The Eagle's Nest

Hello Eagle Families,

We are asking parents to take the 5Essentials Survey and have your voice heard. All parents who take the survey will be entered into a raffle for their child to win a $50 Amazon gift card. We will be raffling off three cards.

Link to survey: http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/

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

1. School Board Meeting at district office at 6:00 p.m.- March 9th
2. FH Spring Picture Day - March 10th
3. IAR Pep Rally with Staley Da Bear (grades 3-5)- March 23rd
4. IAR ELA testing begins for 3rd -5th grades - March 24th
5. IAR Math testing begins for 3rd - 5th grades - April 7th
6. ISA testing begins for 5th grade - April 13th
7. Spring Break begins - March 30th
8. School Resumes from Spring Break - April 6th

Each year, the Illinois State Board of Education provides parents, teachers, and 4th-8th grade students with an opportunity to have their voice heard. The Illinois 5Essentials Survey is a research-based survey to help identify strengths and areas for growth in our schools. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including:

• Effective Leaders

• Collaborative Teachers

• Involved Families

• Supportive Environments

• Ambitious Instruction

  
  

We ask our families to please take the Illinois 5Essentials Survey for by Friday, March 13th.

Winter Assessment Data

The winter NWEA MAP and Aimsweb assessment results were discussed and reviewed by the Board of Education. In addition, we reviewed Behavior, Attendance, and Grade information for all schools. Schools are using this information to review processes and to make instructional decisions to improve student outcomes. Overall, the growth and achievement numbers continue to rise. Student attendance was consistently high during the especially busy holiday months. SD161 schools will continue to focus on attendance incentives and following up with families. Behavior indicators are steady or slightly increased, which will require a renewed focus on expectations and interventions to reduce classroom disruptions. The next assessment report will be shared in June, after the completion of the spring assessments and the Illinois Assessment of Readiness. The report is linked here and the data presentation is here.

Superintendent Search Firm Presentations

The Board of Education heard presentations from four executive search firms to fill the role of Superintendent of Schools. This link will take you to the presentations and proposals for each firm. School Exec Connect is the preferred firm and they will be recommended for approval at the March 9, 2026, Board meeting.

Special Education Department Update

Our annual Special Education Department review was shared with the Board of Education [report, presentation]. The department will continue to focus on providing accelerated learning opportunities for students with disabilities and will focus on meaningful inclusion practices for the general education learning environment.

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.

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.

https://www.schoolstore.com/cgi/SSCHomePage?asd_number=undefined&userid=undefined

3721 Beech Street,

Flossmoor, Illinois 60422

708-647-7100

emcneil@sd161.org

Evita McNeil-Dobson, Principal