Flossmoor School District 161

The Heather Hill School community worked hand in hand with Destiny Watson of You Matter Two. This project had a waiting list of over 75 volunteers! We enjoyed seeing the lunches being assembled and the blanket construction! Well done!

Western Avenue School was a flurry of activity yesterday. The cold temperatures didn't stop any of the volunteers from making a difference.

We loved seeing all the ways you chose to make yesterday a DAY ON in celebration and recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stay tuned to our social media all day for photos of your outstanding community service!

All Flossmoor District 161 buildings will be closed on Tuesday, January 16th, due to the extremely cold temperatures. Students will participate in their learning activities from home. The school day will begin at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 1:30 p.m. Teachers will share coursework and Zoom meeting links through the Canvas Learning Management System. Students in early childhood and kindergarten previously brought home packets and materials to complete. If you have any questions regarding the schedule for the day, please contact your child’s teacher or building principal. We anticipate returning to in-person learning on Wednesday, January 17.

All Flossmoor District 161 buildings will be closed on Friday, January 12th due to inclement weather. Students will participate in their learning activities from home. The school day will begin at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 1:30 p.m. Teachers will share coursework and Zoom meeting links through the Canvas Learning Management System. Students in early childhood and kindergarten previously brought home packets and materials to complete. If you have any questions regarding the schedule for the day, please contact your child’s teacher or building principal. As a reminder, there is no school on Monday, January 15th. We are also anticipating dangerously cold temperatures on Tuesday, January 16th, so please be on the lookout for additional information that will be emailed to all District 161 families and posted on all school websites as needed.

We are excited to return after the winter break. School District 161 Superintendent, Dr. Dana Smith, has organized visits with students at each school post-break. His initial visit took place at Western Avenue Elementary, where he met with the Alpha Pups led by the inspirational Ms. Manaher. Alpha Pups consist of 3rd, 4th, 5th grade students who have applied to serve as peer mentors for those struggling with friendship related issues, test anxiety, and other common challenges. This dedicated group meets weekly to collaborate, share ideas, and address issues faced by their mentees. We applaud Ms. Manaher and the Alpha Pups for their commendable efforts. Keep up the excellent work.

Join members of the girls and boys Homewood Flossmoor High School Wrestling teams on Monday, January 15 from 11am - 1pm for two pop-in opportunities for students grades K-8. Details in the post below!

District 161 is hosting several Parent University Sessions over the next few weeks. Paula Davis, founder of the Stress and Resilience Institute, will present information for parents/guardians on topics such as building stress awareness and understanding burnout, maintaining strong connections, leveraging mental strength in parenting, and building parental efficacy and hope. The first session is Thursday, January 18 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Normandy Villa. We hope that you will be able to attend. Follow the link below to register. https://forms.gle/QWhG6zK8m8uPfiSz8

We have loved catching up with our SD161 students over break! Beckett, Nora, and Mia were caught on a cocoa break while building a snowman. Just a reminder that classes are back in session tomorrow. Be sure to ✅ allow extra time to get to school ✅ pack your backpack tonight and gather all materials and ✅ get plenty of rest, tomorrow is going to be great! 📸 Jackie Riffice (neighborhood cocoa commander)

Happy New Year School District 161! Tonight, Parker Junior High 6th grader, Evan Roberson and his family led the Village of Flossmoor in the lighting of the 7th candle of Kwanzaa. We hope you enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to welcoming you back on Jan 8.

Last night, Dr. Smith led the Village of Flossmoor in the lighting of the community kinara marking the first night of Kwanzaa.

Happy Holidays from all of us at School District 161. Right before break we were lucky enough to catch up with Mr. Geno! Mr. Geno is not just a bus driver; he is a beacon of positivity within School District 161. His dedication goes beyond transporting students – it extends to transforming his bus into a vibrant and uplifting space. Filled with holiday decorations and adorned with positive affirmations, Mr. Geno creates an environment that radiates joy and encouragement. His genuine care for the well-being of the students is evident in every detail he adds to his bus. We hope you enjoy a wonderful break and we look forward to seeing you when classes resume on January 8!

It has been an exciting and eventful week in School District 161, with a variety of fantastic activities taking place across all of our district schools.

It's been an exciting week for our young musicians in School District 161. A remarkable 143 students joined the orchestra program, turning the gym into a lively space filled with enthusiastic parents. The students met and exceeded expectations, charming their families with an impressive musical performance. A special thanks to Mr. Calhoon and Mr. Diller for their outstanding leadership, patience, and passion for teaching. Next, the 5th and 6th-grade band students showcased the results of their continued learning journey. The performance was a fantastic mix of refining existing skills and revealing new talents. Thanks to the families who attended, enhancing the beauty of this concert. A sincere appreciation goes to Mrs. Reid and Mr. Lopez for their invaluable guidance, instruction, and unwavering commitment to their students. Bravo to everyone involved!

Check out the breaking news from around the district! Flossmoor Hills https://www.smore.com/5wp9q Heather Hill https://www.smore.com/1z3rc-what-s-happening-at-the-hive Parker Junior High https://www.smore.com/tdsyfp Serena Hills :https://rb.gy/jkr0qe Western Avenue https://www.smore.com/mdzsf

A #ThrowbackThursday to earlier this fall when the Chicago Heights Fire Department visited Serena Hills School to discuss the importance of fire safety. The Village of Flossmoor and Chicago Heights Fire Departments ask you to practice good fire safety with your holiday decorations this season!

Don't be a Grinch! Check out this week's newsletters from around the district. Flossmoor Hills https://www.smore.com/pdhtc Heather Hill https://www.smore.com/g4fyub-what-s-happening-at-the-hive Parker Junior High https://www.smore.com/x8pe2 Serena Hills https://rb.gy/a2nwii Western Avenue https://www.smore.com/bfq20

Flossmoor School District 161 would like to congratulate Western Avenue Principal Gina Isabelli and Parker Junior High Assistant Principal Michelle Wisniewski on completing their Doctorate studies. Dr. Isabelli's field of study was general Education, focusing on adult learning for professional growth at National University based out of California. Dr. Wisniewski's field of study was on the effects of social-emotional learning and academic achievement in adolescents. She completed her studies at the University of St. Francis in Joliet. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Isabelli and Dr. Wisniewski!

We love catching up with our students in and out of school. A first grader at Flossmoor Hills, Kennedi, had a visit with Ana and Elsa from Frozen! Take a look at this week's newsletters from around the district. -Flossmoor Hills https://www.smore.com/e3sdp -Heather Hill https://www.smore.com/05hjz-what-s-happening-at-the-hive -Parker Junior High https://www.smore.com/fztyc -Serena Hills https://rb.gy/f8byic -Western Avenue https://www.smore.com/09yd4

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Flossmoor School District 161! Classes resume on Monday, November 27.