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

Please complete the Fall Survey for Forest Knolls Parents/Caregivers by September 30, 2024. Enter the Raffle to win pizza delivered to your family by the principals! As responses could vary, you are invited to complete a survey for each child and enter the raffle for each child. Thank you for your time and feedback.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a wonderful opportunity to honor and celebrate the diverse cultures, histories and contributions of Hispanic communities. From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, MCPS schools are embracing this rich heritage by spotlighting the achievements and traditions of students, educators and staff members who trace their roots to Spanish-speaking countries in North and South America, the Caribbean and around the world.

With more than 34 percent of MCPS students identifying as Hispanic or of Hispanic descent, this month serves as a meaningful reminder of the vibrant cultures within our schools. It's a time to recognize and appreciate the unique perspectives and contributions of Hispanic individuals in our community. During this month, schools might highlight influential figures, host cultural events and share stories that reflect the heritage and experiences of Hispanic students and staff.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month not only enriches our understanding and appreciation of different cultures, but also fosters a sense of inclusion and community within our educational environment. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage—Staff Spotlight: Edgar Perez

The Forest Knolls PTA Equity Committee is organizing our school-based celebration of Hispanic Heritage on October 10, 2024 6:30-8:00 PM.

The small playground on the front side of our school building and the large playground in the back of the school building are used throughout the day for our students. Please refrain from having younger children on the playground during school hours. We appreciate your understanding.

Recently, we have noticed an increase in animal feces on our school playground, which raises concerns for the safety and cleanliness of our outdoor spaces. We are taking immediate steps to address this issue and ensure that the playground remains a safe and enjoyable environment for our students.

To assist in this effort, we kindly ask for your cooperation in the following ways:

• If you live near the school and walk pets in the area, please be vigilant in cleaning up after them.

• Remind your children about the importance of reporting any unsanitary conditions they may notice while playing outside.

We are committed to maintaining a safe and clean environment for all students and appreciate your attention to this matter. If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

The safety of our MCPS community is critical, and being able to communicate with students, staff, and families during severe weather or other emergencies is of the utmost importance. Use this link to find all the ways you can connect with MCPS to receive emergency operational information from the school system. The current operating status options for the school district appear on the MCPS website and on individual school websites. In the event of a change in operational status, this link will provide more information about the MCPS Operating Status options.

As part of Superintendent Thomas Taylor’s entry plan, he will be meeting with as many stakeholders as possible to learn more about the Montgomery County community. Part of this includes upcoming listening sessions at three schools. Save the date for one of these sessions:

• Monday, Sept. 23, Montgomery Blair High School, 51 University Blvd. East, Silver Spring, 7–8 p.m.

Interpretation services will be available in Spanish.

Mrs. Veronica Gonzalez, Forest Knolls Parent Community Coordinator, will share family resources throughout the year. Please contact Mrs. Gonzalez with questions, needs, or ideas at 240-740-4620 (office), 240-550-3254 (cell), veronica_gonzalez@mcpsmd.org (email).

• Have you joined the Forest Knolls PTA yet? The FKES PTA is an organization of parents, staff, and teachers who work together to help our students succeed, support our the FKES team, and build our community. We'd love for you to be a part of making a positive difference in your child's school! Learn more and join at fkespta.org. And check out our calendar of events here. The first 200 families to join will get a free FKES car magnet!

• New MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor is hosting listening sessions with the community. Please join FKES PTA and community members on Monday, September 23rd from 7-8 PM at Montgomery Blair High School to hear from him and share your thoughts and concerns. Spanish interpretation will be available.
  
  

• The first FKES PTA meeting will be Tuesday, October 1 at 7:00 PM in the FKES Multipurpose room. Join us to learn about the PTA and ways you can get involved. FKES's Reading Specialist will join us to share information and answer questions about MCPS's new ELA curriculum. Spanish interpretation will be available and childcare will be provided by KAH for kids 5 and older. Send questions to president@fkespta.org.
  
  

• On October 1st, help us treat our hard-working staff to an Oktoberfest-themed meal! We’ll supply fresh-baked pretzels, but need your help supplying sides, beverages, and desserts. Sign-up HERE to contribute a food item or donation.”
  
  

• FKES PTA Hispanic Heritage Night is Thursday, October 10 at 6:30 PM at FKES. We hope you'll join us to celebrate! Sign up to bring food or drink or host a table HERE, See flyer for more details.
  
  

• FKES PTA Running Club - Come run and have fun with your friends after school with the Forest Knolls ES Running Club. Meets once a week on Thursdays from 4:30pm to 5:30pm at FKES. First day is Sept 26. Any student from FKES 1st-5th grade may participate. Runners will be under the supervision of volunteer parent coaches (If you're interested in volunteering, we'd love to have you). No experience or special equipment is required other than closed-toe shoes. For more information or to join, email Doug at FKESRunClub@gmail.com.