Forest Grove Family Falcon Update
April 27, 2023
Message from the Principal
Dear Forest Grove Falcon Families,
While Principal Irene is out, it is indeed our honor to step in and help. Mary Riedel, retired principal from PG Middle School, and myself, Matt Bell, retired principal from PG High School have been amazed at the warm welcome that we have received from the students, staff, and parents. Forest Grove is truly a large hose filling our buckets. But while our buckets are filling, let me fill you in on a few things that are on the horizon. First of all, we will be doing our state testing over the next two weeks. That means that the students will be taking a battery of tests, usually in the morning when they are at their best. The results from this testing is reported to the state and gives us data to drive our decisions as to where we should focus our instruction for the next year. Here's your part of the next two weeks: have a consistent dinner time with your student, make sure that they are in bed early so that they get their 9-12 hours of sleep, and give them a hearty breakfast. Yes, I know that it is sometimes difficult with the hustle and bustle of a busy life, but this is truly important for our growing kids and especially important for our testing weeks, because testing is draining for them. On another note, be aware that with summer coming up in 4 short weeks, your students will understandably be a bit nervous about the upcoming change in their life. Their routine changes, their teacher whom they love dearly will no longer be their teacher, administration changes, and, if they are in 5th grade, their entire school changes. Holy cow, their whole life is in upheaval. So, once again, you have the charge, as do we, to assure them that this change is ok, that they will do just fine as they have every summer, and to provide a consistent routine that anchors them. We do a ton of things at Forest Grove to help ease their transition from year to year, and we are very confident that they will not only thrive, but will excel. Working in partnership with you, we make a great team. Thanks again for the warm welcome you've given Mary Riedel and me. Next week, I will introduce our new principal for next year, Abbie Arbrun. We are very excited.
Go Falcons!
Matt Bell
Upcoming Events
April 29 - Falcon Playdate (see flyer)
May 4 - PGUSD Board Meeting, 6:30pm
May 1-12 - SBAC State Testing
May 19 - Falcon Fest! Volunteer Signups coming soon (all volunteers must be cleared through PGUSD)
May 25 - 5th Grade Promotion, 2:00pm, Multipurpose Room
May 26 - Last Day of School, dismissal for all students is 12:10pm
Office Reminders
All students are to arrive prior to 8:45 am. The school gates open at 8:30AM. The final bell rings and instruction begins at 8:45AM.
The student's start of the day for the student is impacted if they arrive late. Students miss the opportunity to stat class with their peers. They miss critical information and announcements for the day. Your efforts to get students to Forest Grove on time daily are greatly appreciated.
Ways to report a student absent :
a) ParentVUE app
b) 24 Hour Absence Line (831) 646-6559
c) Email fgattendance@pgusd.org
Gates open at 8:30 a.m.
Instruction begins at 8:45 a.m.
Please let the student know of any afterschool plans PRIOR to the school day to ensure classroom instruction is maximized.
Message From Nurse Powley
A friendly reminder that a medication consent form should be completed with parent and healthcare signature for all over-the-counter and prescribed medications given at school. This includes cough drops and throat lozenges.
Katrina Powley, RN, BSN, CSN
PGUSD School Nurse
Volunteer and Chaperone Clearance
If you plan on being a VOLUNTEER on campus or a CHAPERONE for a field trip, please be sure you are fingerprint cleared with our district and submit a copy of your Covid vaccine card to the District Office. To make an appointment at the District Office please call Kimberly Ortiz at 646-6553.
Before coming to campus to volunteer, please check with your child's teacher to schedule a time that works best for them.
Important Yearbook Information
Yearbook Cover Contest!
Congratulations to Charlotte Dalhammer and Mia Suzuki on having your artwork selected to be featured on the 2022-23 Yearbook cover. Thank you to all 5th grade students who participated in the cover contest! All the entries will be featured on yearbook cover front and back.
Don’t Forget Your LOVE LINE!
Love lines have been extended - if you would like to put a love line in the yearbook to your child, teacher or other member of our Falcon Family you can submit through Friday this week. Purchase a “Recognition Ad” at TreeRing.com.
Instructions here: https://help.treering.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037631012-Creating-and-Buying-a-Recognition-Ad-for-Your-Child
Editing Personalized Pages will be extended until Friday 4/27
There will be a limited number of yearbooks for sale in-person during the last week of school
These will be soft cover only.
Falcon Friends
Flyers
Forest Grove Elementary School
Website: forestgrove.pgusd.org
Location: 1065 Congress Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
Phone: 831-646-6560