Forest School News (5.10.2026)
A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE FOREST PTC!!
As we wrap up Staff Appreciation Week, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible Forest PTC for the tremendous time, energy, generosity, and thoughtfulness they poured into making this week so special for our staff. From donating items and gift cards, to Chalk the Walk messages, delicious breakfast items and lunch, a beautiful flower bar, raffles, and countless behind-the-scenes details, they truly went above and beyond to celebrate the Forest staff.
Everyone felt so appreciated all week long and none of it would have been possible without the dedication of our PTC and all of the families who contributed. Forest is such a special community because of the people in it and I'm deeply grateful for the continued support, kindness, and partnership shown to our school staff each and every day. Thank you for helping make Forest such an amazing place to be!
📆 Save the Date: Incoming Kindergarten Information Night
Who: Incoming Kindergarten Families
What: Kindergarten Information Night
When: Wednesday, May 27 from 6:00-7:00 PM
Where: Forest Multipurpose Room
Why: Meet the kindergarten teachers, learn about the full day kindergarten experience, have an opportunity to ask questions, and meet other families!
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, June 5. 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: letter sounds, word segmenting, decodable words, and sight 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.
🎨 Gallery 62: Congratulations, Airat!
The Gallery 62 Art Exhibit was introduced in 2008 as a way to recognize works of art created by District 62 students under the guidance of district art teachers. The Board of Education presents the original art to the parents or guardians during eighth grade promotion ceremonies.
Congratulations to Airat for having his artwork represented in this year's Gallery 62 collection.
D62 Parent Engagement Survey
We are in the process of developing our Consolidated District Plan for the State of Illinois. This plan outlines specific supports, training, and resources that we will put in place using grant funds to improve outcomes for all of our students. Your voice is important in this process! Please take a moment to share your thoughts with us through this survey. Thank you in advance for your time and your partnership!
🎨 5/4-5/15: D62 Student Art Show
The 10th annual District 62 Student Art Show is happening now! Stop by the library to see artwork from more Forest students on display!
🌞 MaineStay Summer Therapy Programs
The MaineStay Summer Therapy Program Guide is here! It includes opportunities for all ages, listed below. For more information, click the linked guide.
For Children:
- Magical Moments: Play Therapy Group (ages 8.5-11.5, FREE)
For Adults:
- Coping Through the Chaos: An Integrative Approach to Manage Current Event Stressors (ages 18+)
For Families:
- Laugh, Love, Play: Group Family Play Therapy (ages 3.5-7.5, FREE)
📆 5/12: May PTC Meeting
Our last PTC meeting for this school year is coming up this Tuesday, May 12th at 7:00pm. This month the meeting will be held in the art room. Babysitting will be provided for children 3 years and older. We hope you can join us!
📚 5/12-5/14: Spring Book Fair
Save the date! The Book Fair is coming May 12th-14th! Keep an eye out for more information coming home soon.
🎤 5/14: Talent Show
Talent Show is this week!! The Forest community is in for a great show this year!
Talent Show important dates:
- Tuesday, May 12th: Tech Rehearsal
- Thursday, May14th: Talent Show Day
📝 School Supply Kits - Order Now for Fall 2026
School supply kits are back again for the 2026-2027 school year! Get ahead now by ordering your child's school supply pack. Everything you need, all in one place. You can order here. Please see the flyer for more information about pricing and ordering.
💟 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