Flossmoor School District 161

#ICYMI The Flossmoor Board of Education meeting was filled with recognition for staff and students! The Parker Junior High boys' basketball team and coaching staff were recognized for their phenomenal basketball season. The Board of Education also recognized staff members who received the Those Who Excel Award. The Illinois State Board of Education has presented the Those Who Excel program since 1970 to commend educators who have made noteworthy contributions to our elementary and junior high schools. Congratulations to all! • Dr. Gina Isabelli, Principal of Western Avenue School, is celebrated with the Special Recognition Award. • Gayle Dickerson, Student Support Personnel at Flossmoor Hills Elementary School, is acknowledged with the Meritorious Service Award. • Lesa Waishwell, a Western Avenue Elementary School teacher, is honored with the Special Recognition Award. • The Instructional Coaching Team from all buildings is recognized with the Meritorious Service Award. This team includes Nancy Larocca, Jennifer McLean, Amy Gehrt, Christina Bollenbacher, Tiffaney Washington, Stephanie Levy, and Alyssa Zajack. Lastly, the Board of Education awarded the third quarter recipients of the #ThoseWhoExcel award to Mr. Scott Stachacz, Director of Building and Grounds, who has served SD 161 for 10 years, and Mr. Dave Fox, Custodian Supervisor, who has served SD 161 for 17 years. The district thanks Mr. Stachacz and Mr. Fox for their exceptional service to our school community. Add your own message of congratulations to the comments below!

As a reminder, Tuesday, March 19, is an E-Learning Day. The E-Learning Day schedules for K-8 can be found by clicking the link. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZK1xJ3UmTekTBZAkpGLdp0SXcrp6gF3F/view  

Three great districts and one outstanding survey! Help us answer the question, "How are we doing with communication?" All staff, parents/guardians, and community members are invited to take a 15-minute confidential online survey now-March 25: https://survey.k12insight.com/r/rQlaDt

HF area schools ask, “How are we doing with communication?” Homewood School District 153, Flossmoor School District 161 and Homewood-Flossmoor High School are joining forces to conduct a community-wide survey to gather input about the districts’ communications efforts. By participating in the survey, you play an active role in shaping how each of the school districts communicate with you. All staff, parents/guardians, and community members are invited to take a 15-minute confidential online survey now-March 25: https://survey.k12insight.com/r/rQlaDt

As you firm up your summer plans don't forget that Summer Academy offers an excellent opportunity for your child to practice their skills and receive additional instruction during the summer break. The program dates are Monday, June 10, 2024, through Thursday, July 18, 2024. Registration is due by Friday, May 3, 2024. Please visit the link below to learn more about all of the exciting programs offered and to register your child to attend. https://www.sd161.org/article/1500367

Flossmoor District 161 would like to congratulate Flossmoor Hills 5th grader, Nyla for representing the district at the South Cook Regional Spelling Bee. Nyla, your school community is very proud of you. Well done! Give Nyla a shout out in the comments below! ⭐️

Register to attend the Flossmoor School District 161 Diversity Dinner at Parker Junior High School on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Reservations are required by Friday, March 22, 2024. We hope to see you there! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe17vlx0EQhAnK8ALaJtm_H358EqfsJoDtREKscy7x0rep5zQ/viewform

Flossmoor School District 161 extends its appreciation to the volunteers whose support and tireless efforts enriched the experience of Black History Month 2024 for our students and staff. Your commitment to celebrating diversity and promoting inclusivity has left a lasting impact on our school community. Thank you for your impactful contributions and for helping to create a memorable and inspiring celebration of Black history and culture. Enjoy these pictures from celebrations throughout Flossmoor School District 161. Share your favorite photos in the comments below!

LEAPING into Kindergarten! 🐸✨ Last night, Flossmoor School District 161 welcomed its newest members to the team! Kindergarten students registered for the new school year and sampled some of the excitement to come. We look forward to seeing you very soon! Happy LEAP Day!

Hey there, future kindergarteners and families! Get ready to embark on an epic journey into the world of learning! Registering for the 2024-25 school year is HERE, and we can't wait to welcome you aboard! Join us for kindergarten registration and residency verification TONIGHT at our four exceptional elementary schools from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. For more information and to stay in the loop, visit https://www.sd161.org/page/kindergarten-registration. Let's make this registration day the start of an incredible adventure together! See you tonight!

Save the date! Flossmoor School District 161 Summer Academy for students currently in grades K-7 is happening June 10-July 18. Students entering Kindergarten may also register to attend the summer Kinderprep program. Registration begins Tuesday, March 5. Visit www.sd161.org for more information.

Hey there, future kindergarteners and families! Get ready to embark on an epic journey into the world of learning! Registering for the 2024-25 school year is almost here, and we can't wait to welcome you aboard! Join us for Kindergarten registration and residency verification at our four exceptional elementary schools. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 28, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. For more information and to stay in the loop, visit https://www.sd161.org/page/kindergarten-registration. Let's make this registration day the start of an incredible adventure together! See you there!

Welcome to Serena Hills! Beginning on July 1, 2024, Ms. Laura De Biasio will join the Serena Hills administrative team as the assistant principal. Ms. Laura De Biasio has spent the past 5 years in District 161 as a Special Education teacher. Prior to being employed in District 161, Ms. De Biasio taught in therapeutic day schools. She has extensive knowledge in how to scaffold learning to meet the needs of all students. In addition, Ms. De Biasio has served as a school mentor, cooperating teacher for local University students, and has served as a leader on multiple building level committees. She has her Learning Behavior Specialist 1 Endorsement and earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education.

Welcome to Heather Hill! Beginning on July 1, 2024, Mr. Cameron Small will join the Heather Hill administrative team as the assistant principal. Mr. Small is currently a Dean of Students at Parker Junior High School. Mr. Small spent 15 years as a Health teacher before being hired by District 161. Mr. Small has great experience in building relationships with students and families and promoting a collaborative school culture. He has experience in coaching students in a variety of sports including basketball, volleyball, and track. Mr. Small earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Concordia University.

Welcome to the Flossmoor Hills team! Beginning on July 1, 2024, Ms. Abby Girard will join the Flossmoor Hills administrative team as the assistant principal. Ms. Abby Girard brings six [6] years of administrative experience to Flossmoor School District 161. She has served as an Associate Principal, Student Services Coordinator, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports [MTSS] Coordinator. Her experience with Pre-Kindergarten and Early Intervention Programming, Special Education, and leading teams will be valuable to our District and to Flossmoor Hills Elementary School. Ms. Girard earned a Master of Arts in Education Administration and a Chief School Business Official [CSBO] Endorsement from Governors State University.

Earlier this week, Flossmoor School District 161 celebrated its spelling bee participants at the school board meeting. The district extends congratulations to all participants and expresses gratitude to Mrs. Thompson and the dedicated team of teachers whose efforts contributed to the success of the event. C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S!

The Illinois State Board of Education has presented the Those Who Excel program since 1970 to commend educators who have made noteworthy contributions to our elementary and junior high schools. School District 161 proudly announces 9 honorees across four categories. Congratulations to all! • Dr. Gina Isabelli, Principal of Western Avenue School, is celebrated with the Special Recognition Award. • Gayle Dickerson, Student Support Personnel at Flossmoor Hills Elementary School, is acknowledged with the Meritorious Service Award. • Lesa Waishwell, a Western Avenue Elementary School teacher, is honored with the Special Recognition Award. • The Instructional Coaching Team from all buildings is recognized with the Meritorious Service Award. This team includes Nancy Larocca, Jennifer McLean, Amy Gehrt, Christina Bollenbacher, Tiffaney Washington, Stephanie Levy, and Alyssa Zajack (not pictured) Congratulations to all the recipients for their exceptional achievements!

Hey there, future kindergarteners and families! Get ready to embark on an epic journey into the world of learning! Registering for the 2024-25 school year is almost here, and we can't wait to welcome you aboard! Join us for Kindergarten registration and residency verification at our four exceptional elementary schools. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 28, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. For more information and to stay in the loop, visit https://www.sd161.org/page/kindergarten-registration. Let's make this registration day the start of an incredible adventure together! See you there!

Please take part in the 5 Essentials Parent Survey and provide valuable feedback that will be utilized for School Improvement. The survey window will close on March 29, 2024. You can access the survey by clicking the link below. https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/?target_name=parent

Flossmoor School District 161 will join the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in the eleventh statewide survey of school climate and learning conditions. The survey provides a unique opportunity for students, teachers, and parents to have a voice in improving their schools. From January 30, 2024, through March 29, 2024, students and teachers will be asked to take a 30-minute research-based survey to help identify strengths and weaknesses in their school’s learning environment. The parent survey supplement will also be administered during the same survey window. These surveys will serve as an opportunity for schools to reflect on progress since the last statewide implementation. https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois/5e/2023/ Thank you for your participation!