The Forrest Weekly

Hello Forrest Families,

Wow, we are in the last few days of the 2024-2025 school year! Thank you to all parents that joined us for our Kindergarten and 5th Grade graduations. We look forward to seeing our Pre-K parents today and our 1st - 4th grade parents tomorrow for Award's Day.

We cannot thank you enough for the support you have given us this year. We hope you have a wonderful week and a great summer.

Please cast your vote for the 2025-2026 PTA Officers. This link will be open until Wednesday, May 21st and the officers will be announced on Facebook Thursday, May 22nd.

https://forms.gle/YQwCMvwguCEdeBUJ6

Alabama Literacy Act: 2nd and 3rd ACAP Scores

Parents,

The Alabama Literacy Act Scores are coming home today. Please contact Mrs. Bivens, tbivens@tusc.k12.al.us or Dr. Dawson, bdawson@tusc.k12.al.us if you have questions or need assistance.

Registration is now OPEN for the 2025-26 school year in the Tuscaloosa City Schools!

Parents, if you haven't already, it's time to use your personalized "infosnap" codes to complete your child's registration via PowerSchool. Secure their spot for the upcoming year and ensure a seamless transition into the new school year. Don't delay—register today and be part of the TCS community's journey towards excellence!

• May 19th: PreK Celebration at 8:30

• May 20th: 1st and 2nd grades awards day at 8:30 am; 3rd and 4th grades awards day at 10:30 am

• May 21st: Half Day, dismissal at 11:30 am

• May 22nd: Report Cards Distributed

• May 22nd: Last day to pick up medication

• May 22nd: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, dismissal at 11:30 am

It is vitally important that you present your child's car tag or number each afternoon when you pick your child up in the car line or walker line. As an added safety measure, it is now our policy that if you do not present the car tag (with child's assigned number) OR know your student's assigned number, you will be directed inside the school to the front office to get your child.

FRIENDLY SUGGESTION: Take a photo of your child's car tag with your phone, save it on your camera roll, and share it with anyone who is picking your child up in the car line or walker line.

Thank you so much for your understanding with this matter.

Each week, the TCS is calculating our projected Attendance points that will be calculated on the 2024 State Report Card. Each elementary school can receive up to 15 points. It is imperative that our Kindergarten through 5th graders come to school daily and check out after 11:30am if possible, so they are counted at school for a whole day. Please communicate this with your parents in addition to my weekly communication.

Year to Date (YTD) Absence Score: 15/15 points possible on 2024 School Report Card

This score is affected by excused and non-excused students. Any student that has 18 absences or more is deemed Chronically Absent

SCHOOL HOURS:

Official start and end times for Tuscaloosa City Schools are as follows:

• Elementary, The Alberta School of Performing Arts, and Tuscaloosa Magnet Middle: 7:55 a.m.–2:40 p.m.
• Students are tardy at 7:56 am

ARRIVAL:

• Doors open each morning at 7:30 am

DISMISSAL:

• 2:40 pm
• Students that are not picked up by 3:15 pm will be sent to Extended Day and a $10 fee per day will be accumulated
• Students participating in the after-school extended day care program must report directly to their assigned rooms at dismissal.

EXTENDED DAY:

• Extended day hours are from 3:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Late pickups will consist of a $1.00 per minute charge.

EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING, DELAYED OPENING, AND EARLY DISMISSAL:

• If schools must close, dismiss early, or delay opening due to weather or any other unforeseen circumstance, parents and staff will be informed through the use of an automated calling system, the Tuscaloosa City Schools website (www.tuscaloosacityschools.com/page/996), the school system’s social media channels, an email to all employees and families, and local media sources. When schools are closed, all schools and the Central Office are closed to students and employees. All activities and events will be canceled.

SCHOOL VISITATIONS:

• To protect the health, safety, and welfare of students, all persons who visit schools are required to follow the Board’s visitation procedures. The principal of each school can provide individuals with a copy of the visitation procedures. Parents will be permitted to visit classrooms when approval is given through the principal’s office. Parents will show proof of nontraditional or legal custody upon request from the principal and provide notice to the principal and classroom teacher at least 24 hours prior to the anticipated visit. So as not to disturb the educational environment for all, student classroom visits should be infrequent and for a limited duration. The principal will have complete discretion over the number and duration of classroom visits allowed. Under no circumstances will visits be allowed during testing.

Please pay your $7 to join the PTA. Mrs. Leslie has some wonderful ideas for this school year, and we are very excited to jump start this school year off.

Mrs. Teresa Bivens, Principal

tbivens@tusc.k12.al.us

205.759.3675

Dr. Brancie Dawson, Assistant Principal

bdawson@tusc.k12.al.us

205.759.3675