February Newsletter
Win the Day!

Zach Dillavou
Middle School Principal
zdillavou@forestcity.k12.ia.us
641-585-4772
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Mission Statement
The core purpose of the Forest City Middle School is to build positive relationships with students in a safe environment where students are held to high expectations through a challenging and engaging curriculum.
Forest City Families,

Like many school years in the past, this time of year we are looking for some consistency in our school week. The weather has played havoc with us having a typical school week. We know consistency and routine is good for all of us and I am hopeful we can get back to a normal school week very soon. Please take some time to review the information included in this newsletter and hopefully Spring is just around the corner!


School Culture
We are currently focusing on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective people with our “Leader In Me” work. Habit #2 focuses on, “Beginning with the End in Mind,” so we have talked and worked with students on having a plan, setting goals, and having a vision for where you want to end up with many aspects of their decision making.

Transition Preparations
We have been busy as a MS leadership team putting all the final pieces together for the 5th grade to join us at the Middle School next year. We will share many more details as this gets closer. We are very excited for this transition to take place next Fall.

E-Learning Pilot Update
The e-learning feedback that I received from teachers and students was very positive. The MS kids did a nice job with this pilot. It will be great to get the students, teachers, and parents surveyed to gather additional information in the next few weeks. Here's a link to the survey if you haven't provided your feedback yet:
All school staff can be reached via telephone (585-4772) or email; email address is first initial, last name @ forestcity.k12.ia.us, i.e. zdillavou@forestcity.k12.ia.us.

Best regards,
Zach Dillavou
Conference Time!
The Forest City Middle School will be holding our Parent-Teacher-Student conferences on the evenings of February 26, 27 and 28 this year.

This conference will be a student led conference for our 6th and 7th graders. This allows the student the opportunity to share samples of their classroom work, share something they are proud of and share something that needs improvement. They will also share a completed self evaluation with goal setting components included.

The 8th graders will have a 30 minute conference to be split in two sessions. The first 15 minutes will be a traditional MS conference while the second 15 minutes will be led by a HS advisor and focused on scheduling for the students Freshman year.
2019-2020 Calendar Available
The district has released the 2019-2020 school year calendar. School is set to begin on Friday, August 23 and graduation will take place on May 17. The district reserves the right to change the calendar if the legislature provides more flexibility (i.e. when the school year can begin); however, the graduation date is set.
High Five Friday
On Friday, February 1, we were fortunate to have the Forest City Fire Department at our school from 7:50-8:15 AM greeting and welcoming our students to school.

We want to thank the fireman for their service to our community and for spending time with us to help start each students day off right!
Valentine's Day Gifts and Flowers
As a reminder, the Forest City Middle School will not be accepting flowers and gifts for students again this year for Valentines Day. We would appreciate that you do not order or have items delivered to the school on Thursday, February 14.
Lunch Reminders
menu_sign_blackbg.jpg
From Glenda Keough
Food Services Director 
641-585-2324, ext. 3212
Parenting Workshop
FREE PARENTING WORKSHOP
“SIBLING RIVALRY”
“Ways to creating a more Peaceful Home”
This workshop is going to share some easy to implement ways to minimize and control common everyday hassles that naturally occur among siblings. Caretakers of all types will leave with valuable resources that will give kids the tools to find inner balance and smooth the impact of sibling rivalry and turn relationships into positive ones!

Childcare is available during the workshop (FREE OF CHARGE) and it is requested that you let the school know the age(s) of your child(ren) that will attend. Walk-ins are welcome. All areas will be staffed with supervisors. Childcare for children 6 months-3 years will be in the drop-in child care room. The gym and game room are available for all ages. The pool is available for children that can swim on their own. All Y rules apply.

  • Monday, February 18
  • 6:30-8:00 p.m.
  • Please call the FC Elementary School at 585-2670 to register.
  • Forest City YMCA Multipurpose Room
  • No cost to attend
  • All attendees receive free family pass to the Y
  • CEU credits available
Upcoming Events

Feb. 21, MS Dance, 7-9 PM, MS gym
Feb. 26, 3:30-7:00 PTS Conferences
Feb. 27, 2:00-4:00 PTS Conferences
Feb. 28, 3:30-7:00  PTS conferences
Feb. 28, End of the 2nd Trimester
March 1-5, No School for students
March 6, Start of the 3rd Trimester

Twitter Talk 
Twitter Talk 
Follow us @ ForestCityMS

Teacher Twitter accounts:
@fcms_read_gal
@zdillavou
@FCMSOlsonK
@Uhlenhopp15
@ELPFC
@helgesont
@dcbang

Forest City Middle School
(641) 585-4772
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