Forest School News (2.10.25)

• Cars are expected to pull all the way up to the stop sign. 🛑
• Students are expected to get in and out of the car independently on the curb (passenger) side.
• Family members must stay inside the vehicle at all times. 🚗

• ✅ Parking is permitted/allowed on 5th Avenue between Forest School and Algonquin Middle School.
• 🚫 Parking is NOT permitted/NOT allowed in the Forest Staff Parking Lots or on 5th Avenue in front of Forest. The Des Plaines Police Department will begin ticketing those who are parked or idling in an area where parking is not permitted.

District 62 is hosting a month long challenge to collect goods to benefit the Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines. The Student Council has worked to create advertisements to share information during morning announcements soon! If students bring in any food items to be donated, please send them towards the office. There will be a red barrel in the Lost & Found area that they can drop their items into. If a student brings in cash or check, please send that to the office.

Check out the D62 Bilingual Parent Advisory Council. Click here to read the flyer in multiple languages.

Dive under the sea with the Main West Fine Arts Department as they present Disney's The Little Mermaid. Check out this performance February 20-22. To purchase tickets, see the information below.

Check out the information below about this year's pizza war fundraiser!

This week is a spirit week at Forest! See the schedule below for details.

As we are halfway through the school year, we wanted to take this opportunity to remind our families to review and update your contact information including your phone number (home, work, cell), email and emergency contact information.

Having accurate and up-to-date information contact information is crucial for us to:

• Communicate effectively: We rely on this information to send messages and updates regarding school closures, emergencies and other important events.

• Ensure student safety: In case of an emergency, we need to be able to reach you quickly.

To update your contact information, please do so via the Campus Parent (Infinite Campus) website or use the Campus Parent app on your smartphone. Should you have any additional questions, please contact the school office.

Save the date for an upcoming Family Game Night at Forest. Ms. Zienty, Forest's very own LMC Specialist, wrote a proposal and won a grant from the D62 Education Foundation which will go toward funding this exciting event! Please see the flyer below for more information.

With our first snow of the season before Thanksgiving break and cooler temperatures in the forecast, please be sure to send your child to school with winter weather gear!

• Students should expect to have outdoor recess, unless it is deemed that the conditions are too cold or unsafe for students and staff. Please be sure to send your child to school with winter gear! If you are in need of winter accessories, please connect with Ms. Soike (Principal), Ms. Reiner (Assistant Principal), Ms. Biancalana (Social Worker), Ms. Corcoran (Social Worker), or Ms. McInerney (School Psychologist).
• If there is snow on the ground, recess supervisors will require students to have a minimum set of winter accessories in order to play in the snow. Students will need to have a winter coat, snow pants, winter boots, and mittens or gloves.

Our next SEL Parent Night is just a few weeks away. Please join us at Forest on Tuesday, February 11 from 6:00-7:00 PM. Ms. Biancalana and Ms. McInerney will be ready to share information about students' attention and focus, answer any questions you might have, and provide a space for families to connect with one another and share ideas.

Please click here to RSVP to let us know that you will be joining us!

If you are experiencing financial hardship, food insecurity, looking for community resources, or exploring opportunities for parent learning, look no further. Our SEL team created a Google Form you can fill out so they can be notified to follow up with you about any/ all areas you are looking for support. The responses to this form are confidential, and will only be seen by the SEL team unless you specify otherwise.

You can contact them here:

• Gina Biancalana, School Social Worker
• McKenna Corcoran, School Social Worker
• Mary McInerney, School Psychologist

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Winter Pool Party on Friday, January 31! We hope you had a great time. Thank you to Michelle Carrera for organizing this fun event.

Thank you, also, to everyone who attended the Movie Night on Friday night! Students and families had a great time watching the movie Wish together while eating some snacks!

The February PTC meeting is coming up TOMORROW on Tuesday, February 11th at 7:00pm at Forest. All Forest caregivers are welcome. Babysitting will be provided for children 3 years old and above. We hope to see you there!

Forest goes to the Wolves Game! We are going to the Chicago Wolves game on Sunday, February 23rd. You can purchase tickets at this link. The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, February 21st at 12pm CST. A portion of each ticket sold will be donated back to the Forest PTC. All of the details are on the attached flyer.

Save the date! Talent Show is coming this spring! Permission slips were sent home last week (see below).

Some dates you need to know:

• In-Person Auditions: Tuesday, February 25th
• Video Auditions: due by Friday, February 28th
• Tech Rehearsal: Tuesday, April 22nd
• Show Day: Friday, April 25th

We are so excited to announce that sign-ups are now open for the 2nd Annual Forest Family Arts & Multicultural Night on Thursday, April 10, 2025, from 6:00–8:00 PM!

Are you passionate about sharing your culture? We’re looking for families to:

• 🎉 Host a table to showcase your traditions, heritage, and pride!
• 🎶 Perform a cultural dance, song, or musical piece!

Hosting a table is easy and fun—your display could include:

• 📷 Photos, maps, or flags
• 👗 Traditional clothing or artifacts
• 🎲 Games or crafts
• 🍬 Pre-packaged snacks or candy
• ✨ Ready to join the celebration? Fill out this form to host a table.

🎤 Interested in performing? Sign up here.

Let’s celebrate the amazing diversity of our Forest School community together! 🌟

📅 Mark your calendar for April 10 and stay tuned for more details. We can’t wait to see you there!

Spirit Wear is a great way for your family to show their Forest pride. Spirit Wear is available to purchase on our website, and it will be delivered straight to your child's classroom.

Do the events above sound fun but don't line up with your schedule? Or would you like to learn more about what we can do for our students? Please consider joining the PTC! Membership gives you our meeting minutes and the first opportunity to volunteer at school events! You can join us here: Membership Form You can also check out our website: https://forest-ptc.square.site

Did you know that MaineStay has a variety of FREE or affordable programs for children ages 3-17? Programs range from cooking classes, to family fun nights, to play-based parenting programs. Check out the graphic below for more information and visit the MaineStay website!

This Week:

• 2/11: SEL Parent Night at Forest from 6:00-7:00 PM
• 2/11: PTC Meeting at 7:00 PM
• 2/14: Valentine's Day!
• 2/15: Do It Yourself Kits at the Des Plaines Public Library from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Next Week:

• 2/17: NO SCHOOL -- President's Day
• 2/18: NO SCHOOL -- Professional Development
• 2/18: Board of Education Meeting at 7:00 PM in the Forest Boardroom
• 2/19: BPAC from 6:30-8:30 PM in the Forest Board Room
• 2/20-2/22: The Little Mermaid Musical at 7:00 PM at Maine West High School
• 2/23: Under the Sea Carnival from 12:00-1:30 PM at Maine West High School
• 2/23: The Little Mermaid Musical at 2:00 PM at Maine West High School
• 2/23: D62 Education Foundation Pizza Wars from 2:00-4:00 PM
• 2/23: Forest Families & PTC at the Chicago Wolves Game at 3:00 PM

In Two Weeks:

• 2/24-2/28: SABERS Winter Assessment Window Opens
• 2/24: LEGO League from 6:30-7:30 PM at Des Plaines Public Library
• 2/25: Spring Pictures & Group Pictures during the school day
• 2/25: Talent Show Auditions from 3:30-5:00 PM in the Forest MPR
• 2/27: 3rd Grade Concert at 6:30 PM in the Forest MPR
• 2/28: End of trimester 2
• 2/28: Munch Madness from 4:00-5:00 PM at the Des Plaines Public Library
• 2/28: Movies in the Corner from 6:30-8:30 PM at the Des Plaines Public Library

Website: http://forest.d62.org

Address: 1375 South 5th Avenue Des Plaines, IL 60018

Phone: (847) 824-1380

Facebook: Forest Facebook

Principal: Ms. Amber Soike

Assistant Principal: Ms. Traci Reiner