org We are gearing up for the last round of after school activities for the
school year.
Schoolhouse Theater—**Still spots left**Mondays starting April 13 for grades 2-5.
Flyers should have gone home this week for this popular after school class. Star in the
FRES production of Cinderella. Cost is $160, ($80 deposit will hold you a spot), return
the form with check made out to Schoolhouse Theater Arts, Inc. with your student in an
envelope marked Schoolhouse Theater.
Class will meet immediately after school until 6pm on 4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/4, 5/11, 5/18 &
5/21 Dress rehearsals & show meeting time is 6:00pm until 8pm.
**NEW**Green Thumb Club w/Little Scholars—Tuesdays starting April 21, open to
ALL grades. Catch an insect, grow a terrarium and save the earth…all while learning
about nature and the world around us through exciting expeditions, science and
environmental exploration. Our Green Thumb Club will ignite your child’s passion for
nature, recycling and learning about the earth through educational activities and science
investigations. Cost is $104 and you can register today at
https://fresgreenthumb.eventbrite.com. If you have any questions email Leslie at
lseay@littlescholarsllc.com
**NEW**Spanish Language Program at FRES w/International School of
Languages—Thursdays starting April 9th, open to ALL grades. We emphasize learning
through fun in a casual, conversational atmosphere. Students learn listening, speaking,
reading, writing, and comprehension skills through games, music, art, and informal
conversation. Classes of 4-10 students allow for plenty of individual attention. Instructors
tailor activities to each student based on their language level. Classes have rotating
curriculums, so students continue to be challenged throughout the year. First or fourth
time – all are welcome to join! We send home skills reinforcements with each new
vocabulary unit. Please make sure to provide your email address at sign-up! Cost is $162
and you can register online at www.islanguages.com or give them a call at 301-312-8847
to register. If you have any questions you can give them a call or email them at
info@islanguages.com
Bricks 4 Kidz—Fridays starting April 10th—Two classes to choose from. Something for
everyone.
Class #1—Pirates Quest—Grades K-5. Shiver me timbers as we explore the
popular culture behind the life of a pirate! Build a motorized pirate ship, a helm and an
anchor, as we batten down the hatches and prepare for mutiny. Protect the hands on deck
by building a launching trebuchet. Beware me mateys, if it’s too late, you must abandon
ship and build a rowboat to escape. Watch out for crocodiles! Anchors aweigh! Cost is
$75.
Class #2—Jr. Robotics—Grades 1-5. Once your Lego® master builder has
completed at least one of our regular Bricks 4 Kidz classes, they can sign up for our JR
Robotics class. In this class we will take our motorized models and start learning the
basics of computer programming with the Lego® WeDo software. This icon-based
software, developed with younger kiddos in mind, is a great way to experience the
programming aspect of robotics. (Previous Bricks 4 Kidz experience required) Cost is
$129.
You can register for both of these classes at
https://my.bricks4kidz.com/index.php?action=location&location=194. If you have
any questions contact Shannon at scrider@bricks4kidz.com or call 410-927-5455.
Chipotle Night
Put on your calendar. We will be having a Chipotle Restaurant night on Tuesday, April
14th at the Laurel location from 5-8pm (in the Laurel Lakes Shopping Center near
Safeway/Best Buy). Flyers will be sent home after Spring Break. We will be getting
50% of the proceeds!!
Community News...
Have a home daycare in our district?
If you have a home daycare in the Forest Ridge district and you would like to advertise,
please email christin_traini@hcpss.org with your name, address, ages of children you
watch, and your license number. Thanks in advance for helping get the word out about
daycare in the FRES district!
Last Day of School Update
The last day of school was originally scheduled for June 10 on the 2014-2015 school
calendar, which reserved five additional days through June 17 for inclement weather
makeup. As of today, all five of those makeup days have been used, plus three additional
inclement weather days. For the three additional days used, the Board of Education on
March 12 voted to apply to the Maryland State Dept. of Education (MSDE) for a waiver
for one inclement weather day used, and extend the school year by two more days,
making June 19 the last day of school for students.
The calendar adjustment will not be final until approved by MSDE. Additional changes
may also be needed if more inclement weather closures occur.
Howard County Green Fest
Saturday, April 18, 10-4 at Howard Community College
www.hcgreenfest.org
Savage Boys & Girls Club
Registration is open for Spring Baseball and Softball at Savage Boy's and Girl's
Club. Visit www.savagebgc.org for more information
Kid Empowerment Smashing ANTs™
& Leadership FUNdamentals
Grades 1-4 / 7 classes, starting April 14 – May 26 / $125
Fostering confidence, resilience, self-management, and success…
One child at a time. We all have ANTs – Automatic Negative Thoughts - from time to
time. What’s important is to know what to do with them! Smashing ANTs™ is a unique
program that gives kids the tools to recognize their ANTs, plus the language and
resiliency skills to challenge them.
Empower your child toward success and happiness! In this life changing program your
child will learn:

ANT Awareness - how to recognize ANTs (Automatic Non-Supportive
Thoughts), guard against them & smash them!

Fun & enlightening strategies to improve self-confidence and to create his/her
own success by conscious choices!

Powerful life-skills, through a variety of engaging and interactive games,
activities, and short cartoon lessons!

How to practice leading in a way others will want to follow!
To Register: www.smashingants.com/spring-2015-howard-county
For more information about Smashing ANTs™: www.smashingants.com
For questions, contact: Michelle Schwelling at: michellesmashingants@gmail.com or
410-292-2254
Patuxent Valley Middle School PTA Yard Sale
PVMS PTA is seeking sellers and bargain shoppers to join us May 9th (Rain Date May
16th) at Patuxent Valley Middle School for a yard sale from 8 am – 1 pm. Sellers may
purchase one parking space for $10 or 2 spaces for $19 if purchased by May 2nd (prices
slightly higher after). We’ll have refreshments and lots of bargains so we hope to see you
there! For more information, or to reserve your space, please contact Christine Dietrich
at dietrichs4@verizon.net. Thank you!
HC DrugFree and Howard County Police are once again holding a Drug Take Back
Day to collect over-the-counter and prescription medications. Two-thirds of teens who
abuse prescription drugs are getting them from home, friends, or family. Please do not
flush meds into the water system! Help us keep our kids safe by removing unwanted or
expired medications. Date of collection will be Saturday, April 11, 10:00 AM to 2:00
PM. For more information about the nine convenient collection sites around the County,
please visit www.hcdrugfree.org/drug-take-back-day/ or call HC DrugFree's Executive
Director, Joan Webb Scornaienchi, at 443-325-0040. HC DrugFree's office will be the
only location accepting needles, syringes and EpiPens on this collection date.
Howard County Recreation and Parks Spring Programs
See the attached flyer for information about upcoming after-school programs sponsored
by Howard County Recreation and Parks.