January | 2026

SCHEDULE NOTES

• January 19: No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• February 24 & 26 - Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences
• February 27: No School

The Iowa Department of Education recently released district-level performance ratings as a new addition to the Iowa School Performance Profiles, offering greater transparency into how public school districts serve students. This marks the first year districts have received official performance designations under Iowa’s updated unified accountability system. 

Based on a set of core indicators, districts are rated in six categories: exceptional, high performing, commendable, acceptable, needs improvement, and priority. The same methodology and scoring thresholds were used for school-level ratings. Indicators focus on proficiency in English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science, Student Academic Growth, Chronic Absenteeism, and Attendance Growth among all K-12 schools. 

We are proud to share that our district received a high-performing rating, placing us among the highest performing districts in the state. This recognition reflects the dedication of our students, staff, families, and community to continuous growth and achievement. We remain committed to ensuring every student is challenged, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential as we strive for even higher levels of learning and success in the future.

Elementary Book Nook Vending Machine

Our elementary students recently celebrated the ribbon-cutting of the brand new Book Nook Vending Machine—a fun and exciting way to spark a love of reading! Students can now earn tokens through our PBIS program, then redeem them for a book of their choice. To kick things off, every student had the opportunity to try it out and take home a brand-new book! A big thank you to the Forest City Education Foundation and their generous donors for making this new addition possible. Their support helps put more books in the hands of our readers!



Sponsors: Forest City Education Foundation, Amy Ryan-Edward Jones, First Choice Realty, Heyer Spear Insurance, Jennings & Hall Financial Group, Forest City Ford, Gold Eagle Cooperative, FCIS Insurance, Mark & Carolyn Frakes, Chris Miller & Noel Flemming, Sam Dugan, and Frerichs Family.

2026-2027 School Year Calendar Approved

During January's Board of Education meeting, the board approved the 2026-2027 school year calendar. This calendar includes school start/end dates, holidays, no school days, graduation date and more. Check it out! 

Giving Tree Success

A big thank you to all who helped make this year’s Forest City Education Association’s Giving Tree a success! The Giving Tree is a committee of teachers and members who volunteer their time to organize this project each year to provide children and families with Christmas gifts. Christmas trees at local businesses are decorated with anonymous tags that community members can choose and purchase gifts for. There are also online tags and the committee partners with several businesses and individuals who sponsor a family or a group of tags. The gifts are dispersed to deserving families just in time for Christmas.

This year, they were able to provide Christmas gifts (clothing, toys, pajamas, socks, underwear, and shoes) to over 145 kids (52 families) in our community. The committee organized over 580 gifts this year!

Many thanks to the members of the Forest City Education Association, community members, businesses, clubs, PEO's, churches, and organizations for making it another successful year.

Winterfest 2026

Winterfest week brought energy and excitement with a full week of dress-up days, a spirited pep assembly, and a memorable Winterfest Dance. Those selected for the Winterfest Court include: Aviana Holkesvik, Sash Hulyi, Ethan Bertram, Sam Hughes, Luke Raulie, Peyton Anderson, Morgan Christ, Hunter Harms, Sasha Johnson, Ella Urbatsch, Viola Dokken, and Jenna Dontje.

Congratulations to our Winterfest King Sasha Hulyi and Queen Jenna Dontje!

Athletics Hall of Fame Committee Now Accepting

Nominations for the Class of 2026

The Forest City School District has opened the nomination process for the Athletics Hall of Fame, which recognizes and honors former athletes, coaches, teams, administrators, and patrons who have made significant contributions to the district’s athletics program.

The deadline to submit nominations for the 2026 class is February 15, 2026. Nomination forms, either an online form or a downloadable form, are available on the district’s website. Paper nomination forms are also available at the District office. Nominations will only be considered with a completed form.

Consideration criteria have been established for each category of nominees —player, coach, administrator, contributor/patron, and team. A player nominee must be a graduate of Forest City High School and out of school for at least four years. They also must have received all-conference and/or all-state recognition in their respective sport and contributed at a high level both in athletics and in the community. A coach nominee must have been a head coach at Forest City High School for a minimum of five years with their teams competing in a consistent and exemplary way. An athletic director or administrator must have served in the district for a minimum of five years and supported or contributed to the development of athletics at Forest City High School in an outstanding way. A contributor/patron nominee must have supported or contributed to the development of athletics in an outstanding way. A team nomination must be an accomplished group.

Inductees will be notified mid-May and the recognition ceremony will be held during the 2026 Homecoming weekend.

High School Students of the Month

Congratulations to our FCHS December Students of the Month! They were nominated by their teachers for their strong work ethic, positive attitude, and commitment to learning. We are proud to celebrate these students and the dedication they show every day.

NCIBA Honor Band

Four of our students were recently selected to participate in the North Central Iowa Bandmasters Association High School Honor Band! These talented musicians performed last Saturday at NIACC, representing our school with excellence and dedication. Congratulations to Isaac Alphs, Isabel Weaver, Aubrey Olson, and Mia Carpenter on this outstanding achievement!

January is a time to ease back into the rhythms of school and daily life. After changes in schedules, sleep, and routines, many students need time—and support—to feel steady again.

Using the link below, you'll find simple, practical ways you can help your child re-establish routines that support their learning, attendance, and organization skills. Small, consistent habits at home can make a big difference in helping students feel calm, confident, and ready to learn.

Our third grade students have been serving as reading buddies for our kindergarten classes, visiting them to read books and share stories. This experience allows third graders to practice their reading skills while kindergarten students benefit from hearing stories and building connections with older students.

In the 6th grade Executive Functioning exploratory class, students are learning practical strategies to build perseverance and push through challenges. One hands-on activity had students create snowflakes from their names—folding a circle, writing their name in block letters, and carefully cutting it out. The cutting step proved to be the most challenging, giving students a meaningful opportunity to practice patience, focus, and sticking with a task even when it wasn’t easy.

Students in our Movies & Literature class have been studying longevity while reading "Tuck Everlasting"— and connected the story to real-life concepts.

As part of the unit, students studied Blue Zone foods and what contributes to long, healthy lives. Food Service Director, Mr. Wellendorf, also shared his background knowledge on how kitchens work and the history of the modern kitchen, helping students connect literature, nutrition, and real-world systems in a meaningful way.

As part of Jazz Up January, students in our 8th grade Digital Media exploratory class created the FCMS Mic of Gratitude video, with students sharing what made them smile and things they are thankful for. From simple joys to meaningful moments, their messages are a great reminder of the power of positivity and gratitude.

Eric Kingland of Kingland Construction

Weston Lohry of Coloff Digital

Throughout the year, FCHS students have participated in Career Speaker presentations designed to expose them to a wide range of career paths and real-world experiences. Local and state professionals visited to share insights about their industries, education pathways, and day-to-day work, helping students make meaningful connections between classroom learning and future opportunities. Featured here are presentations in Construction and Digital Media & Marketing, where students gained firsthand knowledge and inspiration from experts working in these growing fields.

Hydroponics systems are becoming increasingly popular in agricultural education programs, and the Forest City Ag Program is seeing that growth firsthand. A hydroponic system grows plants without soil, using mineral nutrient-rich water to deliver essentials directly to the roots. This school year, students have been growing lettuce and herbs using three different hydroponic systems, including vertical PlantWays purchased several years ago, custom-built “runs” added last year, and a new 200-plant system constructed from 4-inch PVC pipes. As student knowledge and capacity have grown, production has increased from just a half pound of lettuce every few days to an average of eight pounds per week.

Hydroponics chairperson Brantley Schmidt has worked closely with Food Service Director Chris Wellendorf and the food service staff, who are excited to partner with the Ag Program to incorporate student-grown lettuce into the school salad bar and other meal offerings. This collaboration is a great example of interconnectivity within the school—allowing students to directly support and benefit other students—while Agricultural Education teacher Mr. Faught continues to grow the program through grant funding, securing $950 this year to support and expand the program.

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