Forest Knolls Mustang Message

December 15, 2024

Dr. Taylor-Cox, Principal

Forest Knolls Elementary School

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

This Week's Mustang Message Includes:

Message from Dr. Taylor-Cox
Winter Spirit Week is here!
Mrs. Macedo is Retiring
Winter Break Reading Challenge
Adopted 2025-2026 School Year Calendar
Pre-K Inclusion
Family Resources
Message from our Forest Knolls PTA
Important Dates

Message from Dr. Taylor-Cox

This time of year brings a special energy to our halls, from the sparkling student artwork and cheerful music to the excitement of upcoming celebrations and time with family. Here are a few reminders:

Students and staff do not have school December 23, 2024 through January 1, 2025. Classes will resume on January 2, 2025. The FKES main office will be open on December 23, 2024 and closed December 24, 2024 through January 1, 2025.
Please encourage your child to check the lost and found for any missing items before the break.
The next Mustang Message will be sent on January 5, 2025.

I hope your break is filled with love, laughter, and cherished moments with family and friends. Thank you for being such an integral part of what makes Forest Knolls ES a wonderful place to learn and grow.

Winter Spirit Week is here!

Fifth Grade Teacher, Mrs. Macedo is Retiring

Mrs. Kimberly Hall Macedo is retiring on January 2, 2025. She will be greatly missed at Forest Knolls ES. She has served as a dedicated and passionate educator, making a lasting impact on countless students through her expertise and commitment to student growth. Over the years, she brought innovative teaching methods, inspiring projects, and unforgettable lessons to our classrooms, creating a legacy we will always treasure.

While we will miss her presence dearly, we understand and respect Mrs. Macedo's decision to focus on the next chapter of her life. We are grateful for the time, energy, and heart she has poured into our school community, and we wish her nothing but happiness and fulfillment in their retirement.

In the meantime, we are actively working on plans to ensure a smooth transition for Mrs. Macedo's class. We are currently interviewing for a permanent replacement. We are committed to providing continued support and stability for our students during this period.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we honor Mrs. Macedo and this significant milestone in her life.

Letter from Mrs. Macedo

Winter Break Reading Challenge

Winter Break Reading Challenge

Inspire reading over the break with our Forest Knolls Reading Challenge! Blue paper game boards are coming home with students. Help your student complete the activities and return to Ms. Burroughs January 2, 2025 for a wintery prize!

Adopted 2025-2026 School Year Calendar

During the December 5, 2024, Board of Education (Board) business meeting, the Board adopted the 2025–2026 Traditional School Year Calendar and the Innovative School Year Calendar (Arcola Elementary School). The Student Transition Day is on Monday, August 25, 2025 (non-instructional day). The first day of school for all students is on Tuesday, August 26,

2025. The last day of school is on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

Highlights from the 2025-2026 Traditional School Year Calendar include:

• 181 instructional days and six built-in contingency days within the school year

• Preservice Week for Staff: Monday August 18, 2025 – Friday August 22, 2025

• Student Transition Day: Monday, August 25, 2025 (non-instructional full day)

• First Day of School for All Students: Tuesday, August 26, 2025

• Winter Break: Wednesday, December 24, 2025 – Sunday, January 4, 2026

• Spring Break: Saturday, March 28, 2026 – Monday April 6, 2026

• Last Day of School for Students: Wednesday, June 17, 2026

• Districtwide Professional Development Days on Friday, October 17, 2025, and Friday, March 20, 2026

• Grading and Planning Days following the end of each marking period on Monday, November 3, 2025, Monday, January 26, 2026, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, and Thursday, June 18, 2026.

The school year calendar includes a new Student Transition Day, which is a non-instructional full day designed to support students transitioning to new school levels or schools by fostering a sense of belonging and preparedness. It is designed for students in Grades K, 6, 9, Grade 3 students in Grades 3-5 elementary schools, and students new to a school or MCPS.

2025-2026 Traditional School Year Calendar

Pre-K Inclusion

We are pleased to announce limited enrollment opportunities for community peers in the Inclusive Preschool 4-Year-Old Class. Children must be 4 years old by September 1, 2024, to qualify for the program. The class meets daily from 12:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Please note that no bus transportation is available. There is a quarterly fee for community peers to attend. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Marcia Munoz via email at Marcia_V_Munoz@mcpsmd.org

Family Resources

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

Message from our Forest Knolls PTA

Baby, it's cold outside! Help us kick off the week before winter break with some holiday warmth and appreciation for our teachers and staff in the staff lounge. Please make sure to mark your donations as "PTA Cocoa Bar" and drop off to the front desk or staff lounge fridge by 9am tomorrow, Monday 12/16. Thank you in advance for your contributions! Sign up HERE: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094CAEAD2BAAFEC70-53894261-holiday
After 25 years serving the Forest Knolls Elementary community, Ms. Macedo is retiring. Her last day at FKES will be this Friday, Dec. 20. While we will miss her terribly, we are thrilled, she is excited for the next chapter in her life. Please join us in wishing her well by signing a card for her at cutt.ly/Macedocard. Some 5th grade parents are organizing a gift from the community. If you like to make a voluntary contribution, please reach out to Caitlin Thomas at caitlinjthomas131@gmail.com. Please feel free to share with any former FKES families. Thank you!
Save the date - Tuesday, January 7 - for our January PTA Meeting. More details to come! Have ideas for a speaker or topic to cover at PTA meetings? Please send them our way - president@fkespta.org.

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!

Important Dates

December 16-20 Winter Spirit Week

December 20 MP2 Interim Report Cards Distributed via USPS

December 23-January 1 No School

January 2 Students and Staff return to school

January 5 Next Mustang Message

January 7 PTA meeting