Engagement, Connections and Community Fill FHSD Schools for New Year

Forest Hills School District strives to cultivate a learning community that welcomes and embraces all learners so that they can make connections, learn and grow. The week leading up to the first days of school is always bursting with activities in preparation for the return of students and staff. New-year reunions, orientations, trainings and other activities take place throughout the district to begin welcoming everyone back and empower them to have a successful year!

Administrator Retreat

Before teachers and students begin their back-to-school shuffle through the halls, our principals and administrators come in to get the buildings ready for the school year. On August 4, principals, assistant principals and other administrators across the district congregated at Central Office for a retreat that involved team-building, planning and a little bit of encouragement for a successful school year. 

WEB Leader Training and 7th Grade Orientation 

Nagel Middle School welcomed its newest 7th-grade students in true Nighthawk fashion. House 1 and House 2 attended their designated orientations on Thursday or Friday to meet the 8th-grade WEB leaders, participate in engaging activities and get to know the Nagel building. 

Prior to the orientations, 8th-grade WEB Leaders attended WEB Leadership training on Monday and Tuesday for team-building and preparation to help the newest Nighthawks and maintain a culture of belonging. 

FHSD is committed to cultivating an engaging learning environment where students feel included and comfortable to learn and grow. WEB leaders not only assist in fulfilling this value, but they themselves also feel more connected as an engaged collaborator in their school community. 

Orientation for New Teachers and Paraprofessionals

Central Office welcomed our newest teachers and paraprofessionals to the district on Wednesday, August 13 with a mini parade of cheers. Teachers attended tech camp in the morning and paraprofessionals gathered for their orientation in the afternoon. 

Teachers then returned on Thursday for their day-long orientation. Superintendent Larry Hook spoke about FHSD’s culture and the values we strive to uphold. He emphasized the importance of the R Factor, how the Culture Blueprint guides our work, how staff can fulfill the district’s Strategic Plan, and explained the Portrait of a Learner, which indicates the skillsets the district encourages all learners to strive to embody in their educational journeys. New teachers also heard from various district leaders and the Forest Hills Foundation for Education. 

As part of the orientation schedule, veteran FHSD teachers and current students volunteered their time to participate in a teacher panel and a student panel. The newest teachers got firsthand insight from those who have taught in the district for years, and also learned about the FHSD student perspective–right from the source. 

Staff Convocation 

All staff returned from the summer for Opening Day on Monday, August 18 to kick off the 2025-2026 school year. To start the day, all teachers and staff gathered for Convocation in the morning at Nagel Middle School for presentations and encouragement for a great school year from Superintendent Hook, the Forest Hills Foundation for Education and other district leaders. Staff were also treated to a performance from the Anderson High School Summer Orchestra. 

Thank you to American Legion Post 318 for leading the pledge of allegiance, as well as 7 Hills Church and Xavier University College of Education for the breakfast goodies!

High School Orientations 

The transition from middle school to high school can be an intimidating jump. Anderson and Turpin High Schools do a fabulous job of welcoming their incoming freshmen with orientations led by their Link Crews. 

The Spartans held Freshmen Orientation on Friday, August 15 which included some warm-up activities, a tour of the school and a meeting with their counselors. The Raptors hosted Freshmen Orientation on Wednesday, August 20. Staff and Link Crew leaders cheered on the new 9th graders during drop-off and gathered in the gym for some more welcome activities. The day rounded out with lots of information about being a Raptor. 

Current Anderson and Turpin students play a large part in the orientations for new students. These Raptors and Spartans volunteer their own time to train for the orientation days and get to know the freshmen as they get acclimated to their new school. Link Crews consistently do a fabulous job connecting and fostering positive relationships with these new students to help cultivate a positive learning environment. Plus, these current sophomores and upperclassmen have a perfect opportunity to practice empathetic communication and be an engaged collaborator–both of which are skillsets on the district’s Portrait of a Learner. 

Elementary Back to School Bashes 

All six FHSD elementary schools hosted back to school bashes for students and their families to see their new classrooms and drop off school supplies prior to the first day of school. Parents and guardians were able to lighten their students’ first-day backpacks and take care of any final to-dos before the new school year begins. Some schools also included some extra activities to help students get acclimated to their (new) school. Thank you to the PTOs that were instrumental in providing this opportunity! 

First Days of School - Phase-In Days!

FHSD welcomed K-12 students with last names A-L on Thursday, August 21 and last names M-Z on Friday, August 22. Preschool students began their journeys during phase-in days on Monday, August 25 and Tuesday, August 26.

It is so exciting to see new and returning faces in the schools for another year of learning and growth. 

See below for some first-day photos and smiles!