Forest Ridge Forerunner
For the Week of June 15-19 and Beyond
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
June
13 5th Grade Dance
16 1st Grade Author's Celebration & Picnic
Book Swap (see flyer sent home earlier this week)
17 Full School Day (Please note)
Club Day
Grade 3rd & 4th Grade Picnics
18 School Dismiss2hours early (Please note)
19 Last Day of School - School Dismiss3hours early (Please note)
5th Grade Picnic (date change)
Happy Summer!
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August
21 10:00-11:00 Kindergarten Orientation
1:00-2:00 New Students Orientation
2:00-3:00 Open House for Returning Students
24 First Day of School for 2015-2016!
September
1 6:30-8:00 Back to School Night for Parents of Students in Grades 1-2
2 6:00-6:30 GT Presentation
6:30-8:00 Back to School Night for Parents of Students in Grades 3-5
7 Labor Day -- schools and offices closed
From the Principal's Desk...
Dear FRES Community,
It is with a heavy heart and a great deal of gratitude that I write my final “Principal Notes” for the Forest Ridge Forerunner.
I have been offered a new leadership opportunity for next year. Our Superintendent, Dr. Foose, has asked me to be the principal of Wilde Lake Middle School beginning July 1st. Ground has recently broken in creating a new school building facility for Wilde Lake adjacent to the current building. I will be principal of Wilde Lake in the current building for two years and then have the opportunity to transition & open the brand new building. The facility is pretty special in that it will be the first “Net Zero School” in the state of Maryland, meaning that it will produce at least as much energy as it consumes. The new school will also give a new face to a school & community area that has struggled. In this sense, I get to be a part of something that is bigger than just a school community and has the possibility of being transformative. After a lot of thought and reflection, I have accepted Dr. Foose’s offer.
It is difficult to leave a place where you love coming to work. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to serve as your principal. It has been an honor. You support, partnership, and trust is something that I have come to count on over the past five years. Your children are funny, intelligent, diverse, sweet, caring, respectful, and simply adorable. I will miss you all!
I leave Forest Ridge with the knowledge that you are in “Excellent Hands”. I do not think I have to tell you what an exceptional group of educators you have in the FRES STAFF. You tell me all of the time! In addition, it is my pleasure to introduce your new principal for the 2015-16 School Year. Dr. Genee Varlack will begin her tenure at FRES on July 1st. Both Ms. Shanks and Mr. Ortega will continue as part of the FRES Administrative Team. Dr. Varlack and I are long-time colleagues! She and I previously worked very closely together as administrators at Guilford Elementary. During my career, Dr. Varlack has been one of my most valued mentors. She has been an HCPSS educator for 26 Years. Her purposeful leadership actions, love of learning, and commitment to children and families make her an outstanding match as the new principal of Forest Ridge.
Sincerely,
Anne Swartz
Student News...
Congratulations to the following students! They were our Eagle Egg winners for this week: Richard Guy, Christine Jeon, Angel Gutierrez, Tatyanna Pegues, Kayla Wontumi, and Demi Adejumo. Our grade level totals were:
K - 392
1 - 272
2 - 315
3 - 158
4 - 407
5 - 367
Forest Ridge News...
Farewell message from Mrs. Curry
Dear Forest Ridge Students, Families, and Staff,
As you may know, I will be retiring at the end of this school year. I feel very fortunate to have had so many wonderful years of teaching my students in general/vocal music classes (for six years) and then in the band and strings program (for nine years) here at Forest Ridge. I am grateful to all of the parents and staff for your unending support. Thank you, all! I will always cherish the many happy memories I have, and I plan to stay connected to Forest Ridge by doing some substitute teaching next year. Farewell and have a great summer!
Mary Curry
From the Reading Specialists
We will be having our annual Book Swap on Tuesday, June 16 for all students. A flyer was sent home with more information. Please return the form and books that are in good condition by Monday, June 15th.
Reminders from the Registrar
Moving? Moved? Don’t forget to update your address with us.
We need your new address, even if you are staying in the Forest Ridge district. We mail final report cards and other important information over the summer. Bring in your new lease or deed and a current utility bill to the front office.
Please contact the registrar, Rhonda Hill, to withdraw your child and request an exit packet to take to your new school.
Last Day of School
The Maryland State Board of Education has approved the HCPSS 2014–2015 Calendar Waiver request to waive one instructional day that was lost due to inclement weather. The last student day will now be on Friday, June 19, 2015.
All schools will be open for afull dayon Wednesday, June 17. All schools will closetwohours early for students on Thursday, June 18, and will closethreehours early for students on Friday, June 19.
High school exams will be held on Tuesday, June 16; Wednesday, June 17; Thursday, June 18; and Friday, June 19.
If your student has medication in the Health Room
Medication remaining at the end of the school year needs to be picked up and signed out by the parent/ guardian by the end of staff hours on the last day of school (June 19th, 2015). Any medication not picked up will need to be destroyed. Any questions, please contact the Health Room staff.
Thank You,
The Health Room
PTA News...
Hello Parents!!!!
IT'S HERE!!! The homestretch! As I'm preparing to go to my fifth grader's closing ceremony today and have my kindergartner's closing ceremony under my belt, I have been reflecting on what an awesome school and staff we have. I have been fortunate enough to have survived redistricting and have been at FRES since my oldest began school. I feel lucky to have three more girls going through FRES in the upcoming years. I need to give a shout out to all the parents and extended family members and staff who have supported our fantastic PTA this year and I have been so proud and grateful to have been a part of it. Our PTA sponsors so many activities and we are so glad we are able to provide so many programs and events throughout the school year to truly make the FRES community a family. These programs and activities take MANY hands to make them work and we are fortunate to have lots of helpers (not saying we don't always welcome more!). So thank you everyone for a FANTASTIC year, and I know with all the changes coming we will all gather together and make next year an even better one than this one was.
Have a fantastic summer!
Amanda Fields
FRES PTA President
Have a great summer!