the Forest Hills Flyer

The school year seems to be flying by! I have several important announcements, so please read!

• ACAP Practice Test: Students in grades 3-5 will take the ACAP Practice ELA Assessment on Thursday 2/5 and Math Assessment on Tuesday 2/10. These are PRACTICE! We are using these practice tests to give students a "test run" so they are comfortable with the test, its tools and parameters. The practice tests will also provide us valuable data on what we need to continue teaching to our students over the next 6 weeks. Please be sure your child is on time and has a healthy breakfast for these dates. Please be sure your child has a pair of working headphones at school.
• Kids Heart Challenge: Each year, our PE Department supports the American Heart Association by teaching our students about healthy lifestyle choices during the month of February. Be on the lookout for an informational packet in your child's folder!
• Multiplication Fact Bee: We are excited to announce our first Multiplication Fact Bee! In the state of Alabama, students are expected to be automatic with multiplication facts 0-10 by the end of the 3rd grade. Automatic means that a child can recall a multiplication fact without having to use a strategy to arrive at the correct answer. Students in grades 3-5 are about to double down and work HARD to become automatic their multiplication facts! This will help them not only now, but in future grades and in solving real-world problems. Please see information located in this newsletter for specific dates and details. You can help your 3rd, 4th or 5th grader prepare by having them study their multiplication facts at home. Store-bought or home-made flash cards can be a great resource for your child! They may also login to their Clever portal and access Fluency Flight in iReady. This free online tool helps students master their facts. There are many other free online resources!
• THANK YOU to those who participated in our annual coupon book fundraiser!! We are still in the process of finalizing our total sales, but we know our students showed up and showed out! Funds raised will be used to enhance our Outdoor Classroom and support classroom needs.
• Due to our large student population, seating at our Black History Month Program will be limited. We are thrilled that our very own Assistant Principal, Mr. Clarke Jackson, will be this year's guest speaker!
• Please remember the value of reading with your child at home. Students are bringing home decodables and AR books regularly at this point in the school year so be sure to ask your child to read to you or with you. Practice makes perfect!

If I can ever be of assistance to you, please call, email, or stop by! GO FALCONS!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Fowler, Principal

#WeAreFalcons

Forest Hills Family,

It is bittersweet that I am sending you this message. I have accepted a position as an investigator with the police department so in the coming weeks, I will be transitioning out of my position as the school resource officer here at Forest Hills Elementary School. I have requested from the police department that I have some time to train my replacement, when one is selected, so there will be minimal problems in the transition. I want to thank you all for kindness that has been shown to me. You all have truly been a blessing in my life. Change is never easy and I for one have a hard time with it. This was a decision that I did not take lightly but this move was what I felt is best for my career and my family life.

First, to the parents of Forest Hills - thank you for all of the kindness you all have shown me. You have been amazing to me and I know going forward you will be to my replacement as well. I hope I have been a positive example in the lives of your children during my short time here. Please continue to show support to the faculty and staff. I have personally seen how much this group of educators and staff care about your children.

Next, to the faculty and staff - all of you have made my time here fantastic. You all come together as a family and I felt I was part of that as well. I want to thank you for all the help you have provided to me over my time here. Because of all the steps you all take, I felt like I barely did any work at all. I have enjoyed getting to know each of you. All of you are true professionals in each of your roles and it is very obvious that you all have a caring heart for the students here.

Lastly, to the students at Forest Hills - it is hard for me to put into words how much I appreciate each and every one of you. You all truly have a caring heart and showed me so much respect, kindness, and love. You all are a special bunch and I wish you the greatest success as you grow and learn. I hope that I have been a great example to you. Moving forward, I hope you continue to take care of each other and be kind to each other, continue to be respectful to your family and staff at school, and don’t forget what I continue to tell you all “enjoy your time being a kid” because time moves very fast. If I am able, I will introduce you to my replacement when one is selected. I know all of you will show him the kindness and respect you have shown me.

It has been a great honor to work with you all here at Forest Hills Elementary School. Thank you all again.

Sincerely,

Officer Chris Woods

Results just released from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly known as America’s Report Card, show Alabama students are leading the charge in post-COVID academic recovery. In 4th grade math Alabama climbed to 32nd in 2024, from a low point of 52nd in 2019, the last NAEP administered pre-COVID. Alabama’s 6-point scale score increase was the largest increase in the nation when it comes to 4th grade math. Notably, Alabama’s gains in COVID recovery comparisons surpass those of every other state. This places Alabama among a small group of five states—including Louisiana, South Carolina, Hawaii, and West Virginia, and—to show recovery to pre-COVID levels in 4th grade math.

To order online or for more information on how to prepare, please visit www.butlerstudio.net/schoolprepay

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Happy February from Third Grade!

This month in Math students are continuing to practice their multiplication facts. Please make sure your child is working on these facts at home. Also, students have been learning about fractions. Fractions are all around us! There are so many ways you can use fractions at home to reinforce taught skills. Try reading a recipe or cutting a pizza!

In reading we starting Unit 4: Animals and Their Habitats. In this unit students will read selections about animals in a variety of habitats. They will learn how these animals interact, how they spend their days, and how they adapt, or change their behavior, to live in certain environments. Remember to listen to your child read their fluency passage three times each week.

Each class will have a Valentine’s Day snack on Friday, February 14th.

Reading and Science go hand in hand in our upcoming reading unit. We will be reading tales, informational texts, and poems about animal and plant adaptations. Students are finishing up their realistic narratives and are looking forward to sharing their creations.

In math, students have become fluent in finding equivalent fractions, comparing fractions, and adding/subtracting fractions. Students are now working on adding and subtracting mixed numbers. Please continue to work with your student on multiplication facts. Being immediate on these facts is a building block that students will continue to need for the rest of the year!

Our Montgomery Trip is not until May, but don’t forget that the final trip deposit is due March 3rd. This is only for those students and chaperones who paid the initial deposit in November to reserve their ticket.

Relay Days:

May 12: K am / 5th pm

May 13: 3rd am / 1st pm

May 14: 4th am / 2nd pm

Awards Days:

May 19: K 8 am / 1st 10:00am / 2nd 12:30pm

May 20: 3rd 8am / 4th 10:00am / 5th 12:30pm

The Alabama Department Public Health (ADPH) is excited to announce that we have entered into an oral health partnership with Singing River Dentistry-Russellville, AL. Singing River will be providing in-kind preventive dental visits for expectant mothers and children ages 1-17 who are uninsured and/or underinsured. The services provided include radiographs, "cleanings," exams, and treatment plans. Children are also eligible for sealants. There is no cost to the patient.

All the patients have to do is call to make an appointment with the Singing River Dentistry, Russellville office, (256) 460-4191, mention they were referred by ADPH (WIC Dept, etc.), and have the attached dental brochure (flyer) in hand with them at their scheduled appointment.

Did you know that you have access to our school calendar with all scheduled school events through the Falcon Hub App?! All you need to do is go to settings, follow Forest Hills, navigate to the home screen and tap Calendar!

Falcon Hub App Video

February 4 - Show Choir Rehearsal 2:30-4:00pm

February 6 - PTO Meeting in Gym Lobby 7:45am

February 6 - Robotics Practice 2:30-4:00pm

February 7 - 3rd Nine Weeks Progress Reports

February 11 - Show Choir Rehearsal 2:30-4:00pm

February 13 - Robotics Practice 2:30-4:00pm

February 17 - Presidents' Day HOLIDAY - No School for Students

February 18 - No School for Students

February 20 - Robotics Practice 2:30-4:00pm

February 25 - Show Choir Rehearsal 2:30-4:00pm

February 25 - Spring Pictures (1st, 2nd, and 4th Grades)

February 26 - Spring Pictures (Kindergarten, 3rd, and 5th Grades)

February 26 - Kindergarten Tours 3:30pm

February 27 - Robotics Practice 2:30-4:00pm

February 28 - Black History Month Program 8:00am

Email: lfowler@florencek12.org
Website: https://www.florencek12.org/Domain/12
Location: 101 Stovall Drive, Florence, AL, USA
Phone: 256-768-2500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057754536339
Twitter: @ForestHillsEle

lfowler@florencek12.org

Clarke Jackson - Assistant Principal

hjackson@florencek12.org

Konnie Lee - Assistant Principal

kllee@florencek12.org

Charly Carter - Secretary

cncarter@florencek12.org

Emily Scruggs - Attendance

ekscruggs@florencek12.org

Jennifer Jones - Bookkeeper

jhjones@florencek12.org

(256) 768-2510

Allison Scott - PTO President

fcsfhespto@gmail.com

Ali Jones - Nurse

(256) 768-2519

Cafeteria

(256)768-2509

Social Media Accounts

Follow us on Facebook here and Florence City Schools here

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Follow the PTO on Facebook here