Serena Hills Elementary -

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.”

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!

• Dr. Gina Isabelli, Principal of Western Avenue School, is celebrated with the Special Recognition Award. • Lesa Waishwell, a Western Avenue Elementary School teacher, is honored with the Special Recognition Award. • Gayle Dickerson, Student Support Personnel at Flossmoor Hills Elementary School, is acknowledged with the Meritorious Service 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, and Stephanie Levy. Congratulations to all the recipients for their exceptional achievements!

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!

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

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

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

All Flossmoor District 161 buildings will be closed on Tuesday, January 16th, due to the extremely cold temperatures. Students will participate in their learning activities from home. The school day will begin at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 1:30 p.m. Teachers will share coursework and Zoom meeting links through the Canvas Learning Management System. Students in early childhood and kindergarten previously brought home packets and materials to complete. If you have any questions regarding the schedule for the day, please contact your child’s teacher or building principal. We anticipate returning to in-person learning on Wednesday, January 17.