Flossmoor School District 161

We are less than two weeks away from the District 161 STEAM Night. We hope to see you on February 12 from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at Parker Junior High.
Get ready for an evening where curiosity takes the lead and ideas come to life. STEAM Night will bring together science, technology, engineering, arts, and math through hands-on experiences designed to spark creativity, problem-solving, and wonder.
Whether you love experimenting, building, coding, creating, or asking big questions, this is a night you won’t want to miss. More details are coming soon, but for now, mark your calendar and get ready to explore, discover, and innovate together.

Well done to our District Spelling Bee Champion, Bree Jeanette Frye! The 7th-grader from Parker Junior High clinched the win with her final word, "auxiliary."

We extend our sincere thanks to Sandy Thompson, Academic Center for Enrichment (ACE) teacher at Flossmoor Hills Elementary School and ACE Department Coordinator, who would also like to recognize and thank all of the ACE teachers at each school who help make this event possible year after year.

Be sure to read the fantastic article by Nuha Abdessalam of the Homewood-Flossmoor Chronicle for beautifully capturing the essence of this exciting event. Congratulations again, Bree!
https://www.hfchronicle.com/2026/01/31/7th-grader-spells-success-a-u-x-i-l-i-a-r-y/

Congratulations to our Flossmoor District 161 Above and Beyond Quarter 2 award winner, Sarah Rudenga!
Ms. Rudenga was honored at the January 29 Board of Education meeting for her exceptional dedication and service to our students.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Ms. Rudenga goes above and beyond by hosting book clubs at Parker Junior High and sponsoring a knitting and crocheting club, creating welcoming spaces where students can connect, create, and grow. While she loves teaching her students, it is the mutual connections built through shared interests and meaningful conversations that truly make her shine extra bright.

Pictured with Ms. Rudenga are Superintendent Dana Smith, along with Avery and Karen Cheung, who nominated her for this well-deserved recognition.
Congratulations, Ms. Rudenga!

Spell-tacular things are happening tonight! Join us for the District Spelling Bee at 6:00 p.m. at Parker Junior High. Good luck to all of our hardworking spellers.

FREE!
Looking for a fun way to support your child’s early math learning?
Join our Math Magic Family program at Homewood Science Center!
Families complete short, hands-on math activities together during STEM Saturdays—and every visit earns a raffle entry for a Lakeshore Learning math kit!
Saturdays | 10–11 AM
👶 Ages 3–8 with parent or caregiver
📍 Homewood Science Center
Free. Fun. Meaningful learning.
#MathMagicFamily #EarlyMathMatters #STEMForAll

Because of the dangerously low temperatures for tomorrow, District 161 will have E-learning and
no in-person school on Monday, January 26, 2026. In addition, all extracurricular activities are
cancelled. Please refer to the document below for specific E-learning information and if you have any
questions, please contact your building principal or me at your earliest convenience. The District
161 school and district offices will be open tomorrow in case you have any issues. We are
planning to resume in-person learning on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
English: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11E81jXPWavakgfTJmavz0ydhX-Egwadm/view
Spanish:https://drive.google.com/file/d/12tFfJkMn39maQT1wWrGQ7SlZAC8G4Sr1/view

Due to the anticipated cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills, District 161 will transition to E-learning tomorrow, Friday, January 23.
Specific E-learning information can be found in English at https://tiny.cc/# and in Spanish at the following link. https://tiny.cc/#
School and District offices will be open tomorrow. If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher or building principal. Flossmoor School District 161 is planning to resume in-person learning on Monday, January 26, 2026.

Happy Thursday Flossmoor School District 161! Even though the temperature outside is frigid, we continue to feel a warm glow thinking about all of the successful service projects on Monday. Have a great day!

Save the date for STEAM Night. February 12!

Get ready for an evening where curiosity takes the lead and ideas come to life. STEAM Night will bring together science, technology, engineering, arts, and math through hands-on experiences designed to spark creativity, problem-solving, and wonder.

Whether you love experimenting, building, coding, creating, or asking big questions, this is a night you won’t want to miss. More details are coming soon, but for now, mark your calendar and get ready to explore, discover, and innovate together.

Today, Flossmoor School District 161 came together to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ✨ We are proud to use this day off as a day to serve others, turning Dr. King’s vision of kindness, equality, and community into action. Across our schools, students and volunteers made cards for service members, packed lunches for those in need, created cozy blankets, and made cards that will put smiles on the faces of residents at assisted living facilities. From living museum experiences to hands-on service projects, the impact was felt in so many ways. We are proud to be a district that values serving others, not just today, but every day, showing that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference in our communities! Well done, 161!

In observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, there will be no school tomorrow. This day honors Dr. King’s enduring legacy of service, justice, and community. Families are encouraged to reflect that spirit by making it a day on, not a day off, through acts of service. Opportunities to participate in local service projects can be found at Flossmoor.org.

#ICYMI Earlier this week, our fourth and fifth graders, took the stage for a special pajama themed orchestra concert, and it was every bit as adorable as it was impressive. From the first note to the final bow, students showed off their growing musical skills, focus, and confidence, all while performing in their coziest PJs. A big thank you to Mr. Calhoon for nurturing these talents, and giving our students the opportunity to learn, practice, and shine. His passion for encouraging his students shows in each new skill the students develop. A special thank you to Mr. Diller for accompanying the concert on piano.

Looking for a fun way to support your child’s early math learning?
Join our Math Magic Family program at Homewood Science Center!
Families complete short, hands-on math activities together during STEM Saturdays—and every visit earns a raffle entry for a Lakeshore Learning math kit!
Saturdays | 10–11 AM
👶 Ages 3–8 with parent or caregiver
📍 Homewood Science Center
Free. Fun. Meaningful learning.
#MathMagicFamily #EarlyMathMatters #STEMForAll

Looking for some family fun on Friday afternoons? Make a plan to swing by the Homewood Science Center for their Family Friday event from 3:00-6:00 pm.
More information can be found by clicking the link below.
https://www.homewoodsciencecenter.org/event-details/family-friday-2026-01-16-15-00

Happy New Year! #ICYMI We’re proud to celebrate community and culture in Flossmoor School District 161 💚✨ Charleigh and Jayson, along with their parents, had the honor of lighting the 5th candle of Kwanzaa with the Village of Flossmoor. This was a very meaningful moment of unity, pride, and togetherness. Thank you Smith family!

It’s New Year’s Eve. While you’re thinking about what’s next in 2026, take a moment to plan something fun and educational for your family. Save the date and join us for the District STEAM Night, where curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning come together. More details coming soon!

Last night, Dr. Smith, Superintendent of Flossmoor School District 161, and David Linnear, School Board President, were honored to light the candle for the fourth day of Kwanzaa representing Ujamaa (cooperative economics). Ujamaa reminds us of the importance of building, supporting and sustaining our community so that everyone can thrive together. They extend their sincere thanks to the Village of Flossmoor for the invitation to take part in this meaningful celebration.

Looking for a simple and fun way to keep your child’s reading and math skills sharp over Winter Break, encourage independent learning, and earn a chance to win a gift card while still enjoying time off? Take our Winter Break Learning Challenge by clicking the link below!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1saOUpkx9nfQCCl-J9U3SSkQwB4M6M3p1/view