Forest School News (12.2.24)
Parking and No Parking Zones
- ✅ 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.
📱Now through 12/9: Community Purchase Program
Are you in the market to purchase an Apple device (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Macbook, etc.)? D62 has recently announced an opportunity for D62 staff, families, and community members to purchase devices through our technology partner. This is a limited time offer from now through December 9. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE! 😀
👍 December PBIS Goal: Being Respectful
During the month of December, Forest will be working toward the goal of being respectful to others throughout the school day. Students will be acknowledged for demonstrating respect and working toward the goal of earning a grade level reward at the end of December, voted on by students themselves!
🧤 Winter Weather & Outdoor Recess
With our first snow of the season before Thanksgiving break and cooler temperatures in the forecast, please be sure to send your child to school with winter weather gear!
- Students should expect to have outdoor recess, unless it is deemed that the conditions are too cold or unsafe for students and staff. Please be sure to send your child to school with winter gear! If you are in need of winter accessories, please connect with Ms. Soike (Principal), Ms. Reiner (Assistant Principal), Ms. Biancalana (Social Worker), Ms. Corcoran (Social Worker), or Ms. McInerney (School Psychologist).
- If there is snow on the ground, recess supervisors will require students to have a minimum set of winter accessories in order to play in the snow. Students will need to have a winter coat, snow pants, winter boots, and mittens or gloves.
📝 12/3: Winter Assessments Begin
Before we leave for the winter holiday in a few short weeks, Forest students will participate in the winter benchmark assessment window. Students take benchmark assessments three times each year (fall, winter, and spring) to measure their progress in both literacy and math. Information from the benchmark assessments provides teachers with additional information about what each student has learned and what they are ready to learn next! Students in grades K-2 will be taking the FastBridge assessment, whereas students in grades 3-5 will be taking the NWEA MAP assessment.
⛄ 12/5: Snowman Voting
- Students: All students will have an opportunity to cast their vote for their favorite snowman at some point during the school day between December 6-13.
- Families: We also would love to get families involved as they visit Forest this week and next week. Any student or family member who comes to our after school engagement events will get a ticket to vote each time they join us!
Family Events with Opportunities to Vote:
- Thursday, December 5: PTC Ornament Decorating from 3:40-4:45 PM
- Monday, December 9: SEL Parent Education Night from 6:00-7:00 PM ❗ *childcare provided*
- Tuesday, December 10: PTC Meeting from 7:00-8:00 PM ❗ *childcare provided*
🏓 12/9: USA Pickleball Clinic for 5th Grade Students
💝 12/9: SEL Parent Night
Join us on Monday, December 9 from 6:00-7:00 PM at Forest for a Parent Education Night! You'll learn from our SEL staff about how to manage meltdowns and big feels and even have a chance to connect with other parents who may be experiencing the same at home.
🧤 In Need of Resources?
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
🛒 12/10 - 12/12: Holiday Shop
We are so excited to bring back the Holiday Shop this year for students!! The Holiday Shop is a fun way for students to shop for family members and experience the spirit of giving while learning to earn, budget, and save! Our shop will be open on Tuesday, 12/10 and Wednesday, 12/11 during the school day (with Thursday morning as a make-up day for absent students only). Each class will have the opportunity to visit one time.
Your student will have a variety of delightful gifts to choose from, all ranging in price from $0.50 to $8 (the majority are $5 or less). Envelopes to plan spending will be coming home after Thanksgiving break (tax is included in all prices, cash only). Please do not send more than $20-$30 with your students to shop. This is an amazing opportunity to empower your student to choose, purchase, and give gifts to their loved ones!
We also need volunteers, so be on the look-out for your chance to sign up!
If you have any questions you can reach out to Stephanie Statema (stephanie.statema@gmail.com) or Christine Ashby (Soapsuds85@gmail.com).
🌏 4/10/25: Multicultural Night
We are excited to announce that our Multicultural Night will be taking place on Thursday, April 10, 2025, and we are looking for talented performers to help make this evening truly special! If you or your child would like to share a performance that highlights your culture or traditions, we invite you to sign up! Performances could include music, dance, storytelling, poetry, or any other form of cultural expression you’d like to showcase. You can sign up at this link.
💚 Forest Spirit Wear
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.
👍 Join the PTC!
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
Upcoming Events
12/4: Winter Assessments Begin - FastBridge (Grades K-2) and NWEA MAP (Grades 3-5)
12/5: Ornament Decorating with the Forest PTC at 3:40 PM in the Forest MPR
12/6: Des Plaines Holiday Tree Lighting from 4:00-7:00 PM in Metropolitan Square
12/9: USA Pickleball Clinic for 5th Graders from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
12/9: SEL Parent Night (Big Feelings and Meltdowns) from 6:00-7:00 PM in the Forest MPR
12/10-12/12: PTC Holiday Shop (during school hours)
12/10: PTC Meeting from 7:00-8:00 PM
12/11: 5th Grade Band & Orchestra Winter Concert from 6:30-7:30 PM at AMS
12/14: Yoga for Kids from 10:00-11:00 AM at Maryville Academy - Email Amy Kendal if interested!
12/15: Des Plaines Community Band Concert from 3:00-5:00 PM at Prairie Lakes Theater
12/16-12/19: Educating Outside the Lines (Disability Awareness) Programming for K-5
12/16: Board of Education Meeting from 7:00-9:00 PM
12/20: Holiday Parties and Sing Along for Grades 1-5 during the school day
12/20: Early Dismissal at 3:15 PM
12/21/24 - 1/6/25: NO SCHOOL - Winter Break!
12/7: Back to School for all K-5 students
Contact Us
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