Hawk Happenings
August 14,2026
Lisa Roedel, Principal (lroedel@fhps.net)
Ross Veldheer, School Supervisor (rveldheer@fhps.net)
KF Main Office: 616-493-8980
KF Attendance Email: kfattendance@fhps.net
October 16, 2026
Upcoming Dates
Monday, October 19 - NO SCHOOL due to Fall Break
Tuesday, October 20 - 2nd grade to Goodwillie
Wednesday, October 21 - Picture Retakes
Thursday, October 22 - Kindergarten to Heidi's Farmstand
Friday, October 30 - Halloween Parties ๐
Wednesday, November 11 - Veteran's Day Assembly
November 13-20- Lincoln School Drive (more details to come)
November 30-December 14 - Operation Santa
December 2nd - 1st and 3rd Grade Holiday Concert
January 8th - Report Cards accessible to parents
March 24th- 2nd and 4th Grade Spring Concert
May 5th - 5th Grade Finale
๐ NO SCHOOL MONDAY 10/19 - FALL BREAK ๐
Halloween Details ๐
Costume and Party Details
Costume Details -
As we look forward to Halloween fun at Knapp Forest, please choose costumes that help everyone feel safe and comfortable. Our elementary students have a wide range of comfort levels with Halloween, so costumes should not be bloody, gory, or frightening. Weapons of any kind, including costume weapons, and masks are not allowed. Faces must remain visible, and each person must be easily recognizable. These guidelines apply to both students and adults. Thank you for helping us keep our celebration fun and welcoming for everyone!
Friday, October 30th
- JK/ K Party 2:00-2:45
- 2:30-2:45 Costume change
- 2:45 Parade
- 1st-5th Grade Parties to follow (details will be shared in classroom updates)
Halloween Parade - Weather permitting
- Please park in the front of the building. No parking is allowed in the back of the building (bus lot)
- Parents will line the sidewalks around the perimeter of the building
- Students will walk the parade route from their mudroom door around the building and back into their mudroom door
- Parents attending the parties - must enter through the main office, sign in and get a sticker
- Parents attending the parade only do not need to sign in.
Music Concert Save The Dates
Professional Learning
We wish you all a nice long weekend for Fall Break! While you might be taking a trip, sitting by a fire, or hanging out at home, we hope you enjoy time to relax, unwind, and spend time with loved ones!
While you enjoyed extra time together, the Knapp Forest staff was busy learning!
Thursday Early Release:
During our recent Early Release, teachers focused on our district and school improvement goals by reviewing outlined strategies, analyzing progress, and reflecting on the impact of our current work. This time allowed teachers to collaborate, identify growth areas, and use what we learned to plan meaningful next steps that support student learning and success.
Friday Professional Development:
- Teachers engaged in professional learning focused on the mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition assessment, designed to help educators better understand student literacy development and make data-informed instructional decisions. Teachers explored how to use assessment results to identify individual student needs, monitor growth over time, and adjust instruction and interventions to support continued literacy development.
- You can learn more about mCLASS by visiting the mCLASS Caregiver Site.
- Special area groups met to discuss pacing, unit collaboration, and district-wide alignment.
Apple Crunch Day
This past Wednesday, schools all over Michigan celebrated Apple Crunch Day. This day encourages healthy eating, and supports produce that comes directly from Michigan farms. Ms. Kristy and our kitchen staff helped to supply an apple for all of our teachers and staff, and at 3:15, everyone in the school crunched their apple at the same time. What a cool way demonstrate healthy eating and show school unity! ๐๐
Positive Behavior at Lunch
As a way to acknowledge all the amazing PRIDE behavior we are seeing in the lunchroom, the past two weeks we have been passing out Lunch Leader tickets.
Last week we drew 5 winners, and along with our Super Hawks, they got to enjoy a delicious homemade slushie, courtesy of our very own KF slushie machine!
Every week we have a dye option and a dye-free option, which are both gluten free. Please continue to encourage and celebrate all the amazing positive behavior that is occuring in the lunchroom!
Volunteer for Lunch or Recess Duty!
Do you LOVE hanging out with students during lunch and recess? If so, we have an opportunity for YOU! ๐
Here is our sign-up for lunch or recess duty. Sign-up for as many days/times as you like. We (and your children) would love to see you helping out at Knapp Forest! ๐๐งก
Counselor's Corner
~News from our KF PTO~
2026-2027 Knapp Forest PTO Board
President
Katie Pirog
Co-Vice Presidents
Sarah Cole
Lin Dillon
Co-Treasurers
Laura Hilp
Maggie Walder
Secretary
Kim Billingsley
Trustees
Laura Faber
Stacey Vone Sarah Wrenn
Previously Shared But Still Important
Explore our Fine Arts Newsletter- Click the banner below for updates!
Check out our new FHPS Odyssey of the Mind website today and get your student registered for the new season! If your student loves science, acting, engineering, sewing, literature, creating music, being curious and working with a team, Odyssey of the Mind is a perfect activity to explore those interests in a competitive environment. For more information please visit the website at https://sites.google.com/fhps.net/fhpsom/
If you are ready to sign up, please use this link to register
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKlPohY6_ak4s7MWQAe0DvWluGjxcv7kQGNCQ-Kokoat8a8w/viewform
Questions? Your OM Coordinator is Carol Brown - cbrown@fhps.net
Get ready to celebrate 20 years of Disney's High School Musical!
Forest Hills Northern's talented students are bringing this fan-favorite musical to life November 19โ21 at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center! Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 PM and Saturday at 3 PM and 7 PM. Don't miss this high-energy show filled with music, dancing, and Wildcat spirit!
Tickets are on sale NOW at FHFAC.Ludus.com or at the FAC Box Office, MondayโFriday, 9 AMโ4:30 PM. GO WILDCATS!
FOREST HILLS NORTHERN PRESENTS
Disney's HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
20 YEARS ANNIVERSARY
NOVEMBER 19โ21, 2026
Thursday, November 19 โ 7:00 PM
Friday, November 20 โ 7:00 PM
Saturday, November 21 โ 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM
FOREST HILLS FINE ARTS CENTER
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Purchase tickets at FHFAC.Ludus.com
OR stop by the box office
MondayโFriday, 9:00 AMโ4:30 PM
Save the Date: 3rd Grade "You Belong Here" Experience!
Mark your calendars! On Friday, November 6, 2026, all FHPS 3rd graders are invited to the Fine Arts Center from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. for the free "You Belong Here" Experience, hosted by the District Shared Voices Committee.
During this special event, 3rd graders will explore meaningful ways to strengthen their school community. Students will learn what impacts a sense of belonging, how to foster inclusion in their own school buildings, and how to bring these important lessons back to their peers.
Permission slips will be sent home on October 5th.
A NEW way to Pay!
We are excited to introduce eFunds for Schools, a secure and convenient online payment system designed to make paying for school expenses easier than ever!
With eFunds, you can now pay for field trips, school fees, and other expenses directly online using a credit card, debit card, or checking account. No more worrying about lost cash in backpacks, writing checks, or waiting in line at the main office.
Why use eFunds?
Safe & Secure: Your financial information is protected with bank-grade encryption.
Convenient: Pay anytime, anywhere, from your computer or mobile device.
Instant Confirmation: Receive an immediate email receipt for every transaction.
Everything in One Place: Easily keep track of all your studentโs payments throughout the school year.
Please follow this link for instructions on how to create your account and link your student(s). We appreciate your partnership as we transition to this faster, hassle-free payment method!
FHPS Communication Plan
Volunteer Approval Process
We are so thankful for the time our families give us through volunteering! If you plan to volunteer at any point this school year, please be sure to complete an updated volunteer consent form here. The form will prompt you to upload a picture of the front of your driver's license. This form is required to be updated each school year.
If you would like to volunteer during lunch/recess, here is the SignUp Genius for the 2026-2027 school year. Thank you for considering this opportunity! ๐ฅช
Important Dates
- October 19- NO SCHOOL- Fall Break
- October 21- Picture Retakes
- October 30- Halloween Parties
May 14- Field Day (tentative date)
Important Contact Information
KF Main Office: 616-493-8980
KF Attendance Email: kfattendance@fhps.net
KF Attendance Voicemail: 616-493-8986
FHPS Transportation Dept: 616-493-8785