Park Ridge ES: Parent Newsletter

Happy New Year! We are excited to welcome our students back and begin the second semester. Our Patriots are ready for new learning, growth, and exciting opportunities ahead. As we return, teachers and administrators will re-establish classroom and school-wide expectations, focusing on what it means to be Productive, Respectful, Enthusiastic, and Safe. We encourage you to talk with your child about how they can demonstrate these values at school.

As routines resume, consistent attendance and punctuality are especially important. Please help ensure your child is well-rested, back on schedule, and arrives on time each day. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to a great second semester!

I hope you've all had a restful Winter Break. Students will return to school on Wednesday, January 7th.

January 5th- Staff Work Day (No School for Students)

January 6th- Professional Development Day (No School for Students)

January 7th- Second Semester Begins

January 19th- MLK, Jr. Day (No School)

January 30th- Pastries with Pals

Upcoming Event: Multicultural Night

As we return from Winter Break, I want to remind families how important regular attendance is for our students. Being at school every day helps children stay connected to routines, build strong learning habits, and continue making academic and social progress. Even missing a day or two can make it harder for students to keep up, especially as new learning begins in the new year.

Here are a few tips to help students get to school on time each day:

• Re-establish a consistent bedtime and morning routine.

• Lay out clothes, pack backpacks, and prepare lunches the night before.

• Set alarms with enough time for a calm morning.

• Arrive a few minutes early to allow for a smooth start to the day.

• Talk with your child about the importance of being at school and ready to learn.

I appreciate your support with attendance. By working together to establish consistent routines, we can help students return from Winter Break feeling confident, prepared, and ready to learn.

We appreciate your partnership in helping keep our students and staff healthy. Taking simple precautions at home and school can make a big difference in reducing the spread of illness and keeping students learning safely.

When to Keep Students Home

Students should remain home until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and are feeling well enough to participate in the school day. Keeping students home when they are sick helps protect classmates and staff and allows your child time to rest and recover.

Hygiene Reminders

We encourage families to continue reinforcing good hygiene habits at home. Remind children to wash their hands often with soap and water, especially before eating and after using the restroom. Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow and avoiding touching the face are also important habits. Please also ensure your child comes to school dressed for the weather, including coats, hats, and gloves, as appropriate, to stay warm during outdoor transitions and recess.

Thank you for your support in keeping our school community healthy during flu season.

If your child is a car rider, please remember to bring your car rider tag with you during dismissal. Having your tag visible helps us identify students quickly and keeps our car rider line moving safely and efficiently. If you do not have your car rider tag, please contact the front office to request a replacement or plan to come inside the front office to sign your child out.

Last year’s Multicultural Night was such a fun and meaningful event, and we’re excited to begin planning for this year! We are currently in the early stages of organizing the event and would love for families to be involved.

If you are interested in participating and sharing about your culture or a culture that is meaningful to you, we would be thrilled to have you be a part of this celebration. More details and information about a planning meeting will be shared soon. We look forward to coming together again to celebrate the many cultures that make up our school community!

Stafford Schools is celebrating the 5th annual Health & Wellness Fair on Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at Colonial Forge High School, with a focus on mental health and student wellness. Families can explore resources from 70+ local organizations across all dimensions of wellness.

The event also includes the Polar Pals Fun Run & 5K (registration required) races starting at 12:00 p.m. Runners receive Polar Pals swag and hot chocolate.

Participation incentives will be awarded to the school with the highest staff participation (lunch provided by #ElevateWellness) and the school with the most student participation (a special reward and yearlong custody of Frosty Bearson).

Learn more atstaffordschools.net/healthandwellnessfair

Join the PRES Spirit Council in collecting pop tabs to help support the Ronald McDonald House - Greater Washington, DC.

Their Mission:

Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Greater Washington, DC (RMHCDC) provides essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare. Collection jars will be in classrooms beginning next week!