Forest School News (9.21.25)
🚨 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.
There will be an opportunity for families to opt their child(ren) out of the Law Enforcement Drill (otherwise known as a lockdown drill). A digital communication with more information will be shared via email on Monday, September 22. Paper copies of the communication will be sent home in backpacks. 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.
🚨 Emergency Contacts Reminder
Please take a moment this week to log in to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and verify that your child's emergency contact information is up to date. Accurate phone numbers and contacts ensure we can reach someone promptly during the school day or in the event of an emergency. Thank you for taking the time to review this important information!
📝 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 conferences with your child's teacher will be shared soon. In the meantime, please save the dates and times below:
Fall Conference Schedule
- Thursday, October 9 from 12:00-8:00 PM
- Friday, October 10 from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
💚 Now Hiring: Title I Paraeducators
Forest is looking for someone to join our team as a Part-Time Paraeducator!
Are you looking for a rewarding, flexible job that fits your schedule? All of our Title I schools are currently hiring part-time paraeducators to support classrooms, work closely with students and teachers, and to help students succeed every day!
- This is a great opportunity for individuals who enjoy working with children, want to make a difference, and are looking for meaningful part-time work. The pay is $20/hour for up to 599 hours (benefits not included).
- Candidates must have a paraprofessional approval from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and have completed 60 semester hours of college coursework or hold an Associate’s degree or have passed the ETS or WorkKeys exams
If you're interested or know someone who might be, please click HERE to learn more or apply!
🍎 Free & Reduced-Price Meals
Students may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. To be considered for the Free & Reduced-Price Meal Program, families must submit a new application each school year.
- If your family submitted a meal application last school year that was approved for free or reduced-price meals, that status will expire on September 26, 2025. After that date, you will begin to incur meal charges unless a new application has been submitted and approved for the current school year.
- Any D62 family that believes they may qualify based on income is encouraged to apply.
- To submit an application, log in to Infinite Campus Parent Portal and follow the Meal Benefits Application Directions.
📚 Book Fair Success!
🍕 9/23: Dine & Share
Our September Dine & Share is at Little Villa Pizza Company! Order from Little Villa all day on Tuesday, September 23rd and 10% of our Dine & Share sales will come back to the Forest PTC. As an added bonus, every student in the class with the most orders will win a coupon for a free slice of pizza! See the flyer for the details.
🙂 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 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!
💟 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.
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