After 29 years, teacher Ingrid Vann is leaving Serena Hills School in Chicago Heights for the last time this month. “I have so many friends and teacher colleagues. It will be so bittersweet. That I will miss,” she said. “I’m unsure what life without Serena will look like. My whole[Read More…]
Author: Marilyn Thomas
Retirees 2024: District 153 fostered leadership roles for Mary Kay Gardiner
Retiring Churchill School Assistant Principal Mary Kay Gardiner said she was propelled into leadership roles because of the support and encouragement she received in Homewood District 153 the past 31 years. “From day one as a young classroom teacher to now being at the end of my career, there is[Read More…]
Park board purchases new equipment for H-F Racquet & Fitness Club
The H-F Racquet and Fitness Club is getting 15 new pieces of equipment. The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District Board of Commissioners agreed May 21 to spend $29,334 with PURE Fitness Innovations of Peoria, Illinois, for weight machines and a recumbent bike. Club Manager Michelle Artis was able to find the certified[Read More…]
Hart Class of 2020 recall their pandemic inspired graduation
Graduating from eighth grade is a time to celebrate, but plans for the James Hart School Class of 2020 were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A reunion tried to fill the gap. James Hart administrators have planned eighth grade class reunions for nearly a decade, but this 2020 reunion May[Read More…]
Retirees 2024: Fun, hard work go hand-in-hand for Willow School principal
Melissa Lawson can explain to you how as principal she took on a variety of roles, but she stresses that every action was done for the betterment of the students at Homewood’s Willow School. In June, Lawson’s 35-year career in education will end. She’s retiring as principal of Willow School[Read More…]
Retirees 2024: Second career was a gem for Jeanette Nichols
For Jeanette Nichols, a second career as a teacher proved to be very rewarding. After 28 years in the classroom, 20 with District 153, she is retiring. Nichols’ bachelor’s degree was in art history, which she took into a job in retail, working as a manager in a department store[Read More…]
Governor signs bill benefiting Homewood District 153
Gov. J.B. Pritzker put his signature on a bill approved by the Illinois Legislature that will give Homewood schools a way to collect the full benefit of its 2022 referendum. The governor signed the measure into law on Tuesday, May 28. It now goes to the Cook County Clerk’s Office[Read More…]
Churchill lunchroom cast-offs become composting gold
A small composting project at Churchill School saved more than 300 pounds of waste from the landfill. Lettuce, peaches, bread crust, left over pizza, paper napkins, cardboard – it all got collected in buckets on Wednesdays over four weeks in April and May. PTA parents and third and fourth graders[Read More…]
H-F hires firm to redesign its website
Homewood-Flossmoor High School found parents, staff and students are using the website when searching for information, but they are often frustrated because the website doesn’t work well. To overcome the website problems, such as broken links, missing information and difficult navigation tools, the District 233 school board approved a contract[Read More…]
Kickert lowers bid to maintain H-F bus contract
Kickert Bus Co. underbid its first proposed contract with District 233, retaining its long-term relationship with Homewood-Flossmoor High School. At its May 21 board meeting, the school board gave its approval to a bid that reflects an 8.7% decrease for 2024-25 and only a 3% increase for 2025-26. Kickert/Alpha offered[Read More…]
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