Forest Knolls Mustang Message

Email: Jennifer_Taylor-Cox@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/forestknollses
Location: 10830 Eastwood Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20901, USA
Phone: 240-740-1640

As we strive to ensure the safety and efficiency of student arrival and dismissal at Forest Knolls ES, we want to provide you with important procedures and reminders for our car loop drop off and pick up area.

• Drop Off and Pick Up Times: Please adhere to the designated drop off and pick up times to avoid congestion and delays. The arrival time is 8:40-9:00 and pick up time begins at 3:25.

• Follow Traffic Flow: Please follow the designated traffic flow patterns in the car loop area. This helps maintain order and ensures the safety of all students and staff. Please see the diagram that indicates the differences between arrival and dismissal traffic flow to the car loop.

• Stay in Your Vehicle: For safety reasons, we kindly ask that drivers (and passengers who are not students) remain in their vehicles during drop off and pick up. Staff members will assist students as needed.

• Unload and Load Quickly: To keep the traffic flow smooth, please have your child ready to exit the vehicle promptly during drop off and be prepared to pick them up efficiently at dismissal. For safety, please try to have your child exit your vehicle from the passenger side.

• Follow Staff Instructions: Our staff members are there to assist you and ensure the safety of all students. Please follow their instructions and guidance at all times.

• Be Patient and Courteous: We understand that drop off and pick up times can be hectic, but we appreciate your patience and cooperation. Please be courteous to fellow parents and staff members.

• Parking: If your child needs extra assistance exiting or entering your vehicle, please park in the designated parking lot. Please use the crosswalk at the far end of the parking lot or near the front entrance to escort your child to the school. We kindly request that you do not walk across the bus loop and do not park in the car loop as we need to keep the flow of traffic moving.

• Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Families: Pre-K and Kindergarten students should be escorted to the kindergarten door at arrival and they need to be picked up outside of their classroom doors. Please use the parking lot to park instead of the car loop.

• Autism Families: Autism students should be escorted to the exterior door of the cafeteria for arrival and picked up outside of the cafeteria for dismissal. Please use the parking lot to park instead of the bus loop.

• Late Arrivals: Students who arrive after 9:00 are considered tardy. Please park your car, walk your child into the building, and sign them in with Ms. Hurtado.

By working together and following these procedures, we can ensure a safe and efficient drop off and pick up experience for all students and families. Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our school community safe.

Building administrators have a strict protocol to follow if an ICE agent or any other non-local law enforcement agent comes to a school to inquire about students. Families will be contacted in the event of such an inquiry or occurrence. Families with immigration status concerns should have an emergency plan in place and designate a trusted family member who can care for their children in case of an emergency. Please read the Standby Guardianship to learn how to create an Emergency plan

MCPS Stance: Our schools are and will always remain safe places where every child—regardless of immigration status—is welcomed, valued, affirmed, validated, respected, and loved.

MCPS Immigration webpage with more resources

Download Flyer: English / español / 中文 / français / Português / 한국어 / tiếng Việt / አማርኛ

Current Testing Updates:

• Kindergarten - Grade 2 students are currently taking two district assessments: Dibels (reading assessment) and MAP-P (math). The window to administer Dibels and MAP-P has been extended to February 7th. Two weeks following the close of the testing window, the system will upload the parent report for MAP-P in ParentVUE. Grade level teams will send home the parent report for Dibels at the close of the testing window.

• Grade 3 - Grade 5 students are currently taking MAP-R (reading) and MAP-M (math) district assessments. The window to administer MAP-R and MAP-M has also been extended to February 7th. Two weeks following the close of the window, the system will upload the parent report for MAP-P in ParentVUE.

• Our Emergent Multilingual Learners (EML) are currently taking the WIDA ACCESS test. This is a state required assessment that measures our EML students' English proficiency in the areas of listening, reading, writing, and speaking. This testing window opened on January 8th and closes March 4th. Individual Score Reports (ISR's) will be mailed to families by the end of the year.

Upcoming State Testing/Survey:

• Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA); Grade 5 only. Fifth grade students will take MISA in the beginning of March. MISA is aligned to the Maryland Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The NGSS integrates three dimensions necessary to understand science. The dimensions are the Science and Engineering Practices, the Crosscutting Concepts, and the Disciplinary Core Ideas. Click here for more information about this assessment. For information on the specific testing schedule, please stay tuned as we are currently drafting the schedule.

• Mayland School Survey; Grade 5 only. In mid-March, fifth grade students will participate in the Maryland School Survey about school climate. The survey will ask students about topics such as student engagement, interactions with adults and with other students in the school, the school environment, bullying, and safety. More information about this survey will be provided in the coming weeks.

• Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP); Grades 3, 4, & 5. Every student in grades 3, 4, and 5 will take the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) assessments in Reading/English-Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics online. Students will take four 40-minute sessions of math and four 70-minutes sessions of ELA. This year, the MCAP test will be given during the months of April and May. Stay tuned for more information on this assessment.

The Grade 3 Central Review process looks at school system performance data. Students whose data indicate a need for enriched and accelerated reading language arts instruction will be centrally recommended for enriched literacy instruction at their local school and placed in the candidate pool for CES. It is not necessary to submit an application. The central review process will occur in March 2025. Multiple criteria will be used to identify students for the candidate pool. To find out more about this process, please read the full letter here. Please note that this central review process is separate from the GT identification process.

As the weather grows colder, we are collecting donations of gently used coats, jackets, scarves, hats, and gloves to support our school community. If you have any winter items in good condition that you no longer need, please consider donating them to help students and families who may be in need of warm clothing this winter season.

Donations can be dropped off in the main office or if your child brings items to school, they can drop them off in Ms. Schechter's office (Room 46).

If you or your family is in need of a coat or other winter items, please reach out to Rachel Schechter at rachel_j_schechter@mcpsmd.org , Veronica Gonzalez at Veronica_Gonzalez@mcpsmd.org or your child's classroom teacher.

Thank you for your support!

The decision to have indoor recess is typically made by the school administration or staff when the weather conditions are deemed unsafe for outdoor play. Factors that may cause indoor recess include extreme temperatures, heavy rain, snow, strong winds, or other hazardous conditions such as lightning. Too cold is when the “feels like” temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below. We aim to ensure students' safety while still providing them with a chance to move around and have a break. Mr. Epps has some movement activities for students during indoor recess.

At the PTA meeting there was a request for information about head lice. While we have experienced a few cases this year, we do not currently have any concerns about outbreaks.

The following is pertinent information about a condition found commonly in preschool and elementary-age children. Head lice, also called Pediculus humanus capitis, are parasitic insects found on the heads of people. Anyone who comes in close contact (especially head-to-head contact) with someone who has head lice is at greatest risk. Occasionally, head lice may be acquired from contact with clothing or personal items that belong to an infested person. Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice. Here are some ways you can identify and/or prevent head lice. Head Lice Education

Superintendent Thomas Taylor has proposed a $3.61 billion Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2026, designed to stabilize the school system and prioritize resources for student learning and school support. The recommendation reflects a “Focus on Fundamentals” approach that targets investments directly to schools, supports student success and addresses structural deficits within the system.

The Board of Education will now hold public hearings and work sessions on the budget. The timeline follows:

• Public Hearings: Thursday, Jan. 16, and Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.

• Work Sessions: Tuesday, Jan. 14, Thursday, Jan. 23, and Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025.

• Board Approval: Tentative adoption of operating budget; Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.

• Final Adoption: Adjustments based on revenue projections will follow, with final adoption expected Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget website

Please contact Mrs. Gonzalez with questions, needs, or ideas at 240-740-4620 (office), 240-550-3254 (cell), veronica_gonzalez@mcpsmd.org (email).