Christmas Blessings

Forest Family Night Hike

This invitation will be going out to parents in the Forest blog when we return to school in January. Consider yourself invited! ....but if it feels like "one more thing" you have every right to enjoy a peaceful night at home as well. You give SO much of your heart and skill during the day! 

Part of the joy of community is building relationships and enjoying adventures together! You are invited to meet new friends and enjoy community in our first annual Forest Family Night Hike! Bring your flashlights, headlamps and winter gear! The Outdoor Discovery Center will host us for lots of family fun in the dark! Mark your calendars and see you there!

Staff Meeting

Our next staff meeting will be Tuesday, January 10 at 11:30! This one will be led by Doug and Rachel. 

Discovery Night

Forest School Discovery Night will be January 18 at 6:00. K-2 teachers, we may be requesting your help for that hour or part of it. I'll keep you posted as soon as I learn more details! I can hardly believe we're approaching another enrollment season! 

NWEA/MAP & Delta

1/9-1/20 will be our testing window for the winter assessment. 

End of Quarter 2!

Quarter 2 comes to a screeching halt on 1/13. Our report cards go live on 1/20. Because there are no parent/teacher conferences scheduled with this report card release, we ask teachers to comment on the progress students are making and helpful tips for support at home. 

MLK Jr. Day

We have no school on 1/16 to commemorate MLK Jr's work which has been entrusted to our generation to continue! There are many events in our community that help us to reflect and grow as a community. I am happy to help you think through how to inform and inspire your children to serve ALL people as the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in our world during the week following this important day. 

Mid-year Data Meetings

...will be held the week of 1/30. Please update the data sheets with your students' progress in reading using a running record for each child below benchmark (and certainly more children if you're able). 

Party Season

Other than our planned staff meeting, this post is all about parties! Maybe I should try to ramp up the fun of our staff meeting to fit the theme! Take a peek below:

Grandma Elsa's Birthday Card

If a big poster board comes to your classroom, would you please have your students sign their first name anywhere on the board? This will be turned into a Happy 90th Birthday Card for Elsa Prince who is a huge support for our Forest as well as for Holland Christian Schools. 

Staff Meeting

Our next staff meeting will be Monday, December 12 from 11:30-12:15. 

Christmas Lunch

Parent team is blessing you wonderful, hard-working Forest Friends will a lunch in the Pine Ridge media center from 1:00-2:00 on Tuesday, December 13! Thank you for coming to laugh together and enjoy their gift! 

Christmas Tea from the Board

After school on Wednesday, December 13 we will be treated to a spot of tea and singing! Come to main street when you're able to receive that gift of appreciation! 

Tis the Party Season

Thank you, Emily!!!! for inviting us Forest Friends to your new homestead! We can't wait to party some more in your new digs! Here are our details:

After Break Dates

Here are a few important dates to keep on our radar after Christmas break. Please note that NWEA Winter testing is OPTIONAL but gives us a good sense of each student's progress. 

12 Days of Christmas

OK, friends! We have exactly 11 more days until Christmas break! And I think we have six months of Christmas joy packed in between now and then! I LOVE it! Thank you for making Christmas in the Forest so special! 

Teacher Candidate

We have a teacher candidate who wants to join our Forest Family in our fifth grade opening next year. She will be touring around tomorrow morning. Her name is Katie. If we pop in your classroom, just carry on being awesome you! 

Staff Meeting December 12

We will hold our next staff meeting at 11:30 on Monday, December 12 in Emily's classroom. If possible, it would be helpful to have assistants presents as well. We'll work through safety protocol with fire and bathroom needs for our kids. Rachel and Doug will also be visiting to talk through our employee handbook changes. 

Christmas Lunch December 13

Could you please select a book or activity to provide for the parent who is supervising your class during our Christmas Lunch which will be in the Pine Ridge media center on December 13 from 1:00-2:00? 

Advent Mini-lesson

Here's our schedule for Wednesday morning! 

Art From the Heart

I will deliver any artwork your children submit for the fundraiser on December 12. I'll collect artwork from your classroom.