The District 153 school board on April 8 awarded contracts to 56 faculty and approved tenure for seven staff members. Tenure was awarded to Tiffany Bailey, seventh grader teacher at James Hart School; Christopher Blankenship, seventh grader teacher at James Hart; Emma Dolan, fifth grade teacher at Churchill School; Melinda[Read More…]
Author: Marilyn Thomas
Cold doesn’t dampen spirits at H-F Polar Plunge
The gray morning clouds hung low in the sky and the temperature hovered around 42 degrees on Friday, April 5, but on the Homewood-Flossmoor High School football field it was a glorious day as 60 students and staff plunged into an icy cold pool of water to raise money for[Read More…]
H-F Park board ready to update its master plan
The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District commissioners agreed the master plan needs an update. The master plan on file was prepared for the five-year period 2012-2017. It had a few updates since then, but discussion at the board’s April 2 committee meeting focused on the need for a total revamp. “I think[Read More…]
Parker students qualify for National History Day competition
Five teams of students from Parker Junior High in Flossmoor have qualified for the state’s National History Day Illinois State Competition April 24 in Springfield. Led by humanities teacher Linda O’Dwyer, the students entered regional competition at the Chicago History Museum on March 9. The five teams learned of their[Read More…]
H-F board reorganizes department chair positions, creates specialist job
The District 233 school board voted to change the role of its department chairs, and create a new curriculum and instruction specialist position. Department chairs are the lead person in each department who works with faculty on curriculum and staffing issues, as well as maintaining a teaching role for a[Read More…]
Health & Wellness 2024: Heart disease affecting 60 million women in U.S.
Here’s a startling statistic: Nearly 50% of women in the United States are living with some form of heart disease. That’s about 60 million women, said cardiologist Dr. Kendra Marsh-Kates. The doctor knows there are times when women don’t recognize the signs of heart disease. A physician at Franciscan Health[Read More…]
Health & Wellness 2024: Doctors helping patients meet their health goals
The next time you go to the doctor, think about what medical goals you want to work toward, advises Dr. Crystal Hines-Mays, a family physician at Franciscan Health’s Homewood office. Being able to share your medical history and goals is one way to build a strong doctor-patient relationship, Hines-Mays said.[Read More…]
History project wins 3 Parker students a trip to NYC
Three Parker Junior High students and their teachers will be making a trip to New York City to see the musical “Hamilton” as guests of the Hamilton production and the Gilder Lehrman Institute. Seventh graders Simon Reyes, Braylen Brewer and Tyler Harris are excited to be the winners in the[Read More…]
Park board hires firm for Irwin Park improvement project
The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District is moving ahead with plans to improve the park and the playground area at Irwin Park, the busiest park in the park district just east of downtown Homewood in the 1800 block of Ridge Road. At the board’s March 19 meeting, park commissioners agreed to hire[Read More…]
D153 plans changes to its policy on student vaccinations
District 153 administrators say a concern for student safety and the proper care of children is leading them to recommend a policy change back to first day exclusion from school for those kindergarteners who are not properly vaccinated. The board is expected to approve Superintendent Scott McAlister’s recommendation at its[Read More…]


