December | 2025

SCHEDULE NOTES

• December 23: Early Dismissal - ELEM 1:50 p.m., MS/HS 2:00 p.m.
• December 24 - December 28: Buildings Closed, No Activities/Practices
• December 24 - January 1: No School - Winter Break
• January 2: Classes Resume
• January 19: No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Forest City Community School District is honored to be named the 2025 Forest City Chamber Business of the Year! This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to serving students, families, and the wider community with excellence. We are proud to partner with local organizations, support community initiatives, and help strengthen the future of Forest City. Thank you to the Chamber and our community for this meaningful honor.

E-Learning Days

As the winter weather continues, a reminder that the district allows up to 8 E-learning days per year. 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 were sent home during conferences, and electronic copies of the packet are available to download from our school website (Schools<Elementary School). Students have 3 school days to complete their E-learning packet.

Middle School Students:

• 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. 
• 5th and 6th Grade students should have received their E-learning packets that have materials and directions for the E-learning day. Computers will not be sent home to stay consistent with our computer policy during the year.
• If any middle school students have questions or need clarification with an assignment, please reach out to your teachers during school hours. They would be happy to help!

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 which can impact a student's standing with the State of Iowa's Chronic Absenteeism/Truancy Law.

In recent months, we’ve noticed that energy drinks have become a growing concern among school-age students. They may seem like a quick way to boost focus or energy, but they can pose serious health risks. Energy drinks often contain high levels of caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants, making them unsafe for children and teens.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that kids avoid energy drinks entirely, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends that adolescents consume no more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day. Because of their smaller bodies and developing brains, children are more vulnerable to caffeine’s effects, which can include sleep problems, anxiety, agitation, rapid heart rate, and other serious symptoms—especially when combined with high sugar content.

Sports drinks, while caffeine-free, also contain added sugars and should only be used for prolonged, intense physical activity. For everyday hydration, water remains the best choice, with options like milk, diluted fruit juice, or low-sugar electrolyte drinks serving as healthier alternatives to support healthy, sustained energy throughout the day.

Meet Our New Team Members

We are excited to welcome a couple of new staff members who will be joining us at the start of the new year! Each brings valuable experience, fresh perspectives, and a strong commitment to supporting our students and school community. We look forward to the positive impact they will make across our classrooms, programs, and departments. Please join us in welcoming them as they begin their journey with us!

National Math Stars - Pathfinder Stars Program

We’re excited to share that Asher Carpenter has been selected for the Pathfinder Stars Program through National Math Stars — one of only 21 students chosen across the entire state!

The Pathfinder Stars Program recognizes young mathematicians who demonstrate exceptional problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and a strong passion for learning. Students in this program are challenged with advanced math tasks, enrichment activities, and opportunities to grow their confidence as emerging STEM leaders.

We are so proud of his dedication and hard work. Congratulations, Asher!

Middle School Character Award Winners

Congratulations to our Middle School Character Award winners for November!

They were nominated by their teachers for exemplifying what it means to be Thoughtful- listening with care, sharing ideas clearly, and collaborating to make a positive impact. Way to go!

Left to right: Zoey Andreasen, Rilee Langfald, Asher Alvarez, Brently Lunning, Peyton Throne, Tate Kearney. Not pictured: Skylar Spatafora and Leif Johnson

Middle School Service Project - Soldier Care Packages

Our Forest City Middle School students recently completed a meaningful community service project—collecting items and assembling care packages for Iowa soldiers deployed overseas.

Thanks to the generosity of our students, staff, and families, over 2,070 items were donated this year! Each package also included handwritten notes of appreciation, encouragement, and holiday cheer from our students.

We’re proud to show our support and recognize the brave men and women serving our country.

E-Sports Achievements

The Forest City Esports program recently had a successful day down at the IAHSEA SSBU State Tournament, finishing in the top 4 for the 4th time in the program's five-year history.

A highlight of the day was when their only senior, Suta, signed his letter of intent to continue his esports and academic career at Marshalltown Community College. The day finished with Marshalltown Community College winning a JUCO National Championship. 3 of their 5 starters are Forest City Esports alumni! Congrats to all!

Athletics Hall of Fame

The nominating period for the Forest City Athletics Hall of Fame will open on January 15, 2026. Start thinking about potential candidates! Nominations are valid for 3 years from the time of submission.

Visit the district’s website,

https://www.forestcity.k12.ia.us/district/athletics-hall-of-fame, for additional information.

As the winter season settles in, we know it brings a mix of joy and new challenges for families. Shorter days, colder weather, and busy schedules can affect routines, energy, and emotions—and that’s completely normal. Our Student Support Team is here to help your family feel supported, connected, and cared for all winter long.

Using the link below, you’ll find tips for keeping spirits up during the darker months, guidance for easing back into school routines, ideas for navigating the holidays with less stress, and information on local resources.

Our elementary students had a blast during their recent PBIS celebration - student vs. teacher turkey bowling! The competition was friendly, the laughter was loud, and there were some pretty impressive "strikes" on both sides. We love celebrating our students for making safe, respectful, and responsible choices.

Fifth graders wrapped up their study of the novel Frindle with an engaging, hands-on mock trial. Students stepped into a variety of roles—judge, lawyers, defendant, plaintiff, witnesses, and jury—as they brought the book’s central conflict to life in the courtroom. Each participant wrote their own script and dressed in character to make the courtroom come to life.

During the trials, classes listened carefully to the evidence and arguments presented before deliberating like a real jury. Each class reached its own unique verdict based on the facts of the case. This project was a great blend of reading comprehension, critical thinking, public speaking, and it celebrated the end of their novel study.

Seventh graders have been exploring how plants make their own food and where those food molecules come from. The unit kicked off with a sweet experience—students sampled pure maple syrup and maple sap. After analyzing the nutrition labels, they discovered just how much sugar is found in these products, sparking curiosity about how plants produce those sugars in the first place.

From there, students dove into a series of investigations, simulations, readings, and discussions to uncover what plants need to survive and how photosynthesis works. As they near the end of the unit, students had the chance to learn from a guest speaker: Chuck Seebeck, a hobby tree-tapper and syrup maker. He shared the importance of respecting trees throughout the tapping process, demonstrated his tools, explained how and when to tap trees, and described the four sap “runs” of syrup season. He even brought in some of his own syrup for students to taste!



If you’re interested in learning more about tree tapping and syrup making, check out the Cozy Grove Sugar Shack at the Smith Wildlife Area in Kossuth County.

Our sophomore students recently spent the day at NIACC for Explore Day, where they took part in interactive, hands-on sessions highlighting a wide range of career pathways. In addition to engaging with professionals and experiencing potential future careers, students toured the NIACC campus and capped off the experience by attending the high-energy Artrageous show. It was a fun and engaging day that helped students discover new interests and opportunities.

A few weeks ago, residents in Northern Iowa enjoyed a rare, stunning view of the Northern Lights! While people have marveled at this colorful phenomenon for centuries, science has only explained it within the last hundred years.

In chemistry class, students are diving into the science behind these vibrant colors by studying the photoelectric effect — how atoms absorb energy, excite electrons, and release photons that create different colors of light. This same process is what gives the Northern Lights their beautiful greens, purples, and reds as oxygen and nitrogen in our atmosphere become energized.

To bring this concept to life, students conducted flame test labs, burning different metal chlorides to observe which metals produced specific colors. They also practiced writing lab reports, using data to support their claims — a valuable skill that will serve them well in future classes, careers, and everyday problem-solving.

Giving Back

The Forest City FCCLA club and FFA chapter recently gave back in a big way after receiving generous donations from Deb and Jeff Hansen of Iowa Select Farms as part of the Ignite the Spirit program. In total, eighty pork loins and $1,000 worth of groceries were donated to the Forest City Food Bank and Leland and Fertile Food Pantries.

FFA Recieves Landus Cooperative Grant

The Forest City FFA chapter recently received a $750 grant from Landus Cooperative! Their mission is to support rural programs and organizations—including county fairs, emergency management teams, 4-H programs, and FFA chapters—and this generous contribution will directly benefit our agriculture education department and FFA members. The funding will help students launch new projects, enhance existing initiatives, and access expanded learning opportunities both in and beyond the classroom. Thank you, Landus, for investing in the future of agriculture and empowering our students to make a positive impact in our community.

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