Forestdale School News

October is a busy month as teachers are finishing up ELA and Math assessments with students. Student assessments, along with daily informal assessments, gives teachers student data to analyze and identify learning gaps. This information helps teachers design teaching and learning lessons to improve student outcomes.

Many assessments are done in small groups, or 1:1, not lasting more than 20 mintues with kindergarten students and 30 minutes with students in grade 1 & 2. Beginning of year assessment results give teachers a solid baseline when analyzing student academic growth throughout the school year.

Common assessments done throughout the school year include: School Pace (ARC/literacy), iReady/Math, UFLI/Phonics and Heggerty, Early Bird/ELA, and DESSA/Social emotional screener. SchoolPace (ARC/literacy) provides real time growth and performance results while Ready Math provides weekly comprehensive data responsive to student needs.

Building Our Kids’ Success (BOKS) is a free movement program offered to Forestdale students before school hours. Fall sessions begin Monday, October 7th, from 8:00 am-8:45 am. At the end of each session students can go to their homeroom or to the cafeteria for breakfast.

This program provides training and curriculum for staff to assist our students with getting a positive start to their day with physical fitness. The BOKS program supports improved physical and emotional health, school attendance, strengthened leadership qualities, and connections to the school environment.

Sessions meet 2x's per week (Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday) for 1st and 2nd grade students in the fall. During winter and spring sessions it will be offered to students in kindergarten thru grade 2. Sign-up sheets have been sent home. For more information please contact Abby Tarantino, BOKS Coordinator: atarantino@sandwich.k12.ma.us

Families dropping students off to BOKS please access the walkway leading up to the gymnasium doors, next to the preschool playground. You will see a staff member at the door greeting your student.

There will be no school Monday, October 14th, in celebration of Indigenous People Day

The Sandwich PTA has decided to host their own Fun Run. This is the biggest, most profitable, fundraiser the PTA will perform during the school year. The date is Friday, October 18th. Grade levels times to run have not yet been determined.

Registration Kickoff: September 30, 2024/Flyers will be sent home

Event Date: October 18th, back fields of Forestdale

Donation Time Period: Accepted 9/30/24-11/07/2024

Teacher conferences will be Wednesday, October 23rd and Wednesday, November 6th. Your students teacher will be in touch to schedule your conference. All conferences are virtual, unless an in-person conference is requested.

Here at Forestdale Elementary we have a character building initiative called REACH. We use this program to teach character traits in Kindergarten through Grade 2. The REACH program incorporates the following character ideals:

R = RESPECT / RESPONSIBILITY

E = EMPATHY

A = ASSERTIVENESS
C = COURAGE

H = HONESTY

These ideals form the foundation of our school culture. Teachers use literature, videos, and interactive conversations to teach these traits. Students are recognized for exhibiting REACH character traits, and their accomplishments are celebrated with REACH assemblies that are held monthly throughout the school year. Students are given an award with a plastic charm that attaches to their backpack. Students have their picture taken and it is displayed on our school entry digital center. Specialist teachers reinforce REACH principles in the classrooms that they cover during the week.

The 1st monthly assembly of the school year will be Wednesday, October 30th.

Please use the link below to access information on "What's Happening in Other Parts of the Building"

Other Parts of the Building

Monday, October 7th, BOKS fall session begins

No School in observance of Indigenous People Day

Friday, October 18th/PTA Fun Run. Times of grade levels running will be announced soon. Families are encouraged to attend

Teacher Conferences will be Wednesday, October 23rd and Wednesday, November 6th

October 8, 2024 6-7 pm @ Oak Ridge

November 12, 2024 4-5 pm @ Forestdale

December 10, 2024 6-7 pm @ Oak Ridge

January 14, 2025 6-7 pm @ Forestdale

February 11, 2025 6-7 pm @ Oak Ridge

March 11, 2025 6-7 pm @ Forestdale

April 8, 2025 4-5 pm @ Oak Ridge

May 13, 2025 6-7 pm @ Forestdale

June 10, 2025 6-7 pm @ Oak Ridge