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

Open House gives families a firsthand look at their child’s school experience. By visiting classrooms and observing learning, parents and caregivers can better understand what students are learning, how teachers support them, and how classroom routines help children succeed.

The Forest Knolls ES Open House will be November 11, 2026.We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Open House!

Please note these important details for this year's event:

• Two Time Slots: We are offering two different time slots, 9:00-10:30 and 1:45-3:15. You can choose which part of the school day works best for your schedule to observe our classrooms.

• New Option: There will be opportunities to “Snack & Chat with Administration” 9:45-10:15 and 2:15-2:45 in the Cafeteria. If you would like to attend, please sign up HERE.

• Adults Only: For space and focus, we kindly ask that all visitors are adults.

• Short Visits: We invite you to stop by for a brief visit within your chosen time slot so we can welcome all families.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has a business partnership with Schaeffer’s Piano

Company, Inc., providing 15 grand, upright, and digital loaner pianos to MCPS at no cost. MCPS

provides maintenance for the instruments and informs our students, parents, and guardians of the

Partnership. Schaeffer’s Piano Company. Inc., located in Rockville, Maryland, is the area’s oldest piano store. This agreement also provides MCPS families and staff an opportunity to purchase these and other in stock pianos for considerably reduced prices at an annual piano sales event. Schaeffer’s Piano Company, Inc., has a public sale of instruments twice a year—the first sale for this school year will occur November 7 - 15, 2026, at 105 North Stonestreet Avenue, Rockville, MD, 20850. During this time, the public can purchase pianos at reduced prices. Our partnership with Schaeffer’s Piano Company, Inc. commits MCPS to provide the notice of this sale to each student. Hard copies of the letter were distributed to students. Translations of the letter are also available here.

Your student’s Spring 2026 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) Individual Student Report (ISR) is now available electronically in Synergy for students who participated in ELA Grades 3-5, Mathematics Grades 3-5, Science Grades 5
The ISR provides information about your student’s performance and progress toward Maryland’s academic standards. Please log in to Synergy to view the report.
Log in to ParentVUE in Synergy to view your child’s report. Need help understanding the results? Visit the MCPS MCAP webpage for family-friendly guides, or contact your child’s school for assistance. Printed copies are also available upon request.

The Conversation Is Underway. Your Questions, Concerns and Ideas Matter.
Why is MCPS studying school closures and consolidations? What does the data tell us? How will decisions be made? These are important questions, and they're exactly why we're bringing our community together. Our engagement sessions are underway, providing families, staff and community members opportunities to learn about the challenges facing our schools, ask questions and share what matters most to them. No schools have been selected for closure, no recommendations have been made and no decisions have been predetermined. You don't need to have all the answers, or even know all the questions, to participate. This is a process of learning, listening and planning together, and there's still time to be involved. Read the full story here.

Also visit MCPSStudy.org
Watch the Videos

English = https://youtu.be/vtn_QeqKZ2Q

Spanish = https://youtu.be/h2PJYSelS1c

Inside MCPS: The Realities of Our Aging Facilities
Leaking roofs. Failing heating and cooling systems. Aging buildings. Rising construction costs. The hard truth is that MCPS has significant facility needs, and waiting to address them only makes the problems more expensive.
In a new video series, "The Hard Truth," MCPS takes you inside schools and support facilities to show the real facilities challenges facing our district.
The Hard Truth: Doing nothing is not an option.
Watch the Video Series

Be Sure to Weigh In on the 2027-2028 School Calendar
As MCPS continues to develop the 2027-2028 school calendar, the district is seeking more input from you!
Complete this second survey to share input on the proposed draft calendar for the 2027-2028 school year. The survey will close on Friday, Nov. 6. Take the survey.

Board Seeking Public Comment on Two Policies
The Board of Education is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to two policies — Policy IPD: Travel Study Programs, Field Trips and Student Organization Trips and Policy BLB: Rules of Procedures in Appeals and Hearings.

• The comment period for Policy IPD closes Friday, Nov. 6. Submit comments on Policy IPD.

• The comment period for Policy BLB closes Friday, Nov. 6. Submit comments on Policy BLB.

Policies for Public Comment

Now You Know — Career & Technical Education Program Changes
Important changes are coming to Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Starting in fall 2027, MCPS will move from 51 to 37 state-approved CTE programs of study. Some will be phased out; others will be combined or updated. These changes provide great opportunities for students to explore new, integrated and modernized pathways that prepare them for high-wage, high-demand careers.
So, what does this mean? Some CTE programs will be integrated into our new six-region high school model, helping expand access to high-demand programs across the county. The programs will also align with Maryland’s new 14-career-cluster model.
If your student is already enrolled in a CTE program, there’s no disruption. They’ll be able to complete their existing program and earn their intended credentials.

Learn more: English | Spanish | Amharic | Chinese | French | Korean | Portuguese | Vietnamese

FARMS Applications Matter: Help Your Family and Our School
Completing a Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMS) application can benefit your family and help our school maintain important programs.
Changes in school eligibility mean every application matters. Schools must have at least 40% of students eligible for FARMS to participate in Maryland's free in-classroom breakfast program. When fewer eligible families apply, schools may lose access to this benefit. Applying is quick, confidential and available in multiple languages. Only one application is needed per household, but families must reapply every school year, even if they previously qualified. See if your family qualifies and help support our school.
Learn more about FARMs and apply here

MCPS Calendar Proposals and Feedback

Board Moves School Calendar Proposals Forward for Public Comment
The Board of Education received a presentation on Oct. 8 outlining proposed school calendars for 2027–2028 and 2028–2029 and moved the proposals forward for public comment and feedback. A key feature of the discussion was a two-year calendar approach, designed to give families and staff greater ability to plan ahead by establishing major calendar dates earlier.
Under the approach, the Board would adopt the next school year’s calendar while tentatively setting major dates, such as the first and last days of school and winter and spring breaks, for the following year. The community will now have an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed calendars, with final adoption scheduled for Nov. 19.

See the video of the presentation here. See the slide deck here.

Round 2 SY 2027-2028 Calendar Survey