Calling all PJH girls ready to explore, create, and dream BIG in STEAM!
Does your child love science, art, technology, building, or solving problems? Or is she still discovering what excites her? This inspiring day is designed to spark curiosity, confidence, and big dreams.
The Girls STEAM Celebration invites 6th–8th grade girls from Parker Junior High and James Hart School to discover exciting possibilities before high school even begins.
✨ What’s in store:
👩🏽🔬 Meet inspiring women working in STEAM careers
🏫 Explore the cutting-edge Net Zero Science Building at Homewood-Flossmoor High School
🎨 Create a vision board that captures bold goals and bright futures
🍕 Enjoy lunch, fun swag, and a day with other curious, creative girls
🚌 Transportation and chaperones provided by the school
📅 Saturday, April 11 | 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
⚡ Only 50 spots per school — first come, first served.
👉 Register using the QR code or details on the flyer.
⏳ Don’t wait — spots are filling fast, and this is a day she won’t want to miss.
Enjoy hands-on math activities, exciting games, refreshments, raffles, and plenty of family-friendly entertainment. The evening will also feature a special presentation by the Homewood Science Center.
Bring the whole family and discover just how fun math can be. We hope to see you there.
As a valued community partner, we are pleased to share this opportunity with District 161 families. Youth athletics help children build confidence, teamwork, friendships, and a strong sense of belonging. And let’s be honest, kids are not the only ones who make new friends on the sidelines. Parents do too.
Learn more and register at FlossmoorBBSB.com. Now is the perfect time to get your child in the game and connected with our community.
This is a friendly reminder that students will be dismissed early at 11:40 a.m. on Friday, February 20, so our staff can participate in School Improvement Planning.
We can’t wait to welcome our newest learners and their families. More details and everything you need to know will be posted on the district website soon.
Any questions? Please reach out to Ms. Maclin at bmaclin@sd161.org or (708) 647-5531.
We are excited to share that several of our 7th grade Humanities students have been recognized for their outstanding research essays submitted to the Lumiere Education Foundation’s Junior Explorers Program competition.
Most notably, Sophia Briceno was awarded an Honorable Mention which includes a $1,000 scholarship toward participation in the Junior Explorers Program. She is among a very small group of top scholars recognized internationally from over 1,100 essay submissions.
In addition, the following students were also selected for awards and partial scholarships:
Future Explorer - $500 Scholarship
Charod W.
Charles B.
Nyla W.
Rahman S.
Nora R.
Dahlia T.
Sophie F.
Chinedum A.
Rising Scholar - $250 Scholarship
Aniyah M.
Emma S.
Avery C.
Magnus T.
Aubrey P.
Langston G.
These recognitions are a reflection of their hard work, critical thinking, and strong writing skills. We are so proud of their efforts and grateful to our teachers for the opportunity to help push our Humanities students into authentic academic experiences like this one.
While our students enjoy a day at home, our teachers will be hard at work learning, collaborating, and sharpening their skills so they can continue to bring their very best to the classroom.
There is also no school on Monday, February 9, in observance of Lincoln's Birthday. We hope our families enjoy the long weekend and the extra time together.
We look forward to welcoming our students back on Tuesday, February 10, refreshed and ready to learn.
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.
Parker Junior High School student Amaya Thigpen represented our school at the inaugural Junior All-State Orchestra in Peoria, IL. Congratulations, Amaya, and thank you to our music department for the exceptional instruction and dedication to our students.
For all of your PJH news, please click the link below.
https://app.smore.com/n/84mfz
Join us for the Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee Meeting on Wednesday, February 4th, at 6:30 pm.-7:30 pm. at Serena Hills Elementary School, located at 255 Pleasant Drive in Chicago Heights. This meeting will feature Dr. Valentina M Pacheco-Cornejo, Psy.D., an adolescent psychologist and nutritional expert who will share tips and strategies to support a healthy family lifestyle and mental health.
Join us for the Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee Meeting on Wednesday, February 4th, at 6:30 pm.-7:30 pm. at Serena Hills Elementary School, located at 255 Pleasant Drive in Chicago Heights. This meeting will feature Dr. Valentina M Pacheco-Cornejo, Psy.D., an adolescent psychologist and nutritional expert who will share tips and strategies to support a healthy family lifestyle and mental health.
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
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://shorturl.fm/CpPdU and in Spanish at the following link. https://shorturl.fm/wYrZC
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.
