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.
This recognition highlights the district’s strong support of English Learner students and includes a $10,000 award to enhance programming. The district is working with EL teachers to determine how the funds will best support students.
Thank you to our English Learner team:
Tina Morris, Danielle Montijo, Gabriela Salerno-McKinney, Emily Brodsky, Elaine Wengert, and Kelly Wojnovich
If your child is currently in 5th grade, it’s time to start getting excited for the transition to Parker Junior High. We have several important (and fun!) opportunities coming up to help students and families feel confident and ready for 6th grade.
Save the dates:
• April 29 – In-person presentation and campus tours at Parker (6:00 PM) for parents and students
• April 30 – Spring musical visit (during the school day with 5th grade teachers)
• June 5 – Step Up Day at Parker (9:30–11:00 AM)
• August – Schedule Pick-Up Day (date and time coming soon)
We can’t wait to welcome our newest group of students to Parker. It’s going to be a great year ahead.
Thank you to everyone who joined us.
We appreciate the time and thoughtful input shared during the community forum as part of the superintendent search for Flossmoor School District 161. Your voice plays an important role in shaping the future of our district.
If you were unable to attend or would still like to share your feedback, the survey will remain open through April 22.
Learn more and access the survey link below.
https://www.sd161.org/o/flossmoor-sd161/article/2819119?fbclid=IwY2xjawRR5kRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeE9qs88xBMNfPjibayo8AnU0RYwuG7EpkHSAf5BfsrSqnh95d6bA8BP-G6Xg_aem_e9b8YZ-DEQuCRlREv5bAWQ
Flossmoor School District 161 wants to hear from you.
As part of the superintendent search, the Board of Education is inviting families, staff, and community members to share their input through a brief survey and upcoming community forums.
Join us TODAY, Monday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m. for a community forum. Attend in person or via Zoom.
Your voice will help shape the future leadership of our district. Take a few minutes to complete the survey by April 22.
Learn more and access the survey and meeting links below.
https://www.sd161.org/o/flossmoor-sd161/article/2819119?fbclid=IwY2xjawRR5kRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeE9qs88xBMNfPjibayo8AnU0RYwuG7EpkHSAf5BfsrSqnh95d6bA8BP-G6Xg_aem_e9b8YZ-DEQuCRlREv5bAWQ
🗓 Wednesday, April 22
⏰ 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Flossmoor Hills Elementary
Bring the whole family and enjoy a variety of engaging activities focused on health and well-being:
✨ Fun Physical Activities
🥗 Nutrition Information
🩺 Health Screenings
🧠 Mental Health Services
🎁 Giveaways & More!
We’ll also have amazing wellness partners on-site offering resources, services, and interactive experiences for both kids and adults.
👨👩👧👦 Please note: All children must be accompanied by an adult.
This event is completely FREE and open to everyone in the community—so feel free to invite friends and neighbors!
👉 For full event details and to sign up, please visit our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.com/.../flossmoor-hills-family...
We can’t wait to see you there for a fun and impactful evening of health and wellness!
Flossmoor School District 161 wants to hear from you.
As part of the superintendent search, the Board of Education is inviting families, staff, and community members to share their input through a brief survey and upcoming community forums.
Join us tomorrow, Monday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m. for a community forum. Attend in person or via Zoom.
Your voice will help shape the future leadership of our district. Take a few minutes to complete the survey by April 22.
Learn more and access the survey and meeting links below.
https://www.sd161.org/o/flossmoor-sd161/article/2819119?fbclid=IwY2xjawRR5kRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeE9qs88xBMNfPjibayo8AnU0RYwuG7EpkHSAf5BfsrSqnh95d6bA8BP-G6Xg_aem_e9b8YZ-DEQuCRlREv5bAWQ
