Park Ridge ES: Parent Newsletter

September 30th- Fall Picture Day

October 2nd- Yom Kippur (No School)

October 3rd- Professional Learning Day (No School for Students)

October 6th- Anti-Bullying Spirit Week - Wear Blue

October 9th- End of 1st Nine Weeks

October 10th- Staff Work Day (No School for Students)

October 13th- Parent -Teacher Conferences (No School)

October 14th-17th- Anti-Bullying Spirit Week

October 20th- Diwali (No School)

October 22nd- Anti-Bullying Spirit Week - Wear Orange

October 24th- Trunk-or-Treat

October 27th-31st- Read-A-Thon Fundraiser

October 31- Surprise Assembly

There will be no school on Thursday, October 2nd in observance of the Yom Kippur Holiday.

Please note that there will be no school on Friday, October 3rd, as this day is designated for a staff work day. Students will not report to school on this day.

Just a reminder, Fall Picture Day is on Tuesday, September 30th.

The Fall Climate Survey for families will be sent out on September 29th. Your feedback is important, and we encourage everyone to complete the survey. The survey will close three weeks after it is distributed, and midpoint reminders will be sent to those who have not responded.

We’re excited to share that Park Ridge is partnering with Operation Warm this year. Operation Warm is a program that provides free winter coats to children in need. If your elementary-aged child or younger is in need of a coat due to financial hardship, please complete the Operation Warm Google Form. If you have children in other SCPS schools, please reach out to those schools directly so they can submit a request on your behalf.

This form is due by Friday, October 3rd, and please remember to fill out a separate form for each child.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month! This important observance serves as a reminder that bullying CAN be stopped. However, true change requires consistent education and intervention from all of us.

We are reminded that bullying can be stopped, but it takes consistent effort from all of us. This month, our school counselors will teach lessons on recognizing bullying and how students can respond if they experience or witness it.

We will also continue conversations about kindness, respect, and support within our school community. To wrap up the month, we’ll have a Spirit Week to promote a positive, bully-free environment.

On Monday, October 13th, school will be closed for Parent-Teacher Conferences. Please look for information from your child's teacher regarding scheduling for conference. It is essential for us to meet with every parent, especially if your child is eligible for a Student Reading Plan. We want to ensure that our teachers have the opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and any necessary interventions with you.

As we prepare for our Veterans Day celebration, we are looking for a guest speaker to join us in honoring the service and sacrifices of our nation’s veterans. If you are a veteran, or know a veteran in our school community who would be interested in speaking with our students during our Veterans Day program, we would love to hear from you!

Please contact Jalita Johnson (johnsonjj@staffordschools.net) by 10/17 if you are willing to participate or would like to recommend someone.

Thank you for helping us make this day meaningful for our students and community.

We would love to honor your service to our country in our 2025 Veterans Day Celebration. Our Veterans Day Celebration will be held on Friday, November 7, 2025. We invite you to arrive by 8:45 AM for refreshments with our assembly beginning at 9:15 AM. If you are a Veteran or active member of our armed services and would like to participate in our Veterans Day Celebration, please complete this form with your name, branch, and rank. We would love it if you could dress in your uniform if possible. In addition to completing this form, please send a picture through email to be included in our Veteran’s Day slideshow. Submit your picture to donovanrl@staffordschools.net

Sign Up to Participate

Please submit information no later than Friday, October 31, 2025.

Just a reminder, STEAM Night at Park Ridge will be held on Thursday, November 20th from 6:00–7:30 PM. Last year, this event was a great success, and we are hoping to make it even better this year! To make that happen, we will need your help. If you are interested in volunteering or hosting a station, please let us know. Your participation is what makes this event special for our students. Whether you can attend, volunteer, or donate materials, your support is greatly appreciated and we’d love to have you involved! If you are interested in hosting, please RSVP here.

For questions or accommodations, please contact Jalita Johnson, Assistant Principal at johnsonjj@staffordschools.net/540-658-6320.