A Message From Our Superintendent

Dear Families,

What a great start to the 2026–2027 school year!

Over the first few weeks, it has been exciting to see our schools come back to life with the energy, enthusiasm, and sense of purpose that make Forest City such a special place to learn and grow. Our hallways are filled with students reconnecting with friends, teachers building relationships, and staff working together to create meaningful learning experiences for every student.

As we look ahead, I am especially excited about the opportunities this school year will bring. Our focus remains centered on providing a safe, supportive environment where every student feels known, valued, and challenged to be their best. Through academics, activities, relationships, and experiences inside and outside the classroom, we want every student to have opportunities to discover their strengths, develop their talents, and find their place within our school community.

I also want to thank our families for the important role you play in your child's education. The partnership between home and school matters, and we are grateful for the trust you place in us. Please continue to stay connected, ask questions, celebrate your child's successes, and reach out when you need support.

We appreciate your continued partnership and commitment to our schools. I know we’re in for an outstanding year ahead!

Darwin Lehmann

Superintendent

Safer Schools Start with You: Prepare for a Safe School Year

Every member of the K-12 community can make schools safer and more supportive. When schools embrace a community‑based approach, they can help build a culture of preparedness and more comprehensive and effective safety programs. That’s the focus of this year’s SchoolSafety.gov Back-to-School Campaign, a month-long initiative that provides resources, tools, and guidance to prepare for a safe school year. 



Explore the campaign’s resources to find quick tips and tools for all members of the K-12 community to support our district’s safety initiatives. Whether you’re a school leader, teacher, staff member, community representative, parent or caregiver, or student, use the SchoolSafety.gov Back-to-School Campaign to get involved this year – because safer schools start with you. Learn more at schoolsafety.gov/back-to-school-campaign.

Homecoming 2026

Homecoming Week

September 14-19

Homecoming Week Dress-Up Days

High School:

Middle School:

Elementary:

More Than a Meal:

The Team Behind the Breakfast & Lunch Lines

Every school day, our food service team does much more than prepare and serve meals. They welcome students, build relationships, and help create a positive experience in our schools.

From the first preparations of the morning to the final cleanup of the day, this team works together to make sure our students are cared for and ready to learn. We are grateful for the smiles, care, and hard work they bring to Forest City every day!

What's on the Menu? Check out our breakfast and lunch menu to see what’s coming up in our cafeterias.

Facilities and Grounds Project Updates

Our facilities and grounds teams were busy this summer preparing our schools for another great year. Several projects were completed across the district to improve learning spaces, enhance safety and functionality, and keep our buildings and grounds in excellent condition.

One of the most visible additions is the new elementary playground, providing students with an updated space to play, explore, and enjoy time outdoors. Inside the elementary school, new lighting was installed in the library, creating a brighter and more welcoming environment for students and staff. The elementary gym also received new basketball hoops and freshly painted standards, giving the space a refreshed look and improved equipment for physical education and activities.

New flooring was also installed in the 5th grade wing and high school science rooms, refreshing these high-use learning spaces. At the middle school, the office was remodeled to create an improved and more functional space for staff, students, and visitors.

In addition, several concrete projects were completed throughout the district, addressing areas that needed repair and improving the overall condition and accessibility of our school grounds.

These summer projects are part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining safe, welcoming, and high-quality facilities for our students, staff, and community. We appreciate the work of our facilities and grounds teams, along with the contractors and partners who helped make these improvements possible!

Welcome AFS Exchange Students!

Ibuki Sato joins us from a suburb of Tokyo, Japan, and will be spending the 2026–27 school year in Forest City. Ibuki’s native language is Japanese, and he is being hosted by Henry and Pennie Stone of Forest City. He is already getting involved in school activities as a cross country manager and enjoys swimming in his free time.

Cyriel Anckaert comes to Forest City from a city in the Flemish region of Belgium. His native language is Dutch, and he will be with us for the fall semester. Cyriel is being hosted by Aaron and Shanan Redinger of Hanlontown. He is currently participating in football and also enjoys playing basketball.

We are excited to have Ibuki and Cyriel as part of our school community! Their experiences and perspectives provide a wonderful opportunity for our students and community to learn more about life and culture beyond Forest City. Please join us in welcoming them!

Middle School Entrepreneurship Spotlight

Through a recent partnership with NIACC, a new middle school class is now available for our 7th- and 8th-grade students. This 15-week entrepreneurship program gives students the opportunity to turn their ideas into real business concepts. Through hands-on activities, students will learn how to identify problems, develop solutions, understand customers, explore finances, and build a business using the Business Model Canvas.

Along the way, they’ll strengthen skills like creativity, communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and financial literacy. The program wraps up with students creating and presenting their own business pitch—giving them the confidence to share their ideas and think like entrepreneurs!

Welcome Back!

As we begin a new school year, our school counselors are excited to partner with students and families as they learn, grow, and navigate the year ahead. School counselors support students’ academic success, social-emotional development, and personal growth from elementary through high school. Whether a student needs someone to talk to, help navigating a challenge, or support connecting with resources, they are here to help. 

Families are always welcome to reach out to their child's school counselor if their child could benefit from additional support throughout the year. 

PurposeFull People

This month, our elementary students have been focusing on Respect through Character Strong's PurposeFull People curriculum. Students are exploring what respect looks and sounds like, how our words and actions affect others, and how we can show respect even when we disagree.

Families can reinforce these skills at home by:

- Modeling respectful communication—even during disagreements.

- Encouraging children to listen when others are speaking.

- Talking about how words and actions make others feel.

- Noticing and celebrating moments when your child demonstrates respect.

First graders have been building number racks to work on addition and subtraction!

Fourth grade students recently started their ukulele unit in music and have been exploring the similarities and differences between guitars and ukuleles, including the number of strings, size, and sound of each instrument.

The Forest City FFA had ten members exhibit projects at the Iowa State Fair in August. Projects and events included sheep, goats, crops, photography, and floriculture. All of these activities received ribbons and took many hours to achieve.

Riley Smith with his grand and reserve division champion two-year-old plus goats. Riley took part in the Commercial Doe Show and Meat Goat Show and had a very successful Iowa State Fair experience. 

Aubrey Olson represented the Winnebago County Fair at the Iowa State Fair Queen Coronation. She and 102 others from around the state of Iowa experienced the first few days of the fair creating relationships and interviewing. 

Brooklyn Sorenson Showing her under 1-year-old doe goat where she received a blue ribbon. 

Chase Sorenson exhibited his yearling Suffolk ewe, where he received a blue ribbon for his hard work and preparation. Chase also had the opportunity to show in the under 1-year-old ram lamb class, gaining valuable experience in the breeding sheep show and continuing to build his skills as a livestock exhibitor.