May | 2026

Class of 2026 | Graduation

Purple Star School

The Forest City Community School District has been officially designated as a Purple Star School, becoming one of seven school districts in Iowa to receive this distinction for our commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families. The honor was presented during a special ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol, where schools from across the state were recognized for their efforts.

The Purple Star School Program was created to highlight schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to addressing the unique needs of military-connected students. Military families often face frequent moves and transitions due to service obligations. The Purple Star designation recognizes schools that have implemented practices and support systems to help these students navigate academic and social changes with consistency and care.

With this designation, Forest City Community School District joins a select group of schools leading the way in supporting military-connected students through intentional practices, strong partnerships, and a commitment to student success.

School Board Recognition Month

Behind every great school district are dedicated board members who make important decisions to support students, staff, and families. Because of You, our schools continue to grow and thrive.

Thank you to the dedicated volunteers who serve on our local school board! Please join us in saying thank you this month!

Summer Food Program is Back!

High School Students of the Month

Congratulations to our FCHS April 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.

Seal of Biliteracy Awards

Congratulations to seniors Lexi Isebrand, Kate Klaassen, and Siilas Gann on earning their Seal of Biliteracy! This award is given in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. They have been dedicated to their studies and recently took a 4-hour state-approved exam and proved proficient in all 4 standards: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. Way to go!

5th Grade DARE Graduation

Our fifth-grade classes completed their DARE program and held graduation in early May. Through interactive lessons and thoughtful discussions, students learned valuable decision-making skills and strategies to resist peer pressure. Thanks to Officer Ross Eiden for dedicating his time and expertise to guide our students through this important program. 

Summer and Back-To-School Highlights

With summer approaching, here are a couple of opportunities and reminders of things that you can do to get ready for the 2026-27 school year.

As we head into the final days of the school year, the Student Support Team encourages families to help us finish strong in preparation for a safe, healthy, and balanced summer. This time of year often brings excitement, busy schedules, changing routines, and big emotions for students of all ages. Helping children and teens maintain healthy habits like consistent sleep, balanced nutrition, physical activity, and positive daily routines can support both emotional well-being and a smoother transition.

Summer is a great opportunity for growth beyond the classroom. Encouraging students to read regularly, spend time outdoors, stay connected with positive peers and adults, and practice responsibility at home can help build confidence, encourage independence, and develop life-long habits. Younger students benefit from routines, play, creativity, and family connection. For older students, this can be a great time to practice responsibility through jobs, volunteering, activities, goal-setting, or preparing for future opportunities. If your child or family could benefit from additional support or resources throughout the summer, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Student Support Team. 

We are incredibly proud of the growth our students have shown this year. We look forward to welcoming students back in August and continuing to help them grow as learners, leaders, and people. Thank you for your partnership and support throughout the school year — we hope every family has a safe, restful, and fun summer!

Our elementary students had a school-wide PBIS celebration Glow Dance Party! Students work to earn PBIS points for meeting and exceeding expectations around being safe, being respectful, being responsible, and being their best. They enjoyed celebrating their hard work!

As part of Financial Literacy Month, our second-graders recently visited MBT Bank for a behind-the-scenes learning experience. Students explored the bank vault, discovered how coin counters and wrappers work, and even saw how money counters detect counterfeit bills. They learned valuable lessons about healthy spending habits, staying safe online, and the important role a community bank plays in supporting our town.

We are grateful to MBT Bank and all of our community partners for providing meaningful, real-world learning experiences for our students.

Our 4th-grade students have been exploring different types of lava as they learn about geology! From thick, slow-moving flows to fast, fluid streams, they are seeing how each type behaves and shapes the Earth in unique ways.

Fifth-grade students recently had the opportunity to learn firsthand about agriculture and renewable energy through an engaging Ag in the Classroom visit. During the session, students explored what ethanol is, how it’s made, and the important role it plays as a fuel source derived from crops like corn. They also took part in a hands-on experiment, creating their own version of ethanol and seeing the process in action. We’re grateful to the Farm Bureau for their continued partnership and for helping provide purposeful educational experiences for our students.

Our middle school students recently enjoyed some friendly competition through pickleball and badminton tournaments, with more than 100 students participating in each event. 

Congratulations to our Badminton Tournament winners, Adah and Eva Sharp, along with Bennet Aukes and Luke Zeman!

In the Pickleball Tournament, top honors went to Natalie Hennigar and Ella Stensrud, as well as Bennet Aukes and Luke Zeman, who had an impressive showing across both tournaments!

It was great to see so many students involved, showing strong sportsmanship and enthusiasm.

Our 7th-grade students recently attended the Minnesota Twins Math Day! While enjoying a live game, students received interactive educational materials and attended a college fair, making meaningful connections between academics and future opportunities. It was a memorable day filled with learning, teamwork, and plenty of excitement! ⚾️

Our middle schoolers recently wrapped up a successful Mini Relay for Life event, raising $2,603.58 to support the fight against cancer! Throughout the week, students participated in fundraising activities, including penny wars, donating to vote for special events like a student haircut, pieing a teacher in the face, and choosing a teacher’s outfit for the day.

As part of the festivities, Ethan Follman cut McCoy Robertson’s hair, Brooke Finer pied Mr. Rayhons, and Emma Flugum earned the chance to pick out Mr. Crail’s wardrobe for a day. The week concluded with students coming together for a walk around the track to recognize the importance of hope, support, and community.

Our high school students had an incredible showing at the TIC Art Show! We're excited to share that our school earned 1st Place Overall in Points while students received numerous individual honors across a wide variety of artistic categories. Congratulations to all of our talented artists for their creativity, hard work, and dedication!

Forest City FFA members attended the State FFA Convention in late April in Ames.

Highlights include:

• Working with Meals from the Heartland helping set-up, make, and pack meals.
• Soil Judging Practice Chapter Activity received a State Runner-Up finish out of 144 exhibits
• Three members receiving their Iowa FFA Degrees
• Many awards and a lot of great learning sessions!

Did You Know?

• Students arrive in Des Moines on August 5th
• There are full-year and semester students available - semester students leave Jan. 14th, and full-year students would leave in mid-June. 
• Families need to provide a bed (bedroom can be shared with 1 sibling of the same gender), meals other than school lunches, and transportation to and from school (students can ride the school bus)
• Our local AFS chapter pays for school registration fees and school lunch
• Students come with their own spending money for personal expenses
• Contact Tami McInroy if interested