Forest School News (9.15.25)
🚨 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 Clubs & Activities
Now that we are a few weeks into the school year, student clubs and activities are starting to begin! At Forest, we strive to involve as many students as possible in at least one activity throughout the year. Last school year, more than 90% of students in grades 1-5 participated in one or more activities. We hope to continue providing opportunities for all of our students to get involved and foster their sense of belonging. Check out the list of fall activities below and be on the lookout for permission slips and their due dates!
🎵 Chorus Club - Tuesdays during the lunch/recess block
- Open to students in Grades 4-5
- Includes two community performances and a trip to the Des Plaines Choral Fest
- Permission slips due: Monday, September 15
- Rehearsals begin: Tuesday, September 16
⚽ Sports Club - Wednesdays after school from 3:30-4:30 PM
- Open to students in Grades 1-5; each grade level will have its own series of sessions
- 4th Grade permission slips due: Friday, September 19
- 4th Grade Sports Club begins: Wednesday, September 24
💟 Friendship Club - Wednesdays during the lunch/recess block
- Open to students in Grades 1-5; each grade level will have its own series of sessions
- Digital permission slip: is now open to sign up for all grade levels
- 1st Grade Friendship Club begins: Wednesday, October 1
🌎 Environmental Club - Fridays during the lunch/recess block
- Open to students in Grades 3-5; all students will meet monthly throughout the school year
- Permission slips: Be on the lookout for a paper permission slip to come home!
- Environmental Club begins: Friday, October 3
🤖 Makerspace Club - Thursdays after school from 3:30-4:30 PM
- Open to students in Grades 4-5
- Permission slips: Be on the lookout for a paper permission slip to come home!
- Makerspace Club begins: Thursday, October 16
✅ Clubs & Activities Already Underway:
- Patrol: Grade 5
- Video Announcements: Grades 1-5
- Student Council: Grades 1-5
🎒 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.
🍎 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.
📄 District 207 Stakeholder Survey
As part of the strategic planning process in Maine Township High School District 207, the district is seeking feedback from future parents. The survey takes 5-10 minutes and can be found on the district's website or via this link: https://bit.ly/D207Survey
💙 D62 BPAC Meeting
The first D62 BPAC meeting of the school year will be this Thursday, September 18th from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Westerhold Early Learning Center. The event begins with free pizza and childcare is provided. Check out the translated flyers for more information.
🤝 Thank You: PTC Meeting
⭐ Staff Spotlight
Ms. Peters is our September Staff Spotlight winner! Her interview and picture will be up on the website and Facebook soon. Thanks for all that you did for the Forest Community, Ms. Peters! You can nominate a staff member anytime at this link, or by emailing Jami Kolonski at jamikolonski@gmail.com or Michelle Marlega at michelle.marlega@yahoo.com explaining why that staff member deserves to be recognized. Winners are randomly chosen at PTC Meetings.
📚 September 16-18: Literati Book Fair
We are partnering with a new company for our Book Fair this year. The Literati Book Fair is September 16th-18th! Students will shop with their classrooms during the school day. Don't want to send cash with your student? Literati offers the option to purchase e-gift cards. Click here to see the flier for more details and to translate!
Want to help students during the Book Fair? We still need help during the day as students select books and check out. You can sign up to volunteer here.
🥳 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.
🍕 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!
Friends of 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!!
📆 Save the Date - Forest Fall Fest
Join the PTC!
💙 MaineStay Youth & Family Services
MaineStay Youth & Family Services provides FREE or affordable programs for youth of all ages, with a focus on social-emotional learning opportunities that aim to maximize each child's full potential. There are also opportunities for adults, couples, and families. To learn more about the range of events and activities MaineStay has to offer, check out their Fall 2025 Flyer Catalog! You can also reach out to any of the Forest SEL staff members with questions.
💟 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.
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