SCHEDULE NOTES
- 11/21 Early out 1:50 p.m. ELEM, 2 p.m. MS/HS
- 11/22-24 No School Days for Thanksgiving Break
- 12/22 Early Dismissal for winter break (1:50 p.m. ELEM, 2 p.m. MS/HS). Classes resume January 2, 2024.
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District Celebrates Results |
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This fall the district has been reviewing our 2023 spring ISASP (formerly Iowa Basic Skills) test scores. While we are proud of these scores, we understand the need to keep growing and improving to help all our students be successful learners.
We have several measures that we use to determine how our students are doing. These measures include evaluating our district and state assessments, grade-level benchmark assessments and classroom-level assessments (formative and summative scores).
While these more notable assessments are important, the most meaningful teaching and learning happens on a day-to-day basis in each respective classroom! This day-to-day learning and ongoing assessment is what is most valuable to us as a school system for each of our learners.
Listed below are some highlights from the ISASP data. As a reminder, students are only tested in grades 3-11 and only in the areas of Math, English Language Arts and Science.
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English Language Arts (ELA)
- Seven ELA grade levels were 10 plus percentage points over the state average
- Six ELA grade levels are above the 80% proficient + advanced percentile
- Five grade levels made significant ELA growth from one year to the next
- Advanced percentage of 30% in 10th grade ELA
- Advanced percentage of 23% in 11th grade ELA
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Math
- Six math grade levels were 10 plus percentage points over the state average
- Four math grade levels are above the 80% proficient + advanced percentile
- Advanced percentage of 25% in 3rd grade math
- Advanced percentage of 26% in 5th grade math
- Advanced percentage of 18% in 8th grade math
- Advanced percentage of 19% in 11th grade math
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Science (tested only in three grade levels)
- 10th grade science was 15% points above the state average
- Advanced percentage of 15% in 8th grade science
- Advanced percentage of 19% in 10th grade science
In addition, all three buildings earned "Commendable" ratings for the Iowa School Performance Ratings.
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November 7 School Board Election Results |
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Thank you for voting and congratulations to the newly-elected School Board members! They will officially begin their terms at the December 11 Board of Education meeting.
Pictured are new Board members Cody Hennigar, Shelby Korth and Rick Wiley.
District 1 - Rick Wiley, Cody Hennigar and Shelby Korth
District 2 - David Reese
District 3 - Beth Clouse
District 4 - Kim Severson
District 5 - Troy Thompson
We also wish to pass along our sincere thanks and appreciation to Eric Kingland, Keila Buffington and Gary Ludwig. All three are longtime members. Eric has served since 2011, Keila since 2006, and Gary began his 4th term in 2019.
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As the weather starts to turn, we are reminding you that the district now allows up to 8 E-learning days. As with all weather-related announcements, the district will notify parents and students of an E-learning day via SchoolMessenger.
Here are the basics of E-Learning by building:
Elementary students:
- E-Learning packets and instructions will be sent home with elementary students and electronic copies of the packet are available to download from our school website (Schools<Elementary School).
Middle School Students:
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6th, 7th and 8th Grade students should check Google Classroom at the start of the E-Learning day for directions as to what is expected and they should also check email throughout the day in the event further instructions are needed. Parents should expect that a student should have 15-20 minutes worth of review work for each class; new learning would be rare. E-Learning work is required work. Students have 2 days to complete E-learning work, but we encourage students to complete necessary work promptly during the E-Learning day.
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5th Grade students will need their Chromebook for e-learning. All students should start each day by checking the 5th Grade Website. All assigned work will be paperless, but a math notebook or piece of paper may be needed to complete math problems.
High School Students:
- Students should check each class in Google Classroom at the start of the E-Learning day for class resources/E-Learning expectations.
- Content will reinforce current learning or expand on a topic that has been introduced.
- A 'formative assessment' may be included as part of the e-learning activities (formative assessments are 15% of a student's grade at FCHS).
- No summative assessment(s) will be part of an E-Learning Day.
- Students who do not complete the E-Learning activities will have up to the next (2) school days to complete the activities. After that point, an 'Absence' will be recorded.
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Annual Veterans Day Program
The Forest City American Legion 121 and the Forest City School District collaborate to honor Veterans during an annual program. This year's speaker was Staff Sergeant Jason Crail, who also serves as Forest City's Director of Middle School Student Support. The Forest City Concert Band and Choir performed. It's an impactful event for all involved.
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Thanks for Supporting the Book Fair! |
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Former Student Connects With 7th Grade Students |
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Each year, Forest City 7th-grade students read the book Out of My Mind, and on Friday, October 27, they enjoyed a visit from Madison Hansen, a former Forest City graduate. Madison visited the middle school to speak to students about her love of the book and her new passion for painting!
Madison first read Out of My Mind as a 7th-grade student with Mrs. Linder. Melody, a young girl with cerebral palsy, faces many challenges with communication and movement. Also having cerebral palsy, Madison immediately felt a connection to the main character.
Helping her in her presentation was her sister, Makenzi, who works as a paraprofessional in the district. The students put a list of questions together prior to the visit, and Makenzi went through these questions with Maddi to help prepare and present the answers she wanted to share.
Madison began painting with her grandmother, Lana, and quickly discovered a newfound love for art. She recently had an art show and accepts free-will donations for her paintings. A large portion of the proceeds are donated to various charities.
The students were captivated by Maddi’s story, and they were inspired by her optimism and resilience. They presented her with a copy of the sequel to Out of My Mind called Out of My Heart, and she presented them with two of her paintings to hang in the middle school lobby.
Just like the book Out of My Mind, Madison’s presentation had many great messages to take away. She taught the students the importance of perseverance, kindness, and compassion.
She also showed them that it is possible to make a difference in the world, regardless of your abilities.
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Week of December 4 Radon Screening at Forest City Elementary |
Student learning and the safety of students, staff and community are priorities for our school. The administration of the Forest City Community School District is providing you with this notification that a radon screening will be conducted beginning December 4 at Forest City Elementary.
The testing is not harmful in any way, and there is no need for students, parents and teachers to do anything special in preparation. The State of Iowa requires radon testing at least once every 5 years for all Iowa public school attendance centers, licensed preschools and licensed child care centers. We believe all of our staff and students should be safe. The district has proactively placed all of our school building(s) on a multi-year rotating radon test schedule.
To test for radon in the air, kits that look like small envelopes will be used in our learning spaces. It is important these kits are not disturbed, and that exterior windows and doors are kept closed except for normal entry and exit. The envelopes will be left in place for five school days.
If you have further questions regarding radon testing, please feel free to contact Darwin Lehman at 641.585.2323. Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation.
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Upcoming Elementary Concert Info |
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Concerts are coming up for Forest City Elementary second and third-grade students on Thursday, November 30!
Second Grade students are performing Twinkle and Shine at 6 p.m. and third-grade students are performing The Jingle Bell Jukebox at 7 p.m.
Here are some details!
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The esports team has qualified for the fall championships at the Orpheum Center in Marshalltown on November 17!
Coach Ryan Friederich and students Dylan Meyer, Brandon Ochoa, Ethaen Dyslin, Gabe Ramirez, Amate Cooper, Rolin Arruda and Kaleb Kruse will make the trip to play 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.' The team is seeded #4 in an 8-team state competition.
Their esports regular season was very successful. The team went 5-1 beating OABCIG, Clarion, Anamosa, Eagle Grove, and Sheldon. Our only loss was in overtime to Okoboji!
Their X account (formally Twitter) is @fcindianesports and we will be posting information about the livestream throughout the day for people to watch us compete online!
This is the 4th consecutive state appearance by our Esports teams:
- Rocket League in '21
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in '22
- Overwatch in '23
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in '23
Way to go students!
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Congratulations to the entire Catch Me If You Can cast and crew! The show was amazing! Photo credit Zach Raulie
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Congratulations to middle school students Aubrey Kluver, Aubrey Olson, Sam Nolton, Isaac Alphs and Colin Sesker who were selected to perform at the NCIBA Honor Band in Algona on November 11. Colin Sesker was selected to perform with the All Iowa 8th Grade Honor Band in Des Moines in May! |
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There are 8 students from Malaysia (all ages 15-17) who are looking for a host family from January to June.
This is the perfect opportunity for a family to try hosting, since it's just a semester commitment!
Contact Tami McInroy at the High School at 641-585-2323 or tmcinroy@forestcity.12.ia.us if you can help!
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To get started, your child must complete a mental health assessment through LSI and send the referral form to Maria.Garcia@LSIowa.org. |
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At LSI, we believe struggling with a serious behavioral or emotional disorder is too heavy a weight to bear alone. And it’s even
harder when you’re a kid. Our Behavioral Health Intervention Services wrap care around a child’s entire family to empower them with practical skills for anger management, healthy decision-making, and better family functioning.
If your child has a severe emotional or behavioral disorder and you reside in Clay, Kossuth, Osceola, Palo Alto, Winnebago, and Worth Counties, you may be eligible to receive Behavioral Health Intervention Services, and AT NO COST TO YOU.
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Our official daily calendar is available within the Forest City CSD app (search for
the free app called Forest City CSD in your app store) or on www.forestcity.k12.ia.us. If there’s a schedule change, it’s updated here.
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FOREST CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
www.forestcity.k12.ia.us
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