Flossmoor School District 161

Earlier this week, Flossmoor School District 161 celebrated its spelling bee participants at the school board meeting. The district extends congratulations to all participants and expresses gratitude to Mrs. Thompson and the dedicated team of teachers whose efforts contributed to the success of the event. C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S!

The Illinois State Board of Education has presented the Those Who Excel program since 1970 to commend educators who have made noteworthy contributions to our elementary and junior high schools. School District 161 proudly announces 9 honorees across four categories. Congratulations to all! • Dr. Gina Isabelli, Principal of Western Avenue School, is celebrated with the Special Recognition Award. • Gayle Dickerson, Student Support Personnel at Flossmoor Hills Elementary School, is acknowledged with the Meritorious Service Award. • Lesa Waishwell, a Western Avenue Elementary School teacher, is honored with the Special Recognition Award. • The Instructional Coaching Team from all buildings is recognized with the Meritorious Service Award. This team includes Nancy Larocca, Jennifer McLean, Amy Gehrt, Christina Bollenbacher, Tiffaney Washington, Stephanie Levy, and Alyssa Zajack (not pictured) Congratulations to all the recipients for their exceptional achievements!

Hey there, future kindergarteners and families! Get ready to embark on an epic journey into the world of learning! Registering for the 2024-25 school year is almost here, and we can't wait to welcome you aboard! Join us for Kindergarten registration and residency verification at our four exceptional elementary schools. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 28, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. For more information and to stay in the loop, visit https://www.sd161.org/page/kindergarten-registration. Let's make this registration day the start of an incredible adventure together! See you there!

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

Flossmoor School District 161 will join the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in the eleventh statewide survey of school climate and learning conditions. The survey provides a unique opportunity for students, teachers, and parents to have a voice in improving their schools. From January 30, 2024, through March 29, 2024, students and teachers will be asked to take a 30-minute research-based survey to help identify strengths and weaknesses in their school’s learning environment. The parent survey supplement will also be administered during the same survey window. These surveys will serve as an opportunity for schools to reflect on progress since the last statewide implementation. https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois/5e/2023/ Thank you for your participation!

Happy Black History Month! Flossmoor School District 161 is excited to kick off the month with gratitude and honor for the rich tapestry of Black heritage, resilience, and achievements. Throughout February, we invite our school community to join us in commemorating the invaluable contributions of Black individuals to history, culture, and progress. Let's explore, learn, and amplify the voices and stories that shape our collective narrative together. Stay tuned as we highlight the events, projects, and activities throughout the month at each school in our district.

Meet the biggest fans of all of our Flossmoor School District 161 super spellers. Good luck students. District Spelling 🐝 happening now!

Good luck to all students participating in the Flossmoor School District 161 District Spelling Bee. Tonight! 6 pm Hosted at Parker Junior High G-O-O-D-L-U-C-K

Did you know Flossmoor Baseball and Softball is open to all School District 161 students ages 4 and up? Visit Flossmoorbbsb.com for registration and contact information. The benefits of this team building sport last a lifetime! Play ball!

Dr. Smith was over at Flossmoor Hills today engaging with students from the Principal Advisory Committee. The students asked thoughtful questions about afterschool activities, academics, and school culture. Thank you to the staff at Flossmoor Hills for the opportunity to connect. #superintendentonthemove

Tonight’s Parent University focusing on Maintaining Strong Connections will now be taking place via Zoom. Please follow the link below to attend. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9583817339?pwd=ZnFmVXVkSE5vMVJzNmVQQUJWWGRydz09

Dr. Smith's district tour continued yesterday with a stop at Parker Junior High. He was a welcome guest at the PJHS student council meeting. He engaged students in thoughtful and meaningful conversations. Thank you to Ms. Chandler, Ms. Kerr, and the fabulous students for the warm welcome!

Parker Junior High staff member Ms. Dewey and some of her students have decided to extend their Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service project through the end of January! Simply purchase items from the list below and drop them off in the vestibule at PJH. All donated items will be brought to Anew at the end of the month. Personal care *Hair bonnets                                    *Hair clips                                       *Toothpaste/toothbrushes(adults, children)            *Body wash(teenage girls, boys, women) Cleaning supplies                                *Disinfectant wipes       *Laundry detergent *Dish liquid Gift cards *Walgreens, Walmart, Gas cards, Visa gift cards

Tonight’s Parent University focusing on Building Stress Awareness and Understanding Burnout will now be taking place via Zoom.  The session will take place from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Please follow the link below to attend. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9583817339?pwd=ZnFmVXVkSE5vMVJzNmVQQUJWWGRydz09#success

Parker Junior High was the place to be yesterday! So much activity in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Well done to all of the students, staff, and volunteers.

There wasn't an empty seat in the Serena Hills House yesterday! The community came out in huge numbers despite the freezing temperatures. Thank you for your service to your community.

Flossmoor Hills was alive with energy yesterday making cards for the Veterans who live in the Illinois, Manteno Veterans Home. The hot chocolate was a nice treat to keep us warm on such a chilly day!

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!