Forest Elementary Newsletter
NOVEMBER - 2024
Forest families,
It is so nice seeing family members helping in our school! We have had a number of Watch D.O.G.S., lunchroom, popcorn, and classroom volunteers. The staff has commented about how kind our guests have been and, also, how helpful it is to have them here. Thank you to everyone that has signed up or plans to sign up this school year. Your giving and helpful nature is what makes our school and community a great one!
We are now entering our fall festivities and holiday season. As the weather cools down, please make sure that your child comes to school properly dressed for the weather. Layering is a good option, as we know the mornings are cool and the afternoons can get a bit warmer (at least right now). Also, make sure your child brings cold weather gear such as gloves, hats, ear muffs, scarves, etc. as we enter into November. They will be going outside for recess up to three times per day. We want them to be prepared for the coldest days that will soon be here.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, call the office at (734) 479-2550 or email myself (gmeli@riverviewschools.com) or Ms. Annie (aprusakiewicz@riverviewschools.com).
Happy Fall!
Gianina Meli
Important Upcoming Dates:
NOVEMBER:
11/3- Daylight Saving Time Ends
11/5- Professional Development for Staff (No School for students)/Election Day
11/11- Veteran's Day Observed - Yes, there is school today.
11/11-11/22 - FPC Penny Wars
11/13- Parent Club Meeting @ 6:00 PM
11/14- Picture Retakes (Please return picture packet for retakes)
11/26- Early Release (12:40 PM Dismissal) Teacher Records Day
11/27- NO SCHOOL
11/28- Thanksgiving Day/NO SCHOOL
11/29- NO SCHOOL
DECEMBER:
12/6 - Mentoring (10 AM)
12/11- Parent Club Meeting @ 6:00 PM
12/13 - FPC Holiday Event
12/17 & 12/18 - Santa Secret Shop
12/23-1/5/25 - Winter Break
JANUARY:
1/6/25- Classes resume
1/8- Parent Club Meeting @ 6:00 PM
1/16- 2nd Grade Music Concert 6:00 PM // Forest Gym (Students should report to
music room at 5:30 PM)
1/20- Martin Luther King Jr. Bday - No School for Students
1/24- Mentoring 9 AM
Halloween Costume & Parade Information
Halloween Celebration, grades K thru 5th, will be Thursday, October 31st.
To maintain the spirit of Halloween and yet provide for the safety of your children-our students, Forest Elementary School recommends the following guidelines:
I. Halloween Parade Guidelines
1. Our parade will begin at 2:30 PM, Thursday, October 31st and proceed around the school . . . weather permitting. In case of rain, the parade will be cancelled. Please DO NOT call the office.
2. Families who want to see the parade are requested to stay outside the front door area or around the campus surrounding the school.
3. For the safety of all siblings who are NOT Forest School students, we request they always remain with a parent and MAY NOT participate in the parade or classroom parties.
4. If your child has a cold, or for some reason you do not want your child to participate in the parade outside, please send a note to your child’s teacher.
II. Halloween Costume Guidelines:
1. Students in Grades K-5 MAY wear costumes and/or make-up to school for the morning session. Wearing of costumes is voluntary. We encourage costumes that are easily put on over school clothing. DO NOT BRING HAIR SPRAY, GLITTER, OR MAKE-UP TO SCHOOL.
2. Masks may ONLY be worn during the parade and classroom party, and MUST BE CARRIED to and from school.
3. No hand-carried items (weapons, swords, holsters, etc.) are allowed.
4. Costumes depicting violence or violent acts are not permitted.
5. Shoes must be proper fitting, no extra-large/floppy shoes, etc.
6. No blood, guts or gore that might scare our littles.
We appreciate your cooperation with these guidelines to ensure the safety of all of our children.
Helpful Staff Contact Info/Proper Channels to be Addressed:
- Classroom teacher-classroom concerns, peer-to-peer or friendship concerns, classroom behavior concerns, playground or hallway concerns, and grading concerns
- Office Staff-attendance (absences, early releases), health needs (medications, illnesses), school events, volunteers and Watch DOGS, general school questions: Annie Prusakiewicz (734) 479-2550, aprusakiewicz@riverviewschools.com
- Transportation Department-Bussing and transportation concerns: Wendy Martin (734) 285-3900, wmartin@riverviewschools.com
- Grounds/Maintenance -Building/facility concerns, cleanliness, grounds concerns: Sharon Mathews- (734)285-3900, (secretary to Gary Kennedy) or gkennedy@riverviewschools.com
- Student Services-enrollment questions, please contact Julie Karl at Central Office jkarl@riverviewschools.com or 734-285-9660
- Principal- major safety concerns; policy concerns; request for 504 services; concerns already addressed by the teacher, yet still not resolved. gmeli@riverviewschools.com
- School Social Worker- Social/emotional support and concerns.
Students are expected to be in class on time and to remain at school for the entire school day.
There are three types of attendance infractions: absent, tardiness, and early departure. These incidents cost the student valuable instructional time and disrupt classroom instruction. Tardiness and early departure will be classified under the same criteria for absences.
ABSENT: Student is not physically present in class.
TARDINESS: Student is not in their class when the bell rings.
EARLY DEPARTURE: Student leaves or is removed prior to the dismissal bell.
These attendance infractions can be documented, called-in, or unexcused.
DOCUMENTED ABSENCE • An absence that is accompanied by a third party/professional document. • Documented absences are the only absence which will not count toward truancy.
CALLED-IN ABSENCE • Any absence that is called in by the parent or legal guardian but is not accompanied by documentation as listed under documented absences. • Called-in absences are included in truancy. • Attendance record will show “C”.
UNEXCUSED • Any absence that is not called-in by the parent or legal guardian and is not accompanied by documentation as listed under documented absences. • Unexcused absences are included in truancy.
Parent Notification and Truancy Early notification and intervention provide the greatest opportunity to improve student attendance. Monitoring and addressing your student’s attendance is a direct way to show that you consider their education important and worthwhile.
NEW STAFF MEMBERS:
Halloween Family Fun
Students of the Month for October (Respecting Others and Community):
Mrs. Peterson - Mila F.
Ms. Schock - Aaliyah P.
Mrs. Coleman - Natalie S.
Mrs. Uhse - Mason T.
Ms. DeRosia - Amelia A.
Mrs. Masters - Reider Y.
Mrs. Taft - Emmett L.
Mrs. Avery - Hadlee A.
Mrs. Kissel - Brooklyn S.
Mrs. LaFehr - Brantley P.
Mrs. Curry - Theo G.
Mrs. Grunwald - Ava R.
Mr. Snyder - Ava G.
Mr. Newland - Emily D.
Ms. Rosecrans - Jackson C.
Mrs. Gajewski - Ana T.
Kindergarten Activities
Halloween Music Concert
On October 17th, Ms. Kristi Kruger hosted our annual Kindergarten Halloween Music Concert. Students were invited to dress up in their Halloween costumes and perform a medley of Halloween songs for their families. A huge thank you to Ms. Kruger for planning this amazing event and always supporting students to express themselves!
Learning about Fire Prevention is important
October is Fire Prevention Month - Students have been learning about fire safety for home and school.
DeBuck's Field Trip
Mrs. Peterson's and Ms. Schock's classes will be traveling to DeBuck's Family Farm on October 30th. Students will be able to participate in all the activities and will be eating a bagged lunch at the farm.
Are you in the KNOW?
Are you receiving email/text blasts from Forest Elementary School? Are you receiving Schoology messages from Forest Elementary school? If you are not, you are NOT getting valuable school information.
For Schoology - add the Forest Elementary Code listed above to your Schoology app.
For email/text blasts - Log into PowerSchool, make sure your current email address and cell phone numbers are correct and flagged to received SMS messages. You can also make any updates to your emergency contact list as well.
Visit our "Lost & Found" inside the vestibule
Our Lost and Found rack is overflowing with found items. If you feel your child has lost any items, please feel free to check out the items located in the vestibule at the main entrance before or after school.
ONLINE SAFETY TIP:
Are your children safe while online? Michigan families, especially minors, are becoming inundated with advertisements from alcohol, tobacco, pornography, illegal drugs and gambling marketers through different internet and cell phone inboxes. Thankfully, the State of Michigan offers a free program to stop adult advertisements from reaching e-mails, text messages, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. The Michigan Child Protection Registry, is a free do-not-contact service for Michigan’s families and can be located at www.ProtectMIChild.com.
As a strong supporter of this Registry, I would like to encourage you to sign your entire family up for the Registry and inform your friends and colleagues about how they can protect children and families from unwanted adult advertising. To sign up only takes seconds. Just go to www.ProtectMIChild.com and keep your family safe.

