2026

A Strong Start to the School Year

What a wonderful beginning to the school year! Our students are settling back into the rhythm of school life, and for some of our youngest Pirates, this is their very first time walking through our doors. Fall is a season of connection for our staff as we build relationships, review expectations, and help every student feel safe, welcome, and at home at Forest Elementary.

We've already checked several milestones off our list, including our first round of NWEA testing, picture day, and our first PBIS assembly.

October Character Trait: Building Relationships

This month, our focus is on building relationships. Our PBIS assembly and mentoring lessons will explore what it means to be a good friend, classmate, and community member. Teachers will also select our Students of the Month for exemplifying this trait in their classrooms.

Thank You, Forest Families

We are grateful for the support and positivity from our families and staff, which have helped launch our year so successfully. October promises to be full of learning and fun! We've already welcomed several volunteers into our building and would love to see more of you. Our Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) kickoff on September 23rd was very well attended, and we appreciate everyone who came out.

GO PIRATES!

Gianina Meli

Ms. Annie Prusakiewicz, secretary (ext. 4)

Email: aprusakiewicz@riverviewschools.com
Website: https://forest.riverviewschools.com/
Location: 19400 Hampton Street, Riverview, MI, USA
Phone: (734) 479-2550, #4 (for office)

Homecoming Spirit Week October 5th - October 9th

5th - Pajama Day // Roll into Homecoming Week in your favorite pajamas, no slippers.

6th - Superhero Day // Dress as your favorite superhero or wear a superhero shirt

7th - Western Day // Boots, flannel, cowboy hats, bandanas or western wear

8th- Sports Day // Wear your favorite team jersey, team shirt or team colors

9th - Pirate Pride Day // Wear Maroon & Gold, pirate gear, school spirit shirts.

9th - Homecoming Parade begins at 5 PM & Game vs. SMCC

October (continued)

7th - COUNT DAY // Please make sure your student is on time and present for the full day

7th - Bike & Roll to School

12th - Candy Fundraiser Assembly

14th - Forest Parent Club Meeting 6PM

15th - 5th Grade Parent Camp Meeting 5:30 PM, Seitz Auditorium

16th - Boo Bash sponsored by FPC 5:30 - 7:30 PM, Forest School grounds

16th - Kindergarten walk to Riverview Library 12-2:30 PM

19th - Mentoring

22nd - Early Release (12:40 PM dismissal), Conferences from 1-7 PM

Halloween Spirit Week

26th - Spooky Monday - Any Halloween spooky shirt

27th - Black and Orange Day

28th - Spooky Sleepover Pajama Day

29th - Hat Day - Witch hat, pirate hat, any hat

30th- Forest Elementary Halloween parade and class activities (see information below)

November:

3rd - Election Day - NO SCHOOL for students

10th - Picture Retake Day (please remember to return your picture packet for retakes)

11th - Forest Parent Club Meeting 6PM

20th - Mentoring

24th - Early Release (12:40 PM dismissal)

25th - 27th -Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL for students/staff

If your child is struggling in the area of academics or behavior, there are 3 different ways that our school can support your child. MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Support), a 504 Plan, and an IEP (Individualized Education Program) are all frameworks used in schools to support students, but they differ in scope, purpose, and legal requirements.

1. MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Support):

• Purpose: A proactive, school-wide approach to identifying and supporting students with academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs.
• Structure: It is a tiered system:
• Tier 1: Universal support for all students.
• Tier 2: Targeted support for students who need more help.
• Tier 3: Intensive, individualized interventions for students with significant needs.
• Applicability: All students can benefit from MTSS. It is not specific to students with disabilities but helps identify students who might need more formal support like a 504 or an IEP.
• Focus: Includes academic support (like MTSS intervention- we have 3 interventionists at Forest that service these students) and behavioral support (Tier 2 or 3 plan; social work, etc.)

2. 504 Plan (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973):

• Purpose: Provides accommodations for students with disabilities to ensure they have equal access to education.
• Eligibility: Students with any disability (physical or mental) that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as learning, are eligible.
• Focus: Accommodations (e.g., extended time on tests, seating arrangements) that remove barriers but do not modify the curriculum or educational expectations.
• Legal Requirement: Federal civil rights law ensures that students with disabilities are not discriminated against in public schools and schools receiving federal funding.
• Plan: Less formal than an IEP, a 504 Plan is typically written by a school team and focuses on accommodations, not specialized instruction.

3. IEP (Individualized Education Program):

• Purpose: A legal document designed to provide specialized instruction, services, and supports for students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• Eligibility: A student must have one of the 13 specific disabilities listed under IDEA (e.g., learning disabilities, autism, hearing impairments) and need special education services.
• Focus: Provides individualized special education services, accommodations, and modifications to meet the unique needs of the student, including specific educational goals and progress monitoring.
• Legal Requirement: IEPs are legally binding documents that require schools to provide the outlined services and supports. They are reviewed and updated annually.
• Plan: Highly detailed, outlining educational goals, support services, and how the student will be integrated into the general education curriculum when possible.

Key Differences:

• MTSS is a school-wide framework used to support all students and identify those who may need more support (including 504 Plans or IEPs).
• A 504 Plan provides accommodations for students with disabilities but does not include specialized instruction.
• An IEP is for students who require specialized instruction due to a qualifying disability under IDEA, and it includes both services and accommodations.

These systems can work together. For example, a student identified through MTSS as needing more support might eventually receive a 504 Plan or an IEP.

Who Do I Contact for More Info?

· For MTSS, you can contact your child’s classroom teacher.

· For more info on a 504, contact Ms. Stacey Woggon.

· For more info on an IEP, contact Ms. Sketch - MSketch@riverviewschools.com or Ms. Meli -GMeli@riverviewschools.com

Popcorn Wednesday started on 9/23. Students that have not prepaid for the year will be able to purchase popcorn for 50 cents per bag.

School attendance is important because it directly impacts a student's academic success, social development, and future opportunities by building a strong foundation for learning, fostering critical skills, and improving chances of graduating and securing stable employment. Chronic absenteeism, or missing 10% or more of school days, leads to learning gaps, poor academic performance, increased risk of dropping out, and can affect a student's long-term health and well-being

Mrs. Sandefur - Austin G.

Mrs. Peterson - Arya P.

Ms. Schock - Gabriella W.

Mrs. Avery - Wyatt O.

Mrs. Coleman - Trent D.

Mrs. Uhse - Gabriella P.

Mrs. Masters - Savannah B.

Mrs. Taft - Marianna C.

Mrs. Kissel - Jade W.

Mrs. LaFehr - Rylee M.

Ms. Curry - Teddy K.

Mrs. Grunwald - Averie L.

Mr. Snyder - Avery G.

Mr. Newland - Kinsley B.

Mrs. Gajewski - Jupiter R.

Ms. Fraczek - Emma V.

Congratulations!!

• Each morning, children will be greeted by their teacher and enter the building through their assigned pod door. Every grade level has their own "pod" with their own assigned set of doors, where students will enter and exit each day. These doors are located around the building and will be labeled in chalk during the first week of school. (See diagram below.)
• If your child comes between 8:10-8:30 AM to eat breakfast, they should also use the front doors.
• Pod doors will not be open until 8:30 AM.
• Parents of non-busing students can either walk their child up to the door or use the drop off lane. There will be parent club volunteers and staff members to assist children getting out of cars in the drop off lane.
• Parents should not walk with their child into the building.
• When walking from the parking lot to the building, you MUST use the crosswalk (located directly in front of the flag pole and painted as such).
• Please do not walk in between cars in the drop off lane. This is very dangerous!
• Please assist your child in crossing the crosswalk, especially our younger students.
• Drivers, DO NOT GET OUT OF YOUR CAR IN THE DROP OFF LANE! If you must get out, please find a parking spot, so we can continue the traffic flow.
• If your child is not ready to get out of the car quickly (and without you), do not use the drop off lane. In this case, please park.
• When using the drop off lane, please pull all the way up to the sign that says "STOP" (to the left of the front office).
• DO NOT USE THE STAFF PARKING LOT! There are more staff than there are spots. Let's give these amazing people the privilege of not having to walk far, after teaching our children all day. This way, they can make sure they are ready and able to be there to teach your child on time,.
• DO NOT ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO GET OUT FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR WHILE IN THE DROP OFF LANE!!! This is a HUGE safety issue!!
• DO NOT let your child out across the side street and allow them to cross to get to school. This is a huge safety issue! We have crossing safeties to make sure everyone is safe!
• The warning bell will ring at 8:30 AM.
• Please make sure your child is in the doors and ready to learn by 8:35 AM.
• If your child arrives after 8:35 AM, the pod doors will be closed and locked (for safety). In this case, please follow our tardy procedure, which is outlined below.
• If your child is consistently tardy, please enroll them in Champions before and after school care (see below).
• Many of our intervention classes (for those that need more support in reading and/or math), and classroom circles occur first thing in the morning. It is imperative that all students arrive to school on time consistently to ensure their emotional and academic needs are being met. Also, breakfast (if your child chooses to buy it) is first thing in the day as well.

You will find a poster on the front door. If you are signing your child in to school late (after 8:35 AM) or you are picking your child up early, please use this QR code. You can do so by going to your camera on your phone, as if you are getting ready to take a picture. A "website or code" yellow box will pop up on your screen. Click on that box to access the sign in/out form. Once form is completed, ring the buzzer to alert our secretary. You would also use this process when bringing your child (back) to school from an appointment. Please make sure that all your emergency contacts are aware of this procedure.

• Students will be dismissed at 3:25 PM from their pod doors.
• Parents must be there to pick up their child(ren) promptly. We know there may be an exception or two that you are unable to avoid. If you know you will not be on time consistently, please enroll your child in Champions (before and after school care)-see below.
• All K-2 students that are being picked up can only be picked up by family listed on their emergency contacts. You can always call the office to add on to these or change them.
• Also, K-2 students must have the adult picking them up come to the pod doors. These students are not allowed to walk out to the cars alone.
• DO NOT PARK IN FIRE LANE FOR ANY REASON. If your car is parked in fire lane, you may be issued a ticket.

• Make sure your child can open all items that you put into their lunchbox. The go-gurts and pizza sauce in the Lunchables are VERY difficult to open, even for the adults! Practice opening these items at home (and send only what they are able to open by themselves).
• Do not send huge lunches. 2-3 items (and a drink) is more than sufficient. They do have snack time as well.
• Practice at home for our younger kids! Set a 20 minute timer when your child starts eating. When the timer goes off, talk with your child about how much they have eaten. We don't want to rush our students, but it is 30 minutes from lunch line to clean up & line up again. Most of the time, families have much longer to sit and talk while they eat. They may not be used to this. A timer can help to give them a better concept of their time alotted to eat.
• Reinforce and remind your child of positive behavior in the lunchroom. Keeping hands and feet to self (especially while in line), facing forward (so that they can see when to move forward) and talking once they have eaten the most important parts of their lunches are all key.
• Do not send in sugar-loaded lunches. This causes a major crash later that afternoon.
• Supervise or oversee your child, if they make their own lunch.

Forest Elementary School was buzzing with excitement on Wednesday, September 23rd, as more than 150 fathers, father figures, and students came together for our annual WATCH D.O.G.S. Pizza Kick-Off!

The evening began with plenty of smiles, conversation, and, of course, Vito’s pizza! Families enjoyed a delicious meal together before students headed to the gym around 6:30 PM for some fun and games.

While the students enjoyed their time in the gym, our dads and father figures gathered to learn more about the WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) program. They learned about the many ways they can volunteer at Forest Elementary and help support our students and staff. Dads had the opportunity to ask questions, get answers, and learn what being a WATCH D.O.G. is all about.

The excitement was evident among both the dads and students. We are thrilled to welcome these amazing volunteers into our school and look forward to having them here throughout the school year. Their presence will provide additional support and positive role models for our students while helping wherever they are needed throughout the school.

A very special THANK YOU goes to Family Sealed Insulation for generously sponsoring this wonderful event. We are especially grateful to the Nabozny family for helping make the evening possible and for supporting Forest Elementary.

We can't wait to see our WATCH D.O.G.S. in the halls, classrooms, lunchroom, and throughout our school this year!

Congratulations to the following dads who signed up to be a Watch D.O.G.S. and as a result won a shirt from the raffle: Mr. Olivero, Mr. Kwiatkowski, Mr. Schuyler and Mr. Aaron Toth.

Forest Elementary students enjoyed a very special start to their Tuesday morning on September 29th when the Riverview Community High School Marching Band and RCHS Color Guard visited our school!

The band and color guard put on an exciting performance for our Forest students, playing several traditional songs from their repertoire, along with crowd favorites including a song by Bon Jovi and “Mr. Brightside.” The lively music and energetic performance brought plenty of smiles and excitement to the morning!

Our students loved listening to the talented RCHS musicians and watching the Color Guard perform. It was a wonderful opportunity for our youngest Pirates to see some of the amazing talent right here in their own school district.

A huge THANK YOU to the RCHS Marching Band and Color Guard for kicking off our Tuesday morning with some lively music and school spirit! We appreciate you sharing your talents with our Forest family!

Students who get caught doing amazing things to enhance the school environment. Congratulations, Harper, James, Kassidy and Ben.

https://www.riverviewschools.com/parents/volunteering

Forest Elementary Parents & Guardians,

If your child will need to take medication at school, use an EpiPen or inhaler, or may need over-the-counter medication while at school—such as Tylenol, Motrin, cough drops, or antacids—please complete the following steps:

📝 1. Have Your Doctor Complete the Form below

Your child's doctor must fill out and sign the Medication Administration Authorization Form.

✍️ 2. Parent/Guardian Signature

A parent or guardian must also sign the form.

🏫 3. Bring Everything to the Office

Please turn the completed form into the Forest Elementary office along with the original prescription bottle or original box/container of medication.

Please do not send medication to school with your child. Medication should be brought to the office by a parent/guardian or another approved adult.

Thank you for helping us keep our students safe and ensuring that medications can be administered properly when needed.