Flossmoor School District 161

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.

On Saturday, November 16, 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, Western Avenue, Heather Hill, Flossmoor Hills, and Parker Junior High. 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.

Is your student interested in earning extra money and learning the business of babysitting? Sign up for the Village of Flossmoor’s Babysitting Class, led by Firefighter/Paramedic Kelly Thacker! This fun, informative class takes place on January 3 and 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Register today at Flossmoor.org!

Happy World Kindness Day Flossmoor School District 161! Today, we hope to spread kindness in every way we can—whether it’s sharing a smile, helping a friend, or saying something thoughtful. Small acts make a BIG difference! Let’s show the power of kindness in our school community today and every day!

A huge thank you to the Parker Junior High band for setting the tone at yesterday's Veterans Day assembly with their incredible musical performances. The students' talent and dedication truly honored the spirit of the day. We are especially grateful to the veterans who joined us. Your presence brought a personal connection to the stories we shared and the memories we honored. Thank you for your service, sacrifice, and for inspiring our students.

Today, we pause to honor the heroes among us. Happy Veteran’s Day to all who served! Our students are inspired by your courage, dedication, and sacrifice. Last week, Heather Hill School hosted a special Veteran’s Day assembly featuring poems, art, and music to celebrate our Veterans. Students also presented members of the Flossmoor Veterans' Memorial Committee with a check for $115.00 to support the building of the new memorial, with groundbreaking set for 2025. Thank you, veterans, for protecting our country and shaping a brighter future!

#ICYMI A huge shoutout to Homewood-Flossmoor High School students Arthur Stamps, Nick Calamino, Elody Sullivan, and Analeesee Weber, who visited our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders at Parker Junior High! Joined by HF social worker and coach Mr. Greg Jones, these HF students shared valuable advice on navigating high school—covering everything from asking for help to exploring clubs and activities and making the most of tutoring opportunities. Thank you to these inspiring students and Mr. Jones for spending time with our future Vikings! And a special thanks to Ms. Maclin for organizing this meaningful experience for our PJH students! #FutureVikings

Good evening, Flossmoor School District 161. A reminder that there are no classes tomorrow, November 4, or Tuesday, November 5. We will see you in class on Wednesday, November 6.

Happy Halloween Flossmoor School District 161. If you plan to head out to trick-or-treat later today, please remember: Stay Visible: Wear bright costumes or add reflective tape and carry a flashlight so drivers can see you. Stick Together: Trick-or-treat in groups with friends or family, and always stay on sidewalks or paths. Happy Halloween!

Don't forget! Early dismissal tomorrow, Oct 31, with PJH students dismissing at 10:45 a.m. and our K-5 buildings dismissing at 11:40 a.m.

#ICYMI We are thrilled to celebrate William Paden, Cameron Murrah, and Ameya Thigpen for being selected to participate in the ILMEA District 1 Regional Band, Jazz, and Orchestra Festivals! These talented students earned their spots through a rigorous audition process, and with over 70 junior high schools in our region competing, being selected is a tremendous honor. Congratulations to all three – we couldn’t be prouder! 🎶✨

It was a PINK OUT in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month during the 🏀 game yesterday at Parker Junior High. The energy and spirits were high while the 8th grade team lead us to victory! Congratulations to both teams on games that were hard fought and thank you to the cheer and dance teams for bringing the fun! 🎀

We hope to see you tonight at 7pm for opening night of the Parker Junior High School fall play, Rumpelstiltskin, Private Eye! Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $3 for students/seniors if purchased beforehand. Tickets at the door will be $7 and $5, respectively. Students must be accompanied by their parent or guardian, according to district policy. See you there!

We are proud to partner with the Flossmoor Veterans' Memorial to bring local history to life with our 8th-grade social studies classes. https://www.hfchronicle.com/2024/10/22/flossmoor-veterans-memorial-partners-with-d161-to-bring-local-history-to-life/

Great principals don’t just build schools; they build legacies that shape the future of education. This week we celebrate the amazing work of our school Principals, Vice Principals, and Deans. A special thank you this morning to Dr. Isabelli, Ms. Parris, Ms. Reich, Ms. Humm, and Mrs. McNeil-Dobson. #ThankAPrincipal #LegacyBuilders2024 https://ilprincipals.org/principal-appreciation/

#FlashbackFriday Last week, Homewood-Flossmoor High School Choir Director Mr. Steven Sifner visited Western Avenue School to share vocal tips and accompany the 4th and 5th-grade choir during rehearsal. The choir, led by the fabulous Ms. Pasqua, appreciated Mr. Siftner’s guidance and musical support. What a wonderful opportunity for these young singers to work with Mr. Sifner!

#ICYMI At last night’s Flossmoor School District 161 Board Meeting, 7th-grade student Wakana Hill was recognized for her outstanding achievements during Parker Junior High’s inaugural golf season. Wakana made it to the state competition, proudly representing her school and the district. Well done, Wakana!

Get ready to twirl into a new week D161! Classes resume tomorrow morning. Be sure to read through your school newsletter for all important updates. See you in the morning! ☀️ 🏫 🚌