Save the date and make plans to join us for our District End-of-Year Celebration. This year’s event will be held at Serena Hills School. We look forward to celebrating together!
Thursday, June 4, from 5-7 p.m.
District administration shared heartfelt words honoring the incredible impact each staff member has made over the years. Stories were told, laughter filled the room, and so many meaningful memories were revisited. It was an afternoon that reflected not only years of dedication, but also the strong friendships built along the way.
Thank you to our retirees for your commitment, care, and lasting contributions to our students and community. You leave behind a legacy that will not be forgotten. Wishing you all the very best in this next chapter.
We invite you to join the Parker Junior High Band and the James Hart Middle School Band at the Veterans Memorial in Homewood for a special ceremony. Pre-ceremony music will begin at 10:15 a.m., with the official program starting at 10:30 a.m. During the ceremony, the bands will perform “Marches of the Armed Forces” to honor the service and sacrifice of our military men and women.
In addition, members of the Homewood-Flossmoor band program will also be performing at the event in support of the ceremony.
The Veteran's Memorial is located at 18161 Morris Avenue.
A reminder that there is no school on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. We invite you to join the Parker Junior High Band at the Veterans Memorial in Homewood at 10:15 a.m. for a special ceremony.
The memorial is located at 18161 Morris Avenue.
See you there!
Join the Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) for its final meeting of the school year.
Thursday, May 14
6:00–7:00 p.m.
Serena Hills School
Connect with other bilingual families and gain helpful insights on supporting your child’s growth and success.
Participants will enjoy crafts, games, music, and more!
A sincere thank you to everyone who helped plan and organize this special evening. We’re looking forward to celebrating together as a community.
From paintings and ceramics to sculptures and custom skateboard designs, each piece reflected the unique voice of our young artists.
A special thank you to our dedicated art teachers, Mr. Walker, Ms. Hall, Ms. Ericksen, Ms. Kemp, Mx. Wessely, and Ms. Symowicz, for inspiring and supporting our students every step of the way.
From teachers to support staff, bus drivers to crossing guards, administrative teams to custodial crews, each person plays a role in shaping our students’ experiences. It is the countless ways, big and small, that you support, guide, encourage, and care for our students that truly make a difference.
It is all of these contributions that make each of you a vital piece of the puzzle in enhancing our students' lives.
Thank you for all that you do!
Navigating care across every building
Uplifting staff and students daily
Responding with calm, clarity, and compassion
Stepping in wherever they are needed
Every detail handled with heart
Happy Nurses Day 💙
We are so grateful for our teachers who go above and beyond each and every day, both in and out of the classroom, to support, inspire, and help our students grow. Their impact reaches far beyond lessons and assignments, shaping confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning for students across all of our schools.
We also want to thank the many staff members throughout the district who sponsor clubs, coach teams, and lead activities that give our students opportunities to explore their interests, build friendships, and discover new passions. Because of you, our schools offer a wide range of experiences that help every student find where they belong.
You don’t have to travel downtown to experience incredible art. Come see fine artwork created by our very own District 161 students at the Visual Arts Expo this week at Normandy Villa.
Join us for the Student Reception on May 6 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., where you can celebrate our talented young artists and view their work.
Community viewing will also be available May 7 to 8 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Normandy Villa is located at 41 E Elmwood Drive in Chicago Heights.
We hope to see you there as we celebrate the creativity and talent of our students.
Thank you to our entire District 161 team for making our school community such a special place.
The Math Bowl was a huge success for Flossmoor School District 161, and our students truly delivered!!
A big congratulations to Jonah Roberson, a 2nd grader at Western Avenue, who earned 5th place in the Division A individual competition under the guidance of coach Elaine Wengert.
Shout out to Edwin Stelk, a 3rd grader at Flossmoor Hills, who took 1st place in the Division B individual competition. The Division B team also had an impressive showing, earning 4th place overall. Team members include Santiago Lara, Edwin Stelk, E. Martin, and Martin Stelk, coached by Carrie Gallagher. Alternates William Nixon-Darragh (Western Avenue) and Trenton Pierre (Flossmoor Hills) also contributed to the team’s success.
Special recognition goes to Martin Stelk, Division B team captain, who was named MVP.
At Parker Junior High, Raheem Sokoya, a 7th grader, earned 6th place individually in Division D and was also named MVP under coach Jamie Kolar.
Thank you to all of our dedicated Math Bowl coaches and to everyone who supports this annual event. Another outstanding season for SD161.
Congratulations to the cast and crew of Parker Junior High's The Rockin' Tale of Snow White. A special thanks to all staff, especially Director Ms. Nicotra, for another fabulous production!
Check out the latest news from D161 by clicking the link below.
https://conta.cc/4egSvBH
From our dedicated teachers who inspire learning each day, to our caring support staff who ensure every student feels seen and supported, it takes a team to make our schools thrive. We are grateful for our bus drivers who safely transport our students, our crossing guards who greet them with a smile, our administrative assistants who keep everything running smoothly, our custodians who create clean and welcoming spaces, and our principals who lead with vision and care.
Each role is essential. Each person makes a difference. Together, you create the foundation for success in our schools every single day.
Thank you for your commitment, your compassion, and the countless ways you support our students and community.
Follow along this week as we highlight the many departments that keep our district running so smoothly.
Join us for the Student Reception on May 6 from 6:00–8:00 p.m., where you can celebrate our talented young artists and view their work.
Community viewing will also be available May 7–8 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Normandy Villa is located at 41 E Elmwood Drive, Chicago Heights, IL 60411.
We hope to see you there as we celebrate the creativity and talent of our students!
Showtimes:
Friday (TONIGHT!), May 1 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 2 at 3 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for adults & $7 students/seniors
Flossmoor School District 161 is proud to share some exciting news!
Flossmoor Hills Elementary School and Serena Hills Elementary School have both been named 2025–2026 Capturing Kids’ Hearts® National Showcase Schools. This national recognition highlights each school’s commitment to building strong relationships, fostering student engagement, and creating a positive, supportive learning environment.
Under the leadership of Principals Evita McNeil-Dobson and Elizabeth Reich, both schools have created cultures where students feel seen, valued, and connected every day. This honor reflects the meaningful work happening in classrooms and throughout each building, where strong relationships help drive student success.
We are incredibly proud of our students, staff, and school leaders for creating spaces where everyone belongs and thrives.
Students took part in choir or rotated through hands-on general music sessions including ukulele, drumming, movement, and xylophones, with the movement session led by Heather Hill’s own Sarah Gorecki Bozek. The event concluded with a celebratory concert showcasing all they had learned.
We are especially proud that Daniel Burke and Valerie Pasqua helped organize this outstanding event. We also want to thank Abigayle Pedigo for her amazing contributions in supporting this experience for our students and helping them prepare for the festival.
Eighth-grade students at Parker Junior High and students are learning about the service and sacrifice of Flossmoor Veterans through an innovative program called The Flossmoor Veterans’ Time Machine.
Developed by the Flossmoor Veterans’ Memorial, Inc., the curriculum connects students to the stories of nearly 1,000 local veterans while building research, collaboration, and critical thinking skills. The program, inspired by Fragments of Flossmoor by Dr. Kristine Condon, was recently recognized with a 2025 “Best of Illinois History” award from the Illinois State Historical Society.
As part of the experience, students will create their own replicas of the Veterans’ Wall of Honor, which will be on display at the Flossmoor Public Library this May in recognition of National Military Appreciation Month.
This powerful partnership is helping students connect classroom learning with community history while honoring those who have served.
