Welcome to
CBI Forest School!

Welcome. We are so happy you are here.

Your Parent Portal serves as a one-stop-shop for families at CBI Forest School.

You can download & upload forms, and find information and resources.

School-wide info can be found on this main dashboard, while class-specific info will be found on your child’s class page.

If you have any questions at any time, please email shalom@cbforestschool.com

Current Calendar:

Remind updates:

Essential News & Info

Action-required events, essential updates, and more

  • April 22-23

    School is closed for Passover Break

  • May 27

    School is closed for Memorial Day

Forest School Basics

  • Complete Your Emergency Contact Form

    Please complete by August 9th

    This form must be on file for all students to attend school.

    All students will need to upload a liability waiver as part of this form.

    New students will need to upload a copy of their birth certificate & Virginia School Entrance form (found in Emergency Contact Downloads).

  • Emergency Contact Downloads

    Download your enrollment forms that are required for your Emergency Contact form.

    Included: VA school entrance form with immunizations section, allergy form, waiver, & medication consent form.

    Please Note: These are only to be included with the Google Emergency Contact Form, and not to be emailed separately.

  • Schoolwide Gear & Clothing List

    This is the list for every age; see your class page for age / class-specific needs.

  • Health & Safety Manual

    Each year, we update our Health & Safety Manual, written by a team of medical experts from within our CBI community.

    It can help guide your decision-making process when you or someone in your family is not feeling as well as usual!

  • CBIFS Handbook

    In the CBIFS Handbook, you can find our overall approach, all of our policies, and many answers to FAQs. The handbook is updated annually.

  • CBI Account Link

    To login to your ShulCloud account:

    1. Click the link below

    2. Select “Login” in the upper right corner

    3. Once logged in with email address & password, click “My Account” (below your name)

  • CBIFS Glossary

    Here are some of the many terms that we use here in the forest!

Classes Info Pages

In your Class Info page, you’ll find anything that is class-specific to your child, whether your class directory, teacher info, communication, or class-specific gear list.

Fun in the Forest

  • CBI Forest School Merch

    Branded CBIFS Gear orders have closed for September. We will have another sale closer to the holidays.

    Something you are hoping for? Let us know!!

  • CBI Goings-On

    Check out what’s happening at CBI, from Family Shabbat Services to our Film Series and more.

  • Car Magnets For Sale

    Show your school spirit with these 5x5 Forest School Car Magnets. Minimum donation $5. All proceeds go to our financial aid program..

  • Shabbat Songs Sheet

    Does your kiddo come home singing songs that with no discernable melody and want you to sing along?

    Do they demand “Sing the song about the dinosaur!” and you’re clueless?

    Learn our school Shabbat songs here!

  • CBI YouTube Channel

    We have an incredible range of videos - songs, teachers reading books, crafting how-to’s, and videos from school.

  • Your Favorite Teachers Reading Stories

    Have you ever wanted to bring your favorite Forest School teacher home with you?

    Check out our teachers reading stories on our YouTube channel! 📚

Welcome New Parents!

We are thrilled to have you joining us the forest! This Parent Portal is a hub to which you can return time and time again to find resources and information.

  • In addition to all of the resources found on the page, we recommend joining our Parents’-only Facebook group to connect with other families (and swap gear!).

  • It is required to sign up for Remind, our all-school texting service (found below).

  • Lastly, the Emergency Contact and Virginia School Entrance Form, in addition to a copy of your child's birth certificate, must be on file at CBI in order for your child to attend school.
    See the Important Forms section to download and upload all forms.

Welcome to CBI Forest School!

Remind Notifications

We use the communication app Remind to send all-school urgent notifications, including late starts, school closings, and other important information.

All families are required to sign up.


Download the App

Enabling notifications from the app on your device means you’ll never miss an important message!

ONCE YOU DOWNLOAD:

  1. Turn on Push Notifications

  2. Turn on Text Message notifications

You can also see the most up-to-date notifications here at the top of this Dashboard.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We have committed to stay at CHT through this year. We are currently looking for another property and hope to make progress this year.

  • Morning Drop Off: 8:30 - 8:45 AM
    Afternoon Pick Up: 3:00 - 3:15 PM

    Hawks, Sassafras, Dogwood, & Oak: Riding Ring
    Goldfinch & Heron: Treehouse
    Hummingbird: Dining Hall

    Bluebirds & Owls:
    First 4 weeks of the year
    : Dining Hall
    Remainder of the year:
    Bluebirds: Parents walk up to the Dining Hall from the Meadow
    Owls: Treehouse

    👉 Always pull your car up to the spot furthest in the line.

    👉 Please drive slowly (5mph) throughout our campus! You never know when a child will be in the road.

  • All of the buildings except the main office (by the lake) and lodges are used.

  • Kids will not swim but may go into creeks.

  • Yes! We have campfires. Kids will learn fire safety.

  • Yes, each cabin has its own HVAC system with heat and air conditioning.

  • They nap indoors. Parents provide napmats and we provide cots. Parents send children with yoga mats. Preschool children rest outdoors in appropriate weather and may take inside breaks as needed.

  • Your account is managed by a third-party company, Memberspace. They have a fantastic page with lots of answers here!

  • No. Everyone will be bringing lunch and snack from home.

  • Lunch does not have to be kosher. Because lunches are not be refrigerated, we recommend using an ice pack.

  • Safety is our #1 priority.

    Dress your child in appropriate clothing for the elements, though we will come inside when it is unsafe. Every classroom has an indoor space to use. We also have the dining hall and pavilion which can be used in bad weather.

    We will follow Albemarle Public Schools weather advisories as the road to CHT/Forest School is not an easy one! Please have REMIND on your phones to receive changes in weather-related pick-ups. (You can see the Remind widget in your dashboard here as well).

  • We have options for inclement weather. We either use CBI Downtown or the Lewis and Clark Center. We may use a mix of two sites if needed; or school may be cancelled for the day.

  • Teachers are trained, as are students, in identifying poison ivy, ticks, and unwanted bugs.

    We have the necessary equipment to deal with any bite that occurs. We do tick checks and ask families to do the same when arriving home.

  • We do not have a nurse on staff, however, we do have one Wilderness First Responder and eight Wilderness First Aid-trained teachers on staff. All teachers are trained in first aid and CPR.

  • We ask that you bring a simple lunch and snack that does not need refrigeration (or just an ice pack).

    Also, kids carry their lunches in their backpacks — so keep it light!

  • 100%!

  • Our mask-wearing is responsive to the current health climate in our area.

    Occasionally, the air quality index or current health events necessitate mask-wearing, and we will notify parents to send masks with children.

    In addition, we ask that children with active colds wear a mask to limit spread.