Happy Holi! Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, is celebrated annually on the date of the last full moon on the Hindu calendar. Holi celebrates the triumph of good over evil, and the divine love of Hindu deities. Read more about Holi at https://www.holifestival.org/.

Happy #InternationalWomenβsDay! International Womenβs Day is held each year on March 8th and functions as a celebration of womenβs achievements and a call to action for furthering gender equality. The 2023 theme, #EmbraceEquity, encourages us to value and seek out diversity in all aspects of life, challenge bias and discrimination, and engage in collective activism that drives womenβs equality forward. In D91 we are working towards challenging discriminatory practices and are developing clear plans to welcome equity and diversity within our district.
Superintendent Dr. Alvarez and Board Member Wood, showed appreciation today to all our women leaders at D91!

This Thursday join us for Family Literacy Night and Author Presentation With KATE HANNIGAN! The 1st 20 guests will receive a FREE copy of her book Cape.
Families make sure to check your school newsletters weekly so you don't miss out on save the dates and other important information throughout the school year.

Walk or ride with us in the St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 4th. Show your D91 pride and have fun with us! Don't forget to fill out this form by tomorrow if you want to be included in our D91 t-shirt order.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdfVjVwM6_Bofsv_8qmUn8noI5GAHRLnXO2Ql_Sy0OXtJAB-A/viewform

Wishing you a day filled with love and appreciation. You truly deserve it for being an amazing part of the D91 Community!

Watch our D91 Spelling Bee Finals at 9 a.m. live from our YouTube Channel!
https://www.youtube.com/@forestparkschooldistrict9138/streams

Trey Baker, a Scholastic author and mentor, joined Field-Stevenson, Betsy Ross and Garfield today for World Read Aloud Day by reading the book βBecause of You, John Lewisβ by Andrea Davis Pinkney, and "Illustrated by Keith Henry Brown. Trey read the book and engage the students in reflection and discussion to make connections with the events of the story as well a Black History month.

Happy Black History Month! This is a special time to celebrate the contributions of African-Americans in the story of America. Carter E. Woodson, was the first to dedicate and celebrate the historic contributions of Black people that led to the establishment of Black History Month. He felt the importance to have a theme each year to bring to the publicβs attention important developments that merit emphasis. This year's theme for learning and understanding is Black Resistance. We pay tribute to those who have faced and overcome adversity, and recognize the foundational contributions made by Black culture to our society. We hope that Black History Month serves as a powerful reminder that Black history is American history, and that we share a collective responsibility in understanding our history in its entirety. We encourage you to explore the many engaging and interactive resources that exist to learn more about Black history, including those found at blackhistorymonth.gov, loc.gov, and your nearby museums.

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Happy Lunar New Year, an important holiday in several Asian cultures. After the first new moon of the Lunar calendar each year, communities around the world gather with loved ones to usher in the new year. This year marks the Year of the Rabbit, which is associated with peace and prosperity.

If you haven't already, download the Forest Park School District Mobile Apps!
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Next Monday is Martin Luther King Jr Day. It is the only federal holiday that is designated by Congress as a National Day of Service - "a day on, not a day off.β We do not have school on January 16th in observance of the holiday. Consider taking this day to give back and encourage others in various ways we and others can volunteer and give back to our community.

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Happy New Year! We will see everyone back at school on Monday January 9th, 2023!

Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday held annually from December 26 to January 1. It celebrates family, culture, community, and the harvest. Kwanzaa focuses on seven essential principles, known as the Nguzo Saba, which are each represented by one day of the seven-day celebration. These principles are unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), creativity (kuumba), and faith (imani). Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, and families who celebrate Kwanzaa often celebrate it in addition to other holidays in this season. We wish you a Joyous Kwanzaa.

Christmas, is both a religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. People around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. D91 wishes you a Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays! Our schools and offices will be closed from Friday, December 23rd to Friday, January 6th. Schools starts again on Monday, January 9th, 2023! Please enjoy the break and stay safe!

For many, the holidays are full of joy and wonder but, for others, the holidays and the cold winter days that follow can be the hardest. If you know someone who is struggling, or just want to promote general awareness, consider sharing information on 988 - the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, as well as Safe2Help Illinois (https://www.safe2helpil.com)
When individuals contact 988, "they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary."
Safe2Help Illinois "offers students a safe, confidential way in which to share information that might help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence or other threats to school safety. This program is not intended to suspend, expel, or punish students. Rather, the goal is to get students to 'Seek Help Before Harm.'β

Need a vaccine for COVID-19? We are hosting a pop-up clinic on TOMORROW Saturday, December 10th from 9am-12pm in the FPMS Gym. Walk-ins welcome! Make an appointment and stop by for your booster. http://prism.org/forestparkd91

