Forest School News (3.17.25)

What is the Illinois 5Essentials Survey?

• On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago.
• The annual 5Essentials survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. The five indicators that affect and predict school success are:
• Effective Leaders
• Collaborative Teachers
• Involved Families
• Supportive Environments
• Ambitious Instruction

Who participates in the survey and when?

• Students, teachers, and parents in District 62 will have an opportunity to participate in the annual statewide survey. The 15-20 minute survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child's school.

Why is parent participation so important?

• Parent participation is critical as it continues to be aligned with the federal legislation, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Participation directly affects individual school ratings.
• Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at Forest and guide improvement.
• Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to your child.

How do I take the survey?

• To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/ and select the appropriate survey.
• If you have any questions or concerns, please contact 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or visit this website for more information: 5Essentials

When do I need to complete the survey by?

• The survey is open NOW through March 28!

• Cars are expected to pull all the way up to the stop sign. 🛑
• Students are expected to get in and out of the car independently on the curb (passenger) side.
• Family members must stay inside the vehicle at all times. 🚗

• ✅ Parking is permitted/allowed on 5th Avenue between Forest School and Algonquin Middle School.
• 🚫 Parking is NOT permitted/NOT allowed in the Forest Staff Parking Lots or on 5th Avenue in front of Forest. The Des Plaines Police Department will begin ticketing those who are parked or idling in an area where parking is not permitted.

As the weather is beginning to warm up, we love to see so many students and families connecting after school at the playground! We also need to make sure that everyone is safe. To increase student and family safety at dismissal, please refrain from using the blacktop area while there are still one or more buses in the bus lane. Once all of the buses have left, families are welcome to use the entire blacktop area in addition to the playground and field.

After spring break, all students in grades 3-5 will complete the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). All 5th graders will also complete the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA). Please see the information below regarding who will take each assessment and when.

Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)

• Who? Students in grades 3-5
• When? April 7-11 during the school day
• Students will take the reading assessments on April 7-8.
• Students will take the mathematics assessments on April 9-11.
• What if my child is absent? Missed assessments will be made up from April 14-17.

Illinois Science Assessment (ISA)

• Who? Students in 5th grade.
• When? April 21-23 during the school day
• What if my child is absent? Missed assessments will be made up from April 24-30.

Check out information about a couple new clubs coming up after spring break!

How to Register

• Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is now open for students going into Kindergarten through 8th grade.
• Please note that if you have a child who is entering Kindergarten, 2nd, 4th, or 6th grade you must also verify your residency as part of the registration process. To do so please make an appointment with the building secretary at your child’s school. Parents/Guardians of rising 6th graders will need to make an appointment at their child’s middle school.

Helpful Links for 2025-2026 Registration

• Kindergarten Registration
• New Student Enrollment
• Annual Online Registration (for existing families)

D62 Registration Events

District 62 will host a series of events to support families with the registration process at Algonquin Middle School at the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, April 2 from 5:30-7:30 PM
• Thursday, May 22 from 5:30-7:30 PM
• Tuesday, August 5 from 5:30-7:30 PM

We invite you as we welcome author Dr. Devorah Heitner from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on April 10 at Chippewa Middle School, 123 N. 8th Avenue, Des Plaines.

Dr. Heitner is a researcher and author of Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World and Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World.

Join us to learn:

• How caregivers can mentor children as they grow up with Roblox, Youtube, Instagram, TikTok, Discord, and more.
• How caregivers can help kids be thoughtful about their digital footprint and reputation (including what we share about our children on our own social media).
• Strategies for teaching tweens and teens to recognize how social media affects their mood and mental health and when to take a break;
• How to assess readiness for a new tech milestone like a smartphone
• How to work on sleep habits at every age to balance screen time and getting enough rest;
• Should we "track" our kids online?

Bring your questions about raising kids in the digital age!

Dr. Heitner’s work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, TIME magazine and Education Week. She also has a Ph.D. in Media/Technology & Society from Northwestern University and has taught classes at Northwestern and DePaul.

This event is open to District 62 staff and parents.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, food insecurity, looking for community resources, or exploring opportunities for parent learning, look no further. Our SEL team created a Google Form you can fill out so they can be notified to follow up with you about any/ all areas you are looking for support. The responses to this form are confidential, and will only be seen by the SEL team unless you specify otherwise.

You can contact them here:

• Gina Biancalana, School Social Worker
• McKenna Corcoran, School Social Worker
• Mary McInerney, School Psychologist

Thank you to everyone who came out for the March PTC meeting. The next meeting will be Tuesday, April 8th. We hope you can join us!

Ms. McInerney is our March Staff Spotlight winner! Her interview and picture will be up on the website and Facebook soon. Thanks for all you do, Ms. McInerney! You can nominate a staff member anytime by emailing Kristin Vana at vanakristin@gmail.com explaining why that staff member deserves to be recognized. Winners are randomly chosen at PTC Meetings.

Our next Dine and Share is at the new Raising Cane's location in Des Plaines! Stop by on March 18th from 3:30pm - 8:00pm, and 15% of net sales will be donated back to the Forest PTC. See the flyer for more details.

Yearbooks are on sale now and can be purchased at this link!

Talent Show is coming soon! We hope your students are busy practicing their talents. We can't wait to see them shine. We will need some volunteers to help make this event happen. It's a great opportunity for caregivers who have a student in the Talent Show.

If you are interested in volunteering, you can sign up at this link.

Talent Show dates to remember:

• Tech Rehearsal: Tuesday, April 22nd
• Talent Show Day: Friday, April 25th

We are still looking for countries to host a table and performers for our 2nd Annual Forest Family Arts & Multicultural Night on Thursday, April 10, 2025, from 6:00–8:00 PM! This special evening is a celebration of the diverse cultures and traditions that make our Forest School community so vibrant.

🎉 We need TABLE HOSTS & PERFORMERS! 🎉

We’re looking for families to host a table showcasing their culture. This is a fantastic opportunity to share your heritage, traditions, and pride with others! Your display might include:

• 🌏 Photos, maps, or flags
• 👚 Traditional clothing, artifacts, or crafts
• 🏏 Interactive games or activities
• 🍬 Pre-packaged snacks or candy from your culture

We’re also seeking performers to showcase cultural music, dance, or art! If you’re interested in performing, please sign up here.

To host a table, sign up here.

Thank you for helping us celebrate the incredible cultures that make Forest School so special.

Spirit Wear is a great way for your family to show their Forest pride. Spirit Wear is available to purchase on our website, and it will be delivered straight to your child's classroom.

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 our website: https://forest-ptc.square.site

This Week:

• 3/17-3/21: Erin's Law Lessons (Grades K-3)
• 3/17: Board of Education Meeting at 7:00 PM
• 3/18: PTC Dine N Share from 3:30-8:00 PM at Raising Cane's
• 3/20: D62 Bilingual Family (BPAC) Meeting from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Westerhold ELC
• 3/20: 1st & 2nd Grade Concert at 6:30 PM in the Forest Multipurpose Room
• 3/21: AMS Honors Orchestra visits 5th Grade Orchestra Rehearsal at Forest at 8:15 AM
• 3/21: Early Dismissal at 3:15 PM

Next Week:

• 3/24-3/28: NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
• 3/28: 5Essentials Survey closes

In 3 Weeks:

• 3/31: NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
• 4/1: NO SCHOOL - Professional Learning Day
• 4/2: Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
• 4/2: D62 Family Registration Event from 5:30-7:30 PM at Algonquin Middle School
• 4/4: School Librarian Appreciation Day

Website: http://forest.d62.org

Address: 1375 South 5th Avenue Des Plaines, IL 60018

Phone: (847) 824-1380

Facebook: Forest Facebook

Principal: Ms. Amber Soike

Assistant Principal: Ms. Traci Reiner