Flossmoor School District 161

It's the Year of the Snake, and the Village of Flossmoor, in partnership with the Flossmoor Public Library, invites all District 161 students and their families to an exciting and enriching Lunar New Year celebration! Join us at the Flossmoor Public Library tomorrow, Saturday, January 25, from 10 a.m. to noon for an event that's both informational and fun. Celebrate this special occasion with engaging activities and opportunities to learn about Lunar New Year traditions. We hope to see you there!

Due to the anticipated cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills, District 161 will transition to E-learning tomorrow, Tuesday, January 21. Students and families, for specific E-learning information, please visit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nAO45PEf4Cv9a6PzxQ1zuRlm0Q5CCaW_OOlmGK-9BX4/edit?tab=t.0 School and District offices will be open tomorrow. If you have any questions, please get in touch with your building principal or Dr. Smith at your earliest convenience. Flossmoor School District 161 is planning to resume in-person learning on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. Stay warm and safe!

There will be no classes today, January 20, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. District 161 proudly embraces this day by participating in and hosting various service projects in partnership with local nonprofits and the Village of Flossmoor. Projects around the District are as follows: -Serena Hills Elementary: 9-10:30 am and make Valentine's for seniors. -Western Avenue School: 11-2:00 pm Donations of nonperishable food items will be collected -PJH: 9-11:30 am Donations of soap, hygiene products, and deodorant accepted. -Flossmoor Hills: 9-11:00 am card making for seniors -Heather Hill: Project with You Matter 2: The project has been filled.

Reminder: There will be no classes on Monday, January 20, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. District 161 proudly embraces this day by participating in and hosting various service projects in partnership with local nonprofits and the Village of Flossmoor. Thank you to the Village of Flossmoor for creating this helpful guide to projects available for Monday. Visit the link to learn how you can get involved: https://www.flossmoor.org/506/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-Day-of-Service Let’s honor Dr. King’s legacy through service and community engagement.

Don't miss the chance to support Parker Junior High's AVID program and their Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Project! On Monday, January 20, drop off donations of soap, body wash, and deodorant at the 8th-grade entrance of PJH. Your contributions will support Anew in Homewood. Stop by between 9-11:30 a.m.

Get ready for a morning full of stories and smiles. Monday, January 20, from 10 a.m. to noon at the H-F Fieldhouse for a special MLK Day of Service event hosted by the H-F boys wrestling team! As part of their service project, the team invites young readers to a morning of reading, where they’ll receive encouragement, support, and friendship from the student-athletes. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy through service and create lasting memories. Don't miss out on this inspiring and fun event!

We’re counting down to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, and there are many ways to get involved this weekend! Food Drive: Flossmoor Community Church is collecting paper products (napkins, plates, toilet paper, tissues) and boxes of pasta for the Center for Food Equity in Medicine on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Blood Drive: FCC is hosting a blood drive on Saturday. Sign-up details: https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11604806 Benefit Concert: Mayor Nelson is hosting a concert on Sunday, Jan. 19, at 4 p.m. to support the Center for Food Equity in Medicine. Admission is free, and all monetary donations will go directly to the Center. Stay tuned for more ways to get involved, including opportunities at each of our schools. Let’s come together to make an impact!

Last week, Dr. Smith, Dr. Marti, Dr. Isabelli, and Scott Stachacz met with their Intergovernmental partners to work on an exercise that involved a simulation of a severe weather situation. The exercise provided valuable communication between the partners and was a discussion-based, facilitated exercise. Flossmoor School District 161 wishes to thank all of the partners and sends a special thanks to the Village of Flossmoor for hosting and facilitating the meeting.

We hope your first week back to school is off to an amazing start! Whether you're diving into new lessons, getting back into the groove of afterschool activities, or settling into routines, we’re cheering you on! We also want to be sure you SAVE THE DATE! District 161 STEAM Night is coming up on Thursday, February 13, from 6–7:30 PM! Bring the whole family to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and math in fun and interactive ways. Stay tuned—more details are coming soon!

We can't wait to welcome back students and staff tomorrow morning! We hope everyone had a fun and relaxing winter break. We’ve loved seeing all the joy shared over the holidays. Special thanks to the families participating in the nightly menorah and kinara lightings with the Village of Flossmoor. Dr. Smith, our superintendent, enjoyed connecting with the community and celebrating these beautiful traditions as he lit the kinara on the third night of Kwanzaa. As we return to school, here are a few tips to help make the transition smooth: -Get plenty of rest tonight so you’re ready to start the day refreshed and focused. -Pack up your belongings this evening to avoid the morning rush. -Plan for extra time to get to school on time, especially with the forecast for winter weather. We’re so excited to see everyone back and ready to kick off 2025! Let’s make it a great start to the new year.

Ring in the New Year early at the Homewood Flossmoor Park District’s Noon Year’s Eve celebration! Perfect for kids and families, this fun-filled event is a great way to welcome 2025. There is still time to sign up! Visit https://hfparks.com/event/noon-years-eve-party/ to sign up! While you're at it, start thinking spring! Registration is open for Flossmoor Baseball and Softball—an amazing way for kids to stay active, build skills, and make lifelong memories. The 15% early-bird registration discount for the spring 2025 season ends TOMORROW NIGHT (12/31) at Midnight! Visit https://www.flossmoorbbsb.com/ to register and learn more about these exciting opportunities. Let’s make 2025 a year of fun and community!

Today marks the first day of winter break for Flossmoor School District 161. We hope our staff, students, and their families are enjoying a restful break and we look forward to seeing you January 6 when classes resume. Happy Holidays!

There was a full house at Parker Junior High last night for the 5 & 6th grade winter band concerts. The students showed off their skills and the paparazzi (moms, dads, grandparents, and family) had their cameras ready to capture each moment. Thank you to the amazing Ms. Reid and Mr. Lopez for the fantastic concert!

We wish the Parker Junior High Girls Basketball team good luck tomorrow as they face off against New Lenox Liberty in the Sectional Championship! Show your support tomorrow by wearing Parker Junior High colors and cheering them on. Let’s go, Falcons!

Have you checked out this month’s e-newsletter? It’s filled with news and updates from around the district—celebrations, events, and important info you won’t want to miss! Stay informed and click to read! https://conta.cc/4eMW7Ia

Youth Basketball opportunity from our friends at the Homewood Flossmoor Park District. Use the QR code to sign your child up today! Questions? Call 708.957.0300

Flossmoor School District 161: Remember to schedule your Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conference appointments for November 25 and 26 in Skyward! 📌 Reminder: There will be no classes for students from November 25-29. We are so grateful for our amazing students, families, and staff. Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving holiday next week! 🦃🍂

Do you have non-working holiday lights? Don’t toss them—recycle them! ♻️ From November 23 to January 21, drop off your non-working light strands at: 📍 Park Place 📍 Goldberg Center 📍 Irons Oaks 📍 H-F Racquet and Fitness Club 📍 Irwin Center Thanks to our community partners, SD 161 is proud to support this earth-friendly initiative to keep expired lights out of landfills. 🌎💚

American Education Week is a chance to shine a light on the fantastic opportunities available to the students of School District 161. The endless opportunities include sports, music, clubs, and extra homework help to name a few. Share your student's favorite activity in the comments below!

Today is Illinois School Board Member Day. Thank you to the dedicated and thoughtful individuals who make up the Flossmoor School District 161 School Board. We appreciate your commitment to our school community.