Forest School News (9.6.26)
A Quick Recap of the First Two Weeks!
Dear Families,
Can you believe we've already had nine full days of school?! During these first days, we've been busy building relationships, learning routines, growing our school and classroom communities, and of course, learning! 😄
From PBIS rotations and kickoff assemblies to launching Arts & Letters and full-day kindergarten, completing i-Ready testing, practicing safety skills during Safety Week, and navigating indoor recess during the extreme heat, Forest staff and students have really hit the ground running!
This week, Ms. Soike and Ms. Reiner will begin our first monthly classroom read-aloud by visiting each classroom to read All Are Welcome, a beautiful story about making sure everyone feels like they belong. We’re also looking forward to our first PTC meeting on Tuesday at 7:00 PM (please join us!) and welcoming families back into the building for Parent Information Night on Wednesday at 5:30 PM.
It’s going to be another great week at Forest! 🦅
Sincerely,
Ms. Soike
📸 9/9: Fall Picture Day
Families have the option to purchase picture packages through the HR Imaging Partners website.
👪 9/9: Parent Information Night
Please join us on Wednesday, September 9 from 5:30-7:00 PM at Forest for an opportunity to learn more about what to expect for your child this school year, school-wide expectations, classroom-specific information, and to hear more about grade level curriculum.
Schedule for Parent Information Night
- 5:30-5:35 PM - Families enter the building at Door 1
- 5:35-6:00 PM - Session 1: Principal, Assistant Principal, Specials Teachers, and Specialist presentation in the Multipurpose Room
- 6:00-6:05 PM - Families transition to Session 2
- 6:05-6:30 PM - Session 2: Classroom and/or Grade Level Presentations
- 6:30-7:00 PM - Session 3: Open House - Families are welcome to visit additional classrooms, specials classrooms, the library, etc.
🌞 A Quick Arrival Reminder
We love seeing so many families walking to school with their students and spending time together on the blacktop during morning arrival! It’s such a nice way to start the day.
Moving forward, when the arrival whistle blows, we ask that family members please stay toward the back of the blacktop or in the grassy area while students line up and head inside. When family members walk with their child from the blacktop to the doors, it creates additional traffic and can slow down the line for everyone.
Thank you for helping us make arrival as safe, smooth, and efficient as possible so that all of our students can get inside and start their school day!
🍎 Free & Reduced Price Meals
Your child(ren) may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals! To be considered for the Free & Reduced-Price Meal Program, families must submit a new application each school year.
- If your family submitted a meal application last school year that was approved for free or reduced-price meals, that status will expire toward the end of September. After that date, you will begin to incur meal charges unless a new application has been submitted and approved for the current school year.
- Any D62 family that believes they may qualify based on income is encouraged to apply!
- To submit an application, log in to Infinite Campus Parent Portal and follow the Meal Benefits Application Directions.
Visit the D62 Free & Reduced-Price Meal Program website to learn more.
💟 MaineStay Fall Program Guide
MaineStay Youth & Family Services has a wide variety of programs and activities for families. Please check out the Fall Program Guide (also linked in the Family Resources section below) to learn more about free and low-cost programs offered in our community. Some highlights are below.
- Workshop Improv Theater
- Cooking Class
- Tutoring
- Hooked on Crochet
- Art in the Town
- Family Fun Nights
- Trunk or Treat
- Kids Fall Fest
- Youth Mentoring
🤝 9/8: September PTC Meeting
The first PTC meeting of the year will be Tuesday, September 8 at 7:00 PM. We will meet in the TILE room at Forest. All Forest caregivers are invited. Hope to see you there!
Child care will be provided for children 3 years and up.
🦅 Forest Spirit Wear
Interested in purchasing spirit wear for your family? Click here to place your order!
💚 Join the Forest PTC!
The Forest Elementary Parent Teacher Council (PTC) works to connect families, teachers and the community to support students' growth, learning and school spirit.
The PTC does A LOT for Forest! The PTC hosts holiday room parties, schoolwide events like Fall Fest, Book Fair, Movie Night, and more. The PTC raises money that goes back to our school for things like field trips, books for classroom libraries, student rewards, and staff appreciation events!
Why should I join the PTC?
Being a member gives you an inside scoop to upcoming events and access to our meeting minutes. No volunteering required!The PTC looks forward to meeting new families and encouraging everyone to get involved in our school community!
Sounds amazing! How do I join?
You can fill out the form linked below or visit the Forest PTC website to learn more! Membership is $10 per family per school year.
📚 9/15-9/17: Literati Book Fair
The Book Fair is coming soon! Each classroom will have the chance to visit the Book Fair during the school day. The online Forest Book Fair is now open!
💟 In Need of Resources?
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. Options include resources for utilities, food, housing, finances, mental health, parent education, etc.
Breakfast & Lunch
Breakfast: We will continue to serve breakfast this school year. Breakfast will be available for all students from 8:45-9:00 AM. If students would like breakfast, they should enter through Door 1 and go to the Multipurpose Room (MPR) to eat breakfast. Students who eat breakfast will be dismissed from the MPR to their classrooms starting at 8:57 AM.
Lunch: Lunch will be available for all students. Families can choose to send their child(ren) with lunch from home or they can order the school lunch. Students will let their teacher know each morning whether they brought a lunch from home or if they will order a lunch at school.
Menus: Menus will always be included in Forest School News family newsletters! You can also click the button below the menus to take you to Food Service Information on the district website.
How to Add Funds to Infinite Campus Account
- Log into your Infinite Campus Account.
- Click the blue "Pay" button
- Enter the amount of funds to add
- Click "My Cart" to finish the payment
- Enter payment information and email
- Payment complete - view your receipt
Contact Us
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