The Eagle's Nest

Hello Families,

This week all the commercial classroom dehumidifiers were removed from classrooms due to the season change. The school board also met on Tuesday, October 14th t o discuss the Flossmoor Hills humidity concerns. Please see the letter from Dr. Smith regarding next steps to continue to resolve the issue here.

We began our all school read aloud, The One and Only Bob this week. Thank you to Brian, one of our phenomenal 5th grade students for reading aloud the first chapter to the entire school! We would love to see your family reading the book together. Please share photos to emcneil@sd161.org.

Thank you to our preschool parents for attending the Preschool Family Night! It was an engaging family event enjoyed by all. Thank to Mrs. Wohlberg, Mrs. Willard, Ms. Conroy, Ms. Graham, Mrs. Hollinquest and our preschool support staff for planning such a fun evening!

The first quarter will end this Friday, October 24th. As we look ahead, parent teacher conferences will be held in a few weeks on November 24th and 25th. Scheduling for conferences will take place in Skyward next month.

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

Students are nominated by staff to be recognized as Exemplary Eagles by demonstrating acts of kindness, excelling academically or following school expectations. Congratulations to this month's Exemplary Eagles! They received a certificate, give card and Level Up shirt!

The student day ends at 3:15 p.m. Students should be picked up promptly. It is the responsibility of the parent to communicate any pick up changes to the main office and private transportation companies.

Students that remain later than 3:45 p.m. will be referred to the Flossmoor Police Department.

There is a before and after care program available at Flossmoor Hills through the HF park district for a fee. Here is the link. Contact the main office at 708-647-7102 if you have any concerns about your child's dismissal.

1. Preschool Field Trip - October 22nd
2. End of 1st Quarter - October 24th
3. 5th - 8th Grade Orchestra Concert at Parker - 6:00 p.m. - October 30th
4. Fall Costume Parade - 9:30 a.m. - October 31st
5. Fall Parties - 10:00 a.m. - October 31st
6. Early Release Day - 11:40 a.m. - October 31st
7. Report Cards Posted in Skyward - October 31st
8. Veterans Day Program - 9:30 a.m. - November 7th
9. No School - Veterans Day Observed - November 10th
10. Career Day - November 18th- (We need career day speakers, please consider volunteering)
11. Family Reading Night at 6:00 p.m. - November 20th
12. Parent Teacher Conferences - 1:00 - 8:30 p.m. - November 24th
13. Parent Teacher Conferences - 8:30 - 1:15 p.m. - November 25th

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.

Thank you Firefighter Kelly and the Flossmoor Fire Department for talking to our students about fire safety!

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.

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.

Flossmoor Hills is seeking volunteers to run the Eagle Cart. The Eagle Cart has tons of goodies for students to shop with their hard-earned Eagle Bucks! Volunteers will go around to each classroom with the cart and collect Eagle Bucks as the students shop. The Eagle Cart runs all school year our Eagle Cart date is Friday, October 24th! As a reminder all volunteers must have a state issued ID scanned to participate

FLOSSMOOR HILLS: Eagle Cart 2025-2026

3721 Beech Street,

Flossmoor, Illinois 60422

708-647-7100

emcneil@sd161.org

Evita McNeil-Dobson, Principal