Flossmoor School District 161

Conservation Ecology Internship
Homewood Science Center is offering a Conservation Ecology Internship for students in grades 6–8 this fall. The program runs on Saturdays starting September 27, 2025, and gives students hands-on experience in ecology, leadership, and scientific discovery at Homewood's Izaak Walton Preserve.
Students can apply here: https://airtable.com/appWLTo5HACulZRUb/shro1OjgXH7xjUnCI

We've had a great two days in Flossmoor School District 161. We are looking forward to the middle of the week tomorrow and even further ahead to Friday, when we can celebrate as an entire district at the Back to School Bash in Flossmoor Park from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
See you then!

Do you have a 5th grader interested in beginning band? Make a plan to attend the Zoom meeting on Tuesday, September 2, at 6:30 p.m.

The first day of school is officially off and running. Students filled our halls with excitement, teachers welcomed their new classes, and the energy across our schools was nothing short of amazing. Thank you to our families and staff for helping make the start of the year run so smoothly.

The night before the first day of school can feel a little ruff for our pets. They have loved having their humans home for summer cuddles, backyard games, and extra love.

As backpacks are packed and alarms are set, our furry friends send their best wishes for a great first day tomorrow. ❤️ Drop a photo of your family pet in the comments so we can see all the sweet faces who will be missing their humans in the morning!

As traditions go, this is one of our favorites! Every year, Dr. Smith kicks off the school year with a district-wide meeting. It’s a time to reflect on goals, share plans, and set the tone for the months ahead. But no back-to-school kickoff is complete without the legendary Flossmoor School District 161 Trivia Game! This fiercely competitive showdown pits schools against each other, with trivia questions written entirely by Dr. Smith, ranging from the downright silly to the seriously challenging. For the past two years, Flossmoor Hills held the title… but this year, there’s a new champion. 🏆 Congratulations to Heather Hill for taking home 1st place! How fitting that the trophy now lives in their brand-new office. See you all at the rematch next year!

We are one day closer to seeing the smiling faces of our students. Staff is hard at work prepping classrooms and materials to be sure we are ready to greet you.

Dr. Smith welcomes back all Flossmoor School District 161 staff. We are looking forward to a year filled with learning, progress, and achievements!

Big changes at Heather Hill Elementary School!
Flossmoor School District 161 celebrated a ribbon cutting to showcase exciting renovations that make learning spaces brighter, safer, and more welcoming for students and staff. We’re grateful to the District 161 Board of Education for their continued investment in our schools and community.

The countdown to back-to-school continues, and today we spotted some of our SD161 superheroes in action, our amazing school nursing staff! They are busy preparing and planning to make sure our students have a safe and healthy start to the year.

We caught up with this dynamic duo from Serena Hills Elementary School this morning while they were greeting new teachers and getting things ready for students to begin next week! We are looking forward to next week when the district will be filled with our fabulous learners and exceptional staff!

Grab your creativity and join us this Friday, August 22, after 4 p.m. at your child’s school for Chalk the Walk! Chalk will be waiting on the school grounds, so draw, doodle, and leave cheerful messages to encourage our students and staff as they get ready for the first day on Monday, August 25.

Class assignment pick-up continues today! We are getting more excited by the minute for the start of the new school year.

Smile 📸 Today is class assignment pick-up day! 📚 🏫 📝

Grab your chalk and your cheer!
On Friday, August 22, starting at 4 p.m., families are invited to stop by their student’s home school to Chalk the Walk with colorful messages of encouragement. Chalk will be available on the school grounds for you to use, so bring your creativity. Let’s fill the sidewalks with positivity, inspiration, and maybe even a few doodles to kick off a fantastic new school year. See you soon Flossmoor School District 161 all stars!

Turn your errands into a school supply scavenger hunt and make it fun for the whole family. Grab the notebooks, pencils, markers, and everything else you need to start the year strong. Get it done now so you can skip the last-minute scramble and actually enjoy the excitement of the first day. Being prepared means less stress, more smiles, and a great start to the school year.

Class Assignment Pick-Up is August 13-14, but there’s one thing you need before the big reveal—registration! Only registered students can pick up their assignments and find out who’s in their class.
Visit sd161.org and be ready for the excitement at your child’s school!

On Saturday and Sunday, August 2nd and August 3rd 2025, weather permitting, Flossmoor School District 161 will be applying an herbicide and a fertilizer to the field areas at Serena Hills, Flossmoor Hills, and Parker Junior High. The products that will be used for this application are The Andersons Turf Products Fertilizer with Barricade Herbicide, and Trimec 992 Broadleaf Herbicide. These products comprise a selective broadleaf herbicide and a lawn fertilizer that will be used to control weeds/dandelions in these areas, and will also fertilize all district lawns.

If you have any questions, please contact Scott Stachacz, Director of Buildings and Grounds, at (708) 647-7005.