Welcome back to our students and faculty. The annual Bell Ringing kicked off the start of the 2022-23 school year on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at 8 a.m. This is a great tradition that everyone looks forward to. This school year has brought many new faces to the halls of FCS, at both buildings. We are also welcoming three new Board Members this year, Lindsey Ellis, Derek Case, and Jamie Hebner. During our first board meeting together, the new members

were sworn in by taking their oath of office and we began our duties together by reorganizing

committees, hiring an interim superintendent, and steps toward hiring a new Elementary

Principal.

We hit the ground running and look forward to continuing positive teamwork and will hold a workshop in October to focus on communication and our district goals. We are excited to welcome Dr. John O’Connor is back as our interim Superintendent and have been pleased with the progress he has led our school through in a short period of time. Thank you to the many staff at our school that worked through the summer months in preparation of our

buildings and busses to ensure the necessary maintenance and preparation work was completed for our student’s safe return. Our cafeteria also provided healthy, hot meals for children 18 and younger during the summer months.

Many of our board members recently attended a Chautauqua County School Board Association Meeting where Trooper Jeffrey Bebak, School & Community Outreach Coordinator of NYS Troopers presented on safety plans and provided insight into the various

safety drills held at all school districts. Moving towards improved safety at Forestville, our architects will be at the November board meeting to provide a presentation on the project that will secure our entrances and replace doors and hardware in our school buildings. The last couple of years were different than anything our schools have ever experienced, with at-home learning, and hybrid schedules and it was a challenging time. This year finds us beginning the school year in full swing with sporting events, fundraising, The Fall Festival, Open House,

concerts, in-person meetings, and field trips! Your School Board is ready and excited to move forward in a positive direction with a focus on our district mission

statement ~ We exist to equip every student with tools to experience their greatest potential and lead them to become lifelong learners. Go Hornets!!

As I return to Forestville after 10 years, I’ve been reminded of the traditions that make it a special place. The year starts with the Bell Ringing Ceremony at the high school, a tradition that dates to 1845! The ringing by the senior class officers officially starts off the new school year. I’ve also had the opportunity to attend volleyball and football games this fall. We also have eSports and a Trap Team; both are new since the last time I was here. School spirit is alive and well in Forestville!

I look forward to attending more events throughout the school year, including the school musical, open houses, and graduations to name a few. Having merged arrangements with neighboring districts for sports and school activities is important as it provides additional opportunities for our students. I have been in contact with the Parent Connection, and they are planning some fun events for our students including Movie Night, Spirit Week, middle school dance, and Santa’s Secret Shop. I look forward to our partnership with Parent Connection as they add valuable activities for our students. In addition to school events, I also attended The Fall Festival in October held in our high school. This is an opportunity for local vendors to showcase their creative products. I was able to chat with many local groups including members of the VFW and the Forestville Baptist Church. This event was well attended by the Forestville community. I had the opportunity to purchase quality products and meet some of our local vendors at the Farmer’s market. This is a great opportunity to support the local businesses in our community.

My most valuable experience so far has been able to reconnect with the families, faculty, and staff in the school community. Catching up after 10 years and seeing how our students have grown up, many of who now have children of their own attending our school. Meeting new families, faculty and staff and seeing how they integrate into the community has also been enjoyable. When I first arrived in Forestville as the elementary principal in 2001, I was immediately struck by the small-town feel and the value of community. After ten years, I am honored to be a part of it again.

-Dr. John O'Connor

This school year, I am implementing monthly counseling classroom lessons in every class from Pre-k to 6th grade. For the month of October, I am reading The Good, The Bad, and The Spooky by Jory John and Pete Oswald for my classroom lessons in Grades Pre-K to 4th. In the story, the Bad Seed is in a bad mood and takes matters into his own hands when he can't find a show-stopping Halloween costume and decides to play a big trick on everyone. The Bad Seed shows a prime example of what overreaction looks like. The students are learning the difference between small and big problems, as well as what a proper reaction to a certain size problem looks like.

By: Ms.Christina Bauer - Elementary Counselor

In observance of National Hispanic Awareness Month, the FCS Spanish Club participated in 2 field trips.

Spanish Club members traveled to Kleinhans Music Hall to see the Buffalo Philharmonic's production of Symphonie Fantastique. This program highlighted the work of Mexican composer, Arturo Márquez. Our students enjoyed his custom Concierto put together to feature world-renowned trumpet player, Pacho Flores of Venezuela. This brilliant orchestra score featured Mexican folk music, mariachi roots, and a modern Venezuelan flair.

Spanish Club members also participated in a Day of the Dead virtual field trip. Students had the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of Mexico through the art of mask-making. This presentation highlighted Aztec culture, the Nahuatl language, and Spanish influence after the arrival of Cortez. Students created their own masks featuring the Mexican eagle.

Mr. Jackson's fifth-grade class was studying cells in science. Students made models of cells and then used a digital microscope to look at cross-sections of plant stems and roots on our new smart board.

The Forestville Volunteer Fire Department visited Forestville Central School. They held an event to discuss fire safety for grades 3-6 in the gymnasiums and conducted class visits for grades Pre-k-2. Our Pre-K to grade five students also had the opportunity to tour the fire trucks. Thank you to the fire department for all you do for our community!

The Forestville Central School District is located in North Eastern Chautauqua County. Included in the district are the Village of Forestville and parts of the towns of Hanover, Sheridan, Villenova, Arkwright, and Perrysburg. Forestville and the surrounding areas comprise a population of approximately 3,000 people located thirty miles southwest of Buffalo, New York.

Email: PR@forestville.com
Website: Forestville.com
Phone: 716-965-2742
Facebook: Facebook.com/ForestvilleCSD
Twitter: @forestvilleCSD