Before you know it, the school buses will be back on the street picking up students for their first day of 2022-23 school year.
First up is Homewood-Flossmoor High School, opening for freshmen and transfer students on Wednesday, Aug. 17. The first day of class for all students is Thursday, Aug. 18. Teachers will be in the building Monday, Aug. 15, for a Teacher Institute Day, and on Aug. 16 as a teacher work day.
To get a good start, Flossmoor District 161 residents are urged to write encouraging messages to students in the annual “Chalk the Walk” event on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
District 161 has its first day of classes on Thursday, Aug. 18. The district has Teacher Institute Days scheduled for Aug. 15, 16 and 17. The district’s “Back to School Movie Night” is set for Friday, Aug. 19, at Flossmoor Park. The fun event starts at 6 p.m. and will include children’s activities, special giveaways, ice cream and other treats. The movie “The Bad Guys” starts at dusk around 8:15 p.m.
The district is hosting an open house at its elementary buildings – Flossmoor Hills, Heather Hill, Serena Hills and Western Avenue – on Wednesday, Aug. 24, and at Parker Junior High on Thursday, Aug. 25.
Homewood District 153’s Willow, Churchill and James Hart Schools open for their first day on Wednesday, Aug, 24. Students and their families are invited to a “Back to School Family Reunion” from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, at James Hart School. The event will feature food trucks, games for the kids and other fun happenings. A community resource fair with information from various organizations will be part of the event.
District 153 invites the community to come and see the schools at open houses set for Thursday, Sept. 1, at James Hart School; Thursday, Sept. 8 at Churchill School; and Thursday, Sept. 22, at Willow School.
District 153 will again screen students for the COVID-19 virus through the state’s free SHIELD testing program. The tests are administered weekly, unless parents opt out of the program.
District 161 schools participated in the SHIELD testing program last year and plan to again, although the school board has been discussing whether to make adjustments to policies governing participation.
H-F will not be offering SHIELD testing this year. The testing was done in 2021-22 as an opt-in option for families, and the number of student participating didn’t meet the expected threshold, said Carla Erdey, H-F public relations director.
“The administration will continue to assess our local situation and can adjust the plan as needed. We continue to encourage those who can get the vaccination and booster to do so. Also, masking is an option for those who choose to wear one,” she said.