Flossmoor School District 161

In the next edition of #syncupwithStachacz, we learned about the locker refresh happening at Western Avenue School. Did you know that in 2023, this building celebrated her 75th birthday? Take a peek at the before and after results of the locker refresh and walk down memory lane enjoying photos from the 75th anniversary birthday tour. Stay tuned for the next time we #syncupwithStachacz.

The excitement is building as the first day of school is just over a month away. Please mark your calendars for August 6 & 7, which are schedule pick-up day at each of our School District 161 schools. (Time TBD) On August 8th, we will host an informational Zoom meeting on Standards Based Grading and how this update will positively impact your student. The Zoom link is coming soon! August 14th, we will CHALK THE WALK and color our school playgrounds, bus stops, and sidewalks in positive chalk messages welcoming students and staff back to school. August 15 is the official start of the 24-25 school year!

#FlashbackFriday On Saturday, May 18, several SD 161 superstars were recognized at the 50th annual Those Who Excel Awards banquet in Bloomington-Normal. Left to Right - Gayle Dickerson (Meritorious Service for Student Support Personnel), Tiffaney Washington, Stephanie Levy, Christina Bollenbacher (Meritorious Service for Educational Team), Lesa Waishwell (Special Recognition for Classroom Teacher), Dr. Gina Isabelli (Special Recognition for School Administrator) We will see you very soon!

Syncing up with Stachez: Last week, we had the chance to catch up with Mr. Stachez, the Director of Buildings and Grounds for SD 161, and hear about the improvements happening around the district this summer. Flossmoor Hills has improved its boiler room, updated its fire safety, and installed new lunch tables, benches, and pockets. Late last year, the new playground was completed, and in 2022, they completed their Early Childhood Playground installation. Stay tuned for more updates when we #syncupwithStachez.

#ICYMI Staff and administrators at all 5 SD 161 Schools came together for two days of reflection and planning for the 2024-25 school year! This annual School Improvement Planning [SIP] Retreat focuses on celebrations, data review, and developing rigorous plans for a fantastic school year. Photographed below is the SIP team from Parker Junior High.

Many thanks to the Village of Flossmoor Green Commission and the Chicago Southland Green Committee for encouraging us to seek ways to eliminate single-use plastics, not just for July, but for any month!

#ICYMI Staff and administrators from all 5 SD 161 Schools came together for 2 days of reflection and planning for the 2024-25 school year! This annual School Improvement Planning [SIP] Retreat focuses on celebrations, data review, and developing rigorous plans for a fantastic school year.

We 👀 some of our amazing SD161 students in the cast of Matilda Jr! Grab your tickets and bring the whole family out to see Spotlight Performance Academy’s production of Matilda Jr. July 12, 13, and 14 at Freedom Hall in Park Forest! https://teachtix.com/spotlightperformance/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical-jr

The district has been bustling with activity this summer, bringing exciting updates and upgrades to our buildings! Today, we’re thrilled to showcase some fantastic projects at Western Avenue Elementary this season. Take a peek at the upgraded boiler room, the masonry work on the historic bell tower, and the brand-new gym floors and lunch tables.

A great time to engage with our summer learning resources is right after breakfast each morning. By setting aside just 15 minutes daily to practice and sharpen essential skills, your student will stay on track and be well-prepared when we return to school. Access our Summer Learning Resources by clicking the link. https://www.sd161.org/article/1624506

As you prepare for the week ahead, these Summer Academy superstars have a few reminders for you: Monday: If you drive your student to school, please enter from School Street and exit onto Flossmoor Road. Please drive carefully, as some students are walking or riding their bikes to school. Wednesday: There is no school in honor of the Juneteenth holiday. Please consider lining Flossmoor Road between Brassie Avenue and Village Hall at 9 a.m. to cheer on the Village of Flossmoor, and You Matter 2's 3rd annual Juneteenth Parade participants! Thursday: Sports Day! Wear your favorite team shirt, sports jersey, or team colors! It's going to be a great week, SD 161!

Remember, today is BEACH DAY during Summer Academy. Grab your shades and sandals and head to school for a morning of learning and enrichment. See you there!

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

Did you know SD 161 has resources to keep your students busy all summer? District 161's Summer Learning Resources include reading, math, and other activities organized by grade level. The resources provide six weeks of activities and a weekly family challenge. Try this week's family challenge by working together to cook or bake a healthy recipe as a team. Share your results on the district padlet: https://rb.gy/7sayjo.

Today, the current Flossmoor School District 161 5th graders will journey to Parker Junior High for their Step Up Day! This exciting day offers incoming 6th-grade #FUTUREFALCONS a chance to familiarize themselves with PJH, providing an inside look at their new school for next year.

The end of the year in SD161 is so much fun!

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!

Earlier this week, Dr. Smith joined the Flossmoor Hills Girls on the Run team for a practice. While the rain forced their practice indoors, that didn't stop the laughter or fun. Good luck to the Girls on the Run teams from Flossmoor Hills and Heather Hill as they run their 5k this Saturday. Thank you to all staff that volunteer as coaches for Girls on the Run!