November | 2025

SCHEDULE NOTES

• November 25: Early Dismissal - ELEM 1:50 p.m., MS/HS 2:00 p.m.
• November 26-28: No School - Thanksgiving Break
• December 23: Early Dismissal - ELEM 1:50 p.m., MS/HS 2:00 p.m.
• December 24 - January 1: No School - Winter Break

We’re proud to share that Forest City Elementary and Middle School have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Elementary Schools and Best Middle Schools for 2025-2026! This honor reflects the hard work of our students, the dedication of our teachers and staff, and the support of our families and community.

The Best Schools rankings consider key measures of student success, including academic performance and growth. Being recognized among the top schools in the state demonstrates our commitment to ensuring students build a strong foundation and continue to thrive as they move through their educational journey.



This recognition is a celebration of the collaborative effort that makes Forest City Schools a great place to learn and grow. Thank you to everyone who contributes to the success of our students each day!

Unity Day

Students and staff across our district celebrated Unity Day—a powerful reminder to promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Throughout October, our schools took part in activities for National Bullying Prevention Month, and the sea of orange on Unity Day was an incredible show of support!

Thank you to everyone who joined in to help make our schools a place where every student feels valued and included.

Honoring Veterans

Our schools and community came together on Veterans Day to honor and celebrate the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans. From heartfelt student performances to inspiring guest speakers, it was a meaningful day of learning, gratitude, and community pride.

This video was shown to our elementary students at their Veterans Day Program and highlights the family members of our elementary students and staff who are Veterans or currently serving in our military.

Middle School Character Award Winners

Congratulations to our Middle School Character Award winners for October!

They were nominated by their teachers for exemplifying what it means to be Resourceful- using creativity, problem-solving, and perseverance to overcome challenges. Way to go!

Left to right: Aspyn Giesen, Makenna Welp, Weston Pilgrim, Rhett Clarey, Ally Albertson, Adelynn Francis, Shuva Bhattarai, Bristol Swanson

High School State Cross Country

Congratulations to our Boys and Girls Cross Country teams for a strong showing at the State Meet! Samantha Clouse brought home 2nd Team All-State honors with her impressive 30th-place finish, while the girls’ team finished 8th overall, climbing up from their 9th-place state ranking heading into the meet. Their ability to move up on one of Iowa’s toughest courses highlights their determination, depth, and resilience under pressure.

The boys’ team delivered an unforgettable performance, earning the State Runner-Up title. This achievement marked a historic moment for the program—the first time the Forest City boys have stood on the State podium since 2000.

After finishing 15th at State in 2022, 8th in 2023, 10th in 2024, and now 2nd in 2025, this group continues to raise the bar. With five varsity runners returning next season—four of them seniors—the future of Forest City Cross Country is bright. Adding to the excitement, Silas Gann (23rd) and Cooper Blaser (25th) each earned 2nd Team All-State honors, rounding out an exciting day for the program.

Middle School State Cross Country

The Middle School Cross Country teams capped off a great season at the Washburn Classic- Middle School State Meet, competing among the best in the state and showing that Forest City XC is well-positioned for the years ahead.

The girls' team put together an impressive team performance, earning 5th place overall at the state meet! The boys finished 3rd as a team, a tremendous result for a young squad - with just one 8th grader and four 7th graders.

Girls Individual Results:

• Adah Sharp – 13:23 (21st place)
• Eva Sharp – 13:45 (33rd place)
• Makenna Reese – 13:58 (36th place)
• Harper Smith – 14:50 (60th place)
• Brooklyn Sorenson – 15:42 (79th place)
• Kynlee Folkerts – 15:50 (87th place)

Boys Individual Results:

• Coby Albertson – 11:49 (11th place)
• Hudson Forsberg – 12:26 (29th place)
• Jericho Thompson – 13:03 (60th place)
• Elijah Smith – 13:31 (73rd place)
• Mathias Klauke – 14:08 (99th place)

To conclude their study of Ancient Greece and the origins of the Olympic Games, 2nd-grade students participated in the Potato Olympics! Through events such as the Potato Shot Put, Target Toss, and Roll Race, students applied their learning about teamwork, sportsmanship, and Greek traditions in an engaging and memorable way.

Our third graders recently put their engineering skills to work while learning about force and bridge design. After exploring different types of bridges—such as beam, arch, and suspension—they were challenged to build their own using only paper. The goal? Create a structure strong enough to hold as many pennies as possible!

The activity sparked creativity, teamwork, and plenty of friendly competition. Students experimented with folding, layering, and shaping paper to distribute weight and increase strength. It was a hands-on, high-energy way to connect science concepts to real-world problem solving!

Our 4th-grade students are getting practical with math through liquid measurement! They've been pouring, estimating, and comparing to better understand volume and capacity.

The Middle School Movies & Literature class is diving into "The Princess Bride" - and what better way to bring the story to life than with real fencing? Students had the opportunity to learn from coaches with the Des Moines Fencing Club, who visited for a hands-on demonstration and lesson!

From footwork to friendly duels, our students got a taste of the skill, strategy, and fun behind this classic adventure. A big thank you to the Des Moines Fencing Club for a great experience!

Several Forest City FCCLA members recently traveled to Fort Dodge to participate in the annual Fall Leadership Rally, showcasing their culinary creativity, leadership skills, and commitment to family and consumer sciences.

Averie Brones and Jasa Edel demonstrated their culinary talents in a dip-making challenge, where they prepared a homemade dip and presented it to judges for tasting and scoring. Averie also took part in the child safety poster competition, designing an informative poster focused on an important safety topic for young children.

Zoe Gunderson and Bella Karalius competed in the $15 Meal Challenge, creating a nutritious meal plan for four people that aligned with the Choose My Plate Guidelines, all while staying within a budget of just $15. Their thoughtful planning earned them a third-place finish in their age division. Congratulations to Zoe and Bella.

Bella also competed in the grilled cheese challenge, where participants had 30 minutes to create a customized grilled cheese sandwich that included a protein ingredient.

In addition to competition success, the FCCLA chapter recently hosted a bake sale and sock fundraiser to support their newly established program. Funds raised will help members attend future leadership events, competitions, and possible national opportunities.

Mr. Ziesmer took a group of high school students to Stellar Industries in Garner to learn about advanced manufacturing and the wide range of career opportunities available in the field. Students toured the facility, met with professionals, and gained a firsthand look at how innovation and technology come together in modern manufacturing.

High school students in Project's class are learning about careers in agriculture and the many different moving pieces that go into farming. Students visited with Jay Lindsey at his farm and were able to tour many different types of farm equipment.

They also participated in a pumpkin painting contest at the end of October. Students could choose a school spirit, scary, or creative theme for their pumpkin.

2025 National FFA Convention and Expo

The Forest City FFA had 11 members attend the National FFA Convention and Expo from

October 29 - November 1. Attendees were able to tour 1-800-T-shirts, who make their apparel, the University of Illinois Beef Farm, the Catepillar Visitor Center, Traders Point Creamery, a Farmbeats workshop, and Taranis Drone Technologies. Members also attended sessions and got to meet other FFA members from all 50 states!

The Forestry CDE was deep in the woods competing on Oct. 29. They woke up early to take their general forestry exam and traveled to a remote, unknown forest location to compete in five practicums and a team activity. They displayed their skills in the areas of map interpretation, compasses, forestry equipment, tree ID/disorders, timber cruising, chainsaw ID, and more.

Congratulations to Max, Olivia, Teagan, and Aubrey on your bronze rating at Nationals!

Did You Know?

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 2, 2025! The Forest City Education Foundation will be taking part in Giving Tuesday! Their goal this year is to raise $10,000 to support Forest City students through opportunities like Pre-ACT testing for sophomores, ACT prep classes and test fees, College & Career Academy courses, and HOBY Leadership Conference sponsorships.

It’s a one-day fundraising challenge, but donations and pledges can be made anytime between now and Giving Tuesday. Every gift helps them invest in our students’ futures.

Learn more or make your donation at: fceducationfoundation.org/event/giving-tuesday-2025