The Forest Falcon

Welcome to the Forest Falcon! Our once weekly parent communication that will be sent out via email on Fridays each week! Please read this in its entirety to ensure you do not miss any important information.

Dear Forest Avenue Families and Caregivers,

Greetings on this beautiful October afternoon! I truly hope you have been able to enjoy some outside time this week. For me, it is perfect weather and color!

As you know, Halloween will be celebrated next weekend by some of our Forest Ave. families. In the spirit of continuing to build an inclusive school community, we will not be CELEBRATING Halloween in school. There may be classes, however, who will be TEACHING about Halloween. This is because we recognize that there are holidays that run directly counter to many of our families’ values or religious beliefs, and that a rich diverse education includes learning about cultures and beliefs that are different from our own. Being explicit about the difference between teaching about a holiday and celebrating a holiday allows our students to learn about holidays and traditions, while honoring families' choice around which of those traditions or holidays they choose to celebrate.

I ask you to join me in embracing fully inclusive celebrations at Forest Avenue School such as our Fun Run, Bingo Night and Springtime Fun Day. It will benefit all of our students and families and make us a stronger community. It is also a lot of fun!

As always, thank you for your partnership. My very best wishes for an enjoyable weekend.

Sincerely,

Tricia O’Reilly, Principal, Forest Avenue School

Hudson Public Schools Families,

A new school year means new routines, new classrooms, and a fresh start. It can also bring anxiety, stress, or emotional challenges that make it harder to settle in.

Cartwheel, our virtual mental health partner, can offer:

• Individual teletherapy for students — appointments with a licensed therapist available within days, with no waitlist
• Parent and caregiver guidance — practical support for navigating challenges at home
• Family therapy for transitions, stress, or ongoing challenges
• Psychiatric support, when appropriate
• Care Programs for specific challenges like school avoidance, screens and social media, and intense emotions and behavior challenges

Appointments are virtual, scheduling is flexible, and care is available in multiple languages. For students with Medicaid, care is completely free. Most private insurance plans are also accepted.

Getting started takes just a few minutes. Complete this simple interest form, and someone from Cartwheel will follow up with you.

As the colder weather approaches, please ensure that children are dressed appropriately for the weather including outdoor recess, as we will be going outside unless the temperature is 23F with the wind chill factor or lower. Students should come with warm coats, hats, gloves, and boots. If your family needs assistance obtaining a winter coat and/or boots, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I am happy to help!

Christie Vaillancourt RN MSN NCSN

School nurse

The cold weather is here! Switching out your clothes for the seasons? Remember to use the textile bins outside Forest Ave to donate/recycle any accepted items.