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Forest Ridge Elementary

Learning Together so we can Stand Alone!

News from the Nest 9-6-26

Posted Date: 09/06/26 (06:23 PM)


Logo featuring an owl and trees with the text 'FOREST RIDGE RESPECT STARTS WITH ME'.

News from the Nest Family Edition

Parent Edition

September 6, 2026
A white Sheriff's vehicle with an owl mascot is parked in front of Forest Ridge Elementary School.
Dear Families,
As we head into the long weekend, I want to wish everyone a wonderful and relaxing three-day weekend! I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy some quality time together and recharge for the week ahead.

PM1 is wrapping up, and I am so proud of the hard work and progress our students have made. Thank you for continuing to encourage your children and support their learning at home.

As always, please remember that communication is key. If an issue or concern arises, please reach out first to your child's teacher. Then, if you need further assistance, you should reach out to Mrs. Beaser or me via telephone or through ParentSquare. We value open communication and want to make sure we work together to address concerns and support our students in the best way possible.

Finally, thank you for your continued support of our teachers and our school. Your encouragement, partnership, and involvement make such a positive difference in our school community. We truly appreciate all that you do!
Have a safe, happy, and enjoyable three-day weekend!

Heather Bone
Principal
Forest Ridge Elementary School
 

“The Hunger Games” Food Drive

Forest Ridge Elementary is participating in the Citrus County Family Resource Center’s “The Hunger Games” food drive! We are asking families to help us stock the shelves by sending in in-date, nonperishable food items with students between September 8 and September 22. Every donation makes a difference and helps local families in our community. ❤️
 
Suggested items include: canned vegetables, canned fruit, pasta, pasta sauce, cereal, peanut butter, rice, beans, and other shelf-stable foods.
 
Thank you for helping our Forest Ridge family Be Owl You Can Be by caring for others in our community!
 
Trishia Mikel
School Counselor

Christmas Assistance

As the holidays approach, we want to support our school families. If you are in need of Christmas assistance this year, please don't hesitate to reach out to Trishia Mikel via ParentSquare or at mikelt@citrusschools.org.

Upcoming Events

  • September 8-22-Food Drive
  • September 10-5th Grade Science Fair Meeting starting at 4:30-Cafeteria
  • September 10th-Safety Patrol Parent Meeting
  • September 11-18-Book Fair
  • September 21- Scouting America Join Scouting Night 6 pm-Cafeteria
  • September 23-Early Dismissal at 1:35-Parent Conference Day
  • September 25-PTA Back to School Bash 5:30-7:30

Heat Index

Florida in August is HOT! ☀️ Please make sure your child brings a water bottle filled with water to school each day. Students are encouraged to bring their water bottles with them to recess and PE to help them stay hydrated throughout the day.
Please remember to label your child’s water bottle with their name. This will help us quickly return any lost water bottles to their owners. 💧

We closely monitor heat conditions throughout the day. When it is too hot and humid to go outside for PE and recess, students have indoor PE and indoor recess. The safety of our students is the number 1 priority!
 

Fortify FL

Fortify FL is a suspicious activity reporting tool that allows you to instantly relay information to appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials. The Fortify FL app is on every iPad at school. 

Reporting suspicious activity keeps our community safe, but making false reports is a serious crime. Submitting a hoax tip to law enforcement or reporting tools like FortifyFL will result in severe legal consequences, law enforcement action, and school expulsion.

Stay Connected with Parent Square

Please download the ParentSquare App to stay connected with your child’s teacher and our school. ParentSquare allows you to send and receive messages, receive important announcements, and, in many cases, see photos and updates from your child’s classroom.
Many of our teachers use ParentSquare as a primary way to communicate directly with families throughout the school year.
To ensure you have access, please make sure your contact information is accurate and up to date in Focus. Accurate information in Focus will help ensure that you are connected to ParentSquare and receiving important school and classroom communications.
We look forward to staying connected with you throughout the school year!

Fundraisers

FRE sponsors several fundraisers each year for different purposes. Profits from fundraising at FRE will be used, among other things, to purchase school-wide needs, such as additional playground equipment, technology supplies, and instructional materials. A small amount of these funds may be used to provide food and other consumable items for faculty and staff sessions throughout the year, staff appreciation, and student recognition. Some fundraisers are for specific purposes, such as the Kids Heart Challenge. We are always mindful that these are optional for students and are deeply appreciative of the support of the FRE community.

 
Person using a laptop

Contact info

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can reach out via the following links:
  • 352-527-1808
  • pikel@citrusschools.org
  • https://fre.citrusschools.org/
  • Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FREOwls/

Teachers Working Out of Field

Forest Ridge Elementary School is proud that all our teachers and administrators who work with our students
are certified by the State of Florida or another governing board. We appreciate the following teachers who
have volunteered to teach a subject outside of their primary certification and are currently taking classes
or exams to obtain certification in the area they are teaching out of field.

Bradely Ewing-Current Certification: ELEMENTARY ED K-6; teaching out of field in ESOL

Rebecca Tuttle Current Certification:
SOCIAL SCIENCE 6-12
MIDDLE GRADES SOCIAL SCIENCE
PRE K / PRIMARY EDUCATION
Teaching out of Field in: ESOL

Grace Willis: Current Certification:EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT
PRE K / PRIMARY EDUCATION
Teaching Out of Field in: ESOL

Diane Martin: Current Certification: PRE K / PRIMARY EDUCATION
SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER

Teaching Out of Field in: ESOL
Citrus County School Board Non-Discrimination Information document outlining policies against discrimination.