What's Happening At The Hive!

• Monday, 4/13:
• Vision and Hearing Screenings
• 6:00 pm Board of Education Meeting at 41 E. Elmwood Drive, Chicago Heights, IL 60411
• Tuesday, 4/14:
• Vision and Hearing Screenings
• Illinois Science Assessment for 5th graders only
• Wednesday, 4/15: Illinois Science Assessment for 5th graders only
• Thursday, 4/16: Illinois Science Assessment for 5th graders only
• Wednesday, 4/22: 5:00-7:00 pm HH PTO Earth Day Clean-up
• Friday, 4/24: Early release day at 11:40 am, School Improvement Planning Day
• Thursday, 4/30: 6:00 pm HH PTO Meeting

Congratulations to both the 4th and 5th grade choir and the 5th grade band for their final performances of the year! They did an amazing job showing the skills they have worked on all year to grow as musicians!

Thank you, also, to the participants of the HH Wellness Night! We had fun with healthy snacks, journals, music, a scavenger hunt, and painting.

The Illinois Science Assessment will be taken by 5th graders this week. This assessment is based on grade-level standards mastery in physical science, life science, and earth and space science. Our schedule is below:

• Tuesday, 4/14, Wednesday, 4/15, Thursday, 4/16: 5th grade scholars ONLY take the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA)

Please make sure to encourage students to do their best and show what they know! Our goal is for students to take their time and focus on showing their work and explaining their thinking. Ways families can support:

• Provide positive encouragement
• Make sure students eat breakfast
• Come to school on time each day (students that are tardy past a certain point will not be able to enter the testing environment)
• Bring fully charged Chromebooks each day
• Bring glasses
• Phones, smartwatches, wireless headphones and recording glasses are not allowed in testing rooms. Please leave electronics at home or in backpacks outside of the classroom.

Reading to and with your child every day for 20 minutes has a huge impact on literacy. Talking about math in the real world, at the grocery store, etc. helps students connect what they're learning and apply their knowledge!

Thank you to the Heather Hill PTO for providing treats to students testing for the IAR!

Please see the flyer below for the HH PTO Fundraiser that begins on Monday, 4/13!

Check out the 2026-27 Approved School Calendar for District 161 for NEXT school year! The first day of school is Thursday, August 20, 2026!

The District 161 Summer Academy Musical Program offers a wonderful opportunity for students of all experience levels interested in theater. We are excited to provide this program for current 3rd–7th grade students who have not already been recommended for Summer Academy.

Classes will be held at Serena Hills School, 255 Pleasant Drive, Chicago Heights, IL 60411, Monday through Thursday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. There are no classes on Fridays. Final performance dates and locations will be announced soon. Please review the Musical Flyer for additional details.

The SD 161 Summer Academy Musical Program is free of charge. Transportation will be provided for qualifying students, and breakfast will be available for all students attending Summer Academy.

https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSdtktr.../viewform

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.

The Capturing Kids Hearts character trait for month of April is Perseverance/ Finish-Strong!

What is Perserverance?

Perseverance is the willingness and ability to keep going when things are tough. People who persevere show steadfastness and give the extra effort needed to do something despite how hard it is or how long it takes to reach the goal.

PBIS - Cool Tool for the month of April is Way to Ride.

Cool Tool Description: At Heather Hill School we follow the Way to Ride Cool Tool while on the bus. This means we sit in our assigned seats. We keep our feet on the floor and out of the aisle. We remain in our seats and face forward at all times. Keep food, drinks, Chromebooks, and phones in your backpack. Last, use an appropriate speaking voice while on the bus. If we follow these expectations, we are being respectful, responsible, and safe while on the bus.

At its meeting on Monday, Feb. 2, the Flossmoor Village Board of Trustees approved an ordinance prohibiting the riding of e-scooters on all sidewalks in the central business district. Flossmoor also currently abides by the other e-bike and e-scooter regulations set by the State of Illinois, including the 18+ age requirement for low-speed e-scooters and the 16+ age requirement for Class 3 e-bikes. View more regulations in the shown graphic. Questions? Please contact the Police Department at 708-957-4500 or info@flossmoor.org.

We have seen an increase in unsafe driving behaviors around arrival and dismissal. We have also had complaints from HH families and community members about these concerns. Please remember the following:

1. All children need to be dropped off by pulling up to the curb on the SCHOOL side of the street. There is NO double parking. Letting students out between cars or in the street is unsafe.
2. There is NO standing, stopping, or parking on the opposite side of the street.
3. There are NO three point turns in the school zone.
4. Please do not use neighbors' driveways to turn around. Let's be good neighbors!
5. Please do not pull in front of the driveway coming into the school parking lot to drop students off. This creates a back-up on the street and blocks the lot for buses and 3rd part transportation.
6. Traffic is getting backed up on Lawrence Crescent and Mac Heath Crescent. There is no parking on the north side of Mac Heath Crescent. This bottlenecks the street.

If you are approached by a staff member and/or crossing guard to follow these rules, please understand we are doing our best for everyone's safety. Please help us keep all children, staff, and community members safe by following these rules of the road!

We want to remind everyone about our policy regarding outdoor play and safety. For the comfort and well-being of our students, children will remain inside during the following weather conditions:

1. Rain
2. Temperature below 20 degrees F
3. Wind chill of 10 degrees F or below
4. Icy conditions
5. Extremely high winds

Please make sure your child is dressed warmly with a coat, hat, gloves, and other appropriate layers to ensure they stay comfortable and safe. We also recommend dressing in layers for the classroom to manage any fluctuations in heat. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us keep all children safe and prepared for the elements.

We are working on setting reading goals and challenges! We are a community of readers at Heather Hill and we are working on getting all children excited to read and share their reading with others. Please see the attached parent letter that was sent home in an email. Help your child to log their reading minutes and work towards our school-wide goal!

We are working towards our goals of increasing student attendance to increase learning goals! We are working towards a goal of at least 93% attendance each week. Of course we encourage parents to keep children home if they are sick. Students should stay home for at least 24 hours after a fever subsides. Please consult a medical professional as needed for other symptoms including cough, vomiting, etc.

Click here 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.

• Signing up for District 161’s text message alerts is quick and easy. Simply text the word “YES” to 67587 from the cell phone on which you wish to receive text messages. Please make sure that your cell phone number is up-to-date in Skyward. If you need to update your phone number, please contact the office at your child’s school. Click here for more information.

• Registrarse para recibir alertas de mensajes de texto del Distrito 161 es rápido y fácil. Simplemente envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra "YES" al 67587 desde el teléfono celular en el que desea recibir mensajes de texto. Asegúrese de que su número de teléfono celular esté actualizado en Skyward. Si necesita actualizar su número de teléfono, comuníquese con la oficina de la escuela de su hijo. Haga clic aquí para obtener más información.

• 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!

This school year, our students will participate in the Neptune Navigate Digital Citizenship curriculum. Each module is designed to be engaging and informative, taking 30 minutes or less to complete. Our goal is to ensure that students learn how to be safe and smart online and understand the importance of building a positive digital reputation.

January's theme is: Digital Footprint, Digital Reputation (see family letter below!)

Our Staff Recognition Program, Above and Beyond, is designed to spotlight our staff members in all that they do for our students and community. Each school and department has the opportunity to nominate a staff member who exemplifies the characteristics and professional traits that exemplify our standards of excellence. Please use this form to nominate a staff member today!

Monday - Friday

• 8:30 am - 8:40 am - Arrival (Doors will close at 8:40 am!)
• 8:40 am - 3:15 pm - Instructional Day
• 3:15 pm - Dismissal

Half day dismissal (half days on District calendar) - 11:40 am

A few friendly reminders about arrival and dismissal:

• Our parking lot is closed to personal vehicles during arrival and dismissal
• The parking lot may only be used by buses and 3rd party transportation during arrival/dismissal
• Please do not engage in 3 point turns in the school zone
• Please do no block driveways--either school driveways or homes near HH
• Do not drop off children on the opposite side of the street of the school
• All street crossings must occur at the cross-walks
• By law, there is no cell phone usage in a school zone

Let's keep everyone safe by following the rules of the road!

Flossmoor SD161 is working with a new Food Service Company! Please see the flyer on who they are and what they have to offer.

If your child will be receiving breakfast or lunch and they have any allergies, a form detailing their dietary needs must be submitted to the school nurse. It will be shared with the food service company and alternative foods will be available to meet a student’s needs. This form is available in the front office.

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE PTO?

If you would like to participate in the PTO or have any questions please email them at heatherhillhornets@gmail.com.

Also, Please click on this link https://www.facebook.com/groups/2466905720251155 to join our Heather Hill Families page.

The Flossmoor Public Library has incredible events and programs coming up for children of all ages! View the calendar and sign up for the library newsletter at https://www.flossmoorlibrary.org.

Email: chumm@sd161.org
Website: https://www.sd161.org/o/heather-hill
Location: 1439 Lawrence Crescent, Flossmoor, IL, USA
Phone: 708-647-7200
Facebook: facebook.com/gohornets161