Forest Hills Flyer

November 2023

A Note from the Principal

Forest Hills Families,

October was a great month! We enjoyed celebrating hundreds of our grandparents during Goodies with Grands...thank you to everyone who helped make the event happen! Our book fair was a huge success and raised funds for purchasing new library books!

With November comes our Veterans Day Program & Fall Festival. Notes went home regarding both events this week, so please be sure to check your child's folder.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as Florence City Schools have transitioned to a new communication platform. You will receive communications from your child's teacher via email, text, or call out. Please remember to check your email daily. We also ask that you check your child's folder/binder nightly.

With the cooler weather, students will be wearing coats, jackets, hoodies, toboggans, and gloves. Please remember to label all of these items and talk to your child about placing them in his/her backpack upon arriving to class. If you are looking for easy ways to label your child's personal items, please visit some of the sites below...I am not endorsing or recommending any of these, but rather providing you with some ideas of products available to help you label your child's personal items. A black Sharpie will also get the job done!

Please note that if your child loses a clothing item, Lost & Found is located in our Breezeway. You may visit our Lost & Found by signing in at the office. All Lost & Found items are donated once a month.

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

Sincerely,

Mrs. Fowler, Principal

#WeAreFalcons

FHES Climate/Culture Survey

Forest Hills Families,

Each year, FCS sends out a Climate/Culture survey. This is a fundamental part of our continuous efforts to better understand and enhance our school environment at Forest Hills. Please take a moment to fill out the survey by November 9th. Your input is essential. Thank you!

English: https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/238286/p396

Spanish: https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/238293/p396

Mac-N-Cheese Drive

Each year, Forest Hills students host a Mac-N-Cheese Drive to benefit the Salvation Army. All donations go directly to families in need in Florence. The last day to turn in is Friday, December 8th.

Order your yearbook today!!

Order a yearbook by November 15 to be entered in a drawing for a $30 gift card to Target!

Yearbooks are $32. Visit ybpay.com and enter code 13657224.

Answer Key: (1) Mrs. Morris (2) Officer Woods (3) Mrs. Holt (4) Mrs. Ray (5) Mrs. Dale (6) Mrs. Cook (7) Mrs. Fowler (8) Mrs. Ingersoll (9) Mrs. Lovelace (10) Mrs. Harrell (11) Mrs. Caraway (12) Mrs. Greenhaw (13) Coach Davis (14) Mrs. Carroll (15) Mrs. Boggus (16) Mrs. Boozer (17) Mrs. Green (18) Mrs. Thead (19) Mrs. Mininger (20) Mrs. Johnson (21) Mrs. Jackson (22) Mrs. Dickson (23) Mrs. Mullins (24) Mrs. Kirk (25) Mrs. Thompson (26) Miss Tittle (27) Mrs. Witt (28) Mr. Jackson (29) Mrs. Rodi (30) Mrs. Hammond (31) Mrs. Butte (32) Mrs. Riedel (33) Mrs. Hinton (34) Mrs. Malone (35) Mrs. Allen (36) Mrs. Bosler (37) Mrs. Farrar (38) Mrs. Hanback (39) Mrs. Terrell (40) Mrs. Broaddrick (41) Mrs. A Brewer (42) Miss Dewberry (43) Mrs. Russell

Smart Watches & Smart Devices Not Allowed

Per FCS policy stated in the Parent/Student Handbook, smart watches & other smart devices are not allowed at school. Please see below for the official policy:

Use of Digital Devices by Students During the Administration of Secure Tests

The possession of a digital device (including but not limited to cell phones, iPhones, iPads, iPods, MP3 players, cameras, or other telecommunication devices capable of capturing or relaying information) is strictly prohibited during the administration of a secure test. If a student is observed in possession of a digital device during the administration of a secure test, the device will be confiscated and subjected to search, the student will be dismissed from the testing area, and the student’s test will be invalidated.

Grade Level News

Kindergarten

We are learning & having so very much fun in K!

In reading we are working on rhyming words, beginning sounds of words, the names of the letters and the sounds they make, how to write the letters properly, how to read high-frequency words and so much more. (Parents, please refer to the Open Court information your child's teacher sent home about correct pencil grip and letter formation. Both are so very important for the success of your child in school!)

In math we are working on numbers 0-10. We are excited to begin making 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10, which is the beginning of learning to add. Soon we will begin our unit on shapes, 2D & 3D.

For Social Studies this month we will be learning about the history behind the Pilgrims and Native Americans & doing many activities with this, which is always fun.

First Grade

In first grade, we have been working hard on adding and subtracting in word problems as well as our reading fluency. This is a great opportunity for our students to see how reading and math can relate to one another. Our students had a fantastic field trip to the Children's Museum & Park! We are looking forward to an exciting holiday season coming up!

Second Grade

We are excited to begin our new unit in reading, "Earth in Action". Second grade students are creating Animal Habitat shoebox projects at home that we will display in our hallways. The shoebox diorama will be due Monday, November 13th. In math we are counting coins, telling time, and continuing to work on 2-digit addition and subtraction.

Recently our students wrote an opinion piece stating whether or not they thought pets should be allowed in the classroom. Each student came up with reasons to support their opinion and created a beautiful writing piece. We have enjoyed working through the writing progress with our second grade students!

We had a blast on our field trip to the Amish community and Rotary Park!

Third Grade

The third grade hall has been extra SPOOKY the past few weeks with all the book character pumpkins on display! Thank you to all that participated and helped us celebrate our love of reading.

Our trip to the Cook Museum in Decatur was fabulous. Students learned so many interesting things. One of their favorite exhibits was the kinetic sand table where they could create an erupting volcano, snow capped mountains, or flowing rivers.

In reading we have started a new unit on Extreme Weather. Students are learning about how severe weather can challenge their lives. We are also focusing on reading fluency this second 9 weeks. Please make sure you are listening to your child read their weekly fluency passage at home at least three times a week.

In math students are continuing to learn about different strategies used to multiply. We would like to encourage you to start working with your child on the memorization of their multiplication facts over the next several months.

Looking ahead to December students will be performing in the Holiday Recorder Concert on December 11th at 6:00 p.m. More information will be sent home soon regarding this fun and festive event.

Fourth Grade

Fourth graders are FALLING in love with multiplication and we can't "beleaf" how well they are doing! The students have begun multiplying 1 digits numbers by 2 digit, 3 digit, and 4 digit numbers with Open Area Models and Partial Products. In reading, students are diving into all things science! So far, we have learned about famous scientists, The Scientific Method, Rube Goldberg, and the Wright Brothers. Next, we will soar into all things space! Our famous Montgomery trip is coming up in March. The first payment is due November 30.

Attendance Matters

Please remember that our attendance goal is for every student to maintain a 95% attendance rate. If a student misses more than 5% of his/her school year, the student is at a significant risk of learning loss. Please see the graphics below for important attendance reminders! Each month I will share with you what our school's average attendance rate was for the previous month. Our goal is to stay at or above 95%.

The Counselors' Corner

Each month Mr. Bradford & Ms. Tittle (better known as "Mr. B & Ms. T") create an awesome newsletter for students and families focusing on our virtue of the month. Families will also hear from students about what's going on at The Hill!

Counselor Information

Please scan the QR code below to learn about all of the support services our counselors offer to students at Forest Hills.

zoom_out_map

Falcon Hub App

Be sure to download the FCS Falcon Hub app! This is a great one stop shop for families (and especially those with students at multiple FCS schools).

Falcon Hub App Video

How to Help Your Child Study for Spelling Tests

As many of you have noticed, spelling tests are back! The reason students are being assessed on spelling words each week is because "encoding" or accurate spelling of words is part of our Alabama Course of Study standards in grades K-4. Learning to spell words correctly is just as important as being able to read words correctly--they go hand in hand. If you are wanting to help your child study spelling words at home try these easy multi-sensory study strategies:

say the word
spell the word orally
write the word
trace the word in a cookie sheet filled with sand or rice
have child trace the word on a table or pants leg (or any surface with a texture) using finger
clap syllables
have child extend one arm and use the opposite hand to tap their arm for every letter going in a downward motion

Keep in mind most spelling words will follow phonetic skills your child has been learning, but some words may not, and those words must be memorized. If you have further questions about how to help your child with spelling, please contact your child's teacher.