The Homewood District 153 school board adopted new goals at the June 12 meeting that will place a focus on 12 initiatives over the next five years. The strategic planning sessions May 3 and 4 were led consultant Robert Madonia in conjunction with the school board members who interacted with[Read More…]
Education
Farewell: Collecting memories was special part of H-F alumni director’s job
Ann Cherry has been collecting memories from Homewood-Flossmoor High School graduates the past 13 years. “I’m in the business of nostalgia,” the H-F director of development and alumni relations said. Her work is a lot of “good feelings and reawakening those good feelings with people. It wasn’t hard to do[Read More…]
Five Hart students take first at state track meet
Five students at James Hart School in Homewood took first place honors at the Illinois Elementary School Association’s track and field events. At the June 12 District 153 board meeting, board members recognized Seth Harris, who placed first in the seventh grade boys hurdles competition; Dylan Bell, who was first[Read More…]
District 161 approves new food service plans
Flossmoor School District 161 has approved a new plan for student meals. The changes are expected to result in significant savings for the district while keeping the same service for students. The school board voted to approve a measure at the June 12 board meeting that keeps the same vendor[Read More…]
Willow School kindergarteners shine in annual box car parade
The sun was shining and the temperature was hot on Wednesday, May 31, but Willow School kindergarteners were up for a parade as they drove around the building in their cardboard box cars to the cheers of parents, friends and family. District 153 Superintendent Scott McAlister was on hand, tending[Read More…]
Farewell: John Gibson, District 153’s numbers guy, is retiring
John Gibson, the chief school business official for Homewood District 153, has been the guy with the sharpened pencil who kept track of budgets and expenses. He’s retiring June 30. Gibson has been with the district for 13 years. Aside from his day-to-day duties of money management, he worked with[Read More…]
Farewell: PattiJo Boehm instilled a love of school in second graders
Second grade teacher PattiJo Boehm believes her role has been: “Making every child feel like they’re special and welcomed and smart and talented. That’s what’s important.” For 19 years, Boehm has been teaching at Willow School in Homewood. She’ll be retiring at the end of the school year, packing up[Read More…]
Farewell: P.E. teacher turned parapro retires after 50 years
When Patricia Finley first retired from teaching in 2008, she wanted to keep working at Parker Junior High School, she said. So Finley made a planned transition from teaching physical education to becoming a paraprofessional. Now she’s retiring again, after working for more than 50 years in education. Parker staff[Read More…]
Farewell: Pat Gnaster had a vital role in H-F High’s success
It is said when people retire institutional knowledge goes with them. That will be the case when Pat Gnaster leaves her desk at Homewood-Flossmoor High School after 20 years. Gnaster retires June 30 from the administrative offices where she’s served as the superintendent’s executive assistant since 2007. “I’ll be sad[Read More…]
Farewell: Marian Band Director Greg Bimm closes 46-year career
For all the trophies and awards Marian Catholic High School Band Director Greg Bimm has brought to the Chicago Heights campus, he saw his most important role as developing the individual student. Bimm has ended his 46-year career, having won seven Bands of America (BOA) Grand National Championships and 42[Read More…]


