The Eagle's Nest

Hello Families,

We had another great week of learning! Congratulations to our Boys Running Club for finishing a great season. It was an exhilarating time cheering on our students for their 5K run on Saturday. Thank you to our parents for supporting our club. Thank you to Coach Kelly and Coach Wheeler for helping our students to set and achieve their goals.

Please be reminded that school will dismiss at 11:40 a.m. on Friday. Report cards will also be posted on Friday, October 31st at 4:00 p.m. in Skyward. If you have any questions about your child's report card, please contact your child's teacher or Mrs. McNeil-Dobson.

Please take a look at the updates in this week's newsletter. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Let's connect.....

Email address: emcneil@sd161.org

Office number: 708-647-7100

Thank you to our News From The Nest sponsor, Mrs. Salter for working with our students to capture all that's happening at Flossmoor Hills!

1. 5th - 8th Grade Orchestra Concert at Parker - 6:00 p.m. - October 30th
2. Fall Costume Parade - 9:30 a.m. - October 31st
3. Fall Parties - 10:00 a.m. - October 31st
4. Early Release Day - 11:40 a.m. - October 31st
5. Report Cards Posted in Skyward at 4:00 p.m. - October 31st
6. Picture Retake Day - November 6th
7. Veterans Day Program - 9:30 a.m. - November 7th
8. No School - Veterans Day Observed - November 10th
9. Career Day - November 18th- (We need career day speakers, please consider volunteering)
10. Family Reading Night at 6:00 p.m. - November 20th
11. Parent Teacher Conferences - 1:00 - 8:30 p.m. - November 24th
12. Parent Teacher Conferences - 8:30 - 1:15 p.m. - November 25th

If you are a veteran and would like to participate in our Veteran's Day Program on November 7th, please sign up via the link below. We would love for you to share your experience serving our country with our students.

Would you like to share your career with the students of Flossmoor Hills? Volunteer to talk about your exciting career and share with students about how they can create a path to success!

Parents can access the SD 161 Learning and Instruction webpage for detailed information specific to Standards Based Grading and Year Long Plans for every grade level content.

Cell Phones & Smart Watches:

Cell phones and smart watches should be kept in a safe place—such as a locker (devices should be neither seen nor heard)—and are not to be used during the school day or during on-campus school activities during school hours.

From the Office of the Nurse

Cheryl Gozzi, RN BSN

FH Health Coordinator

p. 708-647-7105

f. 708-798-2339

e. cgozzi@sd161.org

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)

Health officials, including the Illinois Department of Public Health, have reported a surge in HFMD cases statewide. The virus is highly contagious, we’re asking all families to be extra vigilant. If you suspect your child has HFMD please keep your student at home and contact your doctor immediately.

HFMD is a common viral illness seen mostly in young children. It usually causes fever, sore throat, and small blisters or a rash on the hands, feet, and inside the mouth. The virus spreads easily through coughing, sneezing, or contact with saliva or contaminated surfaces.

When should my child stay home from school?

• Click here for health guidelines.

• Please make sure emergency contacts are in Skyward. If your student is sent home we ask that you or an emergency contact picks up the child within 30 minutes.

Please consider sending the following items with your student to store in their locker

• A full change of clothes: fall tends to be wet and muddy!

• An extra snack: to avoid afternoon stomachaches!

• An extra water bottle: drinking water makes us feel good, having one on the desk is great!

Cold Weather, Allergies and Asthma

Any student with allergies or asthma needs an action plan completed by your doctor and on file in the nurse’s office. If your student has a health condition that prohibits them from going outside in cold weather, your doctor must fax a note to the nurse at 708-798-2339

Medications at School

Any student that needs medication while at school must have a medication authorization form completed by their doctor and turned into the nurse before medication can be brought to school. This includes over the counter medications.

• The 30 day grace period for free and reduced lunch has expired. If parents have not either been confirmed by the state for SNAP/TANF or Medicaid status or have not completed a new free/reduced lunch application in Skyward, their lunch status may be back to paid. Complete a lunch form in Skyward to correct your status!

• Online Safety Parent Meeting

• Please save the date for an important parent presentation, “Keeping Our Kids Cyber Safe,” on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Parker Junior High School (2810 School Street, Flossmoor).

• Detective Rich Wistocki (RET) from Be Sure Consulting’s Cyber Safe Schools Team will share valuable insights and practical strategies to help parents protect children online and encourage safe, responsible digital habits.

• Please RSVP here by Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

• We hope you can join us for this important event!

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• Reserve la fecha para una presentación importante para padres, “Manteniendo a nuestros niños seguros cibernéticamente”, el martes 11 de noviembre de 2025, de 6:00 a 7:30 p. m. en Parker Junior High School (2810 School Street, Flossmoor).

• El detective Rich Wistocki (RET) del equipo de escuelas cibernéticas seguras de Be Sure Consulting compartirá información valiosa y estrategias prácticas para ayudar a los padres a proteger a sus hijos en línea y fomentar hábitos digitales seguros y responsables.

• Por favor, confirma tu asistencia aquí para el martes 4 de noviembre de 2025.

• ¡Esperamos que puedas acompañarnos en este importante evento!

• Click here [insert link to your school’s virtual backpack] to access our school’s virtual backpack. This page is intended to provide information on resources and activities that may be of interest to our students and families.

All K-5 students enter the building at 8:30 a.m. daily. The school day begins at 8:40 a.m. and students are dismissed at 3:15 p.m. Students may arrive on campus at 8:25 a.m. and line up on their playground areas. There is no supervision before 8:25 a.m. Students that arrive before 8:25 a.m. will have to wait on their playgrounds unsupervised. Breakfast will be available in the gym room at 8:25 a.m.

• Pre-K Morning Session: 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
• Pre-K Afternoon Session: 12:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Did you know that missing just 2 days a month of school is considered chronic absenteeism? Chronic Absenteeism is when a student misses 10% or more of the school year, whether the absences are excused or unexcused.

Did you also know that missing just 2 days a month of school can have a negative impact on academic performance? We want to ensure that all of our students are successful, by making sure that they are in school each day. Frequently missing school during the formative school years, creates a high risk of that student dropping out of school before graduation.

Please contact the school if you have any questions, or need resources to help support your child in getting to school each day.

Bus Routes

• Student bus routes are available in Skyward. Log into your Skyward account to check where your child's bus stop is located. If you have any questions regarding bus routes, call Wanda Alexander at 708-546-7072.

• If your child is routed for a bus and will not ride the bus due to you dropping them off or picking them up daily, email Rose Spotora at rspotora@sd161.org.

• If your child will not ride the bus everyday, the front office needs a schedule for your child. Please email Rose Spotora at rspotora@sd161.org AND your child's classroom teacher.

• Sign up to receive bus bulletins. You can learn more here.

Dismissal Changes

• Parents must call the office or email the administrative assistants by 2:15 p.m. if you need to make a change to your child's dismissal procedure (i.e., not riding the bus, not attending an after school program, etc.). The procedure helps to ensure the safe dismissal for all students.

• The office number is 708-647-7100. Our administrative assistants can be contacted at rspotora@sd161.org and nfonseca@sd161.org.

Breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. Students eating breakfast should enter the main entry doors (Door A) upon arrival to school.

Grade Level Lunch Times

• Kindergarten and 5th Grade - 11:30 a.m. - recess begins at 11:50 a.m.
• 1st Grade and 3rd Grade - 12:10 p.m. - recess begins at 12:30 p.m.
• 2nd Grade and 4th Grade - 11:50 a.m. - recess begins at 12:10 p.m.

If you need to drop off lunch to your student after the school day has started, you may utilize the grade level bins on the cart in the foyer. Please label your child's lunch bag.

Reminder: Lunches sent to the school by food delivery services such as Uber Eats, GrubHub, DoorDash, etc. are not allowed.

1. Please do not pull or park vehicles in the bus lane. These lanes are for school buses only.
2. Parents and guardians should never board a school bus. The bus company is instructed to call the police if any adult other than school personnel boards the bus. If you have an issue with the bus or driver contact Mrs. McNeil - Dobson.
3. It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus.
4. Cell phone usage in a school zone is prohibited.
5. Students will learn bus expectations during the first days of school. Please reinforce at home that students should be seated at all times to be safe.

All visitors staying in the school building must be scanned in by our administrative assistants using the raptor. You will have to present your driver's license as proof of i.d. Once you have been cleared through the system, you will receive a name badge to wear. No visitors or volunteers will be allowed in the school without being cleared by the system.

If you would like to celebrate your child's birthday in school, please send non edible items to share (i.e., pencils, bubbles, stickers, etc.). We cannot allow students to share outside food/treats in school. Food items will be returned to you.

If you would like to share good news happening in the FH neighborhood or share an achievement for your child outside of school, please email me a photo and blurb detailing the event. I will be sure to include it in the weekly newsletter.

3721 Beech Street,

Flossmoor, Illinois 60422

708-647-7100

emcneil@sd161.org

Evita McNeil-Dobson, Principal