The Eagle's Nest

April 5, 2026

Hello Eagle Families,

I hope you had an amazing spring break! We look forward to welcoming students back into the building tomorrow. Before break, students had an incredible time engaging with Staley the Bear for the IAR Pep Rally. Staley gave students tips to prepare to do their best on the test. He danced with them and signed autographs.

We will resume IAR testing for math on April 7th. There will be one math test a day administered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The following week 5th grade students will complete the Illinois Science Assessment. Please continue to talk with students on how they can do their best.

During testing, please make sure students bring their chromebooks charged and leave any SMART watches or other electronic devices at home. If students wear a SMART watch to school, they will have to remove it and place it in their lockers during testing. Please ensure student's have a good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast, and a positive mindset to help them perform their best on the test!

IAR Practice Website

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

The Illinois State Board of Education requires all Illinois public school students in Grades 3-8 to participate in state-administered testing in reading and math. The current Illinois state achievement test is called the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). The IAR test measures a student’s general Math and English/Language Arts skills.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

What is the Illinois Assessment of Readiness?

The Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) is the Illinois state achievement test. All public school students in grades 3 to 8 must take the IAR. The IAR is given every spring as posted on the District’s Assessment schedule. The IAR is taken on a computer and is designed to provide information about student progress toward the long-term goal of college and career readiness.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has a section of its website devoted to the IAR. You can access the ISBE website at ISBE IAR Resources.

Is IAR testing mandated? Yes. School districts must administer the IAR assessments and low participation rates may affect a school’s overall accountability score on the Illinois School Report Card.

How can parents help to prepare their children for the IAR test? The IAR website offers some suggestions to parents:

Read a combination of fiction and non-fiction aloud or with your child. Look for subjects of interest—from sports heroes to dinosaurs.
Discuss and “do” real-life math with your child. Help him/her know basic math facts.
Discuss the tests with your child to reduce your child’s anxiety. Above all, be positive and encouraging about the tests.
After the test, review the results with your child. Bring the teacher into the discussion as needed.
Provide a quiet, comfortable place for studying at home and make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast before a test.

School Resumes from Spring Break - April 6th
IAR Math testing for 3rd - 5th grades - April 7th - April 9th
ISA testing begins for 5th grade - April 13th
SD 161 BOE Meeting at district office - April 13th - 6:00 p.m.
3rd grade field trip to Homewood Science Center - April 15th
Spring NWEA begins - April 20th
Spring AIMSweb begins - May 6th
Spring Musical (The Lion King Jr.) at Parker - May 14th - 6:00 p.m.
4th Grade Presentation in gym at 2:00 p.m. - May 14th

Experience Survey Results

The results of this year’s Studer Experience Surveys were shared at Monday’s meeting. This report highlights the top 3 and the bottom 3 indicators for the student, parent, and staff groups. This information will now be used to update School Improvement and Department Plans, so that we can maintain our focus on continuous improvement.

Construction Update

This presentation outlines the recent and upcoming work in our Long Range Construction plan. Our 2026 construction plan has increased in both scope and price to address unplanned humidity remediation at Flossmoor Hills and Western Avenue Schools. Parker Junior High School will be renovated this summer, with Flossmoor Hills and Western Avenue Schools to follow in the summer of 2027. We plan to begin working during Spring Break, with the bulk of the work to be completed this summer.

Parker Junior High Course Catalog

A draft of the PJHS Course Catalog was reviewed. The catalog provides information about the Core and Encore classes offered to students in grades 6-8.

Preschool Expansion

The Board of Education discussed a proposal to add a full day Preschool class at Flossmoor Hills School. The class would serve up to 20 students and would be the only full day Preschool class available in District 161. This topic will return to the Board of Education for discussion on April 27, 2026.

Nominate a Staff Member for District Recognition

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.

Flossmoor School District 161 - Standards Based Learning Page

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.

Parent / Student Handbook

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.

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.

Please do not pull or park vehicles in the bus lane. These lanes are for school buses only.
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.
It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus.
Cell phone usage in a school zone is prohibited.
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.

As a woman who spent 16+ years leading and educating in science classrooms, university classes, and STEM programs, I wrote "I Look Like a Scientist" for our daughters, to shatter the myth that science doesn't look like you.

Why this book exists:

Many girls lose interest in STEM by age 10 due to stereotype threat, and early STEM identity formation can change that.
Books, images, and role models help because representation boosts persistence by 2x.
Early science exploration and parental support build science identity.

STEM identity research shows that representation matters for how kids see themselves in science long-term. Science/STEM identity is often described as seeing yourself, and being seen by others, as a “science person,” built through competence (what you know), performance (what you do), and recognition (who affirms you).

For girls and other underrepresented students, early exposure to images, stories, and role models that reflect their lives strengthens their identity, boosts their sense of belonging, and supports their persistence in STEM over time.

Created from personal interest, education, and experience—it's rhyming fun that equips kids with Disney-style images of women and girl scientists who look like them.

*The cover is an animated image of my daughter, and the author photo is an animated image of me. It's a daily affirming reminder for her that her interests in science are realistic and achievable, and I'm there to be, not just her mom, but a supportive role model along the way.

My previous career and Ayana’s growing confidence and curiosity in science have meant so much to me, and I hope parents find a few of the activities fun for their PK-2nd graders to spark science discussions at home, fostering their interests in science. Ayana really loves science and math, so I thought I should share it.

I Look Like a Scientist is available here:

Hardcover on Lulu: https://www.lulu.com/shop/shana-k-benford/i-look-like-a-scientist/hardcover/product-e764dd9.html?page=1&pageSize=4
Paperback on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZgjXqu (Amazon Affiliate)

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.