Welcome back, Falcons!

Dear Forest Families,

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! We are thrilled to kick off another year of learning, growing, and making memories together. At Forest, our goal is to create a safe, welcoming, and inspiring environment where every child can thrive and reach their fullest potential not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well.

We look forward to partnering with families to make this year a success for everyone. We firmly believe that when schools and families work together, amazing things can happen! Your support, encouragement, and involvement make all the difference in our school community.

Below you'll find information about back-to-school events to mark on your calendar. We hope to see you there as we launch another exciting year at Forest!

Sincerely,

Ms. Soike, Principal

Ms. Reiner, Assistant Principal

Classroom assignments will be made available to families on Friday, August 15 by 4:00 PM. Login to the Parent Portal on Infinite Campus to see your child's classroom assignment.

In the event you do not see a classroom assignment, please contact Mrs. Powell at Forest.

• Do you still need to purchase supplies? Please be sure to refer to the School Supply Lists! If you need assistance with getting school supplies for your child(ren), please email Ms. Soike at soikea@d62.org.
• Did you purchase a supply kit from the PTC in the spring? Supply kits will be delivered to Forest and distributed to classrooms this week, ready and waiting for students on the first day of school. Thank you to the PTC for continuing to provide this option to families!

• Registration: Please remember to register your child completely if you have not already. Visit the D62 Enrollment page for more information.
• Proof of Residency: If your child is entering kindergarten, 2nd grade, or 4th grade and/or is new to the district, you are required to prove residency. If you have not yet done this, please call the Forest office to schedule and appointment.
• Transportation: Families must register for paid bussing through the Parent Portal. Bus fees ($300 for the school year) must be paid to ensure students are routed for the first days of school. Visit the Transportation page for more information.

Welcome kindergarten parents! The kindergarten team is so excited to host an informational Zoom meeting on Tuesday, August 19th at 6:00 PM. You'll learn about the upcoming school year, logistics for the first day of school, and will also have an opportunity to ask any general questions you might have. We look forward to meeting you!

🔗 Join us on Zoom here!

From 2:00-3:00 PM on Wednesday, August 20th, families of students in grades 1-5 are invited to meet their new teacher and drop off supplies to their new lockers. Afterwards, families are encouraged to head outside to the playground and blacktop for popsicles. Thank you to the PTC for providing a sweet treat!

If you have a new kindergartener, be on the lookout for an email from your child's teacher with a time to come in on August 21st for Kindergarten Preview. During Kindergarten Preview on 8/21, you will be able to see your child's classroom, meet the teacher, and drop off supplies.

Thursday, August 21: Grades 1-5

• School hours are 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Friday, August 22: Kindergarten

• AM Kindergarten is from 9:00-11:30 AM
• PM Kindergarten is from 1:00-3:30 PM

Please join us on Monday, August 25th from 5:00–6:30 PM for an opportunity to learn more about your child’s upcoming school year, school-wide expectations, classroom-specific information, and to hear more about grade level curriculum. The evening will include three 25-minute sessions, allowing you to join up to three informational sessions.

Informational sessions will include opportunities to learn from:

• Your child's teacher
• Your child's specials teachers and/or specialized staff groups
• Forest and Community Resources - PTC, Right at School, MaineStay Youth & Family Services, and Des Plaines Public Library