Forest School News (11.30.25)
Grades K-5: Students will participate in the i-Ready Diagnostic for both reading and math 3x/year (fall, winter, and spring). The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that provides valuable insights into each student's performance toward grade level standards.
i-Ready Family Reports will be sent home in backpacks on Friday, December 19th. For more information about the iReady Diagnostic, please visit the iReady Family Center website.
Grades K-1: Students will complete the earlyReading assessment which measures foundational reading skills that typically develop for most students in grades K-1. The skills that will be tested this winter are below.
- Kindergarten: onset sounds, letter sounds, word segmenting, and decodable words
- 1st Grade: word segmenting, decodable words, sight words, and CBM reading
Grades 2-5: Students will complete the CBM Reading assessment which measures a student's reading fluency and accuracy over time. CBM stands for Curriculum-Based Measure.
🧤 Winter Weather & Outdoor Recess
With our first snowfall last week and colder weather on the way, please be sure your child comes to school with appropriate winter gear.
- Students will go outside for recess unless conditions are too cold or unsafe.
- When snow is on the ground, students may play in the snow, but only if they have a winter coat, snow pants, boots, and mittens or gloves.
- Students without full snow gear will still go outside but will be asked to play on the blacktop.
If your family needs help securing winter gear, please fill out the Forest Family Resources Form or reach out to any member of the Forest SEL team (Ms. Biancalana, Ms. Donnelly, Ms. McInerney, Ms. Soike, or Ms. Reiner).
Forest Winter Gear Drive
You can collect any old gear and drop it off in Forest office, the vestibule inside Door 1, or send them with your student(s) to drop off in Ms. Biancalana's office (Room 135) anytime between now and winter break! Please wash or clean any items prior to drop off. Items collected will be shared with Forest families. Any remaining items will be distributed to other schools in D62 or donated to the Self-Help Closet of Des Plaines.
Monthly Attendance Notification Update
We are committed to keeping you informed about your children's progress and attendance! Starting this month, you will begin receiving monthly attendance updates for your children via email and text message. This new communication aims to ensure you have timely updates regarding any absences.
Please remember that if you opt out of text messages about attendance from Infinite Campus, you will be opting out of all IC communications sent via text, including important notices about fees, lunch balances, grades, and teacher messages. To ensure you receive all essential school updates, we strongly encourage staying opted-in!
Thank you for your partnership in making sure your student is present and ready to learn!
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lessons
Throughout the school year, students in District 62 will be participating in a series of engaging lessons about Artificial Intelligence (AI). At Forest, these lessons will be taught by Mrs. Zienty during TILE. AI is technology that allows computers to learn, problem-solve, get information, and be creative. AI can assist students with their writing and help them create images.
During lessons, students will:
Learn what AI is and how it works
Explore how AI can be used for learning and creativity
Learn how to use AI safely, respectfully, and responsibly in the classroom
As each grade level begins their lessons, students will receive an AI Student Expectations document outlining responsible use of AI in school. This document will be sent home and will require a student and parent/guardian signature. Students should return signed agreements to their classroom teacher. We look forward to meaningful discussions and learning as we help students navigate the exciting world of AI with curiosity and care.
🍕 Dine & Share: Thank You!
👛 Holiday Shop
The Holiday Shop is coming soon - December 12th, 15th, and 16th!
Your student will have a variety of delightful gifts to choose from, all ranging in price from $0.50 to $8 (the majority are $5 or less). Envelopes to plan spending will be coming home after Thanksgiving break (tax is included in all prices, cash only). Please do not send more than $20-$30 with your students to shop. This is an amazing opportunity to empower your student to choose, purchase, and give gifts to their loved ones!
- We need volunteers to help us! You can sign-up here: 2025 Holiday Shop Volunteer Sign-Up
- Have questions about volunteering? Reach out to Stephanie Statema (stephanie.statema@gmail.com) or Christine Ashby (Soapsuds85@gmail.com).
🥳 Winter Party Volunteers
We are in need of volunteers to support classroom parties! Grades 1-5 will have their winter party in December while Kindergarten has theirs in February. Below are the classrooms that still need volunteers. Please reach out to Jami Kolonski or Michelle Marlega if you're interested!
Volunteers Needed:
- Mrs. Kusner - 1 volunteer needed
- Ms. Polovitch - 2 volunteers needed
- Mrs. Berger - 2 volunteers needed
- Mrs. Klemundt - 2 or 3 volunteers needed
😎 Join the PTC!
💟 In Need of Resources?
District 62, Forest, and the Des Plaines community have so many wonderful resources available for families. If you are experiencing financial hardship, food insecurity, looking for community resources, or exploring opportunities for parent learning, we are here for you!
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 with you about any resources needed. Responses are kept confidential and will only be seen by the SEL team unless you specify otherwise.
Contact Us
Website: Forest Elementary School
Address: 1375 South 5th Avenue Des Plaines, IL. 60018
Phone: (847) 824-1380
Social Media: Facebook & Instagram
Principal: Ms. Amber Soike
Assistant Principal: Ms. Traci Reiner