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Public Library Fenton Community High School
FENTON COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL | District 100 1000 West Green Street Bensenville | Illinois 60106 630 766 2500 www.fenton100.org Mission Statement Cultivate successful, passionate, empowered learners through rigor, relevance and relationships. Board of Education Kit Tingpalpong | President Juliet Rago | Vice President Leonel Figueroa | Secretary Sylvia Hayde Patty Jalowiec Cary Lewis John Radzinski
Administration James Ongtengco | Superintendent Sam Bentsen | Principal Jose Jaramillo | Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Operations Bruce Martin | Chief School Business Officer Jim Batson | Director of Technology Rick Kambic | Director of Communications and Community Engagement Michelle Papanicolaou | Director of Postsecondary Pathways/Division Leader Kate Ward Director of Learning/Division Leader Todd Becker Director of Athletics/Division Leader Mike Berago Director of Equity/Division Leader Eric Koranda Assistant Principal/Division Leader Julia Bray | Assistant Principal/Division Leader Lorenzo Rubio | Division Leader Pedro Castro | Dean of Students Jason Madl | Dean of Students Thomas Kobel | Director of Building, Grounds and Transportation
FENTON COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
DEAR FENTON FAMILIES AND VALUED COMMUNITY PARTNERS,
School is back and we enjoyed a fun Spirit Week to start the beginning of our second year of full in-person learning since the outbreak of COVID-19. We are excited to be back to our normal routines and traditions. Homecoming is a few weeks away and it’s going to be a blast! We hope to see you all there.
Our team at Fenton is committed to guiding our students and our school itself toward the best possible future. The start of a new school year is the best time to review and jointly commit ourselves to common goals. Below are a few important updates: 988 Crisis Line
Individuals experiencing a crisis or any other kind of emotional distress – whether it’s related to suicide, mental health and/or substance use – can dial 988 on their phones and be connected directly to compassionate, trained professionals. This resource is provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Mental Health. Dialing 988 is the mental health version of dialing 911. School, and life in general, can be stressful at times. We urge our students to contact their counselor or trusted adult at Fenton if they need to talk through any of their feelings. But if a crisis is occurring outside of school hours, please remember this new lifeline. It’s as simple as dialing 988 on the phone. COVID-19 and Interventions
Fenton is continuing with all of its health and safety mitigations around the building, and we are still encouraging our students and families to get vaccinated and boosted. The COVID-19 Pandemic is still a reality. We are continuing to use our federal ESSER funding to help our students catch up from the abrupt changes to learning these past few years. We have made progress and will be more aggressive this year in making sure no one falls through the cracks. Our staff will step in more often to identify student needs and ways to overcome their obstacles. We urge our families to embrace these opportunities! Strategic Plan 2.0
Last fall we created the second version of our Fenton Strategic Plan, with much help from the students, parents, and staff who volunteered on the steering committee. A Strategic Plan is important because it acts as Fenton’s roadmap for the next three years, and guides important decisions in the following areas: • Teaching and Learning • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion • Social-Emotional Growth • Student Life • Communication, Collaboration and Community • Securing the Future Having goals to strive toward is critical, and with the beginning of the school year we will make our first strong push into the new set of three-year goals aimed at elevating our students and strengthening our school. We are excited to up our game, and to discover a new level or prosperity. More information on the Strategic Plan can be found on our website under the district tab.
Let’s go BISON!
JAMES ONGTENGCO | Superintendent
FENTON COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL | District 100 1000 West Green Street Bensenville | Illinois 60106 630 766 2500 www.fenton100.org Mission Statement Cultivate successful, passionate, empowered learners through rigor, relevance and relationships.
making us proud!
Anna Micor Earns International Music Honors
Playing the Flute and representing the United States of America, Anna Micor competed in the GLORY Int’l Music Competition and was ranked #3 in the 25 Under 25 Competition, which showcases 25 of the brightest young performers under the age of 25.
She also competed in GLORY’s Strings, Winds & Percussion Competition and earned a Second Prize with a score of 9 out of 10. The music festival is based online and includes competitors from North America, Europe, and Asia. Additionally, Anna submitted music to the Global Great Composers Competition and in the Music of America category she won first prize for her age group. This competition featured musicians from North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Anna studies with a private music tutor as well as Fenton’s Band Director Garett George. During the 202122 school year, Anna qualified for the Illinois Music
Fenton was extremely fortunate to host Dr. Carmen Ayala, Illinois State Superintendent of Education, on June 14. She visited summer school classes and spoke with students, and then toured the rest of Fenton, reviewed our equity journey, and gave insights on our plans for the future. Dr. Ayala was truly inspiring. She is the first woman and first person of color to be the State Superintendent of Education. She was charismatic in explaining her perseverance and left a lasting impression that our students can strive for and succeed at anything they choose. In reflection, Dr. Ayala told Fenton administrators and
Presented by the Fenton High School Theater Department, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare…Abridged is a comedic, fast-paced reenactment of Shakespeare plays by small groups of actors. Senior Citizens are invited to a free seniors matinee show at 1 pm on October 22. To reserve a spot call Education Association (ILMEA) District 1 Band, which encompasses most of Northern Illinois.
school board members that she was impressed by the warm and welcoming environment she could feel from the very first moment she entered our school. She said it’s clear that Fenton students feel safe, supported, and encouraged to explore the world around them. “I visit a lot of schools, and I don’t normally see what I’ve seen here today,” Dr. Ayala told our Fenton team. About a week later, the Illinois State Board of Education e-newsletter featured Dr. Ayala alongside two of our outstanding Fenton students, Sarah and Viktor. Thank you Dr. Ayala for showcasing our leaders and innovators of the future.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 7 PM | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 7 PM | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1 PM & 7 PM 630. 860.8620. This matinee includes complementary coffee and cookies. As the show dates approach, please check the Fenton website (fenton100.org) for updates.
FENTON STAFF AND PARKS DIRECTOR WIN PUBLIC RELATIONS AWARDS
The Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association selected three nominees from Fenton to win Distinguished Service Awards for the 2021-2022 school year. The program acknowledges people who have directly or indirectly created a positive image for their organization over a long period of time. Mr. Rick Kambic, Fenton’s Director of Communications and Community Engagement, made the nominations after consulting others throughout the school. The winners are…
Matthew Lynch
won in the faculty category. Mr. Lynch as head football coach forged a strong relationship with the Chicago Bears and leveraged the partnership to create meaningful opportunities for students such as the Gatorade Skills Camp, Nike 11-On Tournament, the September 11, 2001 Remembrance Program, and mentoring a 2021 graduate to becoming the first ever Chicago Bears Community High School All Star. In addition to winning the adoration of local veterans and first responders whom he brought to Fenton, Mr. Lynch also was a perfect ambassador of public education while being interviewed on camera by Chicago media outlets. Fenton’s Counseling Department won in the team category. Counselors enhanced the trust families have in Fenton with their strong approach to a new law requiring all high school seniors to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). As a result, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission awarded Fenton High School a Bronze Medal Recognition of Excellence for a high rate of FAFSA completion. Joseph C. Vallez of the Bensenville Park District won in the community member category. Mr. Vallez, as executive director of the Bensenville Park District, assisted Fenton with mass vaccination drives and unusual rental needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fenton High School and its community experienced a quicker return to normal in large part thanks to Director Vallez and his staff.
Mr. Welsh later joined the national association’s elected assembly as an elected delegate representing Illinois counselors. Mr. Welsh will take his experiences here at Fenton and leverage them onto a larger stage to make sure our stories are told and that others like us can rally behind common causes. He will lead initiatives and foster discussions on new ideas for supporting students throughout Illinois in their educational journeys.
PAUL WELSH BECOMES PRESIDENT-ELECT OF IACAC
Fenton Counselor Paul Welsh accepted a nomination to become President-Elect of the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC) during their April 27 convention. Mr. Welsh previously served as a Co-Chair of the IACAC Government Relations Committee and in 2019 received the Government Relations Award from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).
Fenton Grows Career Pathways through Corporate Partnerships
Fenton teachers and administrators continue to build upon existing relationships or forge new relationships with corporate partners in field of career pathways. One example is Quest Diagnostics. In March, several Fenton science teachers and administrators spent a day at the Quest Diagnostics laboratory in Wood Dale doing a hands-on workshop with equipment for microbiology and immunology.
