March | 2026

SCHEDULE NOTES

• April 2 - Early Dismissal
• April 3: Good Friday - No School
• April 6: Teacher Professional Development - No School

ISASP Testing

The Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP), will be administered to students beginning with 5th-grade science the week of March 19th and concluding with all other testing the week of April 20th. Students will only be testing in one subject area per week.

ISASP is aligned with the Iowa Core standards, providing a clear and accurate assessment of student learning outcomes. Student growth, proficiency, and readiness indicators will be reported.

These important assessments provide valuable insights into each student's academic growth over the past year and help guide classroom instruction.

Details:

• Science: (Grades 5, 8, and 10)
• Math: (Grades 3-11)
• Reading: (Grades 3-11)
• Writing: (Grades 3-11)

We encourage you to remind your child to give their best effort during these assessments. Their performance will help us better understand their individual strengths and areas for growth. This assessment data does help us improve at each grade level and at the district level to better serve and support all students.

Congratulations to Aiden Frascht on an outstanding wrestling season and for qualifying and competing at the State Wrestling Tournament! Representing Forest City on the state stage is an incredible accomplishment and a testament to months of dedication and perseverance.

Aiden made his mark in the record books this year, tying the school record for most pins in a single season with an impressive 30 falls. He finished the season with a strong 39–17 record, showcasing consistency and determination every time he stepped onto the mat.

Head Coach Ryan Faught praised Aiden’s commitment, sharing, “This year he showed a lot of leadership by being at every practice and putting in a lot of hard work to reach his goals. He did not miss a single weigh-in or match, which is a testament to his work ethic and commitment to his team and the sport.”

Aiden’s dedication, leadership, and resilience have set a powerful example for his teammates and have made our school community proud. Congratulations on a great season!

The High School Girls Basketball Team wrapped up an outstanding season that showcased determination, teamwork, and resilience. Finishing with an impressive 22–4 record, the Indians competed at the state tournament and battled hard in a closely contested game against Des Moines Christian, just narrowly missing a victory on the big stage. Throughout the season, this group consistently played with drive and passion, representing our school and community at the highest level.

As Head Coach Matt Erpelding reflects on the season, he shares, "Another memorable basketball season has wrapped up with an appearance in the state tournament. Behind great leadership from a senior class that has been a part of both state tournament appearances in school history, this year's team used the frustration from how last season ended to fuel them to a better outcome this season. Tremendous development from girls who had increased roles this year, along with the addition of several new girls to the varsity team, was essential for this team to reach the heights it did. The effort this group showed on a nightly basis was nothing short of amazing as they competed for 32 minutes every single game. I am most proud of the impression this team left on not only the Forest City community but also on the opponents and their fan bases. Not only for the love of the game they played with, but the respect of others and the way they carried themselves on and off the court did not go unnoticed by all those in attendance. To hear all the positive comments about these girls is what it's all about. It's not all about winning and losing, but more importantly, developing great young ladies who learn how to win and lose with dignity." 

Congratulations on another great season!

Photos by Z. Raulie

Congratulations to our Head Girls Basketball Coach, Matt Erpelding, on being named the 3A Northwest Coach of the Year by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association! We are grateful for his commitment to helping our student-athletes grow—not only as competitors, but as leaders. Congrats on this well-deserved honor!

2026-27 Proposed Tax Notice

The Forest City School District will hold a public hearing at the District Office, 145 S. Clark Street, Forest City, on March 23, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. to share the proposed property tax rate levy for the fiscal year July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027.

The current tax rate is $11.08 and the proposed tax rate is $10.85.

School Breakfast

Forest City Schools Breakfast Serving Times

• High School Commons area (for Middle School and High School students) from 7:30-8:10 a.m.
• Elementary Cafeteria from 7:45-8:15 a.m.

Menus

• Available in our free Forest City CSD app (download from your app store)
• Available on the district website

Breakfast and Lunch Fees

Thank You to our Community Supporters

We are grateful to Lichtsinn RV for their generous donation to both the Forest City Education Foundation and the Forest City Sports Boosters. Their continued investment in our schools helps enhance classroom opportunities, support innovative programs, and provide valuable resources for our student-athletes. Their generosity is a powerful example of how local partnerships strengthen our district and expand opportunities for all learners.

High School Students of the Month

Congratulations to our FCHS February 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.

Individual District Speech

Congratulations to our students who competed in the Individual District Speech Contest at the end of February! They represented Forest City well, earning 21 Division I ratings and 3 Division II ratings! They took the stage at the State Individual Speech Contest on March 14.

National FFA Week

The Forest City FFA celebrated National FFA Week, February 23–27, with a week full of fun, leadership, and community involvement. Members organized activities for students and staff alike, including a 4th-grade tractor pull, staff breakfast, and partnered with our elementary classrooms as reading buddies, sharing their love of agriculture and literacy with younger students. The highlight may have been the “Stuck for a Buck” fundraiser, where students donated to help tape Mr. Faught to the wall — to raise funds for the Forest City Chamber’s downtown flower planters. It was a great week highlighting service, leadership, and school spirit in action!

Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade

Our high school marching band represented our school and community on the national stage as they performed in the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 14. Surrounded by the energy and excitement of one of the country’s largest St. Patrick's Day events, our students delivered an outstanding performance that showcased their talent, dedication, and school pride. We are incredibly proud of the way they represented Forest City and created an experience they will remember for years to come.

Photos by Z. Raulie

With spring just around the corner, students are entering an important stretch of the school year. The Student Support Team is continuing to support students as they practice perseverance, organization, and healthy ways to handle challenges. We remind students that mistakes are part of learning and that asking for help is a strong and positive choice. Families can support this mindset at home by encouraging effort, celebrating progress, and helping students set small goals as we work toward finishing the year strong. School counselors are always available if students or families need extra support along the way.

Our second graders turned their special memories into poetry! Students shared poems about their favorite memories with classmates and school staff. We are so proud of their creativity, confidence, and the way they supported one another as an audience.

March is Youth Art Month, a time to celebrate the creativity, imagination, and artistic talents of our students. Throughout the year, our classrooms are filled with artwork that reflects the unique ideas and perspectives of our young artists, and this month gives us a special opportunity to highlight some of those projects.

In science, high school students are working through a real-world mystery: the sudden death of 50 Canadian geese found in the St. Lawrence River near Montreal. Initial reports suggested the geese may have been electrocuted, possibly by a lightning strike. Rather than simply reading about the event, students investigated whether that explanation is scientifically supported.

To explore this question, students studied how salt in water affects the movement of electric charges. They designed saltwater solutions with different concentrations, measuring electrical current using lab equipment, and calculating how many charges move per second through each solution. By analyzing patterns in their data, they determined how conductivity changes as salinity increases.

This investigation allowed students to connect chemistry (ions in solution), physics (electric current), and Earth science (natural water systems). More importantly, it required them to use evidence to evaluate a real claim: If lightning struck the river, would the conductivity of that water realistically allow enough electrical energy to spread and affect dozens of geese at the same time?

This type of learning reflects our transition to the OpenSciEd curriculum. OpenSciEd is designed around real-world phenomena and student discussion. Instead of beginning with vocabulary and notes, students begin with a puzzling event and work collaboratively to develop explanations. They plan investigations, apply mathematical thinking, analyze data, and defend their conclusions using evidence.

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