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

• Message from Dr. Taylor-Cox

• Arrival and Dismissal Reminders

• Bus Information

• Spotlight on our Health Team

• School Immunizations

• School Health Forms

• Family Resources

• School Health Forms

• Family Resources

• Forest Knolls PTA

• Important Dates

The morning drop-off window begins at 8:40, the doors open at 8:45, and instruction begins at 9:00. Please help your child arrive on time so that everyone has the maximum amount of instructional time. All students enter through the front entrances of the school building. Bus riders enter through the APR doors. Kindergarten walkers and car riders enter through the side door. First, Second and Third Grade walkers and car riders enter through the front door. Fourth and Fifth Grade walkers and car riders enter through front sliding doors. Dismissal begins at 3:25. Students exit through the same doors.

Here are the MCPS Bus Routes by School for the 2024-2025 School Year. Please use the link to ensure you are accessing the most updated version of the bus routes. School bus routes are subject to change during the first few weeks of school and any updates will be posted with a time and date stamp to indicate a change. For any questions about your bus route, please contact your Transportation Cluster Manager. Here are some Safety Tips and Reminders for students, families, and motorists as we begin the new school year.

Forest Knolls Bus Arrival Routes

Forest Knolls Bus Departure Routes

The Remind App is the messaging platform that is used to communicate among MCPS schools, teachers, students and parents. School staff, central office staff, students and parents all have Remind accounts to enable them to send and/or receive messages using a preferred mode of communication, such as text message, email or phone call and in their preferred language. A paper copy of the Remind Information was sent home last week.

On September 19, 2024 6:30-8:00 PM, we will have Back-to-School Night for Grades 1-5. Based on feedback from parents and caregivers, we have upgraded our Back-to-School Night priorities. The sessions will be held in classrooms so that you can get a feel for your child’s daily experience. We will engage in a “You Matter” community builder. There will be more time for parents to get to know one another, more time for questions, and less time “presenting.”

The Maryland Department of Health released updated school vaccine requirements for the 2024-2025 school year. Families of incoming kindergarten students, new students, and 7th and 8th graders may need additional vaccines to start the school year. For students whose required vaccines are incomplete, updated vaccine records must be submitted by the first day of school; proof of exemption or a vaccination visit must be submitted within 20 days. School staff are reviewing records and contacting families of students with incomplete vaccination records. Not sure if your student is up to date? Contact your child’s health care provider or access their immunization records online. Students 18 years old and younger eligible for the Vaccines for Children program may obtain free vaccines through the county’s Immunization Program.

Parents of fourth and fifth grade students, please reserve 5:30-6:15 pm on Thursday, September 19th, which is Back-school-night, to meet with Dr. Glabman in the media center as you find out everything you need to know about our fabulous and fun Forest Knolls instrumental music program. We have scheduled this time so that you can find out about instrumental music without missing any part of Back-to-School Night. Please note that this meeting is intended for students who will be taking an instrument for the first time. Parents of advanced 5th grade instrumental students are welcome to attend if they wish, but should feel no obligation to do so.

Ms. Margaret McCallum is our Community Health Nurse. She has a great deal of medical knowledge and is happy to talk with parents who have medical questions about the health of their children. Ms. Kadidiatou (Kadi) Haidara is our Health Technician. She is new to Forest Knolls this year and has already demonstrated great skills and understanding when it comes to the care of our students. We are happy to have a great health team at Forest Knolls ES.

Returning students may need certain forms if they have a health condition that requires medication, other health support or accommodations, or an emergency health plan at school (for example, asthma, food allergies or a seizure disorder). Common forms include:

• Form 525-13 (for medications to be given or available at school): Authorization to Administer Prescribed Medication / Autorización para Suministro de Medicamento Recetado

• Form 525-14 (emergency plan for severe allergic reactions): Emergency Care for the Management of a Student with a Diagnosis of Anaphylaxis / Atención de Emergencia para Estudiantes con Diagnóstico de Anafilaxia

• Form 240-23 (for food services to be aware of special diets due to an allergy or another health condition): Special Dietary Needs Form / Formulario de Necesidades Alimentarias Especiales

• Other health forms or forms in other languages are on the MCPS website.

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).

Please help us keep our school grounds looking beautiful. Please be sure to pick up after your pets. Thank you!

The first meeting is October 1st at 7:00 PM.