Dear Forest Families,
What a fantastic start to the school year! Over the first four days, we've seen so much to celebrate. A big thank you to our amazing PTC for providing popsicles at the supply drop off last week - they were a sweet way to kick off the year. We also appreciate all of our families for doing a great job following the traffic patterns during arrival and dismissal, which helped keep everything running smoothly. Additionally, we have received a lot of positive feedback about the school lunches provided through our new food service provider OrganicLife.
In every classroom last week, we saw students and teachers diving into community building activities, academics, and learning essential routines and procedures to set a strong foundation for the school year. The energy and enthusiasm have been incredible and we are thrilled to see such positive momentum as we head into the second week of school.
Thank you for your continued support. We're excited to keep this great start going!
Sincerely,
Ms. Soike and Ms. Reiner
8/27: NWEA MAP & FastBridge Assessments
Throughout the school year, students will participate in benchmark testing starting in the fall. The purpose of the benchmark assessments is for us to get an indication of how each student is performing in both math and reading at different points throughout the school year. This information, along with classroom assessments, student work samples, and teacher observations help us to tailor our instruction to meet the needs of individual students and groups of students. After students take the assessments, we are also able to identify the areas in which students are doing well, areas where students could benefit from additional support or enrichment, and what students are ready to learn next. This week, students will either take the NWEA MAP assessment or FastBridge assessment.
NWEA MAP Testing (Grades 3-5)
- Tuesday (8/27) - Reading
- Wednesday (8/28) - Math
FastBridge
- Tuesday (8/27) - Huvaere (K), Fortier (1), and 2nd Grade Reading
- Wednesday (8/28) - Bergstrom (K), Jorbin (1), and 2nd Grade Math
- In grades K-1, this assessment is administered individually by the classroom teachers
- In grade 2, this assessment is administered digitally in a whole group setting
8/29: Parent Information Night
Please join us for Parent Information Night on Thursday, August 29 from 5:30-7:00 PM. The purpose of this event is to learn more about what your child is learning this school year, what you can expect from teachers and administrators at Forest, and how you can help support your child. This event is intended for parents and guardians. Unfortunately, childcare is not available.
Schedule for Parent Information Night
- 5:30-6:00 PM - Classroom Session #1
- 6:00-6:30 PM - Meet and Greet with Specials and Community Partners
- 6:30-7:00 PM - Classroom Session #2
Free and Reduced Lunch Applications
If interested, there is an application in Infinite Campus' Parent Portal to apply for free and reduced lunch. The application must be submitted within 30 days of school, so if you are interested, please apply now. This must be re-submitted at the beginning of each school year.
Forest Elementary School's SEL Team is fantastic! Click here to learn more about the SEL Team, the work that they do, resources that are available to families and students, and upcoming events. This year's SEL Nights will be held on October 8, December 9, February 11, and April 14. There will also be a Winter Gear Swap in November. Save the date for these impactful events and stay tuned for more information as the dates get closer!
Our first PTC meeting of this year is September 10th at 7:00 PM at Forest. All Forest caregivers are invited. Babysitting is provided for children 3 years and up. Hope to see you there!
Interested in 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
8/27: FastBridge Assessments begin (Grades K-2)
8/27: 5th Grade Band & Orchestra Information Night (via Zoom) from 6:00-6:30 PM or 7:00-7:30 PM
8/28: MAP Math Assessment (Grades 3-5)
8/29: Forest Parent Information Night from 5:30-7:00 PM
9/2: No School - Labor Day
9/4: Right at School Open House from 6:00-8:00 PM at Lake Park - South Pavilion
9/5: 5th Grade Band & Orchestra Recruitment Night from 4:00-7:00 PM at Plainfield Elementary
9/6: 5th Grade Band & Orchestra Registration Forms DUE
9/9: 5th Grade Orchestra Lessons begin (during the school day)
9/10: 5th Grade Band Lessons begin (during the school day)
9/10: PTC Meeting from 7:00-8:00 PM at Forest
9/11: Picture Day - more information coming soon
Contact Us
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