Good Morning FJSHS Parents and Guardians,

This is just a reminder that we will be having our Fall Picture Day on Thursday, September 17th. We will be using Teresa Hammer Photography. Students were given an informational sheet last week to bring home. On this sheet you will have instructions on how to access the Fall Photo and then purchase what you would like. Please make sure you have that access code on the sheet, as it is a different code for each student. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the office at 815.938.2175. Thank you and have a great day!

Stepping Into Excellence!

🔦📚 Flashlight Friday in 5th Grade! 📚🔦 Every Friday, our fifth graders look forward to turning down the lights, grabbing their flashlights, and getting cozy with a good book! During Flashlight Friday, students spend 15–20 minutes reading their chapter books by flashlight. It’s a fun way to end the week while building a love for reading! 💙📖 There’s just something extra exciting about reading in the dark! 🔦✨

Principles of Engineering students have been learning about the simple machines that make our lives easier. This week the class is exploring the wheel-axle machine in a lab.

The Forreston FFA is launching a new service event, “Flag It Forward.” FFA members want to honor the 250th anniversary of our country's independence by replacing damaged, tampered, or nonexistent American flags around our community. All FFA members will receive a proper demonstration on how to take down and fold an American flag before the event. After the event, we will hold a proper retirement ceremony for all the flags we collect. This way, we can educate our members on proper flag display, care, and retirement. Our FFA chapter believes our flag is not only something that flies outside businesses, schools, and our community, but also a symbol of the freedom, sacrifices, and values that shaped our country. We would love to invite any business, school, community building, or veteran in the Forrestville Valley School District to help us make this event happen. Email the Forreston FFA advisor, Kelley Parks at kparks@fvdistrict221.org or call Forreston High School at (815)-938-2175 to secure a flag by September 28, 2026, for the flag distribution on October 5, 2026.

The Cardinal golf team competed at the Boiler Invite on Saturday. Daylen Rahn finished 3rd overall and the team placed 10th out of 21 teams.

Our first-grade students are making big strides with sight words—one swat at a time!📚

Thank you to all our first responders. May we never forget the sacrifices of 25 years ago. Go Birds!

Mr. Chad's Little Cardinals Preschool class was showing everyone how to BEE kind!!

Last night, Emma Lenkaitis presented to the FFA alumni about her trip to the Washington Leadership Conference. She had the opportunity to build on her leadership skills, see our Nation's capital, and make a lot of new friends!

Join us tonight at the football game vs. Dakota as we honor our first responders and remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. ALL first responders will receive free admission into tonight's game as our way of saying thank you for your service and dedication to our community.

On Thursdays, Mrs. Ulses' class gets to enjoy checking out a new library book and listening to Mrs. Politsch read a fun story!

5th graders in Mrs. Korf's class put their math skills to the test with a Fantasy Draft! Students had to think strategically, work with numbers, make their picks, and build their dream teams. Who knew math could feel like draft day?! 🏆📊 Learning + a little friendly competition = a great day in 5th grade math!

Alumni Jordan Bagley spoke to students in Consumer Ed and Ag Business about his journey from FHS to working for Nationwide Insurance. Thanks for joining us all the way from Georgia!

Spanish 3/4 students participated in a coffee cupping activity today after reading about Costa Rica's win in The Cup of Excellence, a high quality coffee competition. Could they identify the Costa Rican winner from Folgers?

All 1st responders and their families get in free! Friday night football Forreston vs. Dakota. Kickoff is at 7 pm.

Congratulations to the August Students of the Month at GVGS!

Start looking forward to Homecoming! The FFA Trap Team will be selling a pork chop sandwich and water for $5 through the parade route and at the entrance to the pep rally on 10/1/26! Have your cash on hand during the parade!

Kindergarten is kicking off this great school year with ordering numbers, learning about the four seasons, and creating with manipulatives!