Forest School News (9.29.25)

🚨 School Safety Drills

Over the next few weeks, Forest students and staff will be practicing emergency procedures by engaging in our safety drills. These drills include fire, severe weather, and law enforcement drills. These important drills help students know what to do in any type of emergency. Forest, and all of District 62, use the Standard Response Protocol for emergencies.

Forest will be completing the Law Enforcement Drill (otherwise known as a lockdown drill) on Monday, October 6th. Please refer to the Law Enforcement Drill communication for more information. If you would like to opt out your child from the Law Enforcement drill, please complete the form and return it to your child's teacher by 3:30 PM on Thursday, October 2nd.

💻 October 6-9: SAEBRS Survey

District 62 schools will continue to use the Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavioral Risk Screener (SAEBRS) as a universal screener to help us better understand students' SEL skills. SAEBRS has two components: a teacher rating for all students and a self-assessment for students in grades 2-8. Please review the SAEBRS Family Communication to learn more.

Forest will be administering SAEBRS from October 6-9, 2025. If you have any questions regarding the SAEBRS universal screener or if you do not want your child to be included in the SAEBRS survey, please contact Ms. Soike by 3:30 PM on Friday, October 3, 2025.

📝 October 9-10: Fall Conferences

Fall Conferences are just around the corner! We strive to have 100% of our Forest families visit us during Fall Conferences. Information for how to Sign Up for Fall Conferences was previously shared with all families. Please visit that link for more information and step-by-step instructions.

Fall Conference Schedule

Thursday, October 9 from 12:00-3:00 PM and 4:00-8:00 PM
Friday, October 10 from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

🤩 Spotlight on Specials: Library 📚

Ever wonder what your child is up to in specials? This year, we’ll give you a peek inside. Each month this school year, one of Forest's specials teachers or departments will be featured in Forest School News. Our goal is to highlight the fantastic learning happening in our specials classrooms throughout the year.

Did you know students do much more than just check out books when they visit the library at Forest? Our first Spotlight on Specials comes from Ms. Zienty, who is sharing what students explored in the library during September.

💚 PBIS Updates

August/September PBIS Goal
Our goal was to learn, practice, and follow The Falcon Way by being respectful, responsible, and safe in all areas of school. Students soared past the target of 7,000 Fine Feathered Friends, earning over 8,500! 🎉 To celebrate, each grade level will enjoy an extra recess next week. Way to go, Forest Falcons!

October PBIS Goal
This month, we’re focusing on kindness. Each week will highlight a different way to show kindness—through actions, words, and responses to others. Students will also be able to nominate peers who demonstrate kindness with specific examples.

⛄ D62 Winter Card Contest

The 2025 D62 Winter Card Contest is here! All D62 students (K-8) are invited to enter the 2025 Winter Card Contest. The deadline to submit an entry is October 15, 2025. Refer to the District 62 Winter Card Contest web page and the flyer below for more information.

😃 D62 Education Foundation's 25th Anniversary Fundraiser

The D62 Education Foundation is launching an exciting campaign in celebration of its 25th Anniversary of awarding grants to the staff of District 62!

Over the last 25 years more than $500,000 has been awarded to the D62 staff. And, as a result, the students of our district have had opportunities they otherwise would not have had, ranging from field trips, to literacy and science nights, to the purchase of musical instruments and sports equipment. The list goes on and on.

If you're interested in making a donation to the foundation, please click here or scan the QR code on the attached flyer.

🛝 Right at School

Right At School is offering a special promotion for Des Plaines families by providing 50% off through October 31st for any new families who register by October 15th.

🍕 Dine N Share: Classroom Winner

Thank you to everyone who came out for the Dine & Share at Little Villa Pizza Company! The class with the most orders was Mrs. Bergstrom's class!!

Every student in her class will get a coupon for a free slice of pizza! Congratulations Kindergarten friends!

🙂 10/3: Forest Parents' Night Out

Join us for Forest Parents' Night Out on Friday, October 3rd at Beacon Tap in Des Plaines! Book a sitter, come meet other Forest families, and relax! To learn more about the event and purchase tickets, visit our website. Click on Current/Upcoming Events and scroll down to the Forest Parents' Night Out. We hope to see you there!!

We are excited to be planning our upcoming Parents' Night Out, and we need your help to make it a success! We're looking for donations of raffle prizes such as gift baskets, gift cards, or services that can be raffled off to raise funds for our school community. If you would like to make a donation you can email Sky Wozniak at forestfalconsptc@gmail.com, Kristin Vana at vanakristin@gmail.com, or Rachel Gillett at raelira@gmail.com.

🎃 10/17: Fall Fest

Fall Fest is coming on Friday, October 17th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm! There will be lots of fun for the entire family! Please see the Fall Fest Flyer for more details about the event and how to register. The deadline for early registration is Friday, October 14th.

We are looking for volunteers to help at Fall Fest. If you would like to volunteer you can sign up here.

🎨 Fall Fest Art Contest (DUE by 10/15)

Calling all student artists! The Fall Fest Art Contest will be held again this year. Students K-5th can submit artwork to the Main Office until October 15th to be displayed during Fall Fest. The 1st and 2nd place winners will win a prize!

🥳 Room Helpers Needed for Classroom Parties

Twice a year the Hospitality Team organizes classroom parties. Room Helpers plan activities with other volunteers and coordinate with the classroom teacher. The PTC has a variety of different ideas for games and activities to share! If you would like to sign up to volunteer in your child's classroom or you would like more information, you can email Jami Kolonski at jamikolonski@gmail.com or Michelle Marlega at michelle.marlega@yahoo.com. Please include your name, your child's name, and their classroom teacher.

😎 Join the PTC!

Do the events above sound fun but don't line up with your schedule? Or would you like to learn more about what we can do for our students? Please consider 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. You can also check out the Forest PTC Website.

💚 Forest Spirit Wear

Spirit Wear featuring the new Falcon logo is now available on our website.

Upcoming Events - Please save the dates!

Week of September 29:

9/29-10/3: Erin's Law Lessons (Grades K-3) during the school day
9/29-10/3: Erika's Lighthouse Lessons (Grades 4-5) during the school day
9/29-9/30: August & September PBIS Celebration - an extra recess at school
9/29: DPFD Fire Safety Presentation (Grades K-2) from 10:30-11:15 AM
10/1: 1st Grade Friendship Club begins
10/3: Environmental Club begins
10/3: Friends of Forest Parents' Night Out

Week of October 6:

10/6-10/8: Fall SAEBRS Screeners
10/6-10/8: Hearing & Vision Screenings during the school day
10/6: Law Enforcement Drill
10/6: DPFD Fire Safety Presentation (K-2) from 1:30-2:15 PM
10/7: Fire Drill
10/8: Severe Weather/Shelter in Place Drill
10/9: NO SCHOOL - Fall Conferences from 12:00-3:00 & 4:00-8:00 PM
10/10: NO SCHOOL - Fall Conferences from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
10/10: D62 Appreciation Night @ Maine West Football Game from 6:30-9:00 PM

Week of October 13

10/13: NO SCHOOL - State Holiday
10/14: PTC Meeting at 7:00 PM
10/16: Makerspace Club begins from 3:30-4:30 PM
10/17: Fall Fest from 6:00-8:00 PM at Forest

Subscribe to the Forest Family Google Calendar

Subscribe to the District 62 Google Calendar

District 62 Community Partnerships & Resources - A full list of D62 community partnerships.
Virtual Bulletin Board - View community flyers on the D62 website. Updated regularly.
MaineStay Youth & Family Services - Click on the MaineStay tab for Youth Programs.
MaineStay Fall 2025 Catalog - Click to learn more about a range of fall events and activities.
Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines - Learn more about available community resources.
Des Plaines Public Library - A calendar of events at your local public library.

💟 In Need of Resources?

District 62 has so many wonderful resources available for families. To help the Forest SEL Team better understand what resources to connect you with, please fill out the Forest Family Resources form for us to follow up and share any resources needed! Responses are kept confidential unless you give permission otherwise.

🎒 Community Backpack Project

Have you heard of the Community Backpack Project? The Community Backpack Project is a *FREE* program for District 62 students and families. The program is run in partnership with the Self-Help Closet of Des Plaines and provides families with a supply of non-perishable food items on a weekly basis. Below are a few details to explain how the program works. You can also visit the Community Backpack Project website to learn more.

All participant information is confidential.
Families can receive one backpack (filled with non-perishable food items) per student enrolled, if needed.
Backpack pickup can be coordinated with our social worker. Backpacks can either go home with your student each week or can be picked up in the office. Please note, they are HEAVY!
Backpacks MUST be returned each MONDAY (or the next school day after the weekend) so that they can be re-filled.

If you are interested, please contact our school social worker, Gina Biancalana via email at biancalanag@d62.org or by phone at 847-824-1367.

D62 Student Handbook