From Mr. Jones...
We want to thank you for your understanding and follow through about calling before noon in order to request a change in transportation plans on any given day. It's helped our front office tremendously!

Last month, I attended a preschool conference and wanted to share some interesting facts. We learned that the preschool years are when children experience the highest rate of vocabulary development ( Farkas & Baron, 2004). Oral language proficiency is the single best predictor of kindergarten readiness and the number of words children know prior to kindergarten predict their success at the end of kindergarten.

It was also said that children learn language as they interact with responsive adults and peers and experience language use in meaningful context. What does this mean? The speaker told us to put down the cell phone, take the iPad/phone out of our child’s hand and engage in meaningful conversations.

Even though my children are beyond the preschool years, it was a really good reminder that our kids are young for only so long and vocabulary no matter the level is learned by practicing it with all of us.

Thank you for all of the support you show your child as well as our building!

Have a safe and enjoyable November!

Principal Brad Jones
Traffic and Parking Solutions
Thanks to student Jordan Spooner for taking this aerial photo with the drone!
Our staff has been brainstorming ideas about how to improve the drop off/pick up/parking situation before and after school. Here are some things that we've come up with to help with congestion and to improve the safety for all:

Drive Thru Lanes
  • When you pull into the driveway off Spring Valley Road, the right hand side is the "drive thru" drop off/pick up lane. Children should get out cars on their own (no parking and getting out to open doors). If you/your child are not comfortable with this, please park and use the designated crosswalk.
  • The left hand side of this lane is used for those that want to drive into the parking lot to park their cars and for those who are trying to exit the "drive thru". Therefore, no parking is allowed on this side of the lane.
Parking Lot
  • We've just added a few 10 minute parking spots in the parking lot.
  • One change to note this year is that we've added two 4-year old preschool/childcare classrooms so additional parents are parking and escorting their children into and out of the building.
  • We have staff present to help your children get into the building so using the "drive thru" lane versus parking and walking them into the building could help with parking lot congestion.
  • We plan to repaint parking lines in the spring, which will also add a few more spots.
It's Time for Parent-Teacher Conferences
If you have not signed up for Fall Conferences on Nov.13 &14, please go to: https://www.myconferencetime.com/forestcityelem/login/
Conferences run from 3-7 p.m. both nights.
Three No School Days in November
November 17
November 23
November 24
Got Used Markers?
Got used markers ? Colorcycle them !

We are participating in a program sponsored by Crayola that teaches kids about the importance of recycling.

You can send all brands of markers, whiteboard markers, and highlighters to school with your children and we will send them off to be recycled.
A Message from the Meteorologist (a.k.a. Principal)
We’ve witnessed the first snowflakes of the season and from the looks of the weather forecast, the 70 degree weather probably won’t return until the spring.

Please remember to dress your child or have them dress themselves in a way that they will be protected from winter weather.

Our winter policy for outdoor recess is we send the students out unless the temperature and/or windchill is below zero. As I type this, the temperature outside is 36 degrees with a windchill of 24 and I’m still seeing kids outside wearing shorts. I know we are “Iowa tough” but the time has come to get out the winter gear.

When there is snow on the ground, our expectations are that students will wear boots and snow pants, along with a coat and have gloves and a stocking cap available. 

If you are in need of winter clothing, please contact us and we will provide you with one set for the year. Keep in mind that these items won’t be from Giorgio Armani (I had to Google that as my definition of high end clothing comes from Kohl’s) but they will help keep the kids warm and dry.
Upcoming Events
On November 9, we will be taking Grades 3-5 to NIACC in Mason City to watch Doctor Kaboom. He is a scientist/actor who brings science experiments to life on stage.

Buses will depart the elementary at 8:30 a.m. and will return and 12:15 p.m.








On December 1, our 4th grade students will welcome grandparents for the annual Grandparents Tea.

This event will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Grandparents may park in the West parking lot and enter in the West doors into our Cafetorium. We will have our staff park elsewhere that day. We please ask that just grandparents come that day (adopted grandparents are welcome if no other grandparents are available) as we don’t have space for both parents and grandparents.
At the end of the month we will have our first holiday concerts, held in the Cafetorium:
  • November 30: 2nd Grade will have their music concert at 6:15 p.m. and 3rd Grade will perform at 7:15 p.m.
  • Dec.7: Kindergarten will have their concert at 6:15 p.m. followed by the 1st Grade at 7:15 p.m.
Cafetorium Events reminder: As a reminder, there will be no prior “saving” of seats until doors open. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. We will have parents of the first group leave with their child shortly after the finish so we can allow parents for the second concert to come in and get their seats.
Our Teachers Like to Tweet!
It's been an active Tweeting month at the Elementary! Follow your students' classroom activities by following their teacher on Twitter.

Here's a list of Twitter accounts:

@FCElementary (Elementary)
@FCElemPE (Mr. Clarey)
@4BEgesdal (Mrs. Egesdal)
@_mrswalker (Mrs. Walker)
@ PinsClass (Mrs. Pins)
@elpfc (Mrs. Reese)
@CariLillquist ( Mrs. Lillquist)
@kmollenhauerfc (Mrs. Mollenhauer)
@sam_bartlett12 (Ms. Bartlett)
@michelle_bunger (Mrs. Bunger)
@4thJerome (Mrs. Jerome)
@K_AllyMoore (Mrs. Moore)
@AmyGrunhovd (Mrs. Grunhovd)
@FC4C2016 (Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Beenken 5th grade)
Stay Connected 
 
  • SchoolWay: Text or email alerts for school cancellations, postponements or activity/sports announcements. Free Apple or Android app or can be viewed from any web browser http://myschoolway.com/forestcity
  • Facebook: Find the school by searching for "Forest City Community School District"
  • Web site: www.forestcity.k12.ia.us has the school calendar, lunch menus, and more... 
Forest City Elementary School | 1405 West I Street 
641-585-2670| www.forestcity.k12.ia.us |