FR News 11/3/23

Message from Mrs. Stamer

Wow! We had a jam-packed, fun-filled week this week. We had our first buddies meeting, our connections students went on their first field trip (thank you Mr. Bothwell), our Halloween parade, and first grade celebrated 50’s day.

Thank you so much to all the parent volunteers and staff for making all of these activities possible. Of course we always have fun day to day at Forest Road, but the extra activities always bring extra smiles and fun to our days.

HALLOWEEN

BUDDIES DAY

50's DAY!

Message from Mr. Ontiveros

Happy November Roadrunner Families,

While Tuesday's weather felt more like the first day of winter, it did not stop our Halloween celebrations at Forest Road. Students and staff continued on as planned with our annual costume parade, then followed with classroom parties. Thank you to all the families and friends who braved the wind and snow by gathering around the surrounding blocks to get a glimpse of our participants. A special thank you to our Roadrunner parents who volunteered to lead the classroom parties.

November is a month where my family and I take moments to reflect on what we’re thankful for. A quick at-home activity can be to create a “thankful tree”. One example of a construction paper version is to have your child trace their hand on brown paper to be used as the tree. Next, draw and cut blank leaves on red, orange, and yellow paper. Then either daily or weekly, write something to be thankful for on a leaf and paste it to the tree.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Important: Arrival & Dismissal

There have been many reminders sent and directions regarding parking on Homestead for drop off and pick up. Unfortunately, many are still using the street to park, drop off and pick up. This is causing unsafe situations for our children when they are walking to school. You may have noticed police presence this week. They were here to help enforce what has been sent out in newsletters. There will be continued presence next week and new barricades with signs notifying you that you may not use the street for parking, drop off or pick up during arrival and dismissal.

Families are encouraged to use the carline for drop off and pick up. There are staff members there to greet students and there is supervision for students while they walk to the blacktop.

Please follow the directions provided in this newsletter for safe drop off and pick up during arrival and dismissal.

School Hours & Lunch Hours

8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Lunch Hours: 11:20 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

8:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Wednesday

Lunch Hours: 10:55 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. | Wednesday

Upcoming Dates to Remember

November 11 - Veteran's Day

November 20 - Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences

November 20-24 - Thanksgiving Break - NON-ATTENDANCE for Students

Forest Road Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive - Nov. 1 - 15

It's that time of the year! Forest Road School helps the Westchester Food Pantry make "Thanksgiving Baskets" for many families in need! Please consider donating!

Friendsgiving 2023

Our next buddies meeting is on November 16th and the students will have a snack with their buddy while they do their activity. This will be our “Friendsgiving” event with our buddies. We are looking for snack donations for this event. Please sign up through the signup genius link below if you can donate.

Candy Wrapper Collection

Veteran's Day Assembly

Forest Road will be holding an all-school assembly to honor Veterans Day. We will honor those who have served, or may currently be serving our country. If your child knows of someone who is a veteran or someone who is currently serving, we would appreciate it if you could share a picture with us for a slideshow. Include the name of the individual your child/children know. Just scan and email the picture to Mrs. Roche by November 7th.

With your picture, please include the following:

Name of your child
Name and branch of your veteran
Veteran’s relationship to your student
If they died, the year they passed

Mary Kate Roche rochema@dist102.k12.il.us

Mary Kay Masterson

Forest Road Clubs

CHORUS - SIGN UP DEADLINE IS NOV. 10TH

The Forest Road Chorus is open to all students in grades 5-6. Rehearsals are split between 5th and 6th grade, and each grade-level Chorus practices once a week: 6th Grade on Tuesday and 5th Grade on Wednesday. Both groups practice during Lunch Recess.

Some musical skills we practice in Chorus include, but are not limited to, vocal warmup techniques, vocal tone production and projection, singing vocal exercises, singing harmonized exercises, music score sight-reading, and learning new repertoire.

The Forest Road Chorus performs at all school concerts (usually 3 concerts) and will sometimes perform outside of school as opportunities arise. ($25 to join, free/reduced to those who qualify). Link to Sign Up below:

https://store.dist102.k12.il.us#!/products/2RI2AZZR5U

GUITAR & PIANO

Guitar and Piano is now live in PushCoin ($25 to join, free/reduced to those who qualify). If you would like to enroll, please use the following links. 40 spots available in each class. Don't miss out!!

Guitar: https://store.dist102.k12.il.us#!/products/KHDUTPXSZX

Piano: https://store.dist102.k12.il.us#!/products/P5QXSYK46J

NEW FOR 2024 - DRAMA CLUB!!

Teachers are beginning to plan for the Drama Club this spring. Drama Club will be for 4th - 6th graders. It will take place after school 3:15-4:15 on Thursday for 8 weeks. Students will then have a short performance for parents on the last practice. Teachers are also looking into performing for peers at an end of the year assembly. At this time, please complete the interest survey so we can plan accordingly. The official sign up and payment will be posted in PushCoin in January.

Please reach out to Mrs. DiOrio with questions (diorioju@dist102.k12.il.us).

Interest Survey

23-24 Bus Routes and Schedule

Car Rider Drop-Off & Pick-Up Guidelines

Guidelines will remain the same as last year:

Please do not park, drop off or pick up on Homestead between Monroe and Jackson.

November Lunch Menu

Before & After School Care Info.

Forest Road offers two different before and after school programs. Although they run independently from us, they are serviced here in our school. Below is the contact information for BASE and Right At School:

BASE: Leanna Hartung - Manager LeannaHartung@pdlg.org

Right At School: Chelsey Mazariegos - Area Manager chelsey.mazariegos@rightatschool.com

Right at School and BASE drop off security reminder:

Parents when you drop off your child off at Right at School or BASE and for some reason need to walk your child into the building, please then exit the building immediately after dropping off. Please do not take your child to the classroom or go to the classrooms on your own to drop off or pick anything up. I appreciate your attention to this.

PTO Corner!

PTO Website: https://forestroadpto.org

PTO Newsletter: HERE

https://mailchi.mp/b05a237370c4/your-pto-news-letter-is-here-15524589

Questions? Email PTO Co-Presidents:

Arlene Avalos: aavalos86@hotmail.com or Christine Zmuda ckzmuda@gmail.com

ART ENRICHMENT - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Our PTO is searching for a few more volunteers to make sure that all of our kiddos get to participate in our new Art Enrichment program. No art experience necessary. All lessons and materials are provided.

Currently, we are still in need of volunteers for the following classrooms:

Duffy (5th), Krysa (5th), Roche (6th), Gorman (6th).

Sign up HERE!

Park Jr. High Tutors

Park Tutors 2023/24

The Park Tutor Program is an after school program where Park Students tutor and mentor elementary students.

Mondays and Thursdays 3:30PM until 4:10PM

PROGRAM DATES:

Tutoring Sessions:
November 6th - informational meeting for Park Students only November 9,13,16,27,30
December 4,7,11,14,18,(no tutors on the 21st)
January 8,11,18, 22, 25, 29
February 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 22, 26, 29
March 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21
April 3, 4,8 11th is the last day

Meet in front of the Main Office of Park Junior High School... then go to the LRC. - Permission Slip HERE

Order your Yearbook!

Order your 2023-24 Yearbook now!

TreeRing Yearbook Order Info

If needed, the school code for Forest Road is 1014609993964535

Help make this year's book, the best yet by uploading your photos from the First Day of School, Boosterthon, 3rd Grade Bike Rodeo and Halloween!

Download the TreeRing app for your mobile Android or iOS device to easily upload photos!

Community Corner

We are still collecting brown paper bags with handles for the pantry. As a reminder Trader Joe's and Mariano's brown paper bag with handles are preferred.