General Information
Everything families need to know about daily life at Creston Elementary School — schedules, menus, calendars, handbooks, and more.
School Hours
School Calendar
Stay up to date with important school dates, holidays, events, and early dismissals. View the full calendar on Google Calendar.
Menus
Hot lunch, breakfast, and milk are available daily. View our monthly menus to plan ahead.
Handbooks & Policies
Handbooks & Policies contain important information about school rules, expectations, programs, and family rights. Please review them carefully.
Health & Safety
Enrollment & Records
Register for School
Complete your child's online registration through TeacherEase. Payment must be received at the office by the first day of school.
- Log into TeacherEase by clicking the "Register Now" button below.
- On the left-hand side, select "Online Registration." Your child(ren) should appear on the next screen.
- Click "Edit Form."
- Is your child returning? Select Yes or No.
- Please verify your home address and make any necessary changes.
- Please verify your phone number and make any necessary changes. Click “Next.”
- Please verify Custodial Parent/Guardian information and make any necessary changes. Click “Next.”
- Please verify emergency contact information and make any necessary changes. Click “Next.”
- Fill out any miscellaneous information you feel may be pertinent to your child.
- Click “Save” when all information has been entered. Repeat steps for each child.
Payment must be received at the office by the first day of school.
Resources
Quick access to important documents and tools for Creston Elementary School families.
School Supply List
Download the grade-level supply list to ensure your student arrives prepared for a successful school year.
View Supply ListBirth–Preschool Screenings
Creston CCSD #161 offers developmental screenings for children from birth through preschool age. Contact the office to schedule a screening.
Contact Us to ScheduleBusiness
For questions related to district finances, billing, accounts payable, or purchasing, please contact the district business office.
Contact Business OfficeSafe2Help IL & Counseling Services
In a Crisis?
Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor
800-273-8255
Available 24 hours · English & Spanish
Safe2Help IL Program
Safe2Help IL is a program with a multifaceted approach to help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence, or other threats to school safety. The program offers a website with self-help resources and videos, a classroom resource kit to help change the culture in Illinois schools, and a 24/7 confidential way to share information regarding safety issues impacting Illinois students. The goal of the program is to get students to "Seek Help Before Harm."
Counseling Services — Sinnissippi Partnership
Creston Elementary School has partnered with Sinnissippi to provide counseling services to students in need of mental health services. For additional information, please contact the school.
Contact the SchoolSummer Meal Access Information
USDA Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder
USDA works closely with states to ensure that children who receive free or reduced-price school meals can get the nutrition they need when schools are closed — whether during summer break or unexpected closures during the school year. Through USDA's summer meal programs, approved sites in communities across the country can serve meals to kids up to age 18 at no cost.
Families can use the Site Finder tool to find directions to nearby meal sites, as well as their hours of operation and contact information.
USDA National Hunger Hotline
Families seeking food assistance for their children can also contact The USDA National Hunger Hotline, operated by Hunger Free America. The hotline can be reached Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.
1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) — English
1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273) — Spanish
Illinois Summer Meals
Call (800) 359-2163
Text FoodIL to 304-304
SummerMealsIllinois.org
Freedom of Information Act & Access to Public Records
In accordance with the State of Illinois Freedom of Information Act and Creston Community Consolidated School District 161 Board of Education Policy, the district's FOIA officer, Nicole Zellmer, will respond to requests from anyone desiring to inspect and/or copy a district public record. Requests will be approved, unless the requested material is (a) not a "public record" as defined by Policy 2:250; (b) exempt from inspection and copying by the Freedom of Information Act or any other state or federal law; or (c) not required to be preserved or cataloged. Also, FOIA requests can be denied if complying would be unduly burdensome.
The Creston CCSD 161 Board of Education and administration believes in complete transparency and posts a wide range of public documents on its website at www.crestonschool.org, including current and past meeting agendas and minutes, employee contracts and salary information, contracts exceeding $25,000, the current fiscal year budget, detailed monthly disbursements and the most recent annual financial report and the annual statement of affairs.
If any information needed is not readily available online, please submit a FOIA request to Nicole Zellmer, the district's FOIA officer, or by sending a fax request to (815) 384-3410 or email to nzellmer@crestonschool.org with the subject line "FOIA request." Please provide a specific description of the records requested. If you have any questions about filing a FOIA request, please call (815) 384-3920.
Exemptions
To allow governmental bodies to operate efficiently and protect personal privacy, the Act exempts (excludes) specific types of records from public release, with some general examples including but not limited to: medical records, student records, attorney-client privileged correspondence, staff discipline files, test questions and answers, security plans, and the minutes of closed session meetings not yet approved by Board vote for release.
Timelines
Public bodies are required to respond in writing to written requests for records within 5 working days. If within those 5 working days the public body denies the request, it must notify the requester in writing and cite the reason(s) under the law. The public body has 21 business days to respond to a request for records which will be used for commercial purposes.
Appeals
As the requester, you have the right to request for review (appeal) Creston #161's response to any request. Contact the Public Access Counselor at the Office of the Attorney General, 500 S. 2nd Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701.
PUNS — Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Service
New requirements for Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Service (PUNS) were effective January 1, 2024. PUNS is a statewide database that records information about individuals with developmental disabilities who are planning for or seeking services through the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Division of Developmental Disabilities.
At each annual review for a student with a disability, the IEP (Individualized Education Program) team must determine if the student is registered for PUNS and if not, refer the family to a designated employee who has completed the PUNS training.
For information on PUNS, please contact Nicole Zellmer, nzellmer@crestonschool.org.
Public Notices
Notice of Public Hearing — Emergency eLearning Day Plan
Notice is hereby given that the Board of Education of Creston Community Consolidated School District #161 will hold a public hearing regarding the District's proposed Emergency eLearning Day Plan pursuant to Section 10-20.56 of the Illinois School Code.
The purpose of the hearing is to allow parents, guardians, community members, and staff to provide input on the proposed plan which would permit the District to implement eLearning Days when emergency conditions prevent in-person instruction.
Following the hearing, the Board of Education may consider adoption of the Emergency eLearning Day Plan.
A copy of the proposed plan is available for public review at the District Office.
Dated this 17th day of March, 2026.
Creston Community Consolidated School District #161