Watch for theme days during Summer Academy. First up, a beach day is scheduled for Thursday! Wear your shades and summer sandals to be part of the fun.
We offer a few tips to help make the arrival process run smoothly on Monday, the first day of Summer Academy.
1. If you plan to drop your student off, you must enter from School Street and exit on Flossmoor Road. This is for the safety of the students and to help keep the flow of traffic moving.
2. Please be informed that there will be no in-person registration at Parker Junior High on Monday. If you have any questions or concerns about your student's registration, we are here to assist you. Please call 708-647- 5560 or email summeracademy@sd161.org.
3. School begins at 8:30 am and dismisses at 11:30 am.
Welcome to Summer Academy 2024, where adventure awaits! We are excited to embark on this journey of learning and fun with our students. The newsletter link below contains all of the essential details about Summer Academy, including information on the parent orientation happening tonight at PJH.
https://secure.smore.com/n/pdn13
Join your friends from our SD 161 schools for an end-of-school-year celebration next Tuesday, May 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Parker Junior High School. See you there!
The 5th grade Outdoor Education experience at Irons Oak is off to a great start! The students are having a great time working together and team building!
Congratulations to our amazing stars Cambri and Darnell, for being recognized at the Illinois Principals Association Student Recognition Breakfast! Both students were recognized for their hard work, kindness, and integrity.
Shine stars, shine!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
On Saturday, May 4, 2024, weather permitting, Flossmoor School District 161 will be applying an herbicide, and a fertilizer, to the district’s fields/grass areas at Normandy Villa, Serena Hills, Flossmoor Hills, and Western Avenue (avoiding Flossmoor Baseball). 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.
May 1 is Principal Appreciation Day, an excellent chance to celebrate the dedication and hard work of our school's fearless leader, Ms. Reich. Let's take a moment to recognize her efforts in fostering a positive learning environment and guiding students and staff toward excellence. Have a great day, Ms. Reich—from all of us at Serena Hills Elementary School!
On Saturday, April 27, 2024, weather permitting, Flossmoor School District 161 will be applying an herbicide and a fertilizer to the district’s fields/grass areas. The products that will be used 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 fertilize all district lawns.
If you have any questions, please contact Scott Stachacz, Director of Buildings and Grounds, at (708) 647-7005.
Join in the Flossmoor School District 161 Spring Reading Challenge!
Pick up your BINGO BOARD from your home school library.
Happy Reading!
Welcome Back, Serena Hills Stars! Be sure to catch up on all of your school news by clicking the link below.
https://rb.gy/z50f21
Please take part in the 5 Essentials Parent Survey and provide valuable feedback that will be utilized for School Improvement. The survey window will close on March 29, 2024. You can access the survey by clicking the link below. https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/?target_name=parent
Thank you on behalf of everyone at Flossmoor School District 161
Please devote a few minutes today to discussing school communications. The survey closes on March 25th! https://survey.k12insight.com/r/rQlaDt
Don't miss the Serena Hills weekly newsletter. Click the link to find up-to-date information on the week ahead. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v_pY_OmiWYfEyQTMfrxYmxrwNzYAzaN1/view
As a reminder, Tuesday, March 19, is an E-Learning Day.
The E-Learning Day schedules for K-8 can be found by clicking the link.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZK1xJ3UmTekTBZAkpGLdp0SXcrp6gF3F/view
Three great districts and one outstanding survey! Help us answer the question, "How are we doing with communication?" All staff, parents/guardians, and community members are invited to take a 15-minute confidential online survey now-March 25: https://survey.k12insight.com/r/rQlaDt
HF area schools ask, “How are we doing with communication?”
Homewood School District 153, Flossmoor School District 161 and Homewood-Flossmoor High School are joining forces to conduct a community-wide survey to gather input about the districts’ communications efforts. By participating in the survey, you play an active role in shaping how each of the school districts communicate with you.
All staff, parents/guardians, and community members are invited to take a 15-minute confidential online survey now-March 25: https://survey.k12insight.com/r/rQlaDt
Register to attend the Flossmoor School District 161 Diversity Dinner at Parker Junior High School on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Reservations are required by Friday, March 22, 2024. We hope to see you there!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe17vlx0EQhAnK8ALaJtm_H358EqfsJoDtREKscy7x0rep5zQ/viewform
Welcome to Serena Hills! Beginning on July 1, 2024, Ms. Laura De Biasio will join the Serena Hills administrative team as the assistant principal. Ms. Laura De Biasio has spent the past 5 years in District 161 as a Special Education teacher. Prior to being employed in District 161, Ms. De Biasio taught in therapeutic day schools. She has extensive knowledge in how to scaffold learning to meet the needs of all students. In addition, Ms. De Biasio has served as a school mentor, cooperating teacher for local University students, and has served as a leader on multiple building level committees. She has her Learning Behavior Specialist 1 Endorsement and earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education.
The Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education is pleased to announce the assistant principal selections including Abby Girard at Flossmoor Hills School, Cameron Small at Heather Hill School, and Laura De Biasio at Serena Hills School beginning on July 1, 2024. The Assistant Principal positions are new positions for the 2024-25 school year. Out of an initial pool of 39 candidates, the interview committee screened 16 applicants in Round 1 before moving forward with 8 candidates for Round 2, and 4 finalists for Round 3. The different interview committees included administrators, teachers, and staff. The selected candidates were approved at the Board of Education meeting on February 19.
Assistant Principal responsibilities will include leading teachers in improving instruction, facilitating Special Education meetings, communicating with families, evaluating staff, supervising students, and managing daily routines and procedures. The Assistant Principals will promote the educational well-being of each student in the school and will support the District’s academic and behavioral expectations.
With regard to the appointment of the new assistant principals, District 161 Superintendent, Dr. Dana Smith, stated, “Ms. De Biasio, Ms. Girard, and Mr. Small will make an immediate impact in District 161 because of their shared focus on creating great learning experiences for children. I am excited for their contributions to our school district and the success that will follow.”
Mr. Cameron Small is currently a Dean of Students at Parker Junior High School. Mr. Small spent 15 years as a Health teacher before being hired by District 161. Mr. Small has great experience in building relationships with students and families and promoting a collaborative school culture. He has experience in coaching students in a variety of sports including basketball, volleyball, and track. Mr. Small earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Concordia University.
Ms. Abby Girard brings six [6] years of administrative experience to Flossmoor School District 161. She has served as an Associate Principal, Student Services Coordinator, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports [MTSS] Coordinator. Her experience with Pre-Kindergarten and Early Intervention Programming, Special Education, and leading teams will be valuable to our District and to Flossmoor Hills Elementary School. Ms. Girard earned a Master of Arts in Education Administration and a Chief School Business Official [CSBO] Endorsement from Governors State University.
Ms. Laura De Biasio has spent the past 5 years in District 161 as a Special Education teacher. Prior to being employed in District 161, Ms. DeBiasio taught in therapeutic day schools. She has extensive knowledge in how to scaffold learning to meet the needs of all students. In addition, Ms. De Biasio has served as a school mentor, cooperating teacher for local University students, and has served as a leader on multiple building level committees. She has her Learning Behavior Specialist 1 Endorsement and earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education.
District 161’s Board of Education President, Dr. Carolyn Griggs, stated, The Board of Education is thrilled about the addition of the assistant principal positions at the elementary schools. There were many great candidates and these individuals were selected based on their strengths and the needs at each school. Ms. Girard, Mr. Small, and Ms. De Biasio are excellent additions to the District 161 administrative team.”
