Forest School News (2.22.26)

District 62 schools continue to use the Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavioral Risk Screener (SAEBRS) as a universal screener to help us better understand students' SEL skills. SAEBRS has two components: a teacher rating for all students and a self-assessment for students in grades 2-8. Please review the SAEBRS Family Communication to learn more.

Forest will be administering SAEBRS from February 23-26, 2026. If you have any questions regarding the SAEBRS universal screener or if you do not want your child to be included in the SAEBRS survey, please contact Ms. Soike by Monday, February 23.

Join us on Monday, February 23rd from 6:00-7:00 PM in the Forest Multipurpose Room (MPR) for a fun evening of math-based games, problem-solving, and time together with other Forest families! There will be raffles, giveaways, and more! Check out the flyer below for more information.

Spring Picture Day will be Thursday, February 26th. Sign up for your account at myshop.hrimaging.com and see the information below for additional details!

Forest's 2nd and 3rd Grade students will be presenting their musical entitled Giraffes Can't Dance on Thursday, February 26th at 6:30 PM in the Multipurpose Room. Students should arrive at 6:15 PM to check in.

If your student will not be attending the performance, please contact Mrs. Myers as soon as possible so she can arrange coverage for their part.

Forest is partnering with the American Heart Association for the Kids Heart Challenge!

Through this program, students will learn how to keep their hearts, bodies, and brains healthy while helping children with special hearts live longer, healthier lives. It’s a fun and meaningful way to build lifelong healthy habits while supporting our school and earning rewards, such as gift certificates for physical activities and recess equipment.

How to Participate

• Register online by clicking here or download the free AHA Schools app on Apple or Android devices.

• Complete Finn’s Mission by finishing all 7 steps and learning Hands-Only CPR for a chance to be entered into a raffle to win tickets to the 2027 Super Bowl.

Your voice matters! The Illinois 5Essentials Survey is open and family participation plays an important role in shaping our school’s improvement efforts. Parent participation is critical as it continues to be aligned with federal legislation, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Participation directly affects individual school ratings.

Parent Survey

• Is confidential
• Takes about 15-20 minutes to complete
• May be completed once for each child enrolled at a given school. If you have more than one child at Forest Elementary School, please consider filling out the survey for each child.
• Only one parent response is expected per child.

Completing the Survey

• Visit the 5Essentials Survey website
• Choose the Parent Survey (English or Spanish) on the right side

The deadline to complete the survey is March 13, 2026. Thank you!!

The February Food Fight Challenge begins this week and will go through the month of February!

Please consider donating non-perishable food items to benefit the Self-Help Closet and Pantry of Des Plaines. You can bring any items (or send them with your child) to Forest. We have a red barrel right outside the Forest office to drop off donations in!

As of today, the most needed items are:

• Beverages: Tea Bags & Ground Coffee
• Canned Foods: tuna, chicken, ravioli/spaghetti-os, and beans (refried, red, black)
• Boxed/Bagged Items: beans (pinto or black), oatmeal, Pop Tarts, mac & cheese, boxed pasta
• Miscellaneous: pancake mix, syrup, condiments (any)
• Personal Care: shampoo, conditioner, bar soap or body wash, toilet paper, baby wipes

Calling all Forest students to participate in the 5th Annual Kiwanis Cup! Students will have the opportunity to compete alongside their classmates to race against challengers from other local schools. Race distance is approximately 1 mile around the beautiful Lake Opeka.

Each runner will receive a t-shirt representing their school color. Let's make a Forest team!! Register by the April 24th deadline to receive a shirt.

More information about how to register will be shared soon! Please see the information below for more details.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Wolves game! We hope you had a wonderful day out with your families, friends, and the Forest community.

Talent Show is back for 2026! Keep an eye out for the flyer/permission slip to come home soon!

Talent Show Important Dates

• Thursday, March 12th: In-Person Auditions
• Friday, March 20th: Video Auditions Due
• Tuesday, May12th: Tech Rehearsal
• Thursday, May14th: Talent Show Day

Yearbooks are now on sale and can be purchased at buytheyearbook.com

Save the date!! The next Pool Party is coming up on Friday, March 13th! Be on the lookout for all of the details and how to purchase tickets soon.

Save the date! This year Multicultural Night is on Friday, April 16th. We’re seeking families to host a table representing their culture. Hosting a table is a wonderful way to share your heritage, traditions, and pride with others! Your display might include:

• Photos, maps, or flags
• Traditional clothing, artifacts, or crafts
• Interactive games or activities
• Pre-packaged snacks or candy reflecting your culture

To host a table, please fill out this form. Together, let’s make this evening a meaningful and memorable celebration for everyone!

Spirit Wear featuring the new Falcon logo is now available on our website.

Week of February 23

• 2/23-2/27: SAEBRS and mySAEBRS Survey
• 2/23: Family Math Night from 6:00-7:00 PM in the Forest Multipurpose Room
• 2/26: Spring Picture Day
• 2/26: 2nd & 3rd Grade Concert at 6:30 PM in the Forest Multipurpose Room
• 2/27: Trimester 2 Ends

Week of March 2

• 3/4: Sports Club for 2nd Grade begins from 3:30-4:30
• 3/5: Robotics Club begins from 3:30-4:30 PM
• 3/6: Trimester 2 Report Cards released on Infinite Campus

Week of March 9

• 3/10: PTC Meeting at 7:00 PM
• 3/11: PTC Pool Party at Prairie Lakes Aquatic Center

• District 62 Community Partnerships & Resources - A full list of D62 community partnerships.
• Virtual Bulletin Board - View community flyers on the D62 website. Updated regularly.
• MaineStay Youth & Family Services - Click on the MaineStay tab for Youth Programs.
• MaineStay Winter Program Guide - Click to view various flyers for winter programs!
• Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines - Learn more about available community resources.
• Community Backpack Project - Weekly backpack program - Contact Forest if interested.
• Des Plaines Public Library - A calendar of events at your local public library.

District 62, Forest, and the Des Plaines community have so many wonderful resources available for families. If you are experiencing financial hardship, food insecurity, looking for community resources, or exploring opportunities for parent learning, we are here for you!

To help the Forest SEL Team better understand what resources to connect you with, please fill out the Forest Family Resources form for us to follow up with you about any resources needed. Responses are kept confidential and will only be seen by the SEL team unless you specify otherwise.

Website: Forest Elementary School

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

Phone: (847) 824-1380

Social Media: Facebook & Instagram

Principal: Ms. Amber Soike

Assistant Principal: Ms. Traci Reiner